Autoblog

Buick to invest in LaCrosse, let Lucerne dodder toward oblivion

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Buick, GM

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.

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Execs say Buick to get more "bold", "dramatic"

Dan Roth — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Buick, GM

Through the success of the Enclave, Buick has discovered that nicely designed, well-built, high content vehicles sell. Being the first Buick in a long time to log advance orders, GM thinks it might be onto something with the Enclave formula. That recipe consists of bolder styling than past Buicks, with cues coming from the Velite and Riviera show cars. Avoiding retro, forthcoming Buicks promise to amp up the curbside drama with unabashed curves, and a lot of chrome. The Enclave has an interior that was obviously fussed over, too. If Buick can turn out a car using the same discipline that guided the successful Enclave launch, it should be exciting to watch the brand reinflate. Both the Riviera and Velite concepts have striking, tight designs that are nothing like the blobby, amorphous Buicks of the recent past. The Lucerne is a stylistic step in the right direction, and with a new LaCrosse due soon, we might start to see the return of stylish GM sedans that people clamor to buy. We'll get some indication soon, when we see what Buick brings to Detroit.

Follow the jump to see the Velite's unveiling at the 2004 New York Auto Show.

[Source: AutoObserver]

Continue reading Execs say Buick to get more "bold", "dramatic"

Execs say Buick to get more "bold", "dramatic" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: It's a Buick, beyotch!

Alex Nunez — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Buick, Lexus

A creative Buick dealer is celebrating the brand's performance in J.D. Power's 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study that was released yesterday, in which it tied Lexus for the top spot, by putting together an amusing little viral that stars the Buick Lucerne CST SEMA concept from 2006. The car was prepared by Stainless Steel Brakes Corp. of Clarence, NY, and was one of many Lucernes GM sent to the show last year. You can see the full inventory of upgrades along with the aforementioned video created by Alfred Matthews Motorsports after the jump. Believe us, it's worth it, beyotch!

UPDATE: The video's been yanked. Lame.

[Source: YouTube]

Gallery: Buick Lucerne CST - SEMA 2006

Gallery: Buick at SEMA 2006

Continue reading VIDEO: It's a Buick, beyotch!

VIDEO: It's a Buick, beyotch! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick Lucerne comes equipped with new safety tech

Dan Roth — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Buick, Cadillac, GM

You don't need no stinkin' Volvo to experience BLIS(s) -- for 2008, the Buick Lucerne is fitted with lane departure and blind-spot warning systems. The Lucerne offers classic GM big-sedan ethos, with lots of content, wide, cushy seats and restrained, handsome styling. Now, when you're motorvating down the interstate, listening to your Buick 8, an amber lamp will illuminate in the gauge cluster, and a chime will toll three times to indicate you're about to encroach on someone else's road space. If one of the ever present morons on the road decides to hang out in your blind spot, the Lucerne uses proximity sensors behind the rear fascia to detect the car and warn you with an indicator in the side mirror. Buick's safety gear will also be offered on Cadillac's STS and DTS, making GM Luxury that much safer. Now if they could just develop a "blinker on for the last 60 miles" warning system, or a "stay the hell out of the fast lane if you're doing 53 1/2 MPH" light in the cluster, we'd be good. Okay, okay, we'll admit, the stereotyping is stale. Maybe we're just mellowing with time, but we appreciate the merits of a Lucerne.

[Source: Edmunds]

Buick Lucerne comes equipped with new safety tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2007 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whiplash a serious problem with many vehicles, says IIHS

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Arlington, Va. has just concluded testing on some 75 vehicles' head restraint systems and after performing a simulated rear-end impact of 20 MPH, only 22 of the systems received the top score of "good."

At the head of the class was Audi's A4, S4 and A6, along with the Chevy Cobalt, Ford Five Hundred (Taurus, whatever) and its Mercury counterpart, Honda's Civic, Hyundai Sonata, Jag S-Type, Kia Optima, Merc E-class, Nissan Sentra and its lesser sibling the Versa, Subaru's Impreza, Legacy and Outback, as well as Volvo's S40, S60 and S80 (no surprise).

The flunkees included the Acura TSX, BMW 5-series, Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne, Caddy CTS, DTS and STS, Chevy's Aveo, the Honda Fit and Accord, Infiniti's M35, the Jaguar X-Type, Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Galant, Pontiac's Grand Prix, plus the Toyota Avalon and Corrolla.

Considering that the IIHS estimates that the injuries sustained to the back and neck in these types of collisions costs insurance companies around $8 mbillion dollars per year, their interest in the matter is obvious. Whether or not consumers will include this in their purchasing criteria is another matter however.

[Source: IIHS]

Whiplash a serious problem with many vehicles, says IIHS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick reviving 'Super' name on LaCrosse and Lucerne

Chris Shunk — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Buick

After 50 years on the shelf, Buick is dusting off the 'Super' name for upcoming variants of the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Due to be unveiled in New York next week, the two vehicles will receive more power and an upgraded chassis, in addition to exclusive content and upgraded trim. A Buick spokesman did reveal that the Lacrosse Super will have portholes on the front fenders while the base Lacrosse will not. The Enclave may be the next Buick in the lineup to get the 'Super' treatment, but GM brass has yet to make a final determination.

We like the fact that Buick's making the effort to spice up the brand, and it's nice to know that your grandfather will soon be able to hit 60 in the high fives if the need presents itself.

[Source: Automotive News (subscription req'd)]

Buick reviving 'Super' name on LaCrosse and Lucerne originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM SEMA Showcase #3: The Buicks

Alex Nunez — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Buick

UPDATE 1: Added photos of the Lucernes assembled en masse.
UPDATE 2: All images now link to hires copies

Wow, GM's bringing so many Buicks to SEMA, we're giving them a showcase post all their own. Hell bent on getting the message across that the Buick brand isn't just for Sansabelt-wearing retirees anymore, the General has dispatched -- count 'em -- eleven Lucernes prepared by different customizers. We're still wrapping our heads arounf the idea of Buick being modded this way. Some of the cars fare better than others, but the point of the exercise is to show what the Lucerne looks like when taken in directions you wouldn't normally associate with Buick. Mission accomplished.

The best Buick at SEMA may well be a throwback, however, as the '64 Electra 225 convertible (above) that will lead the pack of Lucernes headed to SEMA. Fully restored and looking bone stock save for the chromed 20" Boss Motorsports wheels filling the cutouts. Looks, however, can be very decieving, as this Electra is anything but stock underhood, where a GM Performance Parts ZZ572 crate engine resides. Its 620 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque are more than enough to give the white ragtop a distinct advantage at any stoplight grand prix.

So, now that you've been briefed, check out all the cars and their associated press materials after the jump.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: Buick at SEMA 2006

GM SEMA Showcase #3: The Buicks originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick tries to avoid Oldsmobile's fate

Stuart Waterman — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SEMA Show, Trends, Sedan, Crossover, Buick

Buick's marketers are caught between a rock and a hard place, or more accurately between the aging baby boomers of its core market and the younger Gen-Y buyers it needs to grow the brand. With the average Buick owner nearing retirement age, brand managers are trying to play both sides of the fence, making the OnStar Directions and Connections service (a favorite of older buyers that don't like complex nav systems) standard for all 2007 models, while readying a fleet of tricked-out Lucerne sedans for the upcoming youth-oriented Specialty Equipment Marketers Association trade show in Las Vegas.

The trick for Buick is to keep its core market happy while attracting new, younger buyers - avoiding the fate of the Oldsmobile brand, whose "Not your father's Oldsmobile" campaign alienated the AARP segment while bland models failed to attract new customers. Falling market share eventually led to the demise of the famous brand.

So how's Buick doing? Well, the average age of a Buick owner is 63 (compared to 58 for Cadillac), and sales are down 17 percent so far this year while General Motors as a whole is down only 11 percent. We'll see if the SEMA initiative lights a fire under the tuner crowd, but the upcoming Enclave certainly looks well-positioned to grab a significant share of the luxury crossover segment.

[Source: BrandWeek]

Buick tries to avoid Oldsmobile's fate originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fans design dream lineups for GM brands

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Buick, GM

The dedicated General Motors supporters at GMInsideNews are tired of waiting for GM to come up with the compelling model lineups that will propel its brands back to market leadership, so they've taken matters into their own hands, with a minisite called Revitalization in Action.

The first marque to receive the group's revitalization efforts is Buick, once tagged by Bob Lutz as one of GM's "damaged brands." The GMI group's product ideas are based on an encyclopedic knowledge of GM drivetrain and chassis architectures, as well as finely tuned Photoshop skills, and include the Buick Roadmaster Coupe shown above - theoretically based on GM's new Zeta RWD platform and proposed for a 2009 rollout as a next generation Lucerne. (We have to admit, the storied Roadmaster name carries much more weight than Lucerne...)

Read about the rest of the Buick dream lineup here, and stay tuned for the group's efforts for GM's other brands.

[Source: GMInsideNews]

Fans design dream lineups for GM brands originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS issues large sedan side-impact testing scores

Eric Bryant — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Sedan, Safety, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Hyundai, Toyota

In the world of large sedans* equipped with side airbags, some do a better job than others at protecting occupants according to the latest results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Achieving the top score of "good" are the Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Camry (this serious group of testers does not issue any scores of "excellent" or "exceptional" or even "super marvelous"). The Buick Lucerne and Hyundai Azera both earned an "acceptable" rating, while the Chrysler 300 and Buick LaCrosse came in with a "marginal" score.

The IIHS points out the importance of side-impact test scores by noting that in collisions involving modern vehicles, more drivers die in side impacts than in collisions of the frontal nature. Indeed, with the dramatic improvement in frontal protection, most vehicles now receive a rating of "good" from the institute in this measure of performance, with the most significant distinctions in safety now being in the realm of side impact protection.

*Concerning the comments that came up during our last post on "large cars" - we're not the ones who call these "large sedans", as that assessment is made by the EPA. We know that a Lucerne is not as large as your grandpa's Electra 225. We're also aware that it is no longer 1965.

[Source: IIHS; more info from the institute is posted after the jump]

Continue reading IIHS issues large sedan side-impact testing scores

IIHS issues large sedan side-impact testing scores originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Young drivers going after "grandpa cars"

Eric Bryant — Tue, 09 May 2006 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Car Buying, Trends, Sedan, Wagon, Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a rather disturbing trend among younger buyers of new and used cars - the tendency to buy outside of the culturally acceptable boundaries of age and generation. Why, there's an absolute epidemic of young adults, some not even yet out of their teens, cruising around in Oldsmobile Cutlass Supremes, Buick Park Avenues, and Chevrolet Caprices! Buick's Lucerne appears to be one of the heirs to the throne currently occupied by Chrysler's 300C, and there are more than a few youngsters roaming around Cadillac, Lexus, and Lincoln dealerships as well.

We mock the WSJ only because this isn't a new trend (despite the CNW marketing data - specifically, its "stodgy index" - that shows the emergence of this buying habit). The release of the Chevrolet Impala SS in 1994 attracted buyers that were an amazing 10 years younger than typical Caprice owners, and lit off a B-body customization craze that continues today. Older RWD cars, including the large number of retired police cruisers that hit the market every year, are a blank canvas for the custom crowd. Want to throw it on bags and "lay frame"? No problem. Do you have a desire, as misplaced as it may be, to lift your car four feet and throw on a set of monstrous 28s? Go right ahead - it's as easy as lifting a pickup truck. There's also some serious performance potential. And for those going for a more subdued look, a clean set of dubs on an mid-nineties Buick Riv or ~~Ford~~* Lincoln Continental is an easy and affordable way to stand out from the sport-compact crowd while still giving yourself and three or four friends plenty of room to stretch out during road trips. Of course, there's an ironic tinge to all this, what with so many pensioners going after 'youth brand' cars like the Scion xB.

In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that the author of this Autoblog post owns two vehicles with wire-spoke hubcaps and stand-up hood ornaments.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

*Thanks to the reader who pointed out my error - apparently, driving old-people cars can also cause slight dementia.

Young drivers going after "grandpa cars" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 May 2006 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick Lucerne living large on dealer lots

John Neff — Mon, 08 May 2006 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Sedan, Buick

General Motors would like to us view the Lucerne as one of its Value Pricing success stories. The big FWD sedan is selling well with few incentives, which means its average transaction price is staying relatively high. Buick has sold 22,124 Lucerne's in the first quarter, but is expecting to build 145,000 by the end of the year.

What's more impressive, however, is the low 9.3-percent of fleet sales for the Lucerne in the first quarter. The Buick Park Avenue and LeSabre that the Lucerne replaces averaged 26-percent fleet sales. GM is hoping that it can boost the Lucerne's residual value by keeping those fleet sales in the basement.

Don't ask a Buick dealer how well the Lucerne is performing, however, as you'll likely get varying answers. Some are selling out and some are hardly selling any. That just goes to show how geographically isolated Buick's audience is.

Related posts:
2006 Buick Lucerne in the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2
2006 Buick Lucerne in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4
2006 Buick Lucerne in the Autoblog Garage Day 5

[Source: AutoWeek]

Buick Lucerne living large on dealer lots originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 May 2006 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiger Woods set to roll around in the dirt with Kiwis

Chris Paukert — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Buick

Tiger Woods is used to long, commanding drives-- in fact, one could say he's made a habit of them. But the PGA's biggest star is set to trade in his golf clubs for a dirt oval stock car -- and in New Zealand, of all places.

The Buick spokesman will dice it up with other celebrities (including professional racers and his own caddy, in a 12-lap charity race where bumping and grinding is apparently the order of the day.

Tiger will suit up and strap in next Monday at Huntly Placemakers Speedway, and the race will raise money for the Steve Williams Foundation, an organization that helps give impoverished youth the opportunity to pursue their sporting joneses.

[Sources: Seven.com.au; Buick]

Tiger Woods set to roll around in the dirt with Kiwis originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick to court hip-hop dollar?

Chris Paukert — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Audio, Trends, Sedan, Etc., I.C.E., Marketing/Advertising, Buick, GM

Dr. Dre is over 40 years old. Grandmaster Flash? Knockin' on the big 5-0 (and we're not talking about the police, yo). So... what's an aging rapper to drive when arthritis rules out high-riding Escalades and Hummer H2s? Chrysler 300? Been there, DUBbed that.

So perhaps the next logical step is a blinged-out version of Buick's LaCrosse. The version seen here has been given the full rap star treatment, lowered and rollin' on 22" chromies, tinted windows and taillamp lenses, plenty of ICE and a reworked leather and suede interior. The sedan seen here will make the scene in 16 major markets on the DUB tour.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line and Buick]

Buick to court hip-hop dollar? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lucerne, Fusion hitting sweet spots

Joel Arellano — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan

Consumers apparently were not waiting for the latest Consumer Report on what vehicles to purchase. According to Don Hammonds of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the new full-sized Buick Lucerne, which replaces the LeSabre and the Park Avenue; and Ford's new mid-sized Fusion, one of two replacements for the Taurus (the other being the Five Hundred), are proving to be strong sellers for their respective automakers.
Sales of the Lucerne, for example, went from a paltry 285 in October to 2,724 in November and over 6,000 in January and 7,327 last month. And the Fusion had over 5% market share among the mid-sized sedans last month, as well.

Lucerne, Fusion hitting sweet spots originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Mar 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Would Grandpa Drive? Edmunds goes 'Top 10' on pensioner's wheels

Joel Arellano — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Sedan

Edmunds has compiled what it considers the top ten best vehicles for senior citizens. Seniors, defined as those sixty-five and older, represent the fastest-growing segment of America's population. The article addresses the strengths and weaknesses of each vehicle as they relate to a senior's perceived needs.

The list, in alphabetic order, includes :

Audi A8
BMW 7 Series
Buick Lucerne
Chrysler 300
Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
Honda Civic
Pontiac Montana SV6 (NOTE: The Montana is being retired by General Motors)
Toyota Avalon (pictured)
Toyota Prius
Toyota Sienna

Are there other vehicles you think deserve the AARP seal-of-approval?

[Source: Edmunds]

What Would Grandpa Drive? Edmunds goes 'Top 10' on pensioner's wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Mar 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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