By John Johnson 
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home
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New York: 2014 Buick Regal gets the party rolling in NY
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Although the first day of the 2013 New York Auto Show kicks off bright and early this morning, Buick got a jump on the competition by unveiling the 2014 Buick Regal lineup last night. While the Regal received many upgrades for the 2014 model year, most of our attention was focused on the sedan’s drivetrain.
When the new Regal hits dealers this fall, buyers opting for the new Regal Turbo will be welcomed by an additional 39 horsepower and 35 pound-feet of torque from the 2.0-liter turbo engine; the 2014 Regal GS now features the same output of 259 hp and 295 lb-ft, meaning that it has actually lost 11 hp over the 2013 model year. Buick says the reason for the GS‘ power loss comes from the fact that the newly available all-wheel-drive system forced the car to use a smaller diameter exhaust system, but representatives on hand assured us that the reduction of horsepower won’t affect the car’s performance and could even help improve fuel economy. And who knows? Maybe downgrading the power of the Regal GS also helps create a little breathing room for a future Grand National or GNX model…
Although the power under the hood is now the same, it is still impossible to confuse the two cars from the outside. Minor updates give both a fresher look, but the Regal GS has an unmistakeable aggression to it. The GS‘ interior also helps it stand apart from lower Regal trim levels with an eight-inch configurable gauge cluster similar to what is offered in the 2014 LaCrosse. The cabin of the Regal wasn’t given an extensive makeover like the LaCrosse received, but the upgraded IntelliLink infotainment system and the cleaner center stack and steering wheel controls are appreciated changes.
Scroll down below for the official press release, and be sure to check out the photo galleries above and below to see the latest Buick models in all their glory.
Continue reading 2014 Buick Regal gets the party rolling in NY
2014 Buick Regal gets the party rolling in NY originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
Black Air, The Story Of The Buick Grand National, Now Available: Video
Buick isn’t a brand typically associated with high performance or a younger demographic. Recent steps to change that have included the Regal Turbo, the Regal GS and the new Verano Turbo, but these cars are best described as “sporty.” None will out-accelerate a current Ferrari, and (sadly) none is likely to be remembered two-and-a-half decades from now.
Back in the 1980s, Buick was faced with the same challenge, namely how to get new customers behind the wheel of Buick automobiles. The solution was the Regal Grand National, a car that debuted as little more than a trim package in 1982. It dropped from Buick’s lineup in 1983, but returned in its beloved and murdered-out form in 1984. A “strange and curious misfit” had been born, and the legend of the Buick Grand National began.
Launched with a turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 rated at 200 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, stock Grand Nationals could easily beat Camaros and nearly run with Corvettes in the quarter mile. Development of the engine continued, and in 1986 the Grand National was making 245 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. A final “factory tuned” version launched in 1987, and the GNX pushed the performance envelope even further, making a conservatively-rated 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque.
While these numbers may not sound impressive today, they were astonishing during the Regal Grand National’s production run. A 1986 test by Car and Driver showed the Grand National was capable of a 0-60 mph run of 4.9 seconds, better than the Porsche 944 Turbo (6.0 seconds), the Porsche 928S (5.7 seconds), the Ferrari Testarossa (5.0 seconds) and even the Lamborghini Countach (5.1 seconds).
To say that the Grand Nation and GNX models have become collectors’ items is a gross understatement; in fact, the cars have achieved cult status, and a new documentary called Black Air tells their irresistible story. If you have a thing for muscle cars, this movie belongs in your collection, and it will be a welcome gift for any gear head friends, too. You won’t find it in stores, so head on over to the Black Air web page to place your order.
Source: Automotive Addicts