Buick Park Avenue
| Buick Park Avenue | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1990-2005 |
| Class : | Upper class |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Previous model: | Buick Electra |
| Successor: | Buick Lucerne |
The Buick Park Avenue was one of the American car brand Buick from spring 1990 to summer 2005 offered in two generations sedan in the luxury class of General Motors (GM).
The Park Avenue was Buick's top model. The first vehicle with this designation was built from autumn 1988 to spring 1990, at which time it represented a luxurious feature of the then top model Buick Electra . The actual first generation was produced from spring 1990 to mid-1996 and came to Europe from 1991 onwards.
It was based on the C platform of General Motors with front-wheel drive and was with the Buick LeSabre , the Oldsmobile 88 / 98 and the Pontiac Bonneville and the Cadillac Deville / Fleetwood related, but had a number of independent technical features.
The name Park Avenue had been used by Buick since 1975 for particularly richly equipped versions of the predecessor Buick Electra . When downsizing from an external length of 5.64 meters in the spring of 1984, the name Electra was initially retained, but was gradually replaced by Park Avenue by General Motors .
From 1988 to 1990 the name "Electra" was still found in the type designation, but it was completely dispensed with in the successor and the model was henceforth called "Park Avenue".
Production ended in summer 2005, the successor is the Buick Lucerne .
Electra Park Avenue (1988-1990)
The Park Avenue equipment has always been the name for the luxury version of the Electra .
The model name Electra had a great tradition at Buick since autumn 1958 when Electra, Invicta and LeSabre together with a new design formed the basis of the top models of the Buick range (which is why the Buick emblem with its three coats of arms, which is still used today, symbolizes precisely these three Series).
The Electra was evaporated in April 1984 - parallel to the technically always related Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight and Cadillac Fleetwood / deVille - to an almost unimaginable amount by American standards and lost more than half a meter of external length and half a ton of curb weight. General Motors therefore felt compelled to make it clear to buyers with an extensive advertising campaign and special brochures that they did not have to fear a step backwards with the new model. This was extremely successful in terms of size and weight despite the radical cure. Because the new Electra offered more interior space and the same level of noise comfort as the old one, but could show savings of three to four liters in fuel consumption.
This was primarily due to the 3.8-liter six-cylinder Buick engine that replaced the old 5.0-liter V8 engine supplied by Oldsmobile. This engine produced far above average torque and thus subjectively the same power as the V8, but with American driving it could move well below 10 liters per 100 kilometers.
For model year 1988 Buick brought a second generation of V6 engine in the first "real" Park Avenue, extending from the first generation by the inner V , ie in the area of the engine block between the cylinder banks, current balance shaft difference, the in a V6 engine with a cylinder angle of 90 degrees, technically unavoidable second-order moments of inertia - in other words, vibrations - eliminated.
Similar to Cadillacs Fleetwood's super luxury version Sixty Special, Buick brought the Electra in the special version "Ultra" for the years 1989 and 1990. Unlike the "Ultra" offered from 1991 onwards, the Electra of this year did not have a supercharged engine. Its special features essentially consisted of a 20-fold electrical adjustment of the front seats, special wheels and real wood decors in the interior and a slightly softer leather for the seats. Only the Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special from 1989 offered even more luxury with a 22-fold adjustment of the seats. In the Buick, however, there was a more futuristic design of the seat adjustment, which could be made with a graphic control panel that could be folded out in the middle of the bench seat, depending on the choice for the driver or front passenger.
The first-generation Park Avenue also offered other “James Bond” extras such as a membrane keyboard like the one Buick had been offering since 1981 for operating the air conditioning, as well as a “keyless entry system” with another membrane keyboard in the chrome trim Driver's door, which enabled the car and the trunk lid to be opened by entering a numerical code and made the door key superfluous.
Despite GM's fears that the downsizing would result in losses in the sale of the top model Park Avenue, the Park Avenue proved to be an exceptionally well-selling model. To this day, it offers a level of comfort that is well above average and gives the impression of moving around in an anechoic room.
Park Avenue (1990-1996)
| 1st generation | |
|---|---|
 Buick Park Avenue (1990-1996) |
|
| Production period: | 1990-1996 |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 3.8 liters (127–177 kW) |
| Length: | 5230 mm |
| Width: | 1882 mm |
| Height: | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2814 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1600-1650 kg |
The Park Avenue debuted in April 1990 as a base model as well as a slightly refined top model called the Park Avenue Ultra . Both versions were initially powered by Buick's own 3.8-liter V6 engine with 127 kW (173 hp), which transferred its power to the front wheels via a standard four-speed automatic transmission of the type GM Turbo-Hydra-Matic 4T60E .
Compared to the styling of the first Park Avenue generation, which was decidedly small-looking due to the energy crisis at the beginning of the 1980s, the 1990s Park Avenue grew by almost a quarter of a meter and again demonstrated size and elegance with a Jaguar-inspired styling.
From 1992 the Park Avenue Ultra received a 153 kW (208 hp) supercharged version of the V6. In contrast to the standard model, the models equipped with mechanical charging had bumpers made entirely of reinforced plastic and, in some cases, depending on the year of construction and customer requirements, other wheels. The interior was also slightly upgraded, which also benefited the standard models in the later years of construction.
In 1993 the radiator grille and taillights were slightly retouched; In 1994, the supercharged engine in the Park Avenue Ultra increased to 168 kW (228 hp). At the same time, the equipment was expanded to include a passenger airbag.
In 1995, the base model received a completely redesigned cast-iron 3.8-liter V6 engine (Series II) with 153 kW, the supercharged version initially developed 168 kW. In 1996 the power of the supercharged engine was increased to 179 kW (243 hp).
The first two generations of Park Avenue were also sold in Europe; These versions differed from the US models in that they had orange-colored indicator glasses at the front, a larger recess for the license plate between the (modified) rear lights, larger rear-view mirrors and the absence of the radiator star above the grille - even if some early export models still had this. In the last two years of construction, the European version received new bumpers with a significantly lower metal content and new side protection strips. In contrast, the Park Avenue Ultra with a supercharged engine was never officially offered in Europe.
The second generation of Park Avenue was characterized by a very good aerodynamics of their c W value (drag coefficient) was only 0.31, which is one of the main demands from the specifications in line with developments.
Another special feature was the relatively low curb weight of 1604 kg (Ultra: 1651 kg) for a car of this size, which, in combination with the very low engine speed, resulted in surprisingly low fuel consumption when driving cautiously (this applies even more to the models from 1995 onwards with the newly designed V6 engine). For this reason, as well as for its comfort and reliability, this series was also used in Europe, especially on long journeys. The 3.8-liter V6 engine effortlessly achieves mileage well in excess of 300,000 kilometers.
From Park Avenue Buick produced the first generation of the spring of 1990 until mid-1996 a total of 410,000 copies.
Park Avenue (1996-2005)
| 2nd generation | |
|---|---|
 Buick Park Avenue (1996-2001) |
|
| Production period: | 1996-2005 |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 3.8 liters (153–177 kW) |
| Length: | 5253 mm |
| Width: | 1897 mm |
| Height: | 1458 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2891 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1711-1759 kg |
In summer 1996 Buick launched a new Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra , this time on the G platform of the Buick Riviera . The wheelbase and body were slightly larger than the predecessor, which improved the space in the interior. The drive took over unchanged the 3.8-liter V6 engine of the series II in the normal version in the Park Avenue base model and in the supercharged version in the Park Avenue Ultra.
From 1998, second-generation airbags were used, which worked with lower pressure.
In autumn 2001 the Ultra received a modified radiator grille and so-called Ventiports on the front fenders . These were decorative bezels with indicated air outlets (which were also functional on some models), a design element that had been used repeatedly at Buick since the late 1940s.
In the middle of 2003 the Park Avenue received the modified grill in the basic version, but not the Ventiports . At the same time, there were changes to the rear, and a chrome strip with “Park Avenue” lettering was attached above the license plate.
In the summer of 2005, Buick stopped manufacturing the Park Avenue. Its successor was the Buick Lucerne .
Buick Park Avenue (China)
Between summer 2007 and 2012, Shanghai-Buick offered the Holden Statesman of the WM series on the Chinese market as Buick Park Avenue, which was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine (187 kW / 254 hp), but also with an in Australia not available 2.8-liter V6 engine (150 kW / 204 hp) could be equipped. As of February 2008, prices ranged from 329,000 to 499,000 yuan (approximately € 31,500 to 48,000).
literature
- Flammang, James M./Kowalke, Ron: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999. Krause Publications, Iola 1999. ISBN 0-87341-755-0
Individual evidence
- ↑ 1991-96 Buick Park Avenue - Consumer Guide Auto. In: consumerguide.com. Consumer Guide, accessed June 26, 2018 (American English).
- ↑ Jack Lesar UPI Business Writer: Pulling the big, black 1992 Buick Park Avenue Ultra ... - UPI Archives. In: upi.com. July 5, 1992. Retrieved June 26, 2018 (American English).
- ↑ 1997-05 Buick Park Avenue. Consumer Guide Automotive, accessed June 26, 2018 (American English).
- ↑ specifications (Chinese) ( Memento from March 9, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
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