The Opel Insignia Sports Tourer, the sedan version of which is marketed in the States as the Buick Regal, has been recruited for duty by the Polizei force of the German State of Hesse. The authorities announced today that they have ordered a total of 800 patrol cars from Opel, with the first 100 examples to be delivered this year.
All Insignia patrol cars will come fitted with special equipment including additional rear warning lights with LED tech, a pull out tray system for the trunk which can be replaced with a transport box for police dogs.
GM has revealed the production version of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show's Buick Regal GS concept but to our disappointment, the automaker has kept the 255HP 2.0-liter turbocharged engine instead of the Opel Insignia OPC's far more potent 2.8-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V6 with 325 ponies. The General's cost-cutters also ditched the OPC's four-wheel drive system as the GS is a front-wheel drive model only.
Buick says with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the GS will accelerate from 0 to 60mph in less than seven seconds (*estimated). In comparison, the basic $28,200 VW Passat CC 2.0 Turbo with 200HP completes the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds, while the European Opel Insignia OPC in 5.8 seconds.
Later on, Buick will offer the GS with an optional six-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control.
The car rides on standard 19-inch alloy wheels and all-season tire, with 20-inch polished alloy wheels shod in performance tires being optional. Braking power comes from a four-wheel disc brake system featuring Brembo front calipers, while there's also a standard StabiliTrak stability control system with integrated, full-function traction control.
Other than that, the Regal GS features Interactive Drive Control System which allows drivers to customize the suspension settings and steering sensitivity between three modes: standard, sport and GS.
The styling more or less follows in the footsteps of the Insignia OPC with a bespoke aero kit and bumpers, and a raft of interior upgrades such as the leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, sport seats and unique decorative trim.
The Regal GS goes on sale in the second half of 2011, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. However, being that prices for the 220HP Regal Turbo range from $28,795 to $34,435, we don't expect anything less than a mid-$30k sticker.
A little while back GM was crashing and burning, littering the automotive market with debris from its badge-engineered brands. Who could have seen turbochargers, all-wheel-drive, Recaros, and a clutch showing up in the Buick lineup? The last time any one of those were even possible, I was in diapers.
More recently, Buick was the brand that was selling the Lucerne, LaCrosse, and Rendezvous, none of which could get anyone excited. Now, however, Buick intends to keep surprising people with its new direction and image. The latest decision from the golden oldie? They're going to build the Regal GS (can I get a collective high five?).
Originally debuting as a concept in Detroit this year, the GS is styled similarly to Opel's Insignia OPC yet uses a different power train (would it be too much to get the Euro's turbo-six?). Instead, we'll be getting something like the concept's turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 that makes 255 horsepower and is connected to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Sadly, the Detroit News reports that the GS may not be getting those Recaros. If that's some idea to save costs, here's a bit of advice: have them be part of an available sport package. That way, the car won't seem diluted; just having the option available shows that Buick is serious about having a little adrenaline in its lineup now that Pontiac's dead.
As for the 2.0 liter power train, it could be just the beginning. Considering the LaCrosse is soon to be Buick's big-dog, the next generation LaCrosse would likely get GM's version of EcoBoost making significantly more horsepower to better compete with Lincoln's MKS (that's right, I said it).
This means we may be able to expect more from the Regal GS in the future, but don't get too worked up just yet. It's exciting enough to see that the GS will be making it out onto dealer lots.
Since GM has decided to kill trim-level badges in order to make Buick more upscale, the Regal GS will likely be the only model with a specific designation.
Good, because this is one case where you want people to know what it is. It's a Buick GS, and it's back.
