Four-door coupe styling with midsize sedan appeal
- First segment application of six-speed automatic transmission
- Solid body structure for optimal ride and handling
- Premium features and global benchmark for safety
April 16, 2010
GM Vietnam (GM Vietnam) today rolled out its all-new dynamic global compact sedan, the Chevrolet Cruze, at Hanoi Daewoo Hotel.
Opening Ceremony
“The Chevrolet Cruze is the first member of the next generation of segment-leading products for GM,” said Mr. Jung In Kim, General Director of GM Vietnam. “Working together with GM’s global design and engineering teams has resulted in a vehicle that is destined to be a global benchmark and a sales winner with consumers across the world.”
Chevrolet Cruze 2010
Based on GM’s global compact vehicle architecture, which will serve as the foundation for a variety of products, the Chevrolet Cruze was developed for international markets. The base vehicle architecture was developed in Europe and its design and engineering were completed in Korea. The global vehicle will be built in Korea, Europe and the United States and sold in over 130 countries around the world.
The vehicle’s development took 42 months. From the early concept stage, designers and engineers from General Motors targeted the Chevrolet Cruze as a global product that would meet the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets. The vehicle was put through intensive durability testing, extreme weather tests, and over 210 crash tests to achieve its quality goal.
Vehicle Test
Segment-Transcending Exterior Styling
Wider and longer than any of its competitors, the Chevrolet Cruze has the presence of an upscale midsize sedan. Its dynamic proportions and a muscular stance with wheels of up to 16 inches in size are enabled by a segment-leading length of 4,597 mm and a width of 1,788 mm. With a “wheels-out/body-in” stance, the sedan’s tumblehome seemingly leaves the wheels out in space and makes the track appear even wider.
“Our goal in designing the Chevrolet Cruze was to be revolutionary, not evolutionary,” said Taewan Kim, Vice President of GM Styling Operations. “We wanted to make a completely new design statement for our products. Future models will pick up the Chevrolet Cruze’s design cues.”
At first glance, the arching roofline that extends from the steeply raked windshield into the sloping rear pillars is a stand-out exterior design feature, bringing a four-door coupe-like look to the segment for the first time.
Stronger Chassis
Bold headlamp housings that wrap around the front corners and sweep up into the fenders enhance the sedan’s dynamic and sporty appeal. Large headlamps with clear polycarbonate lenses and chrome-coated bezels resemble inset jewels, adding an upscale appearance uncommon in the segment.
The sculpted hood complements the fender-swept headlamps and a rising concave shoulder line that continues along the entire length of the car to the rear, adding to its strong overall character.
The rear impression is highlighted by tail lamps that are integrated into the back corners and deck lid. The trunk lid featuring an integrated spoiler sculpted into its rear edge makes the back end even sportier. A chrome garnish bar above the license plate box is another upscale treatment.
Perfect Design
Interior with Exceptional Design and Craftsmanship
The revolutionary design continues in the Chevrolet Cruze’s interior. With its wider track and longer wheelbase, the Chevrolet Cruze’s spacious cabin comfortably accommodates five adults. It offers rear seat passengers generous leg, head and shoulder room.
GM designers and engineers aimed to deliver a cockpit environment that is harmonious, flowing, and uniquely inviting to the senses. The application of the iconic “dual cockpit” design more common in a high- performance sports car provides a distinct, confident and upscale impression of the interior.
Rather than traditional wood or metallic film applications, the use of grained surfaces, soft-touch materials and low-gloss trim panels are indicative of exceptional craftsmanship.
Extensive three-dimensional math modeling was used to develop the analog instrument cluster, which is packed under the tight hood and integrated with the upper instrument panel. The unique cylinder-type cluster with flying visors includes a speedometer, tachometer and fuel/temperature gauges that are all LED backlit with crisp white and ice blue illumination.
The lower center fascia panels, color-matched with the front seat inserts, expand symmetrically either side from the center stack, bringing the driver and passenger closer to a “shared experience.” Adding to the refined look is an integrated center stack design that houses the infotainment, air conditioning display, radio, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls, eliminating traditional “picture framing.”
Luxury Interior
Advanced and Efficient Powertrain
The Chevrolet Cruze is powered by a 1.8-liter DOHC ECOTEC engine that generates maximum power of 104kW at 6,200 rpm and maximum torque of 176 N.m at 3,800 rpm.
The ECOTEC engine includes a series of advanced features that enhance performance. Multi Fuel Injection (MFI) ensure added power, better fuel economy and lower emissions. Multi Fuel Injection, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
The engine has increased durability due to its exhaust manifold and converter that are made of stainless steel rather than cast iron. Additionally, the virtually maintenance-free toothed timing belt does not need to be changed for 10 years or 160,000 km.
The efficient ECOTEC engine is mated with a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission, a first in the segment, which offers better performance and smoother upshifts and downshifts than four or five-speed automatic transmissions found in competitors.
A wide overall ratio and smaller steps between the transmission’s six forward gears help deliver improved launch and acceleration, ensuring dynamic driving at lower speeds. This also enables the six-speed automatic transmission to quickly locate the optimal gear based on speed and road conditions, bolstering performance, handling and fuel efficiency.
Perfect Operation
First Application of GM LAN Electric Control System
The technological backbone of the Chevrolet Cruze is the application of the General Motors’ unique GM LAN (Local Area Network). The new electric control system ensures information is properly communicated and shared between the vehicle’s system modules. It reviews information sent via the GM LAN Serial Data Network, deciphers it, and then sends the appropriate commands for its functional area, replacing the conventional point-to-point wiring system.
The new network system with high-speed and low-speed data buses works like a telephone line that transfers data within the vehicle. The high-speed data bus is capable of communicating instantaneously at up to 50 times the speed of systems applied in the past. The high-speed bus handles critical control systems, including engine and transmission controls, the anti-lock braking system.
Meanwhile, the low-speed data bus handles the remaining modules that control personalization settings such as instrument panel controls, infotainment applications, comfort and convenience applications, and occupant protection functions.
At the heart of the system, the integrated body control module (IBCM) acts as a gateway that converts signals from high speed to low speed, and relays information between the two data buses. The IBCM controls many of the vehicle functions such as exterior and interior lighting, driver information display, window controls and battery run-down protection.
The first application of the system makes the Chevrolet Cruze operate more accurately than similar models by controlling all electrical data information via each module located throughout the vehicle.
Technology excellence
Global Benchmark for Safety
A host of body structural enhancements combined with a standard offering of extensive active and passive safety systems make the all-new Chevrolet Cruze a global benchmark for safety.
The sedan’s new body structure is the stiffest in its class. Sixty-four percent of the structure is constructed of high-strength steel, offering a high level of protection. Reinforcing the new sedan’ s door and locker seal applications, the use of ultra-high-strength steel for the B-pillars and the efficient aluminum bumper application ensure maximum safety.
On top of the solid body structure, a multi-crash load path structure on both the side and rear of the body will play a key role in securing an expected five-star NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) crash safety rating in Korea, Europe and the U.S.
Other safety features include Anti-lock brake system (ABS), an airbag sensing and diagnostic module that triggers airbags in just five milliseconds when detecting a high-speed impact, that reduce the chance of injury to the driver’s lower body in the event of a collision.
A pedestrian protection design in the front reduces the chance of a secondary collision between a pedestrian and the engine block.
Absolute safety
Premium Comfort and Convenience
The Chevrolet Cruze features an array of premium comfort and convenience amenities that one would expect in more expensive vehicles, including:
l Remote door lock/unlock function that operates within a 30-meter radius
l Power delay
l Air conditioning with combination filter
l Information Display
l Rain/moisture-sensing wipers
l Touchpad trunk opening
Convenience
CHEVROLET CRUZE SPECIFICATIONS
1.6 LS
1.8 LT
1.8 LTZ
Length (mm)
4.597
4.597
4.597
Width (mm)
1.788
1.788
1.788
Height (mm)
1.477
1.477
1.477
Wheelbase (mm)
2,685
2,685
2.685
Tread (mm)
Front
1.544
1.544
1.544
Rear
1.558
1.558
1.558
Engine
Valve Train
16-Valve DOHC
16-Valve DOHC
16-Valve DOHC
Displacement (cc)
1,598
1.796
1.796
Max. Power (kW/rpm)
80/6.000
104/6.200
104/6.200
Max. Torque (N.m/rpm)
150/4.000
176/3.800
176/3.800
Transmission
5-speed M/T
5-speed M/T
6-speed A/T
Curb Weight (kG)
1.285
1.290
1.315
Wheel (inch)
15
16
16
ABS - Brake
ABS
ABS
Airbag
Dual Front
Dual Front
Dual Front
