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1997 BUICK CENTURY

OVERVIEW

FLINT, Mich. -- The 1997 Buick Century, which will go on sale during the first quarter of 1997, is an all-new design with special emphasis on style and comfort.

"This is a cost-effective and state-of-the-art midsize sedan," said Buick General Manager Edward H. Mertz. "It has an all-new architecture. It's roomier and quieter. It has a fully isolated and independent rear suspension and provides a better ride than ever before. But one thing won't change -- Century will still deliver the quality and prestige of a Buick at a reasonable price."

Anthony H. Derhake, brand manager for Century, said Century's styling is "classic and contemporary without being trendy. It's an uncluttered, enduring design with timeless Buick themes such as a bold grille and full-across elliptical taillamp treatment."

The Buick Century dates to 1936 -- the year Buick began using names rather than numbers to identify its models. Century continued through the 1942 model year, which ended early when Buick converted to World War II military production. The Century model returned in 1954 as a midsize high-performance entry. The name was temporarily retired after 1958, then reintroduced in 1973, again as a midsize model.

Although there have been numerous changes in Century since the first front-wheel-drive model was introduced for the 1982 model year, the 1997 Century represents the first all-new version in a decade and a half.

The original front-wheel-drive Century has been highly successful -- with more than two million sold over what will ultimately be a 15-year production run.

Tapping into that depth of ownership experience, Buick engineers and planners asked Century and competitive-car owners -- a potential market of more than 1.2 million buyers -- for their "wish list" of preferred product attributes.

Century customers said they want a roomy, comfortable automobile with a smooth, quiet ride -- and a contemporary car that's safe and reliable.

To fit that profile, the '97 Century is larger than the car it replaces, providing more room and luggage space. Four-door sedans in two trim levels -- Custom and Limited -- are offered. Standard amenities are many, from the safety of dual air bags and dynamic side impact protection to battery run-down protection and extraordinary rear-seat head room.

New chassis features -- such as an independent rear suspension and rubber-isolated rear cross-member -- guarantee that Century delivers on its promise to be a comfort leader in its class. Century Limited is equipped with a speed-dependent power-assist system that combines electronics, hydraulics and electromagnetic principles to reduce steering effort during parking and to improve road feel at highway speeds. Anti-lock brakes are standard equipment on both Century models.

Century has a world-class body structure to optimize safety, ride, handling and quietness. Special body design details facilitate quality in assembly. For example, the entire side of the car from the front door hinge pillar to the rear quarter panel is one body side ring stamping. Steel braces help Century exceed federal dynamic side-impact requirements.

The new Century is equipped with innovative features aimed at customer convenience and long-term ownership satisfaction. One innovation, because Century is so quiet, is a circuit to provide "starter protection" so the starter won't grind if you turn the key when the engine is running. The power door locks refuse to lock you out if you forget to take the key from the ignition. Triple door seals keep weather and wind noise from entering the interior.

Compared with the current model, a 4.1-inch longer wheelbase, broader track dimensions and larger tire sizes give Century a quality ride, purposeful stance and confident handling, as well as easier access to the interior. Better exterior proportions and a steeper windshield angle contribute to an overall graceful elegance. Small design details, such as one-piece front lamp assemblies that fit "flush" to the surrounding sheet metal, add to the distinctive appearance. Daytime running lamps are a standard safety feature.

A principal characteristic of Century owners is that they want an enduring design. They seek classic American design cues, but not a car that will look dated in a few years. Wayne Kady, chief exterior designer of the new Century, said the major design challenge was to find such an appearance with authentic longevity.

"We purposely avoided anything that could be considered trendy -- hot one season and gone the next," Kady said. Instead, his studio sought a look that would be "attractive at first sight and still beautiful years later." Century's fine vertical-bar grille gives this new model instant Buick identification. A flowing side-view sculptural form also reinforces this car's strong brand character.

Inside is ample space for six adults to ride in comfort, thanks to thoughtful packaging and longer front seat tracks. The standard three-across split-front bench seat is designed to comfortably accommodate full-sized adults. Spacing the seat tracks as wide as possible maximized the rear foot room. "Theater-style" rear seating is slightly elevated to provide a better view of the road, better comfort, and an open, airy feeling which enhances long-trip satisfaction. An optional built-in child safety seat (positioned in the center of the rear seat) is another new Century feature.

Century's instrument panel is designed for easy, intuitive use with gracefully flowing architecture. In response to strong customer preferences, the instrument cluster and radio graphics are large and easy to use.

Available on Century is dual ComforTemp climate control which allows the driver and front passenger to select desired temperatures from one central location. An electronic version is available on Limited.

Safety belts are designed for maximum comfort and safety in conjunction with dual front-seat air bags. Both inboard and outboard lap belt anchors are attached to the front seats so the lap belt moves with seat adjustment for an effective yet comfortable fit. The shoulder-belt loops, mounted on the B-pillar, feature height adjusters for the best possible fit for a wide range of customers.

To exceed customer expectations for durability and efficiency, the new Century is powered by the widely acclaimed 3100 V-6. Projected fuel economy is 20 miles per gallon city and 29 mpg highway. Long-life coolant and platinum-tipped spark plugs help extend maintenance intervals.

This 160-horsepower powerplant is mated to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission for a combination of responsive power and almost imperceptible upshifts and downshifts.

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