Engineers working on the 2012 Buick Verano targeted Buick's flagship LaCrosse to make it quieter than Lexus IS or Acura TSX.
Jim Hudson Buick, the #1 Buick dealer in South Carolina, eagerly awaits the 2012 Buick Verano that will arrive later this year. Buick is world-renowned for its Quiet Tuning process, and is taking many steps to make sure the compact Verano will deliver one of the quietest driving experiences in the industry – better than key competitors Lexus IS 250 and Acura TSX.
Buick noise and vibration engineers spent many hours tuning Verano to the highest standard of quietness by replicating the ultra-quiet interior of another luxury sedan – the flagship Buick LaCrosse for sale in Columbia SC.
“By positioning the Verano against the very best, our noise and vibration team went above and beyond to deliver the quiet driving experience for which Buicks have become known,” said Chuck Russell, Verano vehicle line director. “Quiet-tuning components and systems are built into every facet of the Verano’s architecture.”
All cars create noise in several ways, from road and wind noise to the air intake, engine, transmission, and gears. For many years, the solution was simply to add piles of sound-deadening installation throughout the cabin–effective, but heavy. Through sophisticated design and planning, Verano employs a dozen noise-reducing or noise-cancelling technologies in its body structure to isolate the cabin and increase quietness, all without adding any net weight to the car:
- A 5.4-mm-thick acoustic-laminated windshield and 4.85-mm-thick acoustic laminated side glass that minimizes wind noise
- Acoustic insulation material on both sides of the front steel dash panel and under the hood that reduce engine noise
- Five layers of acoustic insulation material in the headliner, including a premium fabric on the visible outer layer that muffles wind noise
- Triple-sealed doors that keep out exterior noise
- Three layers of acoustic insulation material in the doors that reduces the sound of wet-road sizzle
- Dual-density carpet on the floor that block coarse road and tire noise
- Underbody paneling that lowers wind and low road-surface noise while improving fuel economy
- Liquid-applied sound deadener that supports a solid body structure
- Specially tuned air intake and exhaust systems that enable pleasing engine sound quality without sacrificing engine performance
- Isolated chassis components that reduce vibrations over irregular road surfaces for a solid road feel
- A patented rear suspension that enables crisp road feel and superior ride and handling performance without sacrificing quietness
- Hydraulic suspension bushings and an isolated engine cradle that reduces or eliminates vibrations.
Beyond these technologies, quiet is even baked into Verano’s very structure. During the earliest parts of Verano’s assembly, heat-activated baffles are inserted in various pillars, crossbars and other structural members. Once Verano enters the paint oven to bake its gorgeous finish, those baffles expand to seal off any parts of the structure that would otherwise transmit noise into the cabin.
Verano’s exceptionally quiet nature resulted from hundreds of virtual and physical tests on the car’s body structure, tires, chassis, interior and powertrain under a variety of conditions to eliminate or reduce noise, vibration and harshness. Road noise was measured on a variety of surfaces specifically chosen for their rough nature and in a wind tunnel, as well as in thermal and cold chambers. A four-post shaker rig was used to evaluate squeaks and rattles by subjecting Verano to hours after hours of rough bounces–more than most engineers would care to subject themselves to behind the wheel.
Under the hood, Verano’s acoustic engine cover, alternator and refined engine accessory drive system are designed for quiet operation, and its six-speed automatic transmission allows the engine to operate at lower – and less noisy – speeds on the highway while also improving fuel efficiency compared to transmissions with fewer gears.
“Verano was held to the highest standards, as accomplished on Buick Enclave, LaCrosse and Regal, and it achieves a new standard for interior quietness,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “We’re confident that luxury car shoppers will be hard pressed to find a quieter car at any price point on the market today.”
2012 Buick Verano Release Date in Columbia SC
Production of the 2012 Buick Verano is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011 and will soon after be available from Jim Hudson Buick in Columbia SC. Jim Hudson is the #1 Buick dealership in all of South Carolina, serving the midlands including Columbia, Newberry, Sumter, and Orangeburg with a focus on complete customer satisfaction. Columbia drivers have voted Jim Hudson Best New Car Dealership an unmatched eleven years running in the annual Reader’s Choice poll held by The State on top of many, many more accolades. For more information on the 2012 Buick Verano, visit their Buick Columbia SC website or call (888) 377-4971 toll-free. Jim Hudson Buick is located at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia.