Media Europe

Cruze hatchback brings exceptional value and unique style to compact segment

Summary

2011-09-19

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• Cruze hatch ready to energize the segment
• Speedy silhouette maintains key Cruze design features
• Generous interior space and high level of standard equipment
• Comprehensive set of standard safety features
• Sales started in summer 2011

Since its market introduction in 2009, the Chevrolet Cruze has won the heart of many motorists worldwide. Sporting distinctive, powerful body lines, it launched a revolutionary design language for the Chevrolet brand.

With the arrival of the Cruze hatchback, Chevrolet will be present in full force in Europe's hard-fought compact segment. The Cruze hatchback offers customers the style and versatility of a five-door car, while featuring the same qualities associated with the award-winning Cruze sedan.

"We believe that the Cruze hatch provides us with a great opportunity to extend Chevrolet's presence in the compact segment," says Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe. "If you look at what we achieved with the sedan, Chevrolet's best-selling nameplate around the world in 2010, there's every reason to believe that the hatchback, too, will contribute significantly to Chevrolet's ongoing growth in Europe."

When setting out on the task of creating a five-door hatch based on the Cruze sedan, Chevrolet's engineering and design team had to take into account that the customer base for the compact five-door market is very heterogeneous. The result is a car that need not shy comparison with the mainstream competition in Europe.

Featuring a bold, expressive Chevrolet design, the Cruze hatch combines a progressively styled passenger cabin and leading interior space with a line-up of efficient gasoline and diesel options. In the domain of safety, too, the Cruze hatchback delivers a lot of value, with comprehensive safety equipment standard with all models.

"Chevrolet cars are real cars for real people. Our aim has always been to deliver products that appeal to people from all walks of life, irrespective of their social status. The Cruze hatchback is a material expression of this philosophy and offers a lot of car for the money. It communicates a clear statement in terms of design and styling without compromising on safety, practicality or economy", Brannon continued.

All Cruze hatchbacks come with model year 2012 enhancements to the interior. Customers are able to chose from three different trim levels, LS, LT and LTZ.

Sporty silhouette, lots of space and technical features

The exterior of the Cruze hatchback evokes movement and pent-up kinetic energy. The main design cues which underscore this impression are the fast roofline, the slightly swept, concave shoulder line as well as the headlamps with their pointed, arrow-like housings. The hatchback's proportions, its short front and rear overhangs, and body sides which slope inward when viewed in profile, all reinforce the car's grounded, secure stance.

"It is the speedy, sporty profile and the wide, confident stance that distinguishes the Cruze hatchback from many of its more static contemporaries. We were fortunate to have a great proportion from the Cruze sedan to work with", says Martin Love, Chevrolet Cruze design manager.

Like the Cruze sedan, the hatch has an assertive front appearance created by the horizontally separated radiator grill and the headlamps' twin halogen bulbs. Moving to the rear, the roof-mounted spoiler and a subtle crease in the pillar which runs to the base of the rear screen reinforce the visual expression of speed. The tail light cluster shows attention to detail and contributes to the up-market appearance of the Cruze hatchback.

Inside, the Cruze is characterized by a flowing cabin arrangement, and by copious amounts of space and great versatility. In reference to executions seen in the iconic Chevrolet Corvette sports car, the Cruze features a dual cockpit layout. It is separated by the integrated center stack which flows into the center console. In conjunction with the mid-instrument panel, made of fabric or technical grained protein vinyl, and the LED-backlit instrument cluster, these elements add to the feeling of relaxed comfort.

Luggage capacity is 413 liters with the seats up and rear passengers enjoy 974 mm of headroom. Folding the rear seats forward in a 60/40 split increases the cargo volume to 883 liters. Various storage spaces in the two-tier glove box, the center console and door pockets, as well as the seatback pockets can be used to stow away a wide array of everyday items, such as books, CDs and small laptops.

All trim levels can be equipped with an optional navigation system. Other technology and comfort features include:

• A full-feature driver information center (DIC) that is now standard with all trims
• an AM/FM/CD system, MP3 playback functionality and radio digital signal; up to six loudspeakers
• a two or four-color infotainment display (depending on trim level)
• a USB jack located in the center console storage on LT and LTZ specifications, for MP3 or iPod connectivity
• Manually-controlled air conditioning with particulate filter on LS Plus models; automatic climate control on mid to upper level specifications; automatic air recirculation and an air moisture sensor on LTZ models

Efficient powertrain options, excellent traction and handling

Under the hood, there is a choice of three engines – two gasoline units and one diesel. In early 2012, moreover, a new 1.7-liter diesel engine will become available. All engines are four-cylinder units featuring double overhead camshafts, 16 valves and either multi-point fuel injection, or in the case of the diesels, common-rail technology.

Both the 1.6 and the 1.8-liter gasoline engines operate using continuous variable cam phasing. The model year 2011 modifications include new intake manifolds on both units. Powertrain engineers furthermore raised the 1.6-liter engine's compression ratio and adjusted the 1.8-liter's engine control calibration.

At 6,200 rpm, the 1.6-liter gasoline engine has an output of 124 hp when equipped with a manual transmission. The 1.8-liter engine delivers 141 hp at 6,200 rpm. Its maximum torque is 176 Nm at 3,800 rpm. Both engines consume 6.6 liters/100 km, with the 1.6-liter unit emitting 153 g/km of CO₂ and the 1.8-liter gasoline engine producing 155 g/km of CO₂.

Being one of the most powerful engines in the compact segment, the 2.0-liter turbo diesel available in the all-new Cruze hatchback and model year 2011 Cruze sedans can count on increased peak firing pressure in the combustion chamber and a chain drive timing system.

Excellent throttle response, impressive torque of 360 NM at 1750 rpm and compliance with Euro 5 standards (147 g/km of CO₂) are among the key characteristics of this engine. It produces 163 hp at 3,800 rpm, achieving a top speed of 205 km/h when combined with a manual transmission and requires 8.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. All engines can be combined with either a manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Key to the Cruze hatchback's excellent traction and handling characteristics are its wide track width, the body structure and its advanced suspension system. The Cruze hatchback has a body-frame-integral (BFI) that is made of high-strength steel and among the most rigid in the segment.

The BFI provides a superior foundation for achieving the nimble, responsive yet relaxed driving that can be experienced in the Cruze hatchback. It also facilitates measures aimed at dampening noise and vibration.

The McPherson strut front suspension has side-load compensated front strut modules with specially shaped springs. The hydraulic ride bushings effectively absorb road input loads and provide a high degree of ride isolation. The design of the compound crank (torsion beam) rear suspension contributes to the a lower center of gravity and also enables weight savings and consistent wheel-camber control.

Steering is either hydraulically or electrically power-assisted and provides the driver with a solid on-center feel.

Occupant safety a top priority

Both in terms of the materials used and build quality, the Cruze hatchback represents a major improvement over Chevrolet's previous compact hatch. The structure of the Cruze hatchback is close to identical to that of the Cruze sedan, which achieved a 5-star NCAP safety rating.

A host of electronic systems has been incorporated in order to prevent accidents from happening. In an emergency, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) will intervene to help the driver keep his vehicle on track and assist him during challenging braking or acceleration maneuvers.

At the core of the hatchback's safety architecture lies its body frame integral which consists of a single welded unit made of full-length beams, pressings and box sections. Door-beams of ultra-high strength steels provide excellent protection against side impacts.

The six airbags as well as the five three-point seatbelts are controlled by the car's Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM), a device linked to sensors in the front bumper and the B-pillar. Child safety seats can be secured in compliance with ISOFIX standards.

In order to reduce the risk of injuries to the driver in the event of an accident, a collapsible pedal assembly folds away in moderate-to-severe impacts. Meanwhile, the design of the hood provides more space between the hood and the engine, which makes direct contact between a pedestrian and the engine block much less likely. The bumper system, too, has been configured to reduce the likelihood of pedestrians sustaining injuries from the vehicle's structural components.

Launch across European markets started in summer 2011.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com.