This was such a great write up. It's from a different perspective of an engineer who rarely actually sees the cars as a finished product. His story is great, Enjoy!
By Justin Nielsen - Lead Calibration Engineer, Electric Machine Calibration
When I arrived in Portland, Ore., as an employee journalist for the Buick
Verano national media event, I wasn't sure what to expect. I sure wasn't a
journalist; I was an Electric Motor Controls Calibration Engineer at GM's
Advanced Technology Center in Torrance, Calif. (What a mouthful right?)
I don't get to see many finished cars; I'm focused instead on electric
motors and power electronics, like those used on the Chevy Volt, Buick
eAssist, and other hybrid systems. So, I was excited to finally see where
the rubber meets the road. Greeted at the airport and whisked off in a shiny
black Buick Enclave, I was impressed with the roomy backseat and smooth ride
as we headed to check in. Once I arrived I met some "real" journalists, from
Motor Trend magazine and Autoblog; I ended up meeting about 20 journalists
from all over the country.
Waiting for us at the hotel were cars from the complete Buick lineup so we
could familiarize ourselves with the brand before we laid eyes on the
Verano. This is not your grandpa's Buick. The rolling land boats of
yesteryear have given way to a smartly designed and seriously stylish lineup
of vehicles including the Enclave, LaCrosse, Regal with eAssist and Regal
GS. I really wanted to drive the Regal with eAssist since I was familiar
with its electrification system, but I couldn't pass up the chance to get
into the Regal GS first. We got our map and headed out on a 40 mile jaunt
from Portland out to the woodlands where the Veranos awaited us. The GS was
a blast to drive and the curvy roads were the perfect place to get my first
taste of Buick performance.
When I arrived I was sad to leave the Regal behind, but excited for the
Verano. The Verano is designed atop the same global platform as the Chevy
Cruze, but that's where the commonality stops, as far as I could tell. The
exterior of the Verano takes its cues from other family members including
the chrome waterfall grille straddled by blue translucent projector beam
headlamps and, of course, those hood portholes. The rear of the car offered
a sharp taillight design accented with chrome inlays above the trunk,
evoking a mischievous and sporty look.
Before we could get a look at the inside of the Verano, we had an OnStar
scavenger hunt to complete. I hopped in the eAssist Regal, hit the OnStar
button and got turn-by-turn directions to my first stop, a gourmet coffee
house that prepared a special "Buick" roast for us. Now, amped on caffeine,
I was guided to my second stop, a cupcakery! After downing the sugary snack
I headed back where GM representatives Pat Morrissey and Carolyn Normandin
greeted us with an overview the
Verano qualities including supplier booths
and vehicle cutaways.
Itching to take the
Verano on 240 miles worth of forested windy roads, I set
off on a circuitous route to the Pacific Ocean. Once inside the Verano an
abundance of quality materials greeted my eyes and hands. The main draw was
the seven-inch LED high-resolution, full-color touch screen in the center
stack with its flush mounted buttons for navigation, entertainment, and
comfort settings. I was impressed that the infotainment system integrates
with a smart phone and it proved to be easier to use than my friend's car
with Ford's Sync. With Pandora and Stitcher smartphone apps integrated into
the infotainment system there were new music options, alongside traditional
CD, FM, or Satellite radio for the Bose audio system to blast through its
nine speaker configuration. When I turned down the stereo a new sound
emerged; quiet.
The
Verano emphasized the quietness of its cabin with over a dozen
technologies to keep the outside world out. To illustrate the sound
deadening capabilities, a leaf blower's deafening roar was reduced to a
whisper when I rolled up the windows during one brief pit stop. The leather
wrapped steering wheel felt solid connected to the dual-pinion rack electric
power steering system and the cluster gauge is backlit with blue LEDs,
causing the tachometer and speedometer to glow futuristically. The knit
headliner, fabric wrapped A-pillars, and other dash moldings are color and
grained matched in seamless fashion. The front seating area was spacious
and even after driving for over 4 excitement-filled hours I felt nary a hint
of driving fatigue, thanks to well-appointed seats where comfort reigned
supreme. The rear seating room is serviceable considering the compact
segment, and the trunk can easily accommodate large cargo -- or as some
other journalists demonstrated --, two full sized adults!
The
Verano is definitely not a superficial beauty; all that luxury is backed
up by a superbly handling Watts Z-link rear suspension and skillful
powertrain. While I was tearing through the Oregonian mountains, the 2.4L
Ecotec four-cylinder engine coupled with the Hydra-Matic six-speed
transmission put 180 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque to the 18" wheels.
The
Verano's power was especially evident when I was using the manual shift
mode to sprint past the lumbering logging trucks trying to ruin my driving
fun. (Rumor has it a Turbo version is in the works.) Descending upon the
Tillamook cheese factory in Tillamook, Ore., a light rain began to fall, yet
braking was no problem thanks to the four wheel anti-lock disk brakes and
cornering was smooth as ever, thanks to the StabiliTrak stability and
traction control system. In fact, the Verano has ten standard air bags,
which when combined with OnStar's Advanced Crash Response System provide one
of the safest cars in its class; though I was glad to not have to test that
particular feature.
After a joyous romp through the Pacific Northwest, the Verano is definitely
a worthy luxury sedan tamped down into a compact frame. Perfect for the
entry level luxury customer, Buick delivers big time elegance in the Verano
package.
