2011 Buick Regal 2.0T to come with 6MT

[Fenixgoon]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha
And the Government Motors was "in negotiations" to "sell" Opel...
As soon as I have heard that I said "bullshit" there is no way in hell that the GM is going to sell their brain. I was right. Although, I am not too happy about it...The best car that GM has to offer is....German....



Edit: The saddest part about the entire Insignia/Regal venture is that the GM had to actually "think" about it...Gee, Whiz...Don't think you stupid fucks, just bring the car as it is from Germany and don't fucken touch it...

a lot of people have been wanting american manufacturers to just build their exported cars here.

thing is, people pay a lot more overseas. a focus RS is like 25,000 british pounds or something. no one here would be willing to pay that kind of money for a focus. Next gen focus is a global platform though, which is good news.

otherwise, yeah, i will basically take any aussie/euro car from Ford/GM. They are flat out awesome.

Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst, please.

 

[adlep]

a lot of people have been wanting american manufacturers to just build their exported cars here.

thing is, people pay a lot more overseas. a focus RS is like 25,000 british pounds or something. no one here would be willing to pay that kind of money for a focus. Next gen focus is a global platform though, which is good news.

otherwise, yeah, i will basically take any aussie/euro car from Ford/GM. They are flat out awesome.

Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst, please.

That is truth to a degree - You have to remember that EU manufactures have to pay MUCH higher taxes in Europe when compared to folks in the US. The price diff is there, but if you take the taxes out, it is much smaller.

All they have to do is to use their Japanese/Korean divisions to build an affordable car "here" in the US and use their Euro divisions to build the car that competes with high-end segments like Audi, Acura, and BMW....
Which btw, both Ford and the Government M. seem to be doing.

 

[ElFenix]

This should quiet the usual "Too bad <insert new car> doesn't come with a manual, or I'd definitely buy it!" crowd.

edit:
😕 This is interesting--Somehow, Jalopnik has already driven the new Regal with the manny:
http://jalopnik.com/5408766/2011-buck-regal-first-drive

different rear view mirror glass

wtf? why do the euros get different mirror glass?

 

[MBrown]

More Regal goodness.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/2011-buick-regal-first-drive/

 

[LTC8K6]

Now it's a 2.0T again, which I suspect is actually correct.

 

[Bignate603]

Now it's a 2.0T again, which I suspect is actually correct.

The autoblog article mentions a 2.4 Naturally aspirated engine and a 2.0 turbo. It sounds like a decent set of options.

 

[LTC8K6]

Jalopnik article upthread said it was a 2.4L Turbo...

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

they'll sell 2 of these MT models per year, if they're lucky.

manual drivers aren't looking for buicks and buick drivers aren't looking for manuals.
not a good combo.

10 years ago people weren't shopping Cadillac for performance either, now we have the CTS-V that everyone loves.

People bitched that GM needs to get with the times, and then they do and people bitch that they changed. WTF???

 

[PricklyPete]

10 years ago people weren't shopping Cadillac for performance either, now we have the CTS-V that everyone loves.

People bitched that GM needs to get with the times, and then they do and people bitch that they changed. WTF???

I agree with you 100%. I'm really excited that Buick is putting out some competitive cars...I really hope it does change the demographic buying them.

 

[LTC8K6]

0-60 in 7.5sec doesn't sound too competitive, but I guess we'll see.

 

[PricklyPete]

0-60 in 7.5sec doesn't sound too competitive, but I guess we'll see.

Competitive to what? A V6 Fusion? Of course not, but then again the Fusion doesn't get the same gas mileage either. It's a compromise that I think a lot of people will be ok with. 0-60 in 7.5 is plenty fast for most people.

 

[ElFenix]

0-60 in 7.5sec doesn't sound too competitive, but I guess we'll see.

how many 4 bangers go that fast in the midsize sedan segment?

 

[LTC8K6]

how many 4 bangers go that fast in the midsize sedan segment?

I have no idea, but obviously you do. If I knew I would have been specific. I know the Accord EX is in that area.

My reading of the article was that Buick was intending it as a sporty sedan and not an Accord fighter, so expectations would be higher than 7.5sec.

 

[ElFenix]

I have no idea, but obviously you do. If I knew I would have been specific. I know the Accord EX is in that area.

My reading of the article was that Buick was intending it as a sporty sedan and not an Accord fighter, so expectations would be higher than 7.5sec.

that's the base engine. with the 3.5 DI i'm sure it's in the lower 6s

edit: seems the target is the acura tsx, which slots in at 7.7 on edmunds standard test, so knock off .2 seconds for strip times. hey, they match!

edit2: may be a middle engine

edit3: wth no v6 in the offing?

edit4: hai guis maek tits opshunal kthxbai

 

[LTC8K6]

that's the base engine. with the 3.5 DI i'm sure it's in the lower 6s

Base engine is NA 2.4L. Upgrade is 2.0T. No mention of a V6 that I could see.

"The front-drive Regal will arrive next spring carrying a normally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder packing 182 horsepower (at 6,700 RPM) and 172 pound-feet of torque (at 4,900 RPM) paired with a six-speed automatic that offers a +/– manual shift gate but no paddles. Soon thereafter, the 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Ecotec we drove will come on stream, delivering 220 hp (at 5,300 RPM) and a healthy 258 lb-ft. of torque from just 2,000 RPM. If that's not enough, GM officials pledge that a six-speed manual transmission will eventually be offered as well."

 

[kalrith]

I have no idea, but obviously you do. If I knew I would have been specific. I know the Accord EX is in that area.

My reading of the article was that Buick was intending it as a sporty sedan and not an Accord fighter, so expectations would be higher than 7.5sec.

Here's the competition according to autoblog:

Our Regal-spec tester's ride and handling balance is certainly competitive with GM's targets: the Acura TSX and the (soon to depart) Volvo S60, along with higher-end models from the Volkswagen Passat and Mazda6 ranges.

 

[shabby]

0-60 in 7.5sec doesn't sound too competitive, but I guess we'll see.

Its a wolf in sheep's clothing, that lnf engine can easily generate some serious hp/trq numbers with a tune. 300hp/350trq at the wheels is easily attainable.

 

[ElFenix]

Its a wolf in sheep's clothing, that lnf engine can easily generate some serious hp/trq numbers with a tune. 300hp/350trq at the wheels is easily attainable.

and how many people cross shopping this with a volvo and the tsx are going to be tuning?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Plus, when did 220hp and 0-60 in 7.5 become uncompetitive in a mid range sedan? I must have missed the memo.

 

[Zap]

Maybe Buick is hoping to pick up former Pontiac customers?

 

[LTC8K6]

Plus, when did 220hp and 0-60 in 7.5 become uncompetitive in a mid range sedan? I must have missed the memo.

Honda's Accord EX with the 190HP 4 is that quick and probably gets as good or better economy. That Buick's 2.0T might require premium fuel to make that 220HP. The Cobalt did, but I'm not sure if it's the same 2.0T.

What's a mid-range sedan anyway? Which mid-range sedans have 220HP as their top engine offering, as appears to be the case with this Buick?

 

[LTC8K6]

The Wiki entry:

A new Buick Regal was launched in China in November 2008 based on the Opel Insignia.[6]

In November 2009, in Los Angeles, GM introduced the car to the North American market, with a launch date of 2nd quarter 2010.[2] In North America, the new Regal will slot just below the LaCrosse, and compete with upscale sedans such as the Acura TSX and Volvo S60. It will debut with just one engine, the 2.4L Ecotec I4 rated at 182 hp. A turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec I4 rated at an estimated 220 hp will be available later in 2010. Both will come with 6-speed automatic transmission. Jim Frederico, chief engineer for Buick, announced that a 6-speed manual will be available shortly after launch.[7] A hybrid variant will soon follow. [8] The 2011 Regal will be offered only in CXL trim, with other trim levels expected for 2012.

When it launches, the North American-market Buick Regal will be assembled alongside the Opel Insignia in R&#252;sselsheim, Germany. However, it was previously reported in Canada's National Post that GM would build this Insignia-based Regal at its Oshawa, Ontario plant, as a way to convince the Canadian government to grant the struggling automaker $2.4 billion in financial aid.[9]

 

[zmatt]

That is truth to a degree - You have to remember that EU manufactures have to pay MUCH higher taxes in Europe when compared to folks in the US. The price diff is there, but if you take the taxes out, it is much smaller.

All they have to do is to use their Japanese/Korean divisions to build an affordable car "here" in the US and use their Euro divisions to build the car that competes with high-end segments like Audi, Acura, and BMW....
Which btw, both Ford and the Government M. seem to be doing.

Not even that. Toyota and Honda have been building cars in the US for a long time and nothing changed. All they really have to do is retool the factories over here to make those cars. The international Focus and even the international escort, are/were much better cars than the USDM ones. If they made them here than I would be much more apt to buy a ford. In the meantime, does anyone know how mcuh it would cost to ship something the size of a 1986 Focus RS from the UK to the US?

 

[shabby]

and how many people cross shopping this with a volvo and the tsx are going to be tuning?

They're not, someone is going to do it for them, it costs around $200-400 to get it done. For that kind of a power increase its a hell of a deal.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Not even that. Toyota and Honda have been building cars in the US for a long time and nothing changed. All they really have to do is retool the factories over here to make those cars. The international Focus and even the international escort, are/were much better cars than the USDM ones. If they made them here than I would be much more apt to buy a ford. In the meantime, does anyone know how mcuh it would cost to ship something the size of a 1986 Focus RS from the UK to the US?

Good luck finding an '86 Focus. Good luck finding a '96 Focus, for that matter. The RS Focus was launched in 2002. And good luck finding a nice one for a good price as only 4.5k were made. 😱