2013 Buick Regal Gets Some Ch-Ch-Changes

Kind of surprised they haven't worked the e-assist into the 2.5L motor yet- maybe for 2014. Nonetheless the economy is nice and is a nice move to make some consistency in the Buick lineup with a little more power too although I don't care too much for e-assist myself and would prefer not to purchase a car with yet more weight and a giant battery in the trunk that will eventually need to be replaced. I suppose that's why they retain the frankly sweet 2.0 Turbo setup, which would be my choice if I was going to shell out for a Regal.

My hope is that the e-assist doesn't get forced on the Verano just yet as I am hoping that 2013 will bring the 2.5L I4 base engine sans e-assist for me to buy. If not I might be forced to buy a leftover 2012 at the end of the year in self defence.

As an aside, here is the Cloth/Leatherette seats we get as the base Regal here which I suspect might be extended to the US as well as part of the move:

With buying a new car later this year I would wait for the new 2.0 and 2.5. While I am ok with GM selling E assist. I would rather not have a car with it. To me the little gain in MPG is offset with more things to go wrong later on. I tend to keep cars long enough it could be a factor.

EekAssist sucks, big time.

The change it needs is a way to get the price down.

The GS doing 0-60 in 6.7 seconds at 27 mpg is nothing. A 328i does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and gets 36 mpg at the same price. Either the Buick needs more fuel economy and speed or less price, and I would vote for less price to go against the Azera and Maxima type cars.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

I hope now all that complained that the GS was not the full on V6 Turbo AWD can understand how much the OPC would have been and how few would have sold. GM would be best off to wait for a AWD say on something like a Alpha and make a better more expensive car there still slotted under the ATS and above the Camaro.

What was the OPC something like $50K plus in Europe?

The GS is a nice car but it needs to be closer to $30K. The 2.0 ATS would be a much better value and worth the wait.

Yaaaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnnnn

Is all I have to say about this.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

The 220 hp Regal costs as much or more than cars with 260-280 hp though. And it isn't like the Regal interior or feature content is amazing to compensate. For example, a 280 hp V6 Passat is about $29k. The Regal is just sort of a yawn car, and a wow price.

Maybe Buick can resurrect the Aura as a Century, a bargain midsizer priced between the Verano and Regal.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

The 220 hp Regal costs as much or more than cars with 260-280 hp though. And it isn't like the Regal interior or feature content is amazing to compensate. For example, a 280 hp V6 Passat is about $29k. The Regal is just sort of a yawn car, and a wow price.

The mainstream Turbo I think is going to get upped to around 250HP soon for what it's worth. I think the Verano 2.0T will have like 250 as well.

eAssist is quite an upgrade to the base 2.4 SIDI motor, which is neither powerful or efficient and shouldn't exist in the first place. The only midsizer slower than the Regal (0-60 in 9.8 seconds) is the Prius.

eAssist gives the Buick brand a competitive advantage and its price will only go down as that system becomes more and more common.

The automatic in the GS is too little too late. It should have launched with an automatic option while the car was still fresh. Now the car is completely out-classed and can't compete in this segment. They could have sold so many more last year if they had launched with an automatic option.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

The 220 hp Regal costs as much or more than cars with 260-280 hp though. And it isn't like the Regal interior or feature content is amazing to compensate. For example, a 280 hp V6 Passat is about $29k. The Regal is just sort of a yawn car, and a wow price.

The mainstream Turbo I think is going to get upped to around 250HP soon for what it's worth. I think the Verano 2.0T will have like 250 as well.

That is my thinking witht he new Eco II coming. I seeGM adding more power to it and the 270 HP at some point.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

The 220 hp Regal costs as much or more than cars with 260-280 hp though. And it isn't like the Regal interior or feature content is amazing to compensate. For example, a 280 hp V6 Passat is about $29k. The Regal is just sort of a yawn car, and a wow price.

Only an idiot would pay that price. By the time I made my deal the price would be at a very accpetable price. Between discounts, GM, rebates and the normal drop in price I would get I would see a very good deal. The Issue with the GS is even with $7000 off it is too much for what you get.

The automatic in the GS is too little too late. It should have launched with an automatic option while the car was still fresh. Now the car is completely out-classed and can't compete in this segment. They could have sold so many more last year if they had launched with an automatic option.

I think the GS is still fresh as many people really know little on the car. GM has showin it in advertising on TV but has said little about what is inside. It is much like my HHR SS I still get people who think I Customized my own HHR only to be shocked to find Chevy built it and it hs a 290 HP Turbo 4. The next comment is I never knew.

As of now other than a few shots in commercial and a couple magazine reviews it is a great unknown.

It would have helped to have had the Auto and market it all at one time but I don't see it as a killer as much as price.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

The 210 hp A4 costs as much or more than cars with 260-280 hp though. And it isn't like the A4' interior or feature content is amazing to compensate. For example, a 280 hp V6 Passat is about $29k. The A4 is just sort of a yawn car, and a wow price.

Fixed.

The GS is off the table for me as there are much better options in that price range. Now the 2.0 220 hp Turbo is still at a good price in class. There is no way I would pay that much for that kind of car That was the same issue with the GXP Bonnie. I can afford a car in that range but I'll be damned if Iwould pay that much for a FWD car.

The 210 hp A4 costs as much or more than cars with 260-280 hp though. And it isn't like the A4' interior or feature content is amazing to compensate. For example, a 280 hp V6 Passat is about $29k. The A4 is just sort of a yawn car, and a wow price.

Fixed.

No, the A4 has a good interior. The A4 interior is better than the CTS, certainly far better than any Buick.

+Quattro

A lot of people might not see EekAssist as a "competitive advantage" when they consider:

A high-end Sonata is rated at 35 MPG without the ridiculous, add-on components of GM's Rube Goldberg invention (if MPG is a primary concern for midsize sedan buyers.)

EekAssist takes up precious trunk room in an already relatively small trunk (if trunk room is a primary concern for midsize sedan buyers.)

Eek Assist complicates the powertrain system and adds cost up front, and likely after the warranty runs out (if low maintenance costs as part of a decade of ownership are a primary concern for midsize sedan buyers.)

I honestly do not believe the system is worth it on a cost/benefit anal ysis basis. The new 2.5 should be rated for 35 MPG, really, where's the huge benefit to this EekAssist thing? Huh?

eAssist is quite an upgrade to the base 2.4 SIDI motor, which is neither powerful or efficient and shouldn't exist in the first place. The only midsizer slower than the Regal (0-60 in 9.8 seconds) is the Prius.

eAssist gives the Buick brand a competitive advantage and its price will only go down as that system becomes more and more common.

There is a lot more to performance than 0-60 measurements. In normal driving, the gearing is such that you'd think there is a small 6 under the hood.

eAssist is quite an upgrade to the base 2.4 SIDI motor, which is neither powerful or efficient and shouldn't exist in the first place. The only midsizer slower than the Regal (0-60 in 9.8 seconds) is the Prius.

eAssist gives the Buick brand a competitive advantage and its price will only go down as that system becomes more and more common.

There is a lot more to performance than 0-60 measurements. In normal driving, the gearing is such that you'd think there is a small 6 under the hood.

Perhaps you're talking about the eAssist Regal, because I've driven the base version and thought it was incredibly sluggish.

A lot of people might not see EekAssist as a "competitive advantage" when they consider:

A high-end Sonata is rated at 35 MPG without the ridiculous, add-on components of GM's Rube Goldberg invention (if MPG is a primary concern for midsize sedan buyers.)

EekAssist takes up precious trunk room in an already relatively small trunk (if trunk room is a primary concern for midsize sedan buyers.)

Eek Assist complicates the powertrain system and adds cost up front, and likely after the warranty runs out (if low maintenance costs as part of a decade of ownership are a primary concern for midsize sedan buyers.)

I honestly do not believe the system is worth it on a cost/benefit anal ysis basis. The new 2.5 should be rated for 35 MPG, really, where's the huge benefit to this EekAssist thing? Huh?

Regal weighs a good 400+ lbs more than Sonata. Every technology, be it direct injection, turbocharging, variable cylinder management, multi-speed transmissions, or even diesel, adds complication and cost. But you get increased efficiency and performance as a result.

eAssist could be added to the new 2.5, or in fact, any engine out there, for more MPGs and more power.

I own a regal with the "incredibly sluggish" 2.4 and it is perfectly fine. I am just as fast getting on freeways and leaving stop lights as anybody else.

eAssist is quite an upgrade to the base 2.4 SIDI motor, which is neither powerful or efficient and shouldn't exist in the first place. The only midsizer slower than the Regal (0-60 in 9.8 seconds) is the Prius.

eAssist gives the Buick brand a competitive advantage and its price will only go down as that system becomes more and more common.

There is a lot more to performance than 0-60 measurements. In normal driving, the gearing is such that you'd think there is a small 6 under the hood.

Perhaps you're talking about the eAssist Regal, because I've driven the base version and thought it was incredibly sluggish.

Nope, and even BV will back me up on this one.

The 2.4 is not sluggish by anymeans as long as you consider it a small sedan. Now if you are expecting a sports sedan yes it may feel under powered but I would in no way call it sluggish.

It will enter any highway with little drama. A little noise that the 2.5 will improve on but with no issues of getting up to speed.

Too many expect every car to be a GS, SS or a V series. The fact of life even in the past most Chevys came with a 307 and many Buicks has a V6 or 215 in the 60's. They were enough to keep the average driver happy and never pretended to be a performance car. Even at the the 2.4 Regal would out run many of these average cars of the past. Just think about the 90+ HP 2.5 Iron Duke.

2013 Regal should have 2.5L base (unfettered, naturally), and 2.0 turbo in the two flavors. Simple and to the point.

2013 Regal should have 2.5L base (unfettered, naturally), and 2.0 turbo in the two flavors. Simple and to the point.

I honestly thought that'd be the way they'd go, 2.5L base, 2.0L turbos in two flavors with an eAssist option to the 2.5.

I wonder if 2.5 production can't be ramped up fast enough to cover all of these vehicles at once.

From what I have seen it looks as if only some models will see it at first. I saw the 2.4 still listed on some cars. That could have changes but we will have to see.

Am I missing something or would it not make better sense to just put in a 1 liter generator and electric motors at all 4 wheels and get outstanding performance for a true hybrid? I would think this would be better than e-assist.

Am I missing something or would it not make better sense to just put in a 1 liter generator and electric motors at all 4 wheels and get outstanding performance for a true hybrid? I would think this would be better than e-assist.

I think you are missing the cost of such a system and how few people would pay the price it would cost. The Volts price makes it a hard sell already and I am sure this system on a Regal would be nearly as much. You also have to consider less 10% of most Regal buyers will even want such a system let alone pay for it. As these systems get cheaper you may see it some day but for the the E system is a cheap way to add a few more MPG till better things care ready for production advancement wise and affordibility wise.

I wonder if 2.5 production can't be ramped up fast enough to cover all of these vehicles at once.

That's increasingly my takeaway from this... The 2.5L would be in high demand just to cover the high volume models alone- namely the Malibu and Equinox, as well as the lower volume vehicles like the Regal, Terrain, LaCrosse, Verano, Orlando, and ATS.

Kind of surprised they haven't worked the e-assist into the 2.5L motor yet- maybe for 2014. Nonetheless the economy is nice and is a nice move to make some consistency in the Buick lineup with a little more power too although I don't care too much for e-assist myself and would prefer not to purchase a car with yet more weight and a giant battery in the trunk that will eventually need to be replaced. I suppose that's why they retain the frankly sweet 2.0 Turbo setup, which would be my choice if I was going to shell out for a Regal.

My hope is that the e-assist doesn't get forced on the Verano just yet as I am hoping that 2013 will bring the 2.5L I4 base engine sans e-assist for me to buy. If not I might be forced to buy a leftover 2012 at the end of the year in self defence.

As an aside, here is the Cloth/Leatherette seats we get as the base Regal here which I suspect might be extended to the US as well as part of the move:

those look like the new 2013 Malibu seats to me!!!!

Hmmm, if they want to keep some noticeable differentiation between Verano and Regal here in The States, they should not be coming with cloth on the bigger car.