Vehicle Overview
Regal is a prime example of brand management in the auto industry. Though it is the same car as the conservatively styled Century, Regal gets stronger engines, front bucket seats and sportier styling tweaks all designed to give it a more youthful personality and draw younger buyers to the Buick brand.
Exterior
A bolder grille and different rear-end styling give the Regal a more aggressive appearance than the Century, though the two are from the same mold. LS models ride on 15-inch wheels and tires, and the GS wears 16-inch aluminum wheels with wider rubber.
Interior
Front bucket seats, air conditioning with separate temperature controls for the driver and front passenger, a cassette player, tire-inflation monitor, tilt wheel, and power windows, locks and mirrors are standard. A new split folding rear seatback augments the 16.7-cubic-foot trunk and allows carrying long items such as skis.
Under the Hood
LS models come with General Motors’ venerable 3.8-liter V-6, which achieves 200 horsepower. The GS versions use a supercharged version of that engine with 240 horsepower, enough to turn the Regal into a four-door hot rod that challenges some sports cars in the stoplight grand prix. The supercharged V-6 requires premium gas. Both engines team with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Safety
Regal has more standard safety and security features than some other midsize cars: traction control, anti-lock brakes, a theft-deterrent system and, with leather upholstery, a new seat-mounted side-impact airbag for the driver.
