2011 Buick Regal

What was the last turbocharged Buick you can recall? Think back to the 1980s high-performance Regal Grand Nationals, culminating with the limited-production ’87 GNX. On the other end of the scale, when was Buick’s last four-cylinder engine? It powered the 1992-97 base compact Skylark. Manual transmission? The previous-generation base four-cylinder ‘90 Skylark.

Development

What was the last Buick derived from a German (GM of Europe) Opel? Technically the ’79 Buick Opel, though that one was actually built by Isuzu in Japan. Come to think of it, when was the last Buick named Regal? That once-proud nameplate debuted on the 1973 “personal luxury” Century Regal and went out of production in 2004. And can you think of any Buick in history that has benefited from development of serious dynamics on Germany’s famous Nurburgring racecourse? Neither can we. Until now, that is.


So here comes this all-new 2011 Buick Regal. Following on the heels of Buick’s highly successful Enclave three-row crossover and LaCrosse midsize sedan, it is a U.S.-market version of the highly-acclaimed Opel Insignia, powered by a 182-hp naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder or an available (in late 2010) 220-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four.


“It delivers a driving experience that rivals the best import sport sedans in the segment,” Buick says. “The Regal’s development is rooted in Germany, where the globally led engineering team created the award-winning Opel Insignia—the 2009 European Car of the Year. The Insignia has garnered more than 31 prestigious awards and is the best-selling midsize sedan in Europe. Regal will bring all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the American market.”

Design

The new Regal’s look—with its Buick-signature waterfall grille, bold body-side sculpting, sweeping coupe-like roof and fenders flared to wrap around standard 18-inch wheels and tires—is more aggressive than any Buick’s in recent memory. It finishes with rear body panels tucking into a short deck with a nicely integrated aero lip over multi-element taillamps.


Inside its finely crafted cabin, the side panels flow uninterrupted into the instrument panel, and the instruments look like expensive sport watches lit by cool blue LEDs. A thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and firm, well-bolstered, leather-trimmed seats carry on the sport-sedan theme. The center stack houses easy to use American-style (not European, thankfully) infotainment and climate controls. A multi-function console controller operates the audio, navigation and Bluetooth phone systems better than those in most German luxury cars. The infotainment screen faceplate is set at a 30-degree angle to complement the design, while the interior trim materials are piano black, satin metallic and a rich-looking, progressively grained, dark Kibo-pattern wood.

Driving Impressions

The standard 182-hp engine—the same widely-praised Ecotec four offered in the larger ‘11 LaCrosse and other recent GM products—offers surprisingly good performance along with 20 mpg EPA city and 30 highway fuel economy. The soon-to-come turbo four ups that ante substantially due more to its 258 lb.-ft. of tire-twisting torque than its 220 peak horses. Its twin-scroll turbocharger builds power quickly at lower rpm to offer strong V-6-like mid-range performance, yet it retains four-cylinder fuel efficiency.


Both engines make good use of direct fuel injection to optimize performance and fuel efficiency while minimizing emissions, and each is teamed with a (different) six-speed automatic transmission that lets you shift manually when you prefer to. The six-speed manual (yes, a modern manual-shift Buick) will be available in late 2010 with the turbocharged engine.