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Competes with: Acura TLX, Audi A5 Sportback, Volkswagen CC, Subaru Outback
Looks like: The wagon Buick’s been hinting at
Drivetrain: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a nine- or eight-speed automatic transmission on front- and all-wheel-drive models, respectively
Hits dealerships: Late 2017
The 2018 Buick Regal Sportback is set to bow next week at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, bringing coupelike sportiness, enhanced cargo and safety offerings, and the promise of improved performance. This new body style for the premium mid-size sedan could breathe a bit of life into the Regal lineup, which is overdue for an overhaul. An all-wheel-drive SUV-like model, the Regal TourX, also joins the lineup.
More 2017 New York Auto Show Coverage
Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch toward the end of 2017, and four trim levels will be available: Regal, Preferred, Preferred II and Essence. The TourX is offered in TourX, Preferred and Essence trims.
Exterior
Buick gave the Regal a sleek, sporty roofline and low-slung stance along with a stiffened and strengthened body structure that’s 200 pounds lighter than the previous-generation Regal, all combining to portray athleticism and improved efficiency. Designers pushed the wheels — 17- or 18-inch aluminum wheels are available — further out toward the corners and stretched the wheelbase by 3 inches more than the outgoing Regal, which Buick says frees up passenger space.