Outwardly, the GS is distinguished from the Regal Turbo by large front air intakes trimmed with satin-finish metal, squared-off exhaust inlets and a jaunty little deck lid. A closer look reveals Brembo calipers between the split spokes of its optional 20-inch chrome wheels.
Inside, there are GS-monogrammed floor mats, a grippy flat-bottomed wheel, and… a six-speed manual gear shift. That's right. The Regal GS is only available with a manual gearbox. An automatic will be introduced early next year, but GM still estimates that sales should be 50/50.
Seats are upholstered in squishy black leather with substantial bolstering. The seat bottoms are broad, and those narrow of beam may find they slide during hard cornering, but for our drive route tracing the lovely winding shoreline of Lake Michigan, they were perfect.
A lot of work went into creating a suspension that's both compliant and neutral. It features a new "HiPerStrut" front suspension system designed to eliminate torque steer and ensure flatter handling even under hard throttle. Springs are 20% stiffer than in the Regal Turbo, ride height is slightly lower, and there's a fatter sway bar in behind for further stability.
There are three levels of suspension settings, Standard, Sport and GS. Standard is the default setting, geared for fuel economy and daily driving. Sport mode tightens the dampers and adds a bit more liveliness. Selecting GS stiffens the dampers, re-maps the throttle response and changes the steering assist via a variable-effort steering system.
Over the winding roads, we had plenty of time to appreciate the suspension's wonderfully neutral character. It's firm but never harsh – this is a Buick after all. The 20-inch, low-profile Pirellis provide admirable grip, although Michigan's patchwork road surfaces do result in some tympanic droning over the rough stuff.
The GS stays flat through tight cornering, and recovers quickly over crests and dips without squatting or rolling. We loved its tight confident feel. Ditto the six-speed shifter with its tight throws and easy clutch take-up. Pedal placement is less than ideal for heel n' toeing though.
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| Seats are upholstered in squishy black leather with substantial bolstering. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |
Inside, there are GS-monogrammed floor mats, a grippy flat-bottomed wheel, and… a six-speed manual gear shift. That's right. The Regal GS is only available with a manual gearbox. An automatic will be introduced early next year, but GM still estimates that sales should be 50/50.
Seats are upholstered in squishy black leather with substantial bolstering. The seat bottoms are broad, and those narrow of beam may find they slide during hard cornering, but for our drive route tracing the lovely winding shoreline of Lake Michigan, they were perfect.
A lot of work went into creating a suspension that's both compliant and neutral. It features a new "HiPerStrut" front suspension system designed to eliminate torque steer and ensure flatter handling even under hard throttle. Springs are 20% stiffer than in the Regal Turbo, ride height is slightly lower, and there's a fatter sway bar in behind for further stability.
There are three levels of suspension settings, Standard, Sport and GS. Standard is the default setting, geared for fuel economy and daily driving. Sport mode tightens the dampers and adds a bit more liveliness. Selecting GS stiffens the dampers, re-maps the throttle response and changes the steering assist via a variable-effort steering system.
Over the winding roads, we had plenty of time to appreciate the suspension's wonderfully neutral character. It's firm but never harsh – this is a Buick after all. The 20-inch, low-profile Pirellis provide admirable grip, although Michigan's patchwork road surfaces do result in some tympanic droning over the rough stuff.
The GS stays flat through tight cornering, and recovers quickly over crests and dips without squatting or rolling. We loved its tight confident feel. Ditto the six-speed shifter with its tight throws and easy clutch take-up. Pedal placement is less than ideal for heel n' toeing though.
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| Over the winding roads, we had plenty of time to appreciate the suspension's wonderfully neutral character. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |