My want is.......intrigued....

"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond)
02/25/2014 at 11:19 • Filed to: None

So, the '14 Buick Regal can now be had with the Caddy ATS 2.0 boosted engine (259hp, 295 tq all over the place) aaannnndddd a Haldex AWD system in the gs awd model. What is further interesting? The 2012 testing of their possible Sport wagon model.

So, this is not just a re-badged Opal Insignia wagon, since it has Buick wheels and was being tested in a flock of Buicks. (What would we call that....a bunch of Buicks driving together...not a flock. A Golf of Buicks?) Since the Regal is based on the insignia already, I could see the top picture coming to life. Give it the ATS engine and awd...and we have an american Audiaru? For some reason, I am liking it. For a Jalop dealer version, should it have the Cruise diesel, 6 speed manual, and brown paint?

top photo: Kilometermagazine

test photo: the excellent Brenda.

DISCUSSION (29)

EL_ULY > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:21

i know it's such a picky little thing but, if the engine would just be turned to right way, it'd be perfectionus maximus!!!!

RacecaR > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:22

Kinja'd!!!

Please, please Buick, fix this part first. I don't know why, but I have a lot disdain for their fronts.

And a bunch of Buicks together should be called a murder...like crows...just because.

Tom McParland > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:22

What sucks is you cannot get the AWD and a 6MT that being said if they offer a GS wagon I would totally rock a FWD 6MT

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:22

Hmmm... Can't tell if boner or..?

BeaterGT > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:23

I've given praise to this car ever since sitting in one at the NY show. Would love to take it for a spin.

For Sweden > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:23

Giggity

Textured Soy Protein > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:23

Why do you say those are Buick wheels? Sure look a lot like the wheels on the Opel Insignia OPC. Just because the Opel ones have that gunmetal finish with machined face, and the wheels on the white car are all silver paint?

Grindintosecond > Textured Soy Protein
02/25/2014 at 11:28

Those are the wheels in the desert testing with all the other Buicks. The page i pulled the picture from referred to the as such. and here is a 2012 regal turbo wheel. notice the desert picture above has the center cap blacked out.

Kinja'd!!!

quarterlifecrisis > Tom McParland
02/25/2014 at 11:28

I've given thought to the Regal GS as a possible replacement, for no real reason other than "hmm...I like those." Didn't know about the AWD and 6MT not being a combination. But hell, make it a longroof...yep.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:29

Haldex is still a BS AWD system. 90% to the front wheels, and 10% the back. You get power to the rear when it determines you need it.

Might as well be FWD

Tom McParland > quarterlifecrisis
02/25/2014 at 11:30

The sedans are really good pre-owned values. Lightly used CPO examples can be found in the mid-high 20's

quarterlifecrisis > Tom McParland
02/25/2014 at 11:32

Hmm. If my CTS-V plans fall through, and used SS's aren't all over the market yet...that could work. My first car was a 91 Buick Century, everything else has been a Chevy, so maybe I feel a little affinity towards the brand.

Well, that, and I keep regretting selling my TBSS and find myself looking at 9-7X Aeros... This is all unhealthy.

ColoradoTaco > Jay Lauer
02/25/2014 at 11:33

Yep as demonstrated by this TT. shot at Georgetown Lake ice racing last month.

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
02/25/2014 at 11:34

I understand the concerns. from the review I found the present day kit description on: "The system results in less torque steer and understeer when the driver decides to really hoof it.

It's just what I found. It sounds like a balancing tool if i read it right. Sends power to the back if the front starts torque steering and not going where we want with 295 torques doing their thing. it does not use braking to stop wheelspin so i would assume it just sends excess power to the back. Given how Buick is trying to be a sport-ish comfy ride, i would assume they would need to actually let us use the power and distribute it right....i know theres lther faults in Haldex. Same system in Volvo right?

Daywalker > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:36

Wow, I love it. That black and those wheels!!! Give me the 2.0T, AWD, GS Wagon and that's a nice little package. Hopefully the cargo volume is decent... the sloped roofline is slightly worrisome but unfortunately for us cargo volume users, no worse than its competitors.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > RacecaR
02/25/2014 at 11:41

Is it the vertical cut out things on the bottom corners of the front fascia?

They drive me batty too. I like the whole car and then I see those...

Grindintosecond > Daywalker
02/25/2014 at 11:42

The pic is the insignia wagon and im sure it would be the whole car with GM gear inside and front makeup. A euro-review would show some good space notes. I honestly dig it.

RacecaR > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/25/2014 at 11:51

WTF Kinja?!?! I had a whole response typed up and now it when I went to insert an image, it all went away! Damnit!!

Anyway.
It is kind of just the whole front end, but now those are really odd looking to me. The front is too round. It needs more angles so it does not look so old person-ish.

And the front needs something there. I removed the vents, and it just looks blah up there now.

Kinja'd!!!

Actually, looking at the image without the vents again, it does not look half bad.

Frosted > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 11:53

I have Haldex in my XC. It's not spectacular. It works sure but it's easy to have it break. Especially an angle gear.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > RacecaR
02/25/2014 at 11:59

It doesn't just looks like big open space. Maybe one of these from the Verano or Lacrosse would work?

Kinja'd!!!

RacecaR > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/25/2014 at 12:09

Like a lower grill kind of thing with some "fog" lights? Could work. And would probably give it a more sporty look.

So now, when this thing comes out as a production model and the front looks like what I have up there and a lower grill thing, you think Buick will send us a couple vehicles for free for redesigning their front ends?

Jayhawk Jake > RacecaR
02/25/2014 at 12:11

Just tone down the chrome around the fogs. The feature is OK, but the chrome stands out too much

HammerheadFistpunch > Jay Lauer
02/25/2014 at 12:13

Its true, but it is a good system to cancel out some of FWD's nasty habits, especially when adding lots of torque in an application where you don't have to massively modify the rear subframe to be able to handle a lot of torque or have a large center tunnel to accommodate a big drive shaft. Go look under a Golf R and you will see what I mean, its pretty obvious there isn't a lot of power being routed aft just from the size of the components...and thats a good thing in the sense that it doesn't necessitate total redesign of a good thing, but it takes the edge off of FWD.

Kinja'd!!!

Check out that pencil thin shaft, and tiny diff. But notice that the tunnel is no larger and that the R torque steers a lot less.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > RacecaR
02/25/2014 at 12:16

It sure would be nice if they did. Maybe I'll graft one of these front ends onto the Regal this afternoon when I have time.

RacecaR > Jayhawk Jake
02/25/2014 at 12:19

I think the whole vent on the wagon thing is just odd looking. It is vertical when it should be horizontal. Just looks like they added it to make someones kid happy.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 12:59

Yup, same system. Steered me away from the S60R.

Haldex is generally employed cause it's cheaper, and every car I've driven with it just felt like a FWD. It's a reacting system, meaning that when you dive into the corner, the car won't be ready and then the AWD will try to save you after the fact. It's just clumsy normally, but maybe it's better on newer cars.

I'd rather just buy a Audi or Subaru with proper AWD. Or, I'd get a RWD car.

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
02/25/2014 at 13:04

Haldex introduced the gen.5 system sometime in 2012 so i'm thinking they are making it better "more efficient" in how it does it's low budget magic act on newer cars. That Buick GS awd can still cost in the high 40's optioned out....for that price, a carmax used year old awesome audi-6 avant would be on my radar. I think Buick still has depreciation listed as a standard option.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
02/25/2014 at 17:32

Exactly on point. I'd even stay away from used Audis. Used, Id say go Subaru. It won't be as 'luxurious' as the Buick, but it'll also hold its value.

You could get a good used BMW X-Drive, but maintenance will be expensive.

For $40k, buy an air-cooled 911 and a Subaru beater (Brat, if you can) that's my financial advice

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
02/25/2014 at 22:19

Yep. Used beater corolla for 6, rest on a Dino 308gt4 for me..