Buick Announces Hybrid and Turbocharged Versions of Regal

The fifth generation Buick Regal, is the marque's first attempt to step away from its dowdy image that it has had since... well, forever, to be honest. Based on the Opel Insignia, it appears more modern and stylish than any Buick in recent memory, and for 2012 there will be two more versions available to make it even more enticing. Next year, the Regal will be available with General Motors' hybrid system or a turbocharged four-cylinder. 

The hybrid model, which GM dubs eAssist, will be a $2,000 option for the Regal. With fuel economy of 25miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 36mpg on the highway, GM claims that it will pay for itself in three and a half years. The system comes with a display of the current charge and energy use on the instrument panel, as well as an ECO mode for the air conditioning to maximize fuel economy. 

The GS trim takes the 2.0l turbocharged Ecotec engine already available in the Regal and turns up the boost to make the engine produce 270hp, which is up 50hp compared to the other turbocharged Regal. The Regal GS is really aimed at the enthusiast market with a standard six-speed manual transmission and a six speed automatic transmission that will be coming later in the year. 

The GS also comes with several standard features that either are not available or only available as options on the standard Regal. For the interior it comes with push-button start; a leather-wrapped, flat bottom steering wheel with audio controls; 12-way adjustable sport seats and a premium Harmon Kardon  radio. 

Drivers can choose between three settings of damping with the GS's Drive Control System: standard, sport and GS. It also comes with parking assist, HID headlamps and 19-inch wheels.

Buick did not announce prices for the GS model, but both the eAssist and GS will be available next year.