Holden's next Cruze teased

This is our first look at the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze small sedan that's almost certain to replace the current Australian-built Holden Cruze post 2017, when Holden shuts its factories.

Bristling with cool new features, including a rakish new look along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smart phone integration, it's set to be larger but lighter, which means it should be more fun to drive but more economical too.

Teased here in a new official photo, it's clear the new design will take the Cruze to a new aesthetic level. There are similarities with the Chinese Cruze and with the car snapped in May.

Although there have been rumours that the car will only be offered left-hand drive to service its most lucrative markets – China, USA, Brazil, Canada – motoring.com.au understands that right-hand drive versions will be built, and it's looking more and more likely to be offered locally.

As such, Holden could offer the new Cruze as a sedan-only model here, with one scenario seeing the European-sourced Astra hatch filling the hole left by the Cruze hatch.

Based on GM's latest D2XX front-drive architecture, the new Chevy Cruze will be revealed in full on June 24 in the US (early June 25 for us) and will be manufactured in several different global locations. It remains to be seen where Australian models would be sourced, but Korea is the most likely source.

As Chevrolet's best-selling global vehicle, with more than 3.5 million sales accrued thus far across 115 different countries, the car is critical not only for Chevrolet's parent company General Motors, but also potentially for Holden.

"The small car segment is critical to the success of any major car brand in Australia," said Sean Poppitt, GM Holden's director of communications.

Although he wouldn't be drawn on whether this all-new Cruze will be offered locally, he responded that Holden would have a compelling small-car strategy post factory closures in late 2017.

"If you want to win in Australia, you need a strong small car," he stated.

Holden has committed to releasing 24 new or facelifted models by 2020, including a V8 sports car that's now expected to be the Corvette.

Former GM Holden boss and now Chevrolet's global brand chief and president of GM North America, Alan Batey, said the Cruze's future sales potential was significant and that the new model heralds "style, safety and connectivity at an affordable price".

"In every corner of the globe, Cruze has been successful at introducing new and younger customers to Chevrolet," said Batey.