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2018 Buick Regal To Feature V6 Power, Debut Next Spring?

Rumors of a 2016 Paris Motor Show debut for the 2017 Opel Insignia failed to come to fruition, which meant our first look at the 2018 Buick Regal, based on the Insignia, was to be put off awhile longer.

But, The Truth About Cars allegedly received the latest scoop on Buick’s midsize sedan, and there’s a lot of good information involved. The publication reports the 2018 Buick Regal will debut during the second quarter of 2017, which falls in line with the Opel Insignia’s now rumored debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. With that in mind, it’s a safe bet that Buick will pull the wraps off its new Regal at the 2017 New York International Auto Show.

2017 Buick Regal Rendering Rear

The bigger news is in the powertrain department. For this next-generation Regal, Buick may actually place a V6 under the hood. Which V6? We don’t know, but the latest 3.6-liter LGX V6 seems like a probable candidate. As for a 2018 Buick Regal GS, we learned awhile back engineers have pondered a twin-turbo V6 for this time around.

The well-placed source also stated a diesel-powered Regal is under consideration as well.

Finally, a Regal wagon is reported to join the Buick lineup as the Regal TourX, but it seems it will take the form of an allroad variant, rather than a traditional body style. That means all-wheel drive, a raised ride height and likely some soft-roading inspired design cues. Because god forbid Americans buy a traditional wagon.

Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

The design is slated to differ much more significantly from the Opel Insignia as well, giving the Buick a more distinct look from its German cousin. Holden designers are reportedly also hard at work to give this car an Australian flare as it becomes the 2018 Holden Commodore, too.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. I tried getting a 3.6L dual turbo released on the original lacrosse. Never got it approved. Lets hope this is true.

    Reply
    1. You tried? Dude, you sit in your parent’s basement jacking it to Anime and take the bus to your job at Big Lot’s.

      Reply
  2. the sloping roof line makes the wagon look odd and frumpy.

    Reply
  3. Well there never was a 3.6 Turbo so this has to be a NA 3.6 V6.

    I do wonder if they will make a GS package with an AWD 7 Speed Duel Clutch like we saw the other say with the 3.0 TT V6.

    I believe they went to the 3.0 as the cylinders are stronger for the higher levels of boost the DI engines can make.

    Rye disregard the wagon photo as this is not the car that is coming as it is the older model.
    Besides it look fine.

    This can be a good middle ground car for GM between the Chevy and Cadillac if priced right.

    Reply
    1. My bad I forgot about this years engine.

      3.6TT is plausible.

      The TTV6 to me has a lot of potential as it could be as fast as the present V8 and fit in many markets that have liter tax issues and could be more easily sold globally.

      Could Buick get the 3.0 Turbo and Cadillac keep the 3.6 TT till they can get their own engine line in place.

      The AWD could provide grip and launch the car hard.

      Basically a car targeting Audi with American/German feel and still appeal to China.

      Reply
      1. It couldn’t be 3.0 V6 with two turbines because of cooling and because engine will be transversaly mounted. Engine with one turbine can easily have 330-350 PS with 450-500 Nm of torque which is in range of 340i or S4, and very powerful for non premium segment in Europe.

        3.6T V6 is less plausible because of downsizing trend in Europe, and all opponents have 3.0 engines.

        Reply
    2. Actually there was on the open insignia. There was a twin turbo standard with all wheel drive option.

      Reply
  4. V6 Regal wagon has me drooling, but I hope they release it as a regular wagon, I don’t like SUV’s/CUV’s and don’t want to play pretend with some stupid unpainted cladding and raised ride height bs, and don’t need AWD… FWD is just fine to get around in the winter.

    Reply
  5. What about the GM LF3/4 3.6 V6 TT that was in the CTS-V and now the ATS-V. In the ATS-V with AWD it does o-60 in 3.8s.

    My bet for the E2XX architecture is a derivative of the GM LGW 3.0 V6 TT. This engine is good for about 300kw and 540nm from about 2500rpm (see here http://gmpowertrain.com/2016_images/charts/2016_3L_LGW_V6TTurbo_CT6.jpg )

    Now gearbox. So the 2018 Equinox with a LTG engine has the new 9T50 gearbox so with that engine in a E2XX for the 2018 Regal then the geabox for the LGW could be an uprated version of this to handle 540nm or the detune the engine slightly.

    So an E2XX Regal/Insignia/Commodore at 1500Kg with an LGW, 9T50 and AWD will be a around 4.2-4.5s 0-60.

    Bring it on!!

    Reply
  6. That car smokes the Malibu in every conceivable way… What a hot looking sedan! The design is Clean & Mean like 50’s/60’s Chevrolet was.. And with AWD too? Buick is gonna sell a ton of them. Ford, Toyota, Nissan & KIA should seriously be nervous about Buick. I wish it was a Chevrolet bowtie in the center of the grille but I’m impressed either way. Between this and the new LaCrosse, I’m beginning to question the need for the Malibu and Impala now.

    Reply
    1. Matt, Why would value brands like Ford and Nissan be worried about Buick considering that the Buick will be considerably more expensive?
      Lexus, Acura, Lincoln, Infinity and Volvo are Buick rivals even sans Aveair badging.

      Reply
    2. The current Regal would have to grow a lot to compete with new Malibu which is considerably larger.
      Buick is never going to be a high volume brand in North America like Ford, Toyota , Nissan or even Kia . As Steve said they compete more with some Acura, Lincoln, Infiniti and Volvo models.

      As far a questioning the need for Malibu and Impala; why would you consider killing Malibu and Impala which represented 28,440 units last month to have them be replaced by Regal/Lacrosse which sold 3,605 units last month?
      Also killing nearly 30000 units of production would certainly necessitate closing a plant or dropping a shift or two. You would get a knock on the door from the UAW boss for sure.
      Plus there would be a profit loss because GM is not selling Malibus and Impalas at a loss like they might be doing with Volts.

      I’m glad you are not running GM. Mary’s job is safe.

      Reply
    3. Matt ever car at GM is now a targeted model and not just some general wild ass release like they used to do.

      GM is not going to make 5 restyled versions of the same car anymore as that is what nearly killed them in the first place competing division to division as much as they were the competition.

      While the Buick smokes the Malibu in many areas price is one area the Chevy will still hold a major advantage. Most people do not car for AWD and for a car that cost $45,000 with a TTv6.

      The fact is the biggest sellers are Camry and Accord with simple 4 cylinder engines at a reasonable price. That is the market Malibu is targeted to and what they bet compete with. The Malibu is no Audi hunter and not intended to be.

      Now the Regal sharing many German roots with Opel has the tools that could make it competitive with some Audi models as well as Acura and other up scale cars.

      There will always be a market for every Chevy model as none of the Buicks will be matching up to them and and the Buicks will never be selling in the similar volume.

      GM has had to keep Buick because of China and as of now it has been a blessing. This not only has given out market a up scale car GM can market away from the Value lines of Chevy it also has given Opel relief from high development cost on their limited volume.

      Ford on the other hand is doing the Swiss army knife approach where one model is expected to do it all from basic buy in volume car to performance and then the premium luxury version.

      While Fords way saves them money in development GM had to do what they were doing for China and it affords them similar savings globally and to better focus a model and brand to be of a better image of just performance and luxury at a moderate price.

      Cadillac will remain focused on the higher scale and RWD entries in even more limited form. This way Cadillac can focus just on the upper scale and not like Benz is now on the mid range and upper both.

      Also I would be shocked if they use the GN and GNX names. They are old and really do not apply to this car much as it will be a sedan and not black. Also GN was for Grand National NASCAR. There is no Buick in NASCAR and even the series is no longer Grand National so it would make little sense.

      Kind of like calling a Camaro an IROC when there has not been a IROC series for years let alone a Camaro in the series.

      Reply
      1. Which vehicle is Cascada targeted at?

        Reply
        1. Audi A3 Cabrio

          Reply
  7. This is reuss’s response to everyone (ok maybe 1000 people) who SAY that GM should offer a traditional wagon. I think it will sell hardly any snd it will be a mistake, but it looks like we will get the chance to find out.

    And a 3.0 L dual turbo in a midsize will be plenty. Makes much more sense than a wagon. Some real brand excitement to bring Buick brand equity even higher.

    Reply
    1. Agreed that this is niche vehicle at best with little real volume potential.

      I do not think there is a shot this will get the 3.0TT from the CT6. Cadillac is going to hoard that motor for a while. It will spread throughout Cadillac (ATS V-Sport, CTS, XT5, etc.) before Buick or any other division gets a sniff of it.

      Reply
  8. The Commodore is coming with either the 9T50 or 9T60 depending on the engine. It will feature the LTG 4 cylinder, LFS 4 cylinder diesel and the LGX V6 petrol with AWD. I imagine that the Regal would be very similar.

    It will available as a 5 door lift back, wagon and all terrain tourer.

    Reply
    1. This seems too have some certainty about what is coming for Commodore in the way it is written. I wasn’t aware of another gearbox above the 9T50 but in makes sense. The 9T50 would still work for the LGX so a 9T60/70 would have to be for something even more powerful. Like say an Opel Insignia OPC or Holden Commodore SS or Regal GN with the LGW 3.6 V6TT. That is the engine (or derivative) that makes the most sense from the GM lineup and works within tax barriers and lines up with all the types of engines that competitors will be using for similar performance. Like BMW, Audi, Infinity, Lincoln etc.

      Reply
    2. Is the LFS the large (2.0) or medium (1.6) displacement GM diesel engine?

      Reply
  9. Why the Regal lost the V6 option is a mystery for me . My 1995 Regal had a NA 3.8 L V6 and was still running with plenty of HP and torque after 21 years.

    Reply
    1. Because Buick was using an Opel as a transisional car that generally was sold as a 4 cylinder in it’s markets at the Buick price. Even then the GS was $44K.

      Note too the OPC Opel edition was right around $60K in Europe and would have been more here. Not many takers for that.

      As for the 3.8 that engine did it’s job for even longer than it should have done. Today’s buyers have expectations for more advanced engines, better power and more MPG with ls NHV from the engine. While GM could have offered the 3.8 the engine would pail to the others on the market today.

      Also please note the 3.8 was a 90 degree engine and odds are good it may not have fit the present Regal.

      Reply
  10. LGX 3.6 L for the regal GS. 3.0L turbo V6 for the grand national. LF4 3.6 L TwinTurbo V6 for the GNX!

    Reply
  11. the 1960s Regal looks hot….but the current ones…Iook soft and boring.

    Reply
  12. My guess is the new 2018 standard Regal will have the 2.0T.
    If the GS will be a bigger step above a standard Regal, than currently, then it would have the 335HP V6 that
    is used by Cadillac and not detuned to 310 HP, like in the new LaCrosse. Most likely both of those engines will
    have the 8-speed trans used by Cadillac starting in 2016.

    Then if GS is going to add a variant, like GSX, this car would be ready for 3.0T or 3.6TT.

    It would be nice but surprising if 2018 GS jumped right into the 3.6TT, that is used in the CTS V-Sport + ATS-V.
    You also have to think that Buick doesn’t want to push the price too far into Cadillac territory.

    Reply
    1. Unlikely to use the 3.6TT without going to a dual clutch AWD system. You couldn’t put that much power (400HP+) through the front wheels without a lot of torque steer.
      I do not see the GSX using the 3.0TT motor as it is still to new for Cadillac to share right now, if ever.
      Also Cadillac and JdN has said repeatedly that there will be Cadillac specific platforms and powertrains.

      Reply
  13. It would be nice if they brought a true hybrid 4-cyl to light, rather than a worthless quasi-hybrid to the table. Driving 25k-30k a year for sales, I need a full hybrid, as it pays for itself in about 2-3 years time.

    Reply
    1. A true hybrid is a safe bet moving forward as GM is no longer offering e-Assist on cars.
      The Malibu hybrid system is what they would use if Buick decides to do one.

      Reply
  14. Well if the E2 platform via the XTS V-Sport can handle the 3.6TT, I image the E2XX could be designed to do so as well.

    Reply
  15. why do people like bars of soap or jellybean designs……makes no sense.

    Reply
  16. If Buick were smart (a big IF), they would just drop the Regal nameplate and come up with something new. Or use another unused nameplate from the past. The Regal name for the model is just a bit “blah”, in fact more than blah.

    Century, Riviera, Avenir, LeSabre, Electra, etc.

    Reply
  17. Hopefully they don’t build the next Regal in China like the new Buick SUV?

    Reply

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