24hcar: Buick

Showing posts with label Buick. Show all posts

Buick Regal GS high performance version confirmed

Posted by Mr Dung Sunday, May 23, 2010

In an ongoing effort to be more appealing to a younger demographic, Buick is developing a sportier version of the Buick Regal. If all stays on track, the company could release the car on the market in 2011, according to The Detroit News.

Essentially a rebadged Opel Insignia OPC (except the powertrain), the Buick Regal GS started as a concept car at the NAIAS earlier this year, and the production car might show little difference. As a design study, the car used a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 255 horsepower (190 kW, 259 PS). The all-wheel drive car featured a six-speed manual transmission, and four-way Recaro front seats.

With the release of a German-produced Buick Regal, the company has managed to strike a nerve with a slightly younger crowd. The average Buick buyer is now 65-years-old, instead of 72. Still, the automaker would like to see that number fall even lower.

"Buick kind of lost its way. We built big, floaty, quiet cars -- what our customers wanted at the time," Buick representative Dayna Hart told The Detroit News.

"The GS would be the next step, more performance-based."

Buick is expected to introduce a small four-door inside the next year-and-a-half. They are also planning on smaller crossover vehicle based on the Buick Enclave.

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Buick LaCrosse rebadged as GM Daewoo Alpheon in Korea

Posted by Mr Dung Saturday, May 1, 2010

[GM Daewoo]

More evidence that GM has no intention of replacing the Daewoo brand in Korea. The U.S. automaker has introduced the Daewoo Alpheon at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show - a rebadged Buick LaCrosse.

With the Alpheon, Daewoo is clearly going after its own fair share of the large sedan segment in Korea with this near-premium offering.

"I am confident that the Alpheon will surpass the demands of the most sophisticated luxury sedan buyers in Korea," said Mike Arcamone, President and CEO of GM Daewoo.

For the Korean market, the Alpheon will come with a 3.0 liter V6 engine - likely the same one as in the Buick LaCrosse which rates 255 hp (190 kW). The power plant is coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

GM Daewoo says the "Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio." Much like its Korean couterpart, Hyundai, have made inroads into the luxury sedan segment with the Genesis model.

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Lincoln to Reveal MKZ Hybrid at this Week's New York Auto Show

Posted by Mr Dung Monday, March 29, 2010

[Detnews]

The Detroit News reports that FoMoCo will be revealing the MKZ Hybrid in New York, the Blue Oval's "first luxury hybrid".What you can expect is a Ford Fusion (or Mercury Milan), but with whatever passes for upscale Lincoln trim.

Chris Lemley, owner of dealerships in the Boston metro area, says, "I thought they should have done it before." Obviously, but as for getting people out of Lexus dealerships and onto Lincoln lots, "It depends on how fast they can get it to us...I'm also hoping that it will be priced competitively."

The MKZ Hybrid will have to be priced competitively, otherwise you'll have the same issue Lincoln dealers have been having with Ford and its SHO: same car, less money for the Blue Oval.

Sure, the MKZ Hybrid is all fun and good, but if Lincoln could get its act together design-wise, that would be great. The MKZ looks outdated as-is, and the Navigator stands out like a sore thumb. Oh well, I guess a hybrid in the lineup can't hurt.

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Porsche and Lincoln Top J.D. Power's 2010 Dependability Study, Cadillac DTS Has the Fewest Problems in the Industry

Posted by Mr Dung Friday, March 19, 2010

[J.D.Power]

J.D. Power & Associates' latest vehicle dependability study says most cars are getting better. In fact, J.D. Power tests showed that 25 of 36 brands (69%) improved their long-term durability. Reported problems decreased from an industry average of 167 per 100 vehicles last year to the current 155 (+7% in reliability).

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2007 model year) vehicles, said that Porsche was the highest-ranking brand with 110 problems per 100 vehicles followed by Lincoln (114 problems) and Buick (115 problems).

The Cadillac DTS is the model with the fewest problems in the industry, with just 76 issues per 100 vehicles. This marks the first time in more than a decade that a model from a domestic automaker has achieved the lowest PP100 score in the Vehicle Dependability Study.

Interestingly, seven of the 10 models with the lowest incidence of problems in the industry are from Ford and General Motors, including the 2007 model-year Buick Lacrosse, Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Ford Five Hundred, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan, and Mercury Montego.

The biggest losers in terms of increases in problems per 100 vehicles are: Land Rover (+27), Audi (+25), Mitsubishi (+20).

The brands with the most problems per 100 vehicles in the industry are: Volkswagen (255), Suzuki (253) and Land Rover (255).

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Buick's VW Jetta-Fighting Small Sedan Realistically Rendered

Posted by Mr Dung Tuesday, January 26, 2010

[GMInsidenews]

Using an official sketch that was revealed at Buick's Los Angeles Auto Show conference last December as a canvas, GMI (GM Inside News) forum member "Mr. Burns" created a fairly realistic rendering of the firm's forthcoming small sedan that's expected to be heavily based on the Opel Astra.

The new four-door saloon that will make use of the same Delta II platform as the Chevrolet Cruze, will take the place of the Opel Insignia-based 2011 Regal sedan as Buick's entry-level offering in North America while it is also expected to replace the current Excelle in China.

The VW Jetta sedan should be considered one of the most closest rivals to the as of yet unnamed "baby" Buick model.

Though details still remain scarce, it is believed that the engine range will include the same 140HP 1.4-liter turbo four found in the Cruze while it's also possible that GM may add the Opel Astra's more potent 1.6-liter turbo with 180HP in the mix.

Chances are that we'll get to see the new Buick model arriving in the States sometime next year.

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GM Rebadges Opel Insignia OPC But Replaces 325HP V6 Biturbo with 255HP 2.0-liter Four-Pot

Posted by Mr Dung Thursday, January 7, 2010

Leave it to GM to take out all the fun even when it comes to re-badging its own vehicles... See, while the General took the decision to reveal a North American version of the Opel Insignia OPC in the form of the Buick Regal GS showcar in Detroit, unfortunately, the European model's 325HP 2.8-liter twin-scroll turbo V6 has been replaced with a lighter but more puny 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing an estimated 255HP.

Officially, the Detroit automaker says that the Regal GS was designed "to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal", but chances are that it will make it into production in the very near future.

"We designed the Regal GS to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal," said Craig Bierley, product marketing director for Buick. "Like the Regal, the Regal GS is based on the award-winning Opel Insignia, and we believe it will reinvigorate Buick's storied Gran Sport legacy."

The Regal GS showcar uses a modified version of the 220HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot that will be offered on Regal CXL models later this summer tuned to deliver greater boost pressure. The engine's output is estimated at 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400 Nm).

Furthermore, whereas the Regal CXL comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Regal GS's engine is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox that directs torque to an adaptive all-wheel-drive system.

As with its German counterpart, the GS is equipped with an electronic, limited-slip rear differential to reduce wheelspin.

General Motors says that the 255HP Buick Regal GS is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds, which sounds a bit optimistic considering the fact that the 325HP Opel Insignia OPC reaches 60mph in 5.8 seconds.

The Regal GS also benefits from a tuned four-wheel-independent suspension, a revised steering wheel system and a high-performance Brembo brake system with 14 x 1.2-inch (355 x 32 mm) cross-drilled rotors; four-piston, high-strength aluminum calipers, and high-performance pads.

There's also Opel's Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) chassis technology that allows the driver to chose from three different operating modes (normal, sport and GS) for the suspension settings, throttle response and steering sensitivity.

Other than that, the Buick Regal GS gets the same tasty bodykit, sexy 20-inch alloy wheels and interior upgrades including a pair of Recaro front seats and flat-bottom steering wheel as its European counterpart.

[Via:CC]

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New Buick Regal Sedan to be Built in Canada from 2011, Until Then it Will be 'Made in Germany'

Posted by Mr Dung Wednesday, November 25, 2009

General Motors confirmed today that it will assemble the North American-spec 2011 Buick Regal at its Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Canada with production set to commence in the first quarter 2011. The all-new Buick Regal is scheduled to go on sale in the States next Spring, with first year models to be built alongside its Opel Insignia twin at GM's Opel plant in Russelsheim, Germany.

"The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers," said Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada.

"Combining Buick's top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant's long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers' highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan."

The new Buick Regal mid-size sedan joins the Chevy Camaro and Equinox, and the GMC Terrain as the fourth new vehicle in the production commitment that was part of the agreement with the Canadian and Ontario Governments. GM said that a fifth vehicle to be added in the near future.

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2011 Buick Regal Now Revealed in Video

Posted by Mr Dung Sunday, November 15, 2009

General Motors is bringing back an old Buick name in a new package with the 2011 Regal sedan that was revealed to potential customers in Los Angeles on Thursday. The Regal is actually an Opel Insignia with a Buick waterfall-style grille and matching badges. In fact, it will be built alongside the Insignia at the GM Opel plant in Russelsheim, Germany. Power will come from GM's direct-injected 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 182 hp, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder with 220 hp. U.S. sales will start next spring. Follow the jump to watch the first official videos of the Regal that include detailed shots of the interior and exterior as well as driving footage.