2011 Buick Regal

[rrocket]

Not bad looking at all.  Though the rump does look a teeny bit odd.  These will ONLY be offered with 4 bangers.  I wonder why the turbo 4 gets a Japanese Aisin instead of using the 6 speed the normally aspirated engine does?

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/2011-buick-regal-returns-with-four-cylinder-only-engine-lineup/#continued

[Honda Owner]

 

wonder why the turbo 4 gets a Japanese Aisin instead of using the 6 speed the normally aspirated engine does?

Most likely the other transmission cannot handle the torque of the higher output turbo motor.

[rrocket]

wonder why the turbo 4 gets a Japanese Aisin instead of using the 6 speed the normally aspirated engine does?

Most likely the other transmission cannot handle the torque of the higher output turbo motor.

Yea..but wasn't that the 6 speed tranny from the 6 banger??  6 banger makes similar TQ.

[Ontariodriver]

Looks like a Regal from the front tho. 

[EV Dan]

Standard 18" wheels + 7000 rpm 4cyl ... on a Buick!    

Looks great on paper but will it start at around 40k ?

[Ontariodriver]

Standard 18" wheels + 7000 rpm 4cyl ... on a Buick!    

Looks great on paper but will it start at around 40k ?

Don't worry in 6 months from launch it be heavily discounted to $23,000....

[Mitlov]

Gorgeous inside and out.  Just the right size.  Should handle very well based upon the (essentially-identical) Opel Insignia.  And the icing on the cake:

The 2.4 comes with a GM Hydra-Matic 6T45 six-speed automatic, while the turbo comes with an Aisin AF40 six-speed automatic. A six-speed manual will be offered later with the turbo. This will be, as far as we can tell, the first manual gearbox production Buick since the 1989 Skyhawk.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0911_2011_buick_regal/engines.html

Could a Buick replace my sorority girl car?  It stands a real shot.  This is a very-impressive car.  In a sentence, I'd say that the new Buick Regal appears to be everything the second-gen TSX should have been but isn't.

[rrocket]

Could a Buick replace my sorority girl car?  It stands a real shot.  This is a very-impressive car.  In a sentence, I'd say that the new Buick Regal appears to be everything the second-gen TSX should have been but isn't.

Maybe.  But I wonder how heavy the Buick will be?  I can't imagine Buick went out of their way to make this somewhat light. (they complained the TSX felt "heavy" at 3400lbs. )

[rrocket]

There are 11 videos here if anyone cares to see

http://www.globalpost.com/webblog/wheels/preview-2011-buick-regal

[mmret]

Looks nice, though I could do without the lip on the back.

But don't they still have to market it to younger buyers somehow? Maybe the Riviera is required to bring sub 70 y/os into the showroom.

[dougjp]

Could a Buick replace my sorority girl car?  It stands a real shot.  This is a very-impressive car.  In a sentence, I'd say that the new Buick Regal appears to be everything the second-gen TSX should have been but isn't.

Maybe.  But I wonder how heavy the Buick will be?  I can't imagine Buick went out of their way to make this somewhat light. (they complained the TSX felt "heavy" at 3400lbs. )

The specs say it weighs 3,600 lbs. 3,600 lbs.!! That turned me right off.

[Mitlov]

But I wonder how heavy the Buick will be?  I can't imagine Buick went out of their way to make this somewhat light. (they complained the TSX felt "heavy" at 3400lbs. )

Let's see how it drives or if the 3600 lb curb weight is even accurate (I've seen other things that suggest it would be 3300-something).  This car beat the new Fiesta for the European Car of the Year award (click here), and according to Motor Trend, the North American version will only weigh about 13 lbs more than the European one (extra A-pillar strength).  Regardless of whatever the curb weight is on paper, I doubt it'd win European COTY if it felt heavy behind the wheel.

By the way, as to the people discussing a possible GNX, here you go:  The 325-horsepower, AWD turbocharged V6 Vauxhall Insignia VXR (aka Opel Insignia OPC):

[rrocket]

Let's see how it drives or if the 3600 lb curb weight is even accurate (I've seen other things that suggest it would be 3300-something).  This car beat the new Fiesta for the European Car of the Year award. (I doubt it'd win European COTY if it felt heavy behind the wheel.

The 3600lbs curb weight I saw appeared to be the specs released by GM.  As for as the European Car of the Year.  Well they've mostly picked econoboxes...Prius, Yaris, Panda, Clio...though they did pick the S-Max a couple of years ago.  I think the last car they picked that made it this way was the Mondeo.....

But certainly a test drive will be in order.

Mitlov...doesn't the new Suzuki Kisashi interest you?  It's been called the replacement for the TSX...

[carcrazy]

This is one nice looking Buick! I looked at the pictures of Insignia and Regal, side-by-side, and other than the grill and the badge, I could not see any other difference.
The lack of a V6 is a bit of a surprise for a mid-size American car, but I think we'll soon see the new 2.8L V6 Turbo available on the Opels in Europe. I think for its weight (3600 lbs), it needs a V6.

I wonder if we'll see a Buick Astra in few years.

[Mitlov]

Let's see how it drives or if the 3600 lb curb weight is even accurate (I've seen other things that suggest it would be 3300-something).  This car beat the new Fiesta for the European Car of the Year award. (I doubt it'd win European COTY if it felt heavy behind the wheel.

The 3600lbs curb weight I saw appeared to be the specs released by GM.  As for as the European Car of the Year.  Well they've mostly picked econoboxes...Prius, Yaris, Panda, Clio...though they did pick the S-Max a couple of years ago.  I think the last car they picked that made it this way was the Mondeo.....

But certainly a test drive will be in order.

Mitlov...doesn't the new Suzuki Kisashi interest you?  It's been called the replacement for the TSX...

Kizashi definitely interests me, especially because it's a big step down in price (should start at around US$20,000, whereas I bet that the Regal will start in the upper US$20s, and the turbo model I suspect will be well into the $30s).  I like the feel of a "premium" car, but there's a good chance that my next car will have to be cheaper than that.  If finances ease up, though, I would definitely test-drive a Regal Turbo.

[Careener]

it would be nice if the grille from the Opel was a direct swap..it looks nicer than the Regal maw.

[rrocket]

Kizashi definitely interests me, especially because it's a big step down in price (should start at around US$20,000, whereas I bet that the Regal will start in the upper US$20s, and the turbo model I suspect will be well into the $30s).  I like the feel of a "premium" car, but there's a good chance that my next car will have to be cheaper than that.  If finances ease up, though, I would definitely test-drive a Regal Turbo.

Yea..plus the Suzuki weighs 3250 or so, so it should feel a bit better on its feet.  The turbo worked well enough in the RWD cars...I wonder if torque steer will be an issue in the FWD cars?

[rrocket]

it would be nice if the grille from the Opel was a direct swap..it looks nicer than the Regal maw.

Doesn't the Opel grille remind you of a mini-Acura grille?  It does to me...

[Mitlov]

I definitely prefer the Buick grille to Opel/Vauxhall's.

[Juke1]

Gorgeous!