Buick Park Avenue

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

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
Overview
Production	1990–1996
Model years	1991–1996
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan, United States Lake Orion, Michigan, United States Wentzville, Missouri, United States
Body and chassis
Layout	FF layout
Platform	C-body
Related	Buick LeSabre Cadillac DeVille Cadillac Fleetwood/Sixty Special Oldsmobile 98
Powertrain
Engine	3.8 L Buick V6
Transmission	4-speed 4T60-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	1991-93: Template:Auto in 1994-96: Template:Auto in
Width	1991-93: Template:Auto in 1994-96: Template:Auto in
Height	1991-93: Template:Auto in 1994-96: Template:Auto in

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.

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 until 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 lense 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.

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  European-spec Buick Park-Avenue
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  European-spec Buick Park-Avenue
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  Buick-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
Overview
Production	1996–2005
Model years	1997–2005
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan, United States Lake Orion, Michigan, United States
Body and chassis
Layout	FF layout
Platform	GM C platform
Related	Buick Riviera Oldsmobile Aurora Buick LeSabre Pontiac Bonneville Cadillac DeVille Cadillac Seville
Powertrain
Engine	3.8 L Buick V6 (Series II)
Transmission	4-speed 4T65-E automatic 4-speed 4T65-E HD automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	113.8 in (2891 mm)
Length	206.8 in (5253 mm)
Width	74.7 in (1897 mm)
Height	57.4 in (1458 mm)

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 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 3000 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.

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

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 Statesman (this time on the contemporary WM generation), though, unlike the Royaum, it is assembled by GM Shanghai 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 liter LP1, while the 3.6 liter 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	Layout	Power	Torque
2.8 L LP1 V6	2,792 cc (170 cu in) V6	150 kW (201 hp) at 6000 rpm	265 N⋅m (195 lbf⋅ft) at 3000 rpm
3.6 L LY7 V6	3,564 cc (217 cu in) V6	187 kW (251 hp) at 6500 rpm	340 N⋅m (250 lbf⋅ft) at 3200 rpm

External links

• Buick official page: China