General Motors (GM) has been absolutely transparent when it comes to new product reveals, choosing to show as much as they can about a future product even before it goes into production. This move on GM's part is meant to shore up consumer and shareholder confidence, offering proof that the automaker is heading in the right direction by building smaller, much more fuel efficient vehicles.
Introducing The Chevy Cruze
One of the cars that will influence GM for years to come is the Chevrolet Cruze (pronounced cruise) a compact car slightly larger than the current Chevy Cobalt. Originally, it appeared that GM would replace the Cobalt with the Cruze, but after the August 2008 press reveal in Lordstown, Ohio, management has indicated that the Cobalt may soldier on as a separate model.
Regardless of where GM stands with the Cobalt, the Cruze is the car that could make or break the automaker when it goes on sale in Europe beginning in Spring 2009 followed by its US debut one year later. Though the US model will probably have a slightly different powertrain offering than what the European market will see, GM says that the Cruze will still get at least 40 mpg on the highway. Not bad for a gasoline model, putting it in the diminutive Smart Fortwo's territory while delivering a bigger and safer car.
What you see in these pictures is the production version of the thinly disguised Chevrolet Cruze 5-door hatchback study, which was presented at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The more compact sized, hatchback version of the Cruze has lost some of the cool features of the concept car like the LED strips on the front bumper, the blue-tinted headlamps and the clear crystal tail lights, but other than that, nothing else has changed.
The new body style looks a bit sharper and sportier than the four-door saloon, but due to the shorter rear overhang, cargo capacity for the Cruze hatchback is close to 400 liters, which is some 50 liters less than the sedan.
