Buick Unveils 2011 Regal Sport Sedan
This Regal certainly is not your grandfather's Buick!
www.gminsidenews.com
November 11, 2009
By: Nick Saporito
Later today General Motors will reveal the 2011 Buick Regal to an audience of owners and enthusiasts in Los Angeles. Throughout the past few months the car has generated a lot of buzz on the Internet thanks to leaks out of a Buick dealership meeting that GM hosted and leaks of the car by Buick themselves on their Facebook page. Just even a year ago it would have been laughable to use the phrase "Sport Sedan" in the same sentence as Buick, however the 2011 Regal seems to be busting that irony all up.
First off, GMI broke most of the news on the Regal thanks to dealership sources a few weeks ago. That information has checked out! However there is one SHOCKING difference...the new Regal is going to be produced at Opel's Russelsheim, Germany assembly plant. For months speculation has surrounded that the car would be built at GM's Oshawa, Ontario facility. GMI suspects that the car will be imported only for the 2011 model-year, then production will move to this side of the pond.
Regal is coming out of the gate with two engine options, both four-cylinders. The base engine is going to be the 2.4L ECOTEC SIDI (172 lb-ft of torque) with 182 HP with a standard six-speed automatic. The up-level engine will be a 2.0L Turbocharged ECOTEC SIDI with 220 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque. GM expects the 2.4L to be rated at 20/30 MPG, while the 2.0T should be rated at about 18/29 MPG.
The Regal is heavily based on the Opel Insignia midsize sedan from Europe, meaning that the car has plenty of features and a very sport-tuned driving experience. Standard features will include: leather seating, Bluetooth, XM Radio, OnStar, electronic parking brake and 18" wheels. Optional equipment includes: 19" wheels, the Insignia's IDCS (Interactive Drive Control System) that allows the driver to select different modes for the active suspension, navigation system, Harmon Kardon sound system, 1GB internal flash drive for music storage, USB port, and rear-seat thorax air bags.
Interior
As expected, the Regal's interior is borrowed heavily from the Insignia as well. The design is entirely carry-over, however the Regal does sport Buick's signature ice-blue LED back lighting and ambient lighting. Additionally, the Regal will utilize the same control knob interface that the Insignia utilizes; similar to BMW's iDrive system. The control knob operates the auto system, navigation system and Bluetooth.
Interior materials will include satin metallic and piano black trim pieces. Regal will also sport Kibo-patterned interior trim materials. Kibo is a rick, dark grained wood that lends an "international flare" to the car.
Driving
The chassis and structural systems were developed in Germany. GM claims the Regal's chassis is one of the most rigid in the segment, noting that this Regal is 25% stiffer than the old Regal that rode on GM's W-Body platform. Holding the Regal up is a strut-type front suspension with a four-link rear suspension with hydraulic ride bushings. Steering comes from a hydraulic rack-and-pinion system and four wheel disc brakes are standard, with 2.0T models featuring larger rotors.
Interactive Drive Control System
Regal's Interactive Drive Control System chassis technology enhances the vehicle's stability and greater driving safety. It is designed to change the personality of the car based on the personality that the driver is looking for. A driving mode control module continually monitors driving style utilizing yaw rate, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering wheel, throttle and vehicle speed. It defines the dynamic vehicle state, including acceleration, braking and cornering, to optimize chassis reactions.
All four dampers are electronically controlled and continuously adapt within milliseconds to the prevailing road conditions, vehicle movements and individual driving style. Chassis settings are adjustable by the driver, with Normal, Tour and Sport settings.
The chassis settings change the suspensions ettings, throttle response, shift pattern and steering sensitivity through the variable effort steering system.
IDCS also aids in emergency situations. For example, if an obstacle must be avoided when the car is in Tour mode, various chassis sensors convey this to the DMC and the dampers are stiffened within milliseconds, delivering greater body control.