Showing posts with label Buick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buick. Show all posts

2011 Buick Regal GS Study: Videos and Live Photos from Detroit - Film Shows V6 Turbo, GM Says 4-Cylinder Turbo...


Even though General Motors used the term 'show car' to describe the sporty Buick Regal GS that made its world debut in Detroit, there's nothing conceptual about this model. The GS version of the new 2011 Regal sedan that's due to go on sale this summer is said to be identical to the Opel Insignia OPC in all but one element: the engine.

According to GM, whereas the OPC gets a 2.8-liter twin-scroll turbocharged with 325HP, the all-wheel drive GS is fitted with a tuned up version of the Regal CXL's 2.0-liter turbo four that makes 255HP.

However, if you pay attention to the second promotional video after the jump (pause at 52 seconds into the film), you'll see that the GS features a V6 Turbo...

Read more »

VIDEO: Opel Insignia 4x4 takes on the Ascona 400 Rally Car


Those of you that have followed the WRC the past few decades will surely remember the Opel Ascona 400, the last rear-wheel drive rally car to win the driver's World Championship in 1982 with Walter Röhrl before the iconic Audi Coupe Quattro paved the way for all-wheel drive models.

Fast-forward almost thirty years, and the (road-going) Ascona's spiritual successor, the Insignia (2010 Buick Regal in the States), is now offered with an Adaptive 4x4 system as an option on the 220HP 2.0-liter and standard on the 2.8 V6 Turbo and OPC models.

In this promo video, the 2.4-liter Ascona 400 Rally Car is pitched against the Insignia 4x4 in a race on ice. Behind the steering wheel of the Ascona 400 is rally legend Christian Geistdörfer while the modern-day Insignia is driven by racing talent Sina Winkelhock, daughter of Jockel Winkelhock.

No prize for guessing which car wins...






BS of the Day: GM Planning to Rebadge the 2010 SAAB 9-5 as a Buick in the USA


The folks over at Saabsunited were quick to pick up an article from Swedish business daily Dagen Industri claiming that, according to an unnamed inside source, GM will re-badge the 2010 SAAB 9-5 sedan as a Buick in the USA and use some of the tech on a future flagship Opel sedan in Europe. The author of the fable story, Ian Wadenal, goes on to tell us how well the 9-5 would fit in Buick's range, sitting atop the new 2011 Regal a.k.a. the U.S-spec Opel Insignia.

You'll probably read the same story elsewhere, and if you're a car guy, you'll shake your head with stupefaction because Buick already has a similar-sized model in the States, the new LaCrosse that shares the same Epsilon II platform and possibly other hardware with the 9-5.

A more compact version of the Epsilon II is also used on the Opel Insignia - Buick Regal.

We're not saying that there's no place for a re-badged Saab 9-5 in GM's global portfolio, but we can't see it being done for Buick in the States (obvious why) nor for Cadillac and Opel (at least in their core markets) simply because both of these brands have spent money and time to create their own design language.

We're all in for saving SAAB and we respect the efforts of enthusiasts, but if anything else, some common sense is necessary when re-telling / reporting stories...

Source: Dagen , Via: Saabsunited






GM Reportedly Unveiled Several New Models at Pre-Show Event Including 2011 Buick Regal GS and 2011 Chevy Malibu Facelift and Orlando Crossover


A news report from the CanadianDriver claims General Motors gave the members of the press a sneak peak of all the new models that the company is planning to reveal at next month's 2010 Detroit motorshow. Needless to say, no pictures or videos were allowed at the pre-show event that is said to have taken place in downtown Detroit last Wednesday, but here are the cars that were allegedly revealed to the media.

Starting with Buick, the reports says that GM showed a high performance version of the recently revealed 2011 Regal sedan based on the Opel Insignia OPC. If true, we're assuming that the Audi S4-rivalling sports sedan will be called the Buick Regal GS and that it will carry over the OPC's 325HP turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive system.

Moving on to Chevrolet, GM's bestselling brand is said to have unveiled an array of new models for 2010 including the production version of the Camaro Convertible that gets a retractable softop, the redesigned Aveo subcompact, the new Spark mini, the Orlando crossover which was shown in concept form at last year's Paris motor show and surprise, surprise, a heavily facelifted Malibu.

The news report says that the Orlando seven-seater compact crossover, which uses a modified version of the Cruze's platform, has remained close to the concept while the 2011 Malibu sedan is claimed to feature a more sculptured body work, crisper edges and pronounced wheel arches.

Finally, GM is said to have taken the wraps off GMC's version of the Chevrolet Orlando called the Granite - though it is not clear if this is a production or a concept model.

Since General Motors has not made any official announcements, there's no way we can corroborate the report, but with the Detroit show just around the corner, we gather that it won't be long before we get the official word.

Via: Canadiandriver





Entry-Level 2010 Buick LaCrosse with 182HP Four-Cylinder Engine Priced from $26,995


Following an earlier announcement on the introduction of a new direct injected Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 182HP and 172 lb-ft. of torque (233 Nm) on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan, General Motors confirmed prices today for the new entry-level model that will start from $26,995.

This means that the four-banger LaCrosse CX will cost only $840 less than the equivalent 255HP 3.0-liter V6 version. Nevertheless, Buick said that it expects about 25 percent of customers will opt for 2.4L-equipped models.

Linked to a standard six-speed automatic transmission, the new powertrain combination is expected to deliver an estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg highway and 20 mpg city.

Sales of the 2010 LaCrosse CX with the four-cylinder Ecotec engine will start sometime during the first quarter of 2010.


*Photos: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS






Buick's "Premium" Compact Sedan Spied with Less Camouflage in China

Last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors gave us a sneak peek of its, as yet unnamed, baby Buick sedan through a teaser sketch. And while we've already shown you spy pictures of the new Buick, which is poised to take the role of the firm's new entry-level model in the North American market, the compact-sized saloon has been caught again, this time with less camouflage in China.

The baby Buick is expected to be heavily based (if not just rebadged, remasked and retrimmed) on the next Opel Astra sedan which is also currently under development and shares its Delta II platform with the Chevy Cruze.

We suspect that the North American version of the Buick won't differ much from its China market sibling seen in these photos. Hopefully, one of the cosmetic changes will concern the removal of those ridiculous chrome "eyebrows" on the tail lights...

Photos: Sohu





Buick Previews Official Sketch of Premium Compact Sedan [With Video]

During Buick's Los Angeles Auto Show press conference for the unveiling of the Opel Insignia-based 2011 Regal saloon, the company's product marketing director, Craig Bierly, showed a teaser sketch of the next addition to the Buick range, a premium compact sedan.

"And now, I have more exciting news to share with you; the first public showing of a rendering that includes our entire future sedan portfolio," Bierly said at the presentation.

"In addition to the new Regal, which you see on your right, you see our LaCrosse in the center and at the far left, an all-new premium compact sedan with the styling and craftsmanship of Enclave and LaCrosse plus the European-inspired driving dynamics of the Regal - and at a price that will make this Buick our new entry point to the brand.

"Is Buick's transformation complete? No … but we believe we're making steady progress," Bierly added.

While Bierly did not give out any specific details on the car, it's safe to assume that, like the Chinese market 2011 Buick Excelle hatchback, the four-door saloon will also be based on the new Opel Astra (sedan version), which shares the same Delta II platform with the new Chevrolet Cruze.

Our spies have already captured Buick's compact sedan testing in Germany, though at the time, it wasn't clear if GM was developing the car exclusively for China or also for the North American market.

In the States, the new Buick compact sedan will most likely be offered with a similar engine range to the Cruze including a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-pot, and quite possibly, the Astra's more powerful 1.6-liter turbo unit with 180 ponies.