GM Slows Cruze to Wait for Engine

With consumers so concerned about fuel economy, why is General Motors waiting two years to bring out the Chevrolet Cruze, the replacement for the compact Chevy Cobalt?

"We're waiting on the new world car because that gives us time to develop the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder for it,” Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman and head of global product development, said at a Chicago preview of GM's 2009 model lineup. “We expect to get more than 40 mpg highway, better than with some hybrids."

"The 1.4-liter is going to be more high torque than high horsepower: high torque at the low end for power takeoffs and quick acceleration while still getting high mileage,” Lutz said. “The 1.4 liter goes on sale in Europe in a couple weeks.” The Cruze is expected to be available at the end of 2010 for the 2011 model year.

More Chevy Cruze Photos

Because people asked for them, we’ve tracked down a few photos from GM’s announcement of the new Chevrolet Cruze yesterday and added them to the gallery of photos we showed you then. The Cruze will go on sale in 2010 in the U.S. and this spring in Europe.

GM says the Cruze will be bigger than its competitors — we’re guessing that means the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla — with a twin cockpit interior much like the new Malibu. There's no word on what engine will be available in the U.S., but expect it to be a new power plant, not what's used in the current Cobalt or European versions of the Cruze. As previously reported the Cruze will get an ultra-efficient 1.4-liter turbocharged four cylinder. We apologize for the error. The photos are below.

First Look: 2011 Chevy Cruze

GM released the first full-size images of the Chevy Cruze compact sedan that will go on sale in 2010 as a 2011 model. The Cruze will most likely replace the Cobalt in Chevy’s line-up and closely resembles the new Chevy Malibu in the looks department. In fact, we’d say it almost looks like a shrunken Malibu with some BMW influence thrown in. Considering the new Malibu is widely praised and is selling well, this is probably not a bad thing. However, having to wait another two years for a competitive compact sedan from GM is not a good thing. Full size images are below.

New Chevy Cruze Compact Coming to U.S. in 2010

GM announced today that it will debut an all-new car called the Cruze at the Paris Motor Show in October. The five-passenger car will be roughly the same size as Chevy’s Cobalt sedan and will be sold in European markets staring in the spring of 2009.

GM has confirmed with Cars.com that the Cruze will also be sold in the U.S. starting in mid-2010 as a 2011 model. It will be called “Cruze” here as well. A separate source has the Cruze being built at the same Lordstown, Ohio plant that the current Chevy Cobalt is assembled. There wasn’t official confirmation that the Cruze will replace the Cobalt, but that seems like a very good guess. 

GM’s press release only said that the Cruze will carry on Chevy’s new design language seen on the new Malibu and Traverse crossover. We’ll see pictures and receive more information the closer we get to the Paris Motor Show.