2013 Buick Regal: eAssist Now Standard

Buick is making fuel economy a priority for its 2013 Regal lineup. Newly standard on the automaker's midsize sedan is the eAssist mild hybrid system; it was previously optional.

EAssist combines the Regal's 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a small, 15-hp electric motor. It also uses regenerative braking, a battery pack and automatic start/stop functionality to get an EPA rating of 25/36 mpg city/highway. Unlike many hybrids, it cannot run on battery power alone, however.

This year, Buick made a similar move with its LaCrosse large sedan; the eAssist powertrain became standard on the LaCrosse for model-year 2012.

The base Regal's 2.4-liter will be discontinued for 2013, making the Regal's only other engines a 220-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a version of that engine tuned to make 270 hp in the high-performance Regal GS.

No word yet on the 2013 Regal eAssist pricing, but the 2012 model starts at $28,490 excluding an $885 destination charge.

All Buicks to Get Standard Multimedia System

Later this year, Buick will begin rolling out its IntelliLink multimedia system as standard across the brand’s entire lineup. Among other features, it will give owners access to Pandora internet radio.

The new 2012 Buick Verano and 2012 Regal will come standard with a 7-inch touch-screen, while the LaCrosse will get an 8-inch screen. The 2013 Buick Enclave will get a touch-screen and IntelliLink standard, too.

Much like Chevrolet’s MyLink system, IntelliLink gives Buick owners access to Pandora and Stitcher internet radio streaming programs and a better voice-recognition system, which allows for simple voice commands. There’s also upgraded USB connectivity, including the ability to play music from a memory stick as well as an MP3 player. Those updates are on top of other recent OnStar enhancements that include hands-free texting and Facebook updates, along with navigation and traffic updates.

When the launch is completed, Buick will be one of the first automotive brands to offer a multimedia system as standard equipment. 

2012 Buick Regal GS, eAssist Priced

Buick's new high-mileage 2012 Buick Regal with eAssist will start at $28,670 and the performance-oriented Regal GS will start at $34,270 when the models go on sale later this year. Both prices exclude an $860 destination charge.

GM says the eAssist trim costs $2,000 more than the standard 2012 Buick Regal. Since the price of the latter hasn’t been formally announced, that would mean the base Regal will cost $26,670, up $310 from last year.

For those who don’t remember, the eAssist trim is the new name for GM’s mild-hybrid system. The powertrain combines a four-cylinder gasoline engine, small electric motor, regenerative braking and battery pack, and other fuel-saving measures to achieve EPA mileage ratings of 25/36 mpg city/highway.  The eAssist model also comes with dual-zone air conditioning, seven-speaker stereo, leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear parking sonar and push-button start standard. The Regal hybrid model has the same powertrain and fuel economy estimates as the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, though the LaCrosse costs $1,290 more.

2012 Buick Regal GS Rated at 270 HP

The 2012 Buick Regal GS has been certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers at 270 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque. That makes the GS’ turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder the most power-dense engine SAE has ever certified, at 135 hp per liter. The figure is also an improvement from the 255 hp GM taunted to us back in November. 

Despite delivering more torque than the Acura TSX V-6, Audi A4 Sport and Lexus IS 350, the Regal is slower than all those vehicles, with a zero-to-60-mph time of just 6.7 seconds. But it is a hair faster than the 2012 Volvo S60 T5, which does the job in 6.8 seconds.

The Regal GS will be offered with a standard six-speed manual transmission, with an automatic transmission available later. The sedan will deliver up to 28 mpg on the highway with the manual, GM says.

The GS comes with a number of high-performance features, such as 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, adjustable drive settings and a four-wheel sport suspension. Twenty-inch wheels will be available as an option. On the inside, there’s a flat-bottom steering wheel, metal pedals and unique leather seats.

GM hasn’t given a specific launch date for the GS, but expect it at showrooms before the end of the year. 

2012 Buick LaCrosse Priced at $29,960

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse, which now comes equipped with a standard mild hybrid system, will start at $29,960, excluding an $860 destination charge, according to General Motors. The 2012 goes on sale later this summer.

The price is a significant increase from the 2011 model year, which started at $27,130. The new mild hybrid system — Buick calls it “eAssist” — is capable of delivering an EPA-estimated 25/37 mpg city/highway.  For more information on how the eAssist system works, go here.

If hybrids aren’t your thing, an E85-capable, 303-horsepower V-6 is available as a no-cost option. This is a similar marketing approach that Lincoln is taking with its MKZ sedan ($34,645). The 2.4-liter four-cylinder from last year is no longer offered in the LaCrosse, while an all-wheel-drive version (V-6 only) is again available.

Impressive New Six-Speed Transmission Heading to 2012 GM Cars

As I mentioned in my earlier Quick Drive report, the eAssist mild hybrid system performs well in the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, but to me the greater impression from that test drive was how well the next-generation six-speed-automatic transmission behaved. There's hope for GM yet.

The LaCrosse is the first model to integrate the second generation of GM Powertrain's GF6, the global front-wheel-drive six-speed automatic transmission. I've complained about hesitancy among GM automatics for years, including everything from the early Saturn Outlook (since retired) and current Cadillac CTS to the new Chevrolet Cruze. The kickdown delay on the Cruze is the single major blight on an otherwise excellent model.

Buick Sales Soar Past Lexus

An air of hyperbole seems to float in the mainstream media about the success of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. They cite things like earnings reports, repaying debt, you name it. But they don’t usually tackle the concrete sales of cars.

When you look at the numbers, one success story clearly stands above all: Buick outsold Lexus in February, for the second month in a row. Buick also outsold Mercedes-Benz (if you discount sales of the Sprinter work van), along with Audi and Acura. Only BMW outsold Buick on the strength of BMW’s new X3 SUV. The storied German brand topped Buick by 800 units.

The story, though, is Buick. With just four vehicles in showrooms — the Enclave crossover and the LaCrosse, Lucerne and Regal sedans — it has outsold the nearly unbeatable Lexus.

2011 Chicago Auto Show: Winners & Losers

As auto shows in Chicago go, 2011 brought a decent crop of announcements. Fast cars have been a pariah in recent years, so the gearheads in us like that they’re back — especially among mainstream nameplates. Editors Kelsey Mays, Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder weigh in on this week’s Windy City debuts.
 
2012 Acura TL
Kelsey Mays: Winner
The TL’s toned-down grille suits the car better, and I can abide (barely) by the lower-bumper openings, which mirror those on the ZDX crossover-thing. With a rear bumper that doesn’t protrude to quite such a hard point in the middle, the rear is a certain improvement. Last year’s TL “really sagged down” in back, an Acura spokesman said. I agree. Add to that the car’s gas mileage improvements — which are considerable with its base V-6 — and the TL rides high.

Mike Hanley: Winner
Give Acura credit for recognizing a problem with the design of the TL and doing something about it. The sedan's new face has removed the controversial elements of the car but in the process created one without much of a design identity. It's a clean look, but not particularly memorable. Still, I'm betting TL sales will increase.

2012 Buick Regal with eAssist at 2011 Chicago Auto Show

• Competes with: Acura TSX, Volkswagen CC, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid  
• Looks like: Buick doesn’t like the word "hybrid"
• Drivetrain: 182-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 15-hp electric motor with a six-speed automatic transmission 
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2011 

As Buick continues to redefine itself as an upscale automotive brand, there’s also a growing emphasis on fuel efficiency for the automaker. The Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows brought us the Buick Verano compact sedan and a standard mild-hybrid system for the LaCrosse. That same hybrid system can also be found in the 2012 Buick Regal.

Dubbed the 2012 Buick Regal with eAssist, the German-derived sedan will get GM’s next-generation mild hybrid technology as an optional powertrain. GM says the model is capable of 26/37 mpg city/highway, which is 1 mpg better in city mileage than the larger LaCrosse.

2010 Los Angeles Auto Show: Winners and Losers, Cars

Automakers are certainly experiencing a rebound these days as sales are climbing. The boost in their coffers has led to an explosion of new models, and the auto-show season is the time to introduce them to the world. This makes our days harder — and the list of winners and losers a lot longer. In alphabetical order, see which debuts dazzled and which fizzled in the eyes of our editors, David Thomas, Joe Wiesenfelder, Kelsey Mays and Mike Hanley. Next up will be the SUVs, crossovers and minivans.