2013 Buick Regal Gets Standard eAssist
Published February 8, 2012
By Huw Evans
As it attempts to address ever-tightening fuel and emissions standards, while striving to maintain competitive vehicle sticker prices, General Motors is adding its (relatively) low cost eAssist mild Hybrid technology to more vehicles.
The latest edition is the 2013 Buick Regal, which will feature the technology as standard on the base car. The eAssist system, incorporates a liquid-cooled motor generator designed to provide additional power to the car’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine during times when fuel economy suffers most, such as in stop and go traffic and on steeper gradients.
The system also features a 32-cell, 115-volt lithium-ion battery pack, with cylindrical, power optimized cells and power pack electronics, which are air-cooled to regulate their temperature.
Developing some 15 hp and 79-lb-ft of torque in electric assist mode, the motor generator and battery pack system reportedly help the 2013 Regal achieve an EPA estimated 36 miles per gallon on the highway.
GM’s eAssist technology, which was first introduced on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, is currently listed as one of the finalists for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award; the winner of which will be announced at the 2012 World Congress.
As for the 2013 Regal itself, GM says it will announce pricing and availability of the car later this year.
14 weeks ago
My 1986 Buick Century got 36 highway, but with only 150 hp from a 2.5 liter engine. It had a AC cutoff when the engine was working hard, say up the Baker grade to Vegas, and was therefore unsatisfactory. I expect this Regal to have more room, more power, and more fuel economy. Cars are getting better, but the pace is too slow.
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