2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Cruze Brings Midsize Car Presence To The Compact Car Segment

* Spaciousness and amenities of a midsize car with the fuel economy of a compact
* New Ecotec 1.4 turbo engine delivers up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway
* Segment-leading safety including 10 standard airbagsWASHINGTON – Chevrolet will show the North American production version of the Chevrolet Cruze at the 2010 Washington Auto Show. The Cruze, which goes on sale later this year, delivers many segment-leading features and details that challenge preconceived notions about what a compact car can be in North America.




'Cruze is already a hit across Europe and Asia. Now it's coming to America to challenge the status quo,' said Jim Campbell, general manager, Chevrolet. 'Along with the Volt electric vehicle, Cruze is the latest tangible example of how Chevrolet is working to bring new products to market that range from gas-friendly to gas-free.'

Leveraging Chevrolet's design and engineering talent in Asia, Europe and North America, the Cruze brings a progressive, globally influenced design complemented by exceptional levels of quietness, quality and attention to detail – from precise tolerances between body panels to the use of premium materials throughout the interior.



Cruze goes on sale in the Ú.S. in the third quarter but has already logged more than 4 million miles in quality and durability testing worldwide, making it one of the most real world-tested GM products prior to a Ú.S. launch. Cruze also has achieved five-star safety ratings in every market where it is being sold. The Ú.S. and Canadian versions of the Cruze will be built in Lordstown, Ohio, where $350 million was invested for their production.

More than expected
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trims. Standard and available equipment includes:

* New family of efficient four-cylinder engines, including a 1.4L turbo and 1.8L
* Six-speed automatic and manual transmissions
* Ten standard air bags, including frontal, side-impact, roof rail head curtain, rear-seat side air bags and new front knee air bags
* Bluetooth, ÚSB connectivity and navigation system
* XM Satellite Radio and OnStar
* MacPherson strut front suspension and Z-link rear suspension, with 16-, 17- and 18-inch wheels
* Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control and anti-lock brakes
* Fuel-saving, rack-mounted electric power steering
* Únexpected levels of quietness, smoothness and refinement for the segment

All models share an interior characterized by premium materials and a lengthy roster of unexpected equipment, including leading infotainment. A stereo system that includes MP3 playback capability, six speakers and an auxiliary jack for personal playback devices is standard. A premium nine-speaker Pioneer sound system is available, as is a ÚSB port for iPod operation. Other available technologies include Bluetooth and a navigation system.

'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 ÚSB port for your iPod, cruise control, power locks and power outside mirrors.'

Arching roofline
Chevy Cruze's design is distinguished with a bold face – including a two-tier grille with the iconic Bowtie logo – that is Chevrolet's signature look around the globe. An arching roofline connects a steeply raked windshield and fast-sloping rear pillars to give the car a sporty, coupe-like proportion.

The sporty aesthetic is also seen in prominent headlamp housings that wrap around the corners and sweep upward in the fenders and sculpted hood, as well as a short rear deck typically found on sport coupes. The wheels are at the corners, too, with minimal front and rear overhangs. All the elements work cohesively to give Cruze an aggressive look that is complemented by a wide, confident-looking stance.

Indeed, the Cruze is wider and longer than most of its competitors. Taut, tightly drawn bodywork conveys solidity, while restrained use of exterior trim enhances the car's high-quality feel. The overall appearance is one of purposeful precision.

Precision is also seen in the Cruze's build quality. The Lordstown assembly plant's body shop was retooled with the latest in body-framing and welding equipment to optimize the manufacture of a very solid body structure. That strong structure fosters minimal production variance and repeatable gap tolerances of 3 mm or less between most exterior panels. To the customer, this means a better-looking car when new and one that feels solid for years to come.

Interior refinement
Cruze's bold design cues and attention to detail carry over to the interior, where Chevrolet's hallmark twin-cockpit motif is matched with high-quality materials and exceptional assembly tolerances. Grained, soft-touch components and low-gloss trim panels exude a quality that is uncommon in the segment.

The instrument panel is an excellent example of how Cruze eschews expectations of compact cars. It features richly detailed instruments that are backlit with light-emitting diode (LED) technology. The LED lights provide a crisp, ice-blue illumination of the analog instruments, as well as lighting for other interior controls. A segment-rare standard driver information center delivers a wealth of data to the vehicle owner.

Blending harmoniously with the instrument panels is an integrated center stack that houses the infotainment display, climate controls and radio controls. Flush-mounted components within the center stack have a gap tolerance of less than 1 mm, while the instrument panel-to-door panel gaps are less than 5 mm. Those tolerances are among the best in the class and contribute significantly to the Cruze's aura of refinement and precision.

Cruze's headliner and pillar trim exude craftsmanship, too. The headliner cover is made of a knit material that also serves as one of five layers of an acoustically designed headliner to help make the passenger compartment quieter. The interior pillar and other moldings are color- and grain-matched to the headliner, while seat inserts are color-matched to the color of the instrument panel accent trim, giving the cabin the detailed appearance of larger, upscale sedans.

New, efficient powertrains
Enhanced with its exhaust-driven turbocharger, the Cruze's Ecotec 1.4L turbo performs like a larger engine when needed, but retains the efficiency of a small-displacement four-cylinder in most driving conditions. It is standard on LT and LTZ models, with power ratings estimated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm). With the Ecotec 1.4L turbo, Cruze's fuel efficiency enables a cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km), meaning it can go longer between fill-ups.

Standard on LS models is an Ecotec 1.8L four-cylinder that has the same basic architecture as the 1.4L turbo. Both engines are part of GM's family of global small-displacement engines designed with fuel efficiency in mind, including technology such as full variable valve timing that optimizes performance and fuel economy across the rpm band.

Backing the Cruze's new four-cylinder engines are six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Each contributes to Cruze's excellent fuel economy.

Cruze is backed by GM's five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty – the best coverage in America.

Responsive, quiet driving experience
Complementing Cruze's new powertrains is a strong body structure and chassis system designed to deliver a responsive and fun driving experience. The body structure is tight and stiff; and its solidity enabled engineers to more precisely tune the chassis for comfort and driving control.

A MacPherson strut suspension is used up front, while a technically advanced Z-link design is used with the rear suspension. It helps center the rear axle during cornering, helping to keep the Cruze's handling responses symmetrical on both left-hand and right-hand turns. The linkage's capability to center the axle during cornering delivers a more balanced driving experience, as the rear suspension better follows the lead of the front suspension.

StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation, as well as traction control and anti-lock brakes, are standard. Rack-mounted electric power steering is also standard on all models. It helps save fuel because it removes the conventional power steering pump from the engine's driven accessories. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard on LS and LT models, with 17-inch alloy wheels standard on LTZ. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are available on 2LT and LTZ models.

Along with a responsive driving experience, the Cruze delivers quietness and refinement on the road. Hydraulic ride bushings and an isolated engine cradle reduce or eliminate vibration pathways that could otherwise be transmitted to the passenger compartment. Similarly, a number of noise-reducing and noise-cancelling technologies are employed throughout the body structure, including 30 distinctive acoustical treatments. Examples include:

* The steel front-of-dash panel is sandwiched between two damping mats
* Nylon baffles are used in various hollow portions of the body structure and filled with sound-absorbing foam that expands when the body enters the paint oven
* The headliner comprises five layers of thermal fiber acoustic material, including a premium woven fabric on the visible outer layer
* Patches of sound-damping material are applied strategically throughout the body structure and melt into place when the body passes through the paint oven, allowing the patches to follow the contours of the sheet metal below
* Sound insulation material between rear-body structural components that is made from recycled denim
* The doors have triple seals and feature fiberglass 'blankets' that serve as water, airflow and noise barriers. The doors are also beta-braced, meaning they close with a solid, precise sound and no resonance

Source - Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruze Eco: Hybrid-Like Fuel Efficiency Without The Price Tag

o Cruze Eco delivers an estimated segment-leading 40 mpg on the highway
o Optional RS appearance package for Cruze LT and LTZ trim levels
NEW YORK – At the New York Auto Show, Chevrolet reveals the compact 2011 Cruze Eco. This high-efficiency model is powered by a 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine with variable valve timing that achieves an estimated 40 mpg on the highway when combined with a six-speed manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) Cruze Eco is expected to deliver the best fuel economy in the compact segment, while offering midsize car presence.




Chevrolet also shows an optional RS sport appearance package for the Cruze LT and LTZ trim levels.

Cruze is the first in a family of all-new Chevrolet small and compact cars designed to offer excellent fuel economy, outstanding quality and top safety ratings. Cruze models for the Únited States and Canada will be produced at the Lordstown, Ohio assembly complex. In February, Chevrolet announced the addition of a third shift at Lordstown that will add 1,200 workers to support a smooth, fast and flawless ramp-up of Cruze production. More than $350 million has been invested to re-tool the plant and add new, state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment.



Cruze Eco details
Featuring a 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine with variable valve timing, the Cruze Eco is designed to be the most fuel-efficient model in the lineup, delivering an estimated 40 mpg on the highway with the standard six-speed manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) City fuel economy, as well as estimates for the Cruze Eco equipped with an available six-speed automatic transmission, will be finalized closer to launch.

The Eco achieves greater fuel economy using a number of features that enhance its aerodynamics, minimize weight and reduce rolling resistance. Details include:

* A lower front grille air shutter that closes at higher speeds to improve aerodynamics and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow
* The upper grille has more 'closeouts' to improve aerodynamics
* A lower front air dam extension, extensive use of underbody panels and a rear spoiler enhance aerodynamics
* A lowered ride height improves aerodynamics
* Únique 17-inch lightweight aluminum wheels
* Últra-low rolling resistance 17-inch Goodyear tires.

The axle ratio on the manual-transmission model is also optimized for fuel economy, while helping the car deliver confident performance. Chevrolet estimates the Cruze Eco will deliver 0-60 mph performance of about 10 seconds with the manual transmission and 9 seconds with the six-speed automatic.

The Cruze Eco will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Cruze RS details
Complementing Cruze's sporty proportions is an optional RS appearance package for the LT and LTZ trim levels, which bolsters the car's styling with unique fascias, rocker moldings, rear spoiler and fog lamps. An uplevel instrument cluster is also part of the package and includes chrome accent rings in place of the standard silver finish, as well as opaque cluster bezels that allow the cluster's ice blue backlighting to shine through – providing a sporty nighttime appearance.

'For customers who want even more personality and presence in their vehicle, the RS appearance package builds on the already bold face and coupe-like proportions of the Cruze,' said Michael Simcoe, executive director, North American Exterior Design.

Midsize presence in the compact segment
All Cruze models offer the spaciousness and amenities of a midsize car, combined with segment-leading features and details that challenge preconceived notions about what a compact car can be in North America.

Along with the Eco, the 2011 Cruze will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trims. Standard and available equipment includes:

* Ten standard air bags, including frontal, front-seat side-impact air bags, roof rail head curtain, rear-seat side air bags and new front knee air bags
* Bluetooth, ÚSB connectivity, XM Satellite Radio and navigation system
* Standard OnStar with one year of Directions and Connections service
* MacPherson strut front suspension and Z-link rear suspension, with 16-, 17- and 18-inch wheels
* Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control and anti-lock brakes
* Fuel-saving, rack-mounted electric power steering
* Únexpected levels of quietness, smoothness and refinement for the segment.

All models share an interior characterized by upscale materials and a lengthy roster of equipment usually found in larger and more expensive vehicles. Available technologies include Bluetooth and a navigation system.

Cruze's 1.4L Ecotec turbo performs like a larger engine when needed, but retains the efficiency of a small-displacement four-cylinder in most driving conditions; it is standard on Eco, LT and LTZ models. Rated at an estimated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm), it enables a cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km). Cruze will lead the way for Chevrolet in the use of small-displacement, turbocharged Ecotec engines that are highly fuel-efficient and power vehicles that are fun to drive.

Standard on LS models is a 1.8L Ecotec four-cylinder rated at an estimated 136 horsepower (184 kW) and 123 lb.-ft. of torque (166 Nm). Both engines are designed with fuel efficiency in mind, including technology such as variable valve timing that optimizes performance and fuel economy.

Backing the Cruze's engines are six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Each contributes to excellent fuel economy.

Chevrolet engineers have already logged more than 4 million miles in quality and durability testing worldwide, making Cruze one of the most real world-tested products prior to a Ú.S. launch. It is backed by Chevrolet's five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty – the best coverage in America.

Source - Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruze Features Double-Digit Air Bags Count

DETROIT – The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has a segment-leading 10 air bags to help keep passengers safe in a crash, and an engineering specialist who does his most inventive thinking about vehicle safety in the middle of the night.

Scott Thomas, among the engineers associated with the Cruze's double-digit air bag count, has some 30 safety patents to his credit – most of which were awarded for new or improved air bags and restraint systems.

The Cruze features frontal, head curtain side, front and outboard rear seat side-impact and knee air bags.

'My co-workers and I have put a lot of personal effort and thought into Chevrolet products like the Cruze,' says Thomas. 'Anyone who buys this car will have peace of mind knowing that they are driving a vehicle with some of the most advanced safety technology in the segment.'

Source - Chevrolet

Special Oil Pump Helps Chevrolet Cruze Conserve Fuel

Variable Displacement Pump Delivers Precise Amount of Oil in all Driving Conditions

The oil pump in the engine of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze takes a laid-back approach to its work, delivering the precise amount of oil needed during all driving conditions. That requires the engine to work less versus a conventional pump and ultimately saves fuel. (concept carz)



'By lowering the volume of oil we reduce the amount of energy, or torque, required to pump the oil, without taking necessary lubrication away from the engine,' said Mike Katerberg, assistant chief engineer for the 1.4L. 'Reducing the torque demand reduces fuel consumption. It's a simple, durable, maintenance-free design that we have used in our transmissions for years and more recently in our hybrid vehicles.'

The Ecotec 1.4L turbo is standard on Eco, LT and LTZ models and helps the Cruze Eco, with a standard six-speed transmission, achieve an expected segment-leading estimated 40 mpg on the highway.



The all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will begin arriving in Ú.S. dealerships this September, starting at $16,995, including destination. Priced to compete in the compact-car segment, the Cruze offers more interior room, more miles per gallon in the Eco model, and more standard safety features than any of its competitors.

Source - Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruze Improves Fuel Economy for 2012

2-mpg improvement and streamlined content builds on successful global launch
For 2012, Chevrolet Cruze models with the 1.4L turbo and six-speed automatic transmission will get 2 mpg better fuel economy. The Cruze Eco with an automatic transmission will deliver as much as 39 mpg on the highway compared with 37 mpg for the current model, Chevrolet said Wednesday.

The most popular 1.4L turbo/six-speed automatic will get 38 mpg compared with 36 mpg for the current model. A lower axle ratio for the 2012 models enables the approximately 5 percent increase in highway fuel efficiency for Cruze.

Cruze Eco with the standard six-speed manual transmission remains the most fuel-efficient gas-powered/non-hybrid vehicle in America, with an EPA-rated 42 mpg on the highway.

Also for 2012, a feature package containing Bluetooth phone connectivity, ÚSB port, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a leather-wrapped shift knob will be standard on 1LT and Eco models. These features were part of the $525 Connectivity Plus Cruise option package on 2011 models. The option was ordered by 90 percent of American customers.

'Chevrolet is committed to responding to what customers want and making it easier for them,' said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. 'Adding these previously optional features streamlines the ordering process and answers the call of what our customers told us should be standard.'

Cruze, which was the best-selling small car in the Únited States in May, is Chevrolet's best-selling nameplate around the world, with global sales of more than 250,000 in the first four months of 2011.

'Fueled by a successful launch in the Únited States and continued growth in China, Chevrolet Cruze is proving to be the right car at the right time,' Scheidt said 'Fuel economy is the top reason customers buy a compact and the Cruze's greater efficiency for 2012 makes it all the more attractive.'

Additional standard equipment on the 2012 Cruze includes:
- Remote keyless entry
- Air conditioning
- Audio system with AM/FM/CD and MP3 playback
- SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial service
- Driver information center with average and instant fuel economy feedback, tire pressure readout, oil life remaining and more
- Rear defogger
- Power windows
- Fuel-saving rack mounted electric power steering.

New equipment on the 2012 Cruze includes:
- 6-speed manual transmission standard on 1LT and 2LT
- Keyless entry and keyless start available on 2LT and standard on LTZ
- Touch screen navigation system with 7' color display available on Eco, 2LT and LTZ
- 16-inch five-spoke machined-face alloy wheels are standard on 1LT
- 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with four-wheel disc brakes are standard on 2LT
- Compact spare tire and wheel standard on all models except Eco with manual transmission and 1FL (fleet)
- Fog lamps are standard on LTZ
- Exterior colors: Blue Granite Metallic, Blue Topaz Metallic and Victory Red (with RS appearance package only)

Cruze's standard safety features include:
- Ten standard air bags – the most in the segment – including frontal, head curtain side air bags, front and outboard rear-seat side-impact air bags and knee air bags
- StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control and anti-lock brakes
- Collapsible pedal system, which allows the pedals to detach during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries
- OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.

The Ú.S. and Canadian versions of the Cruze are built in Lordstown, Ohio

Source - Chevrolet