2011 Buick Lucerne
By Zaheer on Jun 24, 2011 with Comments 0
The 2011 Buick Lucerne may be the last one of the Buick Lucerne models as General Motors steers away from producing the model and gearing up the efforts to build a replacement. This not withstanding, the 2011 Buick Lucerne has made a comeback with a V-6 or V-8 engine in addition to a few other upgrades.
The Lucerne is a concretive of the old luxury American style emphasizing a classic style in the interior and exterior details. It is a large front wheel-drive sedan with an attractive exterior dotting chrome accents. Sometimes it has polished alloy wheels. The interiors spot neat stitches on the leather seats with a walnut trim and a suede door panel trimming in more plush versions.
The Lucerne is available in four sedans. The CX, CXL and CXL Premium sedans use a 3.9 liter V-6, 272 horsepower engine. The fourth is the Lucerne Super which has a 4.6 liter Northstar V-8 with 292 horsepower. The V-6 and V-8 engines are characteristic of ample low torque, high fuel economy and allowable acceleration.
The Lucerne Super has a magnetic ride control which uses magneto rheological shocks which adjust automatically to control body roll giving a cozy ride. It has excellent steering with a lot of body roll and absorbs bumps pretty well as the case should be for a domestic sedan.
The specialties found in a Lucerne interior are a quiet cabin with large seats. The dated-looking Lucerne has larger interior space than more expensive Japanese Sedans and has more space in the trunk and the cabin. The CX model boasts of a bench seating of flat and wide seats both at the front and the back which is not available in any other car.
Standards feature in the Lucerne include a dual front, anti-lock brakes, side and curtain airbags and traction control. The 2011 models have a standard stability control. The Lucerne is rated at only 3 stars in the federal crash testing failing in the side impact tests. Only the two Lucerne models on the upper-end have blind-spot obstacle sensors and lane departure warning systems.
High-tech features of great interest in the Lucerne are a standard AM/FM/MP3 stereo system with an option for a USB port, a touch screen navigation packaged with a 280-watt,9-speaker Harman Kordon audio system which can be optioned for an intermediate 6-disc CD changer and a standard satellite radio. A sunroof, remote start, Bluetooth and parking sensors are optional.
There are two additional packaged options that hype the Lucerne further. The Driver Confidence package brings additional features for safety and convenience: a remote vehicle starter system, an anti-theft alarm system, rear parking assist and the GM’s stability control consisting of a brake assist. The Comfort and Convenience package has a dual-zone air conditioning, a trunk with a cargo convenience net, a Universal Home Remote and Bluetooth, a tire and 16-inch steel spare wheel for the CX and CXL or a tire and a 17-inch spare wheel for the Lucerne Super.
Filed Under: Industry News