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2010 Detroit Auto Show: Buick Regal GS Concept

 
15 5,621 views Jan 6, 2010
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Buick Regal GS concept car

HI-RES GALLERY: Buick Regal GS concept car

As we all know, the upcoming 2011 Buick Regal is essentially a rebadged version of the Opel Insignia, a car that won the prestigious 2009 European Car Of The Year award the year it was launched.

What a lot of readers may not know is that in Europe, the Insignia is offered in several different variants, including one that’s available with a 325-horsepower turbocharged V-6, a manual transmission and an adaptive all-wheel drive system. This high performance Insignia is the OPC (Opel Performance Center) model and at next week’s 2010 Detroit Auto Show an American-spec version will be previewed in the form of the Buick Regal GS concept car.

The Detroit show car won’t be quite as extreme as its European cousin, instead featuring only a 255-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine but with the same 6-speed manual and all-wheel drive system.

The 2.0-liter engine is the same unit that will be offered in the Regal CXL later this summer, but the engine and turbocharger are tuned to deliver greater boost pressure in the GS. The output is estimated at 255-horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels via an adaptive all-wheel drive system equipped with an electronic limited-slip rear differential.

The high-performance drivetrain is expected to enable the Regal GS to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

That performance is complemented by a four-wheel independent suspension system, with a unique High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) design in front. The HiPerStrut system helps reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering to improve grip levels. The Buick Regal GS concept car is also fitted with 14-inch Brembo brakes and an adaptive chassis system with three driver selectable settings: normal, sport and GS. This latter feature changes the suspension settings, throttle response, shift pattern and steering sensitivity through the variable-effort steering system.

Other differences to the regular Regal sedan on which it’s based include a lowered body and lower center of gravity, custom exterior and interior mods, 20-inch forged aluminium wheels, Recaro bucket seats, and a racing-inspired sport steering wheel and metal pedals.

The Regal name has been linked with sporty Buicks in the past, with models like the Grand National, GNX, GS and GSX all springing to mind. The idea behind the new Regal GS concept car is to explore the appeal of a new-generation high-performance variant of the Regal and you can bet a production version of this car will be arriving in showrooms later this year.

[Buick]





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Comments (15)

  1. By NoNameDenton Posted: 1/6/2010 9:23pm PST

    What little respect I had left for GM has gone up a bit.
     
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  2. By  batterie iphone 3g Posted: 1/6/2010 10:59pm PST

    I doubt this car would have the same engine as the Opel. I'm thinking the 3.6L with 280+hp and AWD is more likely. Then again if they are going to import the 2L turbo from Europe (or wherever its built) maybe they will import the 2.8L turbo as well once production goes to Canada.
     
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  3. By  Kyle Stewart Posted: 1/6/2010 11:28pm PST

    "Brian Sweeney admits that improving the performance of Buick in particular will be his greatest challenge, with the key goal being to attract younger buyers to the brand." - (12/28/09 Viknesh Vijayenthiran)
    Although it may be a rebadged Opel, this is presicely what Buick needs to do.
     
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  4. By  My Wheels On Walls Posted: 1/6/2010 11:43pm PST

    A buick with Brembo brakes. For all the tea in China never thought I'd be around to see that day. Love it!! If Cadillac can reinvent itself to sell cars to the living outside of God's waiting room then Buick will do just fine....
     
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  5. By John Posted: 1/7/2010 4:15am PST

    Great! The insignia is a beautiful car I had been looking forward to as a Saturn. Please don't pull a typical GM move and mess this one up. Give us the biturbo deisel and V6 biturbo gas engines and most importantly, that beautiful Sport touring WAGON I lust over. That WILL bring me back from my VW and Audi wagons. I am a former Buick T type owner, but they lost me long ago with boring, stale vehicles. Give me a legitimate sport touring wagon. The kind of car that takes a lot of people to European brands for their vehicles and not just another bloated SUV. GM HAS a full line of european vehicles that compete well with the likes of VW and Audi. Put our workers back to work and build the same cars here and NOT in CHINA, so we don't have to pay the import penalty as we faced with Saturn badged Opels. Is the "NEW GM" listening to potential customers?? they better or it's going to be a short history for the "new' Government Motors company
     
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  6. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 1/7/2010 7:02am PST

    They did even less to differentiate it from the Insignia than I thought they would, but that is no bad thing. Why did they not include the turbo V6 like the OPC has? My only guess is that they could be saving it for a GSX, to fully complete their 1970 model name lineup.
     
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  7. By Axel Posted: 1/7/2010 9:09am PST

    WOW is all I can say the car looks very european and beleive me I have an 02 MCS and this Buick is making look at them. I used to own a 72 El Dorado although it was a US car Its the only US brand I would think in Buying
     
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  8. fb_1357014726 avatar Quinton Seay Posted: 1/7/2010 9:36am PST

    I think they made the right decision with putting the 2L in the new GS Regal. Its lite and revs quick and more fuel efficent. Although a little more h.p. than is always nice I think the torque numbers are impressive
     
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  9. By JeremyK Posted: 1/7/2010 9:48am PST

    I work at GM as an engineer and currently drive a Saabura 9-2X. There have never been many cars in the GM stable that appeal to me, but this is a definite contender for the day when I have to replace my beloved Subaru WRX in Saab clothing.
     
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  10. By John Posted: 1/7/2010 2:23pm PST

    WAGON WAGON WAGON WAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
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  11. By NoNameDenton Posted: 1/7/2010 3:15pm PST

    I dount we will get the twin turbo V6 because they want this car to be sporty but also fuel efficient and lightweight.
     
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  12. By Agent Posted: 1/7/2010 4:10pm PST

    Cool car design. I hope it will have a strong engine, power and durability wise.
     
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  13. By eurotrash Opel tech Posted: 1/9/2010 6:53am PST

    The 2.0T is an excellent engine and I can only congratulate the US of A that GM decided to grace the states with this one.
    German tuners gives the 2.0 the same output as the 2.8t with a simple remap and the 2.8 is equally 'untapped' so thease cars will soon be hauling
     
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  14. By  walt Posted: 3/22/2010 7:08am PDT

    I cant wait for the next performance sedan from the australian car company to come out but putting a 2.0 in a car that looks like that is in my mind useless. whats wrong with the moter that puts out 325. I own The G8 GT already and i was looking for a car with similar thrills but putting a 2 liter turbo is almost an insult to the VXR name. i want to see it with the v6 then ill buy it.
     
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  15. By JonMichel Posted: 3/30/2010 9:23am PDT

    Is the Regal GS only going to be a 6-speed manual or will it also be an automatic.
     
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