General Motors has granted us with pricing for its new entry-level Buick model, the 2012 Verano compact sedan, before it goes on sale in the United States later this year.
Pricing for the base Verano starts at $23,470 and tops out at $26,850 including $885 in destination charges, with all three available trim levels powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers 180HP at 6,700 rpm with 171 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,900 rpm.
In an attempt to place the Opel Astra-based Verano in a higher class than its sister Chevrolet model, the Cruze that is priced from a significantly lower entry-point at $17,470, GM states in the press release that the Buick "offers more passenger and cargo volume than the Acura TSX sedan or Lexus IS 250" and that it is available with a "heated steering wheel – an option not found vehicles like the Lexus IS250 or Infiniti G25".
Standard features across the range include leatherette seating, a 7-inch diagonal LED backlit color-touch radio display with IntelliLink technology, 10 air bags, automatic climate control, remote start, power windows and steering wheel radio controls.
Moving up to the top level model adds a number of standard features such as leather upholstery, seat heaters that automatically activate in temperatures below 45 F (7 C) when using the remote start function, and push-button engine start.
4 Comments:
What was the business rationale for making this bade engineering monstrosity? Who in the general public was clamouring for this POS? What focus group hand-raisers championed this to the point where the general made it a reality? If your answer is 'China' then you win. You can't fool a developed consumer with badge engineering anymore. We see a lipstick on a pig. The chinese see a new offering from a ......top tier luxury brand. Back to the Verano, less on global consumer psychology.
Really GM, really? Your own press pics make the interior wood look fake(can you stop using some bizzarre stripe for a wood grain, looks like a brindle french bulldog got nailed by a siberian tiger...I love frenchies, hate fake wood). I thought the plastic vents on the hood were nixed after everyone thought they were cheap looking. Did someone miss the memo?
Beyond the metal, the differentiation approach is mind numbing for a company that by all accounts is a follower, and not a leader.
Can Buick PR find even more 'standard options' not standard on competition base models and call them out. Free press for the competition, way to go you PR douche-bags. Before I was thinking a Verano was a nice move from a Jetta, now I'm thinking I may be able to get into a lexus.
You know who else took this approach, the japanese when no one would buy their vehicles and information wasn't as readily avail. They had to make blatant "we're better than them" statements because no one would believe them. Except, now, the moment the Verano goes against the G, or the TSX or the Lexus, it will lose the overall comparison and then these 'point of differentiation' go up in smoke. Luxury buyers will pay a little more for the badge, that is the reality. Playing the discount game in luxury never wins unless you've got great value. Infiniti did it but it took a long time and some still don't consider the G a true German competitor(I beg to differ)
GM better pray that they are in fact meeting a consumer needs and offering the best product at the price.
It is about time the General brings back the Cimarron. Any chance I can get a fake soft top to go with the fake hood vents?
How rediculous when a $56,000 Acura RL doesnt have real wood, or for that matter anything in the Accord or Civic based Acura doesnt have real wood I think its hard to knock a car that costs $23,000. Not to mention a new focus will run up to $30,000 so the pricing isnt really to far off of typical fully optioned economy cars. You talk badge engineering an dplatform engineering yet oyu dont talk VW???? Interesting how many vehicles do they have based on the golf.
Does GM really need a competitor for the Cruze?
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