2011 Buick Regal
While most buyers think of Buick as a posh, premium brand, their performance car history actually dates back to the legendary straight-8s of the 1930s. In more recent decades, the Regal nameplate carried the best of Buick’s performance intensions. So it makes sense that when Buick planned an all-new, mid-size sports sedan that the Regal name would once again appear. But this Regal is not like any Buick we’ve driven before.
After a six-year absence, the Buick Regal returns for 2011 as an all-new Euro-bred, front-drive sports sedan. Developed at Germany’s famed Nurburgring, the new Regal is a near doppelganger to the Opel Insignia – Europe’s 2009 Car of the Year, and the most promising entry from GM’s tri-shield division since the Grand Nationals of the 1980’s. To that end, the Regal will compete with premium-level sports sedan like the Audi A4, Acura TSX, Volkswagen CC, and Volvo’s new S60.
Initially imported in premium CXL trim only, the Regal touts the same sleek and upscale design language, but adds a healthy dose of frontal aggression from the LaCrosse and Enclave - an oversized Buick waterfall grille, flanked by prominent, swept-back, non-HID headlamps.
The Regal’s sculpted coupe-like profile features a fast, flowing roofline, sharp body creases, and flared fenders, exuding a performance-oriented spirit. The tapered rear wears an abbreviated deck and bold tail lamps, both hallmarks of the contemporary sports sedan. Standard alloy wheels are 18-inch, with 19s optional.
Power will be a surprise to some, four cylinder direct-injected powertrains only from GM’s Ecotec family. The standard 2.4-liter, shared with the Lacrosse and Chevy Equinox, delivers 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque.
Optional is a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbo with 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An even higher-performance turbo GS arrives next year. The 2.4 is mated to a self-shift six-speed automatic, while the 2.0 turbo offers a proper six-speed manual as standard and automatic as option. Unfortunately, for our test runs only a 2.4 automatic was available.
And while it felt pretty peppy off the line, it was only adequate overall; taking a longish 9.4 seconds to get to 60, and 17 seconds to complete the quarter mile at 84 miles per hour. We’d definitely opt for the 2.0 turbo. But, it is taking corners where this Regal shines brightest. The Epsilon II chassis, with its strut-type front, and four-link rear suspension, both with a hollow stabilizer bar, delivered an impressive level of agility and nimbleness.
Turbo models add a fine Interactive Drive Control System. Its three modes - Standard, Tour, or Sport - alter suspension settings, steering sensitivity, throttle response, and shift pattern. Stopping hardware is all disc ABS brakes. Our car met hard stops with a 60 to 0 average of 129 feet, all straight and smooth.
This Regal meets all the European sports sedan cliches. It handles like it’s on rails. It feels bolted to the road. But you’ve got to remember, this is a Buick and it’s made in Germany, and that puts this Regal in a whole new light. The Regal’s spacious and well-appointed cabin combines classic Buick styling with modern sports sedan cues.
Fit and finish are on par with anything in the premium segment, although the dash is mostly hard plastics. On the other hand, gauges and controls exude a decidedly upscale quality.
Seats are well-positioned, firm, and nicely-bolstered. Leather upholstery and seat heat come standard. Enhancing occupant comfort is standard auto climate with humidity sensor. For piping in your favorite driving music, there’s a seven-speaker stereo or an upgraded nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
But oh-so European is the absence of an available rear view camera. As is the console mounted, multi-function central controller for Stereo, Nav, Bluetooth, and even OnStar. The rear seat is comfortable for two adults, but tight for three. And the 60/40 split-folding feature adds length to the already very usable 14.3 cubic foot trunk.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the Regal 2.4 are 19 city/30 highway. We achieved a fine 27.1 on regular in real-world driving. The Energy Impact Score is 14.9 barrels of oil consumed per year. The Carbon Footprint is a relatively modest 8.1 annual tons of CO2 emitted.
Pricewise, the new Regal is very competitive. The 2.4 CXL has a base sticker of $26,995. The CXL Turbo starts at $29,495. More models and a lower entry price will follow when Regal production moves to the U.S. next year.
Despite its stodgy name, the 2011 Buick Regal made a great impression on us. Yes, it needs the 2.0 turbo manual to be truly competitive to its European rivals. But even the standard car we tested was a revelation. We just hope the Regal is not a one-off effort, and that Buick performance is back for real.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.4-Liter
- Horsepower: 182
- Torque: 172 Lb Feet
- 0-60 MPH: 9.4 Seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 17.0 Seconds @ 84 MPH
- 60-0 MPH: 129 Feet
- EPA: 19 MPG City/ 30 MPG Highway
- Mixed Loop: 27.1 MPG
- Energy Impact 14.9 Barrels Oil/Yr:
- CO2 Emissions: 8.1 Tons/Yr
2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
It’s A Turbo GT With No Turbos Or Even An Engine
In an era when even mass market EVs have mind-bending acceleration, how do performance-minded brands such as Porsche stand out? Well, you take things to an even higher level of road-going insanity. Hold on for this one! The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT just changed the game again.
When the original Porsche Taycan arrived for 2020, it did not disappoint. We blasted the Turbo S version to 60 in 2.8 seconds and hustled that hefty Hoss around Roebling Road Raceway with 911-like proficiency. None of that was enough for Porsche. So, for 2025, the Taycan gets more range, more style, more tech, and of course it does it all faster than before too. And that’s before we even get to this Porsche Taycan Turbo GT which is new to the lineup.
For our return trip to Roebling Road, there was a threat of a major winter storm about to impact our track time, so we wasted none of it, hitting the track early and often. And it’s still amazing how this big battery on wheels can feel so Porsche like. No other brand has been able to accomplish a similar feat. We laud BMW for even coming close with the i4, but here you get the full capable and confident Porsche experience; even the brakes feel incredibly natural and powerful, ceramic brakes are standard with the Turbo GT.
Having said that, it remains a very heavy vehicle, so while you’re hustling it around the track it does tend to feel more like work than fun. Many EVs dial back the power as soon as you get up to speed, but here in the Turbo GT, it never seemed to let up, building to the point we reached over 170 mph on Roebling’s front straight, and the way it powers out of corners is otherworldly.
Now, while it does absolutely shred on a racetrack, it really feels best just high-speed sweeping your way through life on some scenic roads through the countryside. This Turbo GT’s 760-kW dual-motor setup cranks out 1,019 horsepower and 914 lb-ft of torque with Launch Control, which allows for sprinting to 60 in 2.2 seconds and clearing the quarter-mile in less than 10. But alas, that winter storm arrived and covered the track in snow before we got a chance to verify that.
You get the full capable and confident Porsche experience.
All Taycans get a new rear motor for ’25, along with updated software and improvements to the cooling system. And guess what? It charges faster too, now accepting up to 320 kW, getting it to 80% in as little as 18 minutes. There’s a 30% boost to the energy capture from regen braking as well, now up to 400 kW. What the Taycan desperately needed was more range, because who wants all this fun to ever stop; and it has been increased by as much as 35% throughout the lineup, now delivering as many as 318 miles; 276 for this Turbo GT.
The Turbo GT features a unique front splitter and active rear spoiler, but all Taycans get revised styling for ’25 including upgraded lighting and a revised front clip that both improves aerodynamics and accentuates the Taycan’s substantial width. All wheels have been aerodynamically optimized as well.
Things inside look mostly the same, but they have improved the functionality of their multimedia setup, moved some controls around, and provided more standard content. It’s a borderline luxury car experience as far as amenities and tech go, yet it still has a purposeful feel to it; and whether things are covered in Race-Tex or real leather everything looks and feels great. Gauges are of course all virtual now, but they can still have a traditional look if you prefer. You really have to duck down to get into the rear seats, but space is plentiful; and with a pair of trunks, there’s abundant luggage space too.
Using 41 kilowatts of electricity for every 100 miles, the Turbo GT earns a fair Efficiency Rating. There are now more options than ever across the Taycan lineup, and that’s even before you even get to Cross Turismos and Sport Turismos. So, while this Turbo GT may cost $231,995 to start, you can get largely the same experience for as little as $101,395 for a base Taycan.
The 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is more than just a fantastic EV; it’s a great car period, and even a terrific Porsche. With the recently released Macan Electric SUV and the upcoming Boxster and Cayman EVs, more than any other brand, Porsche is giving us reasons not to fear the electrified future.
Specifications
As Tested
- Motor Setup: Dual Motor
- Battery Size: 105 kWh
- EPA Range: up to 276 miles
- Horsepower: 1,019
- Torque: 914 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph (est.): 2.2 seconds