New chevy Cruze

[trollbait]

There are now stories of NA getting a diesel option for the Cruze circulating now.

[benfrogg]

A question out of curiosity-
Did GM do this vehicle as a result of the bail out like they did with the volt? Or was this done all by their themselves? I know the volt was required (or something like it) in order for them to get bailout funds.

Either way, that car weighs <3100# unloaded. 42mpg highway is pretty darn good for that car. Interestingly, it gets in the low 30's in town mpg. I suppose that's where the weight of the car really hurts it the most. That makes sense. Not to mention the turbo has to spool up from every traffic light.... turbo lag.... etc. My turbo wagon is like that. Around town FE SUCKS a lot. Highway/ rural roads at 55mph and it's not bad at all for a heavy car.
B

[trollbait]

This is GM's global platform to replace the Cobalt, and was in development before the bailout. It may even have been out in Europe before it to.

I've never seen anything official about the Volt being required for the bailout, but have heard it about the Spark or Sonic being assembled in the US as an requirement.

I saw comment from Wayne Gerdes that while the Cruze responds to driving with load, it doesn't to pulse and glide because it not possible to do so without going into boost.

[bowtieguy]

i'm just tickled that they decided build their own car w/ something smaller than the perennial 2.2.

even the prizm(1.8), last manufactured in the US in 2002 was/is really a toyota. i can see the weight of the car being an issue(for some) w/ the ECO version w/ the 1.5, altho it has turbo boost.

i'd consider buying one used in a few years.