by Matt Nelson
The manual transmission has come under attack over the last couple of decades. What was once the staple transmission type is now relegated mostly to the niche enthusiast market in the US. It's becoming rarer and rarer to find a manual in cars as time passes. Not even the Chevrolet Corvette has been spared. In the enthusiast market, only a select few sporty models, such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Nissan Z,still offer a good old-fashioned, three-pedal layout.
In essence, things look bleak for those who want to manage their own shifting. But, if you turn back the clock only about a decade, the market in the United States was much riper with manual transmission vehicles. Take our car of interest, for example. It's the Buick Verano Turbo, and it was a rarity because of being a modern Buick with a manual transmission. However, this would likely be the final manual-equipped Buick ever to be made, and the brand was generous enough to install it within a sporty, turbocharged sedan.
The Verano: An Unassuming Choice For Buick's Final Manual
Buick
Quick Facts About The Buick Verano Turbo
- Introduced in late 2012
- Could be had with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission
- Employed the use of a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine
- Could get from 0-60 mph in just over six seconds
- Axed following the 2016 model year
Just a single year prior to the Turbo iteration's introduction, the Verano as a whole hit showroom floors. It was first offered in 2010 for the Chinese market, bringing more credence to Buick's large market presence in the country. At its core, the Verano was meant to be the brand's entry-level model, a way for buyers who may not have the sort of money required for a larger model like the larger LaCrosse to enjoy the reserved opulence that the marque offers.
Buick
To put it politely, the Verano wasn't much of a heartthrob in the US market, and Buick quickly realized this issue. So, instead of the company embarking on an expensive redesign campaign, Buick resorted to turbocharging its engines. With that decision settled, the company released the Verano Turbo in late 2012, in time for the 2013 model year. Along with the welcomed injection of forced induction, the Verano Turbo also offered a six-speed manual transmission to boot.
Available alongside the Verano Turbo in Buick's early-2010s lineup was the Regal GS, which also offered a manual transmission. The hot Regal sported the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine but produced a bit more power than the Verano Turbo. However, the Regal GS was a larger car, meaning the Verano Turbo's performance was nearly identical. The Regal GS would end up losing its manual transmission option the same year as the Verano Turbo.
The Verano Turbo's Specs & Features
Buick
While the days of inter-brand engine competition between General Motors subsidiaries were long gone by the time the Verano Turbo came about, its 2.0-liter engine was sufficient power-wise to satisfy those with a bit of gearheadishness buried within their souls. The engine itself belonged to GM's Ecotec engine family.
Buick
The 2.0-liter turbocharged iteration of the Ecotec engine used within the Buick Verano Turbo is considered to be fairly reliable, unlike other models with this branding. The powerplant boasts a single twin-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel injection, and a dual-overhead camshaft-drive valvetrain. It even boasts sodium-filled exhaust valves meant to resist the high amount of heat produced by the engine due to its turbocharged nature. A forged steel crankshaft, cast-aluminum pistons, and a sand-cast engine block are a few other notable aspects.
Read the full article on CarBuzz
This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
