1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE
ENGINEERING
FLINT, Mich. -- Ride, handling and comfort -- a luxury sedan's "core imperatives" -- are emphasized in Buick's flagship Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra sedans, which are completely redesigned for 1997.
WORLD-CLASS BODY STRUCTURE
At the heart of any world-class luxury car is a rigid body structure. A smooth, quiet ride, stable and predictable handling, occupant crash protection and long-lasting comfort are all derived from an automobile's body and chassis construction.
With that in mind, engineers began with the strong underbody structure of the Buick Riviera -- and then incorporated a multitude of refinements.
To begin with, Park Avenue build variations have been reduced, contributing to tighter panel fits and reduced wind noise. Like Riviera, Park Avenue uses roll-formed and hydro-formed reinforcement rails to create the most efficient structure possible. Closed sections specified for the upper engine compartment rails and the top radiator support help optimize the front-end structure and assist in eliminating road-induced noise and vibration. Park Avenue's hood is aluminum to trim pounds.
A sophisticated die-cast magnesium cross-car beam serves as the main instrument-panel structure and mounting support, eliminating a number of secondary brackets and resulting in improved quality. Since the entire instrument panel and steering column are built up off-line and installed into the vehicle in one step, less assembly time is necessary. A new steering column, used in conjunction with the magnesium beam, is twice as stiff as the previous design, virtually eliminating perceived vibrations from the steering wheel over rough roads.
Rigidly mounting bumpers to the body provides a more effective transfer of impact forces and reduced vibration. Through-bolted door hinges improve both side-impact safety and help with a solid "sound and feel" of the doors. New torque-axis engine mounts are also through-bolted to decrease transmitted noise.
Major changes to Park Avenue's doors are aimed at promoting comfort and convenience, particularly for the driver. Front door glass is now one piece to enhance visibility, save weight and upgrade appearance. Flush door handles improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. Derived from the door handles designed for the Riviera, they offer an improved grip surface and a deeper finger pocket to advocate "fingernail friendliness" for women owners. Outside rear-view mirrors now have a 75-percent larger surface to supply much improved rearward visibility.
Wind, water and noise are isolated from the interior by a total of three seals per opening: one attached to the body, a second to the door and a third, that functions as a splash barrier, at the bottom of the door. A dead space between the two perimeter seals encapsulates the door latch mechanism. Another sound barrier is a one-millimeter-thick layer of acoustic material bonded to the splash shield of the door trim pad.
The manual door lock system is improved and is now integrated next to the inside door handle. An easy flick of the thumb permits the driver to manually lock or unlock the door. Power door locks are standard equipment on both Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra.
Sherry L. Quijano, Park Avenue's assistant brand manager for product, noted that the all-new '97 sedan has a new and sophisticated electrical architecture called multiplexing that allows performance of more functions, refined packaging, reduced complexity and greater reliability.
By using multiplexing technology, the number of wires in each door is reduced by 75 percent. Countless wiring splices have also been eliminated, improving reliability by reducing variables.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Park Avenue is engineered for maximum safety and security, which are major customer priorities in the large-luxury sedan class. In addition to dual air bags and dynamic side-impact protection, the new Park Avenue has several innovative and inter-related safety systems, now including daytime running lamps to make the new Park Avenue more conspicuous to on-coming traffic.
Occupants are surrounded by safety-cage body construction. In the event of an air bag deployment, the doors automatically unlock in 15 seconds. The brakes have been upgraded to a larger four-wheel disc anti-lock braking system as standard equipment. All-season radial tires are larger for enhanced traction.
Traction control, standard on Ultra and available on Park Avenue, provides a sure-footed response on slippery surfaces. Rack-and-pinion steering with magnetic speed-variable power assist (standard on Ultra) yields a seamless transition between low-effort parking maneuvers and a precise, secure feel at highway speeds.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS
A new, easy-to-use high-beam flash-to-pass function has been integrated into the turn-signal lever.
Once the Delay setting is selected, the new "moisture sensitive" wiper system automatically swings the windshield wipers into action when moisture is detected on the windshield. Using a light-emitting-diode sensor, this system responds instantly to road splash and automatically increases wiper speed when necessary. This allows drivers to keep their hands securely on the steering wheel in wet conditions.
The Driver Information Center, standard on Ultra and available on Park Avenue, provides five buttons on the instrument panel to select such information as fuel data, oil pressure, coolant temperature, battery voltage, oil life index, tire pressure and three trip odometers. A two-line, 16-character electronic display shows on-board cellular telephone status and provides eight warning messages. Also available: An advanced tire-pressure monitoring system that alerts the driver if a tire requires additional air.
A head-up display is optional. The electronic device projects a digital road speed readout, turn signals, high beam and warning indicators on the inside of the windshield, keeping the driver's eyes trained safely on the road ahead.
A modular overhead console system incorporates several lighting and convenience functions into the headliner (molded in a single piece from recycled materials). It also serves as a noise insulator and structural support for the headliner. Switches mounted overhead operate optional equipment such as the head-up display, the sunroof and a programmable garage door opener (a storage bay for conventional garage-door openers is standard equipment).
Interior lighting is provided by three front and two rear lamps. Whenever interior lights are switched off, the gradual "theater dimming" feature makes the transition from full-on to full-off over three to five seconds. Interior lights are automatically lit when the car is unlocked at entry or when the key is removed from the ignition upon exiting.
PASS-Key III anti-theft deterrent is a "smart system." A new coded key incorporates a transponder that signals the powertrain control module (PCM) to enable fuel and starter systems. Any attempt to start the car without the matched ignition key is effectively denied by the PCM programming. About three trillion codes are available for theft deterrence. A separate valet key is provided to unlock the steering column and start the car while the security of the trunk and glove box is protected.
All doors can be unlocked by the driver just by keeping pressure on the remote keyless entry fob "door unlock" button for more than one second. The same feature is accessed by turning the key in the door lock twice in three seconds. Door locks are disabled whenever the key is in the ignition and the driver's door is open, preventing accidentally locked doors with the driver on the outside looking in.
FUEL EFFICIENCY
Park Avenue's 3800 Series II V-6 engine is one of the most fuel-efficient sources of smooth, reliable power in production. Park Avenue Ultra also delivers excellent fuel mileage in combination with sparkling acceleration due to its 240-horsepower supercharged 3800 Series II V-6. Even though the new models are larger than the cars they replace, projected fuel economy is unchanged -- 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway for Park Avenue and 18/27 for the more powerful Ultra.
Considering the automobile as a whole system, engineers have worked to trim weight, friction and drag wherever possible toward maintaining the Park Avenue's best-in-class fuel efficiency. The advanced technology embodied in the Park Avenue powertrains has resulted in six-cylinder fuel efficiency with eight-cylinder smoothness and performance. A more powerful microprocessor in the PCM doubles the unit's memory to provide additional computing power for future on-board diagnostic improvements.
Both cars feature versions of a refined, electronically controlled TurboHydramatic transmission. The Park Avenue gets the 4T65E four-speed with advanced new electronic controls; the 4T65E HD (for heavy duty) goes into the supercharged Ultra to accommodate that car's higher torque output. Adaptive controls monitor shift duration and other factors to achieve a smoother, quieter, more efficient shift.
HARMONY
Engineers seek a harmonious relationship between the automobiles they create and the people who will use them. Several new conveniences contribute to that goal in the '97 Park Avenues.
A major improvement involves safety belts. Front safety belts are now mounted directly to the seat frames, making them more comfortable and easy to use for all occupants, regardless of size. Since the belts move with the seat and they're shorter in length, they allow a retractor with a lower spring tension, promoting improved passenger comfort.
Also in the interest of comfort, the rear seat shoulder belt anchors have been relocated from the shelf to the sail panel. Stowage recesses in the rear seat back provide a place for buckle assemblies when not in use, facilitating rear-seat entry and providing a tidier appearance. All belt buckles have a new and more convenient end-mounted release button.
Park Avenue seats are highly researched state-of-the-art systems, with separate bottom cushion and backrest adjustments, articulating headrests (standard on Ultra), available four-way power lumbar adjustment and heating (both standard on Ultra) and metaphoric seat adjustment switches. The slightly raised "theater seating" position of the rear bench seat contributes to overall comfort and better forward visibility.
Buick's Personal Choice features have been expanded. Previously, each of two remote keyless entry fobs could be individually programmed to set mirror and seat positions, automatic door lock operations, perimeter lighting, delayed locking and security system feedback. For '97, the system can also retain individual settings for radio stations and climate controls. With two fobs, the car recognizes the individual's settings the instant the car is unlocked remotely.
Also, an air filtration system removes pollen and particulates from ventilation air entering the interior. An optional package readies the car for a dealer-installed cellular telephone mounted handily in the center armrest or a convenience console called the "Office in a Car." The console also provides two additional electrical power outlets, a lighted writing surface with a pen/pencil holder, dual cupholders, storage for toll-booth change and entertainment media, and rear-seat climate control outlets.
Retained accessory power allows the entertainment systems, power windows and sunroof to operate for up to 10 minutes after the ignition is switched off (or until a door is opened). Battery rundown protection monitors electrical systems after vehicle turn-off, and if headlamps, parking lamps or interior lights are inadvertently left on, the system automatically shuts them down after about 10 minutes.
Park Avenue's new Concert Sound III entertainment system deploys nine speakers, each on a separate channel, driven by a 160-watt remote amplifier. Each speaker channel is equalized for proper imaging and staging of stereo sound. For Ultra, an optional 12-disc CD changer is mounted in the trunk. The driver makes a selection using instrument panel controls.
IN PURSUIT OF A COMFORTABLE, RESPONSIVE RIDE
Park Avenue's primary mission is to provide comfort and luxury that are a cut above the competition at an attractive price. This is attained by the new, stronger body structure, far more sophisticated chassis systems and all-around attention to detail.
Suspension systems -- MacPherson struts in front and semi-trailing arms in the rear -- are mounted to the body through rubber-isolated welded-steel constructions that do away with the usual compromise between ride and handling. With this suspension attachment philosophy and the robust structure, ride and handling characteristics can be optimized through careful tuning. To accommodate loading of varying levels, rear air shocks automatically maintain ideal ride height irrespective of loading.
The front cradle supports the magnetic speed-variable power rack-and-pinion steering and powertrain assembly. Torque-axis engine mounts permit two of the mounts to be tuned to support static weight of the engine and transmission while the other two are designed to resist output-torque fluctuations. The net result is a quieter, smoother ride.
INTRUSIVE SOUND CONTROL
The sleek exterior surfaces and flush-mounted door glass and door handles contribute to reduced wind noise.
The passenger compartment is wrapped in a double-wall barrier system, including an acoustic mat that wraps over the front-of-dash and hinge pillars. Cast-foam carpeting, door water deflectors and rear-seat and shelf noise attentuators add supplemental noise reduction. In addition, pass-throughs to the engine compartment for wiring, climate control connections and brake actuation are smaller and more acoustically efficient. Preliminary interior noise level measurements indicate a 33 percent net improvement in noise reduction.
QUALITY, RELIABILITY, DURABILITY
One of the principal benefits of Park Avenue's stronger structure is a natural resistance to annoying squeaks and rattles over the long life of the car.
The 3800 Series II V-6 contains far fewer components than are necessary in the overhead-cam, multi-valve engines favored by competitor makes, and this engine series has proven itself to be among the most reliable, durable and long-lasting powerplants available. In 1996, Ward's Auto World named both the supercharged and naturally aspirated Series II 3800 engines as recipients of the magazine's prestigious "Ten Best Engines" awards.
Delivering 205 horsepower in normally aspirated form and 240 horsepower with the supercharger, the engines offered in the Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra are perfect for their intended mission: affordable luxury that remains fun to drive.
