Bullhead face: the new face of the Chinese Buick Regal
There Buick Regal hasn’t been in the North American landscape since late 2020 when the model was dropped from the lineup. The Regal was the last sedan in Buick’s lineup where there are now only sport utility vehicles. The manufacturer with the three shields has changed its approach and abandoned names that have made its reputation over the decades. With us, it is the case, but not in China where Buick remains very popular both in the world of SUVs and sedans.
With sales still solid, the Chinese Regal will be entitled, for the 2024 model year, to a new face that harmonizes with the stylistic themes launched with the Buick Wildcat EV concept introduced in 2022. We are therefore following the approach of the Encore GX , Envista and Envision, all of which adopted the new low-profile grille now unique to Buick. We also integrate the latest evolution of the Buick crest with three shields side by side and no longer with a slight inclination. In the case of the Regal, the constraints of the layout of the body do not allow to go further in terms of style. Unlike its SUV cousins, the optical units are not broken down into two sections, they remain the same as those we have known since 2021 in China.
For the rest of the vehicle, no change. Outside or inside, only Buick’s new logo is different. It’s conceivable that the front aesthetic is important, but the model is starting to show signs of time since its international launch in 2017 as a 2018 model.
Under the hood of the Chinese model, there are 2 turbocharged 4-cylinder engines: the first, 1.5 liters, and the second, 2 liters. According to the documentation issued by Chinese government authorities, by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, these mechanisms are paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
Conclusion
We can say that it is the nostalgia which speaks, but many are those who miss the glorious days of the Roadmaster, Electra and Skylark. Along the same lines, the Regal name, especially with the GS and GNX designations, has left its mark on several generations of sports car enthusiasts with a unique temperament. Today, Buick has complied with the need to make volume sales with SUVs and, unfortunately, it is not with these vehicles that we will write a history that will mark the spirits for generations to come. If we look at what Buick has just done in terms of Chinese Regal ugliness with this bullhead face, it is perhaps a good thing that the model is no longer marketed here.
