The Verano has been launched only three years ago, making it a car that’s due a mid-cycle facelift. While most other manufacturers would go for that in this stage of a product’s life, Buick decided to offer an all-new generation of the Verano, but not because General Motors are good samaritans or such.
The American carmaker previously told the media that it will be betting it all on cost-cutting and global products. Alas, GM intends to cut down the number of current vehicle platforms considerably. That camouflaged 2016 Buick Verano test mule you can see in the spy photo gallery below, as well as the Opel Astra K will be two of the first GM nameplates to use one of those newly-developed platforms.
Internally referred to as the D2XX, this thing is a compact platform that’s also going to underpin the second-gen 2016 Chevrolet Volt range-extended hybrid electric vehicle and the next generation of the popular Chevrolet Cruze. A lot of weight rides on the shoulders of the D2XX (Delta II platform), but only the future will tell if GM did a good job with it. Until we get the change to drive one of GM’s new compact nameplates, we have a 2016 Buick Verano test mule on our hands.
Front-wheel drive, a proper boot and four doors. The Verano sounds like a good proposition...
...but there’s one or two critical flaws in the way Buick makes its cars nowadays - too much chrome and extremely Americanized styling cues glued on top of a rather good-looking Opel Astra J sedan. The new Verano also appears to have toned it down with the Florida-inspired bling and looks pretty svelte.
We’re not really won over by the small window adjacent to the A-pillar, but due to the fact the side mirror is mounted that low on the door, engineers didn’t really have a choice, did they? Still, that's a small price to pay considering the lard will drop by at least 110 lbs (50 kg) over the outgoing Verano.
In addition to the slight weight loss, do expect a suite of brand new EcoTec turbocharged mills under the bonnet, as well as economical CDTi turbo diesels for the Opel Astra K in both hatchback and sedan guise.
Internally referred to as the D2XX, this thing is a compact platform that’s also going to underpin the second-gen 2016 Chevrolet Volt range-extended hybrid electric vehicle and the next generation of the popular Chevrolet Cruze. A lot of weight rides on the shoulders of the D2XX (Delta II platform), but only the future will tell if GM did a good job with it. Until we get the change to drive one of GM’s new compact nameplates, we have a 2016 Buick Verano test mule on our hands.
Front-wheel drive, a proper boot and four doors. The Verano sounds like a good proposition...
...but there’s one or two critical flaws in the way Buick makes its cars nowadays - too much chrome and extremely Americanized styling cues glued on top of a rather good-looking Opel Astra J sedan. The new Verano also appears to have toned it down with the Florida-inspired bling and looks pretty svelte.
We’re not really won over by the small window adjacent to the A-pillar, but due to the fact the side mirror is mounted that low on the door, engineers didn’t really have a choice, did they? Still, that's a small price to pay considering the lard will drop by at least 110 lbs (50 kg) over the outgoing Verano.
In addition to the slight weight loss, do expect a suite of brand new EcoTec turbocharged mills under the bonnet, as well as economical CDTi turbo diesels for the Opel Astra K in both hatchback and sedan guise.