DETROIT -- Buick's main challenge in creating an all-new LeSabre sedan for the 2000 model year was simply this: How do you improve one of the most successful automobiles on the market?
LeSabre's status as the best-selling U.S. full-size car for seven straight years was a strong indicator it was already providing a successful blend of attributes: roomy comfort, smooth power, quality, safety and security. Basically, customers saw the six-passenger LeSabre as an outstanding value.
So, when it came time for a new model, product planners were determined to keep LeSabre's regular customers happy. At the same time, they wanted to widen its appeal. The result -- the 2000 LeSabre -- has numerous new features designed to strengthen LeSabre's position as a premium sedan for traditional American families.
"However, the main feature of the 2000 LeSabre is not its list of innovations and improvements -- though it's an impressive list -- but the overall package designed to continue the winning formula," said Joseph J. Fitzsimmons Jr., LeSabre brand manager.
"From the exterior styling that is elegant and pleasing -- timeless rather than gimmicky -- to the very popular 3800 Series II V-6 engine and the new stronger body structure, this LeSabre is designed to attract a large number of customers who want an upscale, roomy, comfortable and safe car with classic styling -- and also a great value."
"We've sold more than one million LeSabres in the last eight years. Over that period, LeSabre has beaten all of our major competitors in retail sales -- including Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown Victoria, Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid, Toyota Avalon. That's a tremendous record of market success.
"I think it's a combination of delivering the right product features and right touches of comfort and luxury at the right price. LeSabre gives you a feeling of being in control and being secure -- basically it's a car that provides peace of mind."
For the 2000 model year, he said, Buick set out to identify the features it would most like to improve by talking to customers. And then it improved them. As a result, the new model is stronger, quieter and more convenient and secure. It has, among a long list of improvements, side air bags, better ride and handling and more luggage capacity (and, on Limited, a pass-through between the trunk and rear seating for hauling long items). There is more stowage in the passenger compartment, new inset door handles, larger gauges, larger outside rear-view mirrors that are hinged so they will fold if bumped.
In addition, LeSabre's safety-cage construction combined with four air bags, balanced chassis design, energy absorbing surfaces and new anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, with extra capacity for sure stopping, emphasize LeSabre's attention to safety -- a key attribute for LeSabre buyers. Among other new safety features on LeSabres are high-retention front seats with self-aligning head restraints. These features can enhance the seat system performance in rear impact collisions.
In a rear impact, the new seat system is designed to absorb energy and "pocket" a properly positioned occupant's pelvis and lower back into the seat. The self-aligning head restraint, built into each front seat back, uses the rearward movement of the occupant's upper torso in an accident to rotate the head restraint closer to the occupant's head. This simple mechanical device can reduce head motion in certain rear impacts, and therefore reduce the potential for a "whiplash" injury.
Also, all front safety belts are now attached directly to the seat structure, and shoulder and lap safety belts are now provided for all three rear passengers.
Rear-door child security locks are standard and special anchors are located on the rear shelf at all three rear-seat locations to provide a solid upper attachment point for child seats.
A standard PASS-Key III theft-deterrent system prevents starting and operating LeSabre without the proper ignition key. LeSabre Limited has a standard theft-deterrent alarm system (optional in Custom).
The new LeSabre is responsive to its customers' needs for comfort and convenience as well as safety and security. The re-engineered chassis provides additional wheel travel, better pitch control during emergency braking and self-leveling shock absorbers. Front and rear suspensions are tuned for a smoother ride on rough roads.
Special torque-axis powertrain mounts incorporate two fluid-filled rubber mounts to significantly diminish the amount of noise and vibration transmitted into the engine compartment.
LeSabre's wheels are moved out toward the four corners with a wheelbase of 112.2 inches (1.4 inches longer than previously) and wider front and rear track (up 1.9 inches) for improved ride and handling. This configuration has also created more than two inches of additional hip room for rear passengers, even though the new LeSabre is about the same size as the previous model.
"Ride and handling were specifically developed to make this a very relaxing car to drive," said Robert J. Higgins, LeSabre's assistant brand manager-product. "You don't need to keep making small corrections with the steering wheel to stay in your lane, yet the responsiveness around turns and when changing lanes is quick and precise. Also, the turning circle is tighter than before (39.5 feet vs. 40.6)."
There are improvements throughout. A "zoned" electrical system includes smarter and more reliable circuits capable of managing extra comfort and convenience features while requiring fewer wires. Byron A. Kearney, vehicle chief engineer who said the new body structure is LeSabre's "major gain," ranked the new electrical architecture as the second major benefit.
A new cast magnesium beam behind the instrument panel provides a convenient means of pre-assembling the most complex part of the car, providing a number of advantages. Difficult-to-diagnose squeaks and rattles behind the instrument panel are virtually eliminated. An electrical check prior to installation assures all instrument panel systems are functioning. Assembly of the automobile is easier. The light but stiff casting runs between the front pillars to connect the instrument panel and steering column rigidly to the rest of the body structure, adding to the feeling of solidity.
All new LeSabres are, as usual, well equipped with such standard features as air conditioning, remote keyless entry, Solar-Ray tinted glass, automatic leveling suspension and AM/FM stereo radio. To that list, Limited adds such features as automatic ComforTemp dual climate controls, fresh air filtration system designed to screen out pollen, Concert Sound II speaker system and aluminum wheels.
Among new options are a 12-disc CD changer mounted in the trunk, an astroroof, convenience console with writing surface, driver information center (standard on Limited; provides such information as fuel used, miles per gallon and tire pressure), rain-sensing windshield wipers and a three-channel universal garage door opener.
Other options include:
The driver information center (standard on Limited, optional Custom) may also be used to personalize settings. Also, the driver information center allows various ways of setting instrument panel displays and power window lock-outs.
On Limited models with optional memory driver's seat and memory outside rear-view mirrors, adjustments may be personalized for position of the driver's seat, mirrors and the "parallel park assist" feature on the right-side mirror (which can automatically tilt down when the car is shifted into Reverse to provide a better view of the intended parking area behind and to the right of the car).
Other notable improvements include more storage and "human factors" items: Sliding drawer under climate controls, tissue holder on inside glove box door, large pockets in the doors, cupholders that can be deployed without opening the front center armrest, credit card slot in driver sunvisor and overall convenient location of switches and buttons (including cruise control on the steering wheel).
A group of standard features called Convenience Plus includes battery rundown protection (which shuts off any exterior and interior lights left on for 10 minutes when the ignition is off), lockout protection, delayed entry and exit lighting, Twilight Sentinel headlamp controls and retained accessory power. All LeSabres are again powered by the highly regarded 3.8-liter 3800 Series II V-6 engine combined with the smooth and responsive 4T65E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The engine delivers 205 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Fuel economy is estimated at an excellent 19 miles per gallon city and 30 mpg highway, the same as on the previous model.
Improvements in this award-winning engine are aimed at reducing noise and enhancing smoothness. They include a new crankshaft damper and increased exhaust system volume for quieter operation.
"The 3800 is a great engine," said Fitzsimmons. "It provides real power on demand, outstanding fuel economy, it's virtually maintenance-free for 100,000 miles and it's almost bullet-proof. When we talk about LeSabre providing peace of mind, the 3800 engine is a big part of that story. Our customers love that engine." LeSabre's design is described by William L. Porter, the now-retired Buick exterior design chief, as conveying a sense of substance with "a touch of elegance in the roofline and the way the car is carefully detailed." He described the longer wheelbase and wider track as providing a significantly improved stance that will be noticeable when driving behind a LeSabre.
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