That's some pretty obvious cost-cutting

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 01/10/2015 at 12:18 • Filed to: None

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This is my coworker's Buick Verano. I happened to notice the license plate cutout in the front fascia is the wrong size for US license plates. Why would this be the case on a Buick manufactured at GM's Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, MI? I have a theory.

The Verano was originally developed as the Chinese-market Buick Excelle GT. The front fascia license plate cutout is shaped for Chinese license plates, like such:

I'm guessing that GM just decided to use the same fascia from the Excelle GT on the Verano, rather than bother to design a new part. So all the Veranos running around the US look slightly bucktoothed, just like my coworker's.

Vicente Esteve > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:21

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I hate this blue circle.

Tipo Stradale Fever > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:25

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Everything is made with multiple carmarkets ( and carbrands) in mind.

citizennick > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:26

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hmmm never noticed that. Hate it when manufacturers put something on the front bumper for a license plate. Some of us don't have to or don't want to run front license plates!

ly2v8-Brian > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:27

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It's not like German makes do a better job of it.

Birddog > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:28

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I think you nailed it. Basically a cost cutting measure.

I think the first gen Focus had a similar issue but for the rear plate on the hatch.

Textured Soy Protein > Tipo Stradale Fever 01/10/2015 at 12:28

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Yes I do, except the Verano isn't a rebadged Opel. It's on the same Delta II platform as the Opel Astra (and Chevy Cruze) but the front styling is unique to the Chinese-market Excelle GT and Verano.

I was pointing out the cost-cutting aspect of GM continuing to use the fascia they designed for the Chinese market's license plate size rather than use the same basic design with a license plate cutout that fits American license plates.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Tipo Stradale Fever 01/10/2015 at 12:29

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Except the picture you posted is an Opel Insignia, which is a Buick Regal in the US, not a Verano. The Verano platform is shared with the Astra sedan. As you can see, their front fascias are completely different.

Textured Soy Protein > citizennick 01/10/2015 at 12:32

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I don't have a front plate on my 135is. My BMW dealer leaves the front plate brackets off their cars. They asked me if I wanted them to put on the bracket, or run around with no front plate. They said if I did get a no-front-plate ticket, I could come back and they'd add the bracket. A year and a half later and I'm in the clear (so far).

carcrasher88 > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:35

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You're right in saying the Verano isn't a rebadged Opel, in this case it's actually the other way around, with the Astra sedan being a restyled and rebadged Verano/Excelle GT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Astr…

Tipo Stradale Fever > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 01/10/2015 at 12:35

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Did not know that! Nice one.

citizennick > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:36

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It's always been like that for me when I bought a car, but when the manufacturer actually puts a slot in the bumper for a plate, that is what sucks. I don't mind brackets.

Tipo Stradale Fever > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:38

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Did not know that!

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:44

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Solar Yellow Neon SXT!

Does it have a sun or moon roof?

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt 01/10/2015 at 12:49

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I can't remember. She does have mass quantities of yellow upholstery, and also mass quantities of trash inside.

VonBelmont > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 12:54

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That is...the ugliest car I've ever seen.

I mean, God

Svend > carcrasher88 01/10/2015 at 12:58

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The Buick Verano/Excelle came from the Astra hatchback made into a sedan, in turn Buick Verano/Excelle is sold in right hand drive form as the Astra sedan.

The Astra J is based on the General Motors' Delta II platform and debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany . The car has taken most of its styling from the new Opel Insignia , with many of the higher options fitted as standard. Full production came on line at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port Plant at the end of September 2009. Deliveries began in December 2009.

Shanghai GM launched the Chinese specification of the Opel Astra hatchback, which is badged as the Buick Excelle XT . This car went on sale in January 2010. Three engines were announced: Ecotec D-VVT 1.6 L, 1.8 L and 1.6 L Turbo.

In September 2012, a notch-back sedan version of the Astra joined the range. This was named Buick Excelle GT in China, Buick Verano in North America and Opel Astra sedan elsewhere.

A sedan version of Astra J appeared 2011 in China as Buick Excelle GT , and in 2012 as Buick Verano in North America and as Astra in other places. It was presented at the 2012 Moscow International Automobile Salon .

This is not sold in the United Kingdom, although it is available in some other right hand drive markets, such as Ireland (as the: Astra Saloon ), Malta , and South Africa .

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > VonBelmont 01/10/2015 at 12:58

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That's the ugliest car you've seen, really? There are worse.

Svend > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 13:00

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Okay, just noticed. What the hell are these? They don't look function but then again they don't look stylish either.

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 13:01

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Ugh. She needs to treat that little Neon much better.

E92M3 > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 13:03

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75% of their sales are in China. Still doesn't make sense since the chinese version is built IN china.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 13:26

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Same here. We're outlaws man!

VonBelmont > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 01/10/2015 at 13:30

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Here's the original Skylark, which was replaced by the Verano.

It's no E-Type or CTS, but it looks good.

Put it this way: Let's say you're a plastic surgeon. An average looking lady comes in, asking to be made beautiful. Instead of working within the existing proportions of her body to subtly improve her appearance, you graft on body parts from better looking people, without regard to proportion or compatibility. Monroe hips, Bette Davis eyes, Kardashian butt, Joli legs, and Lawrence face. You haven't made a plain woman beautiful: you've created a Dr. Moreauian monster.

The same goes for the Buick. They've taken a basic sedan, and slapped on features from older, better looking Buicks willy-nilly. It's just...ew.

Textured Soy Protein > Svend 01/10/2015 at 13:40

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VentiPorts !

The Vibe Guy, Apparently > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 13:47

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Next time you're behind a new Focus hatch you'll notice that the US plate doesn't quite fit the space on the hatch. And on the Pontiac Transport there's space in the rear bumper for a Euro plate along with the US plate spot on the rear gate. It's not too uncommon for that to happen.

sellphones2493 > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 15:36

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I was pulled over in NYC for no front plate (my car is registered in Maryland, where you do have front plates).

It was just a warning, but there was no way in hell I'd be drilling two+ holes in my perfect front bumper.

So I got the rho-plate!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > JGrabowMSt 01/10/2015 at 16:41

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That's me. Why am I there. I don't live in MI. What's going on here?!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 16:45

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That seems to be my car in the background but I have never been to MI...

Textured Soy Protein > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/10/2015 at 17:46

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I'm in Wisconsin. If you're referring to the yellow Neon, unless you're my admin named Brenda, pretty sure it's someone else's car.

Long Live the Longdoor > Svend 01/10/2015 at 17:53

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Speed holes of course!

Tapas > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2015 at 18:06

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They could have at least supplied a license plate holder that would fit the gap and hold US plates, without looking shitty.

But then thats not cost cutting.