With all the focus on small cars and fuel economy, there’s some good news for sporty and performance minded individuals looking for a GM product that suits their desires. In an online web chat GM’s new North American president Mark Reuss made some exciting comments about the potential introduction of both a Chevy Cruze Coupe and a RWD sedan based on the Australian Zeta architecture.

“2 door Cruze is a nice idea, and it may show up in the global market,” said Reuss. “As we have 2 door Cobalts currently, NA [North America] would naturally look at a Cruze 2 door, but I believe our small car portfolio will be WAY beyond what it is now, so a 2 door something still is needed.”

This really comes as no surprise, as Chevy has often delivered a coupe model shortly after the sedan.

Next up, Reuss made a surprising remark when asked if a rear-wheel drive sedan based on the Australian Zeta platform could eventually make its way state-side. “Quite possibly,” he remarked, something which is sure to be celebrated by those who bemoaned the demise of the Pontiac G8. Currently, the only Zeta platform model available in the U.S. is the Camaro, although some reports have suggested a next-generation Camaro could ride on a more adaptable Zeta architecture that could also be used for a North American sedan.

If Chevy does decide to move ahead with a rear-drive sedan for the North American market, it’s not likely to arrive for several more years. By then, the Cruze Coupe will most certainly be on the market and perhaps even a high-performance Cruze model.

[source]

Tags: 2012 chevrolet cruze coupe, american cars, Chevrolet, chevrolet cruze coupe, chevy, domestic cars, mark reuss, zeta
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LORDSTOWN – Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland joined General Motors North America President Mark Reuss and other state and regional leaders today to announce the creation of 1,200 jobs through the addition of a third shift at GM’s Lordstown plant to support the production of the new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.

“I’m proud to celebrate the creation of 1,200 new Ohio jobs and the resilience of the working men and women of the Mahoning Valley. The chips were down but we never gave up,” Strickland said. “That grit and steely determination is why I love this valley and why I believe in Ohio.

“The economic impact of GM’s investment will benefit the people of this region and communities throughout Ohio: GM’s Defiance Foundry will build engine blocks for the Cruze. GM’s Parma Metal Center will stamp dozens of components for the Cruze. GM’s Toledo Powertrain Center will produce transmissions and numerous suppliers in the Mahoning Valley and across the state will contribute parts for the Cruze,” Strickland said.

“Born in Ohio, built by Ohioans, the Cruze will become synonymous with Ohio. And that’s fitting because it reflects the innovation and resilience of the people of Ohio.

“It’s a great day in Ohio. Because GM is making a little automotive history in Ohio today. And Ohioans are going to be making a new kind of car for years and years to come,” Strickland said. “We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with GM and the Lordstown community to keep auto manufacturing strong in Ohio.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan also released the following statement:

“President Obama and Congress made the unpopular but necessary decision to take partial ownership of General Motors and guide it through bankruptcy. This bold step may have saved manufacturing in the United States from being wiped out,” Ryan said. “As a result of that leadership, not only were the Mahoning Valley and Northeast Ohio community spared an economic catastrophe, we now stand to reap the benefits of those tough decisions. I commend the workers at the GM Lordstown plant for their leadership and maturity. Without their skills, talents and positive attitude, this day would have never come.

“I would like to thank Governor Strickland for his constant attention to the Mahoning Valley and the 17th Congressional District. His input and guidance have been instrumental in not only this project, but in every one of our economic successes over the past few weeks.

“I would also like to commend Senator Sherrod Brown for his powerful voice on behalf of our domestic manufacturing base. The American auto-industry has no better friend in the Senate.

“It’s clear that our local economic development strategy is working: another 1,100 high-paying jobs in Lordstown, corporate investment of $650 million and 350 permanent jobs at V&M Star, 500 more jobs expected at VXI in downtown Youngstown, a San Francisco technology company bringing up to 100 jobs to the Youngstown Business Incubator in the next two years, and Severstal Steel returning to work in Warren. I believe that this is the beginning of the Miracle on the Mahoning,” Ryan said.

Ohio and GM are continuing to move forward on important investments for our state. Last week Governor Strickland joined GM officials at the Powertrain Plant in Defiance to announce a $59 million investment that will support the production of the next generation fuel efficient Ecotec engine while creating about 80 new jobs.

And, on Feb. 8, the governor announced that the Defiance plant was awarded a $518,232 industry efficiency grant through Ohio’s State Energy Program, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The award will help fund new equipment that will save energy, reduce raw material consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and allow the facility to be more competitive by reducing its overall annual costs by $515,013.

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Tags: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, GM, Lordstown, strickland
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Chevy Cruze SS, Anyone?

GM also Considering “Four-Door Coupe” Model in Effort to “Sport Up” Compact Lineup

February, 2010

Chevrolet is looking at two ways to “sport up” General Motors’ Delta compact platform. The more radical idea involves all new, “four-door coupe”-style sheetmetal on the same platform as the 2011 Chevy Cruze compact. The car would retain the Cruze’s wheelbase, but with a more rakish roofline that would sacrifice some back seat space for a more expressive design.

The idea would be to get a higher profit-margin car out of a relatively humble platform. It’s comparable to what Mercedes-Benz did with its CLS four-door coupe — a car that essentially raised the retail price of an E-Class-based car to near S-Class levels. A Cruze-based four-door coupe would theoretically serve as a step up toward the Camaro.

The more practical solution would be a Super Sport version of the Cruze. That entails suspension mods, of course, plus requisite trim upgrades and a high-pressure version of the 2.0-liter turbo along the lines of the 260-horsepower unit that powered the Pontiac Solstice GXP/Saturn Sky Redline and the coming 255-horsepower Buick Regal GS.

Both the four-door coupe and the Cruze SS could take the larger Epsilon platform’s all-wheel-drive system to mitigate torque steer. We’re not likely to see the SS earlier than the ‘13 model year; the four-door coupe would take even longer. But of course, before either of them hits Chevy dealers, the priority is to do a high fuel-mileage Cruze XFE.

[source]

Tags: Chevy Cruze SS, Cruze, ss
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Honeywell said that it’s turbo technologies designed for small gasoline engines (1.4L), will be launched in GM’s Chevy Cruze in the US. It is expected to reach up to 4-6% penetration in all US light vehicle sales by 2014.

The GM 1.4L engine is equipped with Honeywell’s gasoline turbocharger technology, which incorporates new enhancements in bearing technology and aerodynamics suited for small gasoline engines.

According to the company, the turbo growth is linked in US to CAFE standards which require fuel economy improvements of around 40% in light vehicles by 2016. Overall, turbo penetration is expected to reach 25% by the year 2014, up from 5% in 2009, driven mostly by the growth in gasoline engine.

Alex Ismail, president and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, said: “Thanks to a turbo’s unique ability to increase the performance output of smaller displacement engines, a downsizing revolution is underway in the US and around the world.

“Over the next 10 years, this mega trend will see average engine displacement in the US reduce from 3.6L to 2.9L moving from V8 and V6 engines to 4 cylinders a major reflection of this trend being high volume growth in smaller, 4-cylinder turbocharged passenger cars of around 1.4L. As the world’s leading turbo manufacturer, we are well positioned to benefit from the move, which will help drive greater energy efficiency and reduced emissions in the auto industry.”

Honeywell Turbo Technologies is an automotive turbocharger developer and is a business unit of Honeywell Transportation Systems, which also consists of consumer products group and friction materials. Honeywell Transportation Systems facilitates vehicle performance, efficiency and appearance through technologies, brands and global solutions tailored for its automotive customers.

source

Tags: 1.4L, Alex Ismail, CAFE, honeywell, Honeywell Turbo Technologies
Posted in 2010 Chevrolet Cruze, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze | No Comments »