The Verona was a mid-sized sedan that debuted in 2003. Built by GM affiliate Daewoo to compete against the Chevrolet Impala, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry, the Verona was a rebadge version of Daewoo’s Evanda. U.S. customers found its appearance non-offensive but felt its engines were inadequate to move the 3380 pound sedan.
Suzuki discontinued the Verona last year due to poor sales. Company representatives said the replacement could arrive as early as 2009. They did not specify any more details especially if the new car would be built by GM.
GM sold back most of its stake in Suzuki last March as part of the American automaker’s restructuring policy.
Our take? Suzuki, like Mitsubishi Motors, is an automaker looking for an identity in the crowded U.S. market. While its new SX4 compact and the all-new XL7 and Grand Vitara SUVs have received rave reviews from consumers and even enthusiasts, its scant offerings are non-descript compared to those offered by “fun-to-drive” Mazda or high-value Hyundai. We do know the Verona replacement will have a more powerful engine than its predecessor. Otherwise, we’ll report on details as they become known to the press (or the Internet, whichever comes first).
Via AutoWeek