Oh Hi: 2012 Buick Regal GS

I’m not going to fall back on the tired cliche of pointing out that Buick’s are generally made and marketed for, um, more seasoned individuals, but I must admit – this new Regal GS is definitely not made for your grandfather.

The regular Regal has been out for a while, and while it’s a fine machine in its own right, it really doesn’t do a whole lot to stir the soul. The Regal GS is here to fix that.

First, the best news. GM has decided to give the Regal GS a manual transmission option! That’s right, a 6-speed manual is actually available in a Buick. So, it has one piece of the performance puzzle down. What else does it have? Well it will get a 2.0 litre turbocharged Ecotech 4 cylinder which will make 255 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. Good torque numbers, but let’s hope the turbo doesn’t kick in too late and that the ecotech is actually able to let its hair down every once in a while.

Here’s a bit of bad news though. The Regal GS will be front-wheel drive only. Aww, you were so close to an excellent performance recipe, GM. With that said, it will use the same front-wheel drive system that the 2011 Saab 9-5 gets and from what I read, it can hold its own. GM says they didn’t bother with AWD because they added a high performance strut system which they claim works just as good as an AWD car in hanlding situatutions, plus it keeps cost down.

On top of decent styling, you can get optional 20 inch rims (although hopefully they aren’t chrome like the ones pictured above) and a host of luxury features.

How much will it cost? We’ll have to wait and see. Until then, decent effort GM.

[General Motors]

Turns Out ‘E-Tron’ is a Crappy Name, Audi

The all-electric E-tron is expected to make production in the next few years, promising to be an efficient alternative to those who value performance but have a concern for the environment and how much they spend on gas. It is said to have similar performance of the Audi R8 but uses absolutely no gas. Cool idea.

What wasn’t a cool idea though, was naming it E-tron. While the name sounds cool and futuristic, obviously the whole world doesn’t speak English. Which means that different words have different meanings in cultures across the world. Audi is finding that out the hard way.

Turns out in French Etron is slang for feces. Obviously having a car named after excrement is not ideal. It would give way to way too many puns such as “that car is a piece of shit.” This isn’t the first time Audi has screwed up names. Remember when they insensitively created the Green Police? The same guy responsible for that in Audi’s research department must’ve come up with the Etrons name.

This also isn’t the first time a new car’s name meant something hilariously different in another language. GM came to the startling realization that the name of its top selling sedan, the LaCrosee, means rather crudely to masturbate in la Francais Quebecois. Luckily for GM, they came to this realization before the LaCross went on sale and named it the Allure in our market. Since then, GM has decided that LaCrosse will be the name of here and Canada too. They apparently don’t care about Quebec culture or references anymore.

[Green Car Ports]

World Car of the Year 2010: Top Ten Entries Revealed

What is the best car in the world? It’s all relative and subjective and thus, impossible to determine. But that doesn’t stop automotive journalists from trying.

52 automotive journalists representing each continent in the world (except Antarctica – Penguins can’t legally drive yet) have gotten together and submitted their top ten choices for World Car of the Year in two categories: Car of the Year and Performance Car of the Year. There will then be three finalists chosen for both categories.

Find out what car made the top ten and what our pics are for the finalists after the jump!

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GM Kicks Toyota While They’re Down

To say the automotive business is a tough business is quite an understatement. No one knows this better than GM.

Things got so bad that they had to run to the government, with promises of change,to ask for money or else the entire company would go bankrupt. And both American and Canadian governments gave the A-OK to the loan, despite lots of public outrage at the mere notion of a bailout.

But now that GM is semi-back on its feet, and paying back those loans, it seems that they have all but forgotten what it’s like to be down on your luck as they are aiming at taking advantage of Toyota’s misfortune.

GM is offering Toyota owners some incentives if they jump ship. From now until the end of February, if you take in your Toyota and buy a Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle you can choose from three different incentives.

Find out what they are after the jump

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