All 2006 Buick Lucerne models, regardless of whether there are six or eight cylinders under the hood, direct power to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Some may argue that with five- and six-speed automatics becoming the norm, not to mention the emergence of seven-speed boxes from makers like Mercedes-Benz, a four-speed tranny is seriously outdated. However, our drive in the Lucerne highlighted a smooth-shifting transmission that had little need to hunt for the appropriate gear.