Chevrolet reveals new Cruze

GM's Chevrolet brand has revealed a new-generation Cruze small sedan that should eventually replace Holden's slow-selling, Adelaide-made Cruze in Australia.

Holden's current Cruze sedan and Australian-designed hatch – which so far this year have proved less popular than the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 and Volkswagen Golf – will go out of production with the Commodore in 2017, when Holden shuts its Elizabeth factory doors.

At that point the Cruze sedan you see here, which is essentially a US version of the Cruze sedan revealed in China last year is likely to replace Australia's Cruze sedan, while our Cruze hatch should be replaced by Opel's new German-built Astra.

Confusingly, however, it's believed a new Cruze hatch will be sold in North America for the first time, after US dealers were shown a 2016 Cruze hatchback last week at a dealer meeting in Las Vegas.

The replacement for GM's top-selling global car – with more than 3.5 million sold since the current model was launched in 2008 – was revealed overnight by CEO Mary Barra and global product development chief Mark Reuss, and is scheduled to go on sale early next year in the US, where the nameplate replaced the Cobalt in 2010.

So far this year the outgoing Cruze is the country's third best selling small car (with 273,000 sales – up 10 per cent) behind the Corolla (339,500) and Honda Civic (326,000).

Based on GM's new D2XX small-car platform, Chevy's more stylish new Cruze sedan is said to be 113kg lighter than before, as well as 68mm longer and 25mm lower than before, making it one of GM's most aerodynamic cars.

It's also claimed to be one of the most dynamic, thanks to a 27 per cent stiffer body structure.

At base level in the US it will be powered by a new 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, which GM says will produce 113kW/240Nm and make it quicker than before. It will also be more efficient, however, thanks to a standard idle-stop system and new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

A new Cruze diesel, powered by a new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine reportedly built in Hungary, will join the US range in 2017.

Interior space – especially in the rear and boot – is claimed to take a big step up thanks to a "class-leading" 2700mm wheelbase that's about 25mm longer than before. GM says rear legroom, at 917mm, and 51mm more rear knee room makes it more generous than the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra.

Interior technology also takes a step up. In the US, the new Ohio-built Cruze will come with a 4G LTE high-speed internet connection, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging and a faster new version of Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system.

Other new cabin features will include a heated rear seat and steering wheel, a 4.2-inch high-resolution display in the instrument cluster, and piano-black and matt-black surfaces.

New safety technologies include lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert and LED daytime running lights on up-spec models.

There will also be an RS sport package including a unique grille, front and rear fascias, fog lights, front splitter, rocker panels, rear spoiler and 18-inch wheels.

"The 2016 Cruze builds on a very successful program that introduced Chevrolet to new customers the world over," said Alan Batey, GM North America president. "We retained all the attributes that made the original Cruze a hit around the globe and built on them to make this car more sophisticated, more fun and more Chevrolet.

The new Cruze is truly one of Chevrolet's most global vehicles. With content variations dictated mostly by local market demands, customers in every corner of the globe will enjoy the same fundamental dynamics that are making Chevrolet one of the fastest-growing brands around the world."