Buick’s new Verano Turbo plucks its 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo from the engine bay of its larger Buick Regal Turbo sibling to create a new higher-performance compact mid-luxury sedan.
Based on the same architecture that underpins the Chevrolet Cruze, the Verano Turbo was first suggested to offer in the neighborhood of 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque, a noticeable upgrade over the 177 ponies and 177 lb-ft. of torque put out by the standard 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine.
But since initial figures were shared around the interwebs, a leaked consumer brochure suggested that the actual power figure would be 250 horsepower with a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. Also visible in the leaked brochure was mention of a refined chassis, promising better handling than the standard model.
What does the 2.0T mean for the Buick brand?
Should the 250 horsepower figure be accurate – which it quite reasonably is – that figure could mean several models will be getting some changes in the very near future. Why? Because the highly-touted “sport†offering that is the Buick Regal GS currently only sports 255 horsepower, which would mean the smaller, less sport-minded Verano 2.0T would be stepping all over its big brother’s toes.
The consideration for a more powerful engine for the Regal GS is hardly new, as the model that the Regal GS was cloned from, the Opel Insignia OPC, actually boasts a much more powerful 325 horsepower turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 in Europe. It appears that it may end up being the Verano 2.0T that delivers the uprated powertrain so many cried for adding to the Regal GS after all.
It is also possible that GM has no intention of changing the engine for the Regal GS, as it also uses a 2.0-liter turbo, and it could very well be that Buick downrated that engine to 250 horsepower in order to create the separation it deems satisfactory.
Other Buick Verano Turbo details
Both a six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission will be available. Given that the Verano weighs about 300 lbs. less than its Regal sibling, the smaller car should be noticeably faster.
Like the Regal Turbo, the Verano Turbo will look much like its naturally aspirated brother aside from offering its own unique wheels and a discrete turbo badge.
GM hasn’t announced an on-sale date, but we expect that the Verano Turbo will hit dealers by the end of 2012 at the latest.
