Buick Regal (2011) Revealed

General Motors has revealed the 2011 Vauxhall Insignia based Buick Regal

Now that the American car industry is starting to release mainstream cars that make sense, it does make sense for us to report on them. And in the case of the 2011 Buick Regal there is another very good reason. This is a Vauxhall Insignia with a bit of Yankee glitz.

Not only is the Buick Regal based on the Insignia, it’s also being built alongside it in Germany. How that’s going to help GM’s bottom line with the value of the Dollar at the moment we wouldn’t like to say, but that’s how it’s being done.

Power comes from a pair of 4-pot petrols (no thirsty V8s here) – a 2.4 litre Ecotec with 182bhp and a 2.0 litre turbo delivering 220bhp. You won’t be terribly shocked that these come with a six-speed auto ‘box as standard.

Based as it is on the Insignia, the Regal benefits from MacPherson Strut front suspension and independent rear suspension. It also comes equipped with IDSC which offers three suspension settings. The spec level is pretty comprehensive and includes power seats, Bluetooth, Leather, Satellite Radio and 18″ alloys. Options include SatNav and Harmon Kardon.

The Buick Regal is a big deal for GM. Will American buyers buy in to a re-badged Euro saloon? It does seem likely, and they couldn’t get a much better starting point than the Insignia. The Regal is aiming itself at the ‘Almost Luxury’ market which includes offerings from the likes of Volvo and Saab and American models like the Acura.

The Buick Regal is due to go on sale in the Spring of 2010, although the turbo version won’t arrive until the Autumn. You can find all the gen in the 2011 Buick Regal Press Release.

By Cars UK