Buick Regal GS concept: Get some!

Buick Regal GS show car (Courtesy: General Motors)

Do you ever get frustrated when you see a performance Buick on stage at a Barrett-Jackson auction and wonder why Buick no longer makes anything remotely like that?  Stew no longer as Buick has seen fit to release information on the Buick Regal GS concept.

View a gallery of Regal GS images plus some pictures of performance Buicks from years ago in this linked slideshow.

Back in October of 2009, I speculated that Buick just might give us a Regal based on the high performance Insignia OPC.  That dream is coming closer to reality with this GS "concept" that looks pretty darn close to reality.

“We designed the Regal GS to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal,” said Craig Bierley, product marketing director for Buick. “Like the Regal, the Regal GS is based on the award-winning Opel Insignia, and we believe it will reinvigorate Buick’s storied Gran Sport legacy.”

The General pulls a bit of an interesting move in that the OPC's 325-horsepower turbocharged V6 has been swapped for a 2.0-liter direct-injected EcoTec four-cylinder that pumps out an estimated 255 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.  When you consider the fact that the 2.0 is on the US parts shelf and ready to rumble, it makes a lot of sense.  Besides, who is going to argue with 295 lb.-ft. of torque?  When asked about the Regal GS concept and its chances against the competition, a Buick insider had this to say about the matter.

The show car has all wheel drive, six speed manual transmission, Brembo brakes, Recaro high-performance seats, Interactive Drive Control System, jet black interior and a suede-covered, flat-bottom steering wheel.
No word on whether or not the GS will become a reality, but who are kidding here?  The GS is about as close to a "lock" as you can get in the car business.

Below is an embedded video of a Buick GSX, just to remind you of how things used to be.

For more info:   Read the official press release.

Subscribe to receive alerts when the author submits a new article, follow the author on twitter or contact via e-mail!