Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2012 Buick Regal GS hits track with 270 hp, 15 more than planned

The 2012 Buick Regal GS is set to hit dealerships this fall, but that means engineers still have time to fine-tune the vehicle before it arrives in showrooms across the country. What better way to do that than to take the Regal GS to the automaker's Milford Proving Grounds? This Michigan road course is a twisting, turning stretch of asphalt that allows engineers to really put a vehicle through its paces.

The hi-po Regal GS is powered by a direct-injected 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-banger, which pumps out 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That's enough horses to coax the sedan from 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds, according to General Motors estimates. A few more notes about those power figures: First, when the Regal GS was first announced, we were only promised 255 horses, so 270 is a very welcome figure.

Second, the Regal GS and its 2.0L turbo boasts more torque than the larger 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces 260 pound-feet in the Chrysler 200, and the 2.0-liter Turbo in the Hyundai Sonata, which is rated at 269 pound-feet of twist (to be fair, the latter two have never claimed to be sport sedans). What else does it beat? The list includes the Acura TSX V6, Audi A4, Lexus IS250 and the Volvo S60 T5. Plus, 95 percent of that peak torque is available from 2,300 to 4,900 rpm.

It's also worth mentioning that, with 135 horsepower per liter, the new boosted Ecotec boasts the highest specific power output of any engine in GM's history. It's also the most power-dense rating the SAE has ever officially recognized. That's impressive stuff.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=dFScQw5GTqQ

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/15/2...-than-planned/

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

270hp, 295 lb-ft of torque, 6 speed manual


...and it takes 6.7 seconds to go 0-60? How much does this car weigh?

LexBob2

I don't know the exact weight, but in two comparos that I read in non GS trim it was the heaviest car in each test.

seanlee

you got to be careful when you read small displacement turbo numbers, since they may not have the linearity of N/A motor. normally you want to have your Max torque happen around max HP, this obviously is not the case.

take a look of Maxima, 5.7 second with similar engine output and weight. the 1 second different is HUGE when you talk about 0~60. overall, i am very skeptical about small displacement turbo until i see the dyno chart.

jadu

iTrader: (42)

is it FWD? it may be experiencing a lot of wheel hop and torque steer

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

^^ its either front or AWD. though the article doesn't say, the turbo was supposed to come with AWD as ive read from past articles. that too could explain the 3700+ weight

spwolf

base buick has 3800lbs :-)

LexBob2

In a C&D comparo, between the regular Regal Turbo, Acura TSX V6 and VW CC 2.0T it was the slowest by a large margin and averaged the lowest MPG's in the test.

Still a nice looking car, just not a good performer compared to the competition.

spwolf

thats because it weights as much as GS :-)

pbm317

The Regal GS is fwd only. I was really hoping GM would bring over the original concept which used a turbo v6 and AWD I believe. That version still exists in Europe.

I'm driving a Regal Turbo this week and i'm pretty impressed overall by the car. There are some cheap/odd parts in the interior, but it's definitely steps in the right direction for American cars.

LexFather

It weighs 3800 lbs, as much as cars 2 classes up. Its a pig. It will never be a performer. That said it being a rebadged Opel Insignia means it looks goooooooooooood and they got that part right.

Fizzboy7

Not impressed with the numbers or shape-crazy frontal styling. An "improvement" for GM may be complimentary to GM, but it does not make for a competitive car.

KillaIS250

iTrader: (1)

Actually looks pretty good compared to the current Buicks. Still a Buick tho

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

Really liking this car. They need to throw in a turbo V6 and sell a Grand National trim in triple black.

Blackraven

It's strange that they didn't just follow what the Opel Insignia version had by using the OPC/VXR engine.

Nevertheless, the new Regal is the thing that will bring Buick into the 21st century