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2018 Buick Regal GS To Stick With Turbo Four-Cylinder Engine?

General Motors has woven an intricate vehicle in the 2018 Buick Regal. Not only will it be sold here in North America, but also in Europe as the 2018 Opel Insignia Grand Sport and in Australia as the 2018 Holden NG Commodore. That means information coming out of Europe and Australia is just as valuable as reports originating here.

In this case, it involves the 2018 Opel Insignia OPC, which will likely feature very similar appointments to our next 2018 Buick Regal GS. Car Advice reports Opel will kill off the 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine (which dates back to Saab days) and replace it with a turbocharged four-cylinder unit instead.

“The VXR will only be for Australia [referring to the use of the 3.6-liter LGX V6]. We call it an OPC and we will not have a V6 in this one,” General Motors Europe technical integration engineer Andreas Liljekvist said. “Yes, it will be all-wheel drive and probably a four-cylinder.”

The statement dashes hopes of the 3.6-liter twin-turbo LF3 V6 engine finding its way to the 2018 Buick Regal GS, as Buick hinted previously. The twin-turbo V6 produces 410 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in the Regal’s closest sibling, the Cadillac XTS V-Sport.

It also provides little clarity to what Buick has planned for powertrains in North America. The current Regal is sold with either the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder or 2.0-liter LTG turbocharged four-cylinder. The current GS receives the same turbo-four as other Regal models.

For the 2018 Regal, we expect a 1.5-liter LHV turbocharged four-cylinder to serve as base power, and Buick has reportedly fit the 3.6-liter LGX V6 under the hood for this go around.

Therefore, we’re left in the dark as to if the 2018 Regal GS will feature the same 2.0-liter LTG turbo four once again, or if reports of the LGX V6 coming are in fact for the performance-oriented Regal GS.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. The same 3.6-liter twin-turbo LF3 V6 with +400 hp would be good for the Regal. It’s better than a 4 cylinder engine.

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  2. Disappointing. I was looking at the 2018+ Regal GS as my next car in a few years. If it doesn’t have a V-6 in it, then it will be crossed off my list.

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  3. Lets just see just what they roll out for the Regal and the Lacrosse in the future. Odds are there is more to the who picture than we are seeing at this point.

    They have to keep the cost of the car in a specific line as well meet future MPG regulations.

    Reply
  4. The Regal, right now, is such a disappointing car. What is the reason to buy this over a Malibu or an Impala? Heck, even potentially a new Verano?

    I don’t get the rationale for this car in the GM lineup. What is going to be the variance here from a second gen Verano with the 2.0T?

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    1. AWD. and a slender body

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      1. Thanks.

        Bu and the Regal are the same width.

        Ford puts AWD on the Fusion…no reason GM couldn’t design a Malibu that has it.

        I guess I’m wondering what the rationale is for offering the Regal when it can’t even move 20k a units a year. Why not turn the thing into something different? Offering it with a big V6 as a sportier vehicle would give them something different than the rest of their lineup.

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  5. The Regal GS will have the 3.6 liter LFX and all wheel drive. All other Regal models will have the 2.0 liter LTG with and without all wheel drive.

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    1. Nobody knows.

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      1. Exactly no one here knows what we will get so folks need to give it a rest.

        At this point we are not even sure what it will look like as this is just a rendering.

        People need to just chill out till we know for sure what it will have.

        All we know for sure is AWD. For all we know based on the photos it may not even be a 4 door and could even have a 5 door hatch.

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  6. Is the picture here the actual GS for 2018 or a rendering/concept? I’m hoping it’s the real deal

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  7. Too bad. An AWD Grand National with 400hp+ would have been a sweet package.

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  8. GM has to put the 3.6-liter twin-turbo LF3 V6 with +400 hp of the XTS V/sport in the Regal GS and the Malibu SS with AWD.

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  9. .

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  10. If not a turbo 3.6, at least a high output version. Will not consider the 2018 Regal, unless power rating goes up. Just turned in a leased 2014 GS. Nice vehicle, with good amount of features, but not enough power to encourage me to buy or lease another. Basically, the same power as a Premier or LTZ Malibu.

    Reply

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