Report: 2013 Chevrolet Cruze to get 2.0-liter diesel engine

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

Last fall, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan hit the North American market, and while Chevy's compact is offered with a diesel engine option in some of the 60-plus countries that it's sold in worldwide, the U.S. version makes due, at least for now, without an oil-burning mill. However, multiple sources at General Motors' Lordstown, OH plant indicate that, come 2013, U.S. buyers will be able to opt for a diesel-fueled Cruze.

According to a report from GM Inside News, workers at the Lordstown facility were informed that the site will commence production of a diesel-engined Cruze for the 2013 model year. GMI claims that diesel-engined Cruze test mules are currently roaming the roads of metro Detroit and has apparently confirmed, through its inside sources, that a 2.0-liter engine with the Regular Production Option (RPO) code of "LUZ" is packed between the fenders of the test models.

In Australia, the Holden Cruze CDX sports a 2.0-liter diesel engine that cranks out 147 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. It's unclear if this 2.0-liter mill will be identical to the one that eventually finds a resting place in the North American Cruze, but if it does, we'd expect to see Chevy's compact labelled with a fuel economy rating that's close to 34 miles per gallon combined.