It happened that my family had to change to a mid-size car and accompany my family to test drive during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Because my family had a high demand for power, I recommended several mainstream models with 2.0T turbocharged engines to him, and I also tested these models. Among them, the brand-new Regal of Buick impressed me the most, which is also my first experience of the brand-new Regal of Buick. When I stepped on the accelerator, its power exceeded my expectations, which also made me interested in it.
Last year, a new generation of Buick Regal was officially launched, which adopted the latest generation of Buick design style in appearance, and the slip-back style was also in line with the current trend. The interior design still retains the family design language. In terms of power, in addition to the models equipped with 1.5T and 2.0T engines, a hybrid model consisting of 1.8L Atkinson cycle engine and motor has been added. In addition, the GS version of the car is also listed together, and the rich power system and the GS version of the car emphasize Buick’s advantages in power system.
The new generation Regal will provide three power options of 20T, 28T and 30H, corresponding to 1.5T, 2.0T turbocharged engines and 1.8L+ motors respectively, in which the gasoline version models are matched with the latest 9-speed Hydra-Matic gearbox, while the hybrid models are matched with the e-CVT gearbox. The 1.5T engine has a maximum power of 163 HP and a peak torque of 252Nm；. The 2.0T engine has a maximum power of 254 HP and a peak torque of 350Nm；. The hybrid vehicle consists of a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine and an electric motor, and the maximum power of the engine is 123 HP.
This 9AT gearbox is also the latest technology of Buick. The 9-speed Hydra-Matic intelligent gearbox adopts coaxial design, all gears are arranged in the same line with the intermediate shaft, and the key technology of one-way clutch can be selected, which makes it have a compact volume equivalent to that of the 6-speed automatic gearbox. The new hydraulic torque converter uses a long-stroke damping disc, which greatly improves the NVH performance of the whole vehicle during driving, with lower vibration and more comfortable feeling.
Combined with the actual needs of users in daily use, the gear ratio distribution of the new 9-speed Hydra-Matic intelligent gearbox is more compact and reasonable, which minimizes the energy consumption and impact of shifting at low speed and brings an extremely smooth shifting experience.
In fact, it’s not just the new powertrain on the new generation of Regal. Since the founding of Buick brand, performance has always been regarded as Buick’s DNA. At every stage of automobile development, Buick’s technology will be the first to be applied and popularized.
The picture shows david buick.
David dunbar buick, the father of Buick, founded the Buick brand in 1903. Interestingly, david dunbar buick was born in Scotland, and only came to the United States with his family when he was 2 years old and settled in Detroit.
The picture shows a bird’s eye view of Detroit.
As we all know, Detroit is the largest city in Michigan, USA, and it has gradually become a transportation hub because of its favorable weather and geographical location. With the rise of shipping, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries, Detroit gradually became the most important heavy industry city in the United States in the 20th century. In this land, the rise of American automobile culture was born. In 1896, Henry Ford built his first car on this hot land.
David buick, which grew up in this industrial city, has a strong interest in internal combustion engines. In 1903, david buick and engineer Eugene Richard developed and integrated the overhead valve engine technology.Buick became a "pioneer of overhead valve engine cars". This is also one of the most important achievements in the process of automobile development so far.
This engine, called Model B Engine, uses a two-cylinder overhead valve engine and can reach 21 horsepower at 1230 rpm. Compared with the side valve design at that time, the overhead valve engine technology has the advantages of simple structure, higher efficiency and stronger dynamic performance. This design has also been widely used in later models. It can be said that the overhead valve technology developed by Buick is an important milestone in the development history of automobile industry.
One year after the Buick brand was founded, its first model Flint Buick(MODEL B) was officially born. Walter Marr and david buick’s son Tom drove this car and completed a test drive from Detroit to Flint, covering 184 kilometers and taking 217 minutes. The average speed reached 48 km/h. You know, the top speed of Mercedes-Benz I is only 15 km/h.
From the modeling point of view, the wooden body structure and single-row seats are still built with the carriage as the prototype, but MODEL B, through the application of double-cylinder overhead valve technology, allows it to run out of the amazing speed at that time while mastering skilled driving skills. It can be seen that this technology is very important for automobile evolution.
Buick also participated in the year’s "Eagle Rock Mountain Climbing Race"and created a speed record in the same group. Since then, MODEL B has laid the foundation for Buick’s manipulation and sportiness. At the same time, it also exported its improved MODEL C model to Britain.
The MODEL C model has created at least three speed records in the event. The durability and strong power have made Buick famous and increased its confidence. In 1906, another 1907 model, Model D, was introduced.
MODEL D maintains a similar design to MODEL C in appearance, which is also a wooden body structure, double-row seats, and canvas roofs. However, on it, the biggest change is nothing more than the power system. Because Buick is equipped with a four-cylinder engine, the power system of the car is equipped with a 4.2L carburetor engine, which matches the 3-speed manual transmission. This is also the first time Buick has adopted a four-cylinder engine.
General motors corporation trademark
At the beginning of the 20th century, with the industrial revolution, more and more enterprises transformed to produce automobiles, and a large number of automobile companies appeared in the market at one time. Just like "American Automobile Company" and "British Leland Automobile Company", in order to unify the automobile industry, based on Buick, General Motors Company was established in 1908, and then companies such as Oldsmobile, Oakland (the predecessor of Pontiac) and Cadillac will be merged into more and more companies to start manufacturing cars.
In 1908, Buick introduced MODEL 10, which was cheaper and more popular, aiming at the low-end market. And its short body structure and white painting design are also called "gentlemen’s light four-door sports car". The main competitor it aimed at was the "Ford Model T" launched by Ford in 1908.
In terms of power, Buick MODEL 10 is equipped with a new 2.7L overhead valve four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 22.5 HP, while the standard Ford Model T is equipped with a 2.9L four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of only 20 HP.
In terms of sales volume, from 1908 to 1910, the production and sales volume of MODEL 10 vehicles were 4,002, 8,100 and 11,000 respectively in three years, which gave a shot in the arm to the establishment of General Motors in 1908. Buick has also become the most profitable brand of General Motors.
The fledgling Buick took performance as its brand DNA since it came out, and also participated in the race. During the two years from 1909 to 1910, it broke many speed records.
In 1909, Buick participated in the Indianapolis 250-mile (402km) race, which was an endurance race at that time, and the test of vehicle stability was very strict. Bob Boehlmann, the driver of Buick Team, won the championship with an average speed of 85.33km/h in the Buick Racecar. In the end, only nine cars finished the race, among which three were Buick cars.
Another record also happened in 1909, when Buick, a technical madman with paranoia about performance, actually held a world-famous accelerated race in Daytona Beach. It was not a car that competed with Buick, but the first plane in the world. In the end, Buick won the game. This competition also created the first car-plane competition in history. Through this game, people were further shown the powerful performance of Buick.
In 1910, Buick built two Buick 60 Special Bug racing cars, which were smoother and more aerodynamic. And for the first time, aluminum body and wheel disc are adopted to reduce the weight and air resistance, and the weight of the car is only 1.18 tons. Coupled with the brand-new 10.2L four-cylinder engine, it set a speed record at that time at 115 miles (185 kilometers) per hour. And these two cars also won numerous awards on the field.
In 1925, Buick introduced 25 models, and its shape has changed a lot. The slender body, black wheel eyebrows and a number of spoke wood wheels make it look more elegant. The biggest change is that it is equipped with an inline six-cylinder engine for the first time. This engine has a displacement of 3.1L, adopts an overhead 2-valve/cylinder, and can output 48 horsepower (35.8 kW) at 2700 rpm, with a maximum torque of 163 Nm at 1600 rpm, and is equipped with a 3-speed manual gearbox. Great progress has been made in power and reliability.
Since Buick was equipped with in-line six-cylinder engines on all 25 models, in 1931, it introduced 50, 60, 80, 90 and 95 models. These five cars are equipped with three in-line eight-cylinder engines with different displacements, which is the first time that Buick is equipped with an eight-cylinder engine. It can be said that it is a crucial year for the development of Buick brand.
Buick’s car system naming at that time was similar to that of compact cars, medium-sized cars and medium-sized and large cars. The larger the value, the higher the level. Among them, the 50 series is equipped with a 77-horsepower 3.62L engine, the 60 series is equipped with a 4.47L 90-horsepower engine, and the high-end 80, 90 and 95 series models are equipped with a 5.65L 104-horsepower engine. It can be said that all Buick cars are equipped with an in-line eight-cylinder engine.
The picture shows the exclusive logo of Buick 8-cylinder model.
Buick’s in-line eight-cylinder engine has optimized double carburetors and aluminum oil pan, and adopted full-automatic ignition advance device for the first time without manual operation. Soon, Buick’s eight-cylinder engine gained a firm foothold in the 1930s.
Not only in the engine, but also in the suspension system, Buick has made many breakthroughs. From this point of view, as long as it is related to performance, Buick is indispensable.
In 1933, General Motors developed an independent suspension system, which made the vehicle more comfortable when bumping, and reduced the wheel loss when encountering a collision. This design was also installed on all GM models after 1934.
In 1938, Buick introduced the rear spiral spring suspension, which further improved the comfort of the whole vehicle. The 1938 Buick Century was fortunate to be the first vehicle with four-wheel spiral spring suspension in the United States. The suspension system is adjusted to be very soft, and the driving on the bumpy road is leisurely. The driving experience of American cars like big ships has become popular since Buick Century.
In addition, Buick Century was also equipped with "Dynaflash”5.2L inline 8-cylinder engine, which had higher compression ratio, shorter stroke, dome-shaped aluminum alloy piston, hollow rocker arm, chain-driven camshaft and other new technologies, resulting in a maximum power of 141 horsepower and a top speed of over 165km/h, making it the fastest production car at that time.
In 1939, World War II broke out. Like other car brands, Buick also received a large number of military orders. Produced a large number of ambulances, M18 tanks and other war materials. And Buick, which is good at engines, has also produced 75,000 Pratt Whitney "Double Hornet" star aero engines for B24 Liberator bomber, and Buick has thus obtained huge financial returns.
Buick made a lot of money during World War II, and also developed an automatic transmission with a hydraulic torque converter for tanks. In 1948, after the end of World War II, Buick applied this technology to production models and named it "Dynaflow”。 And within three years, 75% of Buick’s models are equipped with "Dynaflow"Automatic transmission.
Buick is also the first brand to put the automatic gearbox of hydraulic torque converter on the production vehicle, which greatly improves the comfort of the vehicle. This gearbox was installed on the Buick Roadmaster in 1949. In addition, this model adopts Buick’s latest design style, and on this basis, the world’s first hardtop convertible car, Roadmaster Riviera, is launched.
The time has come to the 1950s, which is an important period in which everything needs to be done. With the economic recovery in the United States, the automobile industry has flourished. More modern appearance, wider body and stronger power have become the development direction.
As a brand DNA with performance, Buick’s pursuit of engines is endless. In 1953, Buick developed a V-8 engine with high compression ratio, which was called "Nailhead" because of its unique valve shape.
This V8 engine is designed with large cylinder diameter and short stroke, with a single inclined top combustion chamber shape, smaller valve, longer valve stem and vertical arrangement. The central spark plug makes the combustion faster and more uniform, so that it can provide powerful torque in a wide speed range, and at the same time, it can give consideration to certain economy while ensuring power, leading the trend again.
The first generation nail V8 engine 4.3LAnd the maximum output power is 188 horsepower and 255 horsepower respectively 5.3L At that time, the dynamic parameters fully met the standards of performance cars. In 1953, it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the birth of Buick brand. For this memorable moment, Buick was equipped with this engine for the first time on the 50th anniversary limited edition model of Roadmaster Skylark.
At that time, the world’s lightest mass-produced V8 engine.
In 1961, Buick once again led the trend and launched the world’s lightest production version of the V8 engine. This engine was made of all-aluminum material, with a weight of 144 kg, a displacement of 3.531L, a dual-chamber carburetor, a compression ratio of 8.8: 1, and a maximum output of 155 horsepower and 298Nm. For the first time, this engine is also fully equipped on the Buick Special (special envoy) model that locates compact cars.
In 1962, based on the all-aluminum V8 engine, Buick introduced the world’s first V6 engine, named FireBall, which was also put on the Buick Special for the first time. This V6 engine has a displacement of 3.2L and a maximum power of 198HP. More than 20% of the vehicles are equipped with V6 engines, and the sales of this vehicle have been greatly improved due to the introduction of new technologies.
If the 1950s was the stage of Buick’s technological innovation, from in-line 8-cylinder engine to V-type 6-cylinder engine, the power was improved while the fuel economy was also taken into account. Then the 1960s to the early 1970s can be said to be the era when muscle cars were rampant.
In 1963, Buick introduced the Riviera car series. Adopt double-door hardtop Coupe design. This series of models not only meet the driving pleasure, but also have certain comfort. The original Riviera car was equipped with a 3.2L V6 engine.
After 10 years of development, Buick has also entered the era of muscle cars. On the 1972 Riviera model, not only the appearance became more radical, but also modern. But also equipped with the second generation.Nailhead engine, usingThe 7.5L overhead valve V8 engine has a maximum power of 250 HP, while on the most powerful version, it has a maximum power of 360 HP.
In 1973, the oil crisis broke out, and the whole automobile industry fell into a trough, and the market of large-displacement muscle cars was gradually squeezed out. At this time, Buick improved the previous V6 engine mold and added a turbocharger. Fuel economy has improved by 13%-29%.
In addition, in 1979, Buick introduced the first front-wheel drive model-Riviera S, and was named "Car of the Year" by Motor Trend. Through the brand-new V6 turbocharged engine and front-wheel drive models, the energy consumption has been further reduced, and the market share has steadily increased under the background of oil shortage, which also indicates that Buick has entered a new era.
In 1985, BuickThe V6 turbocharged engine manufactured for the 500th Indy Games won numerous awards in the competition. Won the championship and runner-up,The average speed is close to 220Km/h, and it has set a speed record of 329.26km/h for one lap and 327.65km/h for four laps.
In 1984, Buick introduced the Grand National high-performance version for the second generation Regal (Regal in China), equipped with 3.8L V6Intercooled turbocharged engine with maximum power of 276.Horsepower, it only takes 4.9 seconds to accelerate from standstill to 96 km/h. In 1987, a limited edition Regal GNX ultimate model was launched, with a power output of 300 HP, a maximum torque of 488 Nm, and an acceleration time of 0-96km/h of 4.7 seconds, so it became the fastest American car in the 1980s. However, the final output of the car is only 547 units, and all of them are painted in black, which is very rare.
In 1998, Buick officially entered the China market, and its first domestic model was Buick Century. In 1999, GL8 was launched, which seized the commercial vehicle market in China. The subsequent launch of Buick Excelle, Regal, LaCrosse and other models made Buick gradually gain a foothold in China, and the market focus gradually shifted from the United States to the China market.
In 2008, Buick’s new generation Regal was listed in China, based on Epsilon II platform. Compared with the previous generation, the appearance of the car body has been thoroughly changed, and the car body lines are smooth and full of modernity, which has achieved very good market performance in China, and it has also become a landmark product of Buick.
In 2009, Buick launched the Regal 2.0T luxury version with a 2.0T direct injection turbocharged engine, with a maximum power of 220 HP and a maximum torque of 350 Nm. In 2011, it launched a more sporty Regal GS version.
With the emission becoming more and more strict, small-displacement turbocharging has become a development trend. Buick took the lead in launching small-displacement turbocharging and equipped with 1.6T and 1.4T turbocharged engines on early Yinglang XT and Angola models.
The picture shows the 2013 Yinglang XT.
In 2015, GM launched a new generation of Ecotec small displacement powertrain system around the world. The engine series ranges from 1.0L to 1.5L. It adopts advanced power technology and structural design, such as in-cylinder direct injection, variable displacement oil pump, cylinder head and exhaust manifold integration, patented reverse tooth chain timing chain, all-aluminum split cylinder block, etc., and has the characteristics of high performance, low fuel consumption, ultra-quietness and extra durability. It is also mounted on Angkor 20T, Weilang 20T and Weilang GS 20T models.
By 2018, in addition to small-displacement turbocharging, three-cylinder engines have also become an important development trend. For example, Buick GL6, Xinyinglang and Yuelang are all equipped with a 1.3T turbocharged three-cylinder engine matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain has a maximum power of 163 HP and a maximum torque of 230 Nm. In addition, there is a 1.0T three-cylinder engine with 125 horsepower and 170 Nm to choose from.
In addition to the development trend of small-displacement turbocharging, the internet of vehicles has gradually become the future development direction of automobiles. On the basis of the general OnStar OnStar system, Buick also launched a new generation of eConnect interconnection technology, taking the lead in launching "cloud"-centric in-vehicle applications, and launched a lifetime free service for application traffic.
And in the near future, there will be functions such as OTA remote upgrade, vehicle remote control and virtual key to truly realize the seamless combination of people, cars and life.
Throughout Buick’s 115-year history, it has taken the lead in developing overhead valve engines, in-line six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines, and even stronger V6 and V8 engines. From large-displacement turbocharged engines to small-displacement turbocharged engines with both performance and economy, from OnStar in-vehicle service to car networking system, Buick can always take the lead in innovation and lead the trend according to the development of the times. Behind it, the stubbornness of technology and the observation of the market have contributed.
Since it entered China in 1998, the cumulative sales of SAIC-GM Buick brand in China market has exceeded 10 million in just 20 years, which also supports Buick’s determination to innovate constantly.
