Yahoo Autos The Buick Regal Sportback Has an Avenir Version Now
Avenir, which means “future” in French, is to Buick what Denali is to GMC: a sub-brand that attempts to garner some extra prestige and profitability. Deriving its name from an exciting 2015 flagship sedan concept that never came to fruition, the nameplate so far has been applied to slightly fancified versions of the LaCrosse and the Enclave. Now the Buick Regal Sportback is getting an Avenir trim level, which comes with several visual tweaks meant to generate upscale vibes inside and out.
The key ways to spot the Regal Sportback Avenir from the outside are its special grille and its 19-inch wheels. The grille gives the front end a mildly glitzier appearance than the already good-looking regular version but is hardly transformative. Inside, there are embroidered Avenir logos in the headrests, Avenir badges on the side sills, and quilted leather upholstery that’s available either in black or in an Avenir-exclusive Whisper Beige color. The model also comes nearly fully loaded, with navigation, a Bose audio system, LED headlights, and several active-safety features-although adaptive cruise control is still optional.
There’s no word on pricing yet for the Avenir, but we figure it’ll be a few thousand dollars dearer than the Regal Sportback’s Essence trim, which currently starts at $32,695. Curiously, the Avenir will come only with front-wheel drive, whereas an all-wheel-drive option is available for other Regal Sportbacks. The 250-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and nine-speed automatic transmission are unchanged for Avenir duty.
The Avenir also marks the first time we’ve seen the new infotainment system and gauge cluster that will appear in all 2019 Regal models equipped with the optional 8.0-inch touchscreen, including the GS and the TourX wagon. The infotainment system is the same updated IntelliLink system found in the GMC Terrain. It has improved graphics and different menu structures than before, while the new gauge cluster, with a brighter central display screen and more clearly marked dials, is a nice improvement from the dated-looking gauges in last year’s Regal.
All of these slightly tweaked 2019 Regal models, including the Avenir, will be hitting dealerships in October.
('You Might Also Like',)
