Hot-selling sport sedan spurs Buick’s 23rd straight month of retail sales gains
DETROIT – Phillip Barr of Gilbert, Ariz., describes himself as a “car junkie.” The 26-year-old executive assistant has owned at least 10 cars, including two BMWs, two Mercedes-Benzes and a Porsche. He recently sold his Toyota Prius to buy a 2012 Buick Regal Turbo at Henry Brown Buick GMC outside of Phoenix.
“Regal Turbo had all of the options I wanted with a luxurious interior and smooth ride comparable to a Mercedes,” Barr said. “Honestly, I’d be the last person you’d think would buy an American car, but GM has really stepped up its game with the Regal Turbo to compete with the imports. It’s just as nice to drive as the BMWs and Mercedes I’ve owned for a fraction of the cost with a lot more options.”
Regal sales in August are on track to be the best since car launched in spring 2010. Approximately 45 percent of Regal buyers are coming from non-GM brands. In July alone, Regal outsold other similarly sized sport sedans, including Volkswagen CC, Lexus IS 250/350, Audi A4 and Volvo S60. Regal’s steady month-over-month gains have helped Buick glide through recent turbulence in the luxury vehicle segment.
Regal Turbo has accounted for a third of the sport sedan’s retail sales since its launch this past spring. The turbo’s 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine delivers better horsepower and torque than the Acura TSX and Volkswagen CC, and with its manual six-speed transmission, it also delivers better fuel economy, with an EPA-rated 32 mpg highway.
Buick will double its Regal lineup this fall with the introduction of the performance-oriented 2012 Regal GSand the fuel-efficient 2012 Regal with eAssist™.
U.S. News & World Report recently named Regal the Best Upscale Midsize Car for Families for 2011, ranking it No. 1 out of 21, based on analysis of 27 published reviews; test drives of Regal, and analysis of reliability and safety data. The magazine said that “Among midsize cars, the Regal shines with performance that balances fuel economy and power, handling and ride comfort.”
Rachel Hayes of Phoenix said she “fell in love” with the Regal when she saw it on the showroom floor at Liberty Buick in Peoria, Ariz. The 29-year-old social worker said she’s received nothing but compliments for it.
“The new Regal is way more stylish and sexy than the old Regal, and it has a great sound system,” said Hayes who previously owned a 2008 LaCrosse. “Buick is the new Lexus. Everyone I’ve shown my Regal to is completely surprised by it.”