Continuing the momentum of new products for the Buick brand, General Motors plans to unveil a mild hybrid variant (e-Assist) of the Buick Regal at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show next week, following its larger stablemate, the Buick LaCrosse. But unlike the 2012 LaCrosse, the Regal (we’re assuming for the ’12 model year) will not offer e-Assist as a standard feature.
For those of you unfamiliar with e-Assist, it’s essentially a revised take on GM’s belt alternator starter (BAS) system that was first introduced in 2006 and consists of a 115V lithium-ion battery pack, a 15kw electric motor that adds 15 horsepower to assist acceleration, an intelligent engine stop-start system and regenerative braking. The result is a 25 percent increase in fuel economy (at least for the 2012 LaCrosse, which engineers say will hit 37 mpg on the highway).
For the 2011 model year, Buick resurrected the Regal nameplate. This entry-level luxury sedan can seat five passengers.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a rear-facing infant-safety seat, a convertible child-safety seat and a high-back booster seat, all made by Graco. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The child seats are installed in the second row and, if available, third row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat.
Here’s how the 2011 Regal scored in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check: Latch system: There are five Latch anchors in the Regal, with two sets in the outboard seats and one anchor in the middle position (photo above). This allows parents to install a child-safety seat in the middle seating position. However, only two car seats can be installed into this car using the Latch anchors. Using one Latch anchor to connect two car seats is not recommended. The anchors are somewhat buried in the seat cushions. Three easy-to-use tether anchors sit on the rear shelf behind second-row’s head restraints. Booster seat: Large side bolsters pushed our high-back booster seat inward and nearly over the top of the seat belt buckle, which sits deeply in the seat cushions.
we told you about Buick's new digital campaign to hype the all-new 2011 Regal and youthen the model's fusty image. But sometimes, the web isn't enough, so GM is also putting the Regal smack-dab in front of the 30/40something influencers it's targeting by throwing a series of debutante balls for the sedan in hot spots around the country. That's arguably more social than social media, but you know: details.
Called the "Regal Remix", the parties are being held in Chicago, Miami, Dallas, San Antonio, and other major U.S. cities. (We can't seem to find a complete list right now, but then, we were never the Cool Kids.) The Regal is meant to be the star of the evening, although other Buick rides -- specifically, the Enclave and the LaCrosse -- also earn spins on the ballroom floor. GM has described the Regal Remix as a "low pressure" event, primarily intended to generate awareness and interest among 500 or so hipsterish guests. (If we're guessing correctly, a few business cards and brochures may be exchanged, too.) The abundance of booze and live music probably helps take the edge off what could otherwise become as uncomfortable as a timeshare pitch.
So far, word of mouth from these parties and other promotional efforts seems to be paying off for GM. Zeta Interactive -- a firm that monitors online discussion of brands much like General Sentiment does -- has seen Buick rise from #17 to #8 on its list of likable auto brands. We'll see if that continues once GM and Leo Burnett launch the Regal's more conventional campaign next month.
The upside to being so out of fashion is that Buick could now be "in," if only the Regal lived up to the promise the manufacturer showed last year with its luxury sedan, the LaCrosse CXS. With its successor, the Regal, Buick is simply trying to do too much. In its efforts to be simultaneously elegant, sporty, fuel efficient, technologically tricked out and affordable it doesn't fully succeed.
What I liked most about this mid-size sport sedan was its exterior. There's a wind-swept stylishness to its profile that elevates it to the level of its competitors: the Acura TSX, Volvo S60, Volkswagen Passat and Mazda 6, each of which shares a kind of athletic voluptuousness. The Bentley-esque grille, even the Buick insignia itself, lends the car an upscale appearance that helps the Regal live up to its moniker. And the palette of sumptuous exterior colors, including the shade of deep, seafaring blue in the model I was testing, made me curious to open the doors and see what was inside this Autobahn-inspired beauty.
The experience was a little like biting into a See's chocolate and tasting a nougat you weren't expecting — and hadn't wanted. It was, in a word, disappointing.
Although the center stack was nicely arranged, it was trimmed in cheap-looking brown plastic and anchored with an equally chintzy chrome finish around the six-speed gear shift. The "pleather" dash was inlaid with a faux-wood grain. In fact, the whole cockpit was more pastiche than crafted.
If this is regal, then I'm Prince Harry.
Of course there's only so much bling Buick can pack into a car that starts at $26,995, especially a car that has as many performance and technology objectives as the Regal. I just wish the bling had been a bit more premium because there's a lot of competition at that price point. Buick would have been better off focusing on fewer features and ensuring that each was the highest quality.
More than a few surprises have accompanied the rebirth of General Motors. Chief among them is the resurgence of Buick, which was chosen as one of just four brands GM kept alive, even as it euthanized better-selling brands like Pontiac and Saturn, plus niche marquees like Hummer. After piloting the latest offering from the premium American brand, I can see why those in GM's ivory tower picked Buick to survive.
The Regal is a good-looking, excellent-handling midsize sedan that packs a lot of content for its price, with just a few drawbacks.
The biggest problem is the model's staggered introduction; just one trim level, the CXL, with one available engine is on sale now (that's the one reviewed here). The rest will hit the street over the next year. Even with just the moderately powered four-cylinder Regal you can buy today, Buick is clearly doing things right. Looks Enticing younger buyers into Buick showrooms is job No. 1. While the Enclave crossover and the recently redesigned LaCrosse have chipped away at the average age of Buick owners — it's down from 72 to 64 — the curvy Regal should lure in shoppers at least a decade or three younger than that.
The Regal we see in the U.S. is identical to a German GM design called the Opel Insignia. In fact, Buick proudly states that the two are virtually identical, save for the grilles and a few light treatments. That's likely because it would have been hard to complain about the original look. The front is modern and unoffensive, the profile and rear quarter bring BMW to mind, and the rear looks like it came from Acura — from before when that brand forgot what a curve was.
Buick revealed its new 2011 Regal Thursday at a media event at the Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show in Florida. The Regal has been around for decades and the newest version is definitely not your grandparents’ old Regal.
“Many of you have been asking us, ‘When is Buick going to have a sports sedan? No really, a true, authentic sports sedan?’ Christopher Ayotte, Buick national marketing manager, said. “And we think the answer is the 2011 Buick Regal.”
2011 Buick Regal may be the best chance for that. About an inch longer and wider than the current Toyota Camry, the Regal is certainly an alternative to the popular Camry/Honda Accord/Nissan Altima trio, but the Regal is aimed slightly more upscale, in both content and price. It should be available by May.
The Regal is essentially an Americanized version of the Opel Insignia, and the first Regals sold in the U.S. will be built in the Opel plant in Russelsheim, Germany. Later this year production shifts to the GM plant in Ontario, Canada, which is currently building the Chevrolet Camaro.
Yes, General Motors has tried to sell Opel-based vehicles in the U.S. before, most notably the Cadillac Catera. But this time, GM hopes the result is more successful. And after a brief drive in a 2011 Regal that was close to U.S. production specifications, I think it could be a hit.
Styling is attractive, and quite un-Buick-like – gone is any hint of the traditional triple portholes on the front fenders. Inside, the Regal CXL – a base-model CS will be offered next year – comes standard with leather upholstery and a lot of other luxury features. Also standard is most every safety feature GM has, including stability control and OnStar. Base price of the CXL is $26,245, or $26,995 with shipping.
The new 2011 Regal started production earlier this week in Germany, and will begin making its way to dealerships in the U.S. in the next couple months. Later, production will be moved Stateside, but to get the vehicle in consumer's hands as quickly as possible, production started in the same plant that currently produces Regal's European sibling: the Opel Insignia.
2011 Buick Regal The Regal will be launched with a 2.4- liter, direct-injection four-cylinder making 182 horsepower, followed a few months later by a 2.0-liter, DI turbo four that produces 220 horses. Initially, both engines will be offered with six-speed automatics, with a manual coming onstream for the turbo model slightly later. GM execs have no idea how many manuals the company will sell, but we predict they will be as rare as Chupacabras. In time, there’s a very good chance that a high-performance GS variant will be added. A concept car at the Detroit auto show previewed this all-wheel-drive version, powered by a 255-hp turbo four.
Buick says the least-expensive 2011 Regal sedan, temporarily, will be the mid-level CXL model, starting at $26,995. That's also the price of the base LaCrosse, called CX, which is a bigger car but not as well-equipped as the CXL Regal.
A lower-price CX version of Regal's not due until early next year, as 2012 model, Buick says.
Regal was unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show in December. The Regal CXL with 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated 182 horsepower is to go on sale the second quarter this year. A higher-performance version, CXL turbo with 2-liter four to be rated about 220 hp, is due late this summer.
To be clear, which is difficult, this year's Buick showrooms will have (in addition to the Enclave SUV) three cars: 2011 Regal, 2010 LaCrosse, 2010 Lucerne.
Buick today announced pricing for the all-new 2011 Regal. Prices start at $26,995 for the premium CXL model, including a $750 destination charge.
Regal’s CXL turbo model will start at $29,495, including a $750 destination charge.
Regal will initially be offered in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim levels to be offered in the 2012 model year. The well-equipped Regal CXL includes the following as standard or available equipment:
* Standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW) * Available 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW) – available late-summer 2010 * Both engines have six-speed automatic transmission standard with Driver Shift Control (DSC) * Estimated 30 mpg on the highway with the 2.4L and 29 mpg highway with the 2.0L turbo engine * MacPherson strut front suspension and four-link independent rear suspension * Class-exclusive Interactive Drive Control System is available with the 2.0L turbo,
offering enhanced vehicle stability and greater driving safety, while also adapting the driving characteristics of the car to the driver’s preferences. The driver selects among three operating modes that adjust suspension, steering, throttle, transmission, and stability systems to personalize the driving experience
* Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel anti-lock braking system, brake assist and electronic parking brake * Standard StabiliTrak stability control system and full-function traction control * Standard dual-stage frontal air bags, side-curtain air bags and pedal-release system; and available rear-seat thorax air bags * Available navigation system, Harman Kardon sound system, and internal flash drive (1GB) * Standard 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch aluminum wheels come with available Interactive Drive Control on the 2.0L turbo) * Standard 12-way power, leather and heated driver seat; leather and heated passenger front seat; Bluetooth for phone capability; i-Pod auxiliary jack and USB port; XM Satellite Radio and OnStar
“The Regal is the next chapter in Buick’s transformation and we’re excited to bring this Buick sport sedan to market,” said Craig Bierley, Buick Marketing Director. “The dynamic driving experience and intuitive, personal technologies offer customers a premium sport sedan for great value.” 2011 Regal pricing compares to the 2010 LaCrosse as follows:
Buick Trim Level 2011 Buick Regal 2010 Buick LaCrosse (CX) Available 2012MY $26,995 (CXL) $26,995 $30,395 (CXL) with turbo $29,495 N/A CXS N/A $33,765
Regal production for sale in the U.S. and Canada begins late Q1 2010 in Russelsheim, Germany, with vehicles expected to start arriving at dealerships in Q2 2010. North American production will begin at the Oshawa Car Assembly plant beginning in Q1 2011.
With a chassis engineered for European roads and a Buick badge, the Regal could add some zing to Buick's image and compete with luxury sport sedans like the Acura TSX and Volvo S60. The Regal is about 5.8 inches shorter than the Buick LaCrosse.
Other than its grille and lights, the Regal's exterior is a dead ringer for GM's German Opel Insignia sedan, 2009 winner of Europe's Car of the Year award. The Regal features a choice of two four-cylinder engines: a 2.4-liter that offers a thrifty 30 m.p.g. on the highway and a 220-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter for enthusiasts. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available, as is an adaptive suspension that improves handling in sporty driving.
Interior features include standard leather seating and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability.
Buick will also show a Regal GS concept car that features all-wheel drive, a 255-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter turbo engine, a performance suspension and Brembo brakes. Buick will probably build the GS model.
First it was the cannonball shot of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse across the bow of Lexus that had everyone talking about this long considered dead near luxury brand. And now, raiding into its historical nameplates yet again (when do we get a Roadmaster?), Buick has come up with another absolutely stunning home run.
Based on the highly successful Opel Insignia from Europe, the design is a true winner and should help lower Buick’s average age of owners. Too bad GM didn’t bring any of the diesels or manual transmission models to the United States. A manual transmission in a diesel Buick? Desperate times call for desperate measures, my friend.
While the LaCrosse is a lovely automobile with one of the finest interiors of any American car, the Buick Regal takes it a step further. It is not only lovely but it is also cool looking. When your friends first sit in the back bench or passenger seat and see the perfectly hued leathers, softly grained materials and angular metallic shapes they are going to think you “made it.” Suddenly they will look at you like that successful friend who paints and owns a loft. We all know how cool he is.
Wait a minute? A Buick making you look cool? Well if that is a step too far to believe loft-dwellers will trade in their first generation Scion XBs for a Buick then consider this. Compare the Buick Regal to the Lexus ES330 or Acura TL or (heaven help you) Volvo S80. Driving the new Regal doesn’t sound so bad now does it?
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.
General Motors Co. announced Wednesday that it will begin North American production of the new 2011 Buick Regal at the Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Canada during the first quarter of 2011.
The Detroit automaker plans to begin selling the Regal in the United States during the second quarter of next year and has said that initial assembly will occur in Europe.
"The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan, and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers," Arturo Elias, president of GM Canada, said in a statement. "Combining Buick's top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant's long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers' highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan."
