GMI's Regal Resource

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by SigEpCutlass

I was just doing some thinking. Does anyone know if the turbo 2.8 V6 that is used in the Saab 9-3 TurboX or the turbo 2.8 V6 in the Cadillac SRX are the same base engine? If so, they make 280hp and 300hp respectively. Are these engines variants of the twin turbo 2.8 V6 used in the Insignia OPC?

They are the same exact engine. And the OPC Insignia is ONE turbo, not two.

[TriShield]

I'm still wondering how exactly this is going to work considering GM is in the midst of offloading Opel.

It's also very similar to the LaCrosse (which should be bearing the Regal name instead). Oh and four cylidner only FTL.

[jry]

Well, today, on an obscure two lane road in Livingston County, a caravan of LaCrosses were heading north. About 4 white ones in the front and 4 of various colors in the back. The "rocking chair" was being occupied by...... a Regal.

[saturnista]

About as a similar as the 3 series is to the 5 series or the c class to the e-class.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by calgaryhhr

I will agree that there seems to be a small, limited wagon market but you also have to consider that the buying public really isn't being offered any choices. The few choices that exist are either premium/luxury vehicles (Audi/BMW/Volvo) or from automakers that many American buyers don't really consider (VW.)

It is possible that a wagon priced in the median transaction price of a typical American sedan offered by one of the big three (or 2) might attract some buyers. Of course, if the market is never tested we will never know the answer.

I think a Regal wagon might be a good way to test the market. To me it seems very feasible to import a small volume of Opel wagons along side the sedans. The wagons already exist and the tooling is already in place in Europe (if I'm not mistaken.) After monitoring sales it can be determined whether or not the buying publich will accept such a vehicle and whether or not manufacturing can be moved stateside.

I agree with the testing the market with a Regal wagon, it is the right size for the U.S./Canadian market and will provide Buick with a unique vehicle, and I do understand that this is not a huge market but one that could help GM's image.

Going by the old GM "A" body wagons (Celebrity, 6000, Century and Ciera) along with Taurus/Sable wagons that are still on the road, there is enough of a market for one (1) domestic entry in the segment. The Celebrity and 6000 stopped production in 1991 and the Century/Ciera in 1996 so these vehicles are old yet their owners hold on to them, and GM needs a replacement for the 9-3 and 9-5 Sport Combi's (wagons). There are people who still like the versatility of a wagon with the good MPG that go with it, so I think GM should give the Regal wagon a try, but only if it will do some marketing for it.

[ponchoman49]

Still don't care for the mid range engine choice. Buick buyers are not going to like a revvy, noisy, shifty turbo engine in there luxury oriented Buick. GM blew it again with this. The Regal would have been the ideal candidate for the new 3.0 liter SIDI V6 with the lower curbweight. Performance would be considerably better than the overweight LaCrosse and mileage would have been much closer to 30. Otherwise this looks like a clean sheet design to increased sales for Buick.

[mrgto]

I would consider a Turbo 4 and a stick.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by mrgto

I would consider a Turbo 4 and a stick.

I have three engine/drive favorites:

3. Insignia Sport Sedan 2.8 V6 turbo:
- base price w/o tax 31,916 Euro
- AWD with 6MT
- 260hp @ 5500rpm
- 258lbf ft (295lbf ft with overboost) @ 1900-4500rpm
- 0-62mph in 6.9s
- top speed 155mph (restricted)
- 21.5mpg combined

2. Insignia Sport Sedan 2.0 turbo diesel
- base price w/o tax 26,622 Euro
- FWD with 6MT
- 160hp @ 4000rpm
- 258lbf ft (280lbf ft with overboost) @ 1750-2500rpm
- 0-62mph in 9.5s
- top speed 135mph
- 40.5mpg combined

1. Insignia Sport Sedan 2.0 turbo
- base price w/o tax 30,403 Euro
- AWD with 6MT
- 220hp @ 5300rpm
- 258lbf ft @ 2000-4000rpm
- 0-62mph in 7.7s
- top speed 149mph
- 25.5mpg combined

[ILikeNiceCars]

I very much like what I'm seeing with the Regal. I think it would make a dang nice replacement for my '02 Alero GX. I just hope it comes with a V6 (say 220hp +) that puts out about the same torque (give or take a couple of lb-ft) as the V6 in the new Lacrosse. I'm just curious: is GM going to make a Regal 2 door in addition to the 4 door? It's just that I really like/want a 2 door coupe and don't want to get a Chevy (Chevy = embarrasingly common junk cars). I'm sure that if done right, there's enough customers out there who would buy a Regal coupe because they want something nicer than a Chevy coupe (and right now Chevy is the only surviving GM brand to put out any 2 door cars).

[ZeeTwentyFour]

This car with the 2.0 turbo! I smell Audi A4 competition; especially if we get our version of the OPC, then we have an S4 competitor as well

[HarveyB]

Currently looking for a replacement for my 1999 Regal GS. Was looking at the LaCrosse but if the Regal is nice and torquey then I might wait till next year.

[Phaeton Driver]

I just found this site, referred by someone on the SaturnFans forum. Since the Aura and other new Saturns are now stepchildren of the once great GM, with German designed cars I have to look for another make. The new Regal just might be my next car, if that follow through with the hinted power train options and if they bring in one more model, like the Insignia SPORT Tourer attached. That car with the 3.6 V6+6Sp or a V6 twin turbo, would send me running to my local Buick/Saturn dealer.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by Phaeton Driver

I just found this site, referred by someone on the SaturnFans forum. Since the Aura and other new Saturns are now stepchildren of the once great GM, with German designed cars I have to look for another make. The new Regal just might be my next car, if that follow through with the hinted power train options and if they bring in one more model, like the Insignia SPORT Tourer attached. That car with the 3.6 V6+6Sp or a V6 twin turbo, would send me running to my local Buick/Saturn dealer.

Welcome aboard!

I very much like the Insignia wagon too. But remember, GM is not "bringing in" the Regal. It will be built in NA. And while it is possible to import the Opel model with a Buick grille, I believe currency issues would keep it from happening. That, and the market for wagons (as opposed to crossovers) in this country is microscopic. My own opinion is that GM is unlikely to spend the time and money to set this up for a product in such a small segment.

Personally, I feel the best way to try something like this is to create a Malibu wagon with the next generation car coming in a couple years. Buick will have 2 or 3 crossovers by then and wouldn't need a sedan-based wagon. A lower priced Chevrolet product might provide the volume necessary to make the project pay.

[Phaeton Driver]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Welcome aboard!

I very much like the Insignia wagon too. But remember, GM is not "bringing in" the Regal. It will be built in NA. And while it is possible to import the Opel model with a Buick grille, I believe currency issues would keep it from happening. That, and the market for wagons (as opposed to crossovers) in this country is microscopic. My own opinion is that GM is unlikely to spend the time and money to set this up for a product in such a small segment.

Personally, I feel the best way to try something like this is to create a Malibu wagon with the next generation car coming in a couple years. Buick will have 2 or 3 crossovers by then and wouldn't need a sedan-based wagon. A lower priced Chevrolet product might provide the volume necessary to make the project pay.

I may be in my sixty's but I am not ready for a crossover from a SUV to a minisuv. They are all to big and underperformers for my liking.
I just saw a Volvo sport wagon in the parking lot at my local Albertson super market. It was very small, to small for me, but looked like it would handle like a sports car. It had a sweedish license plate under the California plate. First thing that came to mind was the Volvo P1800 from the 60's.
What would be perfect for people like me, semi retired performance car buffs that need more room than a sedan and less than a SUV is a sportwagon.

Well maybe if they import the Opel Insignia Sport Tourer to Canada I go up there and get one?

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by Phaeton Driver

I just found this site, referred by someone on the SaturnFans forum. Since the Aura and other new Saturns are now stepchildren of the once great GM, with German designed cars I have to look for another make. The new Regal just might be my next car, if that follow through with the hinted power train options and if they bring in one more model, like the Insignia SPORT Tourer attached. That car with the 3.6 V6+6Sp or a V6 twin turbo, would send me running to my local Buick/Saturn dealer.

Haha, hey Phaeton Driver, welcome to GMI.