spwolf

9" difference is huge...

LexBob2

Not bad. Current Buicks, Enclave, LaCrosse and Regal, are drawing car buyers. My guess is that this one will do fairly well.

GS69

Buick Verano Priced to Compete w/ Asian Luxury Brands

The 2012 Buick Verano compact sedan is to start at $23,470, including shipping, well below Asian compacts with which the Buick brand aspires to compete.

The Verano tops out at $29,490, less than the $34,470 suggested starting price of the 2012 Lexus IS 250 and the $30,495 of the 2011 Acura TSX.

General Motors is carving out a position for a lower-end luxury brand, targeting Buick at more practical, less flashy luxury buyers than those attracted to its Cadillac brand. In general, the brand’s leaders have said, that would position the brand in competition with Asian luxury car brands.

Buick was the fastest-growing volume brand in the U.S. last year, up 52%. It has grown 25% so far this year, gaining share partially off sliding sales from Japanese automakers hurt by their country’s March earthquake and tsunami. The brand is in the midst of growing its lineup by several new models, including last year’s addition of the Buick Regal sedan.

The Verano, Buick’s 1st small car in about 20 years, is priced and sized to appeal to about half of American buyers, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said earlier this year.

GM plans to have the car in dealerships by the end of the year. Orion Township workers will build the car, which is Buick’s version of the hot-selling Chevrolet Cruze. The 2012 Cruze starts at $17,470.

Fizzboy7

This vehicle appears to offer nothing special at all. Historically for GM, that usually results in heavy rebates and discontinuance.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Just when GM looks like they're figuring things out, they always have to drop a crappy, overpriced rebadge to make you think WTF?

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

said it before... nice interior, ugly exterior.

spwolf

As usual - simple re-badge does the job for GM. Why couldnt they design unique interior?

-J-P-L-

I don't see a single part that is the same.

Most other companies do much more parts sharing. Even the HVAC ***** are a bit different. Toyota uses the same ones in like 10 cars.

spwolf

Thats like ES sharing Camry interior... everything major in the vehicle is at exactly same position - from same design of the instruments, to the vents, dashboard and everything else.

We are not talking about Cruze and Malibu sharing parts but Chevrolet that starts at 17k and Buick that starts at 27k.

Lexuslvr91

The Verano is based on the Opel Astra. It doesn't share a single piece of sheet metal or interior design element with the Cruze. It's just like the Lexus HS250h and Toyota Avensis.

It is NOT a rebadge and is priced at $23,470 not $27k like someone else said. It's $6k less than the TSX.

LexFather

Does every non Lexus owner here like using the HS in posts? smh...

I have to now take Buick out the luxury realm as this is a 23k car and will totally skew figures. They should have not dipped this low. Can't believe Buick has 2 Opel based cars/rebadges/whatever.

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

Buick is not luxury. It is entry-level or near-luxury at best. GM has Cadillac for that. For what it is though is what Mercury/Lincoln is (was) to Ford (I realize Mercury is defunct and Lincoln is 'headed in a new direction'). It's a step up for Chevy buyers. If I wanted a more appealing or more luxurious car instead of a Cruze without breaking the bank, the Verano would be a good fit. Image wise, while not there with even Acura or Inifiti, I still see Buick as a little step up from Chevy, even Toyota , Honda, and Hyundai (within the same car segment), whether deserved or not.

With that said, I think it is a handsome care, one that won't offend any buyers. I do like the chrome de-strip photoshop that was done by a CL member. such a big difference from such a little change.