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Cruze Hatchback brings exceptional value and unique style to the compact segment

2011-07-21

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• Cruze hatch ready to energise the segment
• Speedy silhouette maintains key Cruze design features
• Generous interior space and high level of standard equipment
  
• Comprehensive set of standard safety features
  
• On sale summer 2011
  

Since its market introduction in 2009, the Chevrolet Cruze has won the heart of many motorists worldwide. Sporting distinctive, powerful body lines, it launched a revolutionary design language for the Chevrolet brand.

With the arrival of the Cruze Hatchback, Chevrolet will be present in full force in Europe’s hard-fought compact segment. The Cruze Hatchback will offer customers the style and versatility of a five-door car, while featuring the same qualities associated with the award-winning Cruze Saloon.

“We believe that the Cruze hatch will provide us with a great opportunity to extend Chevrolet’s presence in the compact segment,” says Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe. “If you look at what we achieved with the salon, Chevrolet’s best-selling nameplate around the world in 2010, there’s every reason to believe that the hatchback, will contribute significantly to Chevrolet’s growth in Europe.”

When setting out on the task of creating a five-door hatch based on the Cruze Saloon, Chevrolet’s engineering and design team had to take into account that the customer base for the compact five-door market is very heterogeneous. The result is a car that need not shy comparison with the mainstream competition in Europe.

Featuring a bold, expressive Chevrolet design, the Cruze Hatchback combines a progressively styled passenger cabin and leading interior space with a line-up of efficient petrol and diesel options. In the domain of safety, too, the Cruze  delivers a lot of value, with comprehensive safety equipment standard with all models.

 “Chevrolet cars are real cars for real people. Our aim has always been to deliver products that appeal to people from all walks of life, irrespective of their social status. The Cruze Hatchback is a material expression of this philosophy and offers a lot of car for the money. It communicates a clear statement in terms of design and styling without compromising on safety, practicality or economy”, Brannon continued.

All Cruze Hatchbacks will come with enhancements to the interior. Customers will be able to choose from three different trim levels, LS, LT and LTZ.

Sporty profile, lots of space and technical features

The exterior of the Cruze Hatchback evokes movement and kinetic energy. The main design cues which underscore this impression are the fast roofline, the slightly swept, concave shoulder line as well as the headlamps with their pointed, arrow-like housings. The hatchback’s proportions, its short front and rear overhangs, and body sides which slope inward when viewed in profile, all reinforce the car’s grounded, secure stance.

“It is the speedy, sporty profile and the wide, confident stance that distinguishes the Cruze Hatchback from many of its more static contemporaries. We were fortunate to have a great proportion from the Cruze saloon to work with”, says Martin Love, Chevrolet Cruze design manager.

Like the Cruze Saloon, the hatch has an assertive front appearance created by the horizontally separated radiator grille and the headlamps’ twin halogen bulbs. Moving to the rear, the roof-mounted spoiler and a subtle crease in the pillar which runs to the base of the rear screen reinforce the visual expression of speed. The tail light cluster shows attention to detail and contributes to the upmarket appearance of the Cruze.

Inside, the Cruze is characterised by a flowing cabin arrangement, and by copious amounts of space and great versatility. In reference to executions seen in the iconic Chevrolet Corvette sports car, the Cruze features a dual cockpit layout. It is separated by the integrated centre stack which flows into the centre console. In conjunction with the mid-instrument panel, made of fabric or technical grained protein vinyl, and the LED-backlit instrument cluster, these elements add to the feeling of relaxed comfort.

Luggage capacity is 413 litres with the seats up and rear passengers enjoy 974 mm of headroom. Folding the rear seats forward in a 60/40 split increases the cargo volume to 883 litres. Various storage spaces in the two-tier glove box, the centre console and door pockets, as well as the seatback pockets can be used to stow away a wide array of everyday items, such as books, CDs and small laptops.

Other technology and comfort features include:

• A full-feature driver information centre that is now standard with all trims

• A Radio/CD system, MP3 playback functionality and radio digital signal; up to six loudspeakers

• A two or four-colour infotainment display (depending on trim level)

• USB jack located in the centre console storage on LT and LTZ specifications, for MP3 or iPod connectivity

• Manually-controlled air conditioning with particulate filter on the LS model; automatic climate control on all other specifications, plus automatic air recirculation and an air moisture sensor on LTZ models

Efficient powertrain options, excellent traction and handling

Under the bonnet, there is a choice of three engines – two petrol units and one diesel. In early 2012, moreover, a new 1.7-litre diesel engine will become available. All engines are four-cylinder units featuring double overhead camshafts, 16 valves and either multi-point fuel injection, or in the case of the diesels, common-rail technology.

Both the 1.6 and the 1.8-litre petrol engines operate using continuous variable cam phasing. The model year 2012 modifications include new intake manifolds on both units. Powertrain engineers furthermore raised the 1.6-litre engine’s compression ratio and adjusted the 1.8-litre’s engine control calibration.

At 6,200 rpm, the 1.6-litre petrol engine has an output of 124 hp when equipped with a manual transmission. The 1.8-litre engine delivers 141 hp at 6,200 rpm. Its maximum torque is 176 Nm at 3,800 rpm. Both engines return 42.8mpg, with the 1.6-litre unit emitting 153 g/km of CO2 and the 1.8-litre petrol engine producing 155 g/km of CO2.

Being one of the most powerful engines in the compact segment, the 2.0-litre turbo diesel available in the all-new Cruze Hatchback and model year 2011 Cruze Saloons, can count on increased peak firing pressure in the combustion chamber and a chain-driven timing system.

Excellent throttle response, impressive torque of 360 Nm at 1750 rpm and compliance with Euro 5 standards (147 g/km of CO2) are among the key characteristics of this engine. It produces 163 hp at 3,800 rpm, achieving a top speed of 127mph when combined with a manual transmission and requires 8.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60mph. All engines can be combined with either a manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Key to the Cruze Hatchback’s excellent handling characteristics are its wide track width, the body structure and its advanced suspension system. The Cruze Hatchback has a body-frame-integral (BFI) that is made of high-strength steel and among the most rigid in the segment.

The BFI provides a superior foundation for achieving the nimble, responsive yet relaxed driving that can be experienced in the Cruze Hatchback. It also facilitates measures aimed at dampening noise and vibration.

The McPherson strut front suspension has side-load compensated front strut modules with specially shaped springs. The hydraulic ride bushings effectively absorb road input loads and provide a high degree of ride isolation. The design of the compound crank (torsion beam) rear suspension contributes to a lower centre of gravity and also enables weight savings and consistent wheel-camber control.

Steering is either hydraulically or electrically power-assisted and provides the driver with a solid on-centre feel.

Occupant safety a top priority

Both in terms of the materials used and build quality, the Cruze Hatchback represents a major improvement over Chevrolet’s previous compact hatch. The structure of the Cruze Hatchback is close to identical to that of the Cruze Saloon, which achieved a 5-star NCAP safety rating.

A host of electronic systems has been incorporated in order to prevent accidents from happening. In an emergency, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) will intervene to help the driver keep his vehicle on track and assist him during challenging braking or acceleration maneouvers.

At the core of the Hatchback’s safety architecture lies its body frame integral which consists of a single welded unit made of full-length beams, pressings and box sections. Door-beams of ultra-high strength steels provide excellent protection against side impacts.

The six airbags as well as the five three-point seatbelts are controlled by the car’s Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM), a device linked to sensors in the front bumper and the B-pillar. Child safety seats can be secured in compliance with ISOFIX standards.

In order to reduce the risk of injuries to the driver in the event of an accident, a collapsible pedal assembly folds away in moderate-to-severe impacts. Meanwhile, the design of the bonnet provides more space between the bonnet and the engine, which makes direct contact between a pedestrian and the engine block much less likely. The bumper system, too, has been configured to reduce the likelihood of pedestrians sustaining injuries from the vehicle’s structural components.

Launch across European markets begins in summer 2011.