FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE STILL POPULAR!

By Bob Lutz--GM Vice Chairman

No one’s denying the inherent handling advantages of rear-drive cars vs. front-drive cars. But, even though the industry pendulum appears to be swinging back toward rear-drive, front-drive will never go away. It’s the best alternative short of all-wheel-drive in many parts of the country, for one thing. And for another, it’s much improved over the front-drive systems of even the recent past.

I read a number of your responses expressing concern about torque steer in a powerful FWD sedan like the new Buick Lucerne, with some of you going so far as to say you wouldn’t even consider a FWD vehicle with that much power. I can only respond by saying, you really should try the top-line Lucerne with the 18" wheels, the sport suspension and the 4-cam V8 before you exclude it on the basis of its drive wheels.

We have made a lot of progress in managing torque steer. I am currently driving an 'O5 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP V8, with 3O3 hp, and I can tell you that it's a delightful car, even pleasant and easy to control under full acceleration. In mid-acceleration, it is indistinguishable from a RWD car. Besides, the Lucerne shares the platform with the Cadillac Deville (290 hp) and nobody has ever complained about torque steer. The Lucerne V8 has only 275 hp to protect Cadillac, and I honestly think you could drive it all day and never encounter the slightest bit of torque steer.

Have you heard of anyone complaining of torque steer in a Deville? I thought not!