2011 Buick Regal 2.0 Turbo

General Motors has released an update on the 2011 Buick Regal's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that enables it to run on any blend of gasoline or E85 Ethanol. The Detroit automaker claims the Regal's flex-fuel capability is a first for a direct-injected turbocharged production car.

There are no performance differences between the standard 2.0-liter turbo engine and its flex-fuel variant, as output remains at 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

However, engineers made some changes to allow the engine to run on E85. Given that ethanol needs a richer air-fuel mixture than gasoline to function properly, the flex-fuel engine is equipped with higher flow-rate injectors. In addition, a sensor in the fuel system measures the combination of gasoline and ethanol in the tank (a maximum of 85 percent is allowed of the latter), allowing the engine management system to automatically adjust the mixture to provide the required performance, emissions and fuel consumption.

GM's 2.0-liter Ecotec turbo engine also sports a new sand cast aluminium cylinder block, which translates into better durability, less noise and vibration than before.

The Regal's engine update is a step towards GM's goal of having more than 50 percent of its production in flex-fuel models by the end of 2012, with the company having already put on the streets more than 5 million flex-fuel cars in the last 15 years.

2012 Buick Regal gains eAssist Light Hybrid System, Returns 37MPG Highway

Buick today announced that the second model in its lineup to feature the eAssist “light electrification” system is the 2012 Regal, and it will be officially unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show this week. According to the automaker, estimated fuel economy is 26 mpg city/37 mpg highway, while the overall improvement over the standard 2011 Regal fitted with a four-cylinder gasoline engine and six-speed transmission is 25%.

This is enough to beat competing models such as the Acura TSX, which returns 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

“Buick’s eAssist technology means customers don’t have to trade a premium driving experience for efficiency”, said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick marketing. “We believe Regal and LaCrosse with eAssist provide more logical and affordable choices, compared to other hybrid midsize and full-size luxury sedans”.

The eAssist system comprises a 115V lithium-ion battery and 15-kilowatt induction motor-generator, which is mounted to 2.4-liter direct injection four-cylinder powerplant in place of the alternator. Providing both motor assist and electric-generating functions, eAssist also reduces fuel consumption through regenerative braking, automatic engine shut-off when the vehicle is stationary and fuel cut-off during deceleration.

The powertrain includes a next-generation Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission as well, with reduced spin losses and higher gearing that further improves fuel economy. The system’s combined output is rated at 182HP (136 kW).

Finally, engineers optimized the car’s underbody aerodynamics and opted for 17-inch lightweight alloys and low rolling resistance tires.

The 2012 Buick Regal eAssist will go on sale in the USA this fall.

2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo Review & Test Drive

The first time I heard that the new Buick Regal was making a return to the American market I suspected something lumpy and sterile, nothing close to the category of cool. I was totally shocked when I first saw the new 2011 Regal in person. It reminded me once again that GM as reemerged as a ‘better’ and stronger car company and there is a particular GOOD reason for further developing vehicles for the Buick line.

The new 2011 Buick Regal is far from your grandparents Buick (or parents depending how old you are). Buick has had a tradition of being that car from GM that catered more towards the older crowd, but a few things have changed. The 2011 Regal further puts emphasis on a mainstream car make that could even have those in their mid 20’s perusing vehicles at your local Buick dealership.

The new Buick Regal is based off of the European Opel Insignia which has been a big seller for about one year overseas. The Regal and LaCrosse both benefit from the Insignia platform which brings German-bred characteristics to the forefront. Driving in the 2011 Regal is enjoyable, and the power that comes from my test vehicle’s 2.0-liter turbocharged 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque engine adds to that pleasure. The real relaxing part of the drive is the optional Interactive Drive Control, which is essentially GM’s active suspension dampening system with a fancy name.

Having an active dampening system, or what Buick calls the Interactive Drive Control, gives the driver three different suspension shock damping settings. The three settings (sport, normal, and touring), are all very distinctly different in order to optimize the feedback you get from different road surfaces. Sport mode will noticeably stiffen the shocks giving the Regal a subtle bouncy ride along with tightening the steering response for an over-all sporty feeling. Normal mode is activated by default when starting the vehicle offering a balanced feel for any driving situation. Touring mode optimizes the suspension for a relaxed feel and lightens the steering effort. Overall, the 2011 Regal CXL optioned with the Interactive Drive Control system gives you a competent sports sedan that can be toned down for comfy long trips.

On the road, my Buick Regal CXL Turbo has somewhat inconsistent power from its 2-liter Turbo 4 banger. Although it has adequate torque, the over-all power delivery comes on in clumps rather than in a smooth fashion. The steering feel is extremely over-sensitive by nudging the vehicle at the slightest turn of the wheel at slow cruising speeds and at highway speeds. Luckily the handling of the Regal is forgiving by understeer when pushed to the limit into a turn. The traction control and stability control is not overly intrusive to upset balance when going hot into a turn. That could be due in part to the bigger 19-inch wheels wrapped in 235/45 Goodyear Eagle RS-A rubber as part of the optional equipment package on my test car.

The Turbo engine is mated to a smooth 6-speed transmission. 0-60 times are not exactly quick, just over 8 seconds, which may have been hindered due to the 6-speed transmission not shifting as fast as I would have liked. Nevertheless, the Regal Turbo is able to move just over 3700 pounds without too much of a strain. I expected gas mileage to be exceptional but I could only muster out almost 24mpg on average during my 300 mile highway trip. The Regal CXL Turbo is rated for 18mpg city and 28mpg highway.

Outside of the new 2011 Regal you will find an attractive and somewhat sporty look. The large 19 inch wheels really blend well with the 107-inch wheel base and bubbly shaped silhouette. I am not sure if the look of the Regal CXL Turbo would draw the attention to young buyers. That may be something the new Regal GS will accomplish when it makes its debut in America as a 2012 model.

The interior as several soft touch accents and soft buttons that add a very nice quality feel to the Regal. This will do wonders for GM if they keep it up. Inside you will also find a brightly lit instrument cluster that has a subtle retro look to it with a fine point needle indicator for the speedometer and tachometer. The dashboard somewhat fades into the background due to all of the black. Just about everything on the dash is black until nighttime falls and you get to read the brightly illuminated buttons.

Some notable options found on my Regal tester, part of the T06 Optional Equipment package, was an excellent Harmon Kardon premium 9 speaker sound system, Interactive Drive Control (active dampening system), HID headlights and a power sunroof. With these options it brings the Regal CXL Turbo to an as-tested price of $32.440. A base Buick Regal CXL with a 2.4-liter 4-cyl engine starts at $26,245 which comes with a long list of standard features.

Buick is obviously chasing after vehicles such as the Acura TSX, Lincoln MKZ, Volvo S60, VW CC and even the Lexus IS250 without losing its combined German and American heritage. So far I would say the 2011 Regal CXL Turbo is a justifiable contender that could take the crown.

Buick Cars review

Buick is a division of General Motors which sells vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel by General Motors Company (GM). It is GM's North American-based entry-level luxury brand. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest American make.

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2010 Buick LaCrosse

With GM cutting its number of brands in half, those who remain in the General's employ now have both the opportunity and the obligation to define their roles, build unique products, and sell lots of cars. As one of GM's four surviving brands, Buick owes a debt of gratitude to the Chinese market, where it is considered a premium marque. In the United States, the brand urgently needs to develop a similar cachet, and the 2010 Buick LaCrosse is an effort to do just that.

Younger skin for a younger Buick

Buick is making a conscious effort to attract younger buyers, and that shows in the new LaCrosse's styling. The grille is bolder, the headlights are more aggressive, and a strong character line on the sheetmetal sweeps along the profile. A high beltline and narrow glass reduce the visual height of the car to create a sportier stance. Chrome accents appear around the side glass, above the taillights, and on the door handles of some models. In all, it is an eye-catching new design, unexpected of Buick, that still doesn't betray the brand's image of comfortable luxury.

Interior by Asia

GM tapped its Chinese designers to treat the LaCrosse's cabin. The result is tasteful design of swooping lines crafted from quality materials. The interior is accented with ambient lighting in the dash, center console, and doors that glows ice blue.



With a base price of $33,765, the top-of-the-line CXS comes with a well-equipped, luxurious cockpit. Interior appointments include leather, heated and ventilated front seats with eight-way power adjustment for both driver and passenger, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel with audio controls.

Because many Chinese car owners won't actually drive their Buicks (they'll be chauffeured, of course), GM placed extra emphasis on the rear compartment design. Legroom is expansive, and the rear seats are comfortable. While many sedans make do with a flat, benchlike rear seat, the Buick offers supportive, bucketlike seats for two passengers with room for a third on the hump. An available rear-window sunscreen raises and lowers with the push of a button next to the gear selector. All LaCrosses feature a 12-volt plug in the rear of the center console; a 120-volt AC power outlet is also available.

What's luxury without technology?

The high-end CXS comes with an extensive list of standard technology, including Bluetooth, keyless entry and ignition, an eleven-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, a USB port, and the rear AC outlet. For $350, a head-up display shows speed, rpm, outside temperature, and a compass. When listening to satellite radio, song titles appear on the windshield as the song changes, and navigation directions show up as you approach a turn. Our test car came standard with rear parking sensors and was also equipped with the $1995 navigation system, which incorporates a rear backup camera. There's also an available rear-seat DVD entertainment system with two screens mounted on the back of the front seats.

An engine for every driver

Buick will offer three engines in the LaCrosse, all using direct injection and mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. The top-tier CXS model comes with the 3.6-liter V-6 engine found in the {{{Chevrolet Camaro}}} and {{{Cadillac CTS}}}. In the LaCrosse, output is about 20 hp lower, rated at 280 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. But unlike the Camaro and the CTS, power in the Buick is routed through the front wheels. That means there's ample torque steer with spirited acceleration. In casual driving, the 3.6-liter is exceptionally refined, creating a smooth and authoritative driving experience.

The most popular engine will be the 3.0-liter V-6 found on the CX and CXL. It cedes some power to the larger-displacement V-6, with a rating of 255 hp and 217 lb-ft, but returns the same fuel economy at 17/27 mpg with front-wheel drive. The CXL with the 3.0-liter V-6 is the only LaCrosse model that will offer all-wheel drive, which knocks off 1 mpg from both the city and highway ratings.



Later in the year, Buick will add a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will take the place of the 3.0-liter in the CX. Buick made a late decision to add the fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine to the LaCrosse lineup to meet rising fuel economy standards. Also found in the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers, the engine makes 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. GM predicts about 25 percent of buyers will opt for the more fuel-efficient engine, and we hope they're right. In order for GM to continue building performance-oriented models like the Camaro and the CTS-V, it'll need to move a substantial number of fuel-sippers in other models. GM hasn't yet certified the fuel economy of the smallest engine in the Buick LaCrosse but is estimating it will achieve a 20/30 mpg rating.

Chassis by Europe

The LaCrosse rides on the Epsilon II platform that also underpins the European Opel Insignia. The front suspension setup uses MacPherson struts, and the rear uses a multilink design on the base CX trim and H-arms on the CXL and the CXS. Continuously variable dampers had been fitted to our test car with the $800 touring package. Disc brakes are standard on all four corners, as is antilock braking. On the base CX, seventeen-inch steel wheels with covers are standard, a decidedly downmarket offering on a $28,000 entry-luxury car. But eighteen-inch aluminum wheels are optional on the CX and standard on the higher trims. Nineteen-inch wheels are also available for the CXS.


Buick takes pride in the fact that the LaCrosse suspension was tuned in Europe, a land that is famed for turning out solid chassis that inspire confidence without sacrificing comfort. That focus is a stark change from Buick's reputation for cars that float down highways like a piece of driftwood rising and falling in rolling waves. It's certainly a welcome effort, but can a company so ingrained in comfort do athletic? And what about the risk of taking it too far? If grandma's dentures fall out over a stretch of rough road, is it still a Buick?

The driving experience surprise

Grandma, it turns out, still has her dentures, and she's grinning like a hooligan at a Buick that is more engaging than anything in recent brand history. The LaCrosse strikes the perfect balance of comfort and sport, with a ride that is never harsh and competent body control. It certainly isn't the second coming of the Pontiac G8, but the LaCrosse surprises with its admirable handling ability.

The steering wheel is the one place where the LaCrosse let us down, its variable-effort steering feeling feather-light and numb. This is the last nagging reminder of the old Buick that we'd love to bury six feet under.

Comfort, of course, is still a big part of the package. The powertrain is silky, and the automatic transmission makes smooth gear shifts. Buick has done an excellent job of blocking out wind noise and unwanted powertrain sounds with laminated glass and insulation. But the absence of some noises draws attention to frequent knocks from the suspension when it encounters broken pavement. Still, the overall package of luxury comfort and capable hardware creates an identity that we would love to see throughout the Buick line up.

Buick's brand new day

Set to go on sale in the fall of 2009, the entry-level CX model starts at $27,835; top-trim CXS models start at $33,765. The mid-level CXL begins at $30,395 for front-wheel drive and $32,570 for all-wheel drive. With a fresh design, a luxurious interior, and well-balanced driving dynamics, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse certainly redefines our perceptions of what was once a brand we regularly looked right past. Not only does the LaCrosse prove that the Buick Enclave crossover wasn't just a one-time badge engineering triumph, the new midsize car trumpets the arrival of a newly reinvigorated brand.