Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Buick to invest in LaCrosse, let Lucerne dodder toward oblivion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/buick-to-invest-in-lacrosse-let-lucerne-dodder-toward-oblivion/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/buick-to-invest-in-lacrosse-let-lucerne-dodder-toward-oblivion/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/buick-to-invest-in-lacrosse-let-lucerne-dodder-toward-oblivion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of 2010 LaCrosse spy shots

Small(er) is the new big as far as Buick's concerned. With the precipitous sales falloff of full-sized cars, Buick's putting its chips on the mid-sized 2010 LaCrosse, which will go on sale in the U.S. and in China. That leaves the full-size Lucerne in terminal orbit; built on GM's G Platform, Buick has no plans to redesign it, and no plans to replace it with the Park Avenue, which goes straight from its Holden assembly line in Australia to a port in China.

The LaCrosse will aim at the U.S. premium mid-size buyers and be the first domestic entrant on GM's new global mid-size platform. While it can fit both four- and six-cylinder engines, the pick of the litter will probably be the all-new 3.0-liter direct-injection V6. To give it a serious chance as an import fighter, the LaCrosse will also receive features like a heads-up display and all-wheel-drive. We'll be bringing you the full story on the car that will be Buick's spearhead from next month's Detroit Auto Show, so stay tuned.

Gallery: 2010 Buick LaCrosse - spy shots II


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Buick to invest in LaCrosse, let Lucerne dodder toward oblivion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buickbuick lacrossebuick lucerneBuickLacrosseBuickLucernedetroit auto showDetroitAutoShowfull sizeFullSizegmlacrosselucernemarketingmid size sedanMidSizeSedanspy shotsSpyShotsMon, 22 Dec 2008 16:32:00 EST<![CDATA[MT reports RWD Buick Lucerne still alive]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/mt-reports-rwd-buick-lucerne-still-alive/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/mt-reports-rwd-buick-lucerne-still-alive/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/mt-reports-rwd-buick-lucerne-still-alive/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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]

MT reports RWD Buick Lucerne still alive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Buick LucerneBuickLucerneGMRWDZeta platformZetaPlatformWed, 04 Jun 2008 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[American Axle strike idles first GM passenger car plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/american-axle-strike-idles-first-gm-passenger-car-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/american-axle-strike-idles-first-gm-passenger-car-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/american-axle-strike-idles-first-gm-passenger-car-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When the American Axle strike began, GM had a 106-day supply of pickup trucks on dealer lots, and even a month-long strike likely wouldn't have hurt the Detroit automaker. It has now been more than a month, the strike isn't any closer to ending, and now GM's car plants are joining its truck plants in the unemployment line. Friday marked the last shift at the General's Hamtramck, MI plant, which builds the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS, due to a lack of parts coming from American Axle. According to Automotive News the pain may not stop there, either, as the Lordstown, Ohio plant may have to shut down production of the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 due to a lack of brake components. GM may not have been all that concerned about the American Axle strike when it began in February, but now after a month with barely any talks and a quickly growing list of shuttered plants, we're guessing things are getting a bit tight over at the Ren Cen.

[Source: Auto News (subs. req'd)]

American Axle strike idles first GM passenger car plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When you think aftermarket, chances are "midsize sedan" doesn't immediately spring to mind unless it has a German badge. But Chrysler has the 300 and Buick sees the Lucerne as a good alternative. SEMA has seen hundreds of different 300 variations, so not to be left out this year, Buick brought something for everyone. Everyone who likes the Lucerne, that is. Lots of Lucernes to go through, and damned if we were going to cover more than one. The Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom Custom Motor Sports of Mendota, Illinois (please don't pronounce the "s") is by far the nicest.

This Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner sports a fairly understated but definitely custom two-tone paint job with White Gold Flash tri-coat on the sides and Glacier Gold Flash over the top down to the beltline. The effect really works to slim that profile a bit. The ground effects kit draws the whole shape down another notch. The 20-inch Weld EVO forged spoke wheels, coupled with a 2.25" lowering really closes the fender gap too.

A little more chrome than we prefer, but as an alternative to the 300C, this package looks pretty good, too bad it doesn't offer a HEMI. The Northstar is no slouch though, and here it gets a 20-percent power increase from revised ECU programming, and a 4-tip Corsa exhaust. The inside was pretty tasteful and had a megawatt (3,000!) stereo system by Eclipse that could have doubled as the PA system at the convention center. Nice concept for this newest Buick. More pics after the jump.

Continue reading SEMA: Buick Lucerne CCX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom

SEMA: Buick Lucerne CCX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's our hope that any page referring to GM's interior design during the last twenty-five years be ripped out of the annals of automotive history. It's time for the General to begin a new chapter on interiors. Gone are the gaps, cheap plastic and oversized cartoon buttons that have been the company's unfortunate trademark for so long. The Lucerne's dash has been designed with the same restraint and minimalism as its exterior, with a focus more on quality of materials, ergonomics and fit and finish. And it seems GM has emptied out its old parts bin and refilled it with new pieces, as some of the Lucerne's switchgear can also be found in the new 2007 Chevy Tahoe.

The Lucerne's interior design is as large a leap forward for Buick as the exterior design, but we're not ready yet to anoint GM the 'King of Cockpits.' Read on to see where the Lucerne's cabin rewrites the book on GM interiors and where it refers back to previous passages.

Continue reading 2006 Buick Lucerne CSX: In the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4

2006 Buick Lucerne CSX: In the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BuickBuick LucerneBuickLucerneGMThu, 09 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[2006 Buick Lucerne CXS: In the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/07/2006-buick-lucerne-csx-in-the-autoblog-garage-day-1-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/07/2006-buick-lucerne-csx-in-the-autoblog-garage-day-1-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/07/2006-buick-lucerne-csx-in-the-autoblog-garage-day-1-2/#commentsFiled under: ,



The new 2006 Buick Lucerne is a very large car, which is a good thing considering it has mighty large shoes to fill. It not only replaces the LeSabre in Buick's lineup but also pinch hits for the now defunct Park Avenue. This means that the Lucerne's price cuts a wide swath, with the entry level CX beginning at $25,990 and our range topping CXS tester starting at $34,990.

From this it's apparent that the Lucerne was designed to compete on many different levels. Where the LeSabre fought tooth and nail for the middle class family sedan dollar, the Park Avenue went after luxo-cruiser cash. The Lucerne must attract attention from both types of clientele if it's to be considered a successful replacement. We were handed the keys to an executive class CXS and plan to find out over the next week whether the Lucerne can fill both of Buick's vacant shoes.

Continue reading 2006 Buick Lucerne CXS: In the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2

2006 Buick Lucerne CXS: In the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Mar 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Buick LucerneBuickLucerneGMluxury carsluxury vehiclesLuxuryCarsLuxuryVehiclesTue, 07 Mar 2006 12:00:00 EST