Buick Lucerne Explained

Buick Lucerne
Manufacturer:Buick (General Motors)
Production:2005-June 15, 2011
Model Years:2006–2011
Assembly:Hamtramck, Michigan, United States (Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly)
Class:Full-size car
Body Style:4-door sedan
Platform:G platform/GMX222
Related:Cadillac DTS
Layout:Transverse FF layout
Engine:3.8 L 3800 Series III V6
3.9 L High Value V6
4.6 L Northstar V8
Transmission:4-speed 4T65-E automatic (V6)
4-speed 4T80-E automatic (V8)
Wheelbase:115.60NaN0
Length:203.20NaN0
Width:73.80NaN0
Height:580NaN0
Predecessor:Buick LeSabre
Buick Park Avenue
Successor:Buick LaCrosse

The Buick Lucerne is a full-size car manufactured by General Motors from 2005 to 2011. Named for the city of Lucerne, Switzerland, it served as Buick's top-of-the-line sedan until it was replaced by the second generation Buick LaCrosse.

History

The Lucerne replaced the full-size LeSabre and the Park Avenue in the Buick range, and used a revised G platform, nonetheless referred to by GM as the H platform.[1]

The Lucerne was introduced with the standard 3.8 liter Buick V6 (also known as the GM 3800 engine) or optional 4.6 liter Cadillac Northstar LD8 V8 as well as optional active suspension, marketed as Magnetic Ride Control. For 2005, all General Motors vehicles equipped with the 3.8 L V6 become the first SULEV-compliant vehicles.The Lucerne featured a row of faux exhaust vents, marketed as "Ventiports," on the front fenders, corresponding to the number of cylinders in the engine — three on each side for the V6 or four for the V8. The CXL trim package added numerous premium features.

The Lucerne was manufactured at GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant alongside the Cadillac DTS. The plant won Initial Quality Awards from J.D. Power and Associates from 2004 through 2006. GM also lead all other automakers in Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index (TQI) [2]

The Super trim level was introduced at the 2007 New York Auto Show, featuring the 4.6 liter Northstar L37 V8; revised trim; an increase of 170NaN0 horsepower, and revised front styling and a rear spoiler.

All Lucernes received modest mid-cycle updates in 2008, adding optional blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning system and revised exterior colors. Two new trim levels, CXL Special Edition (with more standard features than regular CXL) and Super, were added for 2008.The 2009 Lucerne received small upgades, including a new base engine, the 3.9 L GM High Value LZ9 V6, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and XM NavTraffic. Flex-fuel technology was made available at no additional cost.[3]

For 2010, the Super's rocker panels, grille, and fog lights were added as standard equipment.

The 2011 Lucerne was largely unchanged. The last was built on June 15, 2011.[4] The second generation LaCrosse replaced it as Buick's flagship sedan for 2012.[5]

Engines

YearsEngineDisplacementPowerTorque
2006–2008[6] 3.8 L 3800 L26 V6231 cu in (3791 cc)1970NaN0 @ 5200 rpm2270NaN0 @ 3800 rpm
2009–2011[7] 3.9 L GM 3900 V6237 cu in (3880 cc)2270NaN0 @ 5700 rpm2370NaN0 @ 3200 rpm
2006–20084.6 L Northstar LD8 V8279 cu in (4565 cc)2750NaN0 @ 6000 rpm2950NaN0 @ 4400 rpm
2008–20114.6 L Northstar L37 V8279 cu in (4565 cc)2920NaN0 @ 6300 rpm2880NaN0 @ 4500 rpm

Safety

The Buick Lucerne earns a "Good" overall score in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) front impact test,[8] and an "Acceptable" score in the side impact test.[9] The IIHS also found that 2006-08 model year Lucerne had the highest fatality rate in the large 4-door car class.[10]

Yearly American sales

Calendar YearTotal American sales
2005[11] 8,821
2006[12] 96,515
200782,923
2008[13] 54,930
2009[14] 31,292
2010[15] 26,459
2011[16] 20,358
2012[17] 971

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frame. Phil. GM H CARS MOVE TO G PLATFORM. Automotive News. 17 May 2013. https://archive.today/20130616065939/http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19950116/ANA/501160730%23axzz2TYYYR1jT. 16 June 2013. dead. 16 January 1995.
  2. Strategic Vision (2006). Total Quality Index MSN Autos
  3. Web site: Abuelsamid . Sam . (2008) . AutoblogGreen . 2008-04-18 . 2011-02-06.
  4. Web site: US: GM axes Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne. just-auto.com. 2011-05-26. 2011-06-05. 2016-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220061723/http://www.just-auto.com/news/gm-axes-cadillac-dts-and-buick-lucerne_id111499.aspx. dead.
  5. Web site: Car Reviews . 2014-03-03 . 2014-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140303101332/http://cars.about.com/od/buick/ . dead .
  6. Web site: 2008 specs. https://web.archive.org/web/20081008081750/http://media.gm.com/us/buick/en/product_services/r_cars/r_c_lucerne/08index.html#specs. dead. October 8, 2008.
  7. Web site: 2009 specs. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828235228/http://media.gm.com/us/buick/en/product_services/r_cars/r_c_lucerne/09index.html#specs. dead. August 28, 2008.
  8. Web site: IIHS-HLDI: Buick Lucerne . Iihs.org . 2008-11-25 . 2009-05-02 . 2013-07-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130708075753/http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=639 . dead .
  9. Web site: IIHS-HLDI: Buick Lucerne . Iihs.org . 2008-11-25 . 2009-05-02.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-04-05 . 2014-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140611061533/http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4605.pdf . dead .
  11. Web site: GM Media Online . Media.gm.com . 2006-01-04 . 2009-05-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090301050807/http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.emerald.gm.com%2Fgmnews%2Fviewpressreldetail.do%3Fdomain%3D2&docid=21738 . March 1, 2009 .
  12. Web site: GM Media Online . Media.gm.com . 2007-01-03 . 2009-05-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090423152022/http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.emerald.gm.com%2Fgmnews%2Fviewmonthlyreleasedetail.do%3Fdomain%3D6&docid=31596 . April 23, 2009 .
  13. Web site: GM Media Online . Media.gm.com . 2009-01-05 . 2009-05-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090423151551/http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.emerald.gm.com%2Fgmnews%2Fviewpressreldetail.do%3Fdomain%3D2&docid=51161 . April 23, 2009 .
  14. http://media.gm.com/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Jan/0105_Dec_Sales/_jcr_content/iconrow/textfile/file.res/Deliveries%20December%2009.xls Deliveries December 2009
  15. http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/DeliveriesDecember2010.pdf Deliveries December 2010
  16. Web site: GM U.S. Deliveries for December 2011 . media.gm.com.
  17. Web site: GM U.S. Deliveries for December 2012 . media.gm.com.