While GM PR is milking the plug-in electric – gas hybrid hybrid Chevrolet Volt for all its worth, the automaker is shifting emphasis towards it latest savior. The Camaro. Wait. No. That's not it. The Beat. Nope. Hybrid SUVs? Uh-uh. The Cruze! "Wider and longer than most of its competitors, Cruze has a purposeful stance…" Yada, yada yada. Engines? At its European launch, the Cruze control will feature a choice of a 1.6-liter (112 hp), 1.8-liter (140 hp) or a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel (150 hp) four banger; with a five-speed stick or all-new six-speed auto. U.S. spec? Mpgs? No se. But here's the real news: GM reckons they can 
make money on building and selling this sucker in the U.S. "Small cars are becoming a permanent feature of the U.S. market, and the odds of earning a decent return have gone up" for domestic auto makers, auto analyst John Casesa told CNNMoney. "The window of opportunity for GM is now." Only, as Dow Jones' anonymous writer points out, "GM is counting on one more critical – but still uncertain – element to turn small cars into money makers, which is that consumers will ante up thousands of dollars more for a new small Chevy." Now what are the odds?
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What are the origins of this car? Is it based on a Daewoo platform or some Autralian car we don’t know about? The motors and size seem to say Opel Astra… but they wouldn’t cannibalize their own line up, would they?
The motor sizes are completely typical for europe, but in the US the engines are usually 2.3 and 2.5l instead of 1.6 and 1.8. So I don’t think it will make it over here in this form.
Wow, what a friggin mess. My first thought was “that’s a nice, contemporary car.”
Then I realized it has lots of contemporary design elements, but none of them have been made to work together.
The interior spy shots seem to indicate a nice cabin at least.
http://thecarfanatic.com/wordpress/2008/08/02/chevrolet-cruze-interior-revealed/
They better have an XFE model…and make more than three a year. Not bad though!
DT
I wouldn’t be too concerned about engine size; Honda has done a masterful job in the U.S. with a 1.8 litre in its Civic.
I’d like to see this one in detail and get to experience it before I’d throw it under the bus; hope springs eternal….
GM factory folks are retiring in LARGE numbers.
Being replaced with much lower cost, younger, more productive types. GM’s work force will look much like a “transplant” by 2010.
@virages:
GM-DAT (that’s Daewoo) did the development work.
It is loosely based on GM’s delta platform which is under their good (Astra) and bad (Cobalt) C-Segment cars now.
This is not the next Astra though. This is just the next Chevy/Daewoo. It will sell in Europe under those brand names.
With the spy shots and previous GM releases that were posted here (among other places) a while back, I was hoping for a cheap version of the Volvo S40 (style wise). I LOVE how the S40 looks, but hate the price, useless rear seat, and drivetrain. I am only slightly let down by the looks: I don’t like the front fenders, or the junction between said fenders, hood, and A-pillars (similar to the train wreck on the Merc C-klasse). Overall though, I think it looks great.
“Small cars are becoming a permanent feature of the U.S. market”
Oh, really? They ARE becoming a permanent feature of the U.S. market! Just now? What about during the last 40 years?
Q:What the hell were people in the states buying when they wanted small cars in the past?
A: SMALL CARS!
“The window of opportunity for GM is now.”
Again, just now? Too little too late.
I hope it all works out, but I’m not optimistic.
Sounds like they’re likely to price it too high for the market. It’s what GM does every time they think they have a world-beating new small car.
Not a bad looking car overall.
“Wider and longer than most of its competitors, Cruze has a purposeful stance…”
In other words, more aerodynamic drag and heavier. Not a good combo when aiming for fuel efficiency. This thing has “not as good as the Civic” written all over it.
It’s certainly not a bad looking car – but the rear end in that pictures puts me in mind of a current generation Elantra crossed with a little Sebring.
They will price it too high then throw incentives at it until they move a few…and many into the fleet sales again. It’s still going to be too late arriving to do much good since Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia are eating up a large portion of this segment. Ford is with the low price of the Focus, even with it’s age.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think they should leave the Malibu grill on the Malibu and stop throwing it on every car they make. It looks out of place and weird on this car.
The problem with the “sneak preview” drawings and photos is that they always show the top-line trim. If the base model has an interior that looks like the spy photo instead of being black plastic over black plastic, and the exterior looks like the drawings with fog lights and fancy wheels and tires that fill the wheel wells, instead of looking like something ready for the rental lots, I’ll be impressed. I don’t really expect to be impressed.
wow…i never knew you could determine how good a car is and how it will be priced just by looking at pictures! amazing!!
what happened to the 1.4L turbo???
GM brags the Cruze has “coupe-like proportions in a compact sedan.” In other words, the antithesis of a Fit or Rondo. Will the Cruze have adequate space for rear-seat passengers or cargo? Don’t be silly.
GM just doesn’t get it. You can’t simply shrink a Malibu by 10% and get a small car that “does everything well.” (That was the unintentionally humorous slogan with which Chevrolet introduced the infamous Vega.)
It actually isn’t that horrible looking…
It looks like another cheap version of what today’s Cavalier would look like were it still in production. The name sounds as idiotic as the Beat. GM really doesn’t have a clue about the automotive industry anymore. It misfires on just about everything, name, price, design, technology, etc. I saw a GM bicycle in Wal Mart a few weeks ago. That’s what GM should be doing now. Sticking to simple things such as bicycles.
The grille is the “Branding” classic Chevy grille . It’s the identity, like the Bow Tie.
I think it looks fine! More together than the Corolla Si. Too much dealer bolted on plastic crap. This looks more integrated.
Not only can you judge how good a car is by a picture, but, you can also judge the ride and handling!
It rides quietly and handles like it’s on rails!!!!
OK.
Would GM do better if they branded their small cars (Saturns included) as Opels? (assuming they are true Opels – Sportier, tight handling cars with a slight touch of luxury).
May not sell in the same volumes as Toyondassan – Maz, but if they build them to be reliable, they might carve a strong niche. Don’t see why they can’t use their dealer network for distribution.
Looks like a Camry. It isn’t ugly but it’s a bit bland. This is a new design? I don’t see one original design concept. It’s warmed over done before.
I can’t stand the Chevy corporate grill. I can’t stand the larger than life craptacular gold bow tie stuck on the front and back of every car and truck. If you’ve ever looked at one (and better yet removed it), you’ll realize no manufacturer makes a cheaper, larger tattoo, in such a color clashing fashion.
Let’s say we keep the awful grill…(I wish they wouldn’t but let’s say we had to) could we PLEASE have a more tasteful, smaller, chrome or chrome outline bowtie? Does Chevy realize there’s a huge aftermarket to replace the crappy gold plastic bowties on the front of many of their vehicles?
Why do I have the urge to take fishing line and Goo Gone to the back of every Chevy to debadge it and give it a fighting chance?
As the Joker would say, why so snarky? I like the way it looks, so sue me.
The Cruze is a triumph. What an interior!
Looks good.
Diesel?
Priced to reflect GM’s low reliability, durability, and resale value?
If so, it could work.
Isn’t the Cobalt getting a complete redo for ‘09? And is the Cruze replacing the Cobalt for ‘10? Surely I have this wrong. The local Chevy salesman was bitching a few days ago about not being able to get any Cobalts due to the change over.
The pictures look good, but I give it about a 10% chance of meeting expectations. If they can somehow make it look nice inside and out, even in the cheaper trims, then maybe there is a chance.
When is this thing supposed to arrive? I mean look how long it took the Camaro, and they still are debating engines in it. At the rate they are cutting costs I can’t see any way this car turns out as nice as GM is claiming. The new Malibu is a very nice car, but can they pull this one off without cheapening it up? We’ll see I guess.
rob, I have to agree with you.
“Small cars are becoming a permanent feature of the U.S. market, and the odds of earning a decent return have gone up”
Small cars have a been a permanent feature of the US market for nearly as long as there have been cars to sell in the US. And they’ve been a large part of that market for, yes, DECADES. Plus 3 foreign automarkers climbed from obscurity to dominance based on small cars… Yet somehow, only now is it possible to make money off of them.
These are the voices of reason, the “auto analysts” that make big money telling the not so big anymore 3 what to do. I think you could pick any person off this site and get a better analysis. Somebody turn me into CNN Money’s “go to” guy for auto advice, I think I can do the job.
But I do have to give him some credit for this gem:
“GM is counting on one more critical – but still uncertain – element to turn small cars into money makers, which is that consumers will ante up thousands of dollars more for a new small Chevy.”
That last word is the only thing that saves it. Yep, I think consumers are suspicious of buying small cars from Chevrolet. That does kind of make it hard for them to sell.
To everyone saying that it isn’t a bad looking car, two points:
1) You are correct, it isn’t too shabby.
2) It is currently Aug. 2008, when this car becomes available in 2011 it will look horribly dated.
few thoughts on the cruze
1. 6 spd auto and vvt on intake and exhaust… i would expect a significant bump in highway fuel economy vs the current auto cobalt…hope they sort out the kickdown downshift issues they have with their current 6 spds (especially lambdas)
2. really curious about weight and also aero numbers as compared to the cobalt and astra
3. the cruze should be cheaper and better value than the astra..kind of like skoda vs vw. also, gm should get significantly better economies of scale on the cruze as they are combining the previous daewoo platform and the delta
4. i hope the interiors live upto expectations
5. where is that 1.4L turbo??? I thought this was supposed to be the holy grail engine with the 40+ mpg. And it will be built in Flint, MI.
6. I sincerely hope they price it right…
As with GM’s most exciting cars they have not yet released; I printed out the Cruze press release and drove it around the block. This will definitely save GM just like the Volt. Good Job GM – the press releases are so awesome I just can’t contain my…contempt.
What is with all the fake (painted black) rear window panels these days? Looks like they used the windows from an Astra.
@ csliwins: The press release states that this is a 2009 model.
csliwins, I don’t think it’s going to be THAT long of a wait…
If it continues the General’s thinking and trends to date, maybe they should adjust the spelling to “Snuze”.
Undoubtedly, GM will make a good car and then decontent it so much that only Avis buys it. Somehow I doubt this will catch on with the public at large.
Still, a small car with a six speed is a major step forward for GM and shows that they are on the right track. I just hope the engine sounds better than a Deere agricultural model.
What they really need to do is offer the turbodiesel. For several reasons: first, you would have a differentiating factor…would you want to be the 5th choice of 50% of the buying public or the first choice of 5%?. Second, many of GM’s rural middle america customers can buy diesel bulk for their farms and pay lower rates for it due to tax differences.
Finally, I don’t see any mention of something like “Competitive with the Honda.” like they used to. Which is good, because you always knew they weren’t and it made them look stupid for saying it.
Justin Berkowitz: This is not the next Astra though. This is just the next Chevy/Daewoo. It will sell in Europe under those brand names.
What’s interesting is that Chevys are sold in Europe as a bargain-basement brand (much like Kia over here). Ford of Europe is definitely a cut above Chevy in both Europe and Great Britain.
In the U.S., the next, new small car from Chevy will be a car with heavy Korean content and sold in Europe as a bottom-feeder brand.
Meanwhile, the next Focus is supposed to be a version of the European Focus, which is anything but a bottom-feeder in Europe.
This should make for an interesting comparison in the next few years.
The interior posted in the link is freakin’ gorgeous, if they can somehow manage to sell a car that looks like that for under $17-18000 I’ll be shocked.
The Cruze is going to match up nicely against the Focus, even if they bring the much-drooled-over Euro Focus in. If it has good mileage and people are able to get over their silly biases about US-automaker reliability (such concerns are SO 1990) it’ll sell like crazy.
It’s a handsome car, a good small-car effort without question. I’m excited for it to come out, it might not be a big lump of turd (put away the haterade, suckas! (yes I said haterade (yes I also said suckas))).
From the press release, “The Chevrolet Cruze will be available in Europe from March 2009, followed by other global markets with regional-specific engine choices.” All the engines described in the press release are for Europe – no mention of any particular engine destined for the US.
Considering it took a year and $100 million to get the Astra here, I’m thinking this will debut in the US as an early 2011 model in March of 2010.
This site desperately needs a bookmaking facility. I’m willing to back up at least some of my prognostications with a few bucks (that last one, in particular), it would be quite a bit of fun to actually get some bets down on these things and risk a few bucks and maybe take in a few more. If Farago relocates to Vegas, can this happen?
monkeyboy :
How exactly is that a “classic” Chevy grill? It might be their “corporate” grill, but classic? What classic Chevy ever had such a dopey looking grill?
It looks like something they peeled off a Silverado and just decided to call it a day. Every time they stick that goofy schnoz on a smaller car it looks even more ridiculous.
They should rethink their front end designs a bit. They aren’t working with a giant truck/SUV canvas here so maybe scaling down some of the exaggerated design elements would be a good idea?
No offense intended of course, I just strongly disagree with you here.
DetroitIronUAW: You crack me up, Japanese hype? You mean the fad for the past 30 years?
You mean the hype that comes from finally listening to your neighbor/friend/family member about how their 1990 Accord is vastly superior to your 2000 GM POS and then when your GM falls apart a year later, you think…maybe I should check out a Japanese car. Yeah, that’s not from the media and it didn’t start happening in 2008.
That’s exactly how many Americans started buying Japanese cars, they were tired with the domestic crap they were buying for so long. Hey, I like many domestic cars and sometimes it hurts to be a fan (and even cheerleader) of Ford. I really pull for them, but they make it so hard. I have no love for GM or Chrysler.
In fact, I like Ford so much…I buy there cars, as long as they’re made in Japan or Sweden.
Lemming you say?
DetroitIronUAW: “… lemmings…”
Here’s a customer review of the Toyota Yaris from Edmunds.com:
I have always been the 3rd/4th owner of every vehicle I’ve ever had. Finally decided to get a new car (thinking of gas mileage), researched the Yaris hatchback. Well I have had it 1wk ago today. Awesome mileage, 175 mi thus far – and only used a 1/4 tank.. I love my car! I went from a gas eating 81 Ford f150 to this Yaris. And I’m completely satisfied!
Favorite Features
ALL of them thus far. Stereo is great, steering A+, mileage>>woohooo!!! I don’t have a “favorite” yet – I’m just in awe of my car still!
Here’s another:
I bought the Yaris as a commuter. My Dodge Hemi Pickup now is my “utility” vehicle for trips and weekends. The Yaris has completely surprised me; not only am I saving $200+ per month on gas, I am really enjoying driving it. I have the bare bones model; power nothing, not even a radio. It is amazingly peppy and handles great. It it totally simple and utilitarian, yet safe and fun. They’re hard to find in some areas, so start looking now.
Favorite Features
Handling, interior simplicity, visibility. The interior room is incredible for what it looks like from the outside.
Suggested Improvements
Side curtain airbags should be standard (like the Prius).
Those were base Yarises with stickshifts. Very inexpensive cars. Notice that both owners downsized from big vehicles (there are quite a few other, similarly joyous reviews from people who downsized from all kinds of Detroit iron). These aren’t unique reviews of the Yaris; except for former vehicle size, they’re almost all like this. Toyota is thrilling the owners of $10,500 cars.
Do you seriously think some media outlet told these “lemmings” to love their Japanese cars this way?
That’s what the Cruze must do. Can it? Can Chevy thrill the customer for $10,500?
I don’t get it.
All I ever see are comments (rightly) digging on GM for having no truly competitive small cars, and for having none in the pipeline. Now we learn of one that in fact *is* in the pipeline. Furthermore, it just might be competitive. And what do I see? A bunch of comments digging on GM for even trying.
If we are to believe other reports about this vehicle, its fuel efficiency in some variants will be north of 40mpg. That, to me, is nothing to be snarky about.
This is the replacement for the Chevrolet Lacetti/Holden Viva/Chevrolet Optra/Buick Excelle/Suzuki Forenza. Though I doubt Suzuki is going to get it.
It’s going to be built at Lordstown for the US and Canada.
Hopefully they can sneak us a wagon.
You can’t tell whether or not this car is any good until its been on the market for 3-4 years.
Looks like whoever DetroitIronUAW was got kicked off, too bad.
kixstart- you really can’t go by those “consumer reviews”, especially if the car is under 2 years old. Everyone loves their car in the first few years. Ask again when the car is 3-5-10 years old. And definitely don’t trust “rental car reviews”
Maybe they could make a rehash of the AMC pacer ad where the pacer was driving down the runway and all the people jumping off because it’s so “wide.” Other than the widetrack Pontiac’s the obvious success of the wide pacer says this is a brilliant move from GM.
The spy shots of this thing on the internet don’t look this nice, is this an SS model shown or something.
I agree with Bancho that Chevy grill just scaled down and slapped on small cars looks stupid and out of proportion, I don’t even like the way it look son the Malibu. They seriously need to rethink the grill on the entire Chevy line up.
Isn’t the Cobalt going to be produced up until 2010 and maybe beyond, the Cruze wont be coming out before then.
This vaguely reminds me of the hype for the Cavalier and Cobalt and how great they were going to be and GM was now in the “small car business”. We all know how well that all turned out.
GM can’t make money on small cars because the cars suck and because their business model isn’t set up to make them(the reason why we get crap small cars). How has any of this changed recently to make the fanboys think this is going to be any kind of success. Labor is not the only equation to being successful in small cars, just look at how Honda and Toyota’s businesses work to make them very successful in this segment. GM sure doesn’t look like they are run like those to companies.
DetroitIronUAW: “… lemmings…”
Who is this, was the comment removed, I don’t see anything posted by him/her? Did someone say something naughty.
davey49: “kixstart- you really can’t go by those “consumer reviews”, especially if the car is under 2 years old. Everyone loves their car in the first few years.”
There is some truth in what you say. However, it’s not always the case; sometimes a few weeks with the car is really enough to open one’s eyes and there’s a difference between someone who bought a car for the price and is satisfied and someone who bought a car for the price and is ecstatic.
I think people who buy Yarises are going to be very happy in the long run, too. Go read the Edmunds writeups of, for example, the 2002 Echo, the Yaris’ progenitor. Here are the first sentences from the three most recent (all written in 2007):
“I have had a great experience with this little car!”
“This car is tops!”
“Great car!”
To believe that this car will be a success, one has to believe that GM has done a 180 in every one of the following aspects of its corporate culture / corporate reality:
1) That GM is now committed – that its No. 1 priority is product quality in:
a) engineering;
b) materials;
c) component durability over the long haul;
d) assembly (folks, we’re talkin UAW labor here); and
2) That the beancounters won’t be allowed to decontent or otherwise cut corners in the vehicle in order to make budget; and
3) That it’s engineers / designers have been told that the only benchmark is “class leading,” and that GM means it; and
4) That GM’s executives are concerned with the long term of GM, and not just this quarter’s / year’s numbers and the impact on their stock options; and
5) That GM’s Board feels and is equally committed to, #4; and
6) The UAW is concerned about GM’s long term survival; assembly line quality and won’t revert back to adversarial grab as much as we can if GM ever returns to the black.
I’ve experienced GM’s strides in “quality” (a 2003 SAAB 9-3 a/k/a G-6 / Aura), and so I wouldn’t put my money on any of the above occurring, much less all of them.
KixStart- true, that wasn’t a comment on the Yaris specifically. There is a lot of appeal to a simple car like that.
Come on where are the witty picture captions!!!?
“Cruzin for a bruizin’ or ‘A new Cobalternative’ or ‘Chevy Scruze America Over’
Something!