With the Detroit Three posting their contracts with the United Auto Workers union online came a slew of discoveries concerning future product plans, now a similar find has been made regarding another hybrid set to join the General Motors stable.
This new model is in fact a hybrid version of the recently introduced Buick Verano, spotted first by auto fanatic and Twitter user Auto_Bird from an Automotive News posting, then snatched up by GreenCarReports. While no press release of announcement has been made, a supplier chart clearly shows a 2.5-liter gasoline engine as part of a hybrid powertrain from 2015-2020 for the small car.
Given the fact that it likely wasn’t GM’s intention to announce the car this soon, or at least not in this fashion, all that is really known now is that the plant responsible for this new hybrid engine will be the Tonawanda, New York, plant.
The plant recently received a $33 million injection to produce a direct injected 2.4-liter Ecotec engine, and before that $425 million for the new 2.0- and 2.5-liter Ecotec engines in 2010, as well as $400 million for a new small block V8 engine. Duties will apparently be expanded in a little more than three years from now thanks to the Buick Verano Hybrid.
It is also not known whether or not this Verano Hybrid will see a new, full-hybrid powertrain or utilize the cheaper, smaller eAssist mild-hybrid system recently added to the LaCrosse and Regal, as well as the upcoming Malibu Eco. Although unconfirmed, it seems most likely that the Verano will go the same route as its Buick stablemates with the eAssist system.
Then again, the Verano is due for a full refresh for 2015, changing from the D1SB platform to the D2SB platform, so no options are likely off the table at that point.
References
1.’This supplier schematic…’ view
2.’Buick Verano Hybrid…’ view
3.’Suppliers to the…’ view
