New Buick Regal Sportback and TourX

Following the Europeans launching the all-new second-generation Opel/Vauxhall Insignia range, it looks like Buick, General Motors' semi-luxury car brand, is not far behind because they decided to borrow one of these for the all-new Buick Regal and while that sounds good news, it can also be bad news because thanks to PSA, it looks like this is the last time Buick will borrow the Insignia as a Regal. After that, it's no more, and that's kind of sad.

2018 Buick Regal Sportback

2018 Buick Regal TourX

While lamenting that this is the last time Buick will borrow the Opel Insignia as the Regal following Opel's acquisition by PSA, this Euro import Buick Regal now comes with two new body styles to choose from such as the five-door Sportback and the first-ever sport utility wagon called the TourX. Yep, America's back at selling wagons as crossovers like the Subaru Outback, the Audi A4 allroad, and the VW Golf Alltrack but seriously, this is the first time an American car brand selling a station wagon since the forgettable Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Sure, it maybe a wagon but they call it an SUV because station wagons are a forbidden fruit on American roads.

Anyway, for a quick refresher, the new Regal range, like the new Insignia, traces its looks from the Mazda Atenza and while this is basically a European copycat of the Mazda Atenza, there are many things that your Mazda doesn't have, even performance but that comes later because let's step inside to see what's what.

2018 Buick Regal Sportback interior

Like the new Insignia, the new Regal's interior may have been as similar to the outgoing model but it's now surprisingly spacious than before so people at the back can get themselves accommodated and as for boot space, the trunk volume of 490 to 1,450 litres makes it enough to accommodate most of your grocery shopping stuff of the day. In the TourX, you can fill up to 1,665 liters of cargo space with everything to your heart's content. Also, the new Regal offers some basic General Motors goodies such as the available OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot, meaning there's so much to make topics online while driving one as well has letting the kids at the back binge watch some cartoons. Now that's luxury done right for the new Regal.

For most variants, the sole engine is the 2.0L turbocharged engine that produces 250HP of power and 295 lb.-ft. while mated to an 8-speed AT. Not only this engine provides high performance by midsize car standards but it's surprisingly sporty enough for a Buick because of its 5-link rear suspension and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive that behaves pretty much like the Ford Focus RS in lesser ways.

2018 Buick Regal GS

If you want more, there's the sporty GS variant which features some bits and bobs from the Insignia GSi, including the recalibrated all-wheel drive system but unlike the GSi, the Regal GS is powered by a more powerful 3.6L, 310-HP V6 Engine mated to a 9-speed AT. How come the Europeans withdraw such a powerful offering? Well, no one knows but in Australia's case, the Regal GS will be their Commodore VXR, and that makes it super unfair. Still, since this the Buick Regal, the GS will be the next best thing since the Ford Focus RS because with such powerful dynamics, it can even upset an Audi S4 in a pinch and it could become your favorite Buick for the time being.

What about safety? While the Insignia it was based on comes with a 360-degree camera, Rear View Camera, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Advanced Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Alert, Traffic Sign Assist, and a wide range of radar and camera-based automatic assistance, the new Regal is limited to Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. That sounds odd but that's payback for not offering the most powerful variant to European roads.

Price? The Regal Sportback is priced at 24,990 US Dollars (Php 1.25 million), which is cheaper than the previous model it replaces, while the TourX starts at 29,070 US Dollars (Php 1.453 million), which is more affordable than the made-in-China Envision, which isn't bad for a sport utility wagon that competes with the Audi A4 allroad in a pinch.

Sure, the new Regal may be different than the Insignia it was based on, apart from the Regal GS variant that massively produces more than the Insignia GSi it was based on, but differences aside, the Regal is proven to be a decent contender to the Audi A4 because with Focus RS-like dynamics thanks to its clever all-wheel drive system, it can lick the A4 goodbye in a pinch and it's fair value so you can afford one as well.

It's ashamed that it could be the last Insignia-based Regal ever made following Opel being taken over by the French but as the future remains uncertain, let's be thankful that General Motors still sell one of those and while this is basically the last car to share some General Motors components across the Atlantic, now it will be the ideal time try out the newest Regal before its too late.

Photo: General Motors

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia B GSi

The GSi moniker has returned after years of being dormant since the old Corsa GSi and the first to implement the return of the legendary moniker that adorned most hot Opels (Vauxhalls) since the 80s is the latest version of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, a car fit for businessmen when they got it as a company car from a fleet.

2018 Opel Insignia Grand Sport GSi

2018 Opel Insignia Sport Tourer GSi

Why bringing back the GSi name all of the sudden? Car enthusiasts wanted to see the latest version spawning a hot version like the previous model's OPC/VXR but sadly, the PSA-owned company decided to ditch them both in favor of returning the GSi marque as the hot ship of the Insignia B range. Starting at 45,595 Euros OTR (2.734 million Php), the Insignia GSi can be offered in the choice of the five-door Grand Sport or the Estate version.

Sure, you can expect the same bits and bobs as you experienced from the normal Insignia but the GSi transforms the motorway cruiser into a posh Ford Focus ST of some sorts because of the recalibrated four-wheel drive system that behaves almost like a Focus ST because of the twin clutch differential on the real axle as well as improved suspension setup and lightweight body that weighs less than the old Insignia OPC/VXR. As a result when engaged to its exclusive Competition Mode, the GSi's dynamics are now more sensational than before and because it almost has no understeer, it won't make you binned to a pile of garbage bins while trying to handle through a corner full of garbage bins. Now that is a good mark for a car that produces less than the old Insignia OPC/VXR, perhaps no wonder they developed it to the Nurburgring just to fine tune its dynamics.

As a rule, a car that is engineered at the Nurburgring is nowhere near as good on the public roads and you can take that as a supreme compliment because there has been some tantrums about the way it behaves on public roads thanks to its Nurburgring-honed dynamics but with a little tough love, the GSi tries to show drivers that it the Nurburgring never ruined the once-known motorway cruiser fit for a fleet of company cars used at your workplace.

The GSi is powered by a choice of two engine choices such as the 2.0 DI Turbo engine and the torquier 2.0 BiTurbo Diesel, mated to an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission that can be controlled via paddle shifters. The hot ship on the GSi range is the petrol engine with 260 hp of power and 400Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 7.3 seconds and it was electronically limited to 250kph so it sounds fair for a hot ship of the Insignia B range.

My evaluation for the GSi that even though they've gone to the beaten path to abandon the OPC/VXR moniker in favor of the GSi's return, the dynamics are worth the shot, hoping that by the time you try its recalibrated four-wheel drive system, there are slim chances that you'll get binned by the corners and it's great to have the GSi back in this motorway cruiser if you have the resources to buy one.

Photo: Opel

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia B Country Tourer

The second generation Opel/Vauxhall Insignia has been setting the standards to the medium-sized car market with its design, interior, performance, and technology, and because having the saloon and wagon is not enough, an SUV variant of the new Insignia, dubbed the Country Tourer, completes the range and this changes everything we want to know about sport utility wagons that was headlined by the likes of Subaru Outback and Volvo's Cross Country range.

2018 Opel Insignia Country Tourer

2018 Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

With SUVs becoming the dominant breed than any other car in the world, it's no secret why the new-generation Insignia included the sport utility wagon variant known as the Country Tourer to cater the demands of drivers want to get the most out of their lives, from their comfort zone to the outside world. At first glance, the Country Tourer is based on the Sport Tourer but it has been given all-round black protective cladding and silver front and rear skid plates, not to mention the added ground clearance to make it look rugged for some point. On the inside, it was given a manly black and brown color tone to the familiar interior of the range and while it all works just like any other Insignia in the range, you can fill up to 1,665 liters of cargo space with everything to your heart's content, meaning there's plenty of time to fill for your very hectic schedule ahead. Plus, it even comes with a nifty feature that can open the back of the car when your hands are full, just like a Ford, making it one of the most convenient sport utility wagons ever made. A Subaru Outback doesn't have that., you know.

2018 Opel Insignia Country Tourer interior

2018 Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer interior

The new Country Tourer is offered with a choice of 1.5L DI Turbo, 2.0 DI Turbo, and a 2.0L Diesel engine. Depending on the variant, it can be mated with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed gearbox. For now, the most powerful version is the 2.0 DI Turbo with the 260PS of power output that can get them from 0-100kph in 7.7 seconds and onwards to 242kph, faster than the Subaru Outback. For those who want efficiency should go for the 2.0L diesel variant with combined fuel efficiency of 5.5L/100km. There's so much to choose from this rugged Insignia.

In front-wheel drive alone, the Insignia wasn't half bad for an estate of this caliber and it feels nicer to drive and easy to live with it, although being exciting is not one of the Country Tourer's agenda. Add a 4x4 on it and the result is a sport utility wagon that can match the driving characteristics of the Subaru Outback and you can take it anytime, anywhere, no matter what today's weather conditions going to be in Mainland Europe. Whether you can take it on the Matterhorn or to a historic spot across Europe, the Country Tourer really gets the job done in a rather amusing way, something that the Outback couldn't done because of its limits.

Because this was based on the Insignia range, the Country Tourer features a wide range of tech and safety features such as the innovative adaptive IntelliLux LED matrix light, head up display, the 360° surround view camera, adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking, Lane Keep Assist with automated steering correction and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. It's everything to keep the Country Tourer prepared for the worst case scenarios ahead, although it almost works like a Volvo if you ask them.

The new Country Tourer starts at 34,885 Euros (25,645 GBP) plus on road costs so it maybe more expensive than the Subaru Outback, you can afford one than the Volvo V60 Cross Country, and while it's almost as good as that Volvo I've mentioned, the new Country Tourer can outperform the Outback in terms of driving feel, styling, and practicality. The Country Tourer is set to be a global icon because for the first time, it will be sold in the US as the new Buick Regal TourX and in Australia as the Holden Commodore Tourer.

Photo: Opel/Vauxhall

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia B Grand Sport and Sports Tourer

The Insignia, a favorite among company car drivers and fleet decision makers across Europe, is now on its second generation and it's even more promising than ever thanks to its new look, new interior, new tech, new dynamics, and new engine choices, setting the new gold standard for midsize cars in this ever-changing landscape. So, what's new about the Insignia B range?

2018 Opel Insignia

2018 Vauxhall Insignia

2018 Vauxhall Insignia

The all-new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia range sets the new standards in the executive midsize car market by promising new and exciting features way unheard for most midsize saloons in the market and it promises world-class quality ready for the world's toughest challenges, whatever lay ahead. There are now two styles to choose from such as the Grand Sport fastback and the Sport Tourer and wherever you live, you can see one of these worldwide as either a Buick Regal or Holden Commodore, wait what? 

The new Insignia is the new Commodore in the Aussie market? Sadly, it is and because of Australia stopped making cars at the late quarter of this year, Australians will be getting the new Insignia as their new Holden NG Commodore next year and what does it mean? It's the end of Aussie muscle as we know it but let's not lament on the first-ever front-wheel drive Commodore for the Australian roads. We're talking about Insignia for the European people and in terms of design, there is a high possibility that some people may easily mistake it for a Mazda Atenza because by the looks of it, the new Insignia does look like an Atenza by all means necessary. Because the current Mazda Atenza is a good-looking midsize saloon to look at it, so is the new Insignia and mistaken identity aside, it's still very pleasant to look at one of these on the road and it's now easier to refuel because they have to ditch the old twist-off cap so drivers can refuel it quicker, easier, and without the spills.

2018 Opel Insignia interior

The inside looks rather similar to the outgoing model but because it now runs on a new platform that was used on today's Chevrolet Malibu, it's now surprisingly spacious than before so people at the back can get themselves accommodated and as for boot space, the trunk volume of 490 to 1,450 litres makes it enough to accommodate most of your grocery shopping stuff of the day as well as some stuff your grandma needs such as a walker or a wheelchair. In the Sports Tourer, meanwhile, it's been given more convenient ways to like about its boot space that can accommodate up to 1,665 litres such as the special tailgate that can be opened at the lift of your foot in case your hands are full. Because of such generous space, both the Grand Sport and the Sport Tourer are very accommodating indeed.

Regarding the tech word, both the Insignia Grand Sport and Sport Tourer now come with IntelliLink system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility so no matter your smartphone, these tech saves you more than just distracted driving and for occupants who are so busy doing stuff on their mobile phones, OnStar's 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot is ready for these kinds of people who want to do silly status updates on social media sites. Convenient, isn't it?

2018 Opel Insignia

2018 Opel Insignia

In terms of handling, the new Insignia, apart from its Malibu-derived platform, feels very above average for midsize saloon, in fact it is pretty good indeed for a car made for company car drivers and fleet decision makers but there's a real kicker to this new Insignia because later on, a 4x4 variant with the Torque Vectoring will make the new Insignia range very convincing for a company car because with torque vectoring on a 4x4 Insignia, you might almost have the same driving impression as the Ford Focus RS and that makes it from pretty good to very good if you got the chance to sample its clever four-wheel drive powertrain that works like a Ford Focus RS in every tangible way. Yes, please.

The choice of engines at launch comes with a 1.5L DI Turbo and a 1.5L ECOTEC DI Turbo but later on, a 2.0L turbo, 1.6L diesel (with or without ECOTEC), and a 2.0L diesel may follow, and depending on the choice of engines, they can be mated with either a 6-speed AT, MT, or even an 8-speed AT at a later date. Most of the engines are made out of aluminum and because these engines are very light indeed, they are contributed to such better fuel efficiency fit for today's roads. It may not be much to satisfy your driving style but they're very decent enough for a midsize car like this.

To keep the new Insignia well-suited for today's driving conditions, it's been given a host of safety features such as a brand new 360-degree camera, Rear View Camera, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Advanced Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Alert, Traffic Sign Assist, and a wide range of radar and camera-based automatic assistance for a safe driving feel that will satisfy most of health and safety standards.

Should you buy one? The new Insignia starts from 25,940 Euros (17,185 GBP) for the Grand Sport fastback while the Sports Tourer costs 26,940 Euros (18,685 GBP). That sounds like great value for money for a pretty good executive saloon fit enough to become the ideal car for company car drivers and fleet decision makers but the new Insignia is more than just being a company car, it's an ideal family car fit for day-to-day use and it's starting to gain shape with all these new features but demonstrating its world-class capabilities is yet to be seen but I'm sure that for the rest of the world, it feels fine for a midsize saloon of this caliber but for the Australians getting one next year as the new Holden Commodore, that's going to be a very different story that should be taken very seriously.

Photo: Opel/Vauxhall

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

2014 Opel Insignia Country Tourer

2014 Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

With the Opel Insignia (Vauxhall Insignia for those living in the British isles) recently had a facelift this year, the whole crowd stir too much attention regarding this latest facelift. For this facelift, there is a new member in the Insignia range. Not only you can get the normal 4-door saloon, 5-door liftback that looks pretty much the same as the saloon version, Sport Tourer, and the hot VXR/OPC version, but now, a crossover wagon is offered under the Country Tourer pseudonym.

Wait a minute, this is just another one of the...

Yes, yes, I know. This is just another one of the crossovers that the carmakers are cashing on and the new Insignia Country Tourer is one of them. Although it looks like an SUV, you won't forget that this is just the Insignia Sport Tourer that had its ground clearance raised and gave it some tough looks. Don't be fooled, this is still a station wagon that is similar to its rival, the Subaru Legacy Outback.

How does it compare to the Outback?

Interesting question though. Although the Outback may have a 2.5L or the soon-to-be-defunct 3.6L boxer-6 engine on it, it still can't match against its clever sophistication that the Country Tourer has to offer. With the 36,990 Euro pricing, it's more affordable than the Outback as well. What you get for what you pay for is a sport utility wagon made by the Germans and offered with a 2.0 SIDI Turbo generating 250PS of power and a 0-100kph time of 7.9 seconds, a 2.0L CDTi diesel engine generating 163PS of power, and a 2.0L BiTurbo CDTi diesel engine mated with a 6-speed automatic producing 195PS of power.

So...

If you scale that up, the one with the 2.0L petrol engine is producing 10PS less than the Subaru Outback's 3.6L flat-6 engine but because it's turbocharged, the Country Tourer would blow a raspberry to the Outback in the straights. Because of its NEDC-calculated combined fuel economy of 12.3km/L, it's a lot more fuel efficient as well.

What about the handling?

Handling-wise, the Country Tourer still behaves like any other sport tourers in this category. The standard Flexride system allows you to change which driving mode suits best like Tour if you're not in the rush or feel comfortable while driving or when you set it to Sport, you're going to mess up someone's coffee drink while facing a tight corner. Gets worse, you'll be feeling like the old man from the Arthro commercial. Ahhh!!!

2014 Opel Insignia Country Tourer

2014 Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

What's it like on the inside?

On the inside, it's still carries the updated look of the Insignia. You can even have a touch-screen on the more expensive models instead of buttons so if you have squeaky-clean hands, taking control is a no-brainer but let's hope you're not wearing any ski gloves or else, you feel like you're touching the wrong mode.

One thing you might aware is the boot space because unlike the Sport Tourer, the Country Tourer's boot space has a capacity of 540-litres, making it more shallower than the Sport Tourer and less practical as well. Ouch. Who would rather want to put a mountain bike on this? Unless the rear seats are folded flat, of course.

So, what's the verdict?

Although the Country Tourer is topped to be better than the Subaru Outback, it's still a bit lacking because of its luggage capacity, and some chinks behind it. It may have lots of equipment and the 4x4 system works well in any conditions but as a holiday car, I wouldn't care to have one. I would rather chose the Mazda CX-5 instead because it's more efficient and more enjoyable to drive than this.

THIS TIME FOR REAL: 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia minor change

2014 Opel Insignia

2014 Vauxhall Insignia

Now, when Buick previewed the 2014 Regal to the New York Auto Show, most of the European keen observers wondering what would their 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia would look like. You know that the Buick Regal is a rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, how come the US Buick Regal showed up ahead from the original counterparts?

Anyway, with so much demanding what would the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia 2014 facelift would look like, finally, some fresh batch of official pics of the 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift showed up and it will making a premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. With a revised exterior, new interior and a new batch of engine choices like the two new-generation Turbo gasoline units and the 99 g Turbo diesel, the new 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift is just one step ahead of time.

It's available in either a 4-door saloon, a 5-door liftback which looks the same as the 4-door model, and a Sport Tourer.

Details: http://www.netcarshow.com/opel/2014-insignia/02.htm

2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift previewed via 2014 Buick Regal

2014 Buick Regal GS

If this hints what the 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift would look like, yes. The 2014 Buick Regal range, set for debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show, DOES preview the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift. You can expect new front noses, new rear lamps, and a new interior.

There is a drawback regarding the updated version. On the GS model, the 2.0L Turbo engnie had suffered a power drop from 270HP to 259HP, which is bad but this 2.0L Turbo engine that now churns 259HP of power can be offered on the normal Regal Turbo version, which is good. The Regal eAssist with the 2.4L engine and eAssist light electrification technology that makes 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque still retains as well.

For added good news though that both the Regal Turbo and the Regal GS with automatic trannies will come with a new AWD system that incorporates electronic limited-slip differential to help optimize traction in all driving conditions.

Like the 2014 LaCrosse big brother, the 2014 Regal comes with new safety features such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking.

Look for the 2014 Regal range this fall 2013.

Story: http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/buick-shows-facelifted-2014-regal-gs.html

Welcome Back - 2010 Vauxhall Insignia VXR

The Stig gets down and dirty with
this turbo-nutter from Vauxhall!

Vauxhall's turbo-nutter executive saloon car, the Insignia VXR, returned in Forza Motorsport 4 with no major changes whatsoever in terms of tuning. For me, this is one of my favorite Vauxhall models ever featured in this game and the Vauxhall Insignia VXR holds a place in Top Gear history. In one episode of Top Gear, James May test drives the Vauxhall Insignia VXR, and later accompanied by Margaret Calvert, the designer of British road signs. Here on Forza Motorsport 4, it competes against the likes of the Volvo S60 R-Design and the Subaru Legacy B4 (BM9) respectively but can it do any better? Still, it was a good car for keeps and this turbo-nutter hasn't changed at all.

All New Buick Regal GS

Last year, the Buick Regal name is back in the North American market and it was essentially an Americanized version of the Opel Insignia sedan. This Buick has sleek European design, handcrafted European interior, agile Euro-tuned suspension, and a choice of a 2.4L ECOTEC engine and a 2.0L ECOTEC Turbo engine. This is Buick's European Premium at it's finest and for now, the high-performance version, the all new Buick Regal GS, provides more exceptional force than the regular Buick Regal.

Europe's Opel Insignia OPC or United Kingdom's Vauxhall Insignia VXR is North America's Buick Regal GS but they are different in looks and performance figures.

2012 Buick Regal GS

On the exterior design, we can see Buick's signature grille and the front bumpers has some cues that made it look like some kind of a vampire ready to attack bystanders. With such aggressive look, the Buick Regal GS is made to be more hostile and gruesome to assassinate its foes on the highway. We are sure that this aggressive front view is the sum of all fears and how will customers brave against its face will be treated as the respect.

2012 Buick Regal GS interior

It maybe more scary to look at its exterior but it is not somewhat scary because once you're inside the Regal GS, you are in control of this gruesome monster. The interior of the Regal GS retains most of its interior amenities from the regular Regal but this time, a special steering wheel and a special sports seats have been added for some racing driver sensation. To add convenience, the Regal GS has USB connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and an optional navigation system for some user-friendly sensation.

Ecotec 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged
four-cylinder engine

Unlike the Opel Insignia OPC/Vauxhall Insignia VXR, which have the 2.8T V6 engine and 4WD drive-train, the Buick Regal GS is an FF sports sedan, which is powered with the Ecotec 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which maybe less powerful than the Insignia OPC/VXR but more torque than the Acura TSX V-6, Audi A4 Sport, Lexus IS 250 and Volvo S60 T5. That's 270HP of power, 295 lb.-ft of torque, an accumulates 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds. The only standard transmission available as of now is a 6-speed manual transmission, creating a fuel economy of 32 MPG highway. An exclusive "GS Mode" is placed on the Interactive Drive Control System to provide the best cornering experience you have never felt before and it comes with a StabiliTrak for stability management, making it more safer to drive. To provide the full potential of braking, an exclusive Brembo antilock brakes was equipped on the Buick Regal GS. You'll be sure to know that the Buick Regal GS is not your kind of executive sports sedan.

It comes with three exterior colors; Quicksilver Metallic, Carbon Black Metallic, and White Diamond Tricoat.

My comment:
Because the Buick Regal GS is nothing more of an downgraded version of the Opel Insignia OPC/Vauxhall Insignia VXR, it is less powerful than its European counterpart but it has a willpower to overcome against the likes of the Acura TSX V-6, Audi A4 Sport, Lexus IS 250 and Volvo S60 T5.

I maybe not surprised about the Regal GS' outcome but how will customers feel about the all new Regal GS? To me it's somewhat decent to drive but with the manual transmission equipped and if I had the urge to turn off the TCS and StabiliTrak, it's one hell of a racing sensation, even though it was an FF sports sedan. Move over Acura TSX V6, because this will surely eat you...

Photo: General Motors

All about eAssist

2012 Buick LaCrosse

2012 Buick Regal

Back in November 2010, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors announced the next generation BAS (Belted Alternator System) Hybrid system called "eAssist" and the first models to be equipped with this new mild hybrid system are the 2012MY Buick LaCrosse and 2012MY Buick Regal.

Before we explain about the new eAssist system, let's talk about what just happened at the Buick LaCrosse and the Buick Regal for the 2012 Model Year. The change was the trim names. As of now, Buick will start ditching the CXL/CX/CXS trim names in favor of something specific like Base, Convenience, Leather, Premium, or Touring. That's all, let's explain about eAssist:

The new eAssist system features a powerful 115-Volt Lithium-ion battery sourced from Hitachi, generating a 20HP, 79lb-ft electric motor that provides aid to the 2.4L ECOTEC engine. This new system will provide useful features such as idling stop system, regenerative braking, and a fuel economy of 36MPG (15.3km/L) highway. The new eAssist system comes standard on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse but on the 2012 Buick Regal, it may be considered an optional feature. Either way, they both come with a modified version of the 6T40 6-speed AT FWD transaxle.

Learn more: http://www.buick.com/eassist-fuel-efficient-technology.html

Vauxhall Insignia VXR (Opel Insignia OPC) - Forza 3 Owner's View

We'll let Ron De Los Reyes try the Insignia...

Tales of the Insignia Project

FINAL IMPRESSIONS: The Insignia Project... If my memory serves me correctly, GM Europe started the Insignia Project when the Insignia was launched since 2008 in Europe and in January 2009 in the Great Britain as the Vauxhall Insignia. It was the first to attain the new logo for both Opel and Vauxhall. Later on, a high-performance version of the Insignia known as the Insignia OPC (Insignia VXR in Britain) appeared and it comes with a Flexride suspension, adaptive 4x4, and a turbocharged V6 engine. These qualities truly called the Insignia OPC/VXR a monstrous European machine that has the quality of high-performance luxury sports cars such as the BMW M5.

The Insignia Project hasn't stopped there. Forza Motorsport 3 added the Vauxhall Insignia VXR to the Road & Track Car Pack since April 2010 and it given Forza players the opportunity to try out the monstrosity of the Insignia VXR's turbocharged V6 engine and the Flexride suspension. Because of my trend to try out the latest and the hottest cars, I still haven't quite given up playing this game and the Vauxhall Insignia VXR is one the finest British sports saloon ever made. Welcome to my office...

Insignia VXR Touring Car!

2011 Vauxhall Insignia VXR Touring Car

With the Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Avensis, and other cars participating the British Touring Car Championship, another Euro-British car steps in and this Vauxhall Insignia VXR Touring Car is battle-ready!

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/13/vauxhall-insignia-to-go-racing-in-british-touring-car-championsh/

This Vauxhall Insignia VXR (the Britannia equivalent of the Opel Insignia OPC and soon the Buick Regal GS) is ready to tackle the BTCC and oh man, looks like Forza 3 players got a noticing to replicate this using their own Vauxhall Insignia VXR! (-_-;)

Some cool commercials from General Motors!

Just before the American Le Mans Series started at Sebring last weekend, I noticed that General Motors aired a Corvette ZR1 commercial that said that they downgraded the ZR1's mighty LS9 engine to about 168 HP just to make it equal to the Sebring competitors.

That's not seem to be bad but the ALMS-spec ZR1 lost to a bunch of ALMS-spec BMW M3s. Anyway, it was a fair fight while it lasted for "THE FASTEST CORVETTE THAN EVER" at the ALMS at Sebring International Raceway.

Meanwhile, moments later, during the NCAA March Madness commercial break, there was a commercial for the turbocharged Buick Regal Turbo!

Awesome!

European-born and turbocharged. This is the kind of Regal we want...

New Regal vs. New Mark X

Buick's Regal

Toyota's Mark X

They have no chance for them to encounter, but both of these were executive medium sedans built for the executive class. Both of these executive medium sedans were my favorites but I wonder which one is my pick?

CASE ONE:

The Regal name on the Buick lineup returned after years of absence and its now an OEM of the Opel Insignia. Although based on the Opel Insignia, the Buick Regal has a striking design that makes other executive medium sedans such as the Honda Accord Euro (Acura TSX), Volkswagen Passat CC, and the Volvo S60 to shame. Although the front face seems to have more pogi points than others, the lineup of the Buick Regal consists of two available engines; one is the 2.4L Ecotec engine and the second is the high-performance 2.0L Turbo engine. Most are fitted with the 6-speed automatic but the turbo variant comes with the 6-speed manual. I guess my favorite Regal is the Regal CXL Turbo because not only it has a turbo engine on it, it also has a manual transmission on it. Turbo and MT combined to make this a fun to drive Regal for the American Autobahn.

CASE TWO:

The Mark X is the replacement of the legendary Toyota Mark II since its debut in November 2004. In October 2009, the Mark X gained its massive model change from inside and out. The design of the new Mark X is razor sharp. That's why this was called "Samurai X" thanks to the commercial with Koichi Sato and the Samurai Code mini drama aired in TV Tokyo from January to March 2010. The Toyota Mark X comes with two engines; a 4GR-FSE (2.5 V6) engine and a 2GR-FSE (3.5 V6) engine. It comes with three styles to choose from; the Standard Type, the Premium Type (loaded with safety features), and the Sports Type (armed with paddle shifters).

For styling, the Toyota Mark X is my pick, but for the performance side, I would go for the Buick Regal because of the turbo+MT variant. Both of these executive medium sedans aren't made for passion, they are made for performance.

How's that for the Regal comeback?!

Don't call it a Regal Baby, nor a Regal Idol, like what Mother Lily Monteverde said to those fresh Philippine actors and actresses appeared in various Regal Entertainment movies. What you see is the new Buick Regal. Today's Regal is the OEM of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia in Europe.

It seems the Regal comeback is truly a budget-friendly sedan, beating out the likes of the Acura TSX/Honda Accord Euro, Volkswagen Passat CC, or even the naughty Volvo S60. Thanks to its pricing, fuel economy, and performance (I love the Regal CXL Turbo 6MT variant), the return of the Buick Regal won the 2010-2011 NADAguides Car of the Year!

Full details:http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/19/buick-regal-named-nadaguides-car-of-the-year/#continued

How's that for a fresh European-American sedan? A true fit for the Regal Babies and Regal Idols from across the North America may find the Regal a suitable value for money.

Thank You Mother Lily, I mean, General Motors for having your Regal Baby, I mean, Regal Idol, I mean, Buick Regal won the NADAguides COTY for 2010-2011!

New Buick Regal -U.S. Spec-

2011 Buick Regal

Born and raised in Germany (see :Opel Insignia), appealed in the Chinese market, and prepared to amuse American buyers who are enough of their ordinary premium medium-sized sedans. It is a clear point that the U.S. spec Buick Regal is making a grand comeback to its home country after six years of absence. Of course, we recognize that the new Regal is an OEM of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia sports sedan, only this time, the sedan variant is only available as of press time.

Just what makes the new Regal a true luxury sports sedan offered against the competition? Despite being a "foreign exchange student" from the Autobahn, the design flow from Buick is truly American, giving this new generation model a dual citizenship status from car addicts. Meaning this sports sedan is half-German and half-American, if you know what I mean. This applies the same at the interior as well. The interior of the new Regal is the same as the Opel Insignia, except for the steering wheel, the ice-blue lighting, and the XM Satellite Radio offered as an option. When you spot their differences, it is obvious that the new Regal is sleeker than its European Opel Insignia counterpart is.

In the performance side, the engine line-up of the new Buick Regal is less than the engine line-up of the Opel Insignia. When the Insignia offered several gasoline and diesel engines, including the 2.8 V6 engine offered in the Insignia OPC/VXR range, the Regal only gets two engines as of press time. At the launch, the 2.4L Ecotec engine (soon to be equipped on the second-generation LaCrosse) will be the only mainframe available, while the 2.0L Ecotec turbo engine will become available this autumn. The only feature available as of press time is the six-speed automatic transmission, because the manual version will be available later.

My thoughts about the Regal:
Being a sports sedan with the dual citizenship status is not a joke for this situation. That is because the new Buick Regal was a hailed from Europe as the Opel Insignia, then it made a sensation to the Chinese executives, and it makes a public North American appearance to show the competition in which one has the guts to be the best luxury sports sedan ever made. The new Regal is targeted against other luxury sports cars in the world such as the Nissan Skyline Sedan (Infiniti G Sedan), Honda Accord Euro (Acura TSX), Lexus IS250/350, Toyota Mark X, Audi A4, and the Volkswagen Passat CC. Just like the General Motors' "may the best car win" campaign, the new Regal stands tall from the competition, and who knows, we might cross our fingers that we hope we can bring the Regal to our shores, and if possible, the head of Regal Entertainment named Mother Lily Monteverde meets her match.

Opel Insignia OPC Range

So, how does a veteran German driver react when he is behind the wheel of the high-performance version of the Opel Insignia, known as the Insignia OPC, and experience the first thrill of this German demon? You might consider the Insignia OPC (known in Great Britain as the Vauxhall Insignia VXR) as the pinnacle of the Opels tuned by Opel Performance Center because this was engineered to be the mighty beast of the Autobahn.

Available in 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, and the Sports Tourer, the Insignia OPC offers exhilarating thrills, great performance, and aggressive looks, at the price that is more affordable than the BMW M3 and the Audi S4 but more expensive than the Mazdaspeed Axela.

Thanks to its aerodynamics tuning, the Insignia OPC provides a feisty exterior that others might be frightened because one look of the front face might scared others from thinking this face looks like Count Dracula, the vampire. If you can brave your way from the vampire's face, the interior is your safest spot to take control of the phantom of the Autobahn. The Insignia OPC offers Recaro sports seats that allow drivers to feel like they were inside a much sportier vehicle, but at least they are inside a sports sedan, fastback, or tourer. Once you are inside, there is no turning back to your ordinary car, if only you have the chance to tame the wild on the Autobahn.

The Insignia OPC's 2.8L V6 Turbo engine with over 300 PS of power output is the master brain of this Autobahn monster that lurks all day and all night. If you find it tougher than the German troops, the 6-speed manual transmission equipped in all three Insignia OPC body types is the prime point of turning an ordinary Insignia into a German-blood Spartan. However, the Spartan status is not enough without the FlexRide system that has different functions suitable on various areas, from city roads to highway roads.

The main question is, can the Spartan performance of the Insignia OPC good enough to pulverize the SHO variant of the Ford Taurus?

My thoughts about the Insignia OPC:
A performance-worthy version of the Opel Insignia is destined to be a German-blooded Spartan or perhaps to be the phantom of the Autobahn, but would that be enough to tackle down the Audi S4 and the Mazdaspeed Axela? I may never know how thrilling the Insignia OPC be because this premium high-performance sports is the alpha male of Opel vehicles. With sports-tuned suspension, powerful engine, and the aggressive styling, the Insignia OPC is a real bet for the Opel fan boys. I will be expecting that this car make grown men drool all the way to their first encounter.

Opel Insignia (Buick Regal or Chevrolet Vectra)

The Opel Insignia is the successor of the late Opel Vectra, and it provides drivers with some mystery that no other medium sized cars would ever have. This car has awarded as 2009 Car of the Year from Europe and gained many expectations from European car enthusiasts from all over the world. It also exported to other markets under the Chevrolet Vectra or Buick Regal namesake.



No one tells how the Insignia looks like. At first glance, this car has based on the concept car with the same name showed from several years ago. However, the platform used by this car was General Motors' Epsilon II platform, this platform also used in the second-generation Buick LaCrosse as well. The Insignia delivers three variants, the 4-door saloon, the 5-door hatchback, and the sports tourer variant.



There are several engines to match the Insignia's mysterious performance such as the 1.6L Ecotec engine that runs the power of 115PS, 1.8L Ecotec engine, 2.0L CTDi common rail diesel engine, 2.0 Ecotec turbo engine, and the high performance 2.8L Ecotec V6 engine that boasts the maximum power of 260PS @ 5500rpm, but these engines were just the beginning. The Insignia has the full time 4WD system that handles all twists and turns one corner at the time and the Opel Eye system acts intelligently on all roads such as detecting road signs everywhere. This car is engineered to be almost a psychic to all drivers.





This perplexing German car also has a not-so-mysterious interior that blends the elements of relaxation and hospitality, creating a new age modern living for the driver. The navigation system provides plenty of options for the driver to provide some smart choosing all over the road.

PICTURE THIS:
The Opel Insignia is packed with all the features that no other car can find it anywhere else such as the intelligent Opel Eye system, adaptive front lamps and full-time 4WD system that knows all roads every time. Believe me; this car will not segregate you and the feeling of having a foreign car in your garage. To shake things up, there is a high-performance OPC version of the Insignia, how will it affect the outcome? We will never know.