General Motors has unveiled the 2011 Buick Regal, a week before the Detroit Auto Show. The car is actually a rebadged version of the Opel Insignia which was awarded as the 2009 European Car of The Year. Its upcoming American version will be with a turbo-charged engine and an AWD like the Opel Insignia OPC (Opel Performance Center) model. The concept will then be known as the 21st century successor to Buick’s Gran Sport heritage – the Buick Regal GS.

The Buick Regal GS comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, slightly smaller than the Insignia OPC’s 2.8-liter V6 turbo power-plant. Driven by that, the Buick GS develops 255 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. The power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and an adaptive all-wheel-drive system fitted with an electronic limited-slip rear differential. The drive train is expected to accelerate the Regal GS from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

The Buick Regal GS concept gets hotted-up by a four-wheel independent suspension system with a High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) design in front. The system reduces the torque steer and maintains negative camber during cornering to aid improved grip level, increased cornering power and crisper handling. The car also features 14-inch Brembo brakes and an Interactive Drive Control System chassis technology. The driver can select one of the three settings: normal, sport and GS. This feature changes the suspension settings, throttle response, steering sensitivity and shift pattern through the variable-effort steering system.

Visual enhancements of the new Regal GS include a lowered ride height with lower center of gravity, a discreet kit for exterior and interior with attractive design cues, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, Recaro bucket seats with 4-way lumbar support and cushion extensions, and a racing-inspired steering wheel and metal pedals.

Even in the past, Buicks like the Grand National, GNX, GS and GSX have all received the Regal name. With the Regal GS, Buick looks to add a more aggressive direction to appeal to the performance enthusiasts. The high-performance when combined with sophisticated style in the design and smooth driving experience should lure customers when it arrives in showrooms later this year.