Buick Verano unveiled

[Wimbledon]

The Buick Verano is basically a tarted-up Chevrolet Cruze, which itself is a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti, which is basically a sedan version of the current Opel Astra.

Seems like something old GM would come up with...

http://jalopnik.com/5726109/the-buick-ve...ized-regal

http://www.buick.com/vehicles/future-veh...erano.html

Jalopnik Wrote:The 2012 Buick Verano looks like a kiddie car dressed up like a Regal for Halloween. It should — because at its heart, it's a Chevy Cruze wearing sound-deadening padded big-boy clothes and a vaguely European name. Sounds Italian... sorta.

In reality this new Buick small car's name is Spanish in origin. Apparently it means Summer. All we know is it slides right off the tongue. It's fun to say. Go ahead, try it. Ve-rah-no. Ve-rah-no. Ve-...eh, you get the point.

You'll be getting the Verano at your local Buick dealer later this year with a 2012 model year appended to that fun-sounding name.

Although there's supposed to be an embargo on information on this car until midnight, apparently even Buick's so nonplussed with its new baby boy for budget-minded blue-hairs they didn't care enough to hold to it themselves. Want to know more details about the best-looking Chevy Cruze you can buy — check them out here.

[stadt]

And a Lexus ES is a tarted up Camry. I don't think it's that inexcusable. If you go to the Buick page the interior looks pretty good...imo, anyway.

Motor Authority gives a lot more information in a less opinionated manner than Jalopnik.

[Wimbledon]

(01-06-2011 03:06 PM)stadt Wrote:  And a Lexus ES is a tarted up Camry. I don't think it's that inexcusable. If you go to the Buick page the interior looks pretty good...imo, anyway.

Very true, but is there enough differentiation from the Cruze? We'll see what the reviews say.

[stadt]

I don't know; looking at the pictures, I'd say yes. It sounds like they packed in a lot of luxury features, and to my eyes it doesn't *look* like a Cruze. Do they share the same proportions? Yeah. But I don't think they look very similar.

P.S. Autoblog has a great gallery.

[KevRC4130]

Very Korean looking, and yes... Rebadging cars is what got GM into trouble in the first place. Just when GM (and Buick in particular) seemed to shed their bad habits from the past...

[stadt]

But is it really rebadging?

Also - I wonder if we'll get a GS version packing the engine/suspension from an upcoming Cruze SS? They do say it will eventually be available with a 2.0 turbo.

[bmw_phil]

(01-06-2011 03:20 PM)Wimbledon Wrote:  

(01-06-2011 03:06 PM)stadt Wrote:  And a Lexus ES is a tarted up Camry. I don't think it's that inexcusable. If you go to the Buick page the interior looks pretty good...imo, anyway.

Very true, but is there enough differentiation from the Cruze? We'll see what the reviews say.

Yes, a big differentiation is under the hood.

Cruze is 1.8L or 1.4L turbo only. This car has the 2.4L from the Regal, with considerably more power. It's basically a Cruze with more upscale looks, a nicer interior, and more horsepower.

[Vman455]

(01-06-2011 03:37 PM)stadt Wrote:  But is it really rebadging?

Also - I wonder if we'll get a GS version packing the engine/suspension from an upcoming Cruze SS? They do say it will eventually be available with a 2.0 turbo.

Somehow, "Cruze SS" just doesn't roll off the tongue like "Cobalt SS" did.

At least Cobalt was spelled correctly.

[vdub10golf]

I like it. Thumbs up to Buick!

[Wimbledon]

(01-06-2011 03:42 PM)bmw_phil Wrote:  

(01-06-2011 03:20 PM)Wimbledon Wrote:  

(01-06-2011 03:06 PM)stadt Wrote:  And a Lexus ES is a tarted up Camry. I don't think it's that inexcusable. If you go to the Buick page the interior looks pretty good...imo, anyway.

Very true, but is there enough differentiation from the Cruze? We'll see what the reviews say.

Yes, a big differentiation is under the hood.

Cruze is 1.8L or 1.4L turbo only. This car has the 2.4L from the Regal, with considerably more power. It's basically a Cruze with more upscale looks, a nicer interior, and more horsepower.

I did not realize the Verano has a larger engine -- that will effectively differentiate it.