Buick Regal GS and eAssist join 2012 lineup

Choices double for Buick Regal buyers this fall, as the sedan will be available with eAssist light-hybrid technology for 2012 and in a performance-oriented Regal GS variant.

The Regal with eAssist fuel-saving technology will start at $29,530, and the higher-output Regal GS will start at $35,310. Prices include destination fees.

The eAssist system is a $2,000 option on the Regal base model and uses a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Ecotec engine together with a lithium-ion battery and an electric motor-generator that allows for regenerative braking. It gets an EPA-rated 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Buick says that with gasoline prices near $4 per gallon, the eAssist option for the Regal should pay for itself within about 3.5 years. Still, Buick will continue offering the base model without eAssist and the 2.0-liter turbo model. The eAssist system is also available on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse.

Standard features with eAssist include a fuel-economy-optimizing mode for the air-conditioning system, an Eco gauge on the instrument panel that measures driving efficiency and a monitoring system on the center information display showing the eAssist technologies at work in the car.

For the 2012 Buick Regal GS, standard luxury features include metal sport pedals, a leather-wrapped and flat-bottom steering wheel with audio controls and a nine-speaker sound system. Front and rear parking assist is included, as is push-button start and heated leather seats.

The new Regal GS delivers 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with a direct-injection 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic will be available later in the model year. The GS gets an estimated 27 mpg on the highway.

By Michelle Koueiter