http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...New-Models.php
Quote:
When General Motors Corp.'* new global small car hits the U.*. market in mid-2010, the company is expecting it to fetch a better price than Honda and Toyota get for their small cars, GM executives said Monday.

The Chevrolet Cruze, officially unveiled Monday in Detroit on the eve of GM'* 100th anniversary, is a big step up — inside, outside and in fuel economy — from its predecessor, the Chevrolet Cobalt.

GM is banking on a big step up in price, too, as it tries to make up for revenue lost when the U.*. market shifted rapidly from more profitable trucks and sport utility vehicles to more efficient smaller models.
I have no doubt that GM can offer a competent small car that can compete in the same league/price as a Civic or Corolla. All they have to do is rebadge some of their European offerings. However, the part that made me laugh was the part below. GM plans to power the largest car in it'* class with the smallest engine in it'* class. Yeah, because people are lining up to pay a premium for slow cars. The punchline had better include something about a hybrid electric motor assist drivetrain.

Quote:
The Cruze will be larger than the current Cobalt, as well as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Ford Focus, yet GM claims it will get better gas mileage than all of them, around 40 miles per gallon with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine.

thoughts?

Dont stick your hand out the window, the draft resistance will stall the 1.4L ?? I thought I read somewhere the car was to sticker near the $14k price of a Cobalt? Civic Hybrids are like $23k? And if they can actually squeeze 40MPG and 140HP out of this new turbo'ed 1.4L, they might have a sales winner. Not a big believer in what GM says. Time will tell.

I've hear a little about it. Depending on how you read the strategy behind it..it mgiht work. Somehow I doubt Honda and Yota will stand idle waiting for GM to try and outclass them. It took many years and work to get where they currently sit.

Where'* Nissan in the big scheme of the future planning. No one is really talking much about their future.

imo nissan has an decent car that fits the market atm, known as the versa. from driving them and selling them they are great little guys. nice interiors and the built in bluetoof and keyless start are nice features.

specs:
MR18DE – 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine
122 hp @ 5,200 rpm
127 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
Emissions – ULEV
Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS)
Nissan Direct Ignition System
Electronic drive-by-wire throttle

Drivetrain
Front engine/front-wheel drive
6-speed manual transmission
Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission)

Brakes
11.02" vented front disc/rear drum brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) AB AB
Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) AB AB
Brake Assist AB AB

Suspension and Steering
Front: Independent strut suspension with stabilizer bar
Rear: Torsion beam suspension with integrated rear stabilizer bar
Ripple-control shock absorbers
Electric power-assisted steering

2009 EPA Fuel Economy Estimates 1.8 *
Manual transmission (city/hwy) 26/31
Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) (city/hwy) N/A 27/33

Curb Weights (lbs)
Manual transmission 2,693

not bad and the engine is decent enough imo. not great but decent. the area under the curve is quiet large which is why driving it is enjoyable and you don't have to rev it to 5k+ to get any power out of it.


i hope gm can make the car they claim. i will be VERY surprised as 40mpg and the biggest car in it'* class kinda is an oxymoron.