2011 Chevy Cruze Eco / XFE will have 1.4 turbo, 42 mpg (US) hwy rating
 

GM is saying there will be an XFE-equivalent in the new Cruze (the Cobalt's replacement):

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....1259492926.jpg
source: ABG

All Cruze models will get 6 speeds, both automatics and manuals.

For comparison, the current Cobalt XFE is rated 37 mpg highway.

Full press release: LA 2009: Chevrolet finally unveils the U.S.-market production 40 mpg 2011 Cruze — Autoblog Green

Wha? 1.4L engine vs 2.2 and it only gets 3 mpg better?

Reducing engine size doesn't just magically improve fuel economy. You still need to expend energy to move the same mass. This turbo 1.4 sounds very promising. I hope they come out with a wagon version. If its rated at 40mpg by the EPA, we should be able to beat that number with some careful driving. 45 or 50mpg isn't inconceivable.

MetroMPG -

Thanks for the URL. I like to look for the "hidden" grill blocks on new car grills :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-cf...rill-block.jpg

It looks like it's not symmetrical to me. It's a little more open to the lower-right of the Chevy badge. Makes me want to look under the hood to see if there is a clue in the engine layout. The grill above the Chevy badge looks open to me as well.

Volt and Cruze comparison shot :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-cf...volt-cruze.jpg


CarloSW2

Cool, I still think passenger side mirror delete would be a good idea.

It seems like the US market cruze sits about an inch higher than the same car sold in other markets.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....1259492926.jpg

http://www.blog.automotiveaddicts.co...cruze-euro.jpg

I think all outside mirrors on new cars should be replaced by rear view cameras. The technology is so cheap and common now. Most new luxury cars have rear view camera. The regulation requiring outside mirrors should be changed to allow side view cameras from the factory.

Apparently, the Cruze weighs about 3,100 pounds! Yikes! Why are cars so heavy?

Because death by car crash sucks and even the 'compact' cars of today are as big as the midsized cars of 10 years ago.

And yet somehow the new Insight, with batteries included, weighs 2700 lb and gets top crash safety scores. There's more to the story.

The insight is still a real compact.

Fine then. GM specifically lists the Honda Civic as a competitor. The 2010 Civic EX-L AT (heaviest of all the civic trims): 2784 lb. It also scores highly for crash safety.

Hi,

The Cobalt XFE weighs 2780 lbs.

The Smart car rates very high for crash worthiness and it weighs well under a ton. Ditto for the Toyota iQ.

The Scion xD weighs less than 2,400 pounds, and is very crash worthy.

Ok but all of those are compacts and subcompacts. You're missing half of the argument.
I don't see what the issue is here. The Chevy Cruze weighs 2832 lb. Hardly out of the ordinary for its competitors.
http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/cars/cruz...ical-data.html

The compact cars of 10 years ago were in the 2000-2500lb range. The cars built today are far more survivable in every kind of accident. Its not surprising that weight has gone up by a few hundred pounds.
More like 2624 lbs for a subcompact. Not exactly a lightweight.

... and the Cruze is not a compact? Chevy themselves are comparing it to Civic and Corolla, so how are those not a valid comparison?

:confused:

Both of those cars put on many hundreds of pounds over the last 2 or 3 generations. They also grew in size substantially. They are all of similar size and weight as the Cruze. The cruze is certainly not a subcompact like the xd. Whats your point exactly?

I'm questioning your objection. The Cruze is a compact. So are some of the cars we're listing. I'll grant you that some are smaller - that's why I brought in the 2010 Civic, which Chevrolet themselves lists as a competitor to the Cruze. How is the Cruze so much heavier than its direct competitors? That's my question.

NeilBlanchard -

The Civic wins the battle of the scales, but not by much.

CarloSW2

I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about. As previously mentioned several times, the weight of the Cruze is very comperable with every other compact car out there, including the Civic. I was just pointing out that compact cars of today are much bigger and heavier than what we considered compact 10 or 15 years ago. They are also much safer.

tjts1 -

That image may be enhanced. When I went to the UK site, the "Gallery" had lots of enhanced photos that looked like the above picture. But when I went to the Configurator, I saw this :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-cf...2-uk-cruze.jpg

That looks pretty much like the US version.

CarloSW2

I don't know. It looks lower to me. Maybe its an optional suspension.

US
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....1259492988.jpg

Europe
http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/C...-904299981.jpg

I'm sure somebody will be selling lowering springs for it in no time if they don't already.

tjts1 -

Ok, that's a much better picture. You're right, it looks a lot lower. Maybe the gravity is lower in the USA, :D .

CarloSW2

I think that all of these cars are too heavy. They need to do chassis like this:
BlueScope Steel Australia: Ultra Light Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) Project

Cars have gotten fat.

If drivers would drive instead of _______ some of that crash equipment could be ****canned. And of course the a/c, power steering, a/t, ABS, etc.

I don't want to like ABS, but it did save my bacon the other day, when I needed to steer whilst panic stopping. There was a disabled moron who decided to move to the left side of an off-ramp, right at the apex of the turn.

I was working off wrong information as to the Cruze's weight. I still think it's too fat, but comparable to its peers. I think they are all to fat and heavy.

...I hate to say it, but the hoodline sure looks like the 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe, nee Toyota Matrix!

...but, I like it! Especially the 6sp trannies and turbo-engine!

Added a "plus" sign to the title. Car and Driver is saying "40+" mpg, not "40". Not sure whose press release they're interpreting, but the rumours are floating around out there that it may be low-40's.

...from Edmunds INSIDE LINE article: "...The Cruze weighs 2,844 pounds with the manual transmission and 2,899 pounds with the auto, so both are lighter than the current 2,991-pound Cobalt."

Some closeup pics of the US spec Cruze at the LA auto show.
La 2009 2011 Chevrolet Cruze — Autoblog
The interior looks cheap and flimsy to me but nowhere near as bad as the cobalt.

tjts1 -

That steering wheel is definitely inspired by 2009 Civics.

CarloSW2

More details leaking out about the Cruze XFE:

Source.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think GM did anything in the aero department to the Cobalt XFE.

It was all gearing, LRR tires & computer tweaking.

...and weight-reduction--they left out the spare tire, you have to BUY that extra$$$!

Spare tire is kind of an outdated concept. I haven't carried one of years.

...you must either (a) like hiking along the interstate or (b) trust people to pickup hitch-hikers, or (c) have a AAA membership.

...which?

MetroMPG -

Yes, that is my understanding as well.

CarloSW2

Interesting. That turbo and stick-shift match very nicely with what I want in my next car. And $18k for a well-equipped fuel-sipper is an okay price for the car you're getting.

MetroMPG -

More from that article :

I don't mind that the "SFE" package requires paying more money. I have no problem with paying more for an option that is not in the "mindset" of a majority of car buyers. The car company is not able to absorb the cost as well on an SFE, so it should cost more.

However, I do mind that the Fiesta SFE "requires" an automatic. At least you should be able to purchase the aero-parts seperately.

CarloSW2

...they "sell" more automatics because the dealers (and Detroit) will only "stock" automatics!

...when I wanted a 2009 Pontiac G5 XFE the two local dealerships didn't have any and wouldn't be ordering any because they were "manuals"...only way I could "see" one was order it. They simply had NO interest in having ANY manual transmission cars on hand.

...and that was in January/February, BEFORE the end of Pontiac was announced.

+ (d)
http://www.fixaflat.com/Images/FAF_family2.jpg

+(e)
http://www.acknowledge.com/tractor/L...irePlugKit.jpg

I've never had to call AAA for a flat tire. I can take care of it long before the truck driver gets there.

Back on topic, is there any chance we're going to see a wagon version of the cruze? GM hinted they're going to bring the Regal wagon to the US.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....hevy-cruze.jpg

...well, "...you're a better man than I, Gunga Din!" because I got "burned" against do-it-yourself tire-inflation stuff with my AAR 'Cuda; it had a "collapsable" deflated tire and a "gas can." But after two or three attempts (Arizona heat "empties" gas cans!), I gave up and bought a "real" tire!

...back on subject: maybe something to replace the defunct Pontiac Vibe?