Buick Lucerne
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Buick Lucerne | |
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| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 2006–present |
| Assembly | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| Predecessor | Buick Park Avenue Buick LeSabre |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | H-body |
| Engine(s) | 3.8 L 3800 Series III V6 4.6 L Northstar V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed 4T65-E automatic (V6) 4-speed 4T80-E automatic (V8) |
| Wheelbase | 115.6 in (2936 mm) |
| Length | 203.2 in (5161 mm) |
| Width | 73.8 in (1875 mm) |
| Height | 58.0 in (1473 mm) |
The Buick Lucerne is a full-size car sold by the Buick division of General Motors that replaced the Park Avenue and the LeSabre in 2006. Although the rear-wheel drive GM Zeta platform was considered, the production Lucerne introduced at the Chicago Auto Show on February 9, 2005 rides on the revised H-body platform of the late Pontiac Bonneville. Initial sales of the Lucerne have been strong, with the car claiming 24% of the full-size sedan market in the United States.
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[edit] First Generation
[edit] 2006-2007
Like the similar 2005 Pontiac Bonneville, the Lucerne uses a Cadillac Northstar V8 engine in addition to the standard Buick 3800 V6. The Lucerne also became the first V8-powered Buick car (the Rainier SUV was available with a V8 from 2004-2007) since the demise of the Roadmaster in 1996. The Lucerne is also available with the Corvette's Magnetic Ride Control, an active suspension technology.
The Lucerne's base price is lower than that of the LeSabre, its predecessor, though the V8 option causes the price to reach price levels of the Park Avenue.
In keeping with Buick tradition, the Lucerne features "Ventiports" on the front fenders corresponding to the number of cylinders in the engine — three on each side for the V6 or four on each side for the V8 Northstar.
The Buick Lucerne is built at GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant alongside the Cadillac DTS. The plant has won Initial Quality Awards from J.D. Power and Associates for the past three years. GM leads all other automakers in Stategic Vision's Total Quality Index (TQI) [1]
[edit] 2008
For 2008 the Lucerne gets some mid-life updates like a lane departure warning system, and revised exterior colors. Lucerne sales have remained brisk through much of 2007. Two new trim levels have been added: CXL Special Edition (with more standard features than regular CXL) and Super.
[edit] 2009
For 2009 the Lucerne gets some small upgrades, including a new engine, and Bluetooth phone connectivity, and XM NavTraffic. Buick has also announced that it will be available as a flex-fuel vehicle at no additional cost.[2].
[edit] The Lucerne Super
Introduced at the 2007 New York Auto Show, the Lucerne Super is a more powerful, upscale trim of the original Lucerne. With an enhanced 4.6 Liter Northstar V-8 engine, the Lucerne Super adds 17 hp (13 kW) to the CXS model's V-8. Updated styling to the front end and the addition of a spoiler to the rear aims to create a bolder and sportier look. Production of the Lucerne Super is scheduled to begin in 2008.
[edit] Engines
| Years | Engine | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-2008 | 3.8 L 3800 L26 V6 | 197 hp (147 kW) @ 5200 rpm | 227 lb·ft (308 N·m) @ 3800 rpm |
| 2006-2008 | 4.6 L Northstar LD8 V8 | 275 hp (205 kW) @ 6000 rpm | 295 lb·ft (400 N·m) @ 4400 rpm |
| 2008-Present | 4.6 L Northstar L37 V8 | 292 hp (218 kW) @ 6300 rpm | 288 lb·ft (390 N·m) @ 4500 rpm |
| 2009-Present | 3.9L GM 3900 V6 | 240 hp (179 kW) | 240 lb·ft (325 N·m) |
[edit] Model Details
For 2008:
- CX
- Base Price (USD): $27,520
- CXL
- Base Price (USD): $30,165
- CXL Special Edition
- Base Price (USD): $32,150
- Super
- Base Price (USD): $39,295
[edit] Product Placement in Commercial Entertainment
In an effort to market the new model, General Motors has signed several large contracts for product placement. In the December 2005 conclusion of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, winner Dawna Stone was admitted into Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to work with the company's Body + Soul magazine. At the celebration, Stewart refused to give Stone champagne, instead giving her the keys to a Buick Lucerne for hers to keep. Promotion of the vehicle had been a task for teams earlier in the competition. The Lucerne featured prominently on the USA Network series Monk during its fifth season and still appears on the show's website. [3]
[edit] Future
A completely redesigned Lucerne could be built on the newer GM Zeta Platform, GM's new full-size global RWD architecture. This redesign would be released in the 2009 or 2010 model years, though nothing has been confirmed yet.
[edit] References
- ^ Strategic Vision (2006). Total Quality Index MSN Autos
- ^ AutoblogGreen (2008) [1]
- ^ Dusty Saunders "Pop-ups create TV billboard" Rocky Mountain News, Aug. 1 2006.
[edit] External links
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