The all-new Chevrolet Cruze has already made its debut at the Beijing Auto Show last week, when we published a full report. However, this next walkaround video taken by Korean journalists there gives us another opportunity to talk about a very significant car, the outgoing generation of which has already sold over a million units.
In person, the Cruze is a much better looking car than the old generation and will probably be sold as an upscale model. The car shown in Beijing was surrounded by glass walls and had blacked out windows, signaling that production won't take place quite yet. The car is going to be called the "New Cruze" because both the old and the new compact sedans will be sold together.
So what about technology? From the platform to the engines and the features, everything is brand new. A new 1.4-liter SIDI Turbo has been specifically designed by GM and SAIC and is not available on any other Opel, Buick or Chevy sold at the moment in Europe and America. It features "central direct injection" and is rated at 148 hp (150 PS) and 235 Nm of torque. That's 10 more hp than you get with a 1.4 Ecotec engine.
Another new technology fitted to this car is a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, DCG for short. With a 150 PS 1.4-liter turbo and a seven-speed box, the Cruze's powertrain is, on paper, identical to some Volkswagen models. However, there's also a less impressive naturally aspirated 1.5-liter, also fitted with direct injection and good for 112 hp (115 PS) and 145 Nm of torque. It's mated to either a S6 six-speed automated manual or an all-new six-speed stick.
The Dimensions of the New Cruze are: 4567mm long, 1786mm wide and 1454mm tall, with a 2662mm wheelbase. This makes it slightly shorter than the old Cruze, which is 4603mm long. The weight of the model should drop significantly thanks to the D2xx platform, while SIDI engine technology will ensure a fuel economy improvement of 14 to 21 percent.
So what about technology? From the platform to the engines and the features, everything is brand new. A new 1.4-liter SIDI Turbo has been specifically designed by GM and SAIC and is not available on any other Opel, Buick or Chevy sold at the moment in Europe and America. It features "central direct injection" and is rated at 148 hp (150 PS) and 235 Nm of torque. That's 10 more hp than you get with a 1.4 Ecotec engine.
Another new technology fitted to this car is a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, DCG for short. With a 150 PS 1.4-liter turbo and a seven-speed box, the Cruze's powertrain is, on paper, identical to some Volkswagen models. However, there's also a less impressive naturally aspirated 1.5-liter, also fitted with direct injection and good for 112 hp (115 PS) and 145 Nm of torque. It's mated to either a S6 six-speed automated manual or an all-new six-speed stick.
The Dimensions of the New Cruze are: 4567mm long, 1786mm wide and 1454mm tall, with a 2662mm wheelbase. This makes it slightly shorter than the old Cruze, which is 4603mm long. The weight of the model should drop significantly thanks to the D2xx platform, while SIDI engine technology will ensure a fuel economy improvement of 14 to 21 percent.