New Buick Trademark Hints at a Regal Wagon

Back in the 1960s, 70, and into the 80s, the thought of General Motors not offering a single wagon in the U.S. was preposterous. Now, as we head into the 2016 model year, this is the case, as the last wagon GM offered, the CTS Wagon, is long gone. However, a new report from AutoGuide indicates that GM’s American lineup may not be without a wagon much longer.

» Related: Little Buick Is Getting Aggressive

This report stems from a trademark filing for the “Regal Tourx” that recently surfaced. This patent aligns perfectly with reports that the Regal will undergo a massive overhaul in 2017 that will further expand the size gap between the small Verano and the Regal. This would be the perfect time for Buick to roll out a wagonized Regal.

Now, we all know that General Motors is very cost-conscious with Buick, and does not give the brand much room to develop its own models. So, this leaves me searching the depths of GM’s European lineup to find a donor car that matches the vision of the Regal Tourx. The most likely of donors would be the next-gen Opel Insignia Country Tourer, a slightly lifted, all-wheel-drive wagon that would be easy to convert to a Buick. This is the most likely car, as we’ve already established that “Tour” indicates wagon in the U.S., but the “x” likely alludes to the model being all-wheel drive, and the current Regal is already related to the Insignia.

Now, before you wagon fans (all 15 of you) get too excited, please remember that automakers play the trademark game all the time, and oftentimes nothing ever comes of it. I sometimes wonder if they have lawyers on retainer just to file bogus patents just to get us naive press folk talking about the brand. If so, touché, Buick, you won this time.

Keep it locked here for the latest on this potential return of the Buck wagon to American shores.