Buick Regal
The Buick Regal is a car of the middle class, the Buick 1973-2004 produced, first as a luxury version of the Century. With this he shared in many ways also body and drive.
On the Chinese motor show Auto Shanghai China a new model of the Buick Regal was introduced to the Chinese market in autumn 2009, which is the same as appeared in the fall of 2008 Opel Insignia up to the name.
Series
Century Regal / Regal (1973-1977)
Buick 1963 was the first GM division, which brought out a Personal Luxury Car, the Riviera in the upper middle class. In developing such vehicles for the middle class brought before Pontiac Buick 1969 Grand Prix and Chevrolet out in the following year, the Monte Carlo. At the same time Oldsmobile added their midrange model Cutlass two-door coupe, the Supreme, added, which became the best-selling midsize car of the brand.
So led Buick Regal 1973 as competition to model Cutlass Supreme, Grand Prix and Monte Carlo one. It was the top model of the building on the GM A platform Century series. In the same year, the GM A platform for the first time has been revised since 1968, and also the GM G platform was built on the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix.
As well-equipped hardtop Century series, the first shelf had the same vehicle front and rear the same - but not the grille and taillights - as the Century. In addition, the shelf, as the models Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, Cutlass Supreme and cheaper Century luxury, on the " Colonnade " hardtop roofline ( a hardtop with B-pillar but with doors with frameless windows ). Decreed Like its parallel models within the GM group had the shelf and Century luxury newfangled " Opera Windows " - small, fixed, framed with metal side windows instead of otherwise conventional crank windows.
In model year 1973, there were only the two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop but in 1974 came a sedan in the same style to it. Both body styles were offered until 1977.
The cupboard interiors were always luxurious equipped than the cheaper Century models; they had wood surfaces on the dashboard and door panels and rear seats upholstered with center armrest in fabric, suede or vinyl. Throughout the model run time, there was a desire on divisible relative 40/60 rear seat with center armrest. In the model years 1976 and 1977 there was the shelf with a S / R equipment, the reclining seats with Codoroy padding. The model was produced for five years without significant changes.
In the fall of 1975 there was a facelift for the coupe, the sedan remained unchanged until the end of 1977, in which rectangular headlights were newly approved use ( installed horizontally in the coupes and sedans in the vertical - as with Pontiac mid -1960s ).
The shelf was usually powered by a V8 engine with 5735 cm3 displacement and 150 hp of power. This was in 1973 and 1974 as standard. From 1975 he was also optionally available for the Coupé, while still constituted the basic engine in sedans. The larger V8 with 7456 cm3 displacement and 225 hp ( 1974: 210 hp) was in the 1973 and 1974 model years available on request.
From 1975 presented the offered 1964-1967 Skylark V6 engines with 3785 cm3 displacement and an initial output of 110 hp (from 1976: 105 PS) represents the basic engine, the tool sets for had Buick on Kaiser engine for the Jeep sold (Kaiser 1970 bought by AMC, the far built the jeep under his own name ). In 1974 they were bought back by Buick again. In the model years 1975 and 1976, the Buick Century and Regal models were the only midsize car in the United States, for a V6 engine was available.
In the course of 1975 quietly disappeared the name Century at the shelf models.
A prominent driver of such Buick was Telly Savalas in the series Kojak - Kojak. Furthermore, were the police cars of the " Metropolitan Police " in the previous Superman films of the type Buick Regal.
Regal (1977-1987)
Buick Regal Sport Coupe (1977-1981)
End of 1977, the Regal was presented with reduced external dimensions and a new version of the popular 3.8 -liter V6 engine. This model was produced for nine years and brought the shelf a good reputation as a powerful vehicle a. The success, however, was hampered by too soft a suspension of small wheels and a missing manual transmission, especially because Buick was not aiming the vehicle on the sports car market, but to the Personal Luxury Car segment.
The shelf of the model year 1978 is remarkable because it was offered with a 3.8 liter V6 turbo engine. There were versions with two or four -barrel carburetor. Also, the LeSabre was it with this machine. Moreover, in this model year possessed only vehicles like the Saab 99 and the Porsche 930 on turbo engines. The Turbo Regal also had a harder suspension, wider tires and sport wheels.
A facelift in the summer of 1981 gave the Regal a more aerodynamic profile, so he also successfully participated in NASCAR racing. 1981 and 1982 the model even reached the NASCAR constructor championship. V8 engines were still available, but the engine capacity was at 4343 cm3 ( Power: 119-120 hp) been throttled and V6 engines have become increasingly popular.
1982, a new Century was presented based on the GM A platform with front-wheel drive, the former Century station wagon with rear-wheel drive remained on offer. These models received a shelf emblem, and so the shelf model offering consisted first of a complete series with sedan, hardtop coupe and wagon.
The station wagon was no longer offered as of 1984 and 1985 put the sedan from the program. In the model years 1986 and 1987 the V8 with 5030 cm3 displacement and 140 hp of Oldsmobile as an option was available. The 3.8 -liter V6 with twin carburettors was the base engine. The transmission 200 4-R with overdrive was available for each engine.
Grand National GNX and
Regal T -Type - coupe, which were designed for the pony car market, also appeared at this time. 1982 debuted the Regal Grand National, whose name was derived from the NASCAR Grand National series; He had a 4.1 -liter V6 with 125 hp or on request the 3.8 liter V6 turbo with 180 hp. In 1983 there was no Grand National version, but in 1984 the model was back in stock with jet black finish. The 3.8 -liter V6 turbo was now the basic engine and was upgraded in the following years through a charge air cooling and a sequential injection. Reached in 1987, this engine has a power output of 245 hp and a torque of 481 Nm.
1987, a lightweight HS4 ( Turbo T) version was offered. Only 1457 vehicles were manufactured in this variant. They were painted black and provided with the same matt black areas like the Grand National, which the bumpers, the grille and chrome strips on headlights and taillights concerned.
The differences between HS4 and a Grand National in the basic version with respect to the interior, the wheels, the externally mounted nameplates, bumpers recordings made of aluminum and the aluminum brake drums rear ( unlike the cast iron brake drums during normal Grand National). A rear spoiler was only available as a each at the dealer to assemble extra. 1987 was the only model year that was available for the Regal Turbo LC2, so it was possible to discover a Regal Limited with vinyl roof in conjunction with a turbo air scoop on the hood.
In the last year of production 1987 Buick introduced the GNX for U.S. $ 29,000, - a. He was prepared at McLaren / ASC and Buick was as modest power to 276 hp (203 kW) and a torque of 488 Nm. This vehicle should end the tradition of all previous Grand National models, since a chassis was introduced the following year with front-wheel drive, admitted by the self Buick engineers that this would not be able to bring a corresponding power to the road.
The changes included a new Garrett - loader with ceramic impeller which was associated with a more effective charge air cooling and a specially coated pipe system. Other performance-enhancing changes were a special computer chip for motor control, an exhaust system with low back-pressure and twin-tube, a differently programmed Turbo Hydra Matic 200 -4R transmission with a special torque converter and an oil cooler and a new track bar. From the outside the cars to the vents in the front fenders, 16 " rims with network structure and tires of category VR and the waiver could be seen on trademark on the hood and the fenders. Interior had the GNX models have a serial number on the dashboard and differed by instruments with analog Stuart Warner displays including an analog boost gauge.
The GNX was said to be the fastest production sedan ever produced. This statement is somewhat contradictory, as the car had only two doors, the interior but rather possessed sedan character. From this version, only 547 copies were produced.
The specimen GNX 001 is currently owned by Buick and sometimes shown at auto shows in the United States. GNX possessed by the center of the vehicle to the rear axle, a head subframe in order to obtain better traction. This is also the reason why a GNX at the tail straightens when the vehicle accelerated.
Buick Regal Grand National ( 1987)
Buick Turbo Regal " HS4 package" (1987 )
Buick Regal on GM G platform
The stealthy appearance of the held entirely in black GNX and Grand National models in conjunction with the fact that the Grand National was released during the wedding of Star Wars fever, meant that the car was given the title " Darth Vader Car". Car and Driver put the GNX under the heading " Darth Vader, your car is ready " before, a phrase that is attributed in recent times also the Maybach Exelero. This title was also applied to the 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS years after the setting of the GNX.
The Grand National returned for a short time in the headlines when in 2003 Sean Penn car of this brand was stolen firearms in it. The actress Carmen Electra bought her then- husband, rock star Dave Navarro as a gift the 1987 Grand National.
Regal (1988-1996)
Buick Regal Coupe (1988-1989)
A new Regal appeared in 1988 on the basis of the GM W platform. This version adopted from the shelf tradition and returned the same back to her: it was a farewell, because it was the first front-wheel drive model and because there was no serious so be termed high-performance model or package more; Turbocharged V6 and V8 engines were no longer available.
But we also went back to earlier traditions, as they offered only a hardtop coupe, which in turn was tailored to the specific group of buyers of Personal Luxury Cars. A decrease in the demand in this segment was felt by all car manufacturers, and therefore the 1990 Buick Regal series by a four-door sedan (as well as in the models Cutlass Supreme and Grand Prix the same year ) has been added. This generation was produced for nine years without any major changes.
The shelf there were in the basic version Custom, the more luxurious version Limited and sporty design GranSport. The Gran Sport was released in 1991 and became standard with the 3.8 -liter V6 with 170 hp, aluminum wheels, decorations on the sides of the vehicle, a complete instrumentation and a reliable four- stage GM automatic transmission with shift lever on the center console.
The 3.8 -liter V6, it was only on the shelf, where he helped the car to a corresponding output, which distinguished him from his sister models Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix, with whom he had many components in common. ABS belonged from 1992 with all custom models as standard equipment, and 1993 vehicles received a new grille. In this revision, the vehicles also got a new electronic automatic transmission, and modified rear lights and rear bumper that resembled those in the LeSabre.
A driver was installed in 1994. In addition, the production of the Limited coupe was discontinued, ABS was standard equipment on all models. There were also standard power windows, and the base engine was 20 hp more power.
1995 models received the passenger airbag and a new interior. The big V6 got 35 hp more power, the coupe models were now available only in the Custom and Gran Sport versions.
1996 was the last production year of this generation of vehicles. However, there were also in the 1997 model year vehicles built even from her, since delayed the release of the model.
Regal (1997-2004)
Buick Regal (1997-2004)
In early 1997, Century and Regal were back versions of the same car, offered as a four-door sedan on the basis of a revised GM W platform, which also was used for the models Oldsmobile Intrigue, Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Impala.
The shelf was slightly longer than the Century, the other differences were mostly cosmetic. A deluxe version offered at the Regal bigger engines and better equipment, and he had a newer version of the 3.8 -liter V6. While the Century was mainly a reliable, American average vehicle, the shelf had amenities such as heated leather seats, a Monsoon sound system with eight speakers, a separate climate control for driver and front passenger as well as more interior space. In the seven-year duration of this model, there were few changes.
During this period, the fastest Buick had since the days of the Grand National Regal GS. This car did not have a turbo engine, but the engine was equipped with a supercharger and made respectable 240 nhp with a torque of 380 Nm. The car gained a good reputation among riders who prefer cars as so-called "sleeper "; Vehicles that have a higher performance than the outer appearance can suggest.
When the car was introduced in early 1997, Buick praised him as a vehicle for the " kompressor supercharged family " to. Buick still offered in two additional versions, the LSE and the GSE. The LSE had the 200 hp engine with some improvements and the GSE on the 240 hp engine with compressor and also some changes. 2000 saw a Buick concept car called GNX with a 3.8 -liter V6 - Engine with intercooler out, also this car had a turbocharger instead of a compressor. It had 300 nhp instead of the 276 hp of the original.
Regal LS and GS performance
The standard Regal LS mastered the quarter mile in 15.8 seconds and accelerated to 8 s from 0 to 100 km / h The supercharged Regal GS needed for the quarter mile 14.7 seconds and reached an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.6 s The Regal GS with the 3.8 liter supercharged V6 engine ( L67 ) yielded 240 hp power and a torque of 380 Nm. The drive of the storage and GS was programmed so that a torque limiting zuschaltete to reduce the spinning of the wheels when starting. About Played, this program through appropriate chips from the aftermarket, the torque increased to 410 Nm.
Regal GSX (SLP Performance)
When Buick dealers GSX SLP Performance Package for the Regal GS was available. This package included new " GSX " emblems that you could exchange it for the 'GS' emblems, a dual exhaust, an improved cold air intake, a smaller pulley for the compressor, a power chip and wider rims and tires. This corresponded to an output of up to 270 hp and a torque of 423 Nm can be achieved.
Assembly in China
All Buick Regal were assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, built in Oshawa. The Regal was the fourth model, which was allowed to assemble in the People's Republic of China by GM Shanghai. The assembly began on December 26, 2002 after the installation of the Century, the GL8 - Vans and Sail was already underway there.
The shelf reached as a large, relatively luxurious model sizable sales in this market, although he was more expensive than the U.S. version. He replaced in Buicks Chinese model range the Century and differs from the U.S. model by a slightly modified front end. The engine range also differs from the U.S. model: a 2.0 -liter four- cylinder or a 2.5 -liter V6 driving the Chinese - shelf model.
The last Buick Regal model year 2004 left the U.S. on June 1, 2004, the assembly lines. The U.S. version was mid-2004, replaced by the Buick LaCrosse, although the LaCrosse also still based on the GM W platform.
Shelf (since 2009)
Buick Regal CXL (2011)
In addition to the Buick LaCrosse offers since spring 2010 in North America, the Opel Insignia as another middle-class model that is there sold as a Buick Regal. This model is available in China since the end of 2009.
The first copies were manufactured at Opel in Rüsselsheim, where since 2011 that production in Canada Oshawa. The car is equipped with a 2- liter turbocharged engine with 164 kW ( 220 hp ) or a 2.4 - liter engine with 136 kW (182 hp).
End of 2011, also followed the Regal GS, which is the U.S. equivalent of the Opel Insignia OPC. However, only an uprated version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is used instead of a V6 engine. In addition, the American model of the Opel Insignia by its grille, the "American taste " adapted the Buick to the different, and was fitted with the Buick emblem.