Motor Authority - blog Category: Regal

Buick's image re-invention campaign is well underway with the new Enclave, and especially the very solid LaCrosse, but many are still looking forward to Buick's next major product: the 2011 Buick Regal. Just a couple days ago Buick gave us all a taste of what's to come with two official spy shots posted to its Facebook page, and today they've given us a Blair Witch-like preview of the car.

The video doesn't reveal a whole lot--it appears to be the same car leaked from a dealer presentation earlier this month (pictured in the gallery above) right down to the European-style license plate blank. So don't expect the final product to be...

Buick's image re-invention campaign is well underway with the new Enclave, and especially the very solid LaCrosse, but many are still looking forward to Buick's next major product: the 2011 Buick Regal. Just a couple days ago Buick gave us all a taste of what's to come with two official spy shots posted to its Facebook page, and today they've given us a Blair Witch-like preview of the car. The video doesn't reveal a whole lot--it appears to be the same car leaked from a dealer presentation earlier this month (pictured in the gallery above) right down to the European-style license plate blank. So don't expect the final product to be identical to what you see here. Do expect it to be about 99% the same, however. The spy shots revealed earlier this week also show little except that Buick is working hard to build hype and interest in the car in advance of its production debut. We already know the car will be very similar to the Chinese-market Buick Regal, which is itself based closely on the European Opel Insignia. Previous photos, including one leaked from a presentation of an early prototype to U.S. dealers, depict the car as essentially the Chinese-market car with a slightly reworked front fascia and grille area. The interior is likely to vary somewhat as well, though the Chinese design influence on the new LaCrosse is seen as one of its strong points, so the U.S. car may end up very close to its Chinese-market doppelganger both inside and out. Power for the 2011 Regal is tipped as coming from the 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder due to be added to the LaCrosse later this year, and a likely optional upgrade to the 3.0-liter V-6 also found in the LaCrosse. Whether the Regal might also get the 3.6-liter V-6 from the LaCrosse in a sort of performance variant is still up in the air. When it does arrive--sometime in late 2010--expect it to cost around $24,000 to start in order to leave room for the $27,835 base price of the LaCrosse. For the background on the 2011 Regal's progress, check out our coverage of the car's official confirmation here. [Buick] Read More

Just this week Buick confirmed it would be bringing the Regal to the U.S. as its next sedan, and immediately speculation on an Insignia-based Regal much like that currently sold in China began to emerge. Today, a photo of what is purported to be a U.S.-market Buick Regal emerged on Facebook, though the details say it's not the final version.

Side repeater turn indicators and the Euro-sized front-mount license plate holder, for example, indicate that this is still really just a dressed up Insignia. The story behind the car is that it was the vehicle previewed to dealers this week as part of the official confirmation of the Regal program.

The...

Just this week Buick confirmed it would be bringing the Regal to the U.S. as its next sedan, and immediately speculation on an Insignia-based Regal much like that currently sold in China began to emerge. Today, a photo of what is purported to be a U.S.-market Buick Regal emerged on Facebook, though the details say it's not the final version. Side repeater turn indicators and the Euro-sized front-mount license plate holder, for example, indicate that this is still really just a dressed up Insignia. The story behind the car is that it was the vehicle previewed to dealers this week as part of the official confirmation of the Regal program. The front fascia, foglights and grille treatment are all slightly different from the Chinese-market Buick Regal, however, indicating that this is a fair preview of what the car may look like when it arrives on our shores. Notably absent from the car are the characteristic trio of vents once located on the fenders of Buick vehicles, most recently relocated to the hood on the LaCrosse. As for powerplants, the next Regal is almost certain to get the brand-new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine also coming to the LaCrosse, while a possible turbocharged 2.0-liter unit and either or both of the 3.0-liter or 3.6-liter V-6s could also be tapped for duty. Read up on the official confirmation for more on what may be planned for the upcoming American version of the Regal. [Facebook via @TheAutoInsider] Read More

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse has been widely hailed as a strong entry into the mid-level luxury segment, besting even Lexus' ES 350 in many respects. But a single car does not make a brand, and so Buick has announced its next vehicle will be the widely-rumored Regal.

The announcement of the rebirth of the Regal nameplate at Buick came during a Buick-GMC dealer business meeting, though no details of the upcoming car's features or design were released. We've been tracking the potential of a Regal for the U.S. for many months now, however, so we can offer some insight into what may be coming.

With the exeunt of Saturn and its models from the...

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse has been widely hailed as a strong entry into the mid-level luxury segment, besting even Lexus' ES 350 in many respects. But a single car does not make a brand, and so Buick has announced its next vehicle will be the widely-rumored Regal. The announcement of the rebirth of the Regal nameplate at Buick came during a Buick-GMC dealer business meeting, though no details of the upcoming car's features or design were released. We've been tracking the potential of a Regal for the U.S. for many months now, however, so we can offer some insight into what may be coming. With the exeunt of Saturn and its models from the national brand stage, Buick is expected to get a re-designed Opel Insignia-based sedan--the car that will be branded the Regal. A version of that car, already branded as the Buick Regal, is currently on sale in China. Like the LaCrosse, the Regal will be based on the Epsilon II front-wheel-drive platform, though the Regal will save costs and position itself just below the LaCrosse by forgoing some of the more premium elements, such as acoustic laminated glass, sound insulation in the underbody and the perimeter engine bay sound seal. The Regal is also expected to come in about four inches shorter in wheelbase than the LaCrosse, and about seven inches shorter in overall length. Powertrain offerings will likely stick to the 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder due to be added to the LaCrosse later this year, with a possible upgrade option in the form of the 3.0-liter V-6 also found in the LaCrosse, leaving the LaCrosse with a further step above the Regal in the form of the 3.6-liter V-6. For more on the strengths and weaknesses of the Epsilon II platform, as well as Buick's new take on luxury, style and materials, check out our first drive review of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Read More

General Motors may be in the process of offloading its Saturn brand but a replacement for one of its more popular models, the Aura midsize sedan, will eventually arrive in North America – only it will be wearing a Buick badge. The stylish Opel Insignia sedan was destined to serve as the replacement for the Saturn Aura but with the brand’s sale, GM executives have decided to sell it as a Buick Regal sometime in late 2010 or early 2011.

The Insignia is already sold in China as a Buick Regal and now it has been tentatively confirmed for the North American market. The information comes from GM vehicle performance integration manager... General Motors may be in the process of offloading its Saturn brand but a replacement for one of its more popular models, the Aura midsize sedan, will eventually arrive in North America – only it will be wearing a Buick badge. The stylish Opel Insignia sedan was destined to serve as the replacement for the Saturn Aura but with the brand’s sale, GM executives have decided to sell it as a Buick Regal sometime in late 2010 or early 2011. The Insignia is already sold in China as a Buick Regal and now it has been tentatively confirmed for the North American market. The information comes from GM vehicle performance integration manager Roger Knoebel, who revealed to Automotive News that the Regal would be positioned below the new 2010 LaCrosse and to reflect this positioning will be priced several thousand dollars less. The LaCrosse is priced from $27,835. Both the Regal and LaCrosse, however, share the same Epsilon II FWD platform and basic body structure. To separate the two, the Regal will miss out on the LaCrosse’s sound deadening features such as acoustic laminated glass, premium absorption material under the car and a perimeter seal for the hood. Furthermore, the Regal’s wheelbase will also be four inches shorter than the LaCrosse at 107.7 inches, while its overall length will be 6.9 inches shorter. The Regal is part of Buick's plan to add several models over the next 24 months and attract buyers who also consider Lexus and Acura, Knoebel explained. Another important feature of the Regal is that its Insignia cousin is available in multiple bodystyles including the standard sedan, a five-door hatchback and a long-wheelbase wagon, and any of these may also be offered for sale in North America.2009 Opel Insignia Sedan Read More

Earlier this week a report emerged naming Buick the new gateway for Opel’s European models into the U.S. now that the future of Saturn is looking grim. The star in Opel’s crown, the 2009 Insignia sedan, is already on sale in Chinese markets as the Buick Regal but an insider at General Motors recently said the Insignia would also be sold in the U.S.

The car was already confirmed to replace the Saturn Aura later this year, making its import as a Buick Regal completely plausible, however, there is one major stumbling block. The Insignia is based on the same FWD ‘Epsilon II’ platform that will underpin the upcoming 2010... Earlier this week a report emerged naming Buick the new gateway for Opel’s European models into the U.S. now that the future of Saturn is looking grim. The star in Opel’s crown, the 2009 Insignia sedan, is already on sale in Chinese markets as the Buick Regal but an insider at General Motors recently said the Insignia would also be sold in the U.S. The car was already confirmed to replace the Saturn Aura later this year, making its import as a Buick Regal completely plausible, however, there is one major stumbling block. The Insignia is based on the same FWD ‘Epsilon II’ platform that will underpin the upcoming 2010 Buick LaCrosse. This means both the Insignia and LaCrosse will share much of their drivetrains, suspension architecture, and even the same basic proportions. GM would be wary of returning to Buick’s old days when it was overloaded with midsize sedans, and this has led to speculation that the Insignia could instead be rebadged as a Cadillac. Yes, you read that correctly. The Detroit Free Press reports that GM has considered offering the Insignia as a Cadillac. The FWD layout of the car would be safer to drive on icy-roads than the current fleet of RWD Cadillac saloons, and many of the features offered on the Insignia in Europe, such as AWD, adaptive headlights and a lane-departure warning, could also be offered in the U.S., improving the potential mid-sized Cadillac's feature set and profitability.GM Insignia official interior reveal2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan Read More

Opel and Saturn have always had a close affinity, with a number of popular models like the Vectra and Astra sold under both labels with barely any changes except for the badge located on the grille. However, with the future of Saturn looking grim, Buick is set to become the gateway for Europe’s hot imports.

Americans will still get many of the vehicles that would normally be sold by Saturn but instead they will be rebadged as Buicks. The first of these will be the replacement for the Aura sedan. GM had originally planned to sell the new Opel Insignia sedan as the 2010 Saturn Aura but a new plan will see it launch in the U.S. later... Opel and Saturn have always had a close affinity, with a number of popular models like the Vectra and Astra sold under both labels with barely any changes except for the badge located on the grille. However, with the future of Saturn looking grim, Buick is set to become the gateway for Europe’s hot imports. Americans will still get many of the vehicles that would normally be sold by Saturn but instead they will be rebadged as Buicks. The first of these will be the replacement for the Aura sedan. GM had originally planned to sell the new Opel Insignia sedan as the 2010 Saturn Aura but a new plan will see it launch in the U.S. later this year as the 2010 Buick Regal. The information was first revealed by an inside source at GM who revealed to Automotive News most of Saturn’s models will go to Buick. When contacted, the president of the Buick-Pontiac-GMC line, Susan Docherty, confirmed that the Opel brand is one that GM will look at for future sourcing. Docherty also pointed out that even with GM’s restructuring plans for Opel, which could see control of the European division sold to another party, GM would still be able to utilize all of its global architectural platforms. Buick's short term brand strategy, meanwhile, is resting with the upcoming 2010 LaCrosse sedan. GM is hoping that the new LaCrosse will allow the brand to be competitive in the sedan segment against the likes of cars such as the Acura TL and Lexus ES 350, and eventually being the mid-level premium brand it so desperately wants to be.2009 Opel Insignia2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan Read More