Star-Telegram.com's view

In the continuing renaissance of its Buick premium-car division, GM this year rolls into showrooms the all-new, full-size Lucerne sedan.

Although General Motors insists the Lucerne “isn’t a replacement,” it takes the place of both the LeSabre and Park Avenue as part of Buick’s simple, new, two-car lineup.

Last year, the midsize LaCrosse took the place of the Regal and Century.

Base prices for the 2006 Lucerne, which GM calls an “entry luxury” sedan, range from $26,990 to $35,990, including freight.

The automaker said these prices reflect GM’s “Total Value Promise,” which aims to price vehicles realistically, including the most-popular content, so that consumers don’t automatically expect large cash rebates or discounts.

And with these prices, the Lucerne “targets comparably-equipped import competitors, and should have a positive impact on comparison shopping, particularly on the Internet,” the company said. It’s slightly shorter than the Park Avenue — 204 inches vs. 206.8 — but has a longer wheelbase, which translates into more interior space than in the Park Avenue.

Buick is still looking to bring in younger buyers, and hopes the Lucerne can help with that. And while it might not be quite as stodgy as the Park Avenue, it should have plenty of appeal for loyal older Buick customers who have helped make the LeSabre the best-selling full-size sedan on the market the past several years.

“Lucerne is Buick’s most premium and elegant model,” Buick General Manager Steve Shannon said in announcing Lucerne prices recently.

“While not a replacement, Lucerne is contented and packaged to cover a price encompassing both LeSabre and Park Avenue while squarely taking on competitors.”

And for the first time in 10 years, a V-8 engine will be offered in a Buick car.

The optional 4.6-liter engine, similar to the base Northstar V-8 in the 2006 Cadillac DTS, turns out 275 horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque. And that’s with a rather impressive 17 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, according to EPA estimates provided by Buick.

The base CX model, with a 3.8-liter V-6 engine rated at 195 horsepower and 225 foot-pounds of torque, should be adequate for most consumers, particularly those look for optimum fuel economy.

EPA ratings for the Lucerne with this engine are 20 mpg city/29 highway — nearly the same as ratings for the competing Toyota Avalon. The next level is the CXL, which comes with either the V-6 or the V-8.

Top of the line is the CXS, which comes only with the V-8 engine.

All three models get a four-speed automatic transmission, which is a bit behind much of the competition. The Avalon, for instance, has a five-speed automatic, as does the Acura TL and even the Kia Amanti, which has similar power to the base Lucerne V-6.

Lucerne ‘s starting price is $460 below the 2005 LeSabre, yet has more standard equipment, Buick says, including a better warranty, traction control and more air bags.

Adjusting for the added equipment, the Lucerne CX actually is $2,200 below a comparable 2005 LeSabre. The CX’s price is about where the Avalon starts. The Avalon comes only with a V-6 engine, but that one cranks out 280 horsepower — five more than the Lucerne’s V-8 engine.

The Lucerne CXL V6 starts at $28,990, and gets such extras as painted aluminum wheels, leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a power passenger seat.

To upgrade to the V-8 engine in the CXL trim level, the price is $30,990. Buick says that gives the Lucerne the performance to be compared with more-expensive premium sedans such as the Lexus GS and Infiniti M, both with starting prices above $45,000. It’s not likely that many consumers would be shopping the Lucerne against those cars, however. High-end import shoppers are just a different breed. Buick says the Lucerne will compete against entry-level luxury cars such as the Lexus ES 330, which commands a slightly younger audience than the Avalon. Both are aimed at folks in their 50s, however.

Anyone comparing the Lucerne to the Lexus ES 330 will find a similarly equipped Lucerne for $5,960 less, Buick says. And Buick is tied with Lexus in overall quality, according to some industry surveys.

The top Lucerne model, the CXS, has just about everything available on these cars as standard equipment, for the price of $35,990.

GM isn’t offering the supercharged version of the 3.8-liter V-6 in the Lucerne for now.

That engine, whose output ranges from 240 to 260 hp. in other GM cars, might show up later as a choice between the base V-6 and the V-8, particularly in light of rising gasoline prices. In the Pontiac Grand Prix, for instance, that engine offers 260 horsepower with 18 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Other competitors for the Lucerne include the Amanti, TL, Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger, Mercury Montego, and even the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, depending on the Lucerne model being considered.

The Lucerne is the first Buick with GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, which also comes with GM’s StabiliTrak stability control system. Magnetic Ride Control is offered in some Cadillac models as well. “This system uses magnetically charged particles suspended in a synthetic fluid to continuously adjust the fluid’s viscosity to varying road surfaces and driving characteristics,” GM’s product literature says.

The system is designed to provide “exceptional vehicle control and increased tire contact with the road surface,” the company said.

Other standard or optional features include remote start, ultrasonic rear parking assist, heated windshield-washer fluid, rain-sensing front wipers, DVD navigation system, heated and cooled seats, and a 280-watt Harman Kardon audio system with nine speakers, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, and MP3 playback capability.

Outside, the car avoids being as plain as the LeSabre, thanks to the new “waterfall” grille, polycarbonate and chrome headlight modules, a steeply raked windshield, and a 70-degree rear window angle.

Buick says that both trim levels come with “QuietTuning,” designed to reduce road and wind noise to give the car “best-in-class ride quietness.”

The car comes with six air bags: a dual-stage driver front air bag, an industry-first dual-depth front passenger air bag, side-impact thorax air bags and roof-rail curtain air bags.

Lucerne CXS models come with 18-inch wheels.

All Lucernes are built at GM’s Hamtramck plant in Detroit, which ranked third in the 2005 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, Buick said.

– – –

G. Chambers Williams III is staff automotive columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and former transportation writer for the Star-Telegram. His automotive columns have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com.

– – –

2006 Buick Lucerne

The basics: This is an all-new, entry level, premium sedan from Buick that takes the place of the LeSabre and Park Avenue. And for the first time in a decade, a V-8 engine is available in a Buick car.

Under the hood: Standard is a 195-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine; optional is a 275-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8, similar to the Northstar engine used in some Cadillac models. Both are connected to a four-speed automatic transmission.

Available models: Base CX V-6, midlevel CXL V-6 or V-8, and top-of-the-line CXS V-8.

Fuel economy: EPA ratings are 20 miles per gallon city/29 highway with the V-6 engine; with the V-8, 17 city/26 highway.

On-sale date: These cars are arriving at local Buick dealers now.

The prices: From $26,990 to $35,990, including freight.