It’s been five years since the last-generation Holden Commodore was officially pulled from Australian showrooms, but its twin continues on sale overseas and has been updated once again.
After the homegrown VF Commodore died with the end of local Holden production in 2017, it was replaced by the imported ZB later that year which was an imported Opel Insignia – also known, depending on the market, as the Vauxhall Insignia and Buick Regal.
The liftback and wagon range lived a short life in Australia, with the axe falling in December 2019, shortly before the closure of Holden in 2021.
While the Buick Regal was discontinued in the US in 2019 and production of the Opel Insignia also ended in 2022, SAIC-GM – one of General Motors’ Chinese joint ventures – has recently announced another facelift to the local market Buick Regal sedan, keeping the now eight-year-old model alive.
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It comes less than two years after the Regal was last given a new look, which included an extensively changed front fascia that somewhat awkwardly brought Buick’s new design language to the ageing model.
While this look is still available for standard models, the return of the sporty-looking GS trim has brought with it something closely resembling the Regal’s previous face. This brings it much closer to what we last saw in local showrooms.
SAIC-GM alluded to the bold redesign having been a failure, saying in its media release that the update is the return of “the most beautiful Regal”.
The addition of the GS also brings a slightly redesigned lower bumper and Buick’s new logo design, as well as a rear lip spoiler on the boot lid.
There’s good news for those who had purchased the less-desirable facelift model, with Buick making the GS appearance package available to those who own the 2024 and early 2025 Regal.
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The Chinese Regal’s previous facelift -
Holden’s ZB Commodore lineup when it was last sold here
As expected, there are no changes under the skin, with the Regal continuing to be powered by a choice of two engines: a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 124kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and a turbo 2.0-litre with 174kW and 350Nm.
Both are mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
While Holden offered the ZB Commodore locally with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine as well as a 3.6-litre petrol V6, these aren’t available in the Chinese Regal.
The ZB was used as Holden’s Supercars Championship challenger from 2018 until 2022, winning four Bathurst 1000s and two titles.
In 2024, Autocar reported the Opel Insignia would be reborn as an electric SUV in 2025, however this is yet to materialise.
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