Buick Regal gets a makeup and a manual option in 2011. 06/28/2011
General Motors' latest Buick Regal ditched the familiar rounded-body shape of past models in exchange for a slightly more muscular design. The new car, which hit the market in 2010, starts at about $26,400 and the Turbo edition has a base price of approximately $28,900.
The Regal comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, but drivers who prefer a more hands-on driving experience may want to consider the Turbo model, which allows them to upgrade to a manual transmission. Turbo also comes standard with rear parking assistance, which alerts the driver when he or she comes within eight feet of any object with a loud warning tone.
The Turbo edition of the new car has 220 horsepower (hp), which is a bit of a boost from the standard model's 182 hp, and the engine is available as a four-cylinder, rather than the V6 that was standard in past editions of the car. People who want to buy the new car can choose from three driving modes - sport, tour and standard - which allow the car to run smoothly regardless of where it is driving.
GM changed the Regal's name to Opel Signia for the European market, and they were considering packaging the vehicle as a Saturn in the U.S., Market Watch reports. The news source states that the car provides a smooth and relatively quiet ride, with only a small amount of outside noise finding its way into the cabin of the new car.
Automotive experts from the Wall Street Journal and AutoWeek agree that the new model is an improvement in design and performance from the old Buick Regal. The alterations place the car in competition with the Volkswagen Passat, the Volvo S60 and the Acura TSX.