Buick Lucerne
Encyclopedia
The Buick Lucerne is a full-size car
sold by the Buick
division of General Motors
. Introduced at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show
, the Lucerne replaced both the Park Avenue
and the LeSabre
for the 2006 model year, and was sold through the 2011 model year. The Lucerne was based on a revised H-body
platform, which it shared with the late Pontiac Bonneville
.
Northstar V8 available as an option. The Lucerne is also available with the Corvette
's Magnetic Ride Control, an active suspension
technology. All General Motors 3.8 Liter Buick V6 powered cars become the first SULEV compliant vehicles.
The Lucerne's base price was 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 featured "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 was 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 Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index (TQI)
For 2008 the Lucerne got some mid-life updates like a lane departure warning system, and revised exterior colors. Lucerne sales remained brisk throughout much of 2007. Two new trim levels were added: CXL Special Edition (with more standard features than regular CXL) and Super.
For 2009 the Lucerne got some small upgrades, including a new base engine, the 3.9 L LZ9 V6, and Bluetooth
phone connectivity, and XM NavTraffic. Buick also announced that the Lucerne is available as a flex-fuel vehicle at no additional cost.
For 2010, the Lucerne added the Super's rocker panels, grille, and fog lights to the entire Lucerne lineup.
For 2011, the Lucerne was unchanged.
platform or the Zeta
platform. With the introduction of the entry-level Verano
for 2012, the LaCrosse
takes over the position of Buick's flagship model.
. Updated styling to the front end and the addition of a spoiler to the rear aimed to create a bolder and sportier look. Production of the Lucerne Super began in 2008.
(IIHS) front impact test, and an "Acceptable" score in the side impact test.
Full-size car
A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....
sold by the Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
division of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. Introduced at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
, the Lucerne replaced both the Park Avenue
Buick Park Avenue
The Buick Park Avenue is a full-size car built by General Motors and sold by its Buick division. The nameplate was first used since 1975 as a top trim level of the Buick Electra, and the Park Avenue became a standalone model for the 1991 model year, replacing the Electra...
and the LeSabre
Buick LeSabre
1959LeSabre and all other 1959 Buicks not only got new names, but all-new styling as well, adopting the new GM B- and C-body used on all of the corporation's full-sized cars...
for the 2006 model year, and was sold through the 2011 model year. The Lucerne was based on a revised H-body
GM H platform (FWD)
The H platform, or H-body designates a General Motors front wheel drive full-sized automobile platform beginning in 1986. It is related to the C, G and K platforms.Previously the H platform designation was used for unrelated rear-wheel drive compact cars....
platform, which it shared with the late Pontiac Bonneville
Pontiac Bonneville
The Pontiac Bonneville was an automobile built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1957 to 2005. It was introduced as a limited production performance convertible during the 1957 model year...
.
Features
The Lucerne was introduced with the standard Buick 3800 V6, with a CadillacCadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
Northstar V8 available as an option. The Lucerne is also available with the Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
's Magnetic Ride Control, an active suspension
Active suspension
Active or adaptive suspension is an automotive technology that controls the vertical movement of the wheels with an onboard system rather than the movement being determined entirely by the road surface...
technology. All General Motors 3.8 Liter Buick V6 powered cars become the first SULEV compliant vehicles.
The Lucerne's base price was 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 featured "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 was built at GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly
Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly
Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly is a General Motors automobile factory straddling the border between Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. It is located about three miles from corporate headquarters and has been used for production of Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac products.-History:The site...
Plant alongside the Cadillac DTS
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan produced by General Motors, an American automobile company. The DTS replaced the Cadillac DeVille as General Motors' largest luxury car for the 2006 model year...
. The plant has won Initial Quality Awards from J.D. Power and Associates for the past three years. GM leads all other automakers in Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index (TQI)
For 2008 the Lucerne got some mid-life updates like a lane departure warning system, and revised exterior colors. Lucerne sales remained brisk throughout much of 2007. Two new trim levels were added: CXL Special Edition (with more standard features than regular CXL) and Super.
For 2009 the Lucerne got some small upgrades, including a new base engine, the 3.9 L LZ9 V6, and Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
phone connectivity, and XM NavTraffic. Buick also announced that the Lucerne is available as a flex-fuel vehicle at no additional cost.
For 2010, the Lucerne added the Super's rocker panels, grille, and fog lights to the entire Lucerne lineup.
For 2011, the Lucerne was unchanged.
Discontinuation
The last Lucerne was built on June 15, 2011. No direct replacements have been announced, however a new full-size vehicle will likely be based on the Super EpsilonGM Epsilon platform
Epsilon is General Motors' mid-size front-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was developed by Opel, and debuted in the 2002 Opel Vectra and 2003 Saab 9-3. Since this platform falls squarely in the center of the worldwide automobile market, GM plans to produce a great many Epsilon...
platform or the Zeta
GM Zeta platform
Zeta was the original name for General Motors' full-size rear-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was engineered by Holden of Australia and was most recently referred to as the "Global RWD Architecture". The GM Zeta replaced the Australian V-body and was considered as the replacement...
platform. With the introduction of the entry-level Verano
Buick Verano
The Buick Verano is a four-door, five passenger, compact sedan with a front engine, front-wheel drive layout projected to go on sale in North America in the fourth quarter of 2011 as a 2012 model...
for 2012, the LaCrosse
Buick LaCrosse
The Buick LaCrosse is a mid-size entry-level luxury sedan produced by General Motors. It replaced the Buick Century and Regal in North America beginning in the 2005 model year.-North America:...
takes over the position of Buick's flagship model.
Lucerne Super
Introduced at the 2007 New York Auto Show, the Lucerne Super was a more powerful, upscale trim of the original Lucerne. With an enhanced 4.6 Liter Northstar V-8 engine, the Lucerne Super added 17 hp to the CXS model's V8V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
. Updated styling to the front end and the addition of a spoiler to the rear aimed to create a bolder and sportier look. Production of the Lucerne Super began in 2008.
Engines
| Years | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2008 | 3.8 L Litér - External links :*... 3800 L26 V6 |
231 cu in (3791 cc) | 197 hp @ 5200 rpm | 233 lbft @ 3800 rpm |
| 2009–2011 | 3.9 L GM 3900 V6 | 237 cu in (3880 cc) | 227 hp @ 5700 rpm | 237 lbft @ 3200 rpm |
| 2006–2008 | 4.6 L Northstar LD8 V8 | 279 cu in (4565 cc) | 275 hp @ 6000 rpm | 295 lbft @ 4400 rpm |
| 2008–2011 | 4.6 L Northstar L37 V8 | 279 cu in (4565 cc) | 292 hp @ 6300 rpm | 288 lbft @ 4500 rpm |
Safety
The Buick Lucerne earns a "Good" overall score in the Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyInsurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) front impact test, and an "Acceptable" score in the side impact test.
Yearly American sales
| Calendar Year | Total American sales |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 8,821 |
| 2006 | 96,515 |
| 2007 | 82,923 |
| 2008 | 54,930 |
| 2009 | 31,292 |
| 2010 | 26,459 |