Segment: Medium
Production years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The fourth generation of the Buick Regal was launched in 1997 and it was marketed as a sports sedan vehicle. It shared the platform with the Oldsmobile Intrigue, Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevrolet Lumina and Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
In the Buick stable, the Regal was the upmarket version of the Century and the main difference was the engine. The newly developed W-platform was used for more GM vehicles and it featured a front-engine front-wheel-drive system. The Regal was advertised as "The official car of the supercharged family", referring to the car's performances. The Regal was the first car to be launched online, on a dedicated website. The introduction was with a car breaking through a brick-like wall. The driver of that car was the Buick General Manager, Ed Mertz.
On the outside, the three-box sedan featured profiled headlights with rounded edges and turn-signals on the outer side, on the fenders. The GS trim level featured a two-tone paint as standard which was extended on both bumpers and a black grille. It was the top model, with a 3.8-liter supercharged engine.
Inside, the 1997 ½ Regal featured exclusive amenities such as heated seats, a premium sound system, a dual-zone climate control, and sunroof. There were two available instrument clusters for the driver and for the top-spec GS there was a tire pressure monitor.
Under the hood, the Regal was offered with a 3.8-liter V6 engine naturally aspirated for the base trim level and supercharged for the GS model. Some further modifications were made over the production time and increased the GS model power from a standard 240 hp up to 270 hp. Regardless of the trim level, the Regal was offered with a 4-speed automatic transmission only.
ENGINE SPECS - 3.8 | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 3791 cm3 |
Power: | 149 KW @ 5200 RPM 203 HP @ 5200 RPM 200 BHP @ 5200 RPM |
Torque: | 229 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 310 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 121.2 mph (195 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 215/70 R 16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 196.2 in (4983 mm) |
Width: | 72.7 in (1847 mm) |
Height: | 56.6 in (1438 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 62/61.3 in (1,575/1,557 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 109 in (2769 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.6 cuFT (470 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3435.4 lbs (1558 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 19.9 mpg US (11.8 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 29 mpg US (8.1 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 24 mpg US (9.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 233 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 3.8 Supercharged | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 3781 cm3 |
Power: | 179 KW @ 5200 RPM 243 HP @ 5200 RPM 240 BHP @ 5200 RPM |
Torque: | 280 lb-ft @ 3600 RPM 380 Nm @ 3600 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 136.7 mph (220 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 225/60 R 16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 196.2 in (4983 mm) |
Width: | 72.7 in (1847 mm) |
Height: | 56.6 in (1438 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 62/61.3 in (1,575/1,557 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 109 in (2769 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.6 cuFT (470 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3510.4 lbs (1592 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 18 mpg US (13.1 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 27 mpg US (8.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 22 mpg US (10.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 254 g/km |