JASON PLATO turned his fortunes around at Snetterton on Sunday and now leads the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship by 20 points.

The Newcastle-educated former champion had been trailing Team Honda Racing’s Matt Neal by eight points as the series returned after its summer break.

But, after taking two wins out of three races, he now has a comfortable cushion at the top of the points table.

Plato, who had qualified second on the grid behind his Silverline Chevrolet team-mate Alex MacDowall, led from lights to flag in both the first and the second of the day’s races – despite his Chevrolet Cruze being laden with 36kg of success ballast in race one and 45kg in the second.

He also set the fastest lap in both to ensure he grabbed maximum points.

In the third race he brought his car over the line in fifth spot, grabbing more points to leapfrog Neal in the standings, who suffered mixed fortunes at the fast Norfolk track.

With BTCC wins now under his belt, Plato is just three shy of Andy Rouse’s all-time record of 60, although he admits his only concern is to win what would be his second title in the class.

He last won in 2001 while driving for Vauxhall.

Plato said: “I expected us to be strong here and so it has proved.

“The team has used the summer break really well and dug deep into all the data.

“We have improved two key areas, and the result is a fantastic race car now in the Cruze.”

Plato’s season is turning into a carbon copy of last year, when he upped his championship charge towards the end of the season – although this time he is gunning for better than runner-up sport.

He added: “This is where last year we really got our championship going, and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to be very strong again from here on in.

“I am feeling very confident for Silverstone. What you are seeing is a result of all the hard work we have put into the car during the summer break.

“The Cruze is a great race car which does not deteriorate over a race distance.”

Neal, meanwhile, was forced to retire from race one when his Honda Civic picked up a puncture, and was only able to limp home ninth in the second.

In race three he managed to grab a third place. He warned that the rest of the season looks very close thanks to Plato’s strong form.

He said: “I knew we were in for a tough weekend and it has been a case of damage limitation, whereas Jason has gone and pulled a rabbit from the hat. That is ominous for the rest of us.”

Sunday’s result means Plato now has 151 points in the Drivers’ Championship, with Neal second on 131.

[source]

Tags: btcc, Cruze, Plato
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Up until recently, the US consumer really couldn’t expect much from the compact car segment. Did it have four wheels, a cheap price, and get decent fuel economy? If so, then that was all you could really ask for. Special features like USB ports, heated seats, or a decent comfortable interior were, at most, a pipe dream. Small cars were only for folks who couldn’t afford a larger one.

Then, as is always the case, things changed. The precipitous fuel price increase to near four dollars a gallon in 2006/2007 time frame drastically changed the buying habits of the American consumer. Small cars were suddenly looking at a rather large increase in popularity. The problem was that while the compact car buyer had changed, the compact car had not.

This has led to a rather fierce battle among the automakers for current and future small car buyers. A once neglected group of vehicles is finding new found glory as Ford and Chevrolet introduce brand new models in 2011. The idea of a full featured compact car, once laughable, is turning out to be the fuel both companies plan on using to propel themselves into profitability for the foreseeable future.

[source story]

Tags: 2011, Cruze
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Even before the first models reach U.S. dealers, the Chevrolet Cruze is among the fastest-growing nameplates in the world with sales rising an average of 18 percent per month.

Internationally, customers have purchased 140,000 Cruze in the first six months of 2010 and a total of 270,000 since Cruze launched in the spring of 2009 in Europe, followed by other major markets, such as China in summer of 2009.

Cruze is currently available in more than 60 countries, with China, Russia, Mexico, India and Spain as the top five sales markets. Including Holden and Daewoo versions sold in Australia and South Korea, total sales exceed 340,000 vehicles across five continents.

Cruze will begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in September. With U.S. models produced in Lordstown, Ohio, Cruze will be the only compact car built in the U.S. for the 2011 model year. Production at the Lordstown complex will begin with three shifts, assembling Cruze models around the clock to meet expected customer demand.

“Customers around the world have already made Cruze an international success, setting the stage for it here in the U.S.,” said Margaret Brooks, director of marketing for Chevrolet small cars. “For U.S. customers, Cruze will be priced to compete with compact cars while offering more interior room, more miles per gallon in the Eco model, and more standard safety features.”

In the U.S., Cruze models will start at $16,995 for the LS model, equipped with the most standard safety features in its segment, including 10 air bags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control and anti-lock brakes.

The Cruze Eco model starts at $18,895, featuring a standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed manual transmission. With ultra low-rolling resistance tires, and an enhanced aerodynamic-performance package, Cruze Eco is expected to deliver 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

The top of the line Cruze LTZ model starts at $22,695 and features a standard six-way power driver seat, leather seating surfaces, cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB port with audio interface, ultrasonic rear-parking assist, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Tags: Cruze, ltz, StabiliTrak, USA
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TIME was when the accepted mode of family transport was easily recognisable by the fact that it was usually a four-door saloon.

Although the saloon may no longer be considered a common or garden member of the UK motor world, there are still some around and one of the most recent additions is the Chevrolet Cruze.

Destined, says the US car maker, to be the most important Chevrolet to date, leading the way for a further eight Chevrolet newcomers by 2012, this four-door mid-sized saloon comes with distinctive design pointers aiming to make an indelible mark in the sector for quality, refinement and value for money.

Despite the five-door hatchback being a firm favorite for family car buyers in the UK, a Cruze hatch is not expected here until next year.

On offer to power the Cruze are four engine choices, two petrol in the 1.6-litre 111bhp and 1.8-litre 139bhp units while diesels are two 2.0-litre VCDi engines pulling 123bhp and 148bhp respectively.

Three trim levels, S, LS and LT, are progressively generous, the entry level 1.6 S coming with standard kit which includes air con, remote central locking, ‘follow me home’ lighting, a quality sound system with CD and auxiliary input socket plus electric front windows, all for a range price opener of a little over £12,000.

While the mid-range LS trim continued to be the range best seller during the first year of sales, driven here is the flagship range topper LT model which comes with leather upholstery, cruise and climate control, uprated sound system, electric windows all round, plus 17-inch alloys.

This car was powered by the 2.0-litre 148bhp VCDi turbo diesel engine paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, although, for a premium of just over a grand, there is a six slot automatic gearbox available for those who enjoy driving the auto way.

The cabin is a comfortable place to be, benefiting from some soft touch vinyls and plastics. The figure hugging front pews move fore and aft in very user friendly fashion and there is some extremely generous leg, height and shoulder room.

In addition, a pretty decent boot provides some 450 litres of stowage space in the neatly squared off luggage bay with all seats taken while some thoughtful storage areas on board include a centre console CD store, oddments tray atop the dash, plus cup and bottle holders.

A comfortable driving position is easily arrived at via height the adjustable driver’s seat and reach and rake adjustment of the steering wheel.

A neatly sculpted dashboard includes some attractive soft blue backlighting which I find decidedly soothing during night driving.

A handsome looker, the Chevrolet Cruze shows up good on the tarmac, its coupe-like outline featuring a sleek roofline while a decidedly muscular front end adds to its attractive profile.

Quiet and smooth on the move while sitting nicely on General Motor’s Delta 2 platform, the Cruze handles attentively. It’s nicely stable and a neat handler while there is some good quality comfort and refinement to be enjoyed in all parts when on the cruise – or should that be cruze.

Overall, this is a decent family affair, the 148bhp turbo diesel power source adding more than a touch of individual character to its roadway progress while a well appointed interior endorses its well deserved good value reputation.

FAST FACTS

Chevrolet Cruze LT 2.0 VCDi

Price: £16,045

Mechanical: 148bhp, 1,991cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 130mph

0-62mph: 8.7 seconds

Combined mpg: 50.4

Insurance group: 10

CO2 emissions: 149g/km

BiK rating: 21%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles

by Malcolm Robertshaw, drivingforce.uk.net

Tags: 2.0, Cruze, lt, road test, UK, VCDI
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