After an online reveal earlier this week, the 2011 Buick Regal made its way to the Palladium theater in Hollywood for a slightly more glamorous stage debut. The drinks were flowing, the lighting was dark and all the big guns from GM were there to show off the new sedan.
With new marketing chief Bob Lutz, recently appointed sales chief Susan Docherty and VP of design Ed Welburn all on hand, it was clear that GM has plenty riding on this new Buick sedan. The rest of the room was filled with current Buick and GMC buyers and more than a few GM dealers, they're easy to spot.
So what's it look like in person? Not bad. There are no port holes which is good. Trust us, given the average age in the room no one would have known what they were anyway. The wheels look a tad big for the rest of the car, but otherwise there aren't many awkward angles on the Regal.
At this point, the big "if" is whether the Regal can get by with four-cylinder power only. Acura has abandoned that strategy with its TSX sedan and few other luxury cars rely solely on four-cylinder no matter how powerful they are. We'll see soon enough as the 2011 Buick Regal goes on sale in the second quarter of next year.
dougtheeng says:
05:53 AM, 11/13/09
Its sort of a blah-looking car on the outside, though I think there are a few interesting angles from the back. I'm looking forward to seeing the interior in person, as I think the LaCross interior is really quite nice.
rsholland says:
06:46 AM, 11/13/09
I think this is the best looking Buick sedan to date. Too bad AWD is not on the option list.
sabastian says:
07:10 AM, 11/13/09
It looks pretty good...I see a lot of 5-series in the profile.
albook says:
07:40 AM, 11/13/09
I'd take the Regal over a TSX. But yeah, we'll need a V6 in a year or two
sylvia says:
08:42 AM, 11/13/09
Somehow Buick and Hollywood just don't seem to go together.
rick8365 says:
10:21 AM, 11/13/09
"more than a few GM dealers, they're easy to spot."
?
How so?
par_avion says:
11:37 AM, 11/13/09
Reminds me of the Genesis.
chopperx says:
11:53 AM, 11/13/09
umm... where is the sweepspear and portholes that have been clearly established with the LaCrosse?
This rebadge for NA markets really isn't that great looking IMHO - rather bland
Interior is pretty slick but overall this car looks generic.
1487 says:
11:42 AM, 11/14/09
doesnt the A4 get by with a 4 cylinder engine? The V6 was dropped due to lack of interest to my knowledge. Aslo, few are going to buy the TSX with the V6 at $35k. Too much money for the TSX so I'm sure 90% will be four cylinder models.
stephen987 says:
04:49 PM, 11/14/09
I don't think most Buick buyers would feel very good about a car that offers only four cylinders--no matter how powerful the four might be, it just won't have the smoothness, relaxed behavior, and refinement that people expect when they think of Buick. AWD would only reinforce the perception of an engine working too hard to haul the weight of the car.
roadburner says:
05:55 PM, 11/14/09
Yawn.
1487 says:
07:03 AM, 11/15/09
Its funny how media types are acting surprised that more and more vehicles are coming with four cylinder engines in light of the new CAFE requirements. This is the wave of the future. Supposedly the next 3 and 5 series will offer 4 cylinder engines at the lower end. We already have four cylinders in vehicles such as the Venza and Highlander- something that would've been laughable a few years ago. Acura already has two models with standard 4 bangers and the A4 has a four standard. We will see more of this going forward- get used to it.
stephen987 says:
04:55 PM, 11/15/09
Actually the four-cylinder has been standard in the Highlander since 2001. What's new is that people are actually buying them.
The reason many of us are surprised about the popularity of four cylinder engines in such vehicles is the fact that they actually save little or no fuel compared to a well-engineered normally aspirated six, and they cost as much or more to produce. Consider the turbocharged four-cylinder engines in the Mazda CX7 and the Acura RDX--gas hogs when compared to the V6 RAV4.
zoomzoomn says:
06:25 AM, 11/16/09
It's just a re-badged Opel insignia. That's not a bad thing but that car is just the next generation of the current Saturn Aura. So, Buick is the new Saturn? :) It will likely do well if the price point hits $22K-$29K. Four cylinder and all.
zoomzoomn says:
06:26 AM, 11/16/09
Now bring on the rebadged Astra as a Skylark. Woo-hooo!
1487 says:
08:59 AM, 11/16/09
stephen:
True but the new highlander is bigger, I meant that a few years ago a 4200lb SUV would have never had a standard four cylinder. The first gen model was only a little heavier and larger than the Camry.
zoomnzoom:
There is no way this CXL model will be $22k. I'm thinking it will start between $28k-$30k with a cheaper CX model to follow in 2011.
1487 says:
09:13 AM, 11/16/09
"The reason many of us are surprised about the popularity of four cylinder engines in such vehicles is the fact that they actually save little or no fuel compared to a well-engineered normally aspirated six, and they cost as much or more to produce. Consider the turbocharged four-cylinder engines in the Mazda CX7 and the Acura RDX--gas hogs when compared to the V6 RAV4."
The CX-7 and RDX are heavier than the RAv4 and the toyota V6 is the most efficient on the market. In a car like the Regal the NA 4 is probably worth 3mpg vs a V6 and the turbo four is probably good for 1-2mpg while delivering better low end torque. The Passat is only a little slower than the V6 competition while getting 19/29 which beats every V6 except the Accord.
jederino says:
11:56 AM, 12/ 3/09
This new regal is a good looker, if somewhat generic. But, these are times of austerity, so the styling and 4-cylinder motivation are spot on. It does look better than the TSX, and I hope it can rival it with good sporting attitude and luxurious appointments.