Engineering:Buick Lucerne
| Buick Lucerne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 2005-June 15, 2011 |
| Model years | 2006–2011 |
| Assembly | Hamtramck, Michigan, United States (Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly) |
| Designer |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Transverse FF layout |
| Platform | G platform/GMX222 |
| Related | Cadillac DTS |
| Powertrain | |
| 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) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 115.6 in (2,936 mm) |
| Length | 203.2 in (5,161 mm) |
| Width | 73.8 in (1,875 mm) |
| Height | 58.0 in (1,473 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| 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 17 hp (13 kW) 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.[citation needed] 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
| Years | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2008[6] | 3.8 L 3800 L26 V6 | 231 cu in (3791 cc) | 197 hp (147 kW) @ 5200 rpm | 227 lb⋅ft (308 N⋅m) @ 3800 rpm |
| 2009–2011[7] | 3.9 L GM 3900 V6 | 237 cu in (3880 cc) | 227 hp (169 kW) @ 5700 rpm | 237 lb⋅ft (321 N⋅m) @ 3200 rpm |
| 2006–2008[6] | 4.6 L Northstar LD8 V8 | 279 cu in (4565 cc) | 275 hp (205 kW) @ 6000 rpm | 295 lb⋅ft (400 N⋅m) @ 4400 rpm |
| 2008–2011[6] | 4.6 L Northstar L37 V8 | 279 cu in (4565 cc) | 292 hp (218 kW) @ 6300 rpm | 288 lb⋅ft (390 N⋅m) @ 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 Year | Total American sales |
|---|---|
| 2005[11] | 8,821 |
| 2006[12] | 96,515 |
| 2007 | 82,923 |
| 2008[13] | 54,930 |
| 2009[14] | 31,292 |
| 2010[15] | 26,459 |
| 2011[16] | 20,358 |
| 2012[17] | 971 |
References
- ↑ Frame, Phil (16 January 1995). "GM H CARS MOVE TO G PLATFORM". Automotive News. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19950116/ANA/501160730#axzz2TYYYR1jT.
- ↑ Strategic Vision (2006). Total Quality Index MSN Autos
- ↑ Abuelsamid, Sam (2008-04-18). "(2008)". AutoblogGreen. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/18/2009-buick-lucerne-adds-the-ability-to-use-a-fuel-that-it-will-l/.
- ↑ "US: GM axes Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne". just-auto.com. 2011-05-26. http://www.just-auto.com/news/gm-axes-cadillac-dts-and-buick-lucerne_id111499.aspx.
- ↑ "Car Reviews". http://cars.about.com/od/buick/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "2008 specs". Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081008081750/http://media.gm.com/us/buick/en/product_services/r_cars/r_c_lucerne/08index.html#specs.
- ↑ "2009 specs". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828235228/http://media.gm.com/us/buick/en/product_services/r_cars/r_c_lucerne/09index.html#specs.
- ↑ "IIHS-HLDI: Buick Lucerne". Iihs.org. 2008-11-25. http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=639.
- ↑ "IIHS-HLDI: Buick Lucerne". Iihs.org. 2008-11-25. http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=670.
- ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4605.pdf.
- ↑ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2006-01-04. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=21738.
- ↑ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2007-01-03. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=6&docid=31596.
- ↑ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2009-01-05. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=51161.
- ↑ Deliveries December 2009 gm.com
- ↑ Deliveries December 2010 gm.com
- ↑ "GM U.S. Deliveries for December 2011". media.gm.com. http://media.gm.com/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jan/gmsales/_jcr_content/rightpar/sectioncontainer/par/download/file.res/Deliveries%20December%202011.pdf.
- ↑ "GM U.S. Deliveries for December 2012". media.gm.com. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2013/Jan/gmsales.html.
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