11 Buick Regal

[ANTAUS]

LINK-Edmunds.com

[PREMiERdrum]

Choice of 2 4cyl engines only? I'm sure the turbo will move it along just fine, but I'm not sure how marketable that is.

[ibinubu12]

Nice Opel Insignia there...oh wait.

 

Still have doubts about the profitability of building it in Rüsselsheim.

[rmc523]

A V6 needs to at least be optional on certain models, even if in limited numbers, IMO. This is an Aura/Fusion sized sedan......I realize the one 4-cyl will have 220-hp, but still....my thoughts anyway.

 

I like the interior though.

 

 

Now at least Buick has a nice cohesive lineup designwise because of this new Insig...I mean Regal.

 

[/sarcasm]

Edited November 12, 2009 by rmc523

[ANTAUS]

I dont think 220HP will cut it to command a premium price. I think Honda learned that with the TSX. The Lexus IS250 is another that needs some pep. I'm guessing these are 3400lbs sedans and at 184HP it's wishful thinking...

[rmc523]

I dont think 220HP will cut it to command a premium price. I think Honda learned that with the TSX. The Lexus IS250 is another that needs some pep. I'm guessing these are 3400lbs sedans and at 184HP it's wishful thinking...

 

Exactly my point.

[Sixt9coug]

I think it looks ok overall... but something about it looks cheap. The Lacrosse looks good and in person its another car that has presence. The Regal just doesnt look as well thought out.

[DC Car Examiner]

On another forum, a European member said the Insignia has no rear seat room. If that's the case, this would be yet another example of GM's ongoing commitment to poor interior packaging.

[Sherminator98]

I think it looks ok overall... but something about it looks cheap. The Lacrosse looks good and in person its another car that has presence. The Regal just doesnt look as well thought out.

 

I think its the styling...its lacking something...it looks alright, just that its far too bland?

[Anthony]

Interesting. With Hyundai recently announcing they will only offer 4's on the next gen Sonata and many 4 cylinders getting as much HP's as the sixes of yore (with much better gas mileage)....I'm wondering if this is going to start happening across the board. The take rate on V6's in midsizers is pretty low in the grand scheme of things.

 

EDIT: Well, cancel that. Over at GMI they are saying it gets a V6 in 2012 (doesn't matter Roland Emmerich will have killed us all by then anyway).

Edited November 12, 2009 by Intrepidatious

[mettech]

Interesting. With Hyundai recently announcing they will only offer 4's on the next gen Sonata and many 4 cylinders getting as much HP's as the sixes of yore (with much better gas mileage)....I'm wondering if this is going to start happening across the board. The take rate on V6's in midsizers is pretty low in the grand scheme of things.

 

EDIT: Well, cancel that. Over at GMI they are saying it gets a V6 in 2012 (doesn't matter Roland Emmerich will have killed us all by then anyway).

 

The new EPA ratings will force every car to have smaller engines..... every car.. :shades: To include pony/sports cars.

 

V-8 engines will be limited to trucks, high end luxury, and limited....very...limited... performance halo cars and trucks.

[ANTAUS]

So I'm guessing maybe it'll receive the 3.0L V6 they just debuted...thats good for 255HP, that should be a massive improvement.

[rmc523]

So I'm guessing maybe it'll receive the 3.0L V6 they just debuted...thats good for 255HP, that should be a massive improvement.

 

Yeah, in 2012 if that above statement is true.....

[Reigner92]

I like the overall design, quite a bit!

[BORG]

Won't surprise anybody but I don't like that design at all, and it hardly appropriate for Buick and it's customer. Good luck on turning Buick into Saturn! *shakes head*

[mustang84isu]

Won't surprise anybody but I don't like that design at all, and it hardly appropriate for Buick and it's customer. Good luck on turning Buick into Saturn! *shakes head*

The "Buick customer" is disappearing faster than bell bottoms at a disco convention. Why in the world would GM want to continue targeting the 60+ base?

 

This car is exactly what Buick needs. While I think the rear could have been a little more Buick-ized and they should have integrated portholes in there somewhere, the shape and size of the car works perfectly for the segment they are targeting. Get a V6 in there and I think Buick has a hit on its hands. I actually wish Lincoln had something like this...the design is much more athletic and cohesive than the current MKZ.

[RichardJensen]

Yeah. Give it portholes. Because that's what makes it a Buick.

 

:sigh:

 

When your styling signature is a triple dose of a particularly egregious bit of frippery that is making its rounds, you really don't have much going for you.

 

Good thing they're calling this thing the Regal. Because it looks to be just about as useless and "why are they doing that?" as the last Regal.

[RichardJensen]

BTW: Why would bell bottoms ever disappear from a disco convention?

[timmm55]

I like the styling in and out.

 

I know Lexus doesn't have a manual trans for any of their cars either, but a small sports sedan from Europe SHOULD have a manula available, especially with 4 cylinder engines. But it's gotta be better than the Sky/Solstice stick/clutch.

[DC Car Examiner]

I like the styling in and out.

 

I know Lexus doesn't have a manual trans for any of their cars either, but a small sports sedan from Europe SHOULD have a manula available, especially with 4 cylinder engines. But it's gotta be better than the Sky/Solstice stick/clutch.

 

The IS250 has a manual.

 

[papilgee4evaeva]

The IS250 has a manual.

 

And unfortunately for Lexus, ONLY the IS250 has a manual. Why they didn't see fit to give their 306-hp model or their M3-fighting model the option for a manual is anyone's guess.

[DC Car Examiner]

And unfortunately for Lexus, ONLY the IS250 has a manual. Why they didn't see fit to give their 306-hp model or their M3-fighting model the option for a manual is anyone's guess.

 

My guess would be that it's much cheaper to put together a manual that only needs to handle the 2.5-liter's power, and that the IS250 is the only model in the IS line that sells in high enough volume to justify a second powertrain option.

Edited November 16, 2009 by DC Car Examiner

[papilgee4evaeva]

My guess would be that it's much cheaper to put together a manual that only needs to handle the 2.5-liter's power, and that the IS250 is the only model in the IS line that sells in high enough volume to justify a second powertrain option.

 

Probably, but if you build models to rival the 3 Series (IS250 and 328i, IS350 and 335i, IS F and M3) but you don't offer comparable powertrains, then enthusiast consumers start to wonder how serious you are about marketing to them. Or they just go to Audi.

[630land]

Manual trannys should be an option that enthusiasts pay. They insist on them, but dont buy, and they sit unsold. Dealers should say 'if you want it, pay a non-refundable deposit' or "buy the whole car before ordering it so we are not stuck with it!''

[DC Car Examiner]

Probably, but if you build models to rival the 3 Series (IS250 and 328i, IS350 and 335i, IS F and M3) but you don't offer comparable powertrains, then enthusiast consumers start to wonder how serious you are about marketing to them. Or they just go to Audi.

 

There are so few stick-driving luxury customers to go around that it's probably just as well that only a few automakers are offering manuals, at least from their perspective. If everyone offered a luxury car with a stick, the few people who wanted them would be spread across the market and no one would sell enough cars to turn a profit.