The 2001 Buick Regal

DETROIT – Buick's 2001 lineup includes the Regal Olympic Edition, a limited-production model created to commemorate Buick's support for athletes competing on the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team.

Olympic Edition
In Olympic Edition trim, Buick's premium and powerful midsize model sports fashionable design cues and special features and is identified by the U.S. Olympic Team logo on its tail lamps and floor mats. The Olympic package is available on Regal LS and GS models.

The special Regal also inaugurates Buick's relationship with renowned fashion designer Joseph Abboud. Abboud has a longstanding relationship with GM that includes designing special vehicles for Concept:Cure to benefit breast cancer research and awareness, and for UAW-GM's "The Team Behind the Team" program supporting U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls.

Olympic colors
The new Regal is available in Gold Metallic, Sterling Silver Metallic and a new color for 2001, Graphite Metallic, with Sandrift lower body panels that are unique to the Olympic models. A special Storm Gray paint treatment sets off the grille-mounted Buick tri-shield and wheel center caps. The interior is Taupe with leather seats.

The Olympic Edition also offers a special package of features including a power sunroof, Gran Touring suspension and an eight-speaker Monsoon audio entertainment system with steering wheel-mounted controls. The Olympic package is available on all Regal models.

Joseph Abboud models
Additional Abboud-inspired Regal LS and GS models are planned for mid-model year introduction, offering similar content as the Olympic Edition models with Abboud's diamond logo replacing U.S. Olympic Team badging. The mid-year models also will sport a two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel.

"Regal has always delivered on a promise of performance, sporty styling and roominess for families," said Mark D. Hines, Regal brand manager. "With the Abboud models, we're taking it a step further by blending style with performance to create a contemporary sedan which has a classic design. This vehicle is the product of a renowned designer from the world of fashion working with car designers, merging Abboud's fashion sense with the product features our customers and their families desire."

Supercharged V-6 engine
Regal is available in LS and GS models, the latter equipped with a supercharged 3800 Series II V-6 engine providing 240 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm. The LS engine is the naturally aspirated 3800 Series II V-6, providing 200 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 225 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Fuel economy is 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway for the LS and 18/27 for the supercharged GS.

New LS and GS features
All 2001 Regals are equipped with a trunk entrapment handle to allow escape from the trunk for someone inadvertently locked in, rear wheelhouse liners for a quieter ride, and new interior trim and exterior colors. OnStar, GM's 24-hour on-demand driver assistance and navigation system, is standard on Regal GS models (optional on LS) and comes with one year of free safety and security service.

Standard features
Regal provides an array of standard features including dual-zone ComforTemp climate control, remote keyless entry, perimeter lighting, reclining driver and front passenger seats, fog lamps, dual remote outside rearview mirrors (power adjust, heated), daytime running lamps and cornering lamps.

Convenience Plus
Regal models also come equipped with Buick's Convenience Plus package of features including delayed entry and exit lighting, theater dimming, flash-to-pass control, battery rundown protection, lockout protection, delayed locking, auxiliary power outlet, retained accessory power, theft-deterrent system and daytime running lamps. Cruise control and power windows and door locks are also standard.

GS features
In addition to the supercharged engine, GS models add leather-trimmed seats with a driver's seat side air bag, a Driver Information Center providing oil-life monitoring, fluid level warnings and fuel/engine information, full-range (brake and engine) traction control and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

The GS also is equipped with Gran Touring suspension, including 16-inch all-season touring tires and aluminum or optional chrome-plated wheels.

New LS trim
For 2001, LS models feature GS-like black trim, body-colored grille and body-colored "Buick" lettering on rear bumper. New exterior colors are Graphite Metallic and White. Graphite is the new interior color, available in both Dunbar Cloth and Sierra-Grain Leather.