Buick Park Avenue

Buick Park Avenue

Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1990–2005 (U.S.) 2007–present (China)
Model years	1991–2005 (U.S.)
Predecessor	Buick Electra Buick Royaum (China)
Successor	Buick Lucerne (U.S.)
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan

The Buick Park Avenue is a full-size car built by General Motors and sold by its Buick division. The nameplate was first used since 1975 as a top trim level of the Buick Electra, and the Park Avenue became a standalone model for the 1991 model year, replacing the Electra. Two generations of the Park Avenue were manufactured in the United States until 2005, while in 2007 the nameplate was revived on a large Buick sedan built by Shanghai GM for the Chinese market. The model's name pays homage to the affluent New York City boulevard, Park Avenue.

First generation (1991–1996)

First generation

Production	1990[citation needed]–1996
Model years	1991–1996
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan, United States Lake Orion, Michigan, United States Wentzville, Missouri, United States
Layout	FF layout
Platform	C-body
Engine	3.8 L Buick V6
Transmission	4-speed 4T60-E automatic
Wheelbase	110.8 in (2,814 mm)
Length	1991–93: 205.2 in (5,212 mm) 1994–96: 205.9 in (5,230 mm)
Width	1991–93: 74.9 in (1,902 mm) 1994–96: 74.1 in (1,882 mm)
Height	1991–93: 55.3 in (1,405 mm) 1994–96: 55.1 in (1,400 mm)
Related	Cadillac Sixty Special Cadillac Fleetwood Cadillac DeVille Oldsmobile 98

The model year 1991 Park Avenue, introduced in 1990 utilized GM's GM C platform until the C-body was dropped in 1997. The Park Avenue was normally powered by the 3.8 L 3800 Series I V6, with a special Ultra model using a supercharged version starting in 1992 (a very limited number of 1991 Ultras had the supercharged engine as an option). Many consider the supercharged model to be a "sleeper" due to its exceptional acceleration, despite its large size.

The base model Park Avenue came with a 3.8 L naturally-aspirated V6 engine and plush velour interior upgradeable to leather. The Ultra came with a 3.8 L Supercharged V6 engine (optional for 1991 and standard for 1992 and later models) and standard leather interior.

Inspired in great part by the 1989 Park Avenue Essence show car, the Park Avenue's silhouette was often compared to that of contemporary Jaguars and many of its styling cues, including a large 'dollar-grin' grille mounted to the hood, rounded lines, and full-width tail lamps made their way to other Buick models restyled in the 1990s.

The base Park Avenue was available in Europe from 1991 to 1996 and varied from the North American version by featuring a truncated taillamps with separate amber turn signal indicators and red brake lamps, wider numberplate bezel, fitment of rear red fog lamps, headlamps with different lens pattern, white front side running markers, amber front turn signal indicators, side turn signal repeaters, "flagpole" external rear-view mirrors (mirrors on US version are fixed and do not turn), stronger seat belt and anchors, "softer" air bags, metric speedometer and gauges. They are to comply with the European regulatory and safety standards.

• 

  European-spec Park Avenue

• 

  European-spec Park Avenue

This generation of the Park Avenue was the last Buick to be officially marketed by GM in Europe. This move was to reduce the "cluttered" model range that confused the European consumers. Cadillac and Chevrolet remain the sole General Motors North American brands to be sold in Europe.

Second generation (1997–2005)

Second generation

Production	1996–2005[citation needed]
Model years	1997–2005
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan, United States Lake Orion, Michigan, United States
Layout	FF layout
Platform	GM C platform
Engine	3.8 L Buick V6 (Series II)
Transmission	4-speed 4T65-E automatic 4-speed 4T65-E HD automatic
Wheelbase	113.8 in (2,890 mm)
Length	206.8 in (5,250 mm)
Width	74.7 in (1,900 mm)
Height	57.4 in (1,460 mm)
Related	Oldsmobile Aurora

An updated Park Avenue was released in 1997, still a C-body but new in 1997, it is a similar platform to the Buick Riviera's G-body. This new generation was powered by updated Series II variants of the indomitable 3800 Buick V6 engine. As before, only Ultra models were supercharged. The base trim featured a hood ornament while the Ultra had a less conspicuous tri-shield inset in on the upper edge of the grill. The velour interior trim that was only offered as one of the options for the base model was dropped in favor of the leather trim.

The Park Avenue went largely unchanged until 2003. Trademark Buick ventiports returned that year along with a bolder grille that carried a larger monochromatic tri-shield badge in the center. For 2005 — its final model year — base Park Avenues received the new grille, and previously Ultra-exclusive ventiports. Also, the rear fascia was redone across the line with a prominent chrome bar above the license plate holder with an embossed Park Avenue script and amber turn signal flashers.

The 2004 Park Avenue base was the last USDM Buick to carry a factory hood ornament. The last 3,000 Park Avenues carried Special Edition badging that featured the namesake script underneath a silhouette of the New York City skyline. 300 of these were painted with a special two-tone black-on-platinum finish. Production ended on June 18, 2004.^{[citation needed]}

The Park Avenue was discontinued after 2005 and in 2006 was replaced by the Buick Lucerne. The Lucerne also replaces the higher-volume LeSabre.

Third generation (2007–present)

Third Generation

Manufacturer	GM Shanghai
Also called	Holden WM Caprice
Production	2007–present
Assembly	Shanghai, China
Predecessor	Buick Royaum
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM Zeta platform
Engine	2.8 L LP1 V6 3.6 L LY7 V6
Length	5,175 mm (203.7 in)
Width	1,899 mm (74.8 in)
Height	1,480 mm (58.3 in)

In 2007, General Motors reintroduced the Park Avenue nameplate in China on a luxury sedan that replaced the Buick Royaum. Like its predecessor, the vehicle is based on the Australian-built Holden Caprice (this time on the contemporary WM generation), though, unlike the Royaum, it is assembled by Shanghai GM from CKD kits. It is offered in three trim levels: Comfort, Elite, and Flagship.

The Park Avenue is powered by Australian-built versions of the GM High Feature engine. The standard engine is the 2.8 L LP1, while the 3.6 L LY7 is available as an option on the Elite and Flagship models. The engine control unit is a Bosch E77 32-bit ECM processor.

Type	Displacement	Power	Torque
2.8 L LP1 V6	2,792 cc (170 cu in)	150 kW (201 hp) at 6000 rpm	265 N·m (195 ft·lbf) at 3000 rpm
3.6 L LY7 V6	3,564 cc (217 cu in)	187 kW (251 hp) at 6500 rpm	340 N·m (250 ft·lbf) at 3200 rpm

In 2010, new powertrains were offered, 3 L sidi (270 bhp) and 3.6 L sidi (310 bhp) displacing the old 2.8 V6 and 3.6 V6.

External links

Media related to Buick Park Avenue at Wikimedia Commons

• 1991-1996 Buick Park Avenue: Overview
• 1997-2005 Buick Park Avenue: Overview
• Buick official page: China