News: 2012 Buick Verano Brings Old Man Brand to a New Demographic

Continuing Buick's model rollout the stereotypical old-man-brand is looking for further growth down-market with the introduction of the new Verano. Billed as its first ever model in the compact luxury segment, the folks at Buick might be being purposefully ignorant of the '80s Skyhawk - although arguably a compact, it could hardly be called a luxury car.

Based on the same platform as the Chevy Cruze, the Verano shares many of the same suspension parts including the Watts Z-link rear end that was designed to offer the best attributes of an independent rear suspension (namely, handling and ride comfort) with the best parts of a torsion beam setup (being lighter, less expensive and taking up less space). The Cruze already provides a comfortable ride and when combined with extensive 'Quiet tuning' with plenty of additional noise dampening and canceling devices, the Verano promises a true Buick ride.

As rumored, under the hood, the Verano will get GM's 2.4-liter Ecotec 4-cylinder, delivering a sizable step up in performance over the Cruze. Power is rated at 177-hp and 170 ft-lbs of torque and when matched to a six-speed automatic will achieve 31-mpg on the highway. Buick is also planning to offer a version of its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which makes 220-hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque in the Regal Turbo. A 0-60 mph time of 8.0 seconds is promised for the base engine, so look for a turbo model that might dip into the 6s.

Inside Buick promises true luxury, although don't expect too much with a rumored starting price of around $20,000. Still, standard and optional features include a pretty impressive list of goodies like a push-button ignition, dual-zone climate control, heated leather seats and a heated steering wheel.

Perhaps more important is the overall refinement with soft-touch materials throughout, ambient lighting and minimal gaps between panels. Although if Buick is looking for a younger demographic they might have wanted to pass on the woodgrain accenting that's certain to look as genuine as a made-in-Taiwan Louis Vuitton bag.

Outside the Verano is styled more like the large LaCrosse than the Regal, with a prominent waterfall grille. Standard rolling hardware includes 17-inch wheels, although 18s are optional.

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Contraint de produire des automobiles plus modestes et plus économiques, GM puise notamment chez Opel pour "américaniser" des modèles destinés à la base au marché européen. Il y a quelques mois, l'Insignia passait ainsi à la casserole pour devenir la Regal. C'est à présent au tour de l'Astra d'être modifiée pour se muer en Verano, et de gagner au passage un vrai coffre, en lieu et place du hayon européen.

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Yet even years after the model was discontinued, the Cimarron's legacy remains negative. The car has become a staple of books and articles about bad cars.[11][12] Forbes placed the Cimarron on its list of "Legendary Car Flops," citing low sales, poor performance and the fact the car "didn't work, coming from a luxury brand." Author Hannah Elliott explained that the Cimmarron "appealed neither to Cadillac's loyal followers, who appreciated powerful V8s and Cadillac's domestic luxury edge, nor to buyers who favored Europe's luxury brands, whose cars out-handled and out-classed the Cimarron in every way."[13] In 2009, CNN Money noted in "GM's junk heap" of unsuccessful nameplates that the Cimmaron was, "In all important respects, a Chevrolet Cavalier.

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oner said:

C'étais n'importe quoi cette cadillac la..

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oner said:

Sa pas de sens comment les nouveaux model Buick vont toute sembler identique

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VWSpeed said:

The strategy works for VW/Audi...same platform, just different body styles...

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Loki said:

And for Honda/Acura, and for Toyota/Lexus, but the premium sides of those brands have been carefully crafted to have the perception they have today. You see the benefit of having an TL over an Accord.

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sparcosoul said:

look at ford, they undersood they have to be original and give some european touch into their looks.. Why is GM dumb? i dont get it

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VWSpeed said:

Don't really see the benefit of a TL over an Accord knowing that the TL is the Accord in Europe. I don't see the benefit of an A3 over a Golf either.

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