SPY PICS: Early facelift for new Chevy Cruze

An early, mild facelift for the new-generation Chevrolet Cruze sedan sold on the Chinese market is on the way.

These photos snapped by an Automedia team staked out in northern Europe show a Chevy-badged Cruze test mule – gaudily arrayed in epilepsy–inducing camouflage – that reveals changes to the side mirrors (now mounted on the doors rather than the window frame), grille and front bumper design. What's happened at the back end is more difficult to perceive, but it's a pretty safe bet there's a new set of taillight lenses, as well as a new profile for the bumper.

Conjecture about the reasons for the seemingly premature facelift suggests the second-generation Cruze was first introduced later than planned to avoid a clash with the Opel Astra that rides on the same D2XX platform. The new front end of the facelifted Cruze is expected to bring it into line with the Corvette C7 design that is influencing upcoming Chevrolet models. As yet, the new Cruze has not been launched in North America.

The latest Cruze is said to offer more interior space, improved on-road dynamics and higher quality levels compared with our locally-built version.

Our previous-generation Holden Cruze was given a facelift early in January, changing its face in a mid-life revision that was also accompanied by some rationalising of the available engine lineup. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and 1.4-litre turbo-petrol were dropped, leaving only the 104kW/175Nm 1.8-litre petrol and the 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol to carry the Cruze flag.

It is expected Australia will adopt the new-generation Cruze sedan after local production stops in 2017.