2012 ‘Baby Buick’ Verano revealed ahead of Detroit debut

2012 ‘Baby Buick’ Verano revealed ahead of Detroit debut

This is the “baby Buick” that will make its world debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. Verano, as it is called, is a “compact sedan” (in US terms of course) based on General Motors’ Delta II platform that also underpins the Opel Astra and Chevrolet Cruze. Seen it before? The Verano was launched in China mid-2010 as the Buick Excelle GT, and we showed you that car here.

The Verano, which sits below the Regal in Buick’s range, will come with an Ecotec 2.4L engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox. With 177 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, the Verano does 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 8.0 seconds flat, and is capable of 11 km/l on the highway.

That will be the sole powertrain option when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011, but a 2.0L turbo engine will be offered in the future. In contrast, China’s Excelle GT comes with a 1.6 turbo with 181 hp/235 Nm.

2012 ‘Baby Buick’ Verano revealed ahead of Detroit debut

Buick is all about traditional comfort and luxury, so the Verano is claimed to be “the quietest compact sedan on the road, quieter than many midsize and full-size cars”.

Among the unique measures to maintain a “library-quiet driving experience” are hydraulic ride bushings, isolated engine cradle, nylon baffles and foam in hollow body portions, five layer headliner, triple-sealed doors with fiberglass “blankets” and acoustical laminated glass, among other things. Even the 17-inch aluminum wheels are manufactured in a unique way to enhance quietness, Buick says.

2012 ‘Baby Buick’ Verano revealed ahead of Detroit debut

Meanwhile, the Verano’s cabin features “exceptional seat comfort”, soft touch materials and ambient lighting inspired by the LaCrosse. It also comes with the same grade of leather as the LaCrosse that can be had in a special “Choccachino” colour seen here. Buick says that the components within the center stack have a gap tolerance of less than 1 mm, while the instrument panel-to-door panel gaps are less than 5 mm – the best in class.

Besides the expected Bose stereo, OnStar and 10 airbags, the Verano’s heated steering wheel and seats automatically activate when one starts the car in temperatures below 7 degrees C, surely something many Americans facing a harsh winter would appreciate.

Gallery after the jump.

[zenphotopress number=999 album=1843]

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • sure will cost bomb if it enters malaysia..

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    • racotua on Jan 07, 2011 at 11:38 am

      if sourced from china, the price could be reduced quite a bit if compared to sourcing from germany (i think some buick models are built by opel in germany) or the US.

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  • racotua on Jan 07, 2011 at 10:22 am

    looks good. could this brand make it here? they have 1.6 turbo (with fantastic outputs), 2.0 turbo and also 2.4.

    next question is, will they have rhd versions? buick is doing well in china and their model range in china is wider than in the US.

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  • Ash Menon on Jan 07, 2011 at 11:32 am

    Wow, that looks gorgeous! I have to say the overall styling is very well done. Nice balance, nice lines, nice feel to it. The back SLIGHTLY reminds me of a prev-gen Alfa, but nothing worse for it. If the drive quality can live up to their claims, this is going to prove to be a very good car.

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  • Black Dog on Jan 07, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    Even if it comes here, will be the China version. We can’t afford the US version

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  • Fifteen on Jan 07, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    A “baby” Merc or Beemer sounds fine.

    But ‘Baby Buick’ seems rather odd. The brand has been lost in the immediate generations following the post-WWII baby boomers.

    Seriously. GM desperately needs post-2000 demographics in order to succeed with a revitalized Buick brand.

    A 10 year old today will look at the New Verano, gets inspired, grows up and goes on to own one.

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  • kington on Jan 07, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I think this is a Chevrolet Cruze spin-off. The interior is uncanningly similar.

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    • DonkeyKong on Jan 08, 2011 at 2:51 am

      The interior obviously shares design elements with Cruze and Astra, but in this car it looks more refined, polished and elegant compared to the Cruze’s interior. I don’t think this much effort has been put into Cruze’s soundproofing either, although the Cruze is already very well sound-proofed!

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  • Steve on Jan 07, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    It looks the same exterior & interior-wise to the Opel Astra. It’s not mentioned in the news release but I suspect that this car is just a rebadge of the Astra.

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    • Danny Tan (Member) on Jan 07, 2011 at 3:02 pm

      This Verano and the China market Buick Excelle GT are sedans based on the current Astra. Opel does not sell an “Astra Sedan” in Europe.

      Since GM owns both Buick and Opel brands, I think it’s more “platform sharing” than “rebadge”

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    • DonkeyKong on Jan 08, 2011 at 2:52 am

      Another person who doesn’t understand what car platforms are simply uttering “rebadge” again.. sigghh..

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  • nonce on Jan 07, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    euwww..ugly chrome strips on the tail lamps.

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  • bryan.jones on Jan 07, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    beautifulll

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  • CamPor on Jan 07, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    why naza not bring this brand to malaysia…
    I prefer this brand design rather than chevy and I think the quality for both brand are same…

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    • laluan sehala on Jan 07, 2011 at 5:54 pm

      maybe chevy is more well known internationally than buick? who knows, maybe someone from a car company may be looking in and considering the brand.

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    • squawk on Jan 09, 2011 at 12:04 pm

      GM can interchange the brands to whichever brand is more popular in that particular market.

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      • retro on Jan 10, 2011 at 8:23 am

        you are right. branding is interchangeable within the group. just whether or not the product has acceptance of the public… and at what price. malaysians tend to accept japanese cars of high prices and everything else must be cheaper, no matter what it is or where it is made.

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  • tunomura on Jan 07, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    WhOAa, very impressive!! Mid-income like me surely can’t afford this rest of my life..sigh and regret =(

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  • Aneum on Oct 21, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    Buick is a popular brand among the more senior set. Also Buick cars are starting to be so beautifully designed as compared to those many other vehicles in the auo world.i like this car.Its impressive with the turn around Buick is going through

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  • Nazrenn on Mar 24, 2013 at 2:54 am

    currently in Kunming, China . this car are all over Kunming. Done having a ride on it, it was fantastic !

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