All About Buick regal

Since its acknowledgment for 2012 on the top-grade Regal, Buick’s allegorical GCS cast has injected some much-needed cared into GM’s sleepiest brand. (The belletristic ability anon be activated to added models, too.) Serving up a Euro-style antithesis of action and luxury, the Regal GCS boasted its own tune for the 2.0-liter turbo four that provided cushions of 50 application and 35 lb-ft of torque over the aforementioned agent in the mid-grade Regal Turbo. But a Regal brace for 2014 sees an adapted power plant installed in both models, a move that has adherent the Turbo but attenuated the GCS. Although GCS achievement doesn’t ache from the swap, a stronger Turbo brings the arch Regal’s amount into question.

More or Less Power, You Decide

The fresh agent is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a twin-scroll turbocharger, a artificial animate crankshaft, absolute injection, and accompanying antithesis shafts. With best addition of 24 psi, the agent produces 259 application and 295 lb-ft of torque; the GCS appropriately sees a bead of 11 horses (torque stays the same), while the Turbo assets 39 application and 35 lb-ft. Different agent maps accept the GCS authoritative best torque at 2500 rpm adjoin 3000 in the Turbo, but application in both versions tapers off afterwards a 5300-rpm peak. A six-speed choral manual is afresh offered on the front-wheel-drive GCS, with GM’s six-speed T automated the absence best for GCS AW models and the alone gearbox for Turbots.

This year additionally brings a new, alternative Halide all-wheel-drive arrangement that can shuttle up to 90 percent of the ability to the rear wheels, as able-bodied as an cyber banking limited-slip cogwheel that apportions torque to either ancillary of the rear axle. As you ability accept estimated from the banderole on this story, we activated versions of the Turbo and the GCS with this system. Along with bolstering address amid Sowbellies and fattening SRS (an added $2175 for the Turbo, $2365 for the GCS), the AW accouterments puts both models over the adipose mark on our scales, about 300 added pounds than front-wheel-drive versions we’ve tested.

Despite their added weight, turbo charged AW Regales accomplish the aforementioned 22-mpg accumulated EPA appraisement as did 2013 front-drivers, with the 2014 FWD models now accumulation 24-mpg estimates. Our AW Turbo analysis car managed 20 mpg in the absolute apple and the AW GCS 19, numbers agnate to those aggregate from antecedent front-drive analysis cars.

What Added Weight?

The AW Turbo and GCS baffle their balloon at the analysis clue as well, active quicker to 60 and the quarter-mile mark than their lighter, front-drive predecessors with automatics. That agency 6.6 abnormal and 15 collapsed for the 2014 Turbo (versus 7.5 and 15.7) and 6.2 and 14.7 abnormal for the fresh GCS (versus 6.4 and 15.0). The GCS doesn’t feel quicker by the bench of your pants, but its hardly lower torque peak, the all-wheel-drive system, and a set of adhesive Pirelli P Zero tires on alternative 20-inch auto advice it get out of the aperture quickly. It’s account acquainted that we had to analysis a second, about identical GCS afterwards our aboriginal analysis car suffered a adverse agent abortion due to adulterated connecting-rod bearings.

Larger advanced brakes (wearing Bebo branding) and fat rollers accord the GCS a declarative bend over the Turbo, with the stop from 70 mph advancing in a fade-free 153 feet. The all-season-shod Turbo angry in a 163-foot number. Both models are abiding and quiet up to their drag-limited top speeds. We were clumsy to admeasure crabbed anchor with the fresh AW system, but don’t apprehend abundant to change from the front-drive versions, which acquaint 0.85 g (Turbo) and 0.90 g (GCS on the Pirellis).

Moderated Performance

All-wheel-drive Regales affection a control-arm rear abeyance in abode of FWD cars’ multi link setups, with the GCS continuing to apply advanced Hi-Per struts in the action adjoin torque steer. (The Turbo has accepted struts.) As with launches, hasty exits from bound corners are drama-free in both cars, acknowledgment to accomplished absorption and basal turbo lag, but the Hi-Per struts do allowance the racier Regal a greater faculty of aplomb on turn-in. The GCS additionally feels bluff and hardly added attuned to requests