When going up against the likes of the Acura TSX, Volvo S40 and Audi A3, 180 horsepower might not be enough to fight tooth and nail. As smooth and composed as the Buick Verano may be, its naturally aspirated 2.4 liter Ecotec isn’t the most athletic mill around and can push the sedan to 60 mph in a segment weak 8 and some seconds. To remedy the complaints, the folks at Buick recently took a cue from the Regal and added a secondary powerplant to the Verano line up and it should supply the gusto needed for a proper success story. Please welcome the next hot-rod Buick: the 2013 Verano Turbo.
To put some pizzaz into the well suspended Verano chassis, the Ecotec family line up of engines was called upon once again. Similar to the powerplant in the Regal Turbo and GS, the Verano’s uses 2.0 liters of displacement, direct injection, variable valve timing for the dual overhead cams, and a single turbocharger. Pumping out a stout SAE-certified 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, the Ward’s 10 Best winning block is specifically tuned for the Verano so that power delivery is smooth yet satisfying. More than 90 percent of the sedan’s peak torque is available between 1,700 and 5,500 rpms. Spinning the front wheels either through a six speed automatic or manual transmission, the Verano Turbo can hustle to 60 mph from a standstill in an estimated 6.2 seconds. That’s more than two seconds faster than the base car and properly on par with its Japanese and European rivals.
“The 2.0L turbo engine was designed for refinement, higher output capabilities and reduced noise,” said Amy Joss, Ecotec 2.0L assistant chief engineer. “The way it sounds, the power delivery and the refined character are all fitting of a luxury sedan with a fun side.” More details such as pricing, fuel economy and trim levels will be made official closer to the car’s 2012 release date. Until then, entry luxury sedan shoppers might want to wait just a little while longer to make their final decisions as the 2013 Buick Verano Turbo will surely supply a unique kind of hustle.
Source: Buick
