Monday, May 24, 2010

Buick Regal GS Confirmed

Buick Regal GS
Buick Regal GS

There has been no official word from General Motors but this morning the Detroit News reported that Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of global product development, has confirmed that the 2011 Buick Regal GS will see production. There are very few details to accompany this exciting news but the production Regal GS is expected to be very similar to the concept version unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Should the 2011 Buick Regal GS see production in the same form as the concept, it will feature the turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder, mated to a 6-speed transmission and (best of all) a very advanced all wheel drive system. Shy of the radical 20” wheels, there are really no features of the Regal GS Concept that couldn’t make it onto a production car and should the production 2011 Gran Sport hit the market in the same form as the Concept - Buick could have that next key piece in attracting younger buyers.

255 horsepower, 295lb-ft of torque, a six-speed transmission and a variable mode AWD system will definitely draw in the younger buyers…now all we need is the official word from GM that the 2011 Regal GS will possess all of the goodies from the 2010 NAIAS concept car. Any performance minded version of the new Regal will certainly be exciting but the key, in my opinion, is for GM to produce the same car that drew SO MUCH attention at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year and anything less will be disappointing.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Buick hails better sales, new models, younger buyers


When you think of hot car brands with lots of mojo right now -- Hyundai and Ford come instantly to mind -- there's one other famous name that might be overlooked: Buick.

Tiger Woods' former favorite is the subject of a lot of favorable news today, such as:

  • Better sales. General Motors says the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, shown above, just posted its best sales month in April since it was introduced. Sales are up 237% from a year ago, with demand so strong that GM has added a third shift its Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kan.
  • Younger buyers. The Los Angeles Times ran a story today headlined "Buick Pulls Off a Dramatic U-Turn" about the comeback in the brand. The best news for GM, writes Jerry Hirsch, is that Buick is actually attracting younger buyers. But don't get too ramped up: From an average buyer age of 64 three years ago, today's Buick customer is now 61, says J.D. Power and Associates.
  • New models. Buick plans to add three new vehicles to broaden its appeal. Besides the new midsize Regal on the way, Buick will also bring a compact car and small crossover, reports Scott Burgess in the Detroit News. Buick will have such a young line that by 2013, the oldest vehicle will be the Regal, due to be introduced in the next couple months.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

2011 Buick Regals Add Flex-fuel Capability

2011 Buick Regals
2011 Buick Regals

A recent announcement that comes from General Motors reveals that all 2011 Buick Regal models sold starting this fall will offer Flex-fuel capability. Currently, GM’s Epsilon II platform based Regal comes with a naturally aspirated 2.4 liter four cylinder engine that offers 184 hp. As per the new plans, a turbocharged 2.0 liter Ecotec four cylinder will deliver 220 hp when it becomes available around the end of this year.

According to the Detroit automaker, as the 2.0-liter direct-injected turbo four starts arriving in late August, GM will make both units available with gasoline and E85 ethanol. The company will hence make the turbo unit its first series production E85 turbocharged and direct injected engine.