GM’s highly anticipated Chevrolet Cruze made a big impact in the Big Apple recently, where the General showed off two different iterations of its promising compact at this month’s New York International Auto Show.
The first is the 2011 Cruze Eco, the version that will be responsible for hitting the 40 mpg mark on U.S. highways. In recent years, that rare territory has been the exclusive province of diesels and hybrids, but the Cruze Eco will get there using a turbocharged 1.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. Well, that and some serious tweaking from General Motors engineers.
Compared to the “regular” Cruze, the Eco model gets enhanced aerodynamics thanks to a body kit that includes a different grille, lower front air-dam extension, rear spoiler and numerous underbody panels; a lowered ride height, which also improves the car’s look; and model-specific wheels and ultra-low-rolling-resistance tires.
The result, per Jim Campbell, Chevy’s vice president of marketing, is “hybrid-like efficiency without the price tag”—although exactly what that price tag will be remains unclear at this stage. However, one thing GM claims the Cruze will not share with most hybrids is snail-like acceleration. Leveraging adjustments to its rear axle ratio, the manual Eco is expected to go from 0-60 in about 9 seconds and take approximately 10 seconds with an automatic.
In addition to the Eco, the Cruze will be available in two other trim levels, “LT” and “LTZ,” and Chevy introduced RS appearance packages for each at New York.
The modifications give the Cruze a more aggressive look, adding new fascias, rocker moldings, a rear spoiler, fog lamps and chrome accents on the interior. No “go fast” accessories are included, but the LT and LTZ trims do come standard with a bigger, 1.8-liter Ecotec four that will provide more oomph.
Another notable feature of the Cruze lineup: Chevrolet designers have given the compact car a midsize interior, making it a much more comfortable choice than rivals offering the same exterior dimensions.
The new Chevy is expected to cruise into dealerships this summer, with the Eco model slated to launch late this fall.
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