Community Question: Should Buick Tune The Regal Turbo As It Did Verano?
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We already know that the Buick Verano Turbo makes 30 horsepower more than its larger brother, the Regal Turbo… but we don’t understand why. For those wondering, the powerplants found in both vehicles is the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four-banger (LHU) that’s also found in the Opel Insignia, Astra OPC, and Regal GS – but is good for 250 in the Verano yet only 220 in the Regal. And in both the Regal Turbo and the Verano Turbo, the LHU is good for a respectable 260 pound-feet of torque. Why the discrepancy in horsepower, then?
So let’s put it to a vote:
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If I were to guess, the setup in the Verano is probably a detuned version of the Regal GS High Output Turbo setup, not a hopped up “regular” Regal Turbo.
Or maybe Buick should just drop the 4s and put in 6s
Bumping up the Regal Turbo would make the GS not as desireable. They should make a 220hp Verano Turbo and then a 270hp Verano GS. That makes more sense.
They should drop the turbo 4 from the GS and put in the turbo v6 from the VXR and then put the same turbo motor thats in the Verano into the Regal so they both make 250 hp. Then people can choose weather or not they want the larger car or smaller trubo car. Then the GS model Regal can be just under the price of an ATS/CTS which ever it is closer in size to so then if someone wants that kind of power but in RWD they go CTS/ATS. Something along those lines atleast.
The fact that a Verano Turbo is close in 0-60 time of a Regal GS I believe with less HP there is a big issue right there. Why spend more when you can spend less and get the same kind of performance and better mpg.
Thos isn’t even a question. Yes absolutley they should. This would not steal sales from the Regal GS. The GS offers a lot more things than just a standard Regal Turbo. The Regal Turbo should actually get a 260 hp rating to keep it ahead of its little brother, the Malibu Turbo. I also think GM should raise the power output of the GS but they don’t really have to as the GS is far more sporty than a regular Regal Turbo
Wouldnt it just be a regal gs then?
I don’t think giving the Regal Turbo more power would make it a Regal GS; it would just be a more potent Regal Turbo — while the GS would be the much more performance-oriented model. Kind of like Audi A4, S4, RS4.
Said nope. Give them a chance to up the HP at the MMC.
The Regal isn’t a Regal without a V6, GM’s power plant choices lately are odd at best…
Or how about 2.0T on the regular Regal and then if possible a 2.0 Supercharged?
@ Vic: No, a four cylinder engine should never be supercharged. BMW made that mistake with the first gen MINI Cooper S’.
$3205 over the price of the base regal 220 hp turbo seems like a a lot of money for an extra 38 hp. And when the 2.5 L becomes the standard engine it will only be 23 hp. Might as well drop this engine just use the 270 hp engine.
Buick is upsetting me at the moment. I was lured in by all the performance potential of the GS. While this car has power and is fun, it’s not what Buick said it would be. Now we have the Verano Turbo coming out with lots of power. Enough for a 6.2 second 0-60 time, but it will not come with an interactive drive system. Now, it seems the GS has just been forgotten by Buick. They really were headed in the right direction, but now they seem to be getting lost. So, the Verano Turbo should have the power it has now. The Regal Turbo Shiuld have the current output of the GS. The GS should have had the twin turbo V6, or at least tune the engine for 300 HP.
@Yaba would have to disagree with you here. Everything and everyone is moving to a four-banger setup and V6 is a dying breed.
But my question is who cares how many cylinders it has if it makes the power? The Regal GS has slightly less power and slightly more torque than the LFX with its four banger… It’s a great power plant.
Silent Electrician: I agree with you in the GS’ power plant, however; trust me when I say the GS should have been RWD. All that power is really hard to put down to the ground with the current FWD setup.
In that case, I’d argue that Buick has no business playing in the performance luxury space. Leave it to Cadillac, which will do it better with a proper (RWD) layout.
you will see power plant changes as the new series of engines come on line as the 2.5 and variants of that and the 2..0 and as you go down the road further with changes coming you may see a twin turbo unit as you have seen in some caddy spy shots. there are alot of variations that can be used from global engines and tuned to specific regions. over the next few years you will see suprises from buick and all the people that want power with efficiency will be very happy, the current line up is to prep for the next gen units to come out. the verano is an example of a suprise with the power it puts out the lacrosse will be next and the regal and suv will be right behind the others with suprises.
Don’t make any changes, make 2014 the final model year for all Regals in NA.
Also, noticed a dealer in Ohio had a used 2012 GS w/auto & 20″ wheels for $29,997.
Car has under 1000 miles on it. ($36,615 msrp) Massive depreciation well under way.
Silent, your points are well received, I really like V6′s, but would be open to the proper 4turbo..,
I think V6′s have there place in certain cars and believe the Regal is that car…
Perhaps make the up-level engine a V6, just as it is in the LaCrosse, @Yabadabadoo?
That sounds like a good plan for the Malibu.
Alex, absolutely… And yes the BU should have an optional 6 as well; maybe everyone and there grandma’s are litteraly migrating to 4 cylinders In there Sedans… I could be smokin the wrong end of the pipe, as much as I like my HHR I have to say my V6 BU gets better gas mileage… I am sure there are new cost of manufacturing issues we are not aware. The 2.2 in my HHR is fine 4 basic commuting and it has ok pep, but I wonder what if it had a 3.0 v6…
Bumping the power up to 250 would probably put it too close to the GS for comfort. 235-245 bhp seems like an acceptable bump to me.
When the Regal GS stories first hit, GM planned to use their Euro (twin?) Turbo 2.8 V6 and AWD. GM/Buick reported the switch to the 2.0T w/FWD was due to cost.
The decisions being discussed here seem more about brand hierarchy than anything else. GM wants Cadillac clearly positioned above Buick, and still the Buick GS outperforms the base model ATS. I have no problem with that. As for the Verano turbo outperforming the non-GS Regal turbo, this is also a reasonable setup. Many automakers have the top version of a model surpassing the next vehicle’s more basic setup, but not closing in on its top model.
Compare the following examples. VW GTI/Jetta Wolfsburg to Passat models; BMW 335 to the 528; Audi S6 to A8; Honda Civic Si to Accord 4cyl; and on and on, heck even Camaro to Corvette. All these top versions of the lesser vehicle surpass the next in model hierarchy in price and performance, but don’t get too close to the next vehicle’s top model. This is normal practice and it makes sense as a marketing strategy, because a potental buyer looking at the top model of a certain vehicle will be more likely to cross-shop the next higher model if this overlap exists.
Steve, I’m not sure cost was the reasoning for not using the 2.8T V6 cost. I think it’s the fact that the engine is old, underpowered, not efficient, and is being phased out entirely. Using the 2.0T was a future-proof decision, not one of cost.
The basic Regal turbo should have at least the 250hp version. Whether GM likes it or not, people compare the Regal to the Camry and Accord, where each V6 makes over 270hp. Meanwhile, the Regal makes 220hp, and to get 270hp you have to pay a lot and get the GS. This makes no sense. Give the basic Regal turbo at least 250hp, and the GS is either a more performance-driving-oriented version with not a lot more power, or if possible maybe that engine can get 2 turbos. Or maybe they will change over to the new 2.0L turbo very soon anyway. Oh, for those who want the GS to get the OPCéVXR engine, GM did not use it here because apparently the mileage really sucks.