Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback RHD Debuts at Donington Park

Coinciding with the British round of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), Chevrolet launched the right-hand-drive Cruze Hatchback this past weekend on the Leicestershire venue, giving UK motoring journalists the chance to evaluate the new car on the flowing country roads around Donington.

The car was not only put through its paces on the road, but it has also been used in a rally-inspired event on Donington Park.

The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback is due to go on-sale later this month, with prices starting at £13,995. Two petrol engines are available - 1.6l 16V (124 hp) and a 1.8l 16V (141 hp) - with either 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features on the Cruze include ABS to control braking, TCS (traction control) to keep you firmly on the road and ESC (Electronic Stability Control), which works with both in the event of you having to make an emergency maneuver. Aside from this, EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) controls the front and rear braking effort, providing stability in extreme situations.

"The timing and location was perfect for us to launch the new Cruze hatchback. With our WTCC team in attendance providing hospitality for press, we were able to make use of the great facilities at Donington before allowing press the opportunity to test the new car on the local roads. With a great mix of rural and urban routes right on Donington's doorstep we were able to offer press an all-encompassing opportunity to try our new car, throwing in a bit of fun on a specially prepared rally stage too. A great event for all who attended," explained Chevrolet's Craig Cheetham.