By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
With the heat on domestic manufacturers to improve build and design quality, General Motors continues to come through with products that help maintain its position at the top for worldwide sales numbers.
General Motors has spent the last few years focused on revamping the lineups of some of its more profitable brands (Pontiac and Cadillac) and improving consumer perception of its entry-level Saturn brand. Now Buick becomes the main focal point to avoid the same fate of the now defunct Oldsmobile brand.
Gone are the classic nameplates like Park Avenue, LeSabre and Century. But gone, too, is the market overlapping that existed with these cars over the last two decades. Buick’s lineup has dwindled to just three models as they attempt to increase sales and attract more youthful customers. In addition to the elegantly designed Enclave luxury crossover, the LaCrosse and Lucerne should help Buick become a successful mid-level brand for GM by blending the luxury and styling of a Cadillac with the performance and affordability of a Chevrolet.
The 2008 Buick LaCrosse receives the most noticeable differences. The biggest improvement to the LaCrosse is directly up front. A revised grille and fascia give the 2008 LaCrosse a more modern look instead of one that resembles the 1990s Riviera. Like its siblings, the new LaCrosse gets the signature portholes in the front fenders.
While looks can get a car noticed, added power never hurts to help stand out from the crowd. Buick revived a moniker it once used a half century ago to distinguish the more powerful model, Super. Instead of wearing a red “S” on their hoods, the new Buick Supers are more like Clark Kent. Instead of using overly flashy body kits or big wheels to intimidate, these sleepers use what’s under the hood to pack all the punch.
Sharing a platform with the Impala SS allowed Buick to come up with its own sport model but with added luxury. The LaCrosse Super is equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 that offers 300 horsepower and 323 lb-ft. of torque. Fuel economy should not be the kryptonite to this Super with Active Fuel Management that should get similar fuel mileage to the Impala SS, which is 18 city/27 highway. Improved braking and suspension systems should help the LaCrosse Super handle more comfortably then its Bowtie relative.
The bigger Lucerne also gets an updated look for 2008 in addition to its own Super version but focuses on improved luxury. While the 2008 Lucerne Super does get a boost in horsepower, the majority of improvements are on the inside. GM’s Magnetic Ride Control System offers a better ride to passengers while an abundance of suede leather and Walnut burl accents provide a unique, luxurious environment.
The Lucerne Super uses the same 4.6-liter Northstar V8 as the Cadillac DTS but improves performance to 292 horsepower and 288 lb-ft. of torque. A larger grille and unique front and rear fascias finish off the sporty look which helps to differentiate the Lucerne Super from its lesser versions.
All 2008 Buicks will feature a standard four-year/50,000 mile vehicle warranty and a five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.