2012 Buick Verano

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Just a few days before the official debut at the Detroit Auto Show, Buick has decided it was time to uncover the 2012 Verano. This new compact luxury sedan is the third model Buick has revealed in the past two years. It will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011, with its sights set on competing with the Lexus IS 250 and the Audi A3.
The 2012 Buick Verano has a refined styling with a sporty profile, luxurious interior, and a powerful and efficient engine. "Verano expands our lineup, continues Buick’s momentum and gives us a great opportunity to attract a new generation of customers with a product that delivers on their expectations for design, performance and technology," said John Schwegman, vice president of Buick marketing. "It is a smart choice that delivers unexpected luxury in a compact sedan – and it will compete head-to-head with competitors from Audi and Lexus."
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Buick Verano.

Exterior and Interior The 2012 Verano combines design elements from the Enclave, LaCrosse, and Regal to get a bold, detailed black chrome waterfall grille, prominent blue translucent projector beam headlamps, portholes, chrome accents, premium wheels, and a tailored body-to-wheel relationship. It will be offered with 17" multi-spoke forged alloy wheels as standard, but 18" will also be offered as an option. Being a luxury sedan, we expected it to feature a comfortable interior with premium soft-touch materials, and that is just what we got. The instrument panel blends with an integrated center stack that houses the infotainment display, climate controls, and radio controls. For the seating, Buick is offering leatherette/fabric seating surfaces, while ebony, cashmere, and a unique Choccachino color are offered on the available leather-trimmed interiors. The Engine When it goes on sale, the 2012 Verano will be offered with an Ecotec 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 177 HP and 170 lb.-ft. torque. This engine will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds and delivers a fuel economy of 31 mpg on the highway. The engine is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. Buick also announced that a 2.0 liter turbo engine will be offered at a later date. When can I buy one? The 2012 Buick Verano will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011. Official prices will be announced at a later date, but GM Inside News reports that it will start at $20,900 - $$21,500 for the base model, $22,100 - $22,700 for the mid-level 1sd model, and $25,600 - $26,200 for the mid-level 1sg model. The Competition As Buick has officially stated, the 2012 Verano will serve as a competitor for the Lexus IS 250 and Audi A3, although we can’t really see how it will do so successfully. The Lexus IS250 is powered by a 2.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 204 HP at 6,400 RPM and 185 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,800 rpm, which is blatantly better than the 177hp produced by the Buick. As far as luxury goes, the Verano has been updated to include better materials, but we’re just not sold on the fact that it will be able to match up to the Lexus standard. What the Buick does have that the Lexus doesn’t is the cheaper price tag, but that price has yet to be confirmed. The Lexus IS250 starts at $32,145. The Audi A3’s price is a little closer to that of the Buick as it starts at $27,745. It is offered with both diesel and petrol engines. The groundbreaking 2.0 liter TDI clean diesel engine delivers 140hp and 236 lb-ft. of torque, while the 2.0 TFSI delivers 200hp and 207 lb-ft. of torque. So with one faster and one slower than the Verano, the choice is left to the customer. Even US residents will get their opportunity to choose since Audi plans to bring the A3 sedan to the US market.