1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE
DESIGN
FLINT, Mich. -- The all-new 1997 Park Avenue's upgrade to a more structurally rigid platform gave Buick designers the opportunity to create a flagship sedan even more substantial and strikingly attractive than before.
William L. Porter, who was chief designer of Buick Exterior Design Studio No. 1 and the leader of the Park Avenue design team, offered these comments on the design evolution in an interview before his retirement in the summer of '96:
"Overall, the new Park Avenue is purposely clean and sleek. That was a conscious effort on our parts that began with the Riviera and continues throughout the Buick lineup as new models are created.
"While the previous Park Avenue has been a very successful automobile for Buick, we decided to evolve the car in the direction of the Riviera. A second consideration is the fact that the current Roadmaster is gone at the end of the '96 model year. Without losing the identity of the Park Avenue, we wanted the new edition to draw character from both the Riviera and the Roadmaster.
"There's a greater depth from the bottom of the rocker panels to the top of the roof. In other words, the Park Avenue has more sheer stature. We blended that characteristic, which should appeal to Roadmaster customers, with the sleekness appreciated by Riviera buyers.
"Some of the Riviera's design cues were also folded into the recipe. And as always, we sought a shape that was very aerodynamically efficient.
"One of the most interesting elements inspired by the Riviera is what we call the 'chamfer plane,' a continuous surface which runs from the headlamps, along the top of the front fenders, through the doors and into the rear fenders. This sharp crease in the midst of flowing curves gives the Park Avenue great character and dignity.
"We used the chamfer plane -- which narrows to only an inch and a half wide in the door area -- as a contrasting element. In combination with the car's height, this provides the Park Avenue with a statuesque look. We consciously gave Buick's flagship a commanding statue and presence appropriate to its role.
"In front, we used a large grille aperture with vertical bars, which have long been Buick design cues. To distinguish the two models, we gave Park Avenue a stand-up hood ornament while the Park Avenue Ultra carries its tri-shield badge embedded in the top of the grille. Headlamps, which are the same on both cars, use a fixed, clear lens with an adjustable reflector. This permits the sheet metal to meet the lamp tightly with no clearance gap necessary for adjustment. (Aiming is accomplished by adjusting the lamp from the rear without removing the lens.) Cornering lamps are integrated into the assembly.
"To permit the front fender line to sweep around the corner as it does on Riviera, we allowed the headlamp assembly to bulge out slightly in the plan view (as seen from above). The combination of prominent lamps with crystal-clear lenses and bright, fluted reflectors yields a strong focal point at the front of the Park Avenue.
"Two key features in the side view are flush door handles and the elimination of the previous Park Avenue's fixed front quarter windows. Recent research data indicates that a majority of our customers prefer flush doors handles, so we made that change, which happens to be consistent with the Riviera. It's actually a second generation of the Riviera door handle design with functional improvements. The new side window configuration allowed us to move the outside mirrors forward on the door. They're also 75 percent larger than the previous design.
"The net result is vastly improved visibility. But without the fixed quarter glass it's a more exacting job to make the transition from the windshield to the side glass work well from aerodynamic drag and wind noise standpoints. It took many hours in the wind tunnel to perfect that area of the new Park Avenue.
"Protective moldings on the side of the car offer extra resistance to damage at key points. These strips are made of a very tough material molded integrally with the stainless steel brightwork. The bright accents wrap around the front corners, stopping in the grille area. In back, they also stop short of the deck opening to help avoid scratches when the luggage is loaded and unloaded from the trunk.
"Full-width taillamps radiate Buick's identity clearly and distinctively. We selected a double-lens design to achieve a richer look with more depth. The outer lens is clear on the Park Avenue and darkly tinted on the Park Avenue Ultra to provide a visual distinction between the two models.
"Now that the design effort is complete, we believe that the new Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra are quintessential Buicks, premium motorcars with a substantial, distinctive and powerful appearance."
INTERIOR DESIGN
Paul Tatseos was the chief designer of Buick interiors at the time the '97 Park Avenue was being developed. (He's since moved to chief designer of another GM interior studio.) Recalling highlights of the project, Tatseos noted:
"When we met with current Park Avenue owners, many of them adamantly resisted change because they love their cars so much. That gave us a strong sense of direction -- to bring the Park Avenue's interior up to a higher standard without making radical changes.
"Of course, our customers did ask for improvements in a few notable areas. They requested larger, more legible instruments, and they also asked that controls for the radio and climate control be mounted higher for easier access.
"We spent a lot of time perfecting the harmony of the car through improved human factors. The design and operation of every switch was very carefully considered, resulting in several new solutions. For example, the lights are now operated by a simple push-pull switch on the instrument panel. The power seats are operated with a metaphoric switch mounted at the side of the bottom cushion.
"Seating comfort has been a top priority at Buick for several years. Park Avenue is the first car started from scratch where we were able to apply all that we've learned about proper seat design from the very outset. Our seat comfort team has done an excellent job with this car. And I know our customers are sure to love the new seat-mounted belts that will be introduced in the Park Avenue.
"A major emphasis was also placed on making the rear seat as comfortable as possible for the two outboard occupants. In fact, our goal was to match front-seat comfort. We established that as a priority and applied what we know about front-seat design.
"Another goal was to improve roominess -- both physically and psychologically. Since the new Park Avenue is a little wider than its predecessor, we were able to capture an increased amount of shoulder and hip room. In addition, we made the interior appear wider and more spacious by blending the instrument panel into the front doors. It helps occupants feel more comfortable and at ease.
"In spite of the fact that the new Park Avenue is quite different inside from the car it replaces, I'm confident that loyal owners -- and future loyal owners -- will feel right at home."
