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Buick Skylark remade from top to bottom as new coupe, sedan
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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The sleek shape scooted past me on a parking lot overlooking beautiful Traverse Bay, Mich., and I had to wonder: What was that good-looking thing?
Close inspection of the label revealed a new Buick of compact proportions and coupe configuration with snappy low nose and airy wrap of windows defining a cabin designed for up to five passengers.
Nearby, I found the sedan variation.
It presented the same racy prow and high tail treatment but added two more doors for the convenience of backseat riders, then tailored the rear quarter of the roof to suit conservative tastes.
These two translations of a compact platform appear under the same nameplate as 1996 models by Buick, but each bears scant resemblance to its predecessor.
Skylark: It's never looked this good.
Stodgy comes to mind as the one-word image of prior renditions of Skylark, smallest label in the Buick fleet. Often overlooked by Buick shoppers in favor of bigger models rigged with more advanced systems, Skylark stood in the shadow of snazzy designs like Riviera.
For 1996, though, Skylark earns a chance to shine with that new exterior styling, engine innovations under the hood and an interior strategy which brings important safety gear plus special comfort fittings.
With these new systems, Skylark now takes its place in the Buick line as an affordable response to all those compacts imported from Asia.
The fact that Skylark offers coupe as well as sedan editions means two distinct personalities show up beneath this badge, each with unique features.
Skylark, the coupe, looks more daring, even sporty.
Skylark, the sedan, looks dignified, and it behaves in a more traditional, conservative manner.
Although the platform for coupe and sedan remains essentially the same as used for last year's model, everything else changes, beginning with new exterior styling which concentrates on nose and tail elements.
Both Skylark models now wear new components for front fascia, grille, hood and headlamps. Together, they form a sweeping bow with windy curves and subtle hood bulges.
New side moldings on body panels accent the rearward sweep of Skylark's lines, while new taillights run across the rear to complete a consistent ring around the body.
The most dramatic styling cue comes from the coupe's rear fixed side windows which mark a breezy treatment for side and back glass around the sloped C pillar.
Climb inside and you'll find new interior elements on both Skylarks, beginning with the front seats.
Buick's designers pay particular attention to seat construction, with supportive elements designed not only to feel good upon contact but also later, down the road after hundreds of miles at one sitting.
Skylark benefits from Buick's attention to seating with new front seats, available as either sporty buckets or a bench split in 55/45 ratio.
Then note the instrument panel.
A new treatment was demanded to make extra space for the addition of a passenger-side airbag so all front passengers receive protection from frontal crash forces.
Further, the panel repositions key controls like interior climate knobs so they're easy to reach by driver and passenger. Buttons for door locks, power windows and outside mirrors seem more functional, with backlighting to spot them at night.
Large gauges with bold markings make instruments easy to read while driving.
Thankfully, Skylark's designers replaced headlamp controls with a rotary knob mounted on the dashboard.
These interior revisions make Skylark far more user friendly now -- more comfortable too.
What about Skylark's go-power?
This also receives attention due to a new 4-cylinder base engine and improvements in an automatic transmission offered for both standard plant and optional V6.
Skylark's in-line four, a General Motors engine once called the Quad 4, sounded rough in earlier applications because it lacked balanced shafts to smooth out vibrations.
The latest one has a new twin cam on top, revised camshaft timing and increased displacement of 2.4 liters. These revisions smooth out the system considerably, while also increasing mid-range torque and enhancing the fuel economy numbers.
It still produces 150 horsepower, but torque improves to 150 lbs/ft at 4400 rpm and fuel numbers bump up for city/highway driving to 22/32 mpg.
Buick's 3.1-liter V6, delivering 155 hp, continues as an excellent low-cost option for base and Skylark Limited, but becomes a standard feature of Gran Sport.
Low-speed torque is substantial with this V6: Depress the accelerator and Skylark leaps to action.
Both engines connect to GM's electronic automatic 4-speed transmission, smoothest shifter in the industry.
Standard equipment on base Skylark starts with its front-wheel-drive format and an independent suspension system featuring MacPherson strut design in front.
Steering consists of a precise rack and pinion mechanism linked to power assistance. The brakes use discs in front and drums in back, with power equipment and links to anti-lock and traction controls.
The interior of Skylark's base model in coupe and sedan format contains an array of equipment often considered optional, such as air conditioning, power door locks, tilting steering wheel and stereo sound.
Skylark Limited adds power windows, cruise control, electric mirrors and 14-inch polycast wheels.
Skylark Gran Sport brings sporty hardware like bucket seats, tachometer, gran touring suspension components and big 16-inch aluminum wheels.
1996 BUICK SKYLARK SERIES
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1996 BUICK SKYLARK SERIES Specs |
| Description: |
Compact coupe, sedan |
| Model Options: |
Compact coupe, sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
103.4 inches |
| Overall Length: |
Coupe: 188.4
Sedan: 189.2
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I-4
OHV 3.1-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
I-4: 22/32 mpg
V6: 19/29 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 15,500 to $ 17,700 |
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