GM Korea introduces all-new Chevy Cruze

By Jhoo Dong-chan

GM Korea, the U.S. carmaker’s local affiliate in Korea, has unveiled the new Chevrolet Cruze compact car here. The popular sedan is the carmaker’s best-selling model that has sold a total of 4 million cars in 115 countries since it was introduced to the market in 2008.

GM Korea said the new Cruze compact car has enlarged its interior space and legroom while applying light weight high-strength steels into its body.

“The all-new Cruze is a premium sedan that will upgrade the nation’s compact sedan market with its sensational design and a differentiated powertrain with safety-enhanced chassis architecture,” GM Korea CEO James Kim said during the model’s unveiling event in Yeongdeungpo-gu, southwestern Seoul, Tuesday.

“With excellence in its value, the model will suggest a new set of standards in the premium compact sedan market to satisfy our customers in Korea.”

Based on next-generation compact sedan architecture developed by Opel, GM’s core affiliate in Europe, the wheel base of the new Cruze has been extended 1.5 centimeters and the height by 2.5 centimeters compared to its previous model and has enlarged the legroom for the rear seat by 2.2 centimeters.

Despite its enlarged size, the new Cruze’s empty vehicle weight is also 110 kilograms lighter while the body is about 27 percent stronger than its previous model, GM Korea said.

The new Cruze features extended projection headlamps with LED-signature running lights to suggest Chevrolet’s sleek design. It also applies the dual port grille to give it a mighty and dynamic impression.

Reflecting Chevrolet’s interior design trend, various interfaces in its Dual Cockpit center fascia interwork with a 4.2-inch supervision color cluster to provide optimal drive information for the driver.

The all-new Cruze is powered by the carmaker’s latest 1.4-liter DOHC turbocharged 4-cyclinder engine that produces a maximum of 153 horsepower with a 24.5-kg.m torque. The third-generation six-speed transmission also offers smooth and efficient speed transition.

The official said it goes from 0-to-100 kilometers per hour in 7.5 second while getting 13.5 kilometers per liter.

The new Chevy Cruze also features various advanced drive assistance systems (ADASs) including Front Collision Alert, Side Blind Spot Alert and Advanced Parking Assist while the vehicle’s 8-inch high-definition full-color screen display with the carmaker’s MyLink Infotainment system offers smart navigation and a BOSE premium surround system with nine-way speakers.

The price of the new Cruze starts at 18.9 million won ($16,022) in Korea.