Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Geneva Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback


Chevrolet has revealed the final production version of its new five-door Cruze hatchback at the Geneva motor show.

The Cruze hatchback was first seen as a thinly veiled near production ready concept at last autumn’s Paris motor show and the Geneva show car sports almost no noticeable changes over that model.

The five-door model, underpinned by GM’s Delta platform that’s also found on the Astra, is a crucial car for Chevrolet in Western Europe as it gives hatchback practicality to the Cruze range for the first time.

Chevrolet UK managing director Mark Terry said the car offered the firm “a huge opportunity in the UK” given the popularity of the Focus/Golf class with UK buyers.

Chevrolet has said the new Cruze hatchback will come with “a new range of engines” that will be topped by the 161bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit from the new Orlando MPV mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

The firm claims the Cruze five-door brings “new levels of style its versatility”. Boot capacity for the car is close to 400-litres.

UK sales will start in the summer, although the firm has yet to given an indication on pricing. It is one of four new cars to be launched by Chevrolet in the UK this year; a new Aveo, Captiva facelift and Orlando, will join it in the Chevrolet range.

Thanks to: Autocar