Above is the China-market version of the 2016 Buick Verano, set to launch later this month following its debut in April at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show.
The Shanghai-GM-built sedan is the first Buick in the market to wear the Verano nameplate — its Chinese name is Weilang — and will slot between the Excelle GT and Regal in the lineup, CarNewsChina writes.
Power for the Verano will come through a 1.5-liter four-pot paired with either six-speed manual or automatic — good for 118 horses — as well as a 1.5-liter turbo-four pushing 170 horses through a CVT.
Styling differs slightly compared to the USDM version of the Verano, particularly with the Chinese variant’s narrower headlamps and more-forward grill with the cutline for the hood moved a few inches back; the U.S. version has the hood close on top of the grill. The tail lights, meanwhile, lack the chrome upper trim on the U.S. model, and the sideview mirrors are mounted on the door compared with the window-mounted setup sold across the Pacific.
Price of admission will range between ¥135,000 and ¥185,000 ($21,530 and $29,510 USD) for the 1.5S and 2.0T models; the alphanumeric trim names reportedly mean little as far as the engines go.
(Photo credit: Tycho De Feijter/CarNewsChina)
Is it the same platform as the U.S. version? This looks lower and wider.
I think this in on the new D2XX that the new Cruze uses which we’ll probably see under a new U.S. Verano before too long.
Correct – it is D2XX – Delta II is being retired. D2XX will probably bring about even bigger change for the Equinox, Terrain and SRX as Theta is also being retired.
In theory, as D2XX supports AWD, we could see cars like the Cruze and Verano come in AWD down the road. I say in theory – others likely closer to the industry know more than me.
Oh good microfibery suede which shows handprints. That would be an avoid for me right there, because I’d end up striping it with the vacuum.
At least it’s cheap. And I do like the giant sunroof.
I like the front badge but still needs to be bigger.
Pointy elbows
So China gets colored tri-shields and we don’t? Weak.
It’s been that way for a long time.
I hear Dave in Calgary stomping around because you said that.
You rang?
Don’t look! You’ll haz a sad.
…
The cynic in me likes to think that GM put the tri-shield in shadow to downplay the American-ness, while the American-ness is what appeals to the Chinese.
I predict that once everyone who was responsible for that logo revision is gone they’ll revert o the old Red White and Blue. It only makes sense if everything’s going to global platforms. Moreover, why spend the extra 10c/unit for USDM specific labels?
I saw that and did a triple take. Hallelujah – the Tri Shield still lives, even if it is in autocratic capitalist Red China.
“New for 1960, Buick gives you the LeSabre, the Invicta, and the luxurious Electra.”
Bizarro Superman lives there, too.
That was my first reaction, too.
Look at the last pic of the rear seat – that sunroof is HUGE.
I imagine the next generation Verano will look similar to this but with a different grill maybe? The front looks like a Hyundai. That isn’t really a bad thing as Hyundais main proposition is really good value and Buick basically shares that (more features content etc but much cheaper than an Acura, Volvo, Lincoln, Infiniti, etc).
It looks like a mishmash of the Hyundai Sonata, Chrysler 200 and current Buick Verano, all capped off with super-size Buick logo and grille.
Similarly ugly foglights
Doesn’t this look disturbingly similar to a ~2000 Hyundai XG30?
The Buick Medicare!
What a weird rear overhang.
That’s what happens when you make a sedan out of a car that’s originally styled as a hatchback.
Ew.
I want to like this but I’m torn. What I do know is that I truly loathe those tail lights.
Fine, but build it here and export it. We need the jobs more than they do.
It looks way more like a Cruze than the old model did. The exterior and interior both look minimally changed from the 2nd generation Cruze. Disappointing. The first gen car at least did a good job of not seeming like a rebadged Chevy.