Preview – 2010 Chevrolet Cruze
By Casey Williams www.car-data.com
General Motors chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner, announced on August 21 that his company wouldinvest $500 million at its Lordstown, OH plant to build a new compact Chevrolet, to be named Cruze.Slightly larger than, but replacing, the Cobalt, Cruze will meet the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla,and Ford Focus head-on by leveraging a new global vehicle architecture, advanced styling, and highfuel economy.
“The Chevrolet Cruze was designed and engineered by our global teams in Europe and Asia Pacificand will be manufactured in those regions in addition to the assembly plant here in Lordstown, Ohio,” said Wagoner. “Our goal for the Chevrolet Cruze is to lead in fuel economy in this verycompetitive car segment.”
Fuel economy is expected to reach 40-MPG on the highway, which is extraordinary considering thelowered revisions to all fuel economy ratings during 2008 to reflect more realistic drivingconditions and the Cruze’s larger size. Aerodynamic arching styling hints at Civic, but parts theair with a bold Chevrolet grille from the Malibu and Traverse. Designers gave the interior atwin-cockpit feel that was inspired by 1960s Corvettes.
Cruze comes on the heels of the popular Cobalt. Said Ed Peper, GM N.
America president of Chevrolet, “The Cruze will build on the already successful Chevrolet Cobalt, Cobalt XFE and Cobalt SS, all of which are nearly sold out in dealer showrooms. Our dealers areasking for many more Cobalts than we can build.” In fact, Cobalt sales are up 16% through July andachieve up to 37-MPG on the highway.
Powertrains have not been announced, but it is expected that the Cruze will utilize a range offour-cylinder engines, some with turbos. GM’s strategy in the coming years is to downsize enginedisplacement for fuel economy while attaching turbos to keep power acceptable. This is a great wayto offer drivers economical cars that are also high on performance.
The Cruze will be launched in Europe and Asia next year and is scheduled to officially debut atthe Paris Motor Show in October. U.S. sales are expected to begin next year as well.
