The new 2018 Buick Regal sedan has been launched on the Chinese
car market, and it is the very last Opel-based Regal we will ever see. Price starts
at 175.800 yuan and ends at 269.800 yuan (US$ 26.000-39.900).
There are four variants: 20T with a 170 hp 1.5 turbo,
28T with a 261 hp 2.0 turbo, 28T GS with the same 261 hp 2.0 turbo, and finally
and most interestingly the 30H hybrid with 283 hp. The car on the photos is the
28T. The 30H hybrid combines a 128 hp 1.6 with a 155 hp
electric motor. Gearbox is a CVT called E-CVT. Combined output is 283 hp and 415 nm. Fuel consumption is
4.3 liter per 100 kilometers. The 30H has attracted by far the most attention
in China and it will likely outsell the GS with ease.
The interior with a dark dashboard and a
steering wheel that looks strangely outdated. Conventional dials on the sides with a digital dial
in between. The screen of the infotainment system is crazily
small, just 8 inch. Another problem is the lack of Baidu CarLife, which
is fast becoming a mus-have in China-made cars.
There is an interesting rumor about the Regal: it is
based on the Opel Insignia. GM has since sold Opel to PSA Peugeot-Citroen. One
of the largest shareholders of PSA is China’s Dongfeng Motors, which also operated a large joint venture with PSA.
The rumor says
that Dongfeng isn’t impressed with PSA’s platforms, and has demanded the
Regal’s platform for a Dongfeng-branded car, to be launched in a year or two.
The rumor is likely true. Dongfeng has been very disappointed with the slow
sales of the Fengshen A9, which is based on the Citroen
C6, both selling in the same segment as the Regal.
Cr : Carnewschina