2012 Buick Regal GS First Drive

Buick Regal Gran Sport

Exhibit number one is the Regal Gran Sport, a high-performance version of the Regal. This new model packs an impressive suite of hardware—a punchy 270-horsepower turbo engine, four-piston front Brembo brakes, adjustable shock absorbers and sharp styling enhancements. Plus, it's available with the hallmark of any driver's car: manual transmission.

Driving Character: Our chance to drive the Buick Regal GS came at GM's Milford, Mich., road course, a challenging mix of hills, dips, tight turns and fast sweepers. And on this specialized course, the Buick Regal GS performed like no Buick we've ever driven. Otherwise, the car channels its horsepower adroitly.

The Bottom Line: The Buick Regal GS is more than just the highest-performing Buick. If it passes the test there, as we expect it will, the chassis feel, wonderful brakes, attractive design and low price will make the GS a car that even BMW drivers should sample.

To prevent all that twist from arm-wrestling the driver during a hard launch (GM claims the GS puts more torque to the ground than the Acura TSX V-6 and Audi A4 Sport), the front suspension is upgraded with the LaCrosse's HiPer Strut setup. This allows the front wheels to pivot about an axis that's 35-percent closer to the tire centerline, dramatically reducing the scrub radius-a dimension critical to torque-steering.

Little of the front-drive GS' suspension is shared with the AWD Opel OPC, and the GS is tuned for North America's scabrous road surfaces. Relative to the Regal Turbo, the front and rear spring rates and rear anti-roll bar stiffness increase by 20 percent. Buick's Interactive Drive Control System is standard on GS, and its three suspension-mode settings roughly equate to the top two on the Turbo's optional IDCS, plus a firmer GS mode that also alters the steering assist and will eventually increase the shift speed and firmness of the six-speed automatic when it arrives in mid-2012. The base GS is fitted with what look like the Turbo's 245/40R19 all-season Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires (the compound and construction is unique) mounted on GS-specific wheels. Inside are nicely bolstered leather sport seats; a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sport steering wheel; metal sport pedals; piano-black ebony trim; and gauge lighting that switches from blue to white when GS mode is engaged. All in, the GS price tops out in the $39K range.

The car launches hard -- harder than GM's conservative 6.7-second 0-60-mph and 15.2 second, 98-mph quarter-mile estimates would suggest. The 2012 Regal GS packs some decidedly un-Buick-like parts. Then there's this shock: A six-speed manual comes standard. There's also a pair of 14-inch front disc brakes with four-piston Brembo fixed calipers (rear brakes remain unchanged). Add to this a three-mode version of Buick's Interactive Drive Control adaptive damper system as well as a HiPer Strut front suspension.
The front seats are a slightly more bolstered variation of the Regal's standard seats. Baby steps, folks, baby steps.

There's some turbo lag initially, but unlike our long-term Regal, which is never, ever inspiring, the GS's breathed-on mill has a healthy, dare we say, exciting midrange (95 percent of the torque is available from 2,300-4,900 rpm).

There's serious braking power and a much firmer pedal than what we're used to in the Regal. Grander Sport
OK, so we know the Buick Regal GS has power. More importantly, there's now a third mode (beyond Standard and Sport) to the adaptive IDC driver-selectable damper system, called "GS." Buick fitted its HiPer Strut front suspension in the interest of reducing torque steer and maintaining negative camber through corners. Pressing the GS button immediately switches the instrument cluster from blue/green to white. Besides firmer damping, GS also brings some welcome heft to the hydraulic power steering.

Our long-termer's quick-yet-vague steering goads you into writing checks that the Regal's soft suspension and all-season tires can't cash. The steering, tires and suspension all deliver more feedback to the driver, while body roll is significantly reduced.

Besides firmer damping, GS also brings some welcome heft to the hydraulic power steering.
The 2012 Buick Regal GS will start at $35,310 (including $860 destination) when production starts late this summer at GM's Oshawa, Ontario, Canada plant. There's no doubt that the GS rectifies many of the performance problems found in the standard Regal Turbo, and with its added power, stiffer suspension and manual gearbox, it will attract some enthusiasts back to Buick.