At first glance, with only three models in the lineup, I allowed myself a moment to doubt the wisdom of keeping the Buick banner within the GM family. But the executives had to honour their promises, one of which was to bring back the Regal , vanished as of 2004. But why reintroduce a nameplate whose glorious past was tarnished by its recent, rather insipid history?
The answer comes to us straight from Europe. Having gathered no less than 38 awards and recognitions, including the title of “European Car of the Year,” the Opel Insignia has arrived on our shores as the 2011 Buick Regal. So the foundations are more than solid for the brand’s reawakening. Does the car do justice to its name? It certainly does – and it’s simply delightful on the road.
Eye candy
The metamorphosis from Opel to Buick is limited to the front fascia and the waterfall grille typical of the brand. The superbly fluid, utterly unpretentious lines create a lithe body, all curves and suppleness. The only physical trait that, I hope, will become typical of Buick is the indentation stretching from the front doors to the tail lamps.
Despite the fact that the Regal is a dynamically inclined machine, the designers didn’t succumb to the siren call of the four-door coupe. The roofline plunges downward but not excessively so, maintaining the car’s practical appeal. The door sills lighten its profile and seemingly disappear under the car. And to complete the overall look, 18-inch and optional 19-inch wheels fill the wells.
A cabin in stark contrast to the past
The new Regal has jettisoned the front bench and the console-free dash board. The very dynamic, slightly sporty interior welcomes you in a well-crafted environment where quality materials are the norm. Although very sober, the atmosphere is spruced up with numerous accents. The interior boomerang door handles with the grey plastic appliqués that repeat elsewhere in the cabin relieve the monotony, especially if the cabin is decked out in black. The ergonomics are efficient, as all the controls are both intuitive and at hand.
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| Without the shadow of a doubt, GM was right to import the Insignia as the Regal for our markets. (Photo: General Motors) |
The answer comes to us straight from Europe. Having gathered no less than 38 awards and recognitions, including the title of “European Car of the Year,” the Opel Insignia has arrived on our shores as the 2011 Buick Regal. So the foundations are more than solid for the brand’s reawakening. Does the car do justice to its name? It certainly does – and it’s simply delightful on the road.
Eye candy
The metamorphosis from Opel to Buick is limited to the front fascia and the waterfall grille typical of the brand. The superbly fluid, utterly unpretentious lines create a lithe body, all curves and suppleness. The only physical trait that, I hope, will become typical of Buick is the indentation stretching from the front doors to the tail lamps.
Despite the fact that the Regal is a dynamically inclined machine, the designers didn’t succumb to the siren call of the four-door coupe. The roofline plunges downward but not excessively so, maintaining the car’s practical appeal. The door sills lighten its profile and seemingly disappear under the car. And to complete the overall look, 18-inch and optional 19-inch wheels fill the wells.
A cabin in stark contrast to the past
The new Regal has jettisoned the front bench and the console-free dash board. The very dynamic, slightly sporty interior welcomes you in a well-crafted environment where quality materials are the norm. Although very sober, the atmosphere is spruced up with numerous accents. The interior boomerang door handles with the grey plastic appliqués that repeat elsewhere in the cabin relieve the monotony, especially if the cabin is decked out in black. The ergonomics are efficient, as all the controls are both intuitive and at hand.
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| The very dynamic, slightly sporty interior welcomes you in a well-crafted environment where quality materials are the norm. (Photo: General Motors) |