The sport 2012 Chevy Sonic hatchback.

Engines and Transmissions

Two engines are offered with the 2012 Chevy Sonic. An inline four cylinder engine displacing 1.8-liters or 110 cubic inches is one engine choice and is paired with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine has a bore and stroke of 80.5 and 88.2 millimeter respectively or 3.17 and 3.47 inches, respectively. Utilizing fuel injection, the engine has a compression ratio of 9 to 5.

Another engine choice is an inline four cylinder engine displacing 1.4-liters or 85 cubic inches and paired with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine offers a bore and stroke of 73.4 and 80.6 millimeters respectively or 2.89 and 3.2 inches, respectively. Featuring a turbocharged configuration, this engine has a compression ratio of 9 to 5.

The all new Chevy Sonic is available in sedan and hatchback body styles.

Dimensions

Rated as a subcompact, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic weighs approximately 2,800 lbs. Measuring a total of 159.0 inches long with the hatchback and 173.1 inches with the sedan, the Sonic sits on a 99.6 inch wheelbase. This vehicle is 68.3 inches wide and 59.7 inches tall. This Chevrolet offers a 14.0 cubic foot trunk. Storage behind the second row in the hatchback is 19.0 cubic feet or 30.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

Tires and Wheels

The standard tire size for Sonic LS is 195/65-15 with 205/55-16 optional. Also available are 17-inch wheels with 205/50R17. The Sonic features front MacPherson struts with coil springs and a stabilizer bar with a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type suspension for the rear. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control and electric steering are among the handling features of the Sonic. This model offers a segment-leading 10 airbags.

Fuel Economy

One of the strong suits of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is its fuel efficiency. The 1.4-liter four is rated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and the 1.8-liter engine is rated at 25 or 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway. The Sonic runs on unleaded regular fuel and has a 12.2 gas tank. Its range is, therefore, about 488 miles on the open road.

Comparable models to the Chevrolet Sonic include the Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent and Nissan Versa. Beginning in 2012, an even smaller model, the Chevy Spark will join the line up.

References

Auto Trends Magazine; New Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ

It was back in August 2008 when I received an invitation from GM to travel to their Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant complex to hear a speech by GM brass and see pictures of an upcoming compact car slated to replace the Chevrolet Cobalt.

I wasn’t able to attend–as it was the first day of school for my children–but I did follow the news from my North Carolina home/office. Judging by what was shared then I fully expected that GM would finally put the ghosts of so many forgettable compact car nameplates over the past 40 years to rest: Vega, Monza, Chevette, Cavalier, Cobalt and whatever GEO or Suzuki-inspired model that always seemed to fall short of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, the perennial segment leaders.

Prizm? That was a Toyota Corolla, the very model it seeks to beat today.

Opel Inspired

Two years ago with GM bleeding billions of dollars monthly, I figured it was still possible for GM to get it right especially as the company went to great lengths to assure everyone that they would lean heavily on its Opel brand to build what is now known as the Chevrolet Cruze, a five-passenger C-segment sedan.

Bankruptcy, restructuring and four fewer brands later Chevrolet remains the cream of the GM crop, a brand now known in more than 130 markets. Indeed, 60 percent of all Chevrolets are now sold beyond the US and Canada underscoring the importance of the bow-tied moniker to the General globally.

Soon Debut

With the Cruze expected to show up in Chevrolet showrooms before the end of the third quarter, I was part of a group of journalists who were invited to Washington, D.C. to take part in their national roll out by driving the Cruze and its top competing models, the Civic and Corolla.

As a result of those drives, I had planned to give you a full review of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, but I realized that the car I drove was a “pre-production” model. The Lordstown assembly line was still weeks away from producing the cars customers will buy. Still, the cars I got a hold of confirmed what I expected: the Chevrolet Cruze is a game changer, not just for Chevrolet and General Motors, but for the compact car segment.

Yeah, now Toyota and Honda have a car they need to chase, as a new line has been drawn in the sand by GM. Yeppers, GM. Who knew?!

First Drive

My first chance to drive the Chevy Cruze came this past Monday morning when a cherry red sedan pulled up in front of The Dupont Hotel where we had stayed the night before. I got behind the wheel and Chuck Russell, compact car specialist for GM, rode in the front passenger seat. We slowly crept our way out of the city and picked up I-66 and headed west to our first destination.

Immediately, I sensed something very different about the Cruze. It is quiet, roomy, the seats are very comfortable and the car is packed with such niceties as nine-speaker Pioneer sound system, OnStar with turn-by-turn navigation, power windows and locks, six-speed automatic transmission and, in the case of this car, a 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec four cylinder engine.

That engine gives out plenty of pep despite its tiny size. When power was needed it was abundantly provided and, mercifully, the engine didn’t scream when I stepped on the accelerator. One of the few things that does need adjustment before the assembly line is cranked up (and Russell promised would be adjusted) is that there is a bit of battle being waged between the turbocharger and the six-speed transmission. At times, the engine would hesitate ever so slightly as the transmission shifted in response, something that a bit of software tweaking should resolve.

Minor Tweaks

Two other complaints I had involved the air-conditioning unit which, when put on full blast was annoyingly loud, giving out a crackling noise instead of the normal whoosh.  The steering column didn’t engage immediately when I shifted it, needing an extra adjustment to get it right. Russell assured us that these problems would be corrected before the assembly line got moving. For those reasons alone I’ll provide a follow up review within the next few months.

Back to the drive: the cabin is large and offered plenty of legroom for my six-foot frame and room to spare for rear passengers. GM says that the Cruze is considered a midsize by the EPA due to its interior room, but it is a compact. I had to remind myself that I was driving the Cruze–not the midsize Malibu–as the room and ride are not far off that range.

Cruze electric steering is responsive as the sedan handled sharp turns with little effort. The rear end stayed on track at all times including when taking a second drive around the scenic Virginia horse country another journalist and I decided to test the brakes.  At a speed well above 50 mph my fellow driver slammed on the brakes which quickly brought the Cruze to a safe, straight stop. The attendant clunking noise as the Cruze came to a stop assured us that the ABS system had kicked in with Stabilitrak doing its job too.

Compact Loving

So there must be something I didn’t like about the Cruze, right? Well, no. I realize some people will NEVER consider a compact car, but there are a lot of people who will. With 15 cubic feet trunk capacity, top of the segment fuel economy, a stylish exterior and comfortable interior, the Chevrolet Cruze hits the mark in all categories.

It has taken GM four decades to get it right and this time a compact Chevy works like a charm.

Photos courtesy of GM Corp.

Cruze Drive

While driving from crowded Washington, DC to our destination in the bucolic Virginia countryside, I was fortunate to have as my passenger Chuck Russell, compact car vehicle line director for General Motors. That 45-minute drive gave me the opportunity to ask Russell plenty of questions about the Cruze in addition to discussing some of the behind-the-scenes happenings at GM.

Nothing earthshaking was revealed, but I did ask Russell about the “controversy” surrounding the usage of the Chevrolet term only instead of Chevy by GM. In June 2010, GM’s corporate communications division stated that the company would only use the brand’s proper name instead of its beloved Chevy moniker. That move was severely criticized by Chevy faithful who felt that GM was attempting to scotch Chevrolet’s nickname.

Internal Affairs

Russell answered my inquiry by giving a good analogy about how family internal matters should stay in the family.  ”When your family has a conversation about your oddball Aunt Martha, that talk should stay within the family, ” said Russell.

I knew what he meant: likely, someone in GM thought that it was better for Chevrolet to be used internally rather than Chevy, but that person also thought that the rest of us needed to know about it.  That decision could have and probably should have never been shared publicly. When the “news” got out the predictable responses were along these lines: “How dare GM tell us we can’t use Chevy!?”

Unified Branding

Many Americans and Canadians, who c0mprise a significant chunk of Chevrolet’s business, fondly call their cars Chevys. Internationally, where some 60 percent of all Chevrolet sales are realized, the product is known as Chevrolet only.  It wasn’t GM’s intent to tell customers what to call their vehicles, rather to present a unified front globally as GM continues to advance its best-selling brand in more than 130 countries.

GM may call its top brand Chevrolet, but they aren’t telling you to drop the Chevy term.  As most controversies go this one is clearly a non-issue, something that should have been handled internally and never given the chance to work over the Chevy faithful.

He wasn’t able to drive the Chevrolet Volt while visiting the Compact Power battery plant in Holland, Michigan on Thursday, but President Barack Obama got to tour the facility and acquaint himself with the driver’s seat nonetheless. The president was in town to inspect the taxpayer’s investment in the project, a car that will be made available to consumers later this year.

Fed Investment

From The Detroit News: “The Obama administration has committed $2.4 billion for battery development. And while that won’t cover anywhere close to the entire R&D costs, it helps.”

That newspaper is worried that the Volt won’t succeed unless the federal government pushes up gas prices, a position I personally oppose.  America is saddled with a tremendous amount of debt and most people are feeling the effects of high unemployment and a weak economy.  You have to wonder if the News editorial board understands the backlash coming at the polls this November against big spending.

Three Markets

LG Chem, the parent of Compact Power, is making the battery cells for the Volt. The first production Volts will go on sale in three markets initially: California, the Washington, D.C. area and Michigan.

The Volt battery pack is assembled at a separate facility located in Brownstown Township, Michigan, and shipped to the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant where it is paired with the Volt. On Wednesday, Chevrolet announced the Volt battery will have a standard eight-year, 100,000 mile warranty.

Extended Range

The Chevrolet Volt will run approximately 40 miles on electric power only before a supplemental 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine kicks in to extend driving range by some 300 miles on a full tank of gas.  When operating in electric mode, the Volt will not produce any emissions, yet another benefit of this electrified sedan.

GM has yet to announce a price for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Source: General Motors

See Also — MIT: What’s the Deal With Hybrid and Electric Cars?

Voltec technology gets firm backing.

The technology behind electric and hybrid cars is still new enough that coming up with a warranty that will instill consumer confidence is critically important. After all, if the automaker won’t stand behind what they’re building, then risk adverse consumers won’t shell out the money to buy them.

Generous Warranty

General Motors has been wrestling with that very subject as it prepares its electric Chevrolet Volt for the market late this year. Today, GM announced its warranty plans for the lithium-ion battery system and the 161 parts that make up the unit.

After much testing in all kinds of weather and road conditions, the automaker announced that they will be aggressively backing the Volt by providing a standard, eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery and related components. GM says that its warranty is the most generous and comprehensive in the industry, demonstrating that they are confident that the Volt is a winner.

“The Chevrolet Volt’s batteries have exceeded our performance targets and are ready to hit the road,” said Micky Bly, GM executive director, global electrical systems. “Our customers are making a commitment to technology that will help reduce our dependence on petroleum. In turn, we are making a commitment to our customers to deliver the highest standards for value, safety, quality, performance and reliability for an unprecedented eight years/100,000 miles.”

GM Made

GM states that 95 percent of the battery’s components are made in-house, with tight controls over the remaining five percent of the parts ensuring that the Volt performs as expected. Moreover, the automaker claims that the Volt’s battery is the only one that can be warmed or cooled, able to withstand temperatures as low -13 Fahrenheit and as high as 122F degrees.

Michigan is one of the cold weather markets where the Volt will be rolled out initially. On a frigid Lansing day, the battery will be preheated during charging to provide full power capability.

California is another market where the Volt will be sold from the very start. Though temperatures are moderate along the coast, the baking heat of Death Valley will test the Volt. No matter, GM has indicated that the Volt’s battery can be chilled when charging.

Management System

Real-time battery management and analysis will be conducted constantly for each Volt to ensure optimum operations. 500+ diagnostics are run at 10 times per second, keeping track of the Volt’s battery pack; 85 percent of those diagnostics ensure the battery pack is operating safely, while the remaining 15 percent keep track of battery performance and life.

Volt buyers worried that they could find themselves stranded should also know that the battery management system doesn’t ever fully charge or fully deplete the battery, steps that can shorten the life of the unit. And, when the battery has gotten so low and additional range is needed, the backup 1.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine will extend the range of the Volt by several hundred miles, something that the smaller Nissan Leaf won’t be able to do.

Source: General Motors

You won't ever need one of these for your Nissan LEAF!

The pure electric Nissan LEAF isn’t due out until December, but the dominating electric car buzz at this moment seems to be about this model and not about a car that will beat it to the market by at least one month: the Chevrolet Volt. Nissan seems to have cornered the market on all things vehicle electrification lately, pushing the Volt to the side even as GM seeks to keep your interest in its own electric vehicle alive.

Car Buyers

Most of my conversations about cars is with every day folks – neighbors, friends, family members, and other people I rub shoulders with from time to time. They’re the ones shopping for a new car and are making their decisions based on information they have harvested from a variety of online and offline sources.

When we talk about cars, I’m usually asked my opinion about this make or that model or a particular group of models in a certain segment. Just last week I was approached by a friend who wanted to know what I thought about the Chevrolet Malibu. Despite my ringing endorsement I know he was planning to look at the Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion and would also test drive a 2011 Hyundai Sonata per my advice.

I think we auto writers sometimes forget how sophisticated and informed today’s consumers are. The car buying public has a good grasp of what they want and are able to sift through the hype and occasional misleading news to make a wise purchase.

Electric Vehicles

Which brings me back to my point about the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt—some people are certainly interested in the technology and will put off their new car purchase until the time is ripe. But, they also want value and the Leaf trumps the Volt in that department, perhaps by thousands of dollars.

Yes, Nissan has seized the marketing mantle by telling everyone that the base price for its 100-mile range electric vehicle is $32,780. That amount is some $8000 less than the $40,000 GM originally said its Volt would cost though neither price reflects a $7500 federal tax break nor, if you’re lucky, an additional $5000 tax break in certain states such as California.

With $12,500 in incentives the Leaf is certainly affordable for the average car buyer, costing just over $20K, just a few thousand dollars more than most equivalent gas powered compacts. Better still, the Leaf will NEVER grace the pumps of a gas station, saving consumers hundreds of dollars annually as the car consumes kilowatts not petrol.

Volt Price

Meanwhile, some people know that the Volt has an edge on range, but it will still need gas to power its supplemental 1.4L turbocharged engine. Meanwhile, that $40K figure may still be stuck in the mind of consumers even as GM has suggested that the price of the Volt may come in lower. In fact, I found an Associated Press article indicating that a $35,000 MSRP for the Volt is possible, with a final number expected to be announced in May.

I doubt GM will fail to respond to Nissan without launching a huge marketing campaign for the Chevy Volt soon. However, the buzz has certainly shifted for now giving Nissan a head start and thousands of customers who have already plunked down deposit money for a car no one heard about two years ago when Volt buzz was electrifying the auto industry.

The Season 8 debut of the action drama "24" featured a familiar sedan in an early chase scene. Might we see a Chevy variation of this muscular Australian-built sedan soon?

The season debut of the Emmy award winning Fox action drama “24” aired last night with several familiar characters returning: agent Jack Bauer; his devoted daughter, Kim; and Chloe O’Brian, the scowling techno-geek ally of our hero. President Alison Taylor and special agent Renee Walker are also back along with various new characters who have been seen on other shows recently including Battlestar Galatica.

G8 to the Rescue

But it was the use of one particular car that got my attention, a hot-wired magnetic gray metallic Pontiac G8 GT (Holden Commodore) featured in an early chase scene. That sedan made all the right moves as its escaping driver zig-zagged his way out of trouble, absorbing several gunshots wounds before losing his pursuers.

In a succeeding scene the G8 is observed pulling up across from Bauer’s West 18th Street apartment in Manhattan where the driver gets out of the car and heads off to see Bauer.

The very last time we see the Pontiac is when a Chevrolet Impala NYC police car pulls up in front of it, responding to a stolen vehicle 9-1-1 call made by the driver’s assailant. As it turns out the man who had stolen the G8 had critical information to share with Bauer regarding a pending assassination plot at the United Nations building.

That plot involved targeting the president of the Islamic Republic, who was in New York negotiating with President Taylor about deactivating his country’s nuclear program. Thus, the Pontiac played a key role in helping eventually thwart an assassination attempt which most certainly would have had global ramifications had it succeeded.

And to think that General Motors killed off the Pontiac brand and the G8 model just months earlier!

Internet Users Take Note

I had considered logging on last night to see who else noticed the Pontiac, but waited until this morning to search for that information. As expected the chatter was noticeable: a Pontiac G8 message board and my Twitter stream noted the use of the sedan in “24” with people sharing similar thoughts as mine: why did GM place the G8 when the model has been killed off?

Yes, automakers routinely work with top shows and movies to get their cars in front of cameras. Last year, the Hyundai Genesis sedan got plenty of “24” face time and will do so again this year.

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

Well, here is my thinking: the Pontiac G8 is gone, but it will be back and not just as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV I reported about here earlier. I doubt that we will see a Buick version of this hot Aussie sedan, but GM has got to be thinking that public consumption of the Caprice will eventually happen.

That may mean that the Impala will be deep-sixed in order to make the Caprice Chevy’s flagship sedan or it could mean that GM feels confident that both models could be sold along with the Malibu to give shoppers a choice of three family sedans to buy when visiting Chevy showrooms.

If GM has no such plans, then the placement of the Pontiac G8 GT in “24” was cruel and heartless. I like to think that certain members of GM brass has something else in mind as do many other rear wheel drive sedan enthusiasts, people who want the “thunder from down under” kept alive in North America.

Photo: GM Corp.

New Products

Though GM hasn’t named specific models slated for its accelerated production cycle, I believe that the following represents the company’s strategy going forward brand by brand:

Cadillac – The CTS line is almost complete, giving Cadillac a world class mid-size car line that competes nicely against BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. Next up is the replacement for the STS and DTS, which GM has code-named XTS. Ideally, GM would stretch the current CTS sedan to accommodate the model, buying it some time and saving money until a fresh model could be released in 2015. But I don’t see that happening. Instead, expect some sort of front wheel drive sedan arriving in 2012.

Expect the Converj to arrive in 2012, a car based on the Chevy Volt platform. The SRX is all new while the Escalade is tired and in need of a crossover body ala Buick Enclave. Expect that to happen soon after the XTS hits the market. Beyond that, if Cadillac gains traction, the line will expand with a car slotted below the CTS and perhaps a luxury two seater. Hybrids will be offered fleet-wide by 2015.

Buick – The Lucerne is on its last legs which means that the LaCrosse will take over as the largest car in Buick’s line. I expect that we’ll see a refreshed Enclave for the 2012 model year, while a baby Buick, smaller than the Regal, will appear about the same time.

My thinking is that GM will clarify Buick’s direction by adding fresh new models once the baby Buick hits the market.

Chevrolet – We know the Malibu is being moved up but what about the aged Impala? I can’t see GM backing off in the police pursuit vehicle market, not with Ford relying on the all new Taurus and with Carbon Motors set to come out with their dedicated police cruiser in 2012. Look for an all new Impala in two years, perhaps based on a stretched Malibu platform to complement the Holden Chevy Caprice import which will be sold in low numbers.

The remainder of Chevrolet’s line up is solid with the compact Chevy Cruze ready to appear next summer and with a smaller, Beat-type car to follow. A new Aveo or Aveo replacement will show up within the next two years, while the HHR will be dropped and several truck and SUV models will be modified. I see Chevrolet relying a lot more on crossovers like the Traverse and Equinox, perhaps dropping the Tahoe and/or Suburban if they present a drag on fuel economy numbers and customer interest wanes.

Finally, can we expect a new Corvette soon? Yes, by 2012 the C7 ‘Vette should be in showrooms, parked next to the extended Camaro family.

GMC – Whatever GM does for Chevrolet trucks will be done for GMC. It remains a mystery to me why these two brands are still competing. Personally, I would have converted GMC into Chevrolet Trucks and kept Pontiac. Then again, Fritz never asked me. R.I.P. Pontiac G8.

Financial Position

Much of what is being considered depends on GM’s financial position, gas prices, demand for alternate vehicles, and any number of other market changes that will occur over the next 3-5 years. GM has been given a huge second chance that no business of its size has ever received, so let’s hope that top management gets it right and remakes the automaker into a profitable money-making entity once again.

Plus, I want GM to pay back its loans and for the federal government to recoup the $50+ billion of taxpayer money sunk into the company and now treated as equity. I don’t think that is too much to ask!

The compact Chevrolet Cruze promises to be one of the most significant cars for GM of our day. Sure, it is easy to be awed by the European feel and drive of the Cadillac CTS, wowed by the retro good looks of the Chevy Camaro, or impressed by the all-new premium Buick LaCrosse sedan.

But what it comes down to is that GM needs an affordable volume leader to draw in customers, stimulate sales, and increase market share. None of the previously mentioned models can do that, at least on the level that the Chevrolet Cruze can deliver.

Auto shows are fun, but they often highlight the specialty or exotic models ahead of the bread and butter vehicles. That isn’t necessarily wrong, but when it comes to making an actual purchase, the Volt may struggle to sell 50,000 units annually while the Cruze should sell at least 250,000 units, perhaps much more if the car catches on and steals sales from its competitors.

Apparently, others are agreeing with me concerning the importance of the Cruze including Consumer Reports, a trusted source for car buyers. At the Los Angeles Auto Show last week, the magazine’s senior auto engineer, Jake Fisher, declared that the Cruze was “…the most significant car of the show.” (The Youngstown Vindicator: Consumer Reports: Cruze most significant car of L.A. car show)

That’s momentous, especially as the automaker showered plenty of attention on the CTS coupe, Buick Regal, and the Volt in addition to the Cruze. GM has never had a serious contender in the small car segment which is dominated by the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Certainly, the Cavalier and the current Cobalt have sold like hotcakes in some years, but neither model offers the quality and reliability of the others.

For Consumer Reports (CR) to say what they did about the Cruze before the first model rolls off of a Lordstown, Ohio, assembly line next spring, is worth noting. Amazing would be a better word to describe CR’s early critique of a model that may do more to save General Motors than any sports coupe, luxury sedan, electric car, or big SUV can possibly achieve.

Photo Credit: GM Corp.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Just like a kid who can’t wait to unwrap his gifts on Christmas morning, GM has been revealing its latest offerings ahead of their official auto show debuts. The most recent vehicle to take an early bow is the Chevy Cruze, the long awaited replacement for the Cobalt, a compact model representing GM’s world car thrust.

Advance Previews

GM’s advanced release of information surrounding the Chevy Cruze follows what the car manufacturer has been doing with several models this year including the Chevy Camaro, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX, and the Buick Regal. A new urgency has gripped GM, a company desperately wanting to make sure that every product launch receives total media saturation in hopes of capturing new customers.

Production for the North American Cruze will begin late next Spring, which means that Chevrolet showrooms won’t be stocking these cars before the Summer. This means that there will be a two year interval between when the first Cruze models hit the market in South Korea last fall (as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere) and when customers will see the car in the USA and Canada.

Global Cruze

Indeed, the Chevy Cruze itself is currently being sold in China and Europe while the Holden Cruze is available in Australia and New Zealand. Opel’s version of the car is called the Astra, demonstrating that the Cruze and its name variants will soon penetrate every GM global market regardless of whether Chevrolet, Vauxhall, Holden, or Opel sell the car. Yes, GM has finally put together a true world car, a model that will compete with the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and the global Ford Focus.

The North American debut for the Chevrolet Cruze is scheduled for the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show which will hold its press days on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Kicking things off will be a keynote address by GM president and chief operating officer Fritz Henderson who will speak at the Motor Press Guild (MPG) breakfast Wednesday morning.

Lordstown Production

Soon thereafter, it will be Chevrolet’s time in the spotlight which will GM the chance to showcase a production ready Cruze for the first time to a North American audience. That car will be built at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio facility which received a $350 million makeover in advance of Cruze production.

Powered by 1.4L turbo and 1.8L I4 engines and paired with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, the most fuel efficient version of the car should approach 40 mpg city. Other hybrids, diesels and the diminutive Smart ForTwo, the Cruze will be one of the most fuel efficient gasoline powered cars when it finally hits the market later next year.

Source: GM Corp.