The last time we heard about General Motors' forthcoming Buick Verano was back in October when the company teased the U.S. version of the already revealed in China, Excelle GT, with a single cropped picture. Now, the folks over at GM Inside News forum managed to get their hands on the car's preliminary specs through a leaked online order study destined for Buick dealers.
According
to the official document, the Verano will be available with the 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. Peak output will be 180 hp and 172 lb-ft (233 Nm) of torque. Customers will have the option to choose between four trim levels, each building up on the previous version.
The base version is codenamed “1SB Cloth Base” and comes with a cloth interior. It has an estimated MSRP ranging from $20,900 to $21,500.
Next up is the “1SD Cloth Mid-Level” that adds a variety of features such as remote start, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and sound system with Bluetooth connectivity. The MSRPs range between $22,100 and $22,700.
The third variant is the “1SG Cloth Mid-Level”, which ups the luxury ante with power adjustable driver seat, heated mirrors, rear park assist and dimming inside rear view mirror. Base price for this variant is estimated to be in the $23,300 - $23,900 range.
Last but not least, Buick will offer the range topping “1SL Leather Up-Level”, boasting heated seats and steering wheel, keyless entry system, premium Bose sound system and 18-inch alloys. This version is estimated to cost up to $26,200.
If true, Buick will be charging mid-size sedan money - think Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata- for a car that belongs in the subcompact category along with its Chevrolet Cruze twin and the Ford Focus. Of course, being that we're still more than six months away from the Buick Verano's market launch in the States, one should take these prices for what they are: estimates and not final prices.
By Csaba Daradics
Source: GM Inside News , Via: Worldcarfans
___________________2011 BUICK EXCELLE GT [China-Spec]_______________
28 Comments:
Jenny predicts the fate of this car:
1) It will not sell (since when was there a premium subcompact market? MINI doesn't count, its in a niche of its own)
2) They'll resort to dealer incentives and price cuts to move this car
3) The Verano will NOT get rave reviews on motoring magazines and auto blogs.
Yeah...maybe it should be in the subcompact price category, but it sure does look nice and "looks" like it could belong in the mid-size sedan price-range.
ugly as hell...! maybe will sell good in China. definately designed with China customers in mind
seems like GM didn't learn any lessons from the past!
^ Jenny you're probably right on the money.
And while I agree with you, GM deserve props for at least attempting to use their best developed underpinnings for such a sized car from Opel to develop a premium positioned US product.
china spec? what are they planning to sell this outside of china as well...?
Look at this car or the cruze,,,and then check out the sonata or the new optima. The optima has is beat on size, looks and price. This is the new Buick???...a rehashed cruze??? it's the slightly new Buick!!
Why does this seem all vaguely familiar...oh yeah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Cimarron
just like the Astra...this won't sell, i'd rather have the new Elantra!
Butters does not like this offering.
Butters is disappointed that GM has not learned it's lesson
about the horrors of Badge Engineering.
Butters thinks this looks better as a Chevy Cruze.
Too expensive. 1.8L and 1.4L turbo should be offered too.
These comments are pretty funny reading them lol no one her I bet will complain about the A1 which costs thousands more than the econo hatch its based on yet looks alot like it and is being passed off as a premium car. The A3 which offers nothing really extra except an audi grill and more options than a GTI except it costing thousands more. Audi is getting a version of the Jetta when the A3 gets redone. The Lexus HS is a 40+ thousand version of the prius that fails as a luxury car. The RSX was nothing more than a civic with a slightly different look again no one complained....its funny GM cant do right by people no matter how much they DONT COMPLAIN when others do the same or worse....still laughing at the A3 and A1
It looks horrible. The length reduction has killed the sleek look of the Regal, making it look like a dumpling.
"If true, Buick will be charging mid-size sedan money - think Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata- for a car that belongs in the subcompact category along with its Chevrolet Cruze twin and the Ford Focus."
The cruze, the focus, and even this car, ARE NOT subcompacts.
Neither is the aforementioned Cooper S or the oft forgotten C30, their's compact coupes.
As far as I can see, there isn't a damn thing sold in NA that can even be called a 'luxury subcompact'......
except the 1 series.
"Why does this seem all vaguely familiar...oh yeah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Cimarron"
In that case, Hyundai doesn't amount to anything nowadays when we consider this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Pony
The shit pendulum swings both ways.
It has nothing to do with the Buick Regal, which is an Opel/Vauxhall Insignia with a different grill, insignias, and engines. The Verano is in fact a sedan version of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra hatchback. Unlike the Regal, they didn't just plug a Buick grill in the same opening, but for some reason the whole front clip is different, as well as of course the rear, since it's a sedan.
The proposed pricing does seem a bit high. It should be priced with the most obvious direct competitor, the Jetta.
I am not sure who Buick is trying to appeal to with this vehicle. It does not have a cool or sporty vibe that would appeal to young buyers (who would probably buy something Japanese or Korean) and doesn't have the class of a BMW or a Mercedes. Maybe an older person who is downsizing might look at it, but they tend to like their cars a little bigger (like Camrys). I think Buick didn't do their market reseach on this one.
Looks like GM is returning to their Cadillac Cimarron days. The rear end on this car is appalling. The much scorned Chrysler Sebring looks far better than this hack job.
If this were a Chrysler or a Dodge there would be over 200 comments on this article by now, all from people protesting that they really are 'fans'...
it seems disproportionate, yet, i think it will sell in certain markets where buicks are popular and there are gm loyalists. the questions has to do with how many "import" buyers out there that will be enticed to purchase one? hmmm... no telling, but i think china should sell plenty and even current gm owners in n.a. liking the lucerne, regal and/or lacrosse will look seriously at it.
personally, i too, think the '11 chrysler 200 (former sibling sedan) has better lines.
"If this were a Chrysler or a Dodge there would be over 200 comments on this article by now, all from people protesting that they really are 'fans'..."
the chrysler 300 looks great, btw, but i see a mercedes-benz look to this buick. it is not bad, but rather quirky. quirky is not always a bad thing. no. not nearly as graceful as the '11 chrysler, but the focus here is buick.
this buick sedan has great lines, but kind of a "mis-mash" of them, without a unified direction or overall look. 200 comment, in time, maybe, but not as praise worthy as the remarkable dodge and chrysler (pictured elsewhere) in my opinion, yet i will need to see it in person.
i am looking at a buick regal, but if my current car holds out, will likely by the "gs" version.
^ Oops! I meant "buy" (NOT "by") - Freudian slip! At least I did not type "bye" (to Buick). An added impression, the interior looks decent enough. The exterior look? It is growing on me with each revisit.
god those rear lights are asian as hell...
Not so bad for a compact, as a Buick i dunno, at least they are moving with the times and would rather have one of these than a focus
They should have left this one alone. It may would have made a good Hybrid car to compete with the Lexus HS at a more affordable price but......GM please stop with the clones. Put a pig in a dress; it's still a pig. Put an Armani suite on a Cruze; it's still a Cruze.
"It may would have made a good Hybrid car to compete with the Lexus HS at a more affordable price but......GM please stop with the clones. Put a pig in a dress; it's still a pig. Put an Armani suite on a Cruze; it's still a Cruze."
Contridict much? With the exception of the LFA, EVERYTHING in lexus's range is just rebadged toyotas; the HS being just a prius. Put a Armani suit on a Prius, it's still a Prius.
Need I remind you people that the shit pendulum swings both ways?
No manual transmission? Can anyone explain?
Looks like GM is returning to their Cadillac Cimarron days. The rear end on this car is appalling. The much scorned Chrysler Sebring looks far better than this hack job.
Keren
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