The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. Serving as the premium mid-size/intermediate car of the Buick product range for nearly its entire production, the Regal initially served as the divisional counterpart of the Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme; since the late 2000s, the model line has been derived from the Opel Insignia. The Regal also serves as the basis of the high-performance Grand National, Gran Sport (GS), and Buick GNX coupes.
Through its production, the Regal has been marketed under a wide variety of body styles, including two-door coupes and four-door sedans (currently in production), along with a 5-door liftback sedan and a 5-door station wagon; the latter (the 2018–2020 Regal TourX) was the first Buick station wagon marketed since the retirement of both the Century and Roadmaster Estates after 1996. The turbocharged LD5 3.8L V6 used in the second generation was used to showcase the motorsports presence of the brand; though offered with other vehicles (including Chevrolets and Pontiacs), the turbocharged engine is most commonly associated with the Regal. During the 1990s, the V6 regained forced induction, with a supercharger replacing the turbocharger.
In 1999, General Motors commenced sales of its vehicles in China, with the Buick Regal serving as its introductory model of the joint venture SAIC-GM. After 2004, Buick retired the model line in North America, as it replaced both the Regal and the Century with the Buick LaCrosse. Following the introduction of the second-generation Regal for China for 2008, the model line returned to North America for the 2011 model year, slotted slightly below the LaCrosse. Following the introduction of the sixth-generation Regal (sourced entirely from Opel) for 2018, GM sold Opel to PSA (now Stellantis), ending sales in North America after the 2020 model year.[1][2][3] Currently, the Insignia B-derived Regal remains in production by SAIC-GM.
Background
In the full-size personal luxury car segment, Buick was the first GM division to market a vehicle (the 1963 Buick Riviera, debuting the GM E-body). As the segment expanded towards intermediate-size coupes, GM saw the introduction of a repackaged Pontiac Grand Prix for 1969 and an all-new Chevrolet Monte Carlo for 1970. The same year, Oldsmobile added a notchback roofline to its Cutlass Supreme coupe; repackaging it as an equivalent of the Grand Prix proved successful, as it became the brand's best-selling intermediate.
For 1973, GM introduced the "Colonnade" generation of its A-body intermediates. Developed in anticipation of increased rollover safety standards, GM eliminated hardtop rooflines completely (in favor of visually reinforced roof pillars); the designs were marketed as "pillared hardtops" (retaining frameless door glass on all body styles). Buick dropped the Skylark nameplate from its A-body range, replacing it with Century (last used in 1958 on its flagship B-body).[4] As with other Colonnade intermediates, the Century was offered as a two-door and four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon.
After lagging behind Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, Buick introduced an intermediate-size personal coupe for 1973, marketing the "Century Regal Colonnade Hardtop coupe".
First generation (1973)
For 1973, Buick introduced the Century Regal as the flagship model of its A-body intermediate line. As with the lower-priced Century Luxus coupe, the Regal shared its notchback roofline with the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix. For 1974, the Century Regal adopted a four-door sedan from its parent line, which featured a slightly fastback roofline (the Colonnade station wagon only carried the Century Estate nameplate). For 1976, the Buick Regal became a distinct model line slotted above the Century.[7]
Interiors were upgraded over standard Century trims, with Regals featuring woodgrain trim on the dashboard and door panels (equipped with door-pull straps). Bench seats with folding center armrests were standard, upholstered in either cloth, velour, or vinyl upholstery; a 60/40 split-bench seat was optional. The 1976-1977 Regal S/R coupe was offered with reclining bucket seats with corduroy upholstery.
The Colonnade-generation Regal saw relatively few changes through its production. Following revisions related to the 1974 addition of 5-mph bumpers, the front fascia underwent an update for 1976, incorporating rectangular-lens quad headlamps (horizontally-mounted on coupes, vertically stacked on sedans).[8]
Over 500,000 Regal coupes were sold during this generation, though the model lagged behind the Monte Carlo and Cutlass Supreme; the latter had become among the best-selling car lines in America by 1976. The listed retail price for a 1976 Regal was $4,910 ($0 in dollars ).
Second generation (1978)
A downsized Regal appeared for the 1978 model year with Buick's new 196 cuin V6 engine as standard equipment and a revised version of the venerable 231 cuin V6 as an option (which became standard for 1980). Initially, a three-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed available, but the automatic option filled their places from 1980 onward. At the time of introduction, Regals were available exclusively as coupés with the Century nameplate applied to standard equipment sedans and station wagons.[13] In January 1982 the Century was replaced by an all-new car on the front-wheel drive A platform, which meant that the Regal gained a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon - essentially facelifted and rebadged versions of the previous year's rear-wheel drive Century. It was the first time the name appeared on a full model lineup. The wagon was discontinued after 1983, and the sedan dropped from the lineup the next year.[14] This generation Regal lasted ten years. The base model was equipped with softer-riding luxury suspension.[15]
The 1978 Regal could be equipped with a 3791 cc Turbocharged V6 engine with automatic transmission; it was known in this configuration as a Regal Sport Coupe. The
Third generation (1988)
A new Regal appeared in October 1987 on the GM W platform as the first vehicle on that platform;[29] this generation ran with few changes for nine years. Though the new Regal returned to Buick's original concept in being offered only as a coupe and in being aimed once again squarely at the personal luxury buyer, it departed from tradition in being the first front-wheel-drive model, and in having no serious performance option or edition. Neither a V8 engine nor a turbocharged V6 was offered; the only engine available for 1988 was the Chevrolet 2.8 L V6, producing 125 hp. From mid-1990, owing to the declining personal luxury car market, a four-door sedan version of the Regal was re-introduced (simultaneously as the Cutlass Supreme and Grand Prix, the latter offered as a sedan for the first time). However, sales of the new sedan were delayed until the 1991 model year.[15] The four-door version was intended as a replacement for the A-body based Century, however, the popularity of that model meant that it would remain in production as a lower priced alternative to the Regal until both cars were redesigned for 1997. This generation saw the installation of Dynaride, which was an air compressor that would pressurize the rear Chapman Struts to maintain a level overall ride height. A badge was installed on the dashboard to the left of the steering column on all vehicles equipped. It was not available on vehicles equipped with Gran Touring Suspension, which instead used a stiffer setup with traditional hydraulic rear struts.
Fourth generation (1997)
For the 1997 model year, the Century and Regal once again rode upon the same platform; the revised W platform that was shared with the Oldsmobile Intrigue, the Pontiac Grand Prix, the Chevrolet Lumina and Chevrolet Monte Carlo.[31] The Regal coupe was discontinued.
Differences between the Regal and Century were mostly cosmetic. As the upmarket version, the Regal offered larger engines and fancier trim, and once again boasted a newer version of the 3.8 L V6. While the Century was mainly a reliable, economy-minded car based upon the W-body, the Regal was fitted with many amenities, including heated leather seats (optional on the Century), a Monsoon 8-speaker surround sound system, dual climate control, and expansive interior space. Few changes occurred during this version's seven-year run. It offered 5-passenger seating on all trim levels like the Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Intrigue (formerly Cutlass Supreme), unlike their predecessors that had optional 6-passenger seating and the Buick Century (formerly built on the A platform) which had standard 6-passenger seating.[15]
Fifth generation (2008)
The fifth-generation Buick Regal is a four-door, five-passenger, midsized sedan with a front engine, front-wheel drive layout.[45] According to GM published information, more than 41 percent of Regal buyers in the US came from non-General Motors brands, and more than 60 percent of CXL Turbo buyers were under the age of 55.[46]
Development
The fifth generation Buick Regal rides on GM's Epsilon II platform and is mostly identical to the Opel Insignia. It first went into production in Rüsselsheim, Germany, in 2008.[47][48] The Shanghai GM twin of the Insignia was introduced in China as Buick Regal in December, 2008 for the 2009 model year.
Sixth generation (2018)
On April 4, 2017, GM presented the sixth-generation 2018 Buick Regal at the GM Design Dome in Warren, Michigan; sales of the model line began in China on July 21, 2017.[69] As with the Buick Cascada, the Regal became a captive import, as Buick sourced production of the model line entirely from Opel in Rüsselsheim. Derived from the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia B, the American-market Regal also gained a third divisional counterpart, as the model became the basis of the Holden ZB Commodore (the final generation of the Commodore line).
The Regal moved to the GM E2XX (third-generation Epsilon) platform, adding 3.6 inches of wheelbase. While most closely related to the ninth (final) generation Chevrolet Malibu, it also shared its underpinnings with the third-generation Buick LaCrosse. Though growing in size, a key objective of the platform update was weight reduction, with 300-500 lb of curb weight removed.[70]
In a major design change, the Regal four-door sedan became exclusive to China, with all Regal sedans in North America moving to a five-door liftback configuration. The Regal TourX station wagon was introduced for 2018, becoming the first Regal station wagon since 1983.
Sales
A total of 114 Regals were sold in Mexico between 2017 and 2019.[77]
External links
References
- Nathan Bomey. General Motors kills the Buick Regal: GM continues to cut passenger cars USA TODAY, retrieved 2019-12-04^
- Adrian Padeanu. Buick Regal Dead After 2020MY Because Customers Want Crossovers Motor1.com, 4 December 2019, retrieved 4 December 2019^
- Joey Capparella. Buick Regal Is Dead, Leaving Buick with an All-SUV Lineup