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Buick For 1999 |
By Carey Russ |
This year is Buick's 95th anniversary, and the 40th year of its best-selling LeSabre nameplate. The Buick lineup has undergone quite a transformation in the past few years, so 1999 is a year of refinement. Buick continues as the auto industry's leading builder of supercharged cars, with supercharged Regal, Park Avenue, and Riviera models available.
Regal
Two models of the Regal are offered, the normally-aspirated LS and supercharged GS. Both use versions of the 3800 Series II V6 engine. The LS has 200 horsepower this year, up from 195. The GS remains at 240 horsepower, the highest in its class. There are a number of enhancements to both models to improve ride and handling, and a more efficient antilock braking system.
Century
The most affordable Buick has ride and handling improvements, a more efficient standard antilock braking system, and a new, standard-equipment all-speed traction control system. A new tire-inflation monitoring system also helps increase safety.
Park Avenue
The naturally-aspirated Park Avenue and supercharged Park Avenue Ultra are Buick's flagships. For 1999, the Park Avenue has redesigned taillights, giving it a similar appearance to the Ultra. Both have new color choices this year. The Ultra has an upgraded sound system.
Riviera
Buick's supercharged style leader has new color schemes for 1999.
LeSabre
The Buick LeSabre has been the best-selling full-size car in the country for the past seven straight years. If anyone wondered why there was no great celebration for the nameplate's 40th anniversary in the 1998 model year, Buick is looking to the future, not the past. The 1998 LeSabre will have a short production run, as the model-year 2000 LeSabre will go on sale early in 1999.
The newest version of Buick's six-passenger LeSabre builds on the heritage of its popular predecessor, and has many features to strengthen its appeal. Side air bags, enhanced ride and handling characteristics, and a roomier trunk are only a few of its attributes. The engine is Buick's familiar 3800 Series II in 205-hp tune. The chassis architecture and styling are new to the LeSabre. The newest generation of the chassis platform used in the Riviera and Park Avenue supports all-new sheet metal that is very definably Buick, with overtones of the Park Avenue and Century.
