GM Appoints Mary Barra to Lead Global Product Development

DETROIT – General Motors today named Mary Barra senior vice president, Global Product Development, to lead the design, engineering, program management and quality of vehicles for the company’s 11 brands around the world.

“Mary will bring a fresh perspective to the critically important job of developing vehicles that delight global customers,” said Dan Akerson, GM Chairman and CEO. “Her broad experience in engineering, manufacturing and staff functions, combined with the ability to collaborate and build strong relationships will enhance the company’s ability to deliver the products today’s consumers demand.”
Barra will lead the Product Development organization responsible for managing all global vehicle programs for GM.  In this position, she will continue to focus on the customer in the areas of global design, vehicle and powertrain engineering, program management and quality with the goal of delivering the world's best vehicles.  With more than 36,000 members, her team will also manage global strategic product alliances.

“Knowing that today’s global customer expects even more from their GM vehicle means we have to work harder than ever to exceed those expectations,” said Barra. “I’m excited by the opportunity associated with this new challenge and pleased to be joining such a strong team with deep technical knowledge and experience.”

Recognized for bringing diverse groups together for a common purpose, Barra was appointed vice president, Global Human Resources in 2009, to initiate change in the company’s culture during the largest restructuring in GM’s history.  Prior to this appointment, she had been vice president, Global Manufacturing Engineering. Barra has also held a number of engineering and staff positions, including plant manager, Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant; executive director of Competitive Operations Engineering; and general director of Internal Communications for GM North America.

Barra began her career with General Motors in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. In 1988, Barra received a GM fellowship to the Stanford Graduate School of Business and in 1990 graduated with an MBA in Business Administration.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_buick.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Jan/0120_barra

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2012 Buick Verano Official Photos and Info - Auto Shows

Buick executives have to be pretty happy with 2010. The brand had its highest sales since 2007, even outselling Cadillac. Now, executives think the brand is ready for a small car, and dealers who no longer have Pontiacs to peddle seemingly are clamoring for such a vehicle. Enter the 2012 Verano, which is debuting at the 2011 Detroit auto show and will slot below the Regal in the Buick lineup.

Cruzin’ for a Reusin’

Based on the Chevy Cruze, the Verano is longer (by 2.9 inches), slightly taller (0.3), and a bit wider (0.8) than that car. The styling differences between the two are more dramatic. The Verano's look borrows from other Buicks, with a front end very much like the Regal's. On the side, a crease follows the rocker panel before sweeping up ahead of the rear wheel arch—it's essentially a reverse of a similar line on the Regal—and is a very sophisticated and eye-catching complement to the profile. The rear of the Verano, where taillights are topped with chrome "eyebrows,” is its least-attractive angle. It is reminiscent of many small sedans sold in China, and that's not an accident. This car was designed largely with that market in mind, and has already been on sale there for nearly a year, badged as the Excelle GT.

More differentiation between the Buick and the Chevy come from what GM says it has done to make the Verano a luxury car, including increased sound-deadening measures and a total interior makeover. Buick is hot to trot for the fit and finish in this little car—rightfully so from what we experienced at a brief preview. The optional leather seats are wrapped in high-quality hides similar to those in the LaCrosse, the wood trim is real and looks it, and the interior panels fit together nicely. We’ll make a more definitive judgment when the car actually goes on sale here and we can slide behind the wheel.

The materials needed for these refinements, as well as the extra kit that the Verano will carry—more on that in a moment—add up to a curb weight that Buick estimates will be 100 to 200 pounds more than the 3206 of the Cruze LTZ we recently tested.

To motivate that added mass, the Verano gets GM’s direct-injected 2.4-liter four-cylinder, which also serves in the base versions of the Regal and LaCrosse. Although it makes 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque in the bigger cars, GM estimates the four will make 177 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque in the Verano. The engine isn’t available in the Cruze, which instead offers 1.8-liter naturally aspirated and 1.4-liter turbocharged fours; both make 138 hp. Routing its power through a six-speed automatic and to the front wheels, Buick says the Verano’s four needs about eight seconds to accelerate the car to 60 mph, and will return an EPA-estimated 31 mpg on the highway. Those figures are a bit disappointing, as the much bigger and slightly heavier four-cylinder Chevy Malibu delivers a similar 8.6-second 0-to-60-mph run and an EPA-rated 33 mpg on the highway.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q4/2012_buick_verano_official_photos_and_info-auto_shows

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