A pair of new reports from GM Authority confirm that the all-new next-generation Chevrolet Cruze compact will be pitched against Ford, Toyota, and others as a fuel-economy play. Based on GM’s new D2XX compact underpinnings, it’s said that the 2016 Cruze will be “significantly lighter” than the current model. There are no specific numbers reported relating to the Cruze’s weight loss, but with the current Cruze lineup all exceeding 3000 pounds on our scales, expect that to be the bar Chevrolet hopes to limbo under with the new model.
What’s more, the lighter car will put its power to the ground through an available seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Developed by GM along with its Chinese joint-venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), the seven-speed dual-clutch is expected to be restricted to higher-level trim models of the 2016 Cruze. A six-speed manual and six-speed conventional automatic are also likely to be offered.
- 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Spy Photos: What’s Next for Chevy’s Big-Selling Compact
- Compact Comparo: Mazda 3 Fights Ford Focus for Small-Car Supremacy
- Chevrolet Cruze Pricing, News, Reviews, Specifications, and More
The car is likely to offer one or more choices from GM’s new direct-injected small-engine family; GM Authority reports that those mills, along with the lower curb weights, will help the all-new Cruze achieve fuel economy ratings anywhere from 14 to 21 percent higher compared to those of the current model. But until we see final numbers, all this talk is just that—talk. But if the 2016 Cruze can deliver on these rumors, it could catapult itself into the thick of the fierce compact-car battle.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1x9AlqL
via Agya
