Chevrolet Cruze – the next-gen premieres in Beijing

chevrolet cruze beijing 4

Another Beijing debutant, this time from General Motors, which finally took the covers off its new Chevrolet Cruze. Officially, that is, because the second-gen sedan was caught fully uncovered last month in China, the market that will be its first port of call. Actually, it might be a while before it arrives in other places – the US, for example, soldiers on with the J300 following last week’s announcement of a facelift.

The company says the car is the first working iteration of Chevrolet’s next-generation design language, and derives styling inspiration from the Tru 140S Concept from two years ago.

It wears a sharper looking suit compared to that of the current car, led by a more rakish front end. Styling elements include daytime running lights mounted above the fog lamp surround and a more distinct dual-mesh grille layout. Shorter front and rear overhangs add further to a tauter visual presentation.

chevrolet cruze beijing 2

The automaker’s new-generation Ecotec small-displacement engine, co-developed with Chinese partner SAIC, is set to feature in the Chinese market-Cruze.

Two engine options will be available, a turbocharged 1.4 litre direct injection unit and a normally-aspirated 1.5 litre one, both four-pot designs. As for transmissions, there will be three on call, led by an all-new DCG seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, again co-developed with SAIC.

The other two gearboxes are a new six-speed manual developed in Europe and the third-generation form of the S6 six-speed automated manual transmission. No performance figures touted, except that of fuel economy – the new car is expected to deliver a fuel economy improvement of 14 to 21% compared to the current Cruze.

Live pix by Kwek Chai Li

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Vader on Apr 22, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Nice..
    All the car manufacturer come out the new cars aggressively, local brand P1 and P2 need to catch it up fast!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 1
  • why does this car look so familiar? it’s nice but seems like a copycat from another make.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
    • Hyundai De.La Junk on Apr 22, 2014 at 5:48 pm

      Rear light copy Honda Accord, Front upper portion VW Sirocco, Front lower section New Ford Focus.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • kia cerato? chevrolet cerato?

    anyway the interior is better looking than cerato

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
  • Joker on Apr 22, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    The rear light of new cars are looking more and more the same.. I see Cerato here….
    btw nice car though by Chevy…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
  • Don’t copy my design language lah…Chevoret cruze….or else i let you copy but you need to change your name to Chevrolet cerato!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • GTR36 on Apr 22, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Different design direction? Not so American muscle car-like anymore.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Too asian looking.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • KangKungMan on Apr 22, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Before that is Japan .. heading to Korean Design … Now US also copy Korean Design ?!?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • So Ford Mondeo!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • xiper (Member) on Apr 22, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    the front looks like Cerato and rear looks like Altis

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • noname on Apr 22, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    good effort by chevy by launching this new boy. The design is ‘so-la-la’. But one thing that i really think about, how do they match the overall design with the front design ? Its doesnt match at all. it looks unmatured.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • It’s not bad looking but it lacks originality, please make it original like Preve. Even if it’s has conti flair it still original , original , original

    And the result? It’s still head turners, not civic, not cerato, not elantra, not altis, not focus, not pug not others

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Taio Cruise on Apr 23, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Too generic …looks like mix between Hyundai & Ford

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
 

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