RIVIERA IS LOVELY TO LOOK AT, LITHE IN THE LANE : TEST DRIVE.

Byline: Al Haas The Philadelphia Inquirer 

Ever since its debut as a 1995 model, the Buick Riviera has had my vote as the decade's most striking and original automotive-styling exercise.

This low-end luxury coupe is definitely sensual and voluptuous. Definitely not the kind of car you'd kick out of bed on a cold winter's night.

But it seems that the Riv has grown weary of being just a Baywatch babe. It wants to be seen in athletic terms, as well. At least athletic enough to make it of greater interest to younger buyers.

My first encounter with the gorgeous Riviera's recent interest in better performance came months ago at Pocono Raceway, where Buick was giving the ink-stained rabble a chance to drive an experimental, high-output Riv.

The Riviera was already available with a supercharged version of its 3.8-liter V-6 that develops 240 horsepower. The one-of-a-kind car I drove on the road course at Pocono had an intercooler as well as a supercharger, and the denser fuel-air charge engendered by that refrigerating device raised the horsepower tally to 280.

When you got far enough through a turn to jump on the gas, those 280 horses really made you sit up and take notice. The experimental car also handled better than the earlier Rivs I had driven.

The more-fun intercooler may not ever make it past the killjoys in the Buick countinghouse and the marketing molehill, but the notion of improving the car's handling characteristics sure has.

The 1997 model I just tested underwent a number of suspension and steering refinements designed to improve both handling and ride. The result is steering that is more responsive and a suspension that delivers less body roll and more composure in fast turns.

The handling improvements have been joined by the improved stopping power of bigger disc brakes.

Personally, I wish I had seen the suspension tightened a bit more. But maybe history will show that the Buick brain trust did right by tweaking the suspension enough to attract younger, more adventurous drivers, but not enough to turn off the folks who already buy this car at a 20,000-per-year clip. Many of those buyers are women who are more interested in the Riv's styling and comfort than in becoming racers.

At any rate, the new Riv is more fun in the corners than it was. It remains a stoplight hoot in the supercharged form I tested. I can't think of another $30,000 luxury car that has this kind of oomph.

The Riv's strong suit remains its Baywatch body, of course.

This design engenders the hateful as well as the lustful observer, but few would deny its imaginative drama. Thanks in part to the fender bevels that disappear and reappear as the viewing angle changes, the Riv seems to reinvent itself as you walk around it.

Unfortunately, the Riv's interior design isn't on a par with its skin. Although I do respect the uniqueness of the flexible, eyebrow-like lip over the dashboard, it remains rather dated, homely business. And the gauges look too cheesy to be in a car that starts at $30,110.

Otherwise, the interior is quite attractive, and it is very comfortable. Because the Riv's structural strength is in a class with Mercedes-Benz cars, its interior is free of squeaks and rattles.

The Riv's comfort derives in part from its roominess. The car furnishes plenty of room for four adults, and there is a generous, 17.4-cubic-foot trunk for their luggage.

Buick automobiles have good quality ratings, and the test car was right on the money. It was nicely assembled with a flawless gray-metallic paint film and even body margins. The interior pieces fit nicely.

This car is an obvious value, given the level of standard equipment. The test car's no-extra-cost menu included all the usual luxuries, as well as less likely delights such as magnetic variable-assist power steering and a compact-disc player.

The Riv's safety gear includes anti-lock brakes, dual air bags and daytime running lights.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: A higher-performance 1997 Riviera gets a test ride on an unpaved road.