2011 NAIAS: General Motors Debuts Buick Verano & Chevrolet Sonic

General Motors introduced two entry level vehicles in Detroit. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and 2012 Buick Verano.

The Chevrolet Sonic will come in a 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback powered by a standard 1.8 liter engine or an optional 138 horsepower 1.4 liter turbo mated to a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Replacing, the Korean Aveo, the Michigan-made Sonic arrives this Fall with 10 airbags.

The all-new 2012 Buick Verano is powered by a 177 horsepower Ecotec 2.4 liter delivering an estimated 31mpg on the highway. A 2.0 liter turbo engine will be offered in the future.

Buick Verano Entry Level Sedan Part Of GM's Move To Smaller Cars

General Motors Buick division introduces the all-new Verano, "a smaller car than Regal" compact sedan to be built at GM's at the Orion Assembly Center 35 miles north of downtown Detroit which last built GM midsize sedans. The Buick Verano will be built along side the next-generation Chevrolet small car as GM is investing $145 million to retool the Orion facility. GM North American President Mark Reuss said the plant will retain 1,550 hourly and salaried jobs along with 120 jobs at Pontiac Metal Center. The total investment for that program is approximately $600 million, which includes the Verano. Over its more than 27-year history, the Orion plant team members have built more than 4 million cars for GM.