Buick Regal GS Confirmed

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.

Buick hails better sales, new models, younger buyers

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan makes its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan Sunday, January 11, 2009.

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.

2011 Buick Regals Add Flex-fuel Capability

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.

2010 Buick Enclave

Enclave: For those yearning to make a statement on the road, Buick’s popular luxury crossover gets available 20-inch wheels for 2010, as well as several technologies that add value and convenience.

Buick 2.0T Lacrosse to launch soon

Buick 2.0T Lacrosse
The Buick Lacrosse is Buick’s latest fantastic sedan, it has the size and styling of a high end Lexus but has the price tag that we can all afford, even us mere CCT staff writers. The Chinese offerings are a 2.4l 4 cylinder model that is highly rated and also a flagship 3.0L V6, the latest model to join the line up will be the 2.0T which has a similar performance level to the 3.0L V6, but a starting price tag of just 250,000rmb compared to 300,000rmb.

The lower priced 2.0T model starts at 259,900rmb, where as a premium 2.0T model is selling for 287,900rmb.

The Lacrosse has already proved to be a popular model in China with Buick dealers commanding premium pricing for those that wish to skip the waiting list and pick up their Lacrosse a little earlier than others.

The 2.0T is from the Buick Regal, which is turbo assisted with direct injection which produces an impressive 220bhp and 350Nm of torque paired to a six speed gearbox. The 2.0T will propel the Lacrosse from 0-100kph in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 230kph whist cruising at 90kph will give it impressive fuel economy of 6.8L

Buick LaCrosse Gets New Alert System

Buick LaCrosse 2010


Buick LaCrosse 2010




Buick LaCrosse 2010

Buick LaCrosse 2010


The design was based on the 2008 Buick Invicta concept, and replaces the Chinese and U.S. models. States that the new Buick LaCrosse to be of U.S. combat Lexus
Buick LaCrosse 2010

Buick LaCrosse 2010


Buick LaCrosse 2010

Buick LaCrosse 2010

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be the first General Motors model to offer Side Blind Zone Alert, which, like other blind spot warning systems, helps you avoid bumping shoulders with other motorists when changing lanes. It's optional on 2010 CXL and CXS models equipped with the Comfort and Convenience package.

The system has radar-equipped sensors with alternating radar beams that cover about a lane's width on either side of the vehicle and about 10 feet back from the rear of the vehicle.

An orange icon on the LaCrosse's side mirrors icon lights up whenever the alert system detects a vehicle in the driver's blind spot — and flashes if the driver puts on the turn signal to indicate a move in that direction.

2010 Buick LaCrosse CX 4-Cylinder

Now that you’re well versed in LaCrosse goings-on, let’s get to the specifics of the 2.4-liter CX. This 3800-plus-pound sedan is motivated by a mere 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, but even so, the LaCrosse can get out of its own way. Beyond just moving this big four-door, the direct-injected 2.4-liter has enough power to facilitate safe passing maneuvers on two-lane roads. It’s rated for decent mileage, at 19 mpg city and 30 on the highway, so what more could you ask for? Well, that depends on what you’re seeking.

If you’re looking at the four-cylinder because it’s the cheapest way to get into a LaCrosse (at $26,995) and you desire a nice, comfy car wherein performance or mechanicals are of no importance, then by all means, go for it. But if you’re looking at the LaCrosse as an entry-luxury car, then you should step up to the 3.6-liter V-6.

During our drive in rural Virginia, the LaCrosse CX exhibited the same annoyances with its transmission that we’ve encountered in the Chevrolet Equinox equipped with the same powertrain. The six-speed automatic is obviously programmed for fuel economy above all else and thus is constantly changing ratios. Shift up, shift down, back up again, and back down; the box is as annoying as a twitching eyelid, swapping gears on the slightest incline or even gust of wind. It wouldn’t be so bad if the changes were seamless, but they are felt, and the transmission in our example even stumbled over itself a couple of times, causing a hard jolt in the cabin. Speaking of cabin disturbances, in fifth or sixth gear, we found that the 2.4-liter often sounded like a diesel, producing a low rumble that vibrated the floorboards. Our car was a preproduction build, so we hope this was an isolated case; all that NVH certainly contradicts the smooth luxury rep the LaCrosse is trying to cultivate.

We will admit that ordering the smaller motor does have a benefit beyond fuel economy, as the steering lightens up a bit with less weight over the front and offers better on-center feel than in the V-6 cars. The LaCrosse has a solid structure that can actually take a twist in the road with some confidence, although the huge A-pillars hinder visibility, especially in left-handers.

The LaCrosse, of course, isn’t intended as a performance machine. It’s supposed to be a luxury car where disturbances are minimal—if they’re there at all. But given our early disappointment with the refinement of this drivetrain and the fact that its fuel-economy gains over front-wheel-drive V-6 models are minimal—2 mpg city and 3 mpg highway—stepping up to a couple extra cylinders makes sense if you can afford it. We look forward to testing a production LaCrosse CX to see if that opinion changes.