2013 model of Cruze to have new features

Staff report

LORDSTOWN

The Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze has several new features for 2013 that General Motors hopes will help the car maintain its position as one of the top-selling cars in America.

According to General Motors, more versions of the car will feature Chevrolet’s MyLink multimedia system as a standard feature.

MyLink is a way to use your phone in the car easily because the controls are in the steering wheel, according to the website androidcentral.com. The controls also are on a touch screen.

“It’s an interesting mix of hardware and software, on the car as well as on your phone,” Androidcentral said after visiting GM and testing the product.

At its most basic, MyLink is an in-dash navigation and entertainment system that pairs with Bluetooth in an easy-to-use system.

It allows the user to make calls with voice dial. It also allows users to use applications such as Pandora, the Internet-streaming music application.

Some optional equipment to be offered in the 2013 Cruze are driver and front-passenger illuminated vanity mirrors, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, rear-vision camera, rear park assist and side blind-zone alert, GM said.

New exterior colors to be available are cyber gray metallic, champagne silver metallic and Atlantis blue metallic.

The Eco model, when equipped with a manual transmission, achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway, making it the most fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered, nonhybrid car in America, GM says.

Dave Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714 at the GM complex in Lordstown, said it’s encouraging that GM is taking a “great product and making it better.”

“They’re putting some great options in the vehicle,” Green said, mentioning the MyLink multimedia system, rear-vision camera and side blind-zone alert.

“People are really going to love the 7-inch color display. That’s awesome,” he said.

The plant is working on a couple of prototype diesel Cruzes in preparation for launch of the 2013 diesel model to be made at Lordstown, Green said. The plant will focus a great deal on the diesel Cruze during the summer shutdown, said Green, adding that he is leaning toward getting one for himself.

“I have the Cruze, and I think I want the diesel. We’re ramping up.”

Michelle Lambert, Cruze launch manager, said the Lordstown plant will build about 15 diesel Cruzes the rest of this year and begin regular production in the second quarter of 2013, according to The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV.