I recently purchased a 2011 Buick Lucerne CXL. All online photos of this car show a center console with the transmission shifter there. My Lucerne has the shifter on the steering column. Why is mine different?

i would guess there are different interior levels that change by year trim package, for example when my mom bought her old 03 imp ls it had no center console or fold down seats, i asked the salesman why because i thought all the ls package cars had it he said its a stand alone interior option on some cars some years and can vary on the same car year to year. so basically you cant go by trim level. and if you really want to know what came with your package the salesman is likely a better source