Why was the Buick Regal Tour x Discontinued?

The automobile industry introduces new models every year. Fierce competition for buyers creates the need for automakers to present the latest features, technology, and powertrain configurations in every vehicle. Worldwide spending on research and development has approached $50 billion annually, so you can imagine the forces at work to stay ahead of the competition.

As new models arrive on the scene hyped by the brand and pundits, some cars quietly drive off into the proverbial sunset, never to be seen again. One such vehicle was the Buick Regal, which ended its production run with the 2020 model year. Many forces worked to send the Regal to the annals of automotive history. But to truly understand why, you must first know the Regal’s history. View our inventory of New Buicks or if you have any questions, give us a call at (817)-632-8800.

Buick Regal Hits the Streets in 1973

Buick GNX by Colin is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

Nearly 50 years ago, Buick introduced the Buick Century Regal sedan. Initially, the Regal was the offshoot of its sibling Buick Century. Touted as a personal luxury vehicle, the Regal was meant to compete against the likes of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Ford Thunderbird.

The first-generation Regal had big swooping lines, ostentatious opera windows, and drove like Santa’s sleigh. Though it had a powerful V-8 engine and an interior that coddled passengers, it lacked the sportiness of its early competitors.

In 1978, Buick introduced the Regal with a G-body coupe. An oil embargo in 1975 and rising concerns over fuel economy led Buick to use a V-6 engine standard. However, you could opt for a V-8 or one of several turbocharged V-6 variants. One popular trim was the Regal Sport Coupe with a 3.6L turbo V-6, which was one of the few production cars offering a turbo engine.

Buick unveiled the Regal Grand National in 1982, sporting a mean, fast look. It had a new sequential fuel injection system feeding the 3.6L V-6 to produce 200 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, which delivered the speed. In the next few years, GM boosted those numbers to 245 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque.

By 1987, GM engineers attained the pinnacle of performance with the Regal GNX. This limited-edition Regal had only 547 produced, but they impressed buyers. Additional tuning to the engine ramped up the power numbers to 276 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the Regal GNX clocked a 5-second zero to 60 mph time, an astounding achievement at the time.

Buick dropped the rear-drive Regal in favor of a front-wheel-drive platform powered by a 2.8L V-6 in 1988. It ran with this configuration until the final two years of that third generation when they brought back the 3.8L V-6. Unfortunately, this third-generation Regal may have been the least appealing.

The fourth-generation Regal GS ditched the G-body entirely for a modern look once more shared with the Buick Century. In addition, Buick added a supercharged engine to the lineup to regain some lost support. The new engine sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The car was alright, but it didn’t remind anyone of the Regal GNX in form or function.

Buick Regal Retires, Twice

Buick stopped making the Regal for the first time after the 2004 model year. Instead, it sold the model to the German automaker Opel. It wasn’t until 2011 that the Buick Regal returned to American streets. A turbocharged Regal GS with a manual transmission separated it from its Buick siblings.

By 2017, the Buick Regal GS was pumping a respectable 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque that ran to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. However, other imported luxury sedans outperformed the Regal GS. So, Buick changed things in 2018, adding the lift-back Sportback and the wagon Tour X. Unfortunately, 2020 was the final year of production, and the Regal once again drove off into the sunset.

Why Did Buick Discontinue the Regal?

Industry insiders have argued many sides as to why the Regal was retired in 2020. Most experts agree that several vital factors occurred along the way that forced the Buick Regal out. First, the third-generation Regal’s performance in 1988 could have been more impressive, and its style lacked the sport-inspired look of its forebears. It went completely off-brand for a model that made its bones on horsepower.

It may be that Buick realized its misstep too little, too late, and never fully recovered the customer loyalty of previous generations. GM agreed to purchase the Regal from Opel. Moreover, those contractual obligations expired after 2020, meaning the sale would further benefit Buick’s business.

The Regal may have fallen out of favor due to the third generation’s shortcomings, and contractual obligations ending offered an exit. However, almost everyone agrees that the market shifting to more SUV-heavy demand had the greatest impact on the Regal’s discontinuation.

In 2019, Buick reported that SUVs accounted for 90% of sales. For the first three quarters of 2019, sales of the Regal were down 20% year-over-year, accumulating a mere 9,000 units sold. The Regal could have been better, but its sleek style, impressive power, and elevated comfort put it in the conversation with other luxury sedans. So chances are, Buick made the right decision to cancel the model and focus on the SUV segment.

Buick SUV Lineup

Today, Buick offers four SUVs — the Encore, Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave — which compete in the compact-to-midsize SUV segments. It also offers an Avenir special edition for the Envision and Enclave models that deliver top-tier luxury.

True to the brand, Buick offers elevated comfort in a premium package. But it also has a Sport Touring variant for its Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave SUVs. The Sport Touring adds performance and style upgrades to appeal to a broader audience.

Explore the Buick Lineup in Fort Worth

We know what drivers want in an SUV at Hiley Buick GMC of Fort Worth. That’s why we stock an expansive inventory of Buick and GMC SUVs at competitive prices. We invite you to shop our online inventory or stop in for a personal demonstration and test drive.