Buick News: Why The 2013 Buick Regal Is More Expensive

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

August 30, 2012

Last year, a base Buick Regal started at $27,055. For 2013, the base Regal will now start at $29,015, a jump of almost $2,000.

Why the $2,000 increase? Well, the Regal will be following in the LaCrosse's footsteps and offer the eAssist powertrain as standard equipment. eAssist was a $2,000 option on the Regal for 2012 and it has been rolled into pricetag.

eAssist will improve the base Regal's fuel economy from 19 City/31 Highway to 25 City/36 Highway.

Source: Buick

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[smk4565]

This thing costs a lot. Especially when you compare to a Ford Fusion Hybrid starting at $27,200 that is rumored to get 47/47 mpg.

[hyperv6]

I like this car but if I have no choice to not get E assist I would have to pass. It may be a nice system but I would rather have a car without it.

I am affraid this is what we will see more of in the future to get MPG even higher. No choice and more expense.

[regfootball]

fusion hybrid does not have leather standard

[ocnblu]

Very bad decision. It's almost like Buick is trying to kill this car.

[A Horse With No Name]

This and the new Malibu...pretty much shades of the Old GM....

[hyperv6]

These two cars are old GM.

GM has only finished a Malibu started before the Chapter 11 and the Buick was a model planned before the Chapter 11. At this point Buick is in a squeeze between Cadillac and Chevy and has yet to really step out to be their own model.

One only has to look at the many new Cadillacs coming to know where most of the first money went leading off with the ATS. Chevy will also see more changes soon but till Cadillac moves up in image and price Buick is kind of stuck.

The Verano is the new base stone followed by the Encore and at some point the Regal and Lacrosse will be replaces with higher value and better models vs what they are today. As it is Buick has taken on the inage of a fancier more expensive Chevy just as Pontiac did.

I would not rush to judgment on Buick yet as they really have yet to lay out their plans.

The sad fact is things like E assist will be added to most cars to bump MPG like it or not. I for one would like the option to choose if I want it or not.

Edited August 31, 2012 by hyperv6

[regfootball]

Maybe we'll see a 2.5 Regal at some point. I'd really like a basic Regal manual, turbo or no.

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't mind eAssist being an option, but the 2.4 or 2.5 should have remained as base.

[frogger]

For sure, the compromise of trunk space and flexibility is just too much. The 2.5L Verano may not be as attractive but seems like a better deal now.

[G. David Felt]

Many people will consider this a good deal due to the big bump in gas mileage. I think it will do fine and while hard core car nuts like us might not like a forced e-assist system on us, I do agree that all auto companies will be going this route to gain mileage.

[smk4565]

In a way, this could be a way to push Buick as the "green" brand and trying to compete with Toyota and their hybrids. I see Buick as a brand that wants to keep the base, but steal some baby boomers off Toyota and females off Mercury. Maybe this is a push to get the environmentalist buyer also, although the eAssist cars still get whipped by the full hybrids and Buick has no full hybrid to offer.

I think the real reason though is CAFE prep. GM has the Silverado and other GMT900s as heavy drains, and are even pretty heavy in crossovers. Conversely, GM doesn't have a lot of 40 mpg cars to sell.

[ocnblu]

Chevverlay Cruze Missile Eco and Sonic 1.4t. But not the Schpark.

[riviera74]

In a way, this could be a way to push Buick as the "green" brand and trying to compete with Toyota and their hybrids. I see Buick as a brand that wants to keep the base, but steal some baby boomers off Toyota and females off Mercury. Maybe this is a push to get the environmentalist buyer also, although the eAssist cars still get whipped by the full hybrids and Buick has no full hybrid to offer.

I think the real reason though is CAFE prep. GM has the Silverado and other GMT900s as heavy drains, and are even pretty heavy in crossovers. Conversely, GM doesn't have a lot of 40 mpg cars to sell.

QFT.

[regfootball]

it's not easy to sell a 31 mpg car, a 36 mpg car is easier to at least get the typical average AMURCHAN IDIOT in to try it. (i.e. CR bangers and other usual uninformed Joe Blows).

2014 will likely see the 2.5 or 2.5+eassist. The next e Assist had better have a better battery packaging solution.

[chevelle454]

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

[smk4565]

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

But then the Regal has the same engine as a $50k Cadillac XTS. What GM has created by making Cadillac a V6 brand, is that Buick becomes a 4-cylinder brand. Wouldn't surprise me if even the Lacrosse loses the V6 in favor of a turbo four on the next redesign.

I have a feeling GM is going to put eAssist on everything and just make people buy it. Cruze will get it, Equinox, Enclave, CTS, etc. GM's 2011 CAFE number was 32 mpg for cars and 23 mpg for light trucks. By 2025 they need to get to 54 mpg, get ready for a lot of eAssist fours, and no V8s.

[hyperv6]

To get to the higher levels of MPG they will have many things like this creeping into our cars in the next 10 years.

Though they did drop the hybrid from the new coming truck line. It makes me think they have something new coming.

[Drew Dowdell]

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

God no... all of that weight in the nose would screw up the balance of one of the best balanced FWD vehicles available. If you want over 300hp, the 2.0 Ecotec turbo can already offer that, GM certified.

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

But then the Regal has the same engine as a $50k Cadillac XTS. What GM has created by making Cadillac a V6 brand, is that Buick becomes a 4-cylinder brand. Wouldn't surprise me if even the Lacrosse loses the V6 in favor of a turbo four on the next redesign.

I have a feeling GM is going to put eAssist on everything and just make people buy it. Cruze will get it, Equinox, Enclave, CTS, etc. GM's 2011 CAFE number was 32 mpg for cars and 23 mpg for light trucks. By 2025 they need to get to 54 mpg, get ready for a lot of eAssist fours, and no V8s.

You're kind of close. eAssist will be available in every Buick eventually.

[ocnblu]

Available, or MANDATORY? This is not a free country.

A 2.5 Regal should be the base... SANS eek-assist.

[FAPTurbo]

In a way, this could be a way to push Buick as the "green" brand and trying to compete with Toyota and their hybrids. I see Buick as a brand that wants to keep the base, but steal some baby boomers off Toyota and females off Mercury. Maybe this is a push to get the environmentalist buyer also, although the eAssist cars still get whipped by the full hybrids and Buick has no full hybrid to offer.

Interesting theory. I could see Buick actually appealing to upper/mid-wealth customers that lean green. Lexus' hybrid offerings in that price range are quite unappealing to look at, whereas Buick's designs are thoroughly European. Presenting the brand as the home of green, Euro-lux/sport vehicles would be a neat approach.

[ocnblu]

Except they need sales...

[regfootball]

eAssist should be defeatable. And should have selectable levels of 'engine off'.

I really do think stop start may become lots more typical.... thus why GM is rolling it out. Get it in production for the consumers to beta test, and bring the cost down for the future Daewoos, er...... Chevies......

[Drew Dowdell]

Mandatory on none, base on some, available on others.

[chevelle454]

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

God no... all of that weight in the nose would screw up the balance of one of the best balanced FWD vehicles available. If you want over 300hp, the 2.0 Ecotec turbo can already offer that, GM certified.

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

But then the Regal has the same engine as a $50k Cadillac XTS. What GM has created by making Cadillac a V6 brand, is that Buick becomes a 4-cylinder brand. Wouldn't surprise me if even the Lacrosse loses the V6 in favor of a turbo four on the next redesign.

I have a feeling GM is going to put eAssist on everything and just make people buy it. Cruze will get it, Equinox, Enclave, CTS, etc. GM's 2011 CAFE number was 32 mpg for cars and 23 mpg for light trucks. By 2025 they need to get to 54 mpg, get ready for a lot of eAssist fours, and no V8s.

You're kind of close. eAssist will be available in every Buick eventually.

I would much rather have a V6 than a Turbo 4 anyday.

[hyperv6]

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

God no... all of that weight in the nose would screw up the balance of one of the best balanced FWD vehicles available. If you want over 300hp, the 2.0 Ecotec turbo can already offer that, GM certified.

What the Regal really needs is the 3.6 LFX. Maybe add E assist to that engine in the future. It already gets 300+ HP and upto 30 MPG depending on application

But then the Regal has the same engine as a $50k Cadillac XTS. What GM has created by making Cadillac a V6 brand, is that Buick becomes a 4-cylinder brand. Wouldn't surprise me if even the Lacrosse loses the V6 in favor of a turbo four on the next redesign.

I have a feeling GM is going to put eAssist on everything and just make people buy it. Cruze will get it, Equinox, Enclave, CTS, etc. GM's 2011 CAFE number was 32 mpg for cars and 23 mpg for light trucks. By 2025 they need to get to 54 mpg, get ready for a lot of eAssist fours, and no V8s.

You're kind of close. eAssist will be available in every Buick eventually.

I would much rather have a V6 than a Turbo 4 anyday.

I used to think that way but I have learned better.

I have had two 3800 SC engines and now have a 3.0 HV and one 3.6 HV and I would not take any of them over the 2.0 Turbo I drive daily. To be honest I would take the 2.0 Turbo over a couple of the V8 engines I have had in the past. I thought when I bought my LNF I was making a misatake I may regret but today I only hope they continue to put this engine in more vehicles including more rew cars.

Either way there is no way companies will make the MPG of the coming regs unless customers change their buying habits. Since there will be no large wave to the electric cars and diesels they will be putting these hybrid systems on to get as much as they can from the cars till they can removed more weight.

This is not about being green this is about increaseing MPG in cars that are still too heavy.

[Drew Dowdell]

yes, GM cars, particularly the Epsilon platform, need to get themselves back over to Jenny Craig really fast. I really hope Alpha is just the first in a long line of lightweight cars from GM.

Drive the Regal GS first before you insist on a V6. I think you'd find pretty quickly it doesn't need it, just turn up the Turbo a bit, because a big heavy V6 will just throw the excellent balance out of wack.

[CanadianBacon94]

Though they did drop the hybrid from the new coming truck line. It makes me think they have something new coming.

Mark Reuss was tweeting GMI after that storty came out

mreuss: @GMdudeinNA @GMInsideNews @nsap "new lows in headlines from some rumor stated as fact. Unbelievable. Lazy, silly, and sad. Bottom barrel."

mreuss:‏ @GMdudeinNA @GMInsideNews: "GM Cancels Next Generation Hybrid Trucks, SUVs http://bit.ly/Q7oRgy #GMChat” @nsap new heights of irresponsible reporting."

[Drew Dowdell]

that would be the second time in as many months that Mark chided GMI for something on twitter so directly.

[ocnblu]

Well, we knew they'd keep a hybrid fullsize truck, even if it's just for window dressing. Because nobody actually buys the thing.

[hyperv6]

Though they did drop the hybrid from the new coming truck line. It makes me think they have something new coming.

Mark Reuss was tweeting GMI after that storty came out

mreuss: @GMdudeinNA @GMInsideNews @nsap "new lows in headlines from some rumor stated as fact. Unbelievable. Lazy, silly, and sad. Bottom barrel."

mreuss:‏ @GMdudeinNA @GMInsideNews: "GM Cancels Next Generation Hybrid Trucks, SUVs http://bit.ly/Q7oRgy #GMChat” @nsap new heights of irresponsible reporting."

I had a feeling something was up. I just assumed GM may have had something new coming and someone only reporting what they knew.

It is true few people buy them and that is why I think we will see more and more this kind of thing becoming standard. If you convince they they need it then you force them to take it.

[ocnblu]

That kind of dictatorial BS is most certain to elicit a Balthazar attitude toward new trucks across the NA continent. Does GM REALLY want that? Sales WILL fall through the floor!

[CanadianBacon94]

Well, we knew they'd keep a hybrid fullsize truck, even if it's just for window dressing. Because nobody actually buys the thing.

I'm expecting large gains in the effectiveness of this system vs the last gen

with lighter weight and better battery integration materials etc

I don't expect it to make it worth the cost, but maybe high twenties mpg city

Edited September 3, 2012 by CanadianBacon94

[smk4565]

Diesel is the path to better fuel economy, not an overweight hybrid system tied to a 6 liter V8. When CAFE hits 54 mpg, which is only 40 or so EPA mpg, they will need the Silverado getting over 30 mpg. I see a 3 liter diesel, perhaps with an eAssist, and 8-9 speed automatic and tons on weight saving measures being what the Silverado gets. Or they make an electric version if batteries are good enough.

[PONTIAC06]

back on topic, I know this isn't the response people want, but you can CHOOSE to go to the 2.0T as a NO COST option instead of the e-assist. So no, there is no base model regal, but like others have said the MPG will get more people into the showroom than the availability of a 2.4 w/o e-assist. It's not like Buick is making you buy e-assist on every single Regal they sell, and as much as we bash GM, how many of you are going to go out there right now and buy a 2.4 base Regal...probably none...it's not targeted at most of you.

[riviera74]

Since the new CAFE standards are quite high, automakers in general (and GM in particular) should stop focusing so hard on hybrids and focus on something more valuable: cutting weight. Remember the old Geo Metro from 1989? That little car had high MPG for one reason: it was a bantamweight. Diesels would be great for trucks, but current and especially future GM cars need to ditch the tonnage right now. Too many GM cars could stand to drop 500-1000 pounds right now and GM would become the MPG leader almost immediately. No GM car or truck should be vying to weigh as much as my 99 Park Avenue Ultra (about 5000 lbs.). Smaller engines and e-Assist will not correct the original problem of too much mass.

[hyperv6]

GM is on a weight loss program now but it will not show in most platforms till they are replaced or models are moved down.

The Alpha show what GM is doing and the Trucks should show some major loses. The Nox and Terrain will move to the Delta II and see a great loss of weight from the present 4100 pounds.

It takes a lot work to cut weight in a major amount of pounds It also takes time and money to do a new plaform. By 2020 we should see a lot of weight cut by then but there will still be more work ahead.

Look for little weight to be down even on the C7 just with the narrowing of the car.

[ocnblu]

The 1960 Ford Falcon:

181.2" long

70.1" wide

109.5" wheelbase

23 cu ft trunk

The 2012 Buick Regal:

190.2" long

73.1" wide

107.8" wheelbase

14.2 cu ft trunk without eek-Assist?

LaCrosse with eek-Assist has a truly pathetic 10.8 cu ft trunk, and 12.8 with normal powertrain (can that be right?)

[ponchoman49]

Count me in on seeing the Regal with some sort of V6 option. The V6's today are much lighter than before with all alloy and compact construction. The LFX is a lighter engine than the twin turbo 2.8 in the Opel version of this car so there wouldn't be much difference compared to the turbo mills. The Impala and LaCrosse I rented with the LFX never felt nose heavy in turns and were a delight to rev. The most common complaint about the current Regal with 2.4/2.0 liter T is fuel mileage which is worse than many V6 mid to full size competitors. Neither of these two engines is very quick or refined. If anything I wouldn't mind seeing the Malibu's 2.5 hitched to a new more compact eAssist as the std setup for mileage seekers with the Malibu's new 2.0 liter T as the no charge up level engine and the GS should have the HO 323 HP version of the LFX when hitched to the automatic and the HO 2.0 liter T when had with the stick. These changes would be a win win across the board for this car with increased economy, power, NVH characteristics and far more appeal.