 2012 Buick Verano. Click image to enlarge |
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2012 Buick Verano
Detroit, Michigan – In January, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Buick revealed the latest edition to its line-up of luxury vehicles, the 2012 Buick Verano. The Verano is Buick’s first entry into the growing luxury compact arena.
Although based on the recently released Chevrolet Cruze, the Buick Verano has little in common with its more proletarian sibling. The Verano will offer a more luxurious interior, more comfort and convenience features, and more powerful standard and optional engines. It will also be instantly recognizable as a Buick.
The Verano carries the modern Buick design cues introduced on the Enclave and interpreted for the LaCrosse and Regal. They include a bold, detailed black chrome waterfall grille, prominent blue translucent projector beam headlamps, “portholes” in the fenders, chrome accents and premium wheels. 17-inch multi-spoke forged alloy sterling silver-finish wheels are standard while two premium 18-inch wheel designs will be available.
 2012 Buick Verano. Click image to enlarge |
Inside are high quality soft-touch materials, available leather seating, wood and metallic trim and warm ambient lighting inspired by the LaCrosse. Neutral and medium titanium colours are offered on standard interiors with leatherette/fabric seating surfaces, while ebony, cashmere and a unique Choccachino colour are offered on the available leather-trimmed interiors. The instrument cluster blends with an integrated centre stack that houses the infotainment display, climate controls and radio controls. Tight panel gaps are expected to be best in class.
Standard features include push-button engine-start, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, electronic parking brake, power windows with express up and down in the front and express down in the rear, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. A remote starter for temperatures below seven degrees Celsius will activate the heated steering wheel and heated seats.
Much effort has gone into reducing noise and vibration in the Verano. Noise reducing or noise cancelling technologies include nylon baffles in various hollow portions of the body structure that are filled with sound-deadening foam, a headliner comprised of five layers of thermal fibre acoustic material, triple-sealed doors with fiberglass “blankets” that act as a barrier to water, airflow and noise, thick laminated windshield and side glass, intake and exhaust systems that are tuned for quiet performance, and 17-inch wheels and tires engineered to enhance quietness and reduce road noise.
  2012 Buick Verano. Click image to enlarge |
The standard Verano engine will be a direct injected 2.4-litre Ecotec four-cylinder with dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing delivering an estimated 177 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque. Combined with an efficient six-speed automatic transmission and electric power steering, GM expects the Verano will achieve 7.5 L/100 km on the highway. A 2.0-litre turbocharged engine will be offered in the future.
Stopping power will be handled by a four-wheel disc brake system with standard anti-lock and electronic brake force distribution, as well as StabiliTrak electronic stability control with traction control.
Other safety features include 10 standard air bags (frontal, head curtain side air bags, front and outboard rear-seat side-impact air bags and new knee air bags), collapsible pedal system and OnStar with automatic crash response.
And with OnStar, owners can download an OnStar app for their smart phone that, with a few taps, will allow them to check tire pressure, fuel tank level and range, remaining oil life and odometer reading!
The 2012 Buick Verano will make its Canadian debut at the Canadian International Auto Show on February 17 and will go on sale late this year. Pricing will be announced closer to its on sale date.
