When we sampled the 2016 Buick Regal GS on the track, we walked away semi impressed. It’s a good car, but the manual gearbox option had been deleted for the model year. Still, we know there’s a reason the GS is sticking around, and we’re hoping it’s because a proper Grand Sport variant of Regal is coming.
The Fast Lane Car caught up with a 2018 Buick Regal prototype in Colorado, and guess what? It’s has a manual gearbox. It’s evident when the chase car catches up to the 2018 Regal at a stop sign, and the Regal rolls back on an incline as the clutch catches. Frankly, we were shocked, as were TFL Car.
It could be something as simple it being a literal carbon-copy of the 2017 Opel Insignia, which will most definitely have the option to row your own, but it’d be nice to see Buick also offer a slick-shifting manual gearbox, too. As crossovers become the norm, sedans should have a little more flare to them. But, we digress.
We’d love to comment on the styling and design, but this prototype is still extremely well camouflaged, much like Insignia-Regal-Commodore sightings across the globe. We’ll have to wait and see the 2017 Insignia debut in the flesh at the 2016 Paris Motor Show later this year for our full look. However, it could look something like below when all is said and done.
Comments
5 door hatc.
http://www.autogespot.com/opel-insignia-2017/2016/04/28
More likely the manual version is the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia version and not the Regal. It would be cool if they offered a manual but with such a low take rate the validation costs would not make sense.
Maybe it’s just the disguise, but that backend is fugly. Now let’s see who thumbs down votes that. You know who you are….
i thumbed you down for the last sentence.
As expected, lol. At least you had the balls to reply and that I respect. My last sentence was/is directed at those who down vote anything that is a negative towards GM, even a fugly disguised mule but perhaps I was being a bit harsh. So much for dry humor.
I’d rather drive a ugly GM car or truck then anything else!
I like it, If it is rear drive .
I hope we get the hatch and not a notch back. Regal is a niche offering and should be very European. And it’s not worth building two models for such small sales unless this is about China.
Sometimes I like Opel/Buick design more than Cadillac.
Well it could just be a trunk as the one Audi has a fastback look like this with the trunk. But it also renders the trunk pretty useless to any large object that is tall. You can not get simple boxes in the opening. The last one had some limitations but this one would be more difficult.
As for the manual I suspect we may see it here on a performance model. Seeing that much of the cost will be absorbed by Europe it makes it more easily done here in the states in limited numbers.
As for styling I give no vote either way as we still have so little to judge from. I would rather use an informed intelligent opinion once it is uncovered.
Word was it was to mimic the Audi A7. That is a very stylish car and could make for a very nice looking Buick.
While the camouflaged test mule might have a manual transmission, General Motors knows that with the exception for a handful of die-hard enthusiasts who would love the opportunity to order a stick shift with the next generation 2018 Buick Regal will be extremely low in the US and investing the financial resources wouldn’t make sense especially with corporate gear-heads who feel a 8-speed automatic will be as capable as a manual or dual-clutch.
In the near future, automakers will totally migrate to fully automatic with paddle shifters and sport touring shifting options
its better of as a CUV/Wagon or a Wagon.
Yes just what a soccer mom needs going to practice or the store, a stick shift! Why bother in a car like this?
Its either stick OR it has a dual clutch tranny.