Cruze a top pick by Forbes

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Chevrolet unveiled its new Cruze to the press Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at the Paris Auto Show. Expected to get close to 40 miles-per-gallon, the Cruze hits the European market next March. Production for U.S. sales will begin in 2010.

STAFF REPORT

NEW YORK — Forbes magazine on Tuesday named the Chevrolet Cruze one of the “top 10 cars that can save Detroit.”

The compact Cruze will be manufactured in Lordstown, Also on the list is the General Motors’ Volt electric car.

But Forbes quotes auto analyst John Wolkonowicz as saying the Volt will not save GM financially.

“The car that’s going to save GM,” suggests automotive consultant James Hall, “is the Chevy Cruze, and the derivatives that will come off it,” he said. Those include the Chevrolet Orlando, a seven-passenger van to be built on the same platform as the Cruze.

The Cruze is a fuel-efficient compact that will sell in markets throughout the world. It is scheduled to go on sale in the first half of 2010 and will be produced at the GM Complex in Lordstown.

Other cars that made the Forbes’ top 10 list are 2011 models of the Chevy Orlando, Buick Lacrosse, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Explorer, Ford Fusion hybrid, Chrysler 200C concept car and the Fiat 500.