GM downplays report on Cruze

GM Lordstown prepares for the Cruze.

Gallery

GM Lordstown shows off preparations for the Cruze during a June 24, 2009 media tour.

Staff report

A media report about a 44-mpg target for the Chevrolet Cruze is speculative, a Chevrolet spokesman said.

“We’re still in the development stages of the vehicle. We don’t have any firm numbers at this time,” said Klaus-Peter Martin.

GM will commit only to highway mileage of up to 40 mpg, he added.

Motor Trend magazine reported that GM had brought in a team of engineers to increase the mileage rating of the Cruze, which is to be launched in April from the company’s Lordstown complex.

GM is looking at creating a Cruze XFE model that would achieve 44 mpg on the highway with an automatic transmission, the industry magazine said.

XFE, which stands for “extra fuel economy,” is the badge that Chevrolet has placed on models that have been tweaked for added fuel efficiency, such as the Cobalt and Silverado.

Martin said he couldn’t comment about a possible Cruze XFE.

He said more information about the Cruze will be released in mid-November in advance of the Los Angeles Auto Show, which runs Dec. 4-13.

A Lordstown-built Cruze will be featured at a press conference on the first day of the press preview Dec. 2. It will be the first time a Lordstown-built model will be displayed. Models that have been displayed at other auto shows were built in Asia.