AND 
Chevrolet Unveils Specs on US Version of the Cruze
Ahead of its appearance at the LA Auto Show GM has unveiled the full specs of the US-version of the Chevrolet Cruze compact car.
The global vehicle has become very popular in Europe already where it sells at a starting price around $15,000. In the US it will compete directly against the popular Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic models. Cruze features and details “challenge preconceived notions about what a compact car can be in North America,” says GM.
The vehicle will come in LS, LT, and LTZ trims, with an Ecotec 1.8 L engine that comes standard. The optional Ecotec 1.4 L turbo engine will deliver 138 hp and 148 ft-lb of torque., and although official EPA estimates do not yet exist, GM reports it will achieve up to 40 MPG highway. With its 15 gallon gas tank, a 500 mile cruising range will be available. There are both manual and 6 speed transmissions.
Other standard features include 10 air bags, electronic stability control, McPherson struts, XM satelltite radio, OnStar, bluetooth and ipod USB connectivity, and a navigation system.
A family of 16 inch, 17 inch, and 18 inch wheels are available.
GM describes the car as having unexpected quietness, use of premium material, and refinement not found in other cars in this segment.
“The amenities, quietness and roominess you expect in larger cars are what the Cruze delivers,” said Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet product marketing manager. “This is a car that will shake up the compact segment, with a more spacious interior and more cargo room than the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.”
“There’s a lot of content in all Cruze models; it was designed to give customers the features they want regardless of the car’s size or segment,” said Brooks. “At a very competitive price, you’ll be able to get a Cruze with leather and heated front seats, 16-inch aluminum wheels, XM Satellite Radio, OnStar, Bluetooth, a USB port for your iPod, cruise control, power locks and power outside mirrors.”
The car’s aesthetics are describes as taut , muscular, and sporty with a wide aggressive stance. It is wider and longer than it’s competitors. The interior uses a Corvette-inspired twin cockpit design and the blue LEDs to light analog gauges.
The Cruze will be available for purchase in the third quarter of 2010 and will be built at GM’s Lordstown Ohio assembly plant.
As many have observed, this car’s scucess is critical for GMs future proftiabilty. It will be the car Chevy dealers sell in high volume, even to those wanting yet unable to afford or find first generation Volts.
I wish it well.
Source (GM)
79 Responses to “Chevrolet Unveils Specs on US Version of the Cruze”
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November 29th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Best of luck to GM for a wide acceptance of the Cruise and hopefully a tipping point toward wide support of their goal of noticeably high levels of fit and finish.
Go GM.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
November 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
They ae already on sale here under the Holden brand. Unfortunately, without a plug . . .
Has Plug? Have Sale.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:04 am
By the way, Cruze has recently set a record in the European EuroNCAP crash test (which is extremely stringent): this car got the highest ever number of safety points!
Read the results here: http://www.euroncap.com/results/chevrolet/cruze/2009/376.aspx
November 29th, 2009 at 8:12 am
How well are they selling? It *is* unfortunate that they are sans plug – but soon….. Less than a year now until the Volt’s big day.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
November 29th, 2009 at 8:13 am
I wonder what trim level that interior picture is?
It looks really nice!
I will still wait for the Volt……
NPNS
November 29th, 2009 at 8:21 am
good news about the 1.4l turbo.. if it sells for $15k in Europe then it will be cheaper here.. they pad the price heavily over there.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:30 am
The $15k European price looks like a myth… I’ve checked out Poland (where I would expect Chevrolet cars to cost less than in other countries of the EU), and there the base version costs about $18500, and that’s even without an air conditioner! I’m totally sure that $15k in completely unrealistic for Europe.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I’d go for the 1.8L and the 16″ wheels if I decided to get one. (Not entirely out of the question if Volt production numbers can’t become accelerated, and, the price of gas goes up to $3.59 a gallon.)
My work requires me to use just about one hundred gallons a month. Whatever the lower fuel efficiency number is finalized for it will determine most of that part of the decision. Especially if the “floor” is something like 32 mpg like my old Cimmaron.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:43 am
The turbo probably gets better mileage.. are you worried about the durability?
I would go for 14″ wheels, much cheaper to replace.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:47 am
they should make BEY version & compete against leaf ..or what Ford is doing with Focus etc …a common platform & diff technologies
November 29th, 2009 at 9:02 am
It looks like some commenters don’t realize that Chevrolet Cruze is the sister car for Volt, so the Volt is actually the electric version of the Cruze. This is why this post is here: not because the Cruze is fuel efficient, but because it’s actually a Volt without the electric part (and with some styling differences which were made for marketing reasons). From the technical point of view, it’s the same car with different drivetrains.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Completely off topic, but fun for some. Go checkout the “All Cars Electric” site and follow the link to the White Zombie electric race car (Green Car News: Street Legal Electric Car Does Quarter Mile 110 MPH in Under 11.5 Seconds). There is a link in the article to another site with a 9:49 minute video. The owner is an electric car evangelist! Like I said, it’s a fun watch.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Hey Herm.
Yes.
Plus, the extra engine compartment heat generated, the serviceability that generally becomes reduced with added systems,
and, the smaller displacement generally (though I might be wrong on this one) can have larger parts replacement costs. I like a GM vehicle for the long term promise of control of my finances for when things become worn out. 16″ tires might be cheaper to replace also.
I had a 1987 Pontiac 6000 which was a great little car. I had 204,000 miles on it and the engine was still going strong. It was called “The Iron Horse” which has incredible longevity (cast iron block and head). (The same one that is in those US Postal trucks. The one that makes that loud “purrrr” sound.) My CPA made me go out and get a new vehicle (in ‘05) because he said a 20 year old vehicle would not carry any credibility for when I began go out to sell my diagnostic training services to shops. “You will scare them [when you show up]“. (Because of an loud extra electric fan I added when converting the AC over to 134a).
He was right. That aftermarket cooling fan sounded just like a police sirene as the ignition was shut off.
I tried to sway the decision by saying: “But it has 204,000 miles on it, it would be a testimonial”.
He replied: “But they’re not going to see your odometer as you drive up”. Joe wins on all discussion merits. But I think this time he will have me waiting to get a Volt, because it will likely cause all shops to want me to come by (1,800 shops in my service range, only 161 have been served since 4/05. Business is very good. But business would most certainly be great if I was able to buy a Volt).
November 29th, 2009 at 9:15 am
See the Delta II platform section, common parts and lower costs:).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Delta_platform
November 29th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Nice color, and 5 seats too. But really a six speed standard. Woohaa!
November 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Google fight!
Chevy Cruze VS Dr. Lyle Dennis
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Chevy+Cruze&word2=Dr.+Lyle+Dennis
=D~
November 29th, 2009 at 9:53 am
The Cruze will be available for purchase in the third quarter of 2010 and will be built at GM’s Lordstown Ohio assembly plant.
Will it be another California only car?
November 29th, 2009 at 10:34 am
The interior is Moroccan Brown leather. It is available on the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu. It is the TOP of the top of the line interior. It was optional on the LTZ models of the Chevy and XR version of the Saturn. Not cheap but boy it looks good, both in pictures and in person.
November 29th, 2009 at 10:36 am
This nice Cruze may make it really hard to sell Volts. The customer will see the Volt and then see a very similar and also very nice Cruze nearby. The Cruze will create 2 problems for the Volt.
First, it may be $15K lower in price.. That is a big incentive to most people to buy a Cruze rather than a Volt.
Second, it places Volt itself in the category of the Cruze, that is, in the small and cheap car category rather than, say, thinking of Volt in comparison to a small Audi.
The other side is that with the number of Volts being made kept so small and the number of dealers so few, it will probably be easy to sell the Volts that are made just because they are rare and unusual.,
November 29th, 2009 at 10:56 am
I have to admit, like Lyle said, it’s more likely I’ll get the Cruze than the Volt. I’d rather have the Volt but the Cruze does look like a good car for a lot less. It’s definitely been one of the few cars I’m following as I consider my next purchase.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’m reasonably sure it’ll be a nationwide rollout. Unlike the Volt there is nothing mysterious about the Cruze that would limit its availability.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:23 am
GM If you are listening:
Please put a battery in this car and sell a BEV version.
The Volt is great, but a large percentage of your customers just want a simple, cheaper BEV. Why not offer EREV and BEV to grab all the electric vehicle buyers? An electric Cruze priced under $25k would be a runaway hit.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:25 am
That will be great.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:39 am
(click to show comment)
November 29th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Nice, not interested.
BEV. All the way for my next vehicle purchase.
I’ve got a nice down payment saved up and it’s getting larger the longer I have to wait.
Volt, Aptera, Leaf, Focus Magna. Which one’s it gonna be!
I really wanted the Aptera as first choice because it looks like it will coast the best.
First thing I’m going to have to do is disable the regenerative braking so I can achieve maximum coasting.
# 22 I agree with you, I would be interested in that setup
November 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
The Cruze is important for GM. It may be the car that benefits most from the Volt halo effect.
The other important aspect of the Cruze is that it’s late to market — and in this case that’s a very good thing. Rather than bring out a less than class competitive vehicle on time — as it would have in the past — GM delayed the release in order to have it be a better product. It gets a +1 for this. Interesting article, which I think has been referenced before, about the process here. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/business/13auto.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=cruze&st=cse (I realize that the NY Times is a terrible paper that never publishes anything of value but still … )
I hope that GM will take the same approach with the Volt. If it misses the November deadline so be it. Get the Volt right. Quality first, release date second.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
“There’s a lot of content in all Cruze models; it was designed to give customers the features they want regardless of the car’s size or segment,”
“The amenities, quietness and roominess you expect in larger cars are what the Cruze delivers,”
THIS IS EXCELLENT. Finally GM is beginning to understand why the Civic and Corolla are absolutely stomping the Cobalt into the ground. Honda and Toyota’s smaller cars are just as good as their larger cars. A Civic should last as long as an Accord, a Cruze should last as long as a Malibu. I have a friend with an ‘05 Cobalt (an ill advised purchase) and he LUCKILY got the extended warranty because that thing has been in the shop for a clutch, transmission, and several other major replacements, it’s already depreciated to about half of the $11,000 he owes on it still, and it’s not even a nice car.
I’m glad GM is finally going to compete instead of just putting crap out there just so they can meet CAFE standards without trying to compete in sales, profits, or improving their reliability reputation, basically just handing the Japanese the US auto market.
Ford figured this out about 2005 I think about the time the domestic auto makers really started feeling the squeeze, but still later than I did (or any sane person). Bravo for their $20 million/year executives.
Someone posted here the other day that Fritz/GM is anonymously having customers compare Cadillacs to other luxury cars to get feedback on how they can improve their vehicles and make them more competitive.
BRAVO, for realizing that you are in a competitive market and you’ve gotta figure out what has made your competitors successful and use it to your advantage.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I don’t think the BEV will be a “runaway hit” due to range limitations, but it would be smart for GM to offer one to compete with the BEV focus in its limited market. Just using the software for pure BEV mode on the Volt and adding batteries in place of the ICE and generator shouldn’t be extremely hard (although not a cakewalk surely). It would be a great option to sell in fleets.
If this would end up costing too much money, then I hope they don’t do it. GM will get slammed by some for not having a pure BEV offering but if making one distracts them from EREVs then it is no good. Perhaps a compromise is offering a “shell” of a Volt with no ICE and letting people convert it to a BEV themselves. I think I heard this mentioned somewhere.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I with on this Herm.
The Cruze is number one on my list of American cars that I will be looking at. The Civic and Corolla are #2 and 3, respectively.
40 mpg would be a deal maker for me, especially if I can get into a stripped down model for under $17k.
But, how will GM pull off this 40 mpg number? The Honda’s and Toyota’s having been the leaders in this market, and they still cannot reach this holy grail number of 40+ mpg on an equivalent vehicle, and now GM says the Cruze will be even larger than either. I admit I am skeptical that the Cruze can reach 40+ mpg, but if they pull it off, they basically have me as a customer.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Direct injection will pull it off.
Remember the technology has been there for a long long time in various forms to get hi mpg.
40mpg is not a miracle…. Safely guarded technology that can do this a long time ago is still being hidden….Just remember Oil controls the world.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Funny, the 1.8L engine actually produces slightly LESS horespower and LESS torque than the 1.4L. I don’t think the 1.8L will be a big hit. Even if this is a typo and they are backwards, there is virtually no significant difference between them. The 1.4L would be cheaper and more efficient, but I guess some old stuck in their ways people will just think they need at least 1.8L
1.8L vs 1.4L
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): 136 / 101 @ 6300 (est.) 138 / 103 @ 4900 (est.)
Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm @ rpm): 123 / 167 @ 3800 (est.) 148 / 200 @ 1850 (est.)
November 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
For all those pining to put a BEV sized battery in the Volt instead, here is some back of the envelope calculations.
Volt 440 Lb battery/16 KWh and estmated 400 # battery generator (1.4 l plus 53 Kw generator plus exhaust system.) Total drive train 840 #s and 440 Lbs heavier than Cruze. Estimated cost of engine and generator, less than $600 dollars to GM. Battery cost $500 per useable KWh,( per LG CPI president). For battery cost of 8 KWh x $500/ KWh = $4000 plus $600/engine generator = $4600 plus electronics $400 estimated= $5000 cost per Volt drivetrain.
Cruze Bev = to 125 miles range . If 16Kwh gives 40 miles than 120 miles requires 3 x the battery plus a smidgeon for additional weight or 3.5 x 16 KWh or or 56 KWh At $500 per useable Kwh that costs 56/2 x $500 equals $14,000. Estimated weight is 440lb/16Kwh/ 56Kwh/Bev = 1540lbs versus 400 lbs in Cruze or an extra 1140 Lbs or half a ton.
Extra cost over VOLT EREV for BEV Cruze is $14,000- $5,000 = $9,000 more than a VOLT. No wonder Leaf will sell without batteries!
Estimated Cruze BEV with margin is $40,000 + $9000 + $4500 margin = $53,500 or $13,500 dollars more than a VOLT.
IOW, Forget it!
November 29th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
If the Cruze LTZ with the 1.8L can pull off 36 MPG for a sticker price of $19,950.00 with the quality of fit-and-finish that has been displayed in the Camaro and Equinox, then “Chevrolet” will be a sales leader for the 2011 model year.
I just wish we didn’t have to wait that long!
November 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
The issue of tire diameter and cost has always intrigued me.
When you buy a set of tires, they come with a mileage warranty (40k, 60k, 100k miles or whatever). The tread depth is the same and the material is the same for a specific brand tire.
So, if I buy a 40,000 mile 14″ tire or a 17″ 40,000 miles, are these numbers actually appropriate?
Since your tire diameter determines how much contact your tires have per mile, then it makes sense that at 17″ tire would last about 21% longer than the equivalent 14″ tire, right?
A 14″ tire would rotate approx 1,438 times per mile, while a 17″ tire only rotates 1184 times over that same mile. This translates into about 21% less actual “mileage” than the 14″.
So, paying 21% more for a 17 inch tire would translate into a net zero cost increase, right?
November 29th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
The Volt is destined to be a BEV! As battery technology gives us a more powerful battery, you will see it’s performance increase with little change in design. There will be enhancements is design to give it a fresh look each year but also any improvements in the battery pack that LGchem or other supplier puts into production.
On topic: the Cruze will probably be my next car with a later generation Volt being next. That all depends on GM initial price and any rebates like the federal government will give (it may be more than $7,500.00) and any the states offer. All I need to do now is convince my wife if not the Vote then a small size family car like the Cruze. What will seal the deal for her depends on how roomy the Cruze is on the inside.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
November 29th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Vincent,
So your telling me that auto manuf. are deliberately holding back on technology that could put them as the LEADER in auto sales, since big oil has some mysterious control over them.
So, when they design a new, efficient vehicle, they need to consult the oil gods, and get approval to increase the mileage a couple mpg?
I believe that certain things are controlled within an industry to keep profits coming, but this type of conspiracy would be quite a tangled web of corporations.
November 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
GM is listening, closely. That 1.4 L turbo hp-to-vol is right on par with Mercedes. Its 15 gal. tank ensures it’ll beat up competition for range vs. sticker. The interior picture conveys world-class I.D. (industrial design). We can only hope fit and finish measures up. All in all its absolutely high production marketable. Which yields the question: Why not the 1.4 L Turbo for the VOLT ER? Why at twice the price cut the fuel tank in half? Indeed, GM sets up its Cruze exactly as I’ve crusaded for the VOLT. And the Cruze name itself? I just don’t cotton to it but don’t know why. Note to GM: If this is the game-changer that re-establishes one of the world’s most famous brands- Chevy- then let’s rename it …
November 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Efficiency and power are not at all factors for engines so close performance-wise for my preferences. It is longevity and servicability and cost of parts down the line in many years. So, where an engine is larger and puts out slightly less power, those are key starting points.
One of the things that Bob Lutz goes after in the concepts of performance, is the old school idea (a valid one), that the duty load factor of parts that are designed for high performance will last better for normal usages over normal-usage designed parts.
That is the valid idea for high performance parts and designs to last longer in normal operations.
If a high performance part is designed to be loaded up at 125% of maximum duty load as compared to the regular duty load design, it is something I want to know about, even though I’d not need it except for freeway onramp merging. That also implies that extra attention for testing is applied to a stronger design.
But a larger displacement engine suggests possibly larger main and rod bearings, etc, etc. But we’ll see soon enough in time.
November 29th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
November 29th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Sorr, it seems that I messed up the HTML code in my previous comment,
JC
November 29th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
If you took off the VAT and all the possible discounts, how much would it cost to take it home?
November 29th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Not worth it or needed.. all the Volt needs is a 50kw engine to drive the generator. Many people complain that the Volts has too big a genset as it is.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I like that picture of the camera. Wouldn’t it be interesting if camera elements were interlaced within everyone’s living room TV screens (microscopically in the black matrix then collectively processed)? That would be funny. Didn’t Microsoft want to do somethng like that so that remote help could detect if the help was working (your face could be scanned for temperature rise from frustration or relaxation at solution)? It wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever. LOL.
(Stay away from those naughty DVD’s!! Ahem. LOL).
November 29th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
That’s the estimate for highway.
What about city?
November 29th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Whats the cost difference between a $40k Volt and an $18k Cruze?, it is $22k.. this is the cost of the unique electric components.
How can GM offer a BEV for $25k?.. you think they can make the rest of the car for $3k?.. and that BEV will only have a 40 mile range.
The battery alone cost GM $12k..
November 29th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Standard navigation system?? No way. And where is it in the picture?
November 29th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
The Volt has certain components not used by any other GM car..
1. The 16kwh battery and its management system plus the charger.
2. electro-hydraulic brakes.
3. The transaxle unit with its motor and generator, a simplified version of the expensive FWD 2-Mode transmission.
4. The inverters.
4. Electric air conditioning.
Apparently the cost or cost-differential of these components is $22k, all we know so far is that the battery is $12k.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
The direct link to the video on the “White Zombie” mentioned above is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=369h-SEBXd8&feature=player_embedded
This guy has the same effect on me as Dr. Lyle Dennis. Worth a look.
November 29th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Lets see…well you quoted me….and you got that part correct.
The remainder you wrote yourself and expressed with your extrapolation…..
Bring it where you wish…with your words. If that’s a tough pill to swallow I’ll return your letter from Santa and get you a box of tissues.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090429/CARREVIEWS/904299981
Autoweek lists the highway mileage at 39. See last items in article.
If they had added the direct injection option, which is reported to add nearly 1000 to the cost, they probably could have broken the 40 mpg mark.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
At the 2008 L.A. Auto Show the Malibu was available to sit in and experience. The Volt and Camaro were both hands off displays. Will GM provide sit-in availability to Volt and Cruze shoppers in 2009?
Early reports state that headroom and comfort are good in the Volt. Will we see some spice and color added to the off-white ipod console system?
Will we see the electric Orlando concept? The Converj on display? Will EV Ford and EV Nissan offer parking lot test drives?
Just a week away.
=D~
November 29th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
They said “available” navigation system – likely an option on LT and LTZ models – but at least Chevy is listening to the market. There are certain areas of the country where in-vehicle navigation has become an expected feature – and the Malibu has not offered it, thus has lost sales. The Cruze will quickly become Chevrolet’s best selling model nationally – probably within 12-15 months after introduction – as production will need to ramp up.
If this car delivers the quality of Malibu, Equinox and Camaro, Chevrolet will have another winner. The Cruze will definitely be critical to Chevrolet to have in stock and ready for immediate delivery as it offers Chevy’s best chance at conquesting sales from those import intenders who come into a Chevy showroom looking for the VOLT. The VOLT will be the draw, the Cruze will be the deal maker.
Go GM. Go VOLT. Bring it on!!! and bring the Cruze too…
November 29th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
whats the city mileage? and combined mileage? did anybody else see 10 Air Bags? WOW.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
A BEV Cruze will certainly be interesting. It would be a nice competitor with the Leaf and the BEV Ford Focus.
Sorry, I think your math is way off here. First of all, for the cost, again I don’t buy the “usable kWh” figures. Nobody in the industry buys batteries by usable kWh (which isn’t a characteristic of the battery, but rather a limit set by the automaker), they buy it by the actual kWh. Also BEVs don’t need a huge 50% buffer like the Volt does (couple of reasons: the ~100 mile range means for a typical 1000 cycle battery you can still have a 100k mile warranty, and the bigger battery means you can spread out the current which helps battery life). For BEVs, since you need a bigger battery anyways, you can buy batteries with lower power density and focus on energy density instead, which will decrease $/kWh.
For the Leaf, it is actually less than $500/kWh. At 24kWh for ~100 miles, the battery is said to cost less than $12k. And also for the weight, the Leaf’s battery weighs basically the same as the Volt’s so actually a BEV Cruze would be lighter than the Volt.
Your estimate has the battery going up to 56kWh, which is more than the Tesla Roadster’s battery, and the Roadster can routinely get more than 200 miles in range mode. Keep in mind that the Roadster is a sports car and that it isn’t even that aerodynamic (.35 drag coefficient is actually higher than the Cruze’s .31, though smaller frontal area will balance things out).
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/at-witz-end-turning-over-a-new-nissan-leaf/
BEV Cruze should cost about the same as or less than a Volt if GM does it right (choose cells with higher energy density for the BEV Cruze rather than a balance of energy and power density like currently on the Volt). After all, the battery pack in the Leaf is about the same price and weighs about the same as the one on the Volt, and with a BEV Cruze you wouldn’t need the ICE and the generator.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Thats a lot of money to add to a small car.. note that review is pretty old, do a google search for Cruze XFE
An article in the online version of Motor Trend:
“Engineers reassigned from GM’s Performance Division are tweaking the 1.4-liter turbo and the Cruze’s six-speed automatic with the goal of achieving 44 mpg in EPA highway-mileage estimates. A Cruze XFE would better take advantage of the Volt’s halo”
November 29th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Very similar specs to the Honda Civic
http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-sedan/specifications.aspx
November 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Great note Herm. Thanks, 40+ definitely makes the car more exciting.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Apparently the Volt is showing up in LA.
Nice picture of the engine compartment.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/cars-and-coffee-chevy-shocks-the-crowd-brings-volt/
November 29th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
The Volt is showing up in So. CA.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Huh? Not sure what other words I was extrapolating on.
You said: “Safely guarded technology that can do this a long time ago is still being hidden….Just remember Oil controls the world.”
But you did say “Direct injection will pull it off.
Remember the technology has been there for a long long time in various forms to get hi mpg”
So, are you saying that the technology exists, but is not being applied, or that the technology is being guarded by big oil?
Seems like your contradicting yourself, but maybe I am just misunderstanding your point.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
John,
Thats a good question. I would expect that city mileage will track similiar percentage reduction of any other similiar sized car. Which should put the Cruze somewhere in the 30 mpg city. But, I also know that I can easily improve my city mileage over the rated, using a few minor driving methods (coasting, little braking, anticipate stops, and traffic lights, light on acceleration, etc).
November 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Automakers Unveil More than 30 World and North American Debuts
* A dozen concept vehicles including several World debuts
* 24 press conferences
* First looks at significant North American production vehicles including the Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2 and Chevrolet Cruze
* Rare test drives of the latest hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles
http://www.laautoshow.com/Press.html
=D~
November 29th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
This is just what the doctor ordered!! Great look at a great price!
November 29th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I wonder about the reliability of the 1.4 liter turbo vs. that of the normally aspirated 1.8 liter engine. I’ve heard that turbo engines require more service because of the wear on the turbo parts and higher pressures used in the engines. Is that true? Are turbos getting more reliable? Although my current car has a turbo engine, and it gives good hghway mileage, I also have a 50,000 mile, 4 year warranty that covers the cost of maintenance. So I tend to baby the car, which is really a high performance car. I’d rather have a volt because it should provide a better balance between reliability and performance. And I don’t have to buy gas if I don’t need to!
November 30th, 2009 at 1:13 am
“Other standard features include 10 air bags, electronic stability control, McPherson struts, XM satelltite radio, OnStar, bluetooth and ipod USB connectivity, and a navigation system.”
November 30th, 2009 at 2:13 am
I must admit, This does look very good, especially if I might not be able to snag a Volt for maybe the first two years.
Would love to see a full blown picture and option display on chevy.com
November 30th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Much higher up in this thread, someone wrote:
A GM car…”I have a friend with an ‘05 Cobalt (an ill advised purchase) and he LUCKILY got the extended warranty because that thing has been in the shop for a clutch, transmission, and several other major replacements, it’s already depreciated to about half of the $11,000 he owes on it still, and it’s not even a nice car.”
I’m not sure how someone can owe 11,000 on a Co-Bait they bought new three or four years ago…but I have advice based on experience. Tell your friend to fix it and sell it for cash and run away as fast as he can.
Millions of GM car buyers have learned this. What is the matter with your friend?
I won’t buy another GM until the Volt proves with hard data that the Voltec drivetrain provides a reasonable total cost of ownership for 150,000 miles.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:35 am
The Volt brings them in, and they drive out with a Cruse. Sounds like a win for GM.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:41 am
The specs don’t include the curb weight. The Corolla base 1.8L engine produces nearly as much power & torque as the Chevy engine but the Corolla weighs less than 2800 lbs. If the base Cruze checks in at over 3000 lbs, it is likely to be somewhat slower than the base Corolla.
Also, Toyota motors are very lively; their VVT technology is very good. Toyota also has DI but they don’t seem to have deployed it outside of Lexus. It could be their system is more costly to manufacture than GMs.
Well, on reflection, that actually seems very likely, as the Lexus system is combination port and direct injection. The two different systems work better in different load ranges, so Lexus comes with both. Two sets of injector systems won’t come cheap. In any event, this is an area where GM appears to have a technological lead and they should exploit it.
However, GM doesn’t generally shine in vehicle weight management. If the Cruze is heavy, GM will find it challenging to meet the 40mpg goal, even with DI.
Toyota could probably boost the fuel economy of the Corolla quite a bit by shifting to a 5-speed automatic, a technology which they do have.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Call me old school…but the Cruze dashboard looks much better than the Volt’s dashboard.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
#69
Right. The $64K question. The first thing I look at on any road test article. The way I read the specs, there is no DI. Maybe later.
It is nice looking however, so that’s a plus.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I’ll take one …. maybe in dark blue.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Noel Park: Right. “The $64K question (curb weight). The first thing I look at on any road test article. The way I read the specs, there is no DI. Maybe later.”
I looked at the spec but went right past that. You’re right, no DI. It’s port fuel injection.
I don’t see how GM is going to get 40mpg. Even the final drive ratios don’t seem all that generous. Unless they really have aced the weight portion of the final exam.
Noel Park: “It is nice looking however, so that’s a plus.”
I’ve sat in one with the pictured trim level. The interior is unbelievably nice. The picture, good as it may look, doesn’t do it justice. The exterior is pretty good looking, too.
The $16K question, though, is how much of that interior do you get for the Corolla LE transaction price? For those willing to spend a little more money for a small car with very nice interior, the Civic with leather is a tough competitor. If the trim pictured checks in at $20K or more, it’s not going to do much to persuade the typical buyer in this segment. If that trim comes along at the same price as a Corolla LE, GM may see some conquest sales.
GM’s got its work cut out for it, though. And what’s their cost on this car? Can they make money selling it?
November 30th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
#73
I dunno, I could see 40 mpg highway. I mean, they get 37 out of the Cobalt xfe, right? And this has to be a more efficient package than any Cobalt. My problem is the city and the combined. That’s where they fall down historically, so of course they never advertise it. Sorry to keep belaboring this, but it’s a real pet peeve with me.
Yeah, it’s gonna be tough. Plus, Honda could probably spring a new Civic at just the wrong time. Still, it’s a big step forward from the Cobalt, so I am hoping for the best.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:25 am
The 1.4L turbo undergoes the same durability testing that the 1.8L engine does. Perhaps more. Both will have the same warranty. When done correctly, a turbo engine can be just as reliable as a normally aspirated engine. In fact, turbo engine parts are typically much better designed, due to their increased operating stresses. Crankshafts are normally nitrided forged steel (vs. cast iron), connecting rods are forged (vs powdered metal or cast), pistons are forged (vs cast), etc. Turbo engines are also more expensive and that is likely the primary reason that the 1.8L engine will be offered as the base engine.
I spoke with a GM engineer familiar with the program sometime last year and asked if the 1.4L would be direct injection. He said no. I assume that has not changed. I’m sure that is due to cost as well…and hopefully once they get the cost down, they will upgrade the 1.4L version to direct injection which will provide improved gas mileage and better power/performance. The only downside is cost with direct injection.
Now, if they’d just offer an AWD version that got 35+ mpg I’d be a happy camper.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:08 am
Lyle’s post today sheds some light on the curb weight:
“The car felt very solid and well balanced. The uniquely low center of gravity due to the four hundred pound battery in the center gave a notably beneficial hugging of the ground. Yet the car felt light and spry, the power steering was perfectly tuned and the car handled wonderfully. Farah all but admitted the car weighed 400 pounds more than a Cruze, or about 3500 pounds. He wants it to be lighter and there are plans to make it so for the next generation.”
That puts the Cruze at about 3100 lbs. The Corolla has a 10% edge and the Civic is even lighter. 40 MPG seems awfully optimistic. City mileage is not likely to impress.
And Edmunds says there’s a new Civic on the way for Fall, 2010.
—
dwwbkw,
My mechanic says that turbos haven’t been noticeably more troublesome than regular engines since the early ones, especially the Saabs of the ’80’s.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:24 am
When announced Cruze was a winner.Now its fading.
Now ford has a competitor : Fiesta 1.6 Ltr 40 mpg
We are yet to hear from Honda and Toyota
Again was reading on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Precept
80 mpg car from GM and GM quit project saying “Nobody will buy it”. Now really if GM need to be a winner they have to make it. Min of 52+ mpg is needed to be a winner cruze
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
Chevrolet Cruze is really wonderful car and ripe for the picking in the form of the excellent 260-horsepower turbocharged and direct injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder called Ecotec and six-speed manual gearbox as seen in the defunct Chevrolet Cobalt SS.
Mosin
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 am
That`s a sharp looking compact it`s about time GM that car will sell well if it`s around 13 or 15 k get rid of that stupid ulgy cheap looking aveo god that`s a piece of Shit if you don`t think so test drive one LOL.