Buick Regal Wagon for U.S. Market?
GM’s Buick division is up to something, and we think its all good. These spy photos show a fleet of Opel/ Vauxhall Insignia wagons and Buick Regal sedans in Detroit. Both the Insignia and the Regal are based on the same platform and are currently being built exclusively in Germany. The mystery is that Buick has not announced, and denies plans that Buick will offer a wagon variant of its Regal sedan. So why are these wagons stateside?
The plot thickens as one delves into the details. Next year, GM will move production of North American bound Regals to their Oshawa, Ontario plant. From a logistics and production standpoint, manufacturing a Regal Wagon in Canada would be pretty straight forward. In comparison to the rear-wheel drive luxury Cadillac CTS Wagon, the front-wheel drive Regal 5-door would be significantly less expensive (around $28k vs. $38k) and be sold in greater numbers.
As Buick recently unveiled its Regal GS high-performance sedan concept, the reality of a GS Wagon materializes. The GS Sedan concept packed a 255hp 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder and all-wheel drive, and expect at least that if a 5-door comes to fruition. There is still the possibility that the GS may come in with the Opel Insignia OPC’s 325hp turbocharged 2.8L V6. Best of all, regardless of the engine, expect the GS wagon to sport a quick shifting 6-speed manual transmission.
Whether or not a Buick Regal Wagon is in the cards is unknown, but that test fleet in Detroit is just there for looks.