The General has decided that wasn’t enough to fight the swell of Japanese and Korean sedans on the market, so the direct-injected four-cylinder now actually puts out 270 horsepower. Thus, you’ll be able to sprint to 60 in just 6.7 seconds. Peak torque remains unchanged at 295 lb-ft, though 95 percent of it is available as low as 2,300 rpm.
“The Regal GS 2.0L turbo delivers the highest specific output of any production engine GM has ever offered, and at 135 hp per liter is the most power dense engine ever certified by SAE,” said Mike Anderson, Ecotec global chief engineer and program manager. “We’ve been combining direct injection and variable valve timing with boosted engines since 2006, and there’s no question the Regal GS turbo has the responsiveness and acceleration of some V-6s, while delivering the fuel economy you’d expect of a four-cylinder.”
GM is only selling the sporty Regal GS with six-speed manual gearbox that sends its power to the front wheels. The new GS also allows drivers to adjust suspension settings and steering sensitivity in three modes: Standard, Sport and GS.
The GS differs from the regular Regal when it comes to both the front and rear fascias, with the front one incorporating large, vertical air intake slots and GS-specific grille treatment in a satin-metallic finish. A set of 19-inch 5-Twin Spoke alloys are fitted as standard, while 20-inch, 5-Twin Spoke polished alloy wheels with performance tires are optional.
The 2012 Regal GS will hit the US market this fall, while prices will be announced closer to the arrival.
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