Details of 2012 Buick Regal with eAssist at Chicago Auto Show

From this fall Buick is expanding its staggering Regal range with the addition of a new, ultra efficient member, the 2012 Buick Regal with eAssist fuel-saving technology. Offering improvement in the overall fuel economy by 25 percent over the 2011 four-cylinder/six-speed Regal powertrain, the all-new eAssist-based ride estimates fuel economy of 26 mpg city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Unlike the larger LaCrosse, eAssist will not be the base powertrain for 2012 Regals. Buick has positioned the Regal eAssist to be part of larger family, which includes the Regal Turbo and upcoming GS. Model-specific changes over the base Regal include things like lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels (smaller than the standard Regal’s 18-inch set), an eco mode for the air conditioning system, an eco gauge on the instrument panel and a powerflow readout in the seven-inch infotainment screen.

Regal with eAssist will be:

• Lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels and tires with lower rolling resistance
• A driver-selectable, fuel economy-optimizing mode for the air conditioning system, which enables more frequent and longer-duration engine stop periods
• An ECO gauge on the instrument panel that continuously responds to driving behavior, enabling the driver to drive with greater efficiency
• A powerflow readout in the 7-inch infotainment screen, which shows the flow of energy through the electric assist system, such as battery charging from regeneration and electric power directed to the engine.