The 2011 Regal: A Buick Bred on the Autobahn

Sport Sedan Blends Sleek Design with European Road Manners for Great Driving

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ --

QUICK FACTS
-- A new midsize Buick sport sedan with a European-bred driving
experience
-- On sale in the second quarter of 2010
-- Based on the award-winning Opel Insignia and available now as a Regal
in
China
-- Modern, sleek design with great attention to detail and excellent
build
quality
-- Efficient, four-cylinder/six-speed powertrain with 30 mpg (est.)
-- Turbocharged model available in summer 2010
-- Driver-selectable Interactive Drive Control System available in summer
2010
-- Available rear-seat thorax air bags

-- Standard 18-inch wheels, leather and heated front seats, XM Satellite
Radio, Bluetooth and OnStar.

On Thursday Buick will reveal the 2011 Regal sport sedan to customers in the
L.A. area. Armed with turbocharged horsepower, a driver-selectable suspension
system and a firm, European-tuned chassis, it delivers a driving experience
that rivals the best import sport sedans in the segment.

"The 2011 Buick Regal is like nothing you've ever experienced from this
brand," said Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick GMC. "The Regal is the
next chapter in Buick's transformation and will expand the portfolio to
include a sport sedan."

The new Regal arrives in the second quarter of 2010, with its sights aimed
squarely on competitors like the Acura TSX and Volvo S60. It has a longer
wheelbase and greater trunk volume than those vehicles, along with standard
features - including a six-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels and
OnStar - that aren't offered standard on either competitor.

The Regal's development is rooted in Germany, where the globally led
engineering team created the award-winning Opel Insignia - the 2009 European
Car of the Year. The Insignia has garnered more than 31 prestigious awards and
is the best-selling midsize sedan in Europe. Regal will bring all of
Insignia's award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance
capabilities to the American market.

The Regal has already been a success on another continent, in China. It went
on sale in December 2008 and more than 64,000 Regals have been sold there.
Enthusiastic customers cite its sculpted, flowing design and responsive
performance as the top reasons for purchase.

Regal at a glance
Regal will initially be offered in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim
levels to be offered in the 2012 model year. The well-equipped Regal CXL
includes the following as standard or available equipment:
-- Standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182
horsepower (136 kW)
-- Available 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at
an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW) - available late-summer 2010
-- Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission standard with
driver-shifting control
-- Estimated 30 mpg on the highway with the 2.4L and 29 mpg highway with
the 2.0L turbo engine
-- MacPherson strut front suspension and four-link independent rear
suspension
-- All-new Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) available with the
2.0L
turbo, offering driver-selectable suspension settings and automatic
driver suspension setting adaptability
-- Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel anti-lock braking system,
brake
assist and electronic parking brake
-- Standard StabiliTrak stability control system and full-function
traction
control
-- Standard dual-stage frontal air bags, side-curtain air bags and
pedal-release system; rear-seat thorax air bags available
-- Available navigation system, Harmon Kardon sound system, internal
flash
drive (1GB), hard drive with 10GB for music and USB port
-- Standard 18-inch wheels (19-inch wheels standard with IDCS)

-- Standard 12-way power, leather and heated driver seat; leather and
heated passenger front seat; Bluetooth capability; XM Satellite Radio
and OnStar.

Design story
The Regal's sleek design blends the sweeping silhouette and proportions of a
coupe in a progressive package that suggests motion from all angles. Great
attention to detail complements that aggressive styling, with tailored
applications of Buick's signature design cues, such as the waterfall grille,
select use of chrome trim and superior fit and finish of the exterior panels.

"Regal is all about great proportions," said John Cafaro, design director,
passenger car. "For example, with the fenders flared to wrap around the tires.
It's an aggressive stance that people aren't used to seeing in recent Buicks."

The car's performance-oriented spirit is also conveyed in sleek, sculpted
body-side detail and aggressive headlamps that further suggest motion. At the
rear, an abbreviated deck and tucked-in body panels are the hallmarks of a
contemporary sport sedan, with bold taillamps and their intricate lighting
elements reinforcing Regal's attention to detail. Eighteen-inch wheels are
standard.

The sweeping design motif carries over to the interior, where the side panels
flow uninterrupted into the instrument panel. The instruments have the look of
expensive sport timepieces and are lit with ice-blue LED lights. The center
stack, housing the climate and "infotainment" controls, was designed to allow
for a lower, driver-centric instrument panel profile. Features such as a
thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and firm, highly bolstered and
leather-covered seats also support the sport-oriented driving experience.

"There is great design harmony between the exterior and interior," said
Cafaro. "The feeling of flow and motion carries through in an engaging manner
that makes you want to take the Regal out to your favorite twisting road to
see what it can do."

A breakthrough interior
The Regal's finely crafted, sporty and well-appointed interior builds on the
exceptional attention to detail found in the Enclave and LaCrosse, blending
signature styling cues with contemporary sport sedan aesthetics.

Regal's firm, highly bolstered seats were benchmarked against the top import
competitors for comfort and support, while a standard flow-through center
console offers plenty of storage for passengers in the front and back.

Smart applications of technology are also hallmarks of the Regal, including
details such as a multi-function controller on the center console for
operation of the audio system, navigation system and the Bluetooth phone. The
faceplate for the "infotainment" screen is set at a 30-degree angle to
contribute to the car's flowing interior design.

A new era in Buick design is also seen in the satin metallic, piano black and
new, Kibo-patterned interior trim materials. Kibo is a rich, dark,
progressively grained wood that lends an international flair to the Regal.

Under the hood
Unique with its all-four-cylinder powertrain, the Regal relies on the
excellent horsepower-per-liter ratio of the Ecotec engine family to deliver
smart, on-demand performance that is also very efficient.

Both the standard 2.4L engine and the available 2.0L turbo use direct
injection technology to optimize performance, reduce emissions and maximize
fuel efficiency. The 2.4L is the same engine offered in the Buick LaCrosse,
but in the smaller, lighter Regal, it delivers more agile performance. The
2.0L turbo cements the sport sedan credibility of the Regal, with on-demand
power comparable to a V-6, but the inherent efficiency of a four-cylinder. To
ensure responsive power across the rpm range, the 2.0L turbo uses a
twin-scroll turbocharger that builds power quickly at lower rpm.

Distinct, uniquely calibrated six-speed automatic transmissions are paired
with each engine. Both offer driver shift control that enhances the sporty
driving feel of the Regal.

Driving experience
The chassis and structural systems were developed in Germany and give the
Regal the handling and dynamics of a premium European sport sedan, as well as
the quiet, refined ride and road manners expected of a Buick. The body
structure is one of the most rigid in the segment, which is approximately
25-percent stiffer than the previous Regal. This solid structure supports more
precise suspension tuning and a quieter ride.

A relatively long wheelbase of 107.8 inches (2738 mm) gives the Regal refined,
well-balanced vehicle dynamics and supports comfortable ride tuning.
Additionally, an independent MacPherson strut-type front suspension with
single-path mountings and hydraulic ride bushings; a four-link independent
rear suspension; hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering; and optimized four-wheel
disc brakes are optimized to the capability of the individual powertrains and
tailored to the expected use by drivers. Models equipped with the 2.0L turbo
engine, for example, feature larger brakes.

Latest-generation electronic stability control (ESC or StabiliTrak), anti-lock
brake system (ABS), and traction control system (TCS) are standard with
Buick's innovative, Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) real-time damping
system offered on models equipped with the 2.0L turbo powertrain.

Interactive Drive Control System
Regal's Interactive Drive Control System chassis technology (available on
models with the available 2.0L turbo engine) offers enhanced vehicle stability
and greater driving safety. It is designed to change the personality of the
car based on the personality of the driver. A sophisticated driving mode
control module continually monitors driving style utilizing yaw rate, lateral
and longitudinal acceleration, steering wheel, throttle and vehicle speed. It
defines the dynamic vehicle state, including acceleration, braking and
cornering, to optimize chassis reactions. It also executes all of the IDCS
driver selections.

All four dampers are electronically controlled and continuously adapt within
milliseconds to the prevailing road conditions, vehicle movements and
individual driving style. Chassis settings are adjustable by the driver, with
Normal, Tour and Sport settings.

IDCS allows the driver to choose between three different operating modes that
change the suspension settings, throttle response, shift pattern and steering
sensitivity through the variable effort steering system. The three modes
deliver three types of experiences:
-- Normal - balanced and optimized for all driving situations
-- Tour - optimized for comfort and relaxed driving on long journeys

-- Sport - optimized for road holding; enthusiast driving .

Selecting "Sport" mode optimizes the car for dynamic driving, tightening the
suspension and steering response and speeding up the reaction of the automatic
transmission. The "Tour" mode is optimal for long-distance cruising or rough
road conditions, providing an increase in comfort. "Normal" or Default Mode is
the perfect all-around setting for daily commuting and city traffic. The other
major benefit of Interactive Drive Control is that it automatically adapts
Regal's performance settings to individual driving styles. When a driver
begins to drive more aggressively it will tighten the suspension and increase
steering effort and change to a more aggressive throttle response. When the
vehicle senses that the driver is doing relaxed cruising, it adjusts settings
for rolling smoothness and comfort.

Apart from a more rewarding driving experience, IDCS also offers safety
benefits in emergency situations. For example, if an obstacle must be avoided
when the car is in Tour mode, various chassis sensors convey this to the DMC
and the dampers are stiffened within milliseconds, delivering greater body
control.

About Buick
Buick is in the midst of a transformation that started with the Enclave luxury
crossover and continues with the completely redesigned LaCrosse luxury sedan
and Regal sport sedan. Buick is emerging as a modern, premium brand with
vehicles characterized by sculpted designs, personal technologies, luxurious
interiors and responsive performance. Future new sedans and crossovers are
planned and will continue to expand Buick's portfolio both in North America
and China. More information can be found at www.buick.com.

SOURCE General Motors

Michelle Bunker, Buick Communications, +1-313-815-3345,
michelle.bunker@gm.com; or Randy Fox, Product Development Communications,
+1-313-378-5872, randal.l.fox@gm.com