Buick Regal Approved for North America! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

FenwickHockey65 · 01-10-2009, 10:57 AM

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...-return-73861/

Quote:

Just a few weeks ago GMI reported that the much-coveted Buick Regal that just launched in China recently was not yet approved for the North American market. At the time of that publication, General Motors was still pondering as to whether or not the car would be a suitable fit for North America. Overnight GMI learned that yesterday General Motors officially approved (“greenlighted”) the Regal for North America.

Although the program is in the very early stages, some details of the new Regal for North America are known. The car is going to be nearly identical to the Chinese Regal, which is simply an Opel Insignia with Buick bright-work. The main difference, we’re told, is going to be the engines. In China the Regal sells best with a four-cylinder. That likely would not be the first choice for American’s in a mid-luxury vehicle. To our knowledge GM has not selected the engines that will be used in the North American Regal. If we were to guess, a direct-injected four-cylinder and a direct-injected High-Feature V6 will likely be involved.

Despite the fact that this car is so close to being ready for North America, we’re hearing the car may not show up on dealership lots here in the U.S. until 2011! Why it will supposedly take that long to launch it in North America is largely unknown. The obvious issue is likely production. The Regal will be built somewhere in North America. GM’s Oshawa, Ontario or Fairfax, Kansas plants are the likely picks.

Last Summer GMI broke news that the next-generation Saturn Aura had been put on hold. The next-generation Aura was supposed to be a rebadged Opel Insignia just as this new Buick Regal turned out to be. We have not heard a word about the future of the Aura, leading us to believe that there is virtually no chance now of a rebadged Insignia becoming our Saturn Aura. Now that the Regal is coming, it would make little sense to have the Aura be the same car.

GMI has been hearing more and more tid-bits claiming that Buick is going to tie-up with Opel on products in the future; much like Saturn was going to. With Opel moving upscale in Europe, it makes them a prime fit for Buick in China and in North America. Particularly true when considered that Opel has not done much of anything in China and GM is considering “options” with the Saturn brand in North America.

It is possible that GM will move up the production schedule on the new Regal to a time that is less extreme than 2011 (if possible). As we stated, the program is in its early stages so things will likely change. The good news here is that the U.S. is getting the Regal!

Pictures...

Kyle2k · 01-10-2009, 11:00 AM

We need a GN version too please!

FenwickHockey65 · 01-10-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

We need a GN version too please!

Here's a pretty killer Photoshop of a Regal GNX Coupe done by one of GMI's best, MonaroSS.

Kyle2k · 01-10-2009, 11:06 AM

So is it weird that I'm liking Buick over Cadillac lol? Its wishful thinking, but it would be really nice if Buick could try fit that into their lineup.. too bad the times are rough otherwise I think it probably would be a guarantee.

Muscle Master · 01-10-2009, 12:30 PM

I'm all for the success of Buick, but I don't see the point of two luxury brands, can't GM merge Cadillac and Buick together

and create a fleet of show stoppers

The_Beast_ · 01-10-2009, 12:40 PM

Caddilac = Preformance Luxuary

Buick = Every mans Luxuary

stovt001 · 01-10-2009, 01:03 PM

Fenwick that is one sexy coupe. Good find. I'd love to see that here.

This makes good sense. It is differentiated enough from the rest of GM's NA lineup, it gives Buick a smaller and more efficient car, and it looks great too. The DI 2.4L and DI 3.0L should match perfectly to this. An AWD DI 3.6 with sport suspension would be a pretty cool idea too.

*DGthe3* · 01-11-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muscle Master

I'm all for the success of Buick, but I don't see the point of two luxury brands, can't GM merge Cadillac and Buick together

and create a fleet of show stoppers

I see Buick as being classy while Cadillac is more about being over the top. The two don't mix.

ArcAngel · 01-11-2009, 11:50 AM

Buick is reallly stepping it up!

*TAG UR IT* · 01-11-2009, 11:54 AM

OOOooohhh...and I like the PS too! Very nice!

JJ#48Racing · 01-11-2009, 12:02 PM

Now that's a Buick worth buying.

Number 3 · 01-11-2009, 12:03 PM

Drove the Insignia with a 1.8L Turbo....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Camaro Lives On · 01-11-2009, 12:08 PM

That is an incredibly nice looking car. Wait, Buick is doing something wrong... I'm 17, I'm not supposed to like Buicks... GREAT JOB GM!!!!

Camaro Lives On · 01-11-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 3

Drove the Insignia with a 1.8L Turbo....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

You are one lucky dude...

01-10-2009, 11:00 AM	#2
Kyle2k LVL 50 Troll Stomper Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,463	We need a GN version too please! __________________

01-10-2009, 01:03 PM	#7
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,812	Fenwick that is one sexy coupe. Good find. I'd love to see that here. This makes good sense. It is differentiated enough from the rest of GM's NA lineup, it gives Buick a smaller and more efficient car, and it looks great too. The DI 2.4L and DI 3.0L should match perfectly to this. An AWD DI 3.6 with sport suspension would be a pretty cool idea too. __________________ "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day There's a great big beautiful tomorrow Just a dream away

01-11-2009, 11:50 AM	#9
ArcAngel Drives: 07 Black Cobalt SS/SC Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Manalapan-NJ Posts: 2,872	Buick is reallly stepping it up! __________________ Through HIM you believe in GOD, who raised HIM from the dead and Glorified him..

01-11-2009, 12:03 PM	#12
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,174 View My Garage	Drove the Insignia with a 1.8L Turbo....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

01-11-2009, 12:08 PM	#13
Camaro Lives On Force RECON Drives: 2005 Saab 9-5 2.3T Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 1,687 View My Garage	That is an incredibly nice looking car. Wait, Buick is doing something wrong... I'm 17, I'm not supposed to like Buicks... GREAT JOB GM!!!! __________________

01-10-2009, 11:06 AM	#4
Kyle2k LVL 50 Troll Stomper Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,463	So is it weird that I'm liking Buick over Cadillac lol? Its wishful thinking, but it would be really nice if Buick could try fit that into their lineup.. too bad the times are rough otherwise I think it probably would be a guarantee. __________________

01-11-2009, 11:54 AM	#10
TAG UR IT www.Camaro5store.com Drives: 2014 ZL1 #705 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SA, Texas Posts: 26,558 View My Garage	OOOooohhh...and I like the PS too! Very nice!

01-11-2009, 12:02 PM	#11
JJ#48Racing Drives: 1998 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,115	Now that's a Buick worth buying.