With the days of “rebranding” cars throughout GM’s line up apparently over, Buick takes its glorious next stride towards automotive awesomeness. Unlike Regal GS and LaCrosse, this sedan is all new, without a past (good or bad) to back it up. This fresh start is exactly what the auto maker needs.

The small, Michigan build sedan from Buick will start to grab attention from those younger car buyers stopping into dealer lots. Anyone looking for an economic ride that won’t kill their car loans, and is easy to parallel park, will be fulfilled. Aside from its large grille, Verano looks like someone shrunk a 2012 Regal. But inside, there’s plenty of room for those over 6 ft, and enough tech gadgets (BlueTooth, iPod integration, navigation, infotainment and OnStar) to please those who live out of their vehicles.

Performance specs on 2012′s Verano are as equally impressive. With a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, along with front-wheel-drive, Verano easily produces upwards of 180 horsepower, with rumors that a 250-hp bump up is coming in 2013.

The auto maker claims Verano can hit the 0 to 60 mark in 8.9 seconds. EPA fuel economy ratings are also estimated at 21 mpg city, 31 highway.

Starting with a base price of $23,470, drivers will get themselves a manual transmission and comfortable cloth seating. The top trim price of $26,850 will add in luxurious leatherette and a bigger boost in engine, as well as matting it to an automatic tranny.

We can’t wait to see what direction this powerful little Buick heads towards as the years go on. GM is predicting big things for the Buick Verano, and so are we.

Here are highlights of the brand’s plan for the 2011-13 model years, courtesy of Auto Week:
Verano: This compact sedan is the next-generation Opel Astra in Europe and the Buick Excelle GT in China. General Motors Co. will market the car here as the 2012 Buick Verano and probably will build it in Orion Township, Mich., or Lordstown, Ohio.

GM developed the car on its front-wheel-drive Delta platform, which is shared with the Chevrolet Cruze. Look for a turbocharged high-performance engine as an option.

Regal: GM has confirmed it will build the sporty Regal GS concept it unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January. It is expected for the 2012 model year.

The Regal GS will have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is expected to come to market with a bit more power than the 255 hp and 295 pounds-feet of torque advertised in January at the Detroit show.

LaCrosse: A hybrid version of the sedan is under strong consideration for the 2012 model year, and a reskin could come as early as that model year. The next generation is expected for the 2016 model year.

Lucerne: The sedan dies after the 2011 model year.

Encore: The “Baby Enclave” compact crossover, tentatively called the Encore, will arrive in the 2013 model year. The five-seater is built on the Delta compact-car platform.

Enclave: GM will freshen or reskin this three-row crossover for the 2012 model year and add a 3.0-liter V6. The automaker will drop the current 3.6-liter V6.

The hybrid systems is the same used in U. S. Malibu and Saturn Aura hybrid vehicles. The LaCrosse hybrid achieves fuel efficiency 15% better than the non-hybrid LaCrosse available in China and with 15% lower emissions. No official price has been released for the Chinese hybrids, but expect it to be more than the conventional model.

Buick is not alone in the GM-China alternative fuel market. Cadillac’s Escalade will be available in hybrid next year. China will also be one of the first major markets to sell the Chevrolet Volt, some time in 2010. Cadillac’s Provoq will also hit China, which seems to be Caddy’s equivalent to the Volt. GM execs hope to turn China into a massive green vehicle market. As for the North American market – sadly, GM does not expect to release a hybrid LaCrosse in the states.