2008 Buick LaCrosse Super

In 1981, when MotorWeek went on the air, some of the hottest cars around bore the Buick crest. In fact, Buick won the NASCAR manufacturers title that year. But Buick’s hot rod heritage goes back decades before that to the straight eight Buick super sedans of the 1940s and 50s. Now, for 2008, Buick is reviving the “super” badge for two new performance sedans, the LaCrosse Super and Lucerne Super. But this time, are they super only in name?

Buick’s last big performance claim to fame was the Regal Grand National back in the late 80s. Since then Buick has concentrated more on posh motoring than commanding power and presence.  Until now, that is. 

The 2008 Buick LaCrosse Super and Lucerne Super not only mark the return of ‘Super’ badging after a half century absence, but signals that Buick is once again angling to be a master of the road.

For the LaCrosse Super, this means dropping a small-block V8 into its front-wheel drive bay. Similar to the setup used on the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP, the pushrod 5.3-liter with Active Fuel Management produces 300 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque. A 4-speed automatic is the only transmission.

On the track, our tester shot from 0 to 60 in 6.2 seconds and sprinted the quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds at 100 miles-per-hour. That’s pretty heady for a Buick.

To match its power, The LaCrosse Super’s suspension is retuned and includes Bilstein monotube shocks for tighter, more responsive handling. 

Indeed, the car’s solid and stable nature allowed it to charge through the cones.  But even though it benefits from grippy tires and a well-planted chassis, there’s still a fair amount of body roll.  The back-end got a little loose during aggressive cornering, but electronic stability control quickly reels this sedan back in.

For stopping, the LaCrosse Super is equipped with upsized front and rear brake rotors. Halts were straight and near fade-free, averaging a good 130 feet from 60 to 0.

On the outside, the LaCrosse Super enjoys an upshot of styling and performance cues which starts with a bolder waterfall grille and Buick’s quad portholes on either side, the first time on a LaCrosse. Below are standard 18-inch aluminum wheels.

The sporty profile is beefed up by extended rocker panels, and the new rear fascia features a deck-lid spoiler and dual chrome exhaust tips.

The interior of the LaCrosse has also been elevated.  The cabin touts a sportier, and more refined persona.  There’s wood grain, along with silver accents on the dash, doors, shifter, and sill plates.

And, the LaCrosse super still includes high-end amenities like heated leather seats, remote start, premium sound, rear obstacle detection, and OnStar.

Now, the LaCrosse Super’s larger sibling is this Lucerne Super. But, unlike the LaCrosse, the Lucerne Super is a more traditional Buick highway master. That means an up-rated 4.6-liter twin-cam Northstar V8, now to 292 horsepower. That’s 17 more than the Lucerne CXS - and 288 pound feet of torque.  It too, is mated to a 4-speed front-drive automatic.

Handling prowess and agility have also been elevated by the Lucerne Super’s optimized chassis. Still, the recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control emphasizes a smooth and comfortable feel over corner cutting.

Outside, the Lucerne Super also has the most showmanship of its line, sharing many of the same design elements as the LaCrosse Super, like the brighter waterfall grille that headlines a new front fascia as well as redone rocker panels, a revised rear fascia, and integrated dual exhaust tips. It, too, wears 18-inch aluminum wheels.

Bright sill plates welcome all to a luxury-touring interior defined by a leather wrapped dash and darker finishes that are indeed more serious than lesser Lucernes.

Occupants should drink up the cushy leather seats with suede inserts, and the Lucerne Super is commanded by a heated, wood-accented steering wheel that power tilts and telescopes. A Harmon Kardon audio system is standard.

But, with rocketing fuel prices, this dynamic duo also causes a little more pain at the pump.  Government Fuel Economy ratings for the LaCrosse Super are 16 city/24 highway.  The Lucerne Super rates at 15 city/22 highway.  Both use premium gas.

Base price for the LaCrosse Super is $32,820, while the luxury-laden Lucerne Super starts at a heftier $39,395.

For those who have longed for Buick to recapture its former performance glory, your wait is finally over.  This Super pair of sedans blend performance and creature comforts in a way that the Buick brand has not seen in a generation.  And, we won’t be shocked if Buick showrooms experience a sudden rise in test drives.