2014 BUICK VERANO SAFETY ENHANCED WITH CAMERA-BASED WARNING SYSTEMS
07/16/2013
Buick
Buick Verano continues to attract more customers to the growing market for premium compact sedans, with its stylish blend of technology, sophistication, craftsmanship and performance.
Sales of the Verano have outpaced most analysts' expectations, with more than 41,000 sold in 2012 - its first full calendar year - reflecting continued growth of a new generation of Buick customers and a broader lineup that included the addition of a turbocharged model.
Verano seats up to five and is available in four models for 2014: the generously equipped Verano (1SD) and Convenience (1SG), along with Leather (1SL) and Verano Turbo (1ST). Starting with the Convenience group, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert crash-avoidance technologies are standard safety features, with Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning new for 2014, enhancing the roster of crash-avoidance technologies.
Additional new features for 2014 include a three-channel Universal Home Remote standard on Convenience, Leather and Turbo models, and Smoky Gray Metallic replaces Cyber Gray Metallic as an exterior color. Heated front seats are now standard on Convenience, Leather and Turbo models, as well.
Like its larger LaCrosse and Regal sedan siblings, Verano is distinguished by thoughtful design, meticulous attention to detail, sculpted Buick brand cues and advanced interior acoustics, including Buick's trademark QuietTuning. Verano also delivers a premium level of equipment for the segment, such as a standard rearview camera, available heated steering wheel and soft-touch interior surfaces with world-class fit and finish.
Buick's intuitive IntelliLink infotainment system is standard on all models and a GPS-enabled navigation system is available. It enhances the driving experience with a higher level of wireless connectivity and customized options - all while building on the safety and security of OnStar. IntelliLink also enables streaming stereo audio from the phone through services like Pandora(R) Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio(R)
Verano design and exterior features
Verano sports the Buick design cues pioneered on the Enclave and carried through on Buick's other sedans. An arching roofline connects a steeply raked windshield and fast-sloping rear pillars to give the car a sporty and elegant profile.
Strokes of chrome accent the car, along with signature features such as a black chrome waterfall grille and portholes. Blue translucent rings around the projector beam headlamp and chrome exhaust tip (dual exhaust outlets on 1ST) add to the sophistication and attention to detail. Heated outside mirrors are standard on 1SL and 1ST and activate automatically with the remote starting feature at temperatures below 45 degrees F (7 C).
Verano rides on standard 18-inch multi-spoke machine-face aluminum wheels. A premium 18-inch forged alloy, split-spoke wheel in Manoogian Silver finish is available on the leather and turbo models.
Exterior colors include Summit White, Quicksilver Metallic, Mocha Bronze Metallic, Smoky Gray Metallic and Luxo Blue Metallic, along with premium colors Crystal Red Tintcoat, White Diamond Tricoat and Carbon Black Metallic (each available for an additional charge).
Several dealer-installed accessories are also available to help personalize Verano, including a rear spoiler and chrome waterfall grille.
Interior style, comfort and refinement
Verano's interior is marked by exceptional seat comfort and support, as well as premium, soft-touch materials. Metallic and wood trim accents and warm ambient lighting make the cabin an inviting environment.
Neutral and medium titanium colors are offered on interiors with leatherette/fabric seating surfaces, while Ebony, Cashmere and a unique Choccachino color are offered on the available leather interiors.
Additional interior standard and available features include:
Push-button engine start
Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
Six-way power driver's seat
Heated and leather-appointed seating - including heated cloth seats now standard on 1SG
Electronic parking brake
Console armrest that slides and locks
Power windows with driver's express up/down and express down in the rear (1SL and 1ST models are equipped with a front passenger express-up feature)
Steering wheel radio controls
Heated outside rearview mirrors and self-dimming inside rearview mirrors
Uplevel front and rear reading lamps.
Buick's exclusive QuietTuning is designed to block or absorb sound and dampen or eliminate vibrations. It is included in every facet of the Verano's architecture to make it the quietest compact sedan on the road and quieter than many midsize and full-size cars.
Verano's quiet cabin is supported with numerous features including acoustical laminated glass, triple door seals and refined chassis dynamics. Even its 18-inch standard wheels are specially manufactured to minimize road noise.
IntelliLink and audio system details
Buick's IntelliLink system is standard on all models, including vehicles equipped with the available GPS-enabled navigation. It is intuitive, using Bluetooth or a USB to connect the driver's smartphone - via voice activation and steering wheel-mounted controls - to a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch-screen display radio.
IntelliLink integrates online services such as Pandora(R) internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio(TM) using hands-free voice and touch-screen controls via Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. Users pairing the Pandora(R) internet radio app interface with a smartphone can tune to a favorite station by giving a voice command. Likewise, saying "More like this" while an iPod or other USB media device is playing uses the Gracenotes media database technology to generate a random music playlist based on the current song.
A "Quick Info" icon is designed to keep the driver's eyes on the road by allowing speedy access to the system's most popular features, while a "Transfer" feature allows a Bluetooth phone call to be switched from the vehicle's audio system to the phone.
Additional IntelliLink features include:
SiriusXM Tune Select
SiriusXM Travel Link (requires current SiriusXM subscription)
Bluetooth with hands-free (for phone calls) and audio-streaming protocol support
Address book download
USB port
Auxiliary audio input port
Redundant steering wheel controls
Enhanced voice recognition
AM/FM/Audio CD/MP3 Player
Supports playback of MP3 files stored on flash memory drives.
The IntelliLink screen also serves as the display for the standard rearview camera system, as well as the controller for Verano's audio system. A premium nine-speaker Bose audio system with custom equalization and subwoofers is available and is optimized for Verano's refined interior acoustics.
Verano performance
Verano is equipped with a choice of two four-cylinder engines: a standard Ecotec 2.4L and an available Ecotec 2.0L turbo.
The Ecotec 2.0L turbo delivers 250 horsepower (187 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm), providing on-demand power comparable to a V-6, but with the efficiency of a four-cylinder - and tuned to deliver unique performance, efficiency and quietness. Its development applied the best practices of technical centers in Europe and North America.
The Verano Turbo's performance is matched with efficiency. It achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 city and 31 highway with the manual transmission and 21 city and 30 highway with the automatic transmission.
Verano's standard Ecotec 2.4L with direct-injection, dual-overhead camshafts and variable valve timing delivers responsive performance. Rated at 180 horsepower (134 kW) and 171 lb.-ft. of torque (232 Nm), it helps provide EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 32 mpg. The engine is also E85-capable.
The Ecotec 2.4L is designed with features that reduce noise and improve its durability. Each piston has its own directed jet that sprays oil toward its skirt, coating its underside and the cylinder wall with an additional layer of lubricant. The extra lubrication cools the pistons, reducing friction and operational noise.
Fuel-saving, six-speed automatic transmissions with Driver Shift Control are standard with both engines. A six-speed manual transmission is available with the turbo.
Verano chassis and suspension
Verano's refined, responsive suspension system includes decoupled MacPherson struts in the front that provide greater separation of extreme road conditions - large potholes, for example - from everyday driving conditions.
A technically advanced Watts Z-link design helps center the rear axle during cornering, which helps keep the Verano's handling responses symmetrical on both left-hand and right-hand turns. The linkage's capability to center the axle during cornering delivers a more-balanced driving experience because the rear suspension better follows the lead of the front suspension.
The Z-link design is also lighter and requires less space than a typical fully independent rear suspension. The lower weight contributes to Verano's fuel economy, while the compact design enables more trunk space.
Steering inputs are executed by a fuel-saving electric power steering system, featuring a dual-pinion rack.
Stopping power is handled by standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Panic Brake Assist, as well as StabiliTrak electronic stability control with traction control.
Panic Brake Assist develops additional brake pressure when an emergency braking situation is detected.
Verano also is equipped with GM's enhanced smart pedal brake override technology, which helps prevent unintended acceleration by reducing engine power when the brake and accelerator are depressed at the same time.
Verano safety and crash-avoidance features
The 2014 Verano employs safety features with carefully developed directional alerts that help drivers quickly identify potential crash situations so they can react. They include radar- and camera-based features.
Standard on 1SG, 1SL and 1ST, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert help drivers avoid collisions by using radar to monitor areas the driver may not be able to see and provide alerts. New Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning use cameras to detect possible crash situations and alert the driver.
A rearview camera system is standard on all models, with the display in the IntelliLink seven-inch color screen. Verano's other primary safety, crash-avoidance and post-crash features include:
Ten standard air bags, including frontal, head curtain side air bags, front and outboard rear-seat side-impact air bags and knee air bags
Pretensioners minimize forward movement during a collision, and are standard on the front safety belts. Load-limiting retractors cinch the belt more tightly
StabiliTrak electronic stability control system helps reduce the risk of rollover crashes by keeping the vehicle in the driver's intended path by applying throttle, braking or a combination of both
Collapsible pedal system, which allows the pedals to detach during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries
Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Panic Brake Assist
GM's enhanced smart pedal brake override feature reduces engine power when the brake and accelerator are depressed at the same time, to help reduce unintended acceleration
Available rear park assist
OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.
Verano also features a strong, unitized body structure incorporating 60-percent high-strength steel in key areas to enhance strength and crash protection by helping to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment.
Verano was named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick and also received a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
OnStar details
Six months of OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard on Verano. OnStar is the global leading provider of connected safety, security and mobility solutions and advanced information technology.
OnStar's RemoteLink Mobile App allows smartphone users to control vehicle functions, access vehicle information and send directions directly to the vehicle. An opt-in service called FamilyLink allows subscribers to stay connected to loved ones by checking the location of their vehicle online or by signing up for vehicle location alerts.
More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.