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Buick LeSabre sedan restructured for safety, comfort, value
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- At the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a future edition of the full-size LeSabre sedan displayed by the Buick Division of General Motors carried a model-year 2000 designation, along with shapely contours of a fresh new external form and internal assets including innovative new safety features.
Projecting sensuous curves in wide stance with a muscular shoulder etched above every wheel, LeSabre as the first Buick for the next century evokes a sophisticated and rather classy image which obscures its traditional price-conscious role in Buick's parade of models.
LeSabre, you see, serves as Buick's full-size family sedan which delivers luxury trappings without busting a budget to do so. In other words, it's Buick's bargain-priced big car.
Previous issues of LeSabre scored as the line's best-selling label, and for the past seven years it has ranked as the most popular full-size sedan in America.
The irony of this recent debut of LeSabre 2000 early in 1999 is that it moves to market immediately.
Implementing LeSabre's make-over so quickly after the roll-out of 1999 models becomes an aggressive move by Buick which underscores a goal of ensuring that LeSabre continue as the best-selling big car in the country.
Why tamper with this virtual icon of Buick?
The previous iteration of LeSabre, revamped in new generational format in 1991 and set with a fresh face for 1997, contained many structural elements and mechanisms which actually trace in platform history well into the previous decade. When compared to some fresh competitors, LeSabre was showing its age.
For this new issue, LeSabre's designers sought to preserve assets of the former version to satisfy existing customers, but also add features to broaden the appeal.
Back-to-back tests driving 1999 and 2000 LeSabre models in the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara reveal that new LeSabre feels far stronger and acts more confidently on the road, while sounding quieter inside and containing more features for convenience and security.
Among many improvements, it brings more controllable handling traits, along with new safety systems such as side air bags, expanded trunk space and more elbow room in the passenger compartment, new legible analog gauges in a revised instrument panel, and large new exterior rear-view mirrors rigged with hinges now so they will fold up instead of break off if bumped.
Compared to the earlier edition, this new LeSabre delivers a smoother and more sturdy ride quality.
The length between front and rear wheels was stretched by 1.4 inches as the width between pairs of wheels spread by 1.9 inches. Pushing wheels further out toward rectangular edges of the platform sets up a broader and longer footprint, which contributes an important factor of stability when LeSabre moves over a bump or around a curve.
&&& Overall, the safety-cage steel structure was beefed up to improve rigidity and stiffness. Measurements indicate an improvement of 27 percent for the structure's resistance to bending and a 62 percent gain in torsional rigidity.
&&& Buick then added important safety elements, including four air bags, safety belts attached directly to the frame of front seats, shoulder and lap belts for three rear seat positions, plus energy-absorbing interior surfaces and disc brakes for all wheels as tied to anti-lock controls.
&&& Even LeSabre's seats and headrests become active safety assets: If the vehicle should be hit from behind, which can inflict a neck whiplash to the rider, each headrest on front seats quickly pushes forward and upward slightly to meet the neck and head thrust backward. This movement cradles the head and prevents a painful whiplash effect.
&&& At the same time, LeSabre's new front seat can absorb energy from a rear impact and "catch" the rider's pelvis and low back in the manner a catcher's mitt cradles a baseball.
LeSabre's safety cage ensures a strong passenger cell protected by side door beams and energy absorbing front and rear crush zones. It also has a new crush-resistant roof which exceeds federal regulations and can withstand up to 7,000 pounds of pressure before deforming significantly.
The conservative exterior design of LeSabre looks familiar with Buick hallmarks of a slinking prow and oval chrome grille, yet subtle styling curves -- like at graceful C pillars or the new muscular shoulders -- add fresh forms.
William L. Porter, recently retired exterior design chief at Buick, in Santa Barbara described his last design project as "a central fuselage shape beginning with the oval grille and sweeping full length through the roof and decklid to the full width oval of its taillamp."
Fenders flank LeSabre's central oval form like shoulder epaulets, with the creases extending clear back to the rear bumper, cut low in the center to drop lift-over height for ease in loading the big trunk.
The improvements continue inside LeSabre, which seems more spacious than the former model and contains more comfortable and user-friendly features.
LeSabre's new wrap-around instrument panel ties to side door panels in a continuous structural sweep. The large analog gauges show bold characters for ease in viewing, with the speedometer's numerals representing either miles or kilometers per hour, depending on the driver's selection.
Interior variations between the two trims -- Custom and Limited -- begin with wood grain. The Custom has a light-colored elm pattern while Limited displays a darker walnut. Also, Limited gets twin climate controls and auto-dimming exterior mirrors.
Standard seating arrangement brings a 55/45 split bench in front, but a 45/45 design with new console is optional. Cloth and leather upholstery may be applied to each series.
For power, both LeSabre models draw from GM's 3.8-liter pushrod V6 teamed to a smooth and responsive electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The plant delivers a robust 205 horsepower at 5200 rpm with 230 lb/ft of torque exerted at 4000 rpm.
Fuel economy figures, maintained at the level of the previous model, reach from 19 miles per gallon for city driving to as high as 30 mpg on the road.
LeSabre's Gran Touring package adds firmer suspension settings and a rear anti-roll bar, plus 16-inch aluminum wheels with touring tires, magnetic variable-effort power steering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2000 BUICK LESABRE Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size sedan
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| Model Options: |
Full-size sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
112.2 inches
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| Overall Length: |
200.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 3.8-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
19/30 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 22,000 to $ 28,000 |
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