2012 Buick Regal GS: Up Close
Get up close, and the festoonery shows up here and there. The vertical strakes ahead of the front wheels are purely cosmetic; they don’t issue any cooling air to the engine compartment, as the grille and air dam do. The same goes with the hood portals. Decals like these belong at Pep Boys, not on an upscale car. The silver tailpipe portals, integrated nicely into the rear bumper, are just decorative frames for the pipes, which dangle within.
Inside, the GS feels more legit. Deeply bolstered buckets up front have a high grade of leather. The thigh bolsters pinched me in a bit, but the leather feels rich and a bit vintage. (Of what, I don’t know, but it’s good stuff nonetheless.) The steering wheel has a beefy rim with dimpled leather stitching, and thicker portions at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock. Metal trim – or very good faux metal – lines various portions of the wheel and cabin. The six-speed manual shifter has short throws and an elegant overall appearance.
An adaptive suspension with unique GS settings – beyond what the regular Regal turbo offers – join Brembo brakes to round out the performance front. High-performance front struts aim to mitigate torque steer, which is certain to be a threat with 295 pounds-feet coming to the front wheels. Buick will offer an automatic with the GS later on, and the automaker says 60 mph will come in under 7 seconds, which should put it squarely into V-6 Acura TSX territory. Still, it’s a few strides slower than a lot of other sport sedans, which might limit the GS’ appeal – particularly for anyone fond of Buick’s storied GNX.
