General Motors Co. will unveil a high-efficiency version of the
Chevrolet Cruze at this week's New York International Auto Show.
The 2011 Chevrolet
Cruze Eco model, available in the fourth quarter of this year and powered by a 1.4-liter Ecotec turbocharged engine, will get an estimated 40 miles per gallon on the highway with a six-speed transmission.
The Cruze has been labeled by GM executives as the Detroit automaker's most important new launch vehicle aimed at boosting fuel efficiency and meeting tougher federal regulations. The Cruze is a bet by GM that customers will want a small car in large volumes at a time when crossovers and full-size sport-utility vehicles remain popular in the U.S. marketplace.
"The Cruze Eco delivers hybrid-like efficiency without the price tag," said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet marketing.
GM already has added a third shift of production, and is adding 1,200 workers at its Lordstown plant in Ohio to produce the Cruze. GM also is investing $350 million to retool the plant and install new manufacturing equipment.
"This investment helps secure the best possible manufacturing footprint to react to market demand and deliver vehicles faster to our customers," Campbell said.
The Cruze also will be available in a sportier version, equipped with unique fascias, rocker moldings, a rear spoiler and fog lamps.
The Cruze Eco model, meanwhile, will get greater fuel economy thanks to several features that enhance aerodynamics, reduce the vehicle's weight and rolling resistance.
"Anything you can do these days to get extra mileage out of a vehicle is going to be a benefit," said auto analyst Erich Merkle of Autoconomy.com in Grand Rapids.
"Not just from a sales perspective, but also from the overall perceived image of the brand. When you're talking about 40 plus miles per gallon out of a compact car, you really start to beat your competition, such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic."
The Cruze is one of two major launches this year that could help burnish the Chevrolet brand. The Volt, an extended-range electric car, follows late this year and will let commuters travel up to 40 miles on electric power.
The Volt's engine kicks in after its battery is drained by about 70 percent to sustain the battery's remaining charge to keep the car running for several hundred miles.
"For a company like Chevrolet that is thought to be a real lagger in fuel efficiency, they represent leadership in terms of overall fuel efficiency performance," Merkle said.
