Diesel Chevy Cruise to be Offered in US

If you believe what you read...
Could be a good thing.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/report-diesel-chevrolet-cruze-coming-to-us/1

General Motors has decided to sell in the United States a diesel version of its hot-selling Chevrolet Cruze compact, according to an Associated Press report. The AP says the info came from two people briefed on the matter and that these people say the diesel Cruze would be rated about 50 miles per gallon (21 kilometers per liter) on the highway and help GM meet tightening government fuel economy rules. It'll need to do at least that to sell -- the Cruze Eco model is currently the highest mileage conventional gasoline-powered car sold in the U.S., with a 42 mpg highway, and we at Drive On wer able to get nearly 50 in one with careful highway driving recently. One of the people says the diesel Cruze would not arrive until at least 2013, which would make it a 2014 model. GM's Holden unit in Australia sells there a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder diesel version of the Cruze. But so far, only German automakers have been promoting diesel cars in the U.S.: 22% of VW's sales last year were diesels. Reluctance is in part because diesels cost more -- typically a couple thousand dollars -- and the people didn't know how much the diesel Cruze would cost. The Cruze with the Eco fuel-saving package starts at $18,425 plus shipping, $1,900 more than the regular base Cruze. GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson would not comment.

cool, hope they'll build a hatchback too

fasted58 wrote: cool, hope they'll build a hatchback too

L

O

L

Like THAT will happen. Remember that 4.5L diesel V8 which normal people who don't need to haul 13,000 pound trailers were clamoring for in 1/2 tons? Ya, because that wouldn't have sold or anything

at least Europe gets it

If Chevy does any amount of market research, they would learn that US customers likely to buy a diesel would be more interested in buying a hatchback or wagon. One only has to look at the ratio of current VW Jetta TDI wagons vs. sedans. Around here, I see much more of the former than the latter - hell, most of the new Jetta wagons I see are TDI's.

Yeah... I'm not holding my breath either...

USA TODAY....where I go to get all THE latest car news.

(Please note the sarcasm.)

Ford and Chevy, and to a lesser extent Chrysler, all look at what the other is doing and don't make a move until one of the others say it is going to, or does. Therefore, I wouldn't look for something as groundbreaking as a small, diesel powered anything from GM before Ford introduces a similar product....and vice versa. And I wouldn't look for a diesel Cruse before news media proclaim something along the lines of "GM doubles production of ECO Cruse".

AND YOU STILL CAN'T BUY A CRUSE HATCHBACK....YET. It isn't available until the 2012 model year.

BTW, Chevy sells a small SUV that uses the Cruse's platform. That vehicle is currently being sold in Europe with 5 or 7 seats AND diesel engines are optional.

integraguy wrote: USA TODAY....where I go to get all THE latest car news. (Please note the sarcasm.) Ford and Chevy, and to a lesser extent Chrysler, all look at what the other is doing and don't make a move until one of the others say it is going to, or does. Therefore, I wouldn't look for something as groundbreaking as a small, diesel powered anything from GM before Ford introduces a similar product....and vice versa. And I wouldn't look for a diesel Cruse before news media proclaim something along the lines of "GM doubles production of ECO Cruse".

Well, if that's the case (and it isn't, but anyway), then GM and Chrysler will soon be rushing hatchbacks to market: http://www.detnews.com/article/20110712/AUTO01/107120331/1148/auto01/Hatchback-models-opening-new-door-with-U.S.-buyers

Ford Motor Co. is finding Americans do like hatchbacks — at least in small cars. About half of the retail sales of Ford Fiestas are hatchback models, and so are 41 percent of retail sales of the new 2012 Ford Focus, which has been on the market only a few months.

And if you don't believe USA Today, here are a couple more sources on the diesel Cruze:

http://detnews.com/article/20110712/AUTO01/107120327/1148/rss25

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/07/cruze-diesel-confirmed-for-2013/

about time americans have warmed up to the hatchback

Interesting... wish there were more places near my home that sold diesel.

fasted58 wrote: at least Europe gets it

It's got that retarded prius slope back. No thanks. Give me a real wagon.

Typical chevy customers will complain about how noisy the engine is, or how they ram it out of fuel, I've put more in but it still won't start! These are the same people who get locked IN their car when the battery dies and the power lock button won't work...

As much as I applaud GM for trying, I don't see their general customers going for it. Most of the people that know the benefits of a diesel car, aren't typically going to buy a chevy, they'll buy a volkswagen, and they already have that product.

I do wish them the best.

Is this going to be another case of too little, too late? That thing looks goofy. As already said: VW already has a firm foothold on the hatch/wagon TDI market(they're the only one in the market...). The only caveat with VW is that they only have one TDI engine in the US, and they package them as a Highline model. I've heard alot of people want the TDI available in the base model without all the other luxury options tacked on.

I LOVE my MK6 Golf TDI; it would be very tough to beat. mmmmm torques

My wife's TDI wagen is almost exactly one year old and has 5k miles on it. It's the nicest car I dislike. I think I'm over the whole diesel thing—great, they have torque, but they are not at all fun to drive. All the weirdness of a turbo with the rev's of a tractor. Meh.

I have no interest in a Cruze but ive been trying to scheme my way into a TDI for years now. All based on 4 or 5 minutes of driving a tdi/5spd jetta. I dont a vw either... ive been scheming on swaps.

Problem being, you can build a $2011 challenge car right up to the budget limit and still have less in it than what a used TDI motor goes for.

BoostedBrandon wrote: Most of the people that know the benefits of a diesel car, aren't typically going to buy a chevy, they'll buy a volkswagen

I don't think that's true. I'll try to find the source and link it, but I remember reading recently the results of a survey where something like 50% or more of all VW TDi owners only bought a VW because it was the only diesel available and most of those would trade theirs in immediately if another company such as Honda offered a comparable diesel-powered car.

BoostedBrandon wrote: These are the same people who get locked IN their car when the battery dies and the power lock button won't work...

I'm a Chevy guy, maybe I should read the manual JIC

ReverendDexter wrote:

BoostedBrandon wrote: Most of the people that know the benefits of a diesel car, aren't typically going to buy a chevy, they'll buy a volkswagen

I don't think that's true. I'll try to find the source and link it, but I remember reading recently the results of a survey where something like 50% or more of all VW TDi owners only bought a VW because it was the only diesel available and most of those would trade theirs in immediately if another company such as Honda offered a comparable diesel-powered car.

I would like to have a diesel car, but would look at other brands before VW, if those options existed.

dyintorace wrote:

ReverendDexter wrote:

BoostedBrandon wrote: Most of the people that know the benefits of a diesel car, aren't typically going to buy a chevy, they'll buy a volkswagen

I don't think that's true. I'll try to find the source and link it, but I remember reading recently the results of a survey where something like 50% or more of all VW TDi owners only bought a VW because it was the only diesel available and most of those would trade theirs in immediately if another company such as Honda offered a comparable diesel-powered car.

I would like to have a diesel car, but would look at other brands before VW, if those options existed.

This. Same goes for the plug-in-hybrids. If a carmaker I trust had a comperable diesel or PiH, I would go with that over offerings from GM or VW.

If you can move fast enough (as in check craigslist 10 times a day and be able to leave your house with a trailer on a moments notice) you can get TDIs for $1200. I kinda wonder if the US has regulated diesels into being impractical with the stories of VW fuel pump failures already due to the different diesel here. The fact that they like to call it gasoline contamination in the fuel to avoid paying a $12k warranty job doesn't impress me much either.

mmmm.. diesel hybrid.