Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
As General Motors burns through $1 billion in cash each month, the automaker’s belt-tightening continues unabated, spanning the spectrum from lay-offs to shutting down the escalators at the RenCen. Naturally, its products aren’t immune from the cash-strapped hatchet.
First came word that the CTS Coupe and Buick Lacrosse debuts have been delayed, and now BusinessWeek reports that the Cruze’s launch has been put off by a year, now set to hit dealers in 2011. Additionally, the next generation Malibu won’t be out until 2013 – six months after it was due to arrive.
GM spokesperson Dee Allen wouldn’t get into specifics, only saying that new-car programs “are going to shift around a bit.”
The General’s decision to put off development of certain projects isn’t surprising considering the automaker’s current predicaments (that’s putting it lightly), and it’s more a move to limit costs as 2008 draws to a close, saving money for 2009, what will surely be GM’s make-or-break year.
Featured Gallery
Chevy’s new Cruze small car debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late 2009.
GM
The small car will compete against the likes of the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla when it goes on sale later this year. As you can tell from the front view, the Cruze borrows heavily from the look of the larger Malibu sedan.
GM
Despite the long, fluid arc of the roof design, the car is still airy inside. Typically when manufacturers attempt a “coupe design” for sedans they end up sacrificing headroom. The Cruze seems to avoid this with ample space. One last thing: Do you notice a little bit of BWM’s 3-series sedan in the tail light design?
GM
A new interior is really where GM should be focusing for its entry-level effort and thankfully, when it comes to the Cruze, they’ve delivered. Again, like the larger Malibu, the Cruze features a two-tone sculpted look with some bright plastics that give the look of aluminum (without the cost). The seats are supple and supportive — something that was lacking from the Cobalt’s interior.
GM
Expect the Cruze to go on sale in the fall of 2010.
GMFeatured Gallery
[Source: BusinessWeek via eGMCarTech]