The wait for the all-new 2011 Buick Regal is over as General Motors has released official photos and information on its new mid-size sedan ahead of the car’s first public appearance to customers in the L.A. area on Thursday, November 12. As predicted, the U.S. market Regal is virtually a rebadged Opel Insignia with the only visible differences concerning the integration of Buick’s waterfall-style grille on the outside and some trim variations such as the specific leather seats on the inside.
General Motors avoids the German competition pitting the new 2011 Regal against the likes of Acura TSX and the soon-to-be-replaced, Volvo S60.
In the States, the initial range will include two gasoline units, a 2.4-liter Ecotec direct injected engine rated at a 182 horsepower with an estimated highway fuel economy of 30mpg and a 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec rated at 220 horsepower with an estimated highway fuel economy of 30mpg.
Both engines will be combined with a standard six-speed automatic transmission with driver-shifting control. The automaker said that the 2.4L engine will return an estimated
The new Regal will initially be offered in the States in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim levels to be made available in the 2012 model year. Sales of the 2.4-liter model are scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2010, with the 2.0-liter Turbo model following in the summer of the same year.
No word if GM will also market a five-door liftback and station-wagon versions of the Regal in the future as it does with the European Insignia, nor if it is considering the introduction an sportier model based on the European Insignia OPC that gets a 325HP turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive.
More details about the 2011 Buick Regal sedan in the press release below.