The diesel engine coming to the Cruze, like all current technology ones, has resolved drawbacks consumers associated with older generation diesel cars, such as excessive engine noise, exhaust soot and smell.
In the latest example of how complicated the global auto business is, Chevrolet will sell a Cruze diesel this fall in North America that has an Italian engine design, a German-built 2-liter turbo diesel, which will be installed at the final assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. The 2014 model will start out at $25,695 with destination and a two-year maintenance plan included.
The turbocharging helps deliver what at the moment is a segment-leading 148 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque with an estimated 42 mpg highway that awaits final EPA verification. This should be good for a 600 mile highway range. Oh, by the way, the North American calibration was done by engineers in Pontiac, Michigan.
The gasoline versions of the Cruze are selling strongly, and GM is hoping that after a decades-long absence in the diesel car segment controlled by the Germans here that the pricing and fuel economy will be enough to spur sales. It undercuts the top trim level 42 mpg Volkswagen diesel Jetta TDI by $500, but the TDI starts at $23,875 with a manual transmission.
Cruze diesel has 0-60 performance of 8.6 seconds, which is better than the Jetta TDI automatic. Another advanced feature taken from European practices is the “overboost” setting on the turbocharger calibration that sees output climb to 280 lb.-ft. for 10 seconds of more passing power.
Cruze diesel comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, 3.20 final drive ratio, 140-amp alternator, 800 cold-cranking amps battery, 17-inch alloy wheels, ultra-low-rolling resistance all-season tires, a rear spoiler, an aero performance package and leather seats. Other standard features include Chevrolet’s infotainment system MyLink, and a five-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Since Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel’s emissions will be below stringent U.S. environmental standards including Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards, as well as pending California LEV 3 standards that go in place in 2015, it will be a 50 state car that Chevrolet can promote and sell for years to come. So-called clean diesels – helped by now universally available low sulfur fuel generate at least 90% less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions when compared to previous-generation diesels.
Since the 2-liter is a variant of the 2.5-liter and 2.8-liter diesels used in the Thailand-built Colorado mid-size pickup truck, I also speculate that when it and the companion GMC Canyon go into production this summer in the U.S., GM will have more diesel offerings. In fact, the truck gambit would appear to be less risky because truckers are well adjusted to the torque and fuel economy advantages that diesels provide.
The car market is a greater unknown, but given the potential, this is not necessarily a bad risk to take now. GM has sold nearly 2 million Chevrolet Cruze models globally since it was launched in mid-2010. GM produced more than half a million small diesel-engine cars across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America last year, including Cruze. In Europe, approximately 40% of Cruze models are diesel-powered.
Closer to home, Chevrolet points to growing interest in diesel cars, the sales of which could double by mid-decade, according to market research firm Baum and Associates. Diesel car sales, which account for a mere 3% of U.S. sales today, are increasing from a low baseline and are projected to double by 2015. Diesel car sales have jumped 35% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Diesel car sales grew more than 27% last year, according to the Diesel Technology Forum.
General Motors sold more than half a million diesel-powered cars across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America last year, including 33,000 Cruzes. It hopes to increase that number with the new markets of Canada and the U.S.
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