Right as Buick is getting ready to offer the 2012 Regal GS up for sale, the engineers behind the car have one last test to run. To prove it will be an all American sport sedan capable of bringing down so big names, the Regal GS will be entered into the Silver State Classic Challenge. Running the length of 90 miles on the public Nevada State Highway 318, this bi-annual road rally is in its 24th year. Vehicles are split into classes based on MPH and then run against the clock on the closed road. Two Buick men will pilot the 270 horsepower, turbocharged sedan: Bill Rietow, GS lead development engineer (driver) and John Townsend, GS drive quality powertrain engineer (navigator).
“The GS is the most performance-oriented Regal in Buick’s sport sedan portfolio, and the Silver State Classic will be the perfect venue to test its mettle,” Rietow said. The Regal has been entered into the 120 mph class and will compete with 30 to 40 other cars. The rally begins on September 18. Besides required safety enhancements like a roll bar and five-point harness, the GS is just as stock as what buyers will be offered later this fall. 295 lb-ft of torque will assist the 270 horsepower 2.0 liter Ecotec turbocharged four cylinder. Top speed allowed for the 120 mph class is 140 mph. This should be a breeze for the GS as its highest recorded speed was 152 mph during development testing at the Milford Proving Grounds. That figure is the highest for any production Buick.
Source: Buick
