The current Buick Lucerne shares its underpinnings with both the Cadillac DTS and the Chevrolet Impala, but all three vehicles are set to go their separate ways when they're refreshed in a couple years. Last month we told you that the Impala was staying FWD, and now Motor Trend is reporting that the Lucerne could still receive RWD, but it won't be as big as the DTS/STS replacement. GM is looking into the feasibility of producing a smaller Lucerne that will ride on a wheelbase several inches shorter than the 118.5-inch spread slated for the future Caddy.
The move to shrink the Lucerne will have a lot to do with stricter CAFE standards in the years ahead. MT wisely points out the fact that the Pontiac G8, which already sits on a smaller Zeta platform, shows that RWD isn't always a fuel drain. The current Lucerne is pulled with the front wheels, and gets 16/25 with the ancient 3.8-liter V6 and 15/22 with the 4.6-liter Northstar, while the smaller G8 achieves 17/25 with the 3.6-liter unit and 15/25 from the tried and true 6.0-liter pushrod. Besides the smaller Zeta's fuel economy advantages, downsizing the Buick helps keep the Caddy exclusive over the more pedestrian Lucerne.
[Source: Motor trend]
CAR reveals spy shots of McLaren P11 supercar
2010 Chevrolet Camaro priced: LS $22,995, SS $30,995
BREAKING: GM and Chrysler talking about merger
Spy Shots: Nissan 370Z again, with interior shots
2010 Mazda3 unveiled ahead of LA Auto Show
In the Autobog Garage: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo
Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 3
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3, return of the "hummer"
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason @ Jun 4th 2008 1:39PM
15/25 not a fuel drain? what are you smoking? my civic NEVER gets below 32, and on the highway, I regularly get over 40. you guys need to rethink what good fuel economy means.
Josiah @ Jun 4th 2008 1:53PM
The point was to highlight how the change from FWD to RWD won't effect fuel economy negatively. I don't believe they were making a statement about the G8's overall efficiency.
Geeky1 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:14PM
Josiah hit the nail on the head, I think. And to add two more points:
One, saying "oh, well my Civic gets 30+mpg, so this thing (with an engine that's probably ~3x the size and close to that in power output) gets terrible gas mileage" is, at best, silly. The two cars aren't comparable, and shouldn't be compared. Not everybody wants to drive a wrong wheel drive, i4 powered mobile penalty box with a dashboard straight out of Star Trek, regardless of what kind of mileage it gets. For what this car is-a relatively large, cheap, upscale (but certainly not luxury) sedan with a reasonable amount of power, 15-16 in the city and 25ish on the highway isn't bad. At all.
And secondly, what constitutes good or acceptable gas mileage depends on your perspective, doesn't it? For me, it matters very little whether my car gets 15mpg or 30. I don't drive that much, and even at $4.30/gallon for premium, 15mpg is perfectly fine with me. If you're commuting 100 miles a day, on the other hand, it's different.
Gregg @ Jun 4th 2008 1:40PM
The Impala does NOT share a platform with the other two. It shares a platform with the lame duck Pontiac Grand Prix and the Buick Lacrosse.
The Other Bob @ Jun 4th 2008 3:42PM
Thank you. My bet was that the next generation Impala would join the Lucerne platform and both would be built in Canada since the Detroit plant is slated for Delta platform cars.
If the Impala stays fwd, what platform will it ride on? The Grand Prix and LaCrosse won't be built on that platform any longer, so just building the Impala on it doesn't make sense.
Frylock350 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:50PM
LaCrosse Super isn't lame and it thrashes the ES (its main competitor) in every conceivable performance metric.
Torrent @ Jun 4th 2008 1:43PM
OOH
Torrent @ Jun 4th 2008 1:49PM
I still think Lucerne should stay huge. Just give it a V8 with 33(5?) Horsepower and make it RWD. They pulled off the G8 legally, so use the same exact architecture for the Lucerne.
Duh.
Yar @ Jun 4th 2008 1:56PM
Or slap a turbo on the DI 3.6 and call it the GNX.
Torrent @ Jun 4th 2008 2:10PM
That makes so much sense it's scary.
Frylock350 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:51PM
I agree that Lucerne should stay huge. GM doesn't even have to do any work to achieve a big Lucerne. Slap a waterfall grille, some portholes, and a tri-shield on a Holden Statesman/Caprice and you're done. I'd be beating down the doors of the dealer to buy it.
EvenSteven @ Jun 4th 2008 3:23PM
Frylock - I think that car already exists is China with an awsome interior. Just bring it hear. Of course they call it the Park Avenue. http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/chinas-zeta-cake-buick-park-avenue-251730.php
Simon @ Jun 4th 2008 1:52PM
They still make those 3.8 pushrod engines? Is it series III by now? Being in production for 40 years its probably as reliable as a rock by now, too bad it's gutless and has poor emissions and fuel consumption.
Z28SSC @ Jun 4th 2008 2:06PM
Yep, they do. Sadly the Lucerne is heavier than the Park Ave it replaced in addition to the 3.8 being rated down (detuned for emissions?) to a paltry 197hp. It doesn't cut the mustard and neither does the Northstar and its poorer numbers in every facet when compared to a small block Chevy all while increasing cost and complexity. Toss in a boring exterior and it isn't any wonder Lucernes can't be given away.
Holden Miecranc @ Jun 4th 2008 2:28PM
The 3800 is not a 40 year old engine. The Series II, introduced in 1995, is a completely different engine than its' 3.8 liter predecessors. The Series III, introduced in 2003, featured a large number of updates to the Series II. This means the current version of the 3800 is, at most 13 years old and has only been in service in its' current form for five years.
Frylock350 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:54PM
The 3800 is a damn reliable engine but GM didn't really update it since 95. The differences between SII and SIII were reliability related. The SI 3800 could handle immense power on stock internals. If GM kept the 3800 up to date it would be churning out as much power as the 3.6L does and get better fuel efficiency.
psarhjinian @ Jun 4th 2008 1:56PM
The Lucerne shares with the DTS and (recently) the Bonneville; the Lacrosse/Allure is on the same platform as the Impala and Grand Prix.
I can see the Lucerne going RWD if the DTS does. The Lacrosse will keep getting cranked out as long as the Impala does, too.
Papi L-Gee @ Jun 4th 2008 2:12PM
The LaCrosse is due to be replaced on Epsilon II, though, leaving the Impala as the only W-body in the fleet.
carlbolt @ Jun 4th 2008 2:21PM
DTS, Impala, Lucerne, none of these sluggish old man's car should be alive. Theirs existance can only make more traffic jams.
Drew @ Jun 4th 2008 3:43PM
They may be old man's cars, but in their upper trims they are anything but sluggish. Even the Lucerne with the 3800 doesn't feel sluggish once you're behind the wheel. It's no 300c, but it's not an Aveo either.