GMI Exclusive: Buick Compact Sedan Uncovered

[nsap]

GMI Exclusive: Buick Compact Sedan Uncovered
Say hello to the next Buick sedan.
www.gminsidenews.com
January 26, 2010
By: Nick Saporito

During last month’s Los Angeles auto show, General Motors revealed a rendering of a Buick compact sedan. The car was known about well before last month, however, as GM showed the car to a group of social media and the traditional media back in September at the GM Technology event. The car is going to be one of GM’s first attempts at a small, premium entry into the North American car market and will be tied closely to the new Opel Astra sedan. This new Buick will also be China's next-generation Excelle.

GMI managed to obtain very basic sketches of the new sedan from GM’s public patent filing for the car and had GMI member Mr. Burns utilize his talent to render the small Buick based on the patent filing and what we know about the new Astra sedan. GM filed the patent for the design back in August 2009 and sources have confirmed with GMI that the car is the Buick small sedan.

The car is essentially the Astra sedan with unique front and rear fascias, based on GM's Delta II platform. In the front and rear several design cues appear to be closely related to the Buick LaCrosse; such as the chrome pieces above the tail lamps and the overall shape of the front clip. Astra cues are very obvious on the car as well thanks to the unusual, small window that is ahead of the A-Pillar and the crease above the rocker panels that is also shared on the Opel Insignia and new Buick Regal.

GMI reported several months ago that the slated name for the new Buick was going to be “Verano.” To date no new information regarding the chosen name has been divulged, however GMI has been told that there is some traction within GM to utilize the Excelle name, which will be the car’s name in China. It is worth noting that GM has not filed any trademarks in the U.S. for the Excelle name, they have for Verano.

Allegedly GM will use two four-cylinder engines for the small car. The base engine is said to be the same 1.4L Turbo that is found in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze and an up level 1.6L Turbo will be optional. In the Cruze the 1.4L Turbo makes 138 HP, while the 1.6L Turbo is currently in the new Astra Hatch making 180 HP. Sources have also indicated that GM has not yet ruled out using the 2.0L Turbo as a high-end trim level; however no decision has been made at this time. Perhaps the 2.0L could be a GS model?

Expect the car to begin production in mid 2011 as a 2012 model-year vehicle. In North America, the car is rumored to be slated for production at GM’s Lake Orion, Michigan assembly plant, which recently closed for an extensive retooling. Production will also be taking place in China for that respective market.

Big thanks to Mr. Burns for helping us out with this!!

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[neshapop]

I like it!

The name is blah, but overall very promising, looks like BMW 1 Series from the back.

[DNTCAiRNEMO]

I like it too....but is it me or do I see alot of "Saturn" in that Buick?

Edit --read that it's Astra based...that explains it.

[zl-1]

A bit less bling and please lose that spoiler... Other than that and using the spy pics as reference, it seems spot on! Great job!

[rueben44]

Looks good but please let the Astra head lights stay in place. why would you dumb that down. Plus they would be in line with the new Regal.

[NuclearOps]

I like the way the Buick "design style" has carried over to all three cars (Lacrosse, Regal). Subtle and classy.

[K-1]

No rear-view camera?

[jbartley]

LOVE IT!

hate the spoiler. REMOVE!

hate the name. REMOVE!

They must be able to find a better name? Verona sounds like something Kia or Hyundai would name a car...

[CrunkedRL]

Not really feeling the chrome bits over the taillights they look rather tacky and halfbaked IMO. But every other element on the facade seems to flow seemlessly together. I'll be in the market for a premium small car in the next couple years so this may be added to my list.

[AMcA]

Nice. Actually looks like a Buick.

I was afraid from the spy photos that it wasn't going to be visually differentated to a sufficient degree. But it looks like they've done a good job on that. No one's going to mistake it for a Cruze.

[Uzzy]

Looks really good. Nothing terribly exciting about it, but it's well executed. Hopefully the 2.0T will make it as a GS version. It's got portholes!

[Mr. Burns]

Keep in mind I don't design'em, I just render them. I think it looks like a nice premium little car, though I can't see too wide an appeal in the US market for it. Regardless it's a good addition to Buick's current lineup.

[Busta_44]

Ewwww...I hate to say it but I really don't care for it. The spoiler just looks bad and the back end is a little iffy to me. Also, shouldn't it only have two ports on each side?

[AMcA]

Originally Posted by zl-1

A bit less bling and please lose that spoiler... Other than that and using the spy pics as reference, it seems spot on! Great job!

No, no. Leave the bling. Buicks shouldn't be restrained - they should, as they did in their glory days, have a strong graphic image and a certain extrovertedness. LaCrosse does that very well. And this rendering carries that on very effectively.

[r22wink]

Looks good however, who is the demographic for this vehicle? That is what concerns me about it.