2014 Buick Regal: Here It Is
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Since its reintroduction in 2011, the Buick Regal has been touted as the brand’s athlete — a premium sedan with sporting tendencies. One would only need to drive a Regal GS to understand just what that means. Now, Buick is making its 2014 Regal more athletic than before, while also enhancing the vehicle’s safety, technology, and if we must say, visual appeal.
Like the 2014 LaCrosse that broke cover yesterday, the refreshed Buick Regal features the latest IntelliLink system, taking inspiration from a page from Cadillac’s CUE system in terms of capabilities, but with a few more buttons — seven, to be exact. The 2014 Regal will also see new safety features such as the Safety Alert Seat, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, and a Lane Departure Warning, as well as Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking. The impressive line of safety features will be offered in the following packages:
- Driver Confidence 1 Package: this standard package includes the camera-based Forward Collisions Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Following Distance Indicator
- Driver Confidence 2 Package: this package adds Collision Preparation (with Collision Mitigation Braking) and full-speed-range, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control that conveniently works in stop-and-go traffic
The Buick sport sedan also benefits from an 18 percent boost in horsepower, thanks to a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the 2014 Regal Turbo. The old LHU 2.0L motor has been swapped out for the LTG, the potent new 2.0L that made its debut in the Cadillac ATS. In the application of the 2014 Buick Regal Turbo, the engine puts out an improved 259 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, with 90 percent of said torque being broadly available between 1,700 to 5,500 rpm, while the full amount is found between 3,000 to 4,000 rpm; the redline comes in at a higher 7,000 rpm. The LTG is mated to GM’s Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission in the Regal Turbo, with the power capable of being sent to all four wheels (finally!).
Yes, the 2014 Buick Regal is now available with a Haldex all-wheel-drive setup. The new AWD system is sophisticated in that it features wheel-slip management and an electronic limited-slip rear differential. Several sensors monitor wheel speed, steering angle, etc. – automatically tailor torque distribution between the front and rear wheels for maximum traction. Additionally, the eLSD enables adjustment to the torque split between the rear wheels to optimize vehicle stability and cornering capability. Buick says that the new all-wheel-drive setup is able to send as much as 90 percent of torque to the rear wheels, should the front wheels suddenly lose traction. All in all, the setup is described by the brand as very driver-oriented, and is sure to bring AWD enthusiasts into the dealership for a test drive.
But if all this talk about torque, grip, and handling isn’t to your taste, the 2014 Regal will continue to be offered with the familiar 2.4L Ecotec engine with eAssist, which seems to be carried over from the outgoing model.
The updated 2014 Buick Regal will go on sale this fall.
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Both rear ends look much improved. The fronts still look lame, dated, overwrought and all that.
Like the new look. I think it looks more sleek than it did before.
That is a Regal Wagon in front of the interior shot ???
Looks to me they took all the technology from the old Saab 9-3, updated the turbo engine with more power, updated to a 6 speed automatic, took the halidex Awd system, added safety controls and they updated the Regal – which shares the same short Epsilon platform with the defunct Saab (yes, I know this is the epsilon 2 platform so it is updated as well.). Well, at least I can replace my Saab eventually with a very similar car if I desire.
Would have been nicer if it was a newer version of the last Saab car. Not to knock this one, because it looks great, but it would have been nice to have Saab back.
The LaCrosse still needs more work, namely those stupid squinty windows, the small trunk, the severe weight problem and the dated bath tub bloat styling. Would have also been nice to see the 321 HP 3.6 LFX V6 in the Regal GS with the new turbo paired to a stick as an option. The base engine should be the new 2.5 paired to eAssist and 38 highway MPG but it looks like GM is kicking it’s heals on that one.