When you think “Buick Verano”, you think quiet, under the radar and underestimated little sedan. Because that’s pretty much what it is on the North American market. Now have you ever wondered what a hatchback version of the Verano would look like? Whether you have or not, the 5-door version of the model has been unveiled. And whether you would actually consider buying one or plan to point and laugh at it, pictures is all you will get; the Verano Hatchback won’t be crossing the Pacific pond.

The model unveiled in Guangzhou is the next evolution of Verano that we will eventually see in sedan form. The styling of the 5-door draws inspiration from the European side of the family, the Opel Astra, sharing many visual cues with its European counterpart, down to similar headlights and character lines, but with an undeniably très-Buick grille. The new hatchback rides on the new Delta II platform (developed by Opel in Germany for the Astra and all global GM compacts) that underpins the next-generation 2016 Chevrolet Cruze as well.

Buick Verano Hatchback  

Buick has also taken the stage with the Verano GS as well, a more spirited version of the model. Both the base hatchback and the sporty GS model receive 1.5L powertrains. The base Verano hatch will be naturally aspirated, good for 117 hp and 108 lb-ft of torque, teamed with a six-speed dual-clutch auto. The GS uses the same displacement with a turbocharger to achieve 166 hp and 184 lb-ft and gets one more gear in a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that should offer an average consumption of 5.9L/100 km. After the launch of the new-generation Buick Verano in Shanghai, these are the second and third variant of the model to join the Chinese lineup. What are the chances of GM hearing our pleas if we really want to see the VerAstrano hatch introduced to the North American market?

Connect with Autos.ca