China's Insignia-based Buick Regal revealed
Click above for high-res gallery of Buick's new Regal in China
General Motors has unveiled China's new Buick Regal (or at least official pics of it have found their way onto the web), and save for some cosmetic changes, it's basically a badge-engineered Opel Insignia. That's by design though, as Buick is GM's top-selling brand in the land of the great wall, and the new mid-size sedan from Opel has the best chance for success donning a Buick logo. Comparing the Insignia and the new Buick Regal back to back shows that GM simply popped out the Opel grille, got rid of the lightning logo and retrofitted Buick badging for Buick-loving Chinese. The Opel Insignia is a head-turning sedan as it is, and after looking at these official Regal pics, it doesn't look half bad with a Buick grille, either.
The new Regal is scheduled to hit Chinese showrooms in December will arrive with a choice of two powertrains: a 164-hp 2.4L four-cylinder engine and 211-hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, both of which come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The naturally aspirated four-banger has a leisurely 0-60 time of 9.8 seconds, while the turbo motor scoots to 60 in 7.8 seconds.
We've been hoping for our own U.S. version of the new Insignia, and recent news of GM product delays could push the next-gen Saturn Aura even further into the future. Meanwhile, China gets a Buick version this year and the new Chevy Cruze, which we may not receive until 2011.
Gallery: Chinese Buick Regal Unveiled
[Source: CarScoop]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TriShield 11:37AM (11/05/2008)
China and other countries like it get these types of cars because their willing to pay a premium for them. We aren't here in the US.
Many automaker domestic and foreign produce cars specifically for this market and bargain-basement priced because we won't pay premiums for them. So we do not get premium products.
Even if GM sold this car here (at a loss as usual) nobody would buy it. It still amazes me that so many on this site really think brands like Buick and Mercury honestly have a place in today's automotive landscape or that they can be saved.
They can't, they're dead brands walking.
Reply
MemphisNET 11:42AM (11/05/2008)
Agreed. And it's a shame that we won't buy this stuff as a whole. Personally, in a commuter car -- I don't care about 0-60 times. So 10seconds in a comfortable cruiser with good fuel economy wouldn't bother me in the least, especially when its classic styling to boot.
Good looking product. Hopefully the next Buick Allure/LaCrosse turns out this good.
skant 11:50AM (11/05/2008)
You need to define the market. Buick is very highly regarded in China and brings a level of respectability and status that the brand does not conjure in US consumers. There is a long (and surprising) history of Buick's in China and it is one reason why GM has been able to take a dominant position.
Please do not get the Buick brand in the US mixed up with the Buick brand of China. What you think is cool, is strictly in your head.
Polly Prissy Pants 1:01PM (11/05/2008)
Speak for yourself. If Buick sold a car that looked like this I might buy it. It's WAY better than that stupid LaCrosse.
happy_penguin 3:24PM (11/05/2008)
I have always loved Buicks. You want decent economy with plenty of room, a comfortable ride and enough power under foot when you step on it? Lucern. Yes, I have rented this car and it will get 32 MPG highway while not cramping my body or my style. People's perceptions of Buick are ill founded. Sure it's an older persons brand in most people's minds but they are nice cars with nice style and I like most things about them except that newest LaCrosse grille. Yuck!
Avinash machado 11:38AM (11/05/2008)
Considering how the Saturn Astra is doing in the US market, maybe GM feels the Insignia\Aura will not do well either.
Reply
Richard S. 11:47AM (11/05/2008)
Buick does not have the same baggage in China as it does in the U.S., mainly the perception of being a car for grandpa's.
So when they pluck a beautiful midsize such as the Opel Insignia and put a Buick brand, suddenly what may seemed as an expensive Opel, now is a reasonable priced luxury Buick.
Same thing as the perception of a fully loaded Accord V6 EX-L costing over 30K, and if same car had an Acura badge.
Reply
BoxerFanatic 11:48AM (11/05/2008)
Nice optimism, there guys...
It isn't that GM's business practices make things too expensive for what people are willing to pay, when other companies offer more features for less money.
It isn't that GM doesn't ADVERTISE premium or performance products worth a damn... to let people get to know whether they might like a product, and go out and take a closer look...
It isn't that people get treated like cattle or idiots, or get taken advantage of, when they go to buy or have their car serviced at GM dealers.
It's just the stupid consumer. The consumer is always wrong, and they never buy the nice stuff, so they deserve the lack of choice that GM doesn't give them.
People vote with their feet, and reward products and services that fit what they want, and how they want to be treated in the business arena. If GM isn't that, then they need to figure it out. And offering more CRAP, while delaying or denying the US market their best efforts, are what is going to make GM a dead brand walking.
Reply
Maplewood Auto 3:10PM (11/05/2008)
why does china get the good stuff, I like the looks of this car. Maybe one day china will given us some good crap!!!
http://www.maplewoodtransmission.com
Kotse 11:52AM (11/05/2008)
Damn, that Buick looks good! :O
Reply
Chris 11:53AM (11/05/2008)
That is a beautiful car. More often than not you will see a lesser version of the same car on the road and never consider it again after that.
If ALL of the cars looked like the one in the picture they would sell like hot cakes. Take for instance the base model CTS's....they're FUGLY. However, get the top of the line model and its an incredible car. This seems to be more of a problem with the American cars than it does the German or Jap cars.
Just my 2 cents
Reply
montoym 4:40AM (11/06/2008)
I would absolutely not limit that to just American cars. I see numerous examples of base models that are considerably worse looking than their up-level models from all over the globe.
This is why in virtually every car commercial you see shows the car in the ad highlighting the base price with an asterisk and small print showing what it costs to buy the one shown which is virtually always a top of the line model.
I think it's just in your mind and your perceptions.
Torrent 11:54AM (11/05/2008)
This is one rebadge I support.
Reply
robin 12:13PM (11/05/2008)
With all the bail out's we do pay a premium price, GM doesn't care about selling good cars in America, they just like its hand outs. $$$$$$$$
And China already have the Cruze, Actions speak louder than words.
Reply
JMAG 12:16PM (11/05/2008)
...and GM wonders why it's selling more cars abroad than at home...I'll never understand....
Reply
Steve_S 12:40PM (11/05/2008)
Nice looking car.
Reply
jamie 12:41PM (11/05/2008)
GM needs cars like the Buick Insignia/Regal and Chevrolet Cruze today. They are exactly what customers want now. Delaying the introduction of these cars in America will be a big mistake that GM cannot afford.
The reason being is that GMAC/ResCap is about to fail along with AIG. AIG has burned through all its bailout loot already and is tanking completely unnoticed by the GP. When it goes, the mortgage industry will rock and reel like gangbusters.
Furthermore ResCap is in dire straights and has no where to go but out of business.
No bailout for GM, GMAC, Cerberus or Chrysler is forthcoming. Will the Great Obamanation come to the rescue? I doubt it. The Fed is completely tapped out at this point also.
Look for major downshifting and junkyard deals in the next couple of weeks.
More information:
GMAC has $2.52 billion loss; ResCap unit may fail
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081105/bs_nm/us_gmac_6
Reply
JZeke 12:42PM (11/05/2008)
Thats a gorgeous car. If I was in the market for a mid size sedan, I would make sure to drive this; crappy GM dealers be damned!
I used to hate Buick, but since I took a roadtrip a few months ago in a Lucerne, I have respect for what they are doing with the brand.
Reply
happy_penguin 3:29PM (11/05/2008)
You got that right. I love the Lucern as I attested above. It gets a bad rap from the automotive press and so follows consumer opinions. It's a damn fine car.
nickslime06 1:10PM (11/05/2008)
"Buick is very highly regarded in China and brings a level of respectability and status that the brand does not conjure in US consumers"
Probably because every Buick in the United States was built as a traveling geriatric ward. Detroit sells its best vehicles outside this country, and they wonder why their market share inside the country is plummeting. Earth to Detroit, is there anyone left with a brain?!
Reply