This will defy preconceived notions about driving a Buick,” Craig Bierley, the brand’s marketing director, said at the auto show introduction. (Buick had released details about the car a week earlier.)
What they didn’t say: Yes, this level of luxury, refinement and brand engineering could once only be found in North America at, ahem, Saturn. Could this sedan, early in its gestation period, have been planned as one?
What makes it tick? Take your pick of 4-cylinder engines, either a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter or a 220-horsepower 2-liter turbo. Either will get at 30 m.p.g.; neither will stack up well against Regal’s V-6-powered rivals (think Lincoln MKZ or Nissan Maxima). Sadly, buyers in the United States won’t be able to get the high-m.p.g. diesel engine from the European model.
How much, how soon? No official word, but figure it will be around $25,000 to start — undercutting the Acura TSX, its main competition. The Regal arrives as soon as the ships from Germany dock here.
How’s it look? The Insignia — oops! — Regal is a very worthy example of a midsize luxury sedan from Europe. In fact, let’s give the basic car its due — it’s the reigning European Car of the Year.
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