Buick Regal

The Buick Regal is a mid-size car introduced by General Motors for the 1973 model year. North American production ended in 2004, but production and sales continued in China.^[1] For the 2011 model year, Buick re-introduced the Regal to the North American market, positioned as an upscale sport sedan.^[2]
For certain model years between 1973 and 2004, the Regal shared bodies and powertrains with the similar Buick Century.

Fifth generation (2009–present)

The fifth-generation Buick Regal is a four-door, five-passenger, midsize sedan with a front engine, front-wheel drive layout.^[11] The Regal is helping General Motors attract new, younger customers to the Buick brand. Since going on sale, more than 41% of Regal buyers are coming from non-General Motors brands, and more than 60% of CXL Turbo buyers are under the age of 55.^[12]

Development

The fifth generation Buick Regal is based on the Opel Insignia, which is built upon General Motors' Epsilon II platform and first went into production in Rüsselsheim, Germany in 2008.^[13][14] GM originally planned to sell a modified version of the Opel Insignia in North America as the second generation Saturn Aura, but changed strategy after deciding to discontinue the Saturn brand.^[13][15]
The Regal utilizes unibody construction with galvanized steel front fenders, hood, roof and door panels and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) bumper covers.^[13]
The North American Regal weighs about 13 pounds more than an equivalent Opel Insignia due to increased structural support in the B-pillar necessary to meet U.S. rollover standards.

China

Chinese market Buick Regal

The fifth generation Buick Regal (traditional Chinese: 别克君威) first debuted in China in December, 2008.^[17][18]

North America

GM revealed the fifth generation Regal to dealers on October 14, 2009, and introduced the Regal to the public in November, 2009 at the LA Auto Show.^[19] Sales of the Regal began in February, 2010.^[20] In North America, the Regal is positioned below the larger, more expensive LaCrosse and above the Verano compact sedan which will debut late in calendar year 2011.

Production

Production of the Chinese market Regal began in Shanghai, China in November 2008. The North American market Regal was initially produced in Adam Opel AG's Rüsselsheim, Germany assembly plant beginning in late 2009. North American production at General Motors of Canada's Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant was confirmed on November 25, 2009 and production began at Oshawa Car Assembly in February, 2011.^[21][22]

Current variants

The 2011 North American Regal is sold in one trim level, called CXL, and is offered with two engine choices and seven option packages. Buick had planned to offer a lower-level trim called CX with cloth seats and a higher level trim called CXS, but those trim levels have never been offered.^[23]

CXL

The Regal debuted in North America with a single engine, the 2.4L Ecotec direct-injected DOHC I4 rated at 182 hp (136 kW). The 2.4L engine is mated to a GM Hydra-Matic 6T45 six-speed automatic transmission.^[16]

CXL Turbo

A turbocharged 2.0L direct-injected Ecotec DOHC I4 rated at 220 hp (164 kW) became available for the Regal at the end of 2010. The 2.0L turbo is available with either an Aisin AF40 six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.^[16] The 2.0L turbo is the first direct-injected turbocharged production car capable of running on any blend of gasoline or E85 ethanol.
At the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM showed a concept GS version of the Regal based on the Opel Insignia OPC. The concept featured a 2.0L, 255 hp (190 kW), 295 lb·ft (400 N·m) high-output DOHC I4 turbocharged Ecotec engine, a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive.
The production GS leaves most of the concept specifications intact, but will be front-wheel drive.^[25] The GS features Buick's Interactive Drive Control System with GS mode, a choice of an FGP Germany F40-6 six-speed manual or Aisin AF-40 (G2) six-speed automatic transmission, high performance brakes with Brembo front calipers and high performance strut (HiPerStrut) front suspension. 19 inch wheels will be standard and 20 inch forged aluminum wheels will be available. The GS is expected to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in under seven seconds.^[26] The production version will be equipped with GS-only high-output version of the Ecotec 2.0L turbo engine with 270 hp (201 kW) and 295 lb·ft (400 N·m) of torque. The GS will go on sale in fall 2011 as a 2012 model.^[25][27]

eAssist

Beginning in the 2012 model year, Buick will offer a mild hybrid system in the Regal, called "eAssist". The Regal will be the second GM vehicle to offer eAssist after the 2012 Buick LaCrosse. eAssist is standard in the LaCrosse, but the eAssist powertrain will be optional in the Regal.
The eAssist system adds a lithium-ion battery housed in the truck along with regenerative braking, engine stop/start, fuel cut-off, grill louvers that close at speed, underbody panels and low rolling resistance tires. The eAssist system adds up to 15 hp (11 kW) to the standard 2.4L Ecotec engine during acceleration. Fuel economy for the Regal with eAssist is estimated at 26 mpg_-US (9.0 L/100 km; 31 mpg_-imp) city, 37 mpg_-US (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg_-imp) highway.