km : Automotive News

When GM unveiled the new Opel Insignia-based Buick Regal last week, Bob Lutz was on hand to make make a number of his trademark Big Declarations. Other than all but offering a sign up list for CTS-V Sport Wagon orders, most of those claims--which may or may not become true--involved the new-for-U.S. Buick Regal.

First of all, it sounds quite likely that the all-wheel drive, turbocharged Insignia OPC will make it to the Buick lineup, which is fantastic news for enthusiasts. Lutz reportedly even went so far as throw out a figure of 335 horsepower. That's conveniently just enough to top the Infiniti G37, BMW 335i, and Audi S4. If it arrives, the hi-po Regal will likely revive the Buick Gran Sport, or GS nameplate. It was born with Skylarks of the Sixties, build a decent name for itself, and ended life as a supercharged version of the last Regal sold here, which wasn't a bad car but it wasn't exactly a sports sedan, either. This goes against the hopes of some enthusiasts wanting a return of the Grand National or GNX nameplates, but to do that name justice, the new Regal would need to frighten children and suck the souls out of lesser vehicles. However, we did the renderings here in a GN-like black paint just for fun.

Lutz also told journalists that a Buick Regal Sport Wagon was part of the car's original plan, before the economic downturn and that whole bankruptcy thing threw a money wrench in the gears. It's not a sure thing now, but it could likely, and very easily, happen if the Cadillac CTS wagon and the Acura TSX wagon find some success here. We say, throw both of those ideas into a pot and simmer. After a few hours, we'd all have one fantastic high-horsepower wagon to feast on.

see what others are saying about this story...

Tweet