'Super' Buicks: The Return

Jerick Brooks
Amazines.com
April 21, 2007

Buick brings back a name from its history marking 20th-century past to start of a new level of refinement: Super. The name is designated exclusively for Buick's most premium, powerful models after 50 years. It will be witnessed on the 2008 model year LaCrosse and Lucerne sedans.

The ‘Supers’ are engineered for Buick by the GM Performance Division to give inspiring performance on demand.

The LaCrosse Super is powered by a 300-horsepower (224 kW)* 5.3L small-block V-8 with GM's Active Fuel Management technology. Its chassis has been sport-tuned to give responsive handling characteristics. The vehicle maintains Buick's renowned quietness inside.

The Lucerne Super’s horsepower is rated at 292 (218 kW)*, a significant increase of more than 6 percent over existing models. It has an enhanced chassis with a especially tuned version of Lucerne’s Magnetic Ride Control system, for a refined, premium ride that simultaneously enables crisp and responsive handling.

The Super Buicks have elevated design, power and performance. Design elements on the LaCrosse Super and Lucerne Super denote a face lifted Buick. Design cues resemble those seen on the popular Velite convertible concept vehicle – and recently introduced on the Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUV – including a new waterfall grille and portholes.

The LaCrosse Super is the first and only model offered with Buick's four per side iconic portholes. In addition to distinctive design, both ‘Supers’ give a leading-edge performance and refinement with the 5.3L and 4.6L V-8 engines, which are renowned for balancing performance and fuel economy. They are complemented by especially tuned suspension systems.

To reduce, block and absorb noise from entering the interior, LaCrosse and Lucerne Supers, just like all Buick models, are built with an exclusive engineering process called Quiet Tuning. Laminated side window glass, sound-deadening material in the body structure, hydraulic mounted in the engine compartment reduce interior noise even better. Even exhaust nodes were tuned for overall sound quality. These features contribute to a quiet, refined driving experience.

Buick mufflers contribute a lot to this silence as these are more enhanced to fit the ‘Super’ name. LaCrosse’s Buick muffler is same as Lucerne’s.

Standard to all Buick models are the industry's best coverage, including a four-year/50,000-mile vehicle warranty, and a five-year/100,000-mile power train warranty. The Buick LaCrosse Super will be available for dealerships this summer as a 2008 model, while the Lucerne Super is expected to go on sale in spring 2008, as scheduled. However, pricing for both vehicles has not been released, probably a week before their availability in dealerships.

Buick General Manager Steve Shannon said they are bringing back the ‘Super’ badge to represent their most premium models. These ‘Supers’ are not just about increased horsepower. They have elevated designs, premium content and ride characteristics, which are worthy to be tagged as ‘Super’.

Source: Amazines.com