Drew Dowdell

Deadline extended to the last day of November.

This car is growing on me fast. I like it because it has the turbo-4 cylinder and the economy that implies. It's got all of the luxury goodies I want without costing 48k like the CTS. It's suspension is German tuned so it'll handle well and it's a Buick so it'll be silent. (just did a drive from Columbus Oh to Pittsburgh in the CRV.... Honda needs to equip their vehicles with better stereos that can actually overcome all the road noise). Or, to look at it another way... it's a luxury version of the Malibu without all the weight of the Lacrosse. Perfect for me.

Ian Ziering chirps the tires in his Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell while giving a demonstration of the vehicle. <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

except.... if you count all of GM's joint ventures in asia, GM is actually bigger than VW

I'm going to extend the deadline a bit anyway.

Your avatar always cracks me up

GoogleBot was renamed Tipjar and is still there at the end of the thread. I haven't even begun to play with the RSS feed settings yet

Other than the nearly dead Lucerne, there isn't any "soft and floaty" left at Buick. No, it's not going to be setting lap records at Monticello, but you can't call it floaty either.

Saab, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Acura all have 4-cylinder "sport sedans"

It's only for older posts.

THE 2011 REGAL: A BUICK BRED ON THE AUTOBAHN Sport Sedan Blends Sleek Design with European Road Manners for Great Driving 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. LOS ANGELES – 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 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 – 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 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) 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 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% 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 gives the Regal refined, well-balanced vehicle dynamics and 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 which 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.

And We Have a Winner! With 13 out of 33 votes, !!!TED!! is the winner of our Camaro Photohunt contest. Also, check out our current Cheers and Gears design contest. Design what you think a 1979-1985 Pontiac E-body would have looked like. Everyone who enters will receive a Cheers and Gears related prize and the grand prize winner will receive a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado 1:18 diecast model.

Please add any bugs, issues, or questions to this thread for us to address.

The HS is also a Toyota Avenesis Hybrid with a Lexus badge..... not a ground up design.

Ooo !!!TED!!! and PCS are getting pretty close!

Did you get your vote in for the Camaro contest? You only have till midnight tonight! Vote here: Camaro in Autumn Photohunt voting

I don't think a "Find a Camaro wrapped around a tree picture" contest would be particularly effective at driving traffic to the site.......

I see you shiver, with antici....... ...pation.

Which one is you BV?

Wow! It took us less than one page to get a Cimmarron reference in....

I see a CPO Acadia or Enclave in your future

CheersandGears.com officially supports the Pittsburgh Steelers.

wishful thinker is wishful