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Buick Introduces Expressive New 2018 Regal Sportback

2018 Buick Regal Sportback

Sleek Sportback appearance, excellent driving performance, unexpected flexibility

DETROIT — With the 2018 Regal Sportback, Buick builds on its track record of making bold moves outside traditional vehicle segments to deliver unique customer offerings that fit modern lifestyles. The Regal Sportback provides a sleek, sporty, coupe-like design, the spirited performance of a premium sports sedan and unexpected versatility in one sophisticated package for a perfect balance of form and function.

The coupe-like roofline captures the expressive style and passion customers want, while the five-door layout enables easier access to cargo space. With the split-folding second row seats in place, the new Regal Sportback offers 31.5 cubic feet of cargo space, more than twice as much as the 2017 Regal.

In keeping with its sporting nature, the Regal Sportback’s cabin takes a driver-centric approach, with the center stack skewed towards the driver for a cockpit feel. The cabin’s craftsmanship is characterized by clean lines, uncluttered surfaces and premium seating materials.

“The new Regal Sportback was developed with today’s active, independent, premium car customer in mind,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global Buick and GMC. “They have an SUV in the garage and are looking to complement it with a sport sedan, but have an appreciation for the usefulness of a versatile cargo space when an occasional need arises.”

Regal Sportback highlights:

  • Available intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) with active twin-clutch for improved vehicle control and efficiency in any conditions.
  • AWD models have an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive models have a nine-speed automatic.
  • The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces a GM-estimated 250 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque (FWD) and 295 lb-ft of torque (AWD).
  • The discreetly integrated rear opening has a tri-folding 40/20/40 rear seat available and a 60/40 split-folding seat standard.
  • Safety innovations include a Buick-first active hood pedestrian safety system, Front Pedestrian Braking and Lane Keep Assist.
  • There’s more overall cargo space than the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4-series Gran Coupe, with 60.7 cubic feet behind the first row.
  • Signature Buick QuietTuning includes all-new tire insulation to help reduce road noise on front-wheel-drive models and premium five-link rear suspension on AWD models.

The Regal Sportback’s spirited performance comes by way of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine standard producing a GM-estimated 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The power is routed to the front wheels via an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission. An available 295 lb-ft of torque is sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission on models with optional intelligent AWD with an active twin-clutch differential. The engine comes standard with advanced start/stop technology.

With the Regal Sportback, Buick continues to establish itself as a leader in all-wheel-drive technology. Also available on the Regal TourX, Envision and LaCrosse, Buick’s innovative new system uses two clutches at the rear wheels for seamless, smart torque distribution. Beneficial not just in snowy weather but also during spirited driving, the system relies less on braking to maintain maximum performance and efficiency.

Buick offers AWD across its entire portfolio, with the exception of the Cascada convertible.

The exterior design of the 2018 Regal Sportback is visually low and tailored, hinting at an advanced body structure that is stiffer, stronger and approximately 200 pounds lighter than the previous generation Regal. Customers will notice this reduction through more athletic handling and improved efficiency. With wheels pushed farther to the corners and a wheelbase stretched more than 3 inches than its predecessor, more expressive proportions are paired with improved passenger space.

The chassis has been tuned for refined control and a confident everyday driving character. AWD models feature an all-new five-link rear suspension that provides improved road noise isolation and tuning designed to match that drivetrain’s advanced capabilities.

The 2018 Regal Sportback offers new levels of crash prevention and protection. It is the first Buick to offer a standard active hood pedestrian safety system that senses the imminent impact of a pedestrian between 16-30 mph and uses a pyrotechnic actuator to lift the back of the hood up about 4 inches to lessen the impact and potentially reduce injury.

Available Driver Confidence I package adds popular active safety features including Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Park Assist. A more advanced Driver Confidence II package adds Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Automatic Braking.

Standard equipment on every 2018 Regal Sportback includes push-button start and entry, Hill Start Assist, 10 air bags, universal home remote and heated side mirrors.

Every Regal Sportback also comes equipped with an OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot (AT&T data plan purchase required after limited data trial period) and five years of the OnStar Basic Plan at no additional cost. Among other benefits like an industry-leading myBuick app, this connectivity plan features OnStar Smart Driver, an opt-in service designed to help Buick owners maximize their vehicle’s overall performance and become better drivers.

A 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard, while an 8-inch system with available embedded navigation is optional. Bose premium audio is also available, while Sportback offers standard active noise cancellation on all AWD models.

Available in four trim levels — Regal, Preferred, Preferred II and Essence — the Regal Sportback is aimed at those who possess a passion for driving and demand a vehicle that represents their personality and style.

While pricing and other details will not be announced until closer to the on-sale date in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Regal Sportback will offer style and performance on par with more expensive competitors, with a pricing strategy consistent with why Buick has been named Kelley Blue Book’s Best Value Luxury Brand four years in a row.

Lots of pictures and discussions can be found here:
http://buickforums.com/forums/threads/45742-2018-Buick-Regal-Sportback-Pictures

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Buick Envision AWD Earns 5-Stars in 2017

2017 Buick Envision

2017 Buick Envision
2017 Buick Envision AWD Earns 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety Rating by NHTSA

The 2017 Buick Envision AWD compact Sport Utility Vehicle has received a five-star total automobile rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is an award accomplished by each Buick car or SUV evaluated for the past two successive model years.

Previously in 2016, the Envision additionally received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) greatest achievable ranking, a 2016 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) when outfitted with optional frontal collision mitigation. Today that ranking was expanded into the 2017 model year as the Envision with optional frontal collision mitigation and high intensity discharge (HID) headlights was awarded a 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

“Quality, safety and craftsmanship are designed into every Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “Attaining high rankings from a number of the industry’s leading safety associations proves not only the high quality of the Envision, but moreover establishes the Buick brand’s credibility as a pacesetter in safety and quality, two characteristics high on every buyer’s list.”.

The Envision affords buyers a comprehensive array of standard and optional safety capabilities, both active and passive. These safety innovations make use of a combination of five cameras and 13 radar and ultrasonic sensing units. These camera and sensors surround the automobile to provide drivers assurance and confidence behind the wheel. Envision also provides a robust body construction that comprises of thorough use of mass-reducing high-strength steel.

The Envision’s optional Frontal Crash Warning and Forward Automatic Braking systems, which can assist drivers in avoiding accidents, were crucial to achieving the 2016 IIHS TSP+ ranking. That ranking mandates an automobile to score “Good” on a wide range of IIHS crashworthiness evaluations and obtain an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating on frontal collision mitigation, which was a new IIHS criteria for 2016. The 2017 IIHS TSP+ ranking calls for an automobile to be worthy of “Good” scores in the crashworthiness trials, an “Advanced” or “Superior” score for frontal collision mitigation and a “Good” or “Acceptable” headlight score.

The new Buick Envision reached dealerships in North America this past summer and is off to a positive start with over 10,000 vehicles sold thus far. Typically, the Envision remains on a dealer lot for just over 30 days, less than half of the market norm.

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The Buick LaCrosse impresses at under $50k

The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse arrives this year as Buick’s design and technology flagship.

The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse arrives this year as Buick’s design and technology flagship.

Let me just start off by saying I love the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. My third car was a Buick. I went from a 1970 Chevy Nova to a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme to a 1984 Buick Regal. Boy, did I love that Regal. It was my first “nice” car. That generation of the Regal’s body style ended after the 1987 model so it still actually looked somewhat current in the early to mid 90s.

Since then I’ve always had a little something for Buicks. I’m a rare breed, however, considering the rest of my friends are into BMW and Mercedes these days. But I grew up driving as a passenger in my Father’s Cadillac Eldorado – so I had my own idea of which characteristics defined luxury. And Buick was one step down on the luxury ladder at General Motors.

One of my favorite Buicks these days is the LaCrosse. The LaCrosse came about in 2004 as a midsize sedan replacing both the LeSabre and Century. Since then it’s grown into the full-size position basically replacing the Lucerne (more or less a Cadillac DTS) – which replaced the Park Avenue in 2005 as a 2006 model. The 2017 LaCrosse is a 310 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 and 282 lb ft of torque powered front wheel drive or all wheel drive sedan with a big trunk, a soft (but compliant) suspension and gets a combined 25 miles per gallon for fuel economy with it’s 8 speed automatic transmission.

For under $50,000 you’re getting everything you’d expect from a modern day luxury vehicle. You get heated and ventilated seats with a driver’s massage feature, lumbar support, eight way power positioning and firm but supple leather. Heads up display is something you never knew you needed. A heated steering wheel is a welcome feature in the winter up north. The back seat is a very pleasant place to be. Fit and finish is excellent and will probably surprise you. The eleven speaker Bose sound system is impressively clear even at full volume.

The exterior is, in my opinion, a big change from the previous generation. It’s more subdued. But more classy at the same time. It’s difficult to explain but it took a little time to grow on me. I really liked the previous second generation LaCrosse but this one just looks more expensive to me. Chrome ventiports remain on a somewhat curvaceous body.

If you’re into technology and “devices” you’ll feel right at home in the Buick LaCrosse with the technology package. IntelliLink combines OnStar with an interactive touchscreen interface with the ability to connect to 4G LTE wi-fi, navigation, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. If you like listening to streaming audio, apps like Pandora are compatible.

If you like the floaty Buicks of old – you may be disappointed by the suspension in new LaCrosse. It’s firmer. Tighter. But it’s not harsh in any way at all. It’s like the perfect combination of capability and suppleness. Bumps and potholes are well handled. The car keeps its composure and doesn’t rattle everyone around inside. Firmness can be adjusted and the car actually handles quite well in sport mode.

The LaCrosse is tomb-silent inside. Bank vault silent. Buick is definitely competing with Lexus here. QuietTuning keeps the cabin peaceful and serene no matter what’s happening outside. Place the car in sport mode, grab the paddle shifters and put the pedal to the metal and you’ll barely hear anything but a muffled growl of the engine as you accelerate. The car hits 60 miles per hour in about 6 seconds flat.

What car does the Buick LaCrosse compare most closely with? In my opinion? The Lexus ES. It’s big, comfortable, quiet, refined, classy, plenty powerful and luxurious. My only complaint about the LaCrosse is the inability to turn off the engine auto stop/start feature. This feature helps with fuel economy and is barely noticeable. However, I know some people don’t like it. I think Buick needs to address this and get a few more conquest sales as a result.