Buick Regal likely to be launch platform for next GM hybrid system
Posted Nov 13th 2009 5:52PM by Sam Abuelsamid
2011 Buick Regal – Click above for high-res image gallery
Last night, General Motors publicly unveiled the 2011 Buick Regal that goes on sale in North America in the first half of next year. The Regal will be Buick's new mid-sized sedan entry and is essentially just a re-grilled version of the Opel Insignia that went on sale in Europe last year. The North American Regal will be built at the Oshawa Ontario assembly plant in Canada beginning in calendar 2011 and will only be offered with a choice of direct-injected four-cylinder engines. However, the Regal is actually slated to go on sale in calendar 2010, and some are suggesting that the sedan will be sourced from Germany for 12 to 15 months.
The base engine will be the 2.4-liter normally aspirated unit that debuted earlier this year in the Chevrolet Equinox, among other models. With a six-speed automatic transmission, the Regal should hit 30+ mpg on the highway. The optional unit will be a 220-hp version of the 2.0-liter turbo, but that powertrain likely won't come on-line right away.
Earlier this year, documents were leaked that listed the Oshawa plant as building a new mid-size hybrid sedan in 2011. It looks like the Regal will be that car with GM's new second generation mild hybrid system that was announced in 2008. The new system uses a more powerful motor/generator and a lithium ion battery. According to Ward's Auto World, the Regal could also get GM's plug-in two mode hybrid system, but that likely won't appear before late 2011 at the earliest.
[Sources: Ward's Auto World - sub req'd | GM-Volt.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 9:37PM (11/13/2009)
"It looks like the Regal will be that car with GM's new second generation mild hybrid system that was announced in 2008."
If the BAS system gives the Regal a 17.5% improvement in combined mpg compared to a current Malibu 2.4, it would get 31 mpg combined. (ABG's article quoted GM as predicting 15-20% improvement)
That ain't bad for a cheap system (Camry Hybrid is 34 combined). And its probably a 40+ mpg CAFE rating. (pre '08 numbers)
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Laurens 6:43AM (11/14/2009)
For most Europeans, this is the maximum size of car they are allowed to afford. If the US would go the same route, that already saves a lot without having to go hybrid (or diesel).
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Atlas 2:58PM (11/14/2009)
Laurens
"(...)this is the maximum size of car they are allowed to afford"
??? They're not allowed to buy a larger vehicle? Where the hell did you hear that, FauxNews?
Rhonda Koechig 9:11AM (11/14/2009)
When will GM figure out that a lot of American's are not going to buy any GM car that isn't made in the USA! This made in America means made in America. Many people I know are justifying buying foreign name plates because yes in deed they are built in America. I work for GM and basically feel we (workers) are doomed to end up without jobs because GM sales keep going down. We can not stay in business in America with out American sales.
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Lucien 3:23PM (11/14/2009)
Well American-built GM cars sold badly so I can see that GM wants to cut development costs and bring the Insignia over which is a great car with good success overseas.
German cars did see increase of market share and I don't think that many people buy only American built cars (for that matter often pieces come from all over the world).
But with the current exchange rates I rather think we'll see more production moving to the US (example upcoming VW passat and Audi/Mercedes considering more models).
The Other Bob 9:33AM (11/16/2009)
I agree that the "made in Germany" thing will work against this car. When it begins to be made in Canada, less so. Nobody seems to mind Canadian-made cars (And they shouldn't mind because Canadians buy a bunch of American-made cars.) Other cars from the big three that were just imported did not do well. The Catera, Astra, Geo, etc.
That said, keep in mind there are some cars currently being imported, that will start to be made in the U.S. The Aveo replacement is going to be built in Michigan instead of Korea. Its also sounds like the Ford Kuga wil be made here and exported. The Opel GT was made here and exported.
Rhonda Koechig 10:18AM (11/16/2009)
I come in contact with the average Joe daily and they are looking at the vin #'s and the drivers side inner door to see where these cars are built and they are walking away from the cars that are not built in the USA. Our domestic sale figures should tell GM something. Speaking with a lost GM customer the other day he said he and his wife were both in the market for new cars. The GM cars they wanted ended up not being assembled in the USA so they went to the Honda dealer where their cars were assembled in the USA and drove off with 2 new cars. American's mostly don't care that the foreign cars sales profits go to their countries of origin, they care about where the car is put together and the percentage of American made parts used.
Tohe 2:43AM (11/15/2009)
Cool, I will tell my grandpa all about it.
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Dave 6:18PM (11/15/2009)
Good idea.
It will probably be the most fuel efficient vehicle he ever owned.
And, as I've said many times, older folks with arthritis are happy to avoid frequent refueling.