Buick is Back!

There is a new sport sedan revving at the starting line this spring. Turbocharged and stylish, the domestic performance car is ready to tumble with the ever-growing import market. Aimed at young, trend-setting buyers, you might be surprised to find out the next big thing in the fast lane is a Buick. A manual transmission Buick hasn’t been seen since they rolled out the Skylark in 1989. And not since the 1987 GNX has Buick offered a turbocharger under their hoods. This could very possibly be the most important Buick ever launched. Buick-GMC general manager convinces us “The Regal will defy preconceived notions about driving a Buick.”

It could be a hard sale to some crowds, but the 220 horsepower, 2.0 liter turbocharged engine with a 6-speed manual transmission has a lot to offer. The standard and available equipment gives import leaders a run for their money. The Regal CXL boasts an Interactive Drive Control System (available with the 2.0 turbo) which allows drivers to customize their driving experience by adapting the driving characteristics of the car. Three operating modes allow adjustment of suspension, steering, throttle, transmission and stability systems. If comfort and design are more what you are interested in, the Regal has you covered there as well. With an available navigation system, Harman Kardon sound system, 1GM internal flash drive, 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch available on the 2.0 turbo), standard 12-way power, leather and heated driver seat and passenger seat, Bluetooth and iPod auxiliary jack the Regal is fully stocked for the plugged-in and on-the-go generation.

Ray Skillman Auto Center will be getting their first Regal CXL in May, but perhaps the future holds even better things? Buick presents its Regal GS as a concept car, but one very likely to be a reality in showrooms. It’s the next step in a performance car: turbocharged, 255 horsepower, Haldex all-wheel-drive system, 20-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes and a claimed 0-60-mph time in under 6.0 seconds. GM North America president Mark Reuss as “what Buick performance should be—very sophisticated.”

Winged Warrior

I love fast cars. What do I love more than fast cars? Not much. But a good cause is up there on the list. So, naturally, fast cars to benefit a good cause make for a pretty fun day. On May 8th, the annual Winged Warrior Performance Challenge and Car Show will be revving up at O’Reilly Raceway Park. This is the sixth year the charity event, started by Dr. Kevin Butterfield, has taken place to help the kids of Riley Hospital for Children. It has grown into an automotive performance shootout (divided into two groups: Team Import vs. Team USA), car show and spectator event. If it’s a nice day out (and in May, those aren’t hard to come by) it’s guaranteed to be fun for the whole family. Registration is already closed for those want to participate in any of the competitions, but what would an event like this be without spectators? General admission is $10 per person, children under 12 are free and gates open at 10:00 AM. If you want to find out more information, visit http://www.wingedwarrior.org/. Or if you want to check out the fierce photos of some of the entrants and their cars for this year, visit the Winged Warrior fan page on Facebook. Take a day to help children and be entertained by awesome cars at the same time—you just can’t lose.