Buick Regal GS sports sedan brings performance to the TriShield brand

[mikeyb]

<SMALL>Opel Insignia OPC (with a Buick grille photoshopped on for fun)

</SMALL>Earlier this week General Motors showed its dealers the new Regal and confirmed that the name and car would be coming back to Buick's lineup soon. GM Inside News has been keeping close tabs on what the dealers are being told, which reportedly includes that two four-cylinder engines will be available at launch, the base a 2.4-liter direct injected engine producing 180 horsepower and up-level turbocharged and direct injected 2.0-liter producing about 220 hp.

The most interesting tid bit of info reportedly told to dealers is that the new Regal will also eventually have a sport model. Rumored to be named the GS, the sport model would reportedly feature the same direct injected 3.6-liter V6 as the LaCrosse. It will also reportedly include 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes and be available with all-wheel drive like the rest of the Regal lineup. Unlike those other Regals, however, the GS may also be offered with a six-speed manual transmission.

Based on the Euro-market Opel Insignia, the new Regal GS will have a nice precedent already in the Insignia OPC. The OPC features a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 producing 325 hp, a six-speed manual transmission and a Haldex-based all-wheel-drive system borrowed from the Saab Turbo X. In fact, the Opel Insignia OPC Sport Tourer (wagon) unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September was one of the most lust-worthy production cars we came across.

[autoblog]

 

[coolmazda5]

It looks as though the North American Buick Regal will feature a slightly different look than the China-spec model if this image posted to Buick's official Facebook page is any indication. But that's not the real story.

As one Facebook user pointed out, this probably ain't totally NorAm-spec yet:

"I think they'll change some of the details before it goes on sale here, such as the Euro-spec license plate area and side-mounted directional repeaters. I'm sure they'll find a place to slap on some VentiPorts"

You will also notice a slightly larger and more rounded-off version of Buick's trademark chrome waterfall grille as well as redesigned lower openings below the grille and headlamps. Then there's also new, squared-off fog lamps. All-in-all, it looks like a nice, plain vanilla Lexus. Which, frankly, appears to be completely inline with the Buick brand strategy.

[Jalopnik]

 

[coolmazda5]

Nice, I wouldn't mind renting one

 

[Kymerik]

my dad's due for a new company car...and he's pretty much had buicks for 15 years now and its always been a regal...ive loved the regals he's had in the past and hopefully this one wont disappoint

 

[coolmazda5]

I believe GM needs to see how the regular Regal makes it first and from there see if a performance model would sell. It will take time to change the stereotype.

This thread reminds me of the G8 GXP, long awaited, good reviews, but it did not translate into a hit...

 

[mikeyb]

I believe GM needs to see how the regular Regal makes it first and from there see if a performance model would sell. It will take time to change the stereotype.

This thread reminds me of the G8 GXP, long awaited, good reviews, but it did not translate into a hit...

The G8 GXP was not a hit because it came out to late.

 

[coolmazda5]

Hmmm, but the G8 was not a hit either and it was around for longer. Same for the Saturn Astra. It takes time for people to change brand perception. Look at Hyundai (dunno), it taking it some years

In addition, I bet 0.5% of potential buyers will know that the Regal's underpinings are Opel (unless they spend countless hours at forums, )

 

[TinmanMS6]

Hmmm, but the G8 was not a hit either and it was around for longer. Same for the Saturn Astra. It takes time for people to change brand perception. Look at Hyundai (dunno), it taking it some years

In addition, I bet 0.5% of potential buyers will know that the Regal's underpinings are Opel (unless they spend countless hours at forums, )

If the regular G8 GT would have come with a stick they might have gotten more interest. I could be wrong. I'm curious why you throw the Astra in there. I thought it was pretty good, but had some faults and was relatively expensive.

Isn't this the Malibu chassis? I wonder if people will realize that. Not badge engineering like in the good old days though, thankfully, when it literally was a badge and a grille and some interior packaging.

 

[Scorpion34]

<small>Opel Insignia OPC (with a Buick grille photoshopped on for fun)

I seriously hope it will not look like this.

 

[khris2476]

damn looks nice, reminds of a bmw M3

 

[mikeyb]

Isn't this the Malibu chassis? I wonder if people will realize that. Not badge engineering like in the good old days though, thankfully, when it literally was a badge and a grille and some interior packaging.

It rides on the GM Epsilon II platform that is shared with the 2009 Opel/Vauxhall Insiginia, 2009 Chevrolet Vectra, 2010 Buick LaCrosse, and 2010 Saab 9-5. The current Chevorlet Malibu rides on the extended Epsilon platform. Which is just a lengthened Epsilon 1 platform.

Here is the link to the thread for the Opel Insignia OPC and Vauxhall Insignia VXR.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123738926&highlight=Insignia

 

[ms6acton]

the white picture looks hot, the other one not so much

 

[coolmazda5]

I'm curious why you throw the Astra in there. I thought it was pretty good, but had some faults and was relatively expensive.

Yes, it was good, I still remember the drive test. What I meant to say that is a hot seller in Europe, but did not translate into a hot seller in the US, just as it happens with other models around. I remember reading somewhere that Saturn did not produce 2009 models so to sell the large 2008 leftover inventory. Actually, if you check the Saturn site there is no 2009 Astra (dunno)

the white picture looks hot, the other one not so much

My bad, the picture I posted is not the High Performance Regal GS, it is the standard one (toetap)

 

[skylar2ups]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XYITQpqs4Q

 

[ms6acton]

^^^that is really hawt! i would trade my ms6 for one in a heart beat

 

[mikeyb]

Rumormill: Bob Lutz drops more Buick Regal GS, high performance wagon hints



While we were talking about the Escalade EXT launch with Susan Docherty (don't ask) during the Regal reveal at the Hollywood Palladium last week, Car & Driver's Steve Siler was pushing Maximum Bob about sportier versions of the newest Buick. Now, we heard mumblings about a new Buick Regal GS last month, but that was just dealer hearsay. Siler's report is straight from Lutz's mouth, and while he's not exactly the most reliable GM exec we've ever talked with, he does seem to have his finger on the General's performance pulse.

To summarize a bit, a 335-hp, all-wheel-drive manny-tranny version of the Regal might be coming, labeled with the legendary GS badge. There might even be a wagon version of the top of the line Regal – maybe even one with GM's eLSD torque vectoring. In fact, Lutz made it sound like GM might just import the 325-hp turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer, crank up the boost a smidge and slap a Regal GS badge on it – which is more than totally fine with us. In fact, Siler suggests that what GM ought to do is make the tip top Regal wagon-only – sort of like the MazdaSpeed3 or WRX STI. Maybe call it the Buick Regal GSX? But like most such things involving GM these days, we'll believe it when we see it.

[Source: Car & Driver]

 

[coolmazda5]

a 335-hp, all-wheel-drive manny-tranny version of the Regal might be coming

Oh Lutz, first bring the GS, then we'll talk about a manual-tranny wagon

(...pees on pants...)

 

[mbanshchikov]

my grandma would love it...

 

[mikeyb]

Buick Regal GS brings performance back to TriShield brand

Buick has a long history of turbocharged Regals, starting back in 1978 when the first example appeared. That "personal luxury" coupe was one of the first mainstream American products to adopt exhaust-driven turbocharging to recover some of the power lost to downsized engines. Unfortunately, in the era before electronic engine management and fuel injection, those Regals weren't very good. Over the next decade, however, Buick refined these technologies, which led to the formidable GNX, supposedly the quickest production car in the world when it was introduced in 1986.

Fast forward to today and the Regal badge is back. Aside from four wheels and Buick's signature water fall grille, the new Regal has no relationship to the Regals of yore. Unlike the Eighties, when making an American car more "European" meant painting the chrome trim black and stiffening the springs, this sedan was originally developed by General Motors' European operation as the Opel Insignia. As such, it might actually appeal to those considering a BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But to really seal the deal, Buick is using the Detroit Auto Show to revive another one of its historic badges: the GS.

 

[GoFast]

That's actually not bad....