The last attempt at getting Americans excited about wagons again was the previous generation Cadillac CTS, which also arrived in bonkers V trimmings. Since then, the wagon front has been quiet from General Motors, but a recent trademark filing told otherwise.
We originally discovered a GM filing for the Buick Regal TourX, which we ventured to guess was a clue into an upcoming, next-generation Regal wagon. And it seems the inference was correct.
AutoGuide reports Buick confirmed a wagon variant for the 2018 Regal at an annual dealer meeting, where dealers were shown the 2018 Enclave crossover, Regal and hopped up Regal GS. Powertrain specifics were not told, but all-wheel drive seems like a given.
In a time when crossovers are booming, a wagon introduction seems misguided. However, even with Buick backing off the “white space” motif, it seems there’s still some spunk coming to the brand’s portfolio.
The 2017 Opel Insignia and Vauxhall variant, which will also become our 2018 Buick Regal, is set to debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in just a few months. We’d imagine a Buick Regal introduction won’t be far off.
Comments
If this proves to be true it is a good model for Buick.
Moving into more ‘white space’ that has more potential sales than the Cascada.
It is a great white space that needs filling and it will cost GM almost nothing.
I just hope the floating roof gets lost in translation. It is cute on Adam and Astra but is cheese on a Regal (much like Maxima).
Floating roof is a hit or miss for sure.
‘White space’ sounds good.
But everything besides the Encore is occupying red space, last I saw.
Anyway, the ear 3/4 looks kinda BMW-ish, in a good way.
I wonder where they’ll source their sales from?
It will be interesting to see how this turns out. There may be a significant amount of sales to be had by offering this as an alternative to those not wanting a crossover SUV thingy but a car instead.
I am surprised to see this since the station wagon segment died in the 90s in the U.S. With all this talk of the popularity of SUV and CUVs and many sedans supposedly be axed because of it, I wouldn’t think GM would go this route however I hope it works out and gets Buick some new needed sales.. Subaru still gets a ton of sales with thier wagons so maybe GM could be on to something.. Time will tell.
That is it exactly. SUV’s and CUV’s are the growing segments while sedans are retracting we all know that but what is interesting is that the wagon segment has actually increased this year by about 7%.
With the axing of the Honda Crosstour & Toyota Venza only the Subaru Outback (14000 units in April) would technically be in the same category as the Regal Wagon. So very little competition.
If Buick did a solid job in the execution, and that is very likely, then they would absolutely take some sales.
This is a very little risk lots of possible reward scenario for Buick. If it flops it would have cost them little to get it here since the new model will be almost the exactly same as the Opel version. If it does well then the Buick brass will look like geniuses.
I see a similar situation as the Colorado/Canyon scenario, this could wake up the segment and cause other manufacturers to take note.
What about the golf wagon and BMW and Mercedes wagons? Volvo also has many wagons and more coming soon l’m not sure if the Audi and elantra wagons are still produced. There seems to be much more competition in the wagon segment than only 1 Subaru model.
Yes you correct those models exist but realistically the Golf wagon would be significantly smaller and not priced in the same range and the E Class and 5 Series wagons are priced way higher than a Regal based wagon would be so not in the same category.
Your post also illustrates how little there is in the form of competition for a potential Regal based wagon making a decision to offer one a no-brainer.
Have you seen alot of young couples starting out with 60.000 to drop on a car— hmmm house or car, which would you pick, most couples with young one don’t have tons of money–( bmw volvo) but need roomy eze to get into vehicles that you don’t need a ladder to get into, would you let a five year old try to get into a big suv,one slip and you have a cracked head no thanks! this car will do well.
It is not so much a surprise here. GM is going to make one for Europe and down under so one for here would not be as large of a risk as if it were only sold here.
The results will be two ways One modest sales and an interesting model option or Two a car that just does not take and it returns just to Europe and down under where sales are stronger.
The real issue here is the CUV and small SUV segment here is just so strong in the American market. The space also in many of them a little more versatile with the higher roof. Also people in America like sitting up higher.
Now if we could get all those on the web who beg for a car like this to really buy one then GM has no worries. Unfortunately few people put their money where their post are.
What would be fun is a real performance version with AWD to compete with Audi. That is something no small SUV or CUV really offers as of yet in the American segment. They offer some sports packages but no real performance options.
To really have a chance here though this car really needs to appeal to the Euro centric buyer. No loads of chrome and no wood grain need to apply here. Even today the Carol Brady would be driving a CUV.
IF this is to sell it must rob from Audi, VW and other imports.
I still think that this Regal wagon wii be the “new model for Buick to be produced in the Rüsselsheim plant”, which had been announced by the GM powers that be years ago.
If you actually read some of the posts on this forum , you will see a trend ( albeit small ) that some people are getting tired of SUV’s / CUV’s . So this wagon just might be what those folks are looking for . First it needs to be AWD and have a higher seating position than a car has . It also doesn’t need 3 rows of seating which takes away from the rears cargo area . Plus having real materials to spruce up the interior is a given coming from Buick . Real wood , metal and leather surfaces add to the experience of driving a vehicle , after all this is where you spend all of your time . You don’t have to be part of the Brady Bunch to appreciate a luxurious interior .
It will be an alternative that I think will do quit well here in the states . There is alot of research that goes into bringing a different type of vehicle to sell and it will happen with very little expenditure .
Buick took a gamble in bringing the Encore over here to sell and we know how well it was received by the public . So this Buick Regal TourX just may be the right vehicle at the right time .
There is also so little competition left in this segment that just by default it will have more sales than the limited usability of the Cascada.
Well there is little compitition as there is so little demand. Do not confuse web post demand with real world demand.
Like so many other models that the web cries for some one makes it and it fails because of the lack of sales.
Like I said this one is ok to try as GM has nothing to lose since this is already an Opel with good sales in it’s markets.
But GM needs to focus on models people will really buy not just want.
People crave utility since cars have grown so small and they love anything that reeks of looking like a truck even if it is car based.
Look no farther than the HHR. It was just a Cobalt wagon with truck styling. They sold 4 – 5 times the number of HHR’s than they would have Cobalt wagons.
What I wonder is will we get the 5 door hatch model? Opel has been testing one.
Now that I see some possibility.
Please note I am not a wagon hater as I own one now.
Well, it could have optional 8 seats. But of course not in the Captiva ”the lower trims have only 5 seats and higher trims only 7 seats” way.
I agree with GM PDT and I see the potential here. Everyone knows that the S/CUV’s are popular. However, there a many who don’t want one. This wagon will provide the room of a S/CUV in the guise of a sedan. Win, win IMO.
I think the wagon is a great option and excited to read it. I have no need for a SUV and love the cargo room and driving dynamics of a wagon, the more options the better. Since it will hardly cost GM a dime let’s hope we get some more Opel models this side of the Atlantic!
Buick is already the de facto Opel model bearer on this side of the Atlantic as it stands.
It is, except LaCrosse and Enclave are not present in Opel lineup.
And now I’m dying to see what the Enclave looks like
It’s probably using the same updated design language as new 2017 LaCrosse and this new 2018 Regal (in particular, this new “winged” grille and “resurrected” color Buick tri-shield logo), but just being an SUV.
Should be a good looker anyway.
vagon
The issue here is price.
This one in Europe was over $60,000 dollar. That would be a problem for a Buick of any kind let alone a wagon.
Sounds Great!! I was an ,American station wagon lover and owner for many years. When GM wagons started losing their power, style and overall appeal in the early 1980’s, we bit the bullet and purchased a new 1984 Mercedes Benz 300 TDT Diesel station wagon, which was an amazing automobile, that did it all…this led to the purchase of a new 1995 with all the options, and then a Mercedes Benz ‘Starmark’ aka Certified station wagon. the offerings from Mercedes, are more limited than they used to be and are also limited in shipment, which keeps the price point at a much higher level…We truly loved, respected and enjoyed our Mercedes Benz wagons, for almost 30 years. I seriously believe that folks would buy a nice,, stylish well appointed, luxuryious station wagon, if GM were to give the project as much attention to doing what the buyer wants, as they have with the SUV, Pickup and CUV market…Come on GM, we would love a new American ‘full size wagon’ ?? and if you have any doubt regarding how much American station wagons, are loved, admired, appreciated and missed…check out the Collector Car Market ? Thanks for listening.
I was also growing up in wagons, as my Dad had two: a 1959 Ford Taunus and a 1963 Rambler American. I had my wagon, too: a 1975 Chevy Vega Kammback. I like this Buick Regal wagon very much (I had a 1995 Regal sedan).
Raymond, this is the car I’ve been pining for that should have Voltec underpinning it. Cheers, Schaeferhund
AWESOME to see the Regal wagon generating so many comments!
I hope this comes and with a decent HP’d engine. Auto is fine but it CANNOT be underpowered or it’ll die on the vine.
This will be good for Buick. Guys who like wagons love’em. I know I’m a wagon guy. I like the Chevy Cruz 5-Door that’s to be available before much longer. But to be honest, all of the car builders need to get off the SUV Crossover band wagon an bring back the humble station wagon. GM’s attempt at a sport wagon with Cadillac was doom to fail from the start. They only offered it to the “Caddy Buyers” … big mistake. A Cadillac buyer isn’t a wagon customer from the start, it amazes me the number of SUVs sold with the Caddy name plate. They should have offered it FIRST in the Chevrolet family under the “Malibu” nameplate an offered a work car variance for those who’d (like me) actually use them for that purpose. I usually bought two wagons every 3 to 4 years when the Chrysler K-Kars were being built (a Town & Country for weekends an a Reliant for everyday use) for us. Another for wagon Buick an MAYBE a Cadillac version. This creates the “Moving Up” in style an class in vehicles. I know … 1- Town & Country wagon, 1- Reliant wagon. Like clockwork. I might wait for the Bick to show up instead of buying Cruz … Why? The Buick wagon is classy.
just build CUVs that are vary appealing in design and look different than the CUVs now…what about a light weight, high performance CUV that that rides and handles like small cars and doesn’t look fat and stubby in there design….put bigger wheels on it and a 600 hp V8 in it…..looking at the current CUVs…they look like blocks on tiny wheels….they probably need to make the wheels bigger and put a lot effort into the CUV designs.
Are you by chance the same rye shelton as this?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv8LRzRDakn_cZUUqlu2g9w
If so, your concepts need some (a lot of) work…
I can’t wait! Bring it to market!
The US is a hostile place for wagons but that doesn’t mean that there are no buyers for them now, and perhaps even more within a few years. The marketplace has very few models available. If the Buick/Opel is reviewed favorably, has good performance and economy, competitive pricing, it’ll sell just fine. Never going to be a sales leader, but a worthwhile addition to the GM fleet. I love wagons, and I lament the lack of choices at this time.