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Continue reading Sonic and Cruze headlining for Chevy at SEMA

Sonic and Cruze headlining for Chevy at SEMA

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM

The Chevrolet Sonic and its big sister, the Cruze, have proven to the world that General Motors is once again capable of building class-leading small cars. To showcase these cars in a new light, Chevrolet will be bringing a smattering of Sonics and Cruzes to the upcoming SEMA show, with these models accounting for 60 percent of the brand's show cars. (Don't worry, there will still be plenty of Corvettes, Camaros and Silverados, and we'll have details on those in the coming days.)

The 2012 Sonic is the latest and greatest of the Chevrolet small car portfolio, and GM will have 20 different Sonics on display. Here, we see the Sonic Z-Spec I (above) and Z-Spec II (right), showing the different aftermarket options that will be available for the Sonic hatchback. The Z-Spec I wears a lower aero kit that will be available to order starting this December, while the extra body work of the Z-Spec II is still purely conceptual right now.

Not pictured, a sedan version of the Z-Spec I will also be on display, as well as the Sonic Dusk concept, which wears a new Berlin Blue exterior finish, Z-Spec aero kit and a two-tone Mojave leather interior. All the SEMA Sonics are equipped with GM's 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, ride on special 18-inch wheels and are fitted with upgraded suspension bits, as well as Brembo brakes.

Both the Z-Spec and Dusk treatments make their way to the Cruze sedan in a similar fashion. In terms of design, the Cruze models look very similar to their Sonic counterparts, though the upsized dimensions of Chevy's C-segment sedan allow for larger wheels - 19-inch sets on both vehicles.

We'll have more images and details live from SEMA next week, but for now, follow the jump to read the full scoop in GM's press release.

Sonic and Cruze headlining for Chevy at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cruze knocks Camry out of best-selling car spot for June

Zach Bowman — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Etc., Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery

Japanese manufacturers are continuing to feel the sting of the March tsunami and earthquake disasters. Last month, the Toyota Camry was the only vehicle from a Japanese automaker to make the list of top ten best-selling cars and trucks. The four-door typically holds onto the top slot among passenger cars, but June saw the Chevrolet Cruze take that honor. The Camry fell to the fourth-best-selling car and eighth most popular model overall. General Motors managed to move 24,896 Cruze models off of dealer lots compared to 21,375 Camry vehicles.

Not surprisingly, the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado continued to be the most popular vehicles in the land of the free. GM walked away with the second, third and fourth top-spots with the Silverado, Cruze and Malibu.

Toyota says that Camry production is ramping back up to pre-disaster levels, so it won't be long before the Japanese sedan gives the new Chevrolet compact a run for its money. Head over to USA Today for a full breakdown on the top-10 best-selling models in America last month.

Cruze knocks Camry out of best-selling car spot for June originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GM recalls 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, full-size vans and mid-size pickups

Chris Shunk — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Sedan, Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Cruze may be relatively new to the market, but that doesn't stop it from the recall bug. The Detroit News is reporting that General Motors is recalling 154,112(!) Cruze models to ensure proper installation of the intermediate steering shaft covers. Automatic transmission-equipped models will also be checked for proper installation of the transmission shift linkage.

GM says it hasn't yet received any complaints about the issue and no accidents have been reported. The automaker tells The Detroit News that the vast majority of recalled vehicles will not need to be repaired - the automaker simply wants to inspect the vehicles "to give customers additional peace of mind about the quality of the Cruze."

Beyond the Cruze recall, GM has also issued a pair of smaller actions. The automaker is recalling 8,723 examples of the 2011 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans for potential brake leaks. Also being recalled are 6,303 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models that are suspected to have a windshield wiper nut that wasn't tightened to specification during the build process. None of the vehicles in this batch of recalls are reportedly responsible for any accidents as a result of the defects.

GM recalls 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, full-size vans and mid-size pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chevy boasts best-ever first quarter global sales

Chris Shunk — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GMC

2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT - Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 has been an up and down year so far for General Motors. High incentive spending, $100-per-barrel oil and potential supply disruptions due to the Japan earthquake have been a major downer. Even the automaker's stock price, which jumped to $39 per share after the IPO opened at $33 per share, is down 18 percent on the year.

But in spite of all that ails The General, sales have been very strong, and at the end of the day the car business is all about moving metal. Here in the States, Cadillac, GMC and Buick have been on fire, and on a global basis Chevrolet has been very strong. How strong? Mlive.com reports that The BowTie brand had its best first quarter ever, with sales up 15 percent globally compared to 2010.

Best-ever first quarter sales is a great way to kick off Chevy's 100 Year Anniversary as a brand, and a lot of the success has come due to the rapid growth of the Chinese market. GM sold 2.3 million vehicles in China in 2010 and plans to increase that total to five million units per year by 2015.

The first quarter also marked the first time the Cruze became the best-selling Chevy on a global basis. GM moved 150,650 copies of the sedan through March, up 117 percent compared to the first quarter of 2010. With a hatchback variant of the Cruze on its way, The General's C-segment offering will likely only improve in the months ahead. We're thinking GM is hoping the same can be said for its stock price.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Mlive.com]

Chevy boasts best-ever first quarter global sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai

Dan Roth — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:09:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Buick, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Shanghai Motor Show

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #226 features Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Dan Roth and AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley. We start with the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and then talk about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Staying with the auto show theme, we talk about the Buick Envision that has shown up in Shanghai. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds us up, and we've embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we'll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai Auto Shows

In the Autoblog Garage:
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
2011 Dodge Avenger Heat

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Guest: David Kiley

Runtime: 01:23:12

Get the podcast:
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Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans recalled for "improperly fastened" steering wheels

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chevrolet has reportedly issued a recall of 2,100 of its Cruze compact car in the U.S. and 400 units in Canada after one car was found to have an improperly attached steering wheel. While the defect sounds terrifying, Chevrolet says the mishap hasn't caused an accident or any injuries.

According to The Detroit News, Chevy is confident that only one car had the issue, and the recall is a precautionary measure. According to the story, Chevy says it inspected more than 2,000 vehicles at the plant where the defective Cruze was built and several hundred more at dealerships and didn't find any with a similar fault.

Those affected by the recall will be asked to take their Cruze in to the dealership to be inspected for the fault, which will be repaired for free if a problem is found.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: The Detroit News]

2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans recalled for "improperly fastened" steering wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #218: 2012 Honda Civic, BMW "i", Chevy MyLink, and GMC Granite

Dan Roth — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Rumormill

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #218 is here, and Chris, Dan, Chris Paukert and Zach return to talk about Chevrolet MyLink, the GMC Granite's rumored re-greenlighting, the 2012 Honda Civic and BMW's new "i" sub-brand. Questions and feedback wrap it up, and it's an hour and thirty-three minutes of fun this week. Thanks for listening, we'll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #218: 2012 Honda Civic, BMW "i", Chevy MyLink, and GMC Granite

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Ram 1500
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ RS
2011 Dodge Durango Crew AWD
2011 Audi A6

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:33:00

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[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
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Autoblog Podcast #218: 2012 Honda Civic, BMW "i", Chevy MyLink, and GMC Granite originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year

Zach Bowman — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Crossover, Chevrolet, Ford, Canada

2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery

Both Chevrolet and Ford have something to brag about at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show. The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada named the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze the Canadian Car of the Year; the 2011 Ford Edge took Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year honors. According to General Motors, AJAC members cited the compact sedan's efficiency, refinement, and price as the key factors, and that added bonuses like 10 standard air bags helped seal the award for the Cruze.

The 2011 Ford Edge crossover, won over journos with its extensive redesign and came out ahead following both road and track tests. Additionally, the Edge's onboard technology features helped drive home the win. Hit the jump for both press releases.

Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Edge

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / Chris Shunk / AOL

[Sources: General Motors, Ford]

2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Video: GM dares to compare Chevy Cruze to... the old Hyundai Elantra?

Video: GM dares to compare Chevy Cruze to... the old Hyundai Elantra?

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Hyundai

Chevrolet dares to compare the new Cruze to an old Elantra - Click above to watch video after the jump

General Motors is using the phrase "Dare to Compare" as part of a campaign pitting its vehicles directly against competitors. In a new video you'll find after the break, the Chevrolet Cruze lines up against the Hyundai Elantra... the now-outdated 2010 Hyundai Elantra.

While the Cruze 1LT (why not the base LS?) indeed performs quite well against the previous-generation, base-model Hyundai sedan, we would prefer to see it go wheel-to-wheel with the 2011 Elantra. Apples to apples and all that, right? As it stands, Chevrolet has dared to compare itself to an older version of a car that has since improved greatly. Hardly seems like a fair fight...

For those wondering about the dollars and cents, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT starts at $18,175 (the base Cruze LS starts at $16,275). By way of comparison, the base 2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS starts at $14,830 and the 2010 model started at $14,145.

It's not that the Cruze isn't a fine car... but ya know, the new 2011 Cruze is quite a bit better than a lot of older cars... including the Cobalt this Elantra once competed with. Click past the jump for the clip.

[Source: YouTube]

Video: GM dares to compare Chevy Cruze to... the old Hyundai Elantra? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM marketing chief Ewanick: "We'll focus on Cruze all year long"

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 09:35:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery

Joel Ewanik was recently named General Motors' global marketing chief, so we sat down with him and Buick marketing honcho Roger McCormack at the Detroit Auto Show to find out how they plan to get more attention for GM's brands.

For both men, the priority is to get people in seats since GM appears to realize that it can't just rely on people to trust its marketing. "We're making great cars - the Cruze was the first car in its segment to get five stars under the new NHTSA standards," Ewanick said, "we need to get people in sitting in the cars." For Buick, McCormack said as well that his brand will focus on "Activities to get people in cars, sitting in cars, experiencing cars."

On the subject of settling Cadillac's advertising, Ewanick said, "With Cadillac we're trying to create some dissonance, putting them in ski resorts to remind people that Cadillac is a great brand for their snow activities with the all-wheel-drive sports wagon and CTS, SRX and Escalade." To that end, the brand has done deals with the Northstar ski resort in Lake Tahoe and they're doing one with Vail, in Colorado.

The scope of the "Chevy Runs Deep" campaign is being broadened from its historical associations to current environmental and community efforts. "I wanted to do wind farms and solar panels, something sexy," said Ewanick. But after talking to people in the field he decided on more community-minded efforts. "Most schools aren't insulated, and if we weatherized them properly they could save on heating." A month ago Chevrolet released a commercial touting the initiatives: buy a Chevrolet and the company will invest in programs that "over the next few years" will reduce carbon emissions by 8 million metric tons.

The Volt is the brand's best halo car: "People aware of the Volt are more likely to buy into a Chevrolet - it's selling the Cruze, the Malibu and heavy duty pickups because the engineering sells the brand." Speaking of the Cruze, expect to see a lot of it this year. "We don't have a lot of big launches for the year, so the messages will focus on Cruze, month in, month out, all year long."

Both McCormack and Ewanick described Buick as "more approachable luxury." When asked if that meant Buick was no longer gunning for Lexus, McCormack said "Lexus is still very much a key competitor, as well as Acura, Infiniti, Audi in some instances and Volkswagen in some instances." The key to that appears to be not in exact head-to-head competition (a la the CTS), but finding some in-between space to occupy. "What we do very well is play in luxury mainstream," McCormack said, "positioned betweeen luxury and compact luxury, above mainstream compact. We bake in all the luxury, amenities and craftsmanship, deliver all things the consumer values but the consumer feels like they got a good deal."

If that's the Buick formula, "the same formula as on the LaCrosse," the point now is to spread it over a wider range of vehicles like the Regal and Verano - and that will also reduce the average age of the Buick buyer. "Look, the age is the age, but it's a reflection of the segments. We started with the Lucerne, LaCrosse and Enclave, all of those compete in segments that will get an older consumer."

As for Buick's ad frontman, "Kevin Bacon is the Buick spokesperson," Ewanick said, "and we don't see that changing."

GM marketing chief Ewanick: "We'll focus on Cruze all year long" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Review: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT

Reilly Brennan — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet, New Car Reviews

Better, But Plenty of Room For Improvement

2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Cruze has the potential to succeed for two key reasons: 1) The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are nearing the end of their product life cycles, showing some crow's feet around the eyes, and 2) GM now has the wherewithal to create a small car that shows its actually understands small cars.

If you consider this rare moment in time, it's the perfect opportunity to pull a few hundred thousand buyers into GM showrooms for a closer look. Is the Cruze the car that will finally establish a strong relationship with entry-level buyers, or is it just another joker card in GM's deck?

Continue reading...

Continue reading Review: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT

Review: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco rated at 42 mpg highway

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco rated at 42 mpg highway

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has released official fuel economy numbers for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco, and the automaker's original target of 40 miles per gallon (highway) has been surpassed. The Cruze Eco is officially rated at 28/42 mpg with the six-speed manual transmission, making it the segment-leader in terms of efficiency.

To achieve this, the Eco uses GM's latest 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, rated at 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. On its own, the engine is efficient enough to deliver 24/36 mpg, but a host of aerodynamic changes and weight reductions on the Eco account for the extra bump in fuel economy. In addition to a lower front air dam extension, rear spoiler, lowered ride height and revised underbody panels, the Cruze Eco rides on lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling-resistance tires. What's more, a front grille shutter has been developed to improve airflow at higher speeds, thus accounting for a 10 percent coefficient of drag over standard Cruze models.

The Cruze Eco is priced from $18,895 and hits dealerships in January of next year. For the full details, hit the jump for GM's press blast.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

[Source: General Motors]

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco rated at 42 mpg highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Video: Chevy Cruze used to play live action game of Pac-Man

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Cruze playing a full-size game of Pac-Man - Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is a nimble, compact sedan that could potentially turn into a top seller for General Motors. Apparently, it's also a fan of classic video games. Well, at least the Chinese ad agency that dreamed up this interesting ad for it certainly is. A large room serves as the stage for a full-size representation of the Pac-Man universe. A white Chevy Cruze plays the part of Mr. Pac-Man while a series of Black Cruzes represent the ghosts.

The video is well made but could use a little more substance beyond the driving and background music. However, the song will be with you all day. A bit of a warning though, the song has a few swears in it, which is funny because either the ad agency didn't notice them or just doesn't care. Also, the ghosts should be multi-colored, and it would have been really hilarious if they were old Cavaliers.

Check out the commercial after the jump. If you end up enjoying the music, the name of the band is The League and the song is called "F* RNR".

Warning: Possible NSFW language.

Continue reading Video: Chevy Cruze used to play live action game of Pac-Man

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL
[Source: Youtube]

Video: Chevy Cruze used to play live action game of Pac-Man originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevrolet Cruze ads ramp up

Chris Shunk — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM

First Chevrolet Cruze commercials - Click above to watch the videos after the jump

The first production copies of the 2011 Cruze are likely heading to a nearby Chevrolet dealer as you're reading this, and that means that General Motors' advertising blitz can't be far behind. Actually, it starts after the jump. From where we sit, it appears that the Bowtie's new C-segment sedan is ready to do war with the competition, and Chevy clearly has its eyes trained on the segment's sales leader. The first 30-second spot with actor Tim Allen's voiceover is aptly titled "Dear Corolla," and it chides the Toyota mainstay for not offering as standard equipment keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation.

The second spot doesn't aim directly at any one competitor, choosing instead to play off of the Cruze's role as the new kid in the C-sized segment. Chevy's ad gurus chose to pull out a pair of brief quotes made by auto news outlets that liken some of the Cruze's best attributes to that of distinctly pricier competition, and we're betting that at least one of those publications will sound familiar.

Both spots strike us as a bit paint-by-numbers marketing for such an important launch, though it's good to see that GM isn't shrinking away from one of its biggest competitors. Hit the jump to view both videos and judge for yourself. The Corolla commercial comes first, followed by the "New Kid" spot.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Video: Chevrolet Cruze ads ramp up

Video: Chevrolet Cruze ads ramp up originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chevrolet Cruze configurator goes live

Zach Bowman — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:46:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet

Heads up, compact fans; the configurator for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has officially gone live. If you've got a few hot seconds to spare as your work week comes to a close, you can build up your new Bowtie fuel miser any way you so please. It doesn't take long to click off enough options to have the Cruze sitting pretty at just shy of $26,800 including destination. Of course, that kind of coin will fetch you a sunroof, spare tire, RS appearance package, navigation and just about everything else your heart could desire in LTZ trim.

Of course, the frugal among you can sink your teeth into a $16,995 LS model, complete with a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission and not much else. If it were us laying down the coin, we'd probably hold off until we got word exactly how much Chevrolet is going to ask for the super-efficient Eco model. Thanks for the tip, Scott!

Chevrolet Cruze configurator goes live originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Report: GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons

Chris Shunk — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota

2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery

Even with the impending launch of the Volt later in the Fall, the Chevrolet Cruze may be the biggest vehicle General Motors will launch in the U.S. this year. The reason is money. The Cruze should make some of it, while the Volt and its pricey development and battery packs likely won't for a long time.

The Cruze looks pretty good to us, but we know that the new sedan will only be successful if it is properly launched and marketed. So how do you best show off a refined interior, 10 standard airbags and more hip- and shoulder-room than the top sellers in the class? Automotive News reports that The General will ask its 3,000 dealers to purchase a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Civic so Bowtie shoppers can compare and contrast the newest Chevrolet against the C-Segment stalwarts from Japan.

Since the Cruze is all-new in the U.S. market and both the Civic and Corolla are a bit long-in-the-tooth, we're thinking the Chevy will win more than its fair share of buyers, but we'd like to see Chevy stores step up to the challenge of the Mazda3, as well. Perhaps the bigger challenge, though, will be to get customers who would traditionally buy a Honda or Toyota to shop at a Chevy store in the first place. GM plans to officially launch the Cruze in late September.

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze

Zach Bowman — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze mixes it up - Click above to watch video after the jump

Development engineers rarely get to have the same kind of fun as, say the guys out flogging the crap out of prototype mules on the test track, but that doesn't mean they can't have a good time. A few of the lab coats behind making sure the audible quality of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is up to par have gotten together to work up a sound collage featuring all of the moving bits on the new compact.

If you're looking for an up close and personal look at just how tomb-like the sedan's doors actually are or you have a thing for watching an engineer stomp and clap his hands at the same time, you'll want to check out the video after the jump. If you like what you hear, the Cruze starts at a meager $16,995. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Continue reading Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Chevrolet via YouTube]

Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Exploded view of Chevy Cruze "shutter" grille [w/video]

Exploded view of Chevy Cruze "shutter" grille [w/video]

Chris Shunk — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet

Click above to watch the video after the jump

While we'd all love to see 1,000-horsepower supercars that effortlessly reach 100 miles per gallon, the pace of fuel economy improvement is far less aggressive. Automakers are scratching and clawing for every mpg they can find by doing things like downsizing and turbocharging engines, adding direct injection and variable valve timing, utilizing electric power steering and cutting weight. Another great way to save fuel is through improved aerodynamics, as evidenced by an enhancement made to the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco that helps the new C-segment sedan reach 40 mpg on the highway.

The Eco Cruze utilizes an innovative automatic air shutter system that closes the grill vents at higher speeds to reduce drag by .016 - adding .5 mpg and helping push the Cruze to the magic 40 mpg number. The shutter system is fitted to sensors that measure changes in speed or temperature. If the temperature drops or the sensors measure sufficiently high speeds, the vents will be closed by electric motors, cutting down the amount of air that enters the engine bay. Why not simply keep the grill vents closed all the time? Because added airflow is needed to help cool the engine at lower speeds. Follow the jump to read the General Motors presser and watch a minute-long video that shows how the shutter system works.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

[Source: General Motors]

Exploded view of Chevy Cruze "shutter" grille [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.