A Buick supermodel? Just as long as it doesn't involve Tiger Woods in a two-piece...  by Thom Blackett

2008 Buick Lucerne Super Preview – New York Auto Show: Buick, GM’s premium division that has been fighting to attract a broader demographic, announces a new addition to the Lucerne family for 2008 – the Super. Thing is, the company is reintroducing the Super name after a 50-year hiatus, now used to represent added style, features, and power. Great, but when you’re aiming for a younger crowd, why choose a heritage name that resonates with folks in their 70s, or those who were cruising in their big bad Buicks five decades ago? And if this Super sedan represents the best your brand has to offer, why is it less powerful than the smaller LaCrosse? Yeah, we’re not sure either.

Buick offers a nice package in the Lucerne, one with plenty of room, inoffensive styling, competent powertrains, and a reasonable price. The addition of the Super trim adds a bit more flavor to the current lineup of budget-minded V6 variants and more luxurious V8-powered editions. Changes are minor, but might be just enough to attract shoppers looking for a sense of premium exclusivity, and may provide the edge needed for those on the fence regarding the purchase of a Buick or one of the brand’s competitors. The Northstar engine sourced from Cadillac also lends some esteem, though it seems odd that the smaller LaCrosse Super hits the streets with more power.

Interestingly (surprisingly?), Buick decided to outfit the larger of its two front-wheel-drive Super sedans with a less powerful engine. Whereas the midsize LaCrosse gets a 5.3-liter V8 pushing 300 horses, the full-size Lucerne Super features a 4.6-liter Northstar V8 which ponies up only 292 horsepower. Not only that, the Lucerne’s 288 lb.-ft. of torque also comes up short compared to the LaCrosse’s 323. Both share a four-speed automatic transmission; the Lucerne rides on a MacPherson strut up front and a multi-link assembly keeps the tail on track, all of it reigned in by a Super-tuned version of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control system. Filling the wheel wells are standard 18-inch alloys, with chrome rims available on the options list.

If you can visualize today’s Buick Lucerne, mix in a few minor visual tweaks, and presto, you’ve got the new Super model. The most obvious of the changes is a larger chrome grille, and a keen eye will pick up on the reworked fascias and special alloy wheels. Portholes on the front fenders, four on each side to represent eight cylinders under the hood, have been carried over from lesser CXS model. Inside, the Super has its own interior upgrades including special stitching, suede seat inserts, and chrome accents.

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