The Forgotten American Luxury Sedan With Turbo Power And A Manual Transmission

There was a moment in the 2010s when American luxury brands realized that their brand of luxury cars was starting to alienate up-and-coming luxury consumers. Over the decades, brands like Cadillac and Lincoln had aspirational value for upwardly mobile executives, and as that began to wane, brands like Buick and Chrysler stepped in with more youthful offerings to make the transition from mainstream sedans.

But the new luxury buyer wanted more engaging driving experiences—quicker power delivery and hands-on control (literally!)—and American luxury brands began to transition to performance that would play on the field the European luxury brands had created. One company decided to take up arms, equipping its long-serving signature midsize sedan with the artillery—a turbocharged engine and a manual transmission—to lead the charge.

The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS Bucked The American Luxury Trend

Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine Was Controlled By A Six-Speed Manual

The fifth-generation Buick Regal (2011–2017) was derived from the Opel Insignia, with the 2012–2015 Regal GS being practically a badge-engineered clone. It was powered by a high-output version of the Ecotec 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque when mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Those outputs were impressive at the time for the mainstream nameplate, and rekindled nostalgia for the Buick Regal Grand National/GNX of the mid-1980s.

The only obstacle preventing the Buick Regal GS from taking on German sport sedans head-to-head was that the manual transmission was offered only on front-wheel-drive GSs. Though the trim was available with all-wheel drive, AWD Regal GS models were only available with a six-speed automatic. The manual was part of the identity when Buick debuted the GS concept—a hands-on gearbox with firm throws and a mechanical connection between driver and machine.

The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS Had The Potential To Take On German Sports Sedans

The manual Buick Regal GS was only available for a couple of years, though the front-wheel drive Regal did come with the (lesser-powered) 2.0-liter turbo engine and manual transmission, like the Regal Turbo. The sportier Regal GS switched to an automatic-only drivetrain, resulting in reduced power outputs but no change in engine efficiency, which was what Buick deemed Regal owners really valued. As a result, Buick missed the opportunity to make an impression on German sedan aspirationalists.

Fifth-Gen Buick Regal GS Specs

2012–2013 Buick Regal GS Development

It’s worth pointing out that the Buick Regal GS concept debuting at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit previewed a sporty German-rooted sedan—more aggressive suspension setup, bold design, and definitive performance credentials—having been developed from the Opel Insignia. It was meant to be the new Saturn Aura, but the market slid into the great recession, and GM killed off Saturn, so a couple of tweaks created the Regal GS.

In retrospect, Buick may have accomplished bigger things with a Regal GS more closely aligned with the Opel Insignia OPC (and Vauxhall VXR8)—the 325-horsepower 2.8-liter turbo V-6 AWD track-tuned sports sedan— but it shows the balancing act Buick was attempting at the time to push sportiness without alienating its core buyer, who still prioritized upscale refinement.

The Buick Regal Competed Against Entry-Level Sport Luxury In North America

The Buick Regal GS wasn’t meant to be an out-and-out sports sedan to take on the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C 63 (that came later with the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V). Rather, the Regal GS is a Buick through and through—quiet, comfortable, dressed up with materials that feel nicer than what the sportier midsize sedans of the time offered, with leather seats, refined switchgear, good sound insulation, and a solid infotainment interface for its time.

2013 Luxury Sport Sedan Spec Comparison

That became part of its appeal. You could have a comfortable sedan to negotiate city traffic and be comfortable on long highway runs, and it would still offer a spirited run on twisty back roads. That placed it firmly against luxury sedan sport variants, like the Acura TL and Audi A4, which tilted more toward track-readiness than luxury comfort.

The 2013 Acura TL Offered V-6 Power In A Larger Package Than The Buick Regal GS

Like the Buick Regal GS, the 2013 Acura TL aimed to deliver sport-oriented luxury, but had a different engineering philosophy. The TL is larger overall, with a longer wheelbase and more interior room, especially in the rear seats. Its base FWD powertrain was a 3.5-liter V-6 that bested the Regal on power and efficiency. It was also available in AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive or SH-AWD) that dropped in a larger 3.7-liter V-6 that offered better power and acceleration, while efficiency was only slightly worse than the Regal GS.

The Buick Regal GS Was A Worthy Rival To The Similarly Sized But Sportier Audi A4

Comparable in engine and cabin size to the Buick Regal GS, the 2013 Audi A4 2.0T differed in its approach to sports luxury. The A4’s 2.0-liter turbo “four” was considerably less powerful than the Regal’s, but more efficient, the result of its being paired to a continuously-variable transaxle in FWD configuration. The power dynamics didn’t change for the Quattro model, but it was paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, which skewed it toward precision and balance, whereas the Regal GS tilted more toward comfort and smoothness.

The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS Wasn’t A Sales Superstar But It Held Its Own

The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS is easy to overlook, mainly because of how it was marketed. It was the top trim level Regal, so it was understandably viewed as the flagship of the line, but its equipment and persona placed it lower on the Regal status scale than the Premium models that carried more desirability among Buick buyers at the time. So the Buick Regal GS was a car that didn’t have the brand cachet to attract the younger performance luxury demographic, and was a bit too sporty to satisfy the traditional Buick buyer. Yet, the Buick Regal GS seems to have garnered pretty good attention from buyers.

Although there is no definitive breakdown in Regal GS within the broader Regal line, it is accepted that GS and Turbo models accounted for about 60 percent of the 24,616 Regal sales in 2012, skewed toward the GS (all according to GM Authority). In 2013, Regal GS sales reportedly accounted for 18 percent of 18,685 total Regals, or about 3,363. That means probably 10,000–11,000 sales over two years of the exclusive turbo “four”/manual car.

The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS Is Just Different Enough For Sustained Acceptance

If the Buick Regal GS were a movie, it would today be a cult classic—an introduction that isn’t overwhelmingly received on introduction, but one that draws a dedicated following as it ages. It may not be the equivalent of a Blade Runner, but it most certainly would be a Rocky Horror Picture Show, with its enduring and endearing charm. Enthusiast forums, owner groups, and used-car traffic all reflect sustained interest in well-maintained Regal GS models.

At the same time, they aren’t overwhelmingly desirable models that are valued much higher than they’re worth. They’re probably priced just right for their model year, level of performance, and sustained reliability, which is probably the level of achievement to be expected for essentially a mid-tier performance sedan that could very well have been just a footnote in the GM archives.

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The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS Stepped Up As A Dynamic Driving Midsize Sedan

When you strip away the badges and blind yourself to hype, the important piece of the Buick Regal GS that remains is a sedan that tried to build a dynamic driving personality, in an era when many mainstream midsize cars didn’t really try at all, and many entry-level luxury sedans tried to offer smidgens of their larger, more opulent siblings. When you compare what it was in 2013 and what it is today, it’s the equivalent of an Audi A4, and competent enough to compete with an Acura TL.

2013 Sport Luxury Sedan Used Price Comparison

The Buick Regal GS May Not Have Set The American Luxury World On Fire, But It Ignited A Spark

The 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS is one of those “what’s that now?” cars that represent much more than an upscale midsize sedan. It got luxury buyers to consider that driving engagement, through responsive acceleration, manual shifting, and controlled driving dynamics had a place in the traditional American luxury sedan world, paving the way for a Cadillac performance sedan, in the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V.

Cadillac ATS-V And CT4-V Blackwing Specs

Performance, practicality, and enduring enthusiast appeal have kept the Buick Regal GS from total obscurity in the face of increasingly more powerful and engaging sports sedans from just about every global luxury maker. And when you compare what it was to what it became, in the form of the 2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, you see that the spirit that animated the turbo/manual FWD 2012–2013 Buick Regal GS carries on today.

2016 Cadillac ATS-V: The Buick Regal GS Successor

By the time the Buick Regal GS retired, it had passed the luxury performance torch onto the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V, which was introduced as a coupe and sedan in November 2014. The Regal GS started the race with the turbo/manual baton in hand, and passed it to the ATS-V, which boosted power from a turbo “four” to a 3.6-liter twin turbo V-6 that nearly doubled its predecessor’s power output. It also came with a RWD configuration that made it more palatable to its sports sedan clientele and elevated the level of luxury in the cabin.

2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing: The Spiritual Successor

Fast-forward to 2025, and we arrive at one of the last modern luxury sport sedans that still offers manual control over a turbocharged engine. The 2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is serious about performance on a surface that the 2013 Buick Regal GS only scratched, with a powerful new version of the 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6. Despite the way both cars ask the driver to actively participate in their performance, the Blackwing represents a statement of capability, whereas the Regal GS was a statement of potential.

Sources: GM Authority, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, the EPA