Preview: All-New 2018 Buick Regal

You may not realize it, but the Buick Regal is a lightly-finessed clone of the European Opel Insignia.  So, if you thought Buick’s mid-size sedan looked German, you’re right.  In fact, the first ones sold in the U.S. were built in Germany (now Canada).  We haven’t seen the 2018 Regal yet, but we have seen the Opel.  You’re going to like it!

A lower roofline and slightly longer body accentuate the four-door coupe profile that made the current generation such a looker.  It’s athletic and elegant at the same time.  Styling cues like slim-line headlamps, winged grille, and body sculpting are taken from the Opel Monza Concept.  LED taillamps add sophistication.

“In its proportions as well as in each detail, we wanted the new Insignia to deliver an upscale quality feel,” said Mark Adams, Vice President Design Europe.  “Its design combines flowing lines and subtle surfaces with crisp, precise lines to even exaggerate its dramatic proportions.  It looks longer, lower and wider than it actually is, and it definitely looks upscale.  Every design feature conveys technical know-how and utmost precision.”

The interior is similar to the new LaCrosse sedan and Envision crossover.  It’s lush – layered with leather and woodgrain, stretched across the dash in elegant expanses.  It’s expected to be loaded with the latest crash avoidance and infotainment systems, including automated parking, corrective lane steering, and head-up display.  A longer body promises a roomier cabin with greater rear legroom.

Engine choices will be announced later, but we know it will have GM’s eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive with torque vectoring.  Tested on Germany’s famed Nurburgring, the car’s chassis can be tuned for Standard (automatically adjusted), Tour (comfortable chassis, optimized fuel economy), Sport (reduced brake dive, firmer suspension in corners).  The chassis is electro-hydraulically adjusted 500 times per second. 

We don’t know all of the new Regal’s features, but we absolutely know it is a beautiful car, designed in Germany, and ready for America.  It will look great sitting in Buick showrooms alongside a new line of sedans and crossovers that are getting rave reviews.

Storm Forward!