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Cruze arrives with no compromises
By Kalea Hall
DETROIT
The Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze is here – and General Motors envisions a bold future for the redesigned compact car.
“Inspired by the spirit of Chevrolet, the 2016 Cruze represents everything today’s Chevrolet stands for: design, performance, and technology,” said Mary Barra, GM chief executive officer.
“At Chevrolet, when we enter a segment, we intend to win, and I hope you will agree that this car sets the standard,” she said.
Barra presented the next-generation Cruze before hundreds of global media professionals at The Fillmore in Detroit on Wednesday.
The new Cruze will be in area showrooms in early 2016.
Barra focused on the Cruze’s industry-leading features including advanced smartphone integration and crash avoiding features such as rear cross-traffic alert – both of which are rare for the compact-car segment.
“In fact, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze offers safety and infotainment technology similar to that of a Mercedes Benz C-class at half the price,” Barra said.
The previous Chevrolet Cruze, which launched in September 2010 with production at the Lordstown plant, was successful around the world with more than 3.5 million global sales. The goal is to build off that momentum with this version.
“The new Cruze is lighter, leaner and more efficient,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president. “It has an expressive new look. And this car is full of innovative technologies.”
It starts with a larger, yet lighter structure that is 27 percent more rigid than today’s car and is 250 pounds lighter.
“That is two full-test weight classes lighter than today’s car,” Reuss said.
“The fun comes when you match this lighter car with our new 1.4 liter turbo engine.”
The Cruze has some similarities to its Chevy siblings, but it has its own sporty look, and it comes with upscale interior that has more room.
“The new Cruze offers much more than what customers expect from what was a compact car: more room, more technology, more features, and more fun behind the wheel,” Reuss said.
GM officials made one thing clear: It is honored to have its best-selling compact car built in Lordstown.
“We are really excited to bring the product to the Lordstown plant,” said Al Manzor, North American Chevrolet Cruze chief engineer. “They have done a great job of leading with quality.”
The rebooted 2016 Cruze offers what Manzor calls “outstanding styling” on the outside and inside.
It also offers great performance and better fuel efficiency.
The new Cruze gets 40 miles per gallon highway, while its predecessor gets 35.
Technology was very important when it came to designing the next-generation Cruze. Through Chevrolet’s MyLink Infotainment system, a driver can stay connected with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to easily access navigation, hands-free texting, calling and music.
“We have improved the new Cruze in all areas,” Manzor said. “We know the competition is stiff, and the Cruze is going to lead that.”
The next-generation Chevrolet Cruze is the fifth Chevrolet-branded vehicle to be unveiled this year.
It’s debut Wednesday followed the earlier debuts of the new 2016 Volt, Spark, Camaro and Malibu.
The better fuel economy in the next-generation Cruze is enabled by the new design, new powertrains and transmission.
Safety is key in the next-generation Cruze. It comes with 10 airbags, OnStar and some features that consumers may not think about in compact cars such as lane-keep assist and forward-collision alerts.
“It is an exciting time to be a part of Chevrolet,” said Steven Majoros, Chevrolet car and crossover marketing director.
Here’s what drivers need to know first: The 2016 Cruze is bigger.
“The things we stay focused on for the development of the car was it had to be fun, it had to be sporty, fun to drive and that it to be easier to use,” said Jennifer Kraska, chief interior designer on the next-generation Cruze.
The rear seating area has 2 more inches for legroom. “We wanted this vehicle to look upscale,” Kraska said.
The exterior design of the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze is completely different from the previous models.
“When you have them side by side, you will be amazed how it has evolved,” said Stuart Cooper, lead exterior designer for the Chevrolet passenger car studio.
The architecture of the new Cruze features a height lowered by almost an inch, but a wider body that has an increased wheelbase.
In one word, Cooper describes the design as “dynamic.”
The Chevy DNA is apparent from the front end with a double grille and chrome features that reach up to the head lamps to add premium touches.
“You have to capture people’s minds to get them coming in and trying [the new vehicles] out,” Cooper said.