GM Introducing US Version of Chevrolet Cruze at LA Auto Show; Up to Estimated 40 mpg Highway
29 November 2009
| The 2011 Cruze. Click to enlarge. |
GM unveils the US production version of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan at the LA Auto Show on 2 December. The Cruze will compete with vehicles such as Toyota Corolla; Honda Civic; Ford Focus; Hyundai Elantra; and Nissan Sentra.
The Cruze is a GM global car; the North American version features a new Ecotec 1.4L I-4 turbo with variable valve timing that delivers up to an estimated 40 mpg (EPA ratings pending) on the highway with a high-efficiency model. GM has already introduced the Cruze in Europe and Asia.
Cruze goes on sale in the US in the third quarter of 2010 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 US launch. The US and Canadian versions of the Cruze will be built in Lordstown, Ohio, where US$350 million was invested for their production.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trims. The models will feature a new family of efficient four-cylinder engines, including a 1.4L turbo and 1.8L unit, coupled with six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. Electric power steering is standard.
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 N·m).
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.
With the Ecotec 1.4L turbo, Cruze’s fuel efficiency enables a cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km).
| Engines for the 2011 Cruze | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L DOHC I-4 | 1.4L turbocharged DOHC I-4 | |||||
| Displacement (cu. in. / cc): | 110 / 1796 | 83.2 / 1364 | ||||
| Bore and stroke (in. / mm): | 3.17 x 3.47 / 80.5 x 88.2 | 2.85 x 3.25 / 72.5 x 82.6 | ||||
| Block material | cast iron | cast iron | ||||
| Cylinder head material: | cast aluminum | cast aluminum | ||||
| Valvetrain | overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder, double continuously cam phaser intake and exhaust (DCVCP) | overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder, double continuously cam phaser intake and exhaust (DCVCP) | ||||
| Ignition system | individual coil on plug | individual coil on plug | ||||
| Fuel delivery | sequential multi-port fuel injectors with electronic throttle control | sequential multi-port fuel injectors with electronic throttle control | ||||
| Compression ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.5:1 | ||||
| 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.) | ||||
| Recommended fuel | regular unleaded | regular unleaded | ||||
| Max engine speed (rpm) | 6500 | 6500 | ||||
| Emissions controls | close-coupled catalytic converters; Quick-Sync 58x ignition system; returnless fuel rail; fast light-off O2 sensor | close-coupled and underfloor catalytic converters; Quick-Sync 58x ignition system; returnless fuel rail; fast light-off O2 sensor | ||||
| EPA-est. fuel economy | TBD | TBD | ||||
Nice looking car overall...funny how they've taken design cues from other automakers (Nissan Titan inspired headlights)
Posted by: ejj | 29 November 2009 at 12:01 PM
Looks a lot like a Saturn.
Posted by: smokeydog | 29 November 2009 at 02:30 PM
Looks good with a fair 40 mpg for a 3000 lbs car.
Specs are close to a 1990 1.8L Camry and slightly larger than a 2010 Corolla. Fuel consumption included.
Posted by: HarveyD | 29 November 2009 at 05:22 PM
.
Make it a diesel and get 60 mpg.
.
Posted by: The Goracle | 29 November 2009 at 07:29 PM
If they'd only been building those a year and a half ago, they would have cleaned up during the period of $4/gallon gas instead of going broke. But they didn't want to.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 29 November 2009 at 07:31 PM
Wow that's really great. And all it took was a $50 Billion bride from the Taxpayer.
Posted by: dursun | 29 November 2009 at 10:32 PM
The industry has known the value of DI for decades.
To offer second rate yesteryear cars like this is not a good look.
Is it cost, are they just tired and cnt go the extra?
Well yes all of that but that is not the customers problem until they buy these pulp models.
If the new Prius is still multipoint, that is exactly as bad.
consumers get what they settle for and that's - not best practice.
Posted by: arnold | 30 November 2009 at 12:20 AM
@arnold
DI has a problem, it produces particulates. That's why they don't put it on all engines.
@The Goracle
"Make it a diesel and get 60 mpg". And get NOx and particulates...
Posted by: Simodul | 30 November 2009 at 05:08 AM
HarveyD said, "Specs are close to a 1990 1.8L Camry and slightly larger than a 2010 Corolla. Fuel consumption included."
Where? The most efficient 1990 Camry I can find listed on www.fueleconomy.gov has a 2.0L engine and it is absolutely, positively put to shame for fuel economy compared to this Cruze's estimated highway rating. (23city / 31highway in most efficient equipment packaging config). I don't think I even need to discuss safety, emissions, and convenience/entertainment content comparisons.
Posted by: Patrick | 30 November 2009 at 01:55 PM
Simodul,
Need I have said GDI?
I am not aware of any extra 'particulate' issue with GDI, can you illuminate this area?
Posted by: arnold | 30 November 2009 at 03:47 PM
Patrick:
Toyota built a few million Camrys equipped with 1.8L ICE between 1980 and 1998.
As the Camry grew from one generation to another, so did the wheelbase (from 96 in. to 106 in.) and the 4-I, ICE from 1.8L to 2.0L to 2.2L and to 2.4L.
The new Cruze may be more like a Camry 1982 (size wise) but it has current century looks.
Posted by: HarveyD | 30 November 2009 at 04:35 PM
If they'd been designing these over the last decade and building these a year and a half ago, they probably would have gone broke sooner.
It's not what they make - it's what the people buy.
And the people buy American big cars, American trucks and American SUVs (but many fewer than before) and they buy Asian small cars.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 03 December 2009 at 08:46 PM
People bought Asian small cars because there were no small cars manufactured in the USA; either they were made by domestic affiliates in Mexico or Brazil, or some Japanese or Korean company and re-badged.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 08 December 2009 at 02:13 AM