Buick Regal Hybrid coming to the 2011 Chicago Auto Show
By Andrew, 02 Feb, 2011. 0 Comments
2011 Buick Regal Turbo
At the upcoming Chicago Auto Show, General Motors Co. will unveil a Buick Regal that features the e-Assist hybrid system. This will only be the second time that this technology will be applied after the ’12 Buick LaCrosse that’s expected to arrive in dealer showrooms this summer. Sources say that the Regal hybrid go into production by the end of August. It was over a year ago that the report on the new mild hybrid system for the Regal first came out. With the e-Assist, the LaCrosse’s fuel economy will improve by 25% from 19-30 mpg (12.4-7.8 L/100 km) city/highway to 25-37 mpg (9.4-6.4 L/100 km).
Sources say that the Regal will get a similar boost as standard models of both cars with a 2.4L 4-cyl. engine and 6-speed transmission offer the same fuel economy rating. But the difference is that LaCrosse will have this hybrid system as its base powertrain but GM won’t do the same for the Regal.
GM insiders reveal that this is a “cost issue.” Product development of the e-Assist was delayed when GM entered bankruptcy. But currently, the e-Assist is expected to have a key role in meeting new U.S. fuel-economy regulations. It’s also expected to migrate to additional models in the near future. During a briefing on e-Assist before the LaCrosse hybrid’s Los Angeles auto show debut in November, Steve Poulos, global chief engineer-eAssist at GM, said that this is the “base powertrain of the future.” [via Ward's Auto]
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