General Motors Co. has changed the North American version of its new global compact car, the Chevrolet Cruze, to reduce noise and improve safety and fuel economy. The Cruze goes on sale here in the third quarter as the successor to the Cobalt. It is bigger than the Cobalt, will be better equipped and will be priced higher. "We have a different set of competitive vehicles here in North America than what exists in Europe," said Chuck Russell, GM's vehicle line director for compact cars in North America. "We needed to make a number of adjustments."
The North American Cruze will reduce noise, an acoustic laminated windshield was substituted, and doors got more insulation. Sealers were added to some of the door headers.
10 airbags will be included in the The North American Cruze with knee airbags and rear seat side airbags, more than any other version of the Cruze.
In place of an independent rear suspension, GM selected a Z-link design. Russell said: "We use it to provide the car with a lot of agility, a lot of directness with respect to the way the vehicle steers and the way the rear end of the car follows the front."
GM said the Cruze Eco model will get 40 mpg on the highway, compared with 29 to 36 mpg highway, depending on the model, for the nonhybrid 2010 Honda Civic. To reach that target, the Cruze Eco has a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, low-resistance tires and aluminum wheels to cut weight.
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