Community Question: Should Buick Tune The Regal Turbo As It Did Verano?

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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GM Authority Staff

The GM Authority staff is comprised of columnists, interns, and other reporters who provide coverage of the latest General Motors news.

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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.

  • 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

    • 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.

    • @ 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.

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