When Chevrolet revealed the production spec Cruze hatch last year during the Geneva Motor Show, we had are hearts set on a U.S. launch. We even had sources whisper to us that the Cruze Hatch was going to be built in Lordstown, Ohio. Alas, it seems we won’t be so.
Once again following up with our sources, the Cruze hatchback project as it stands has been cancelled for the U.S. market, leaving the Ford Focus and its hatchback offering to rejoice. Yes, the diesel Cruze is still on the way, but it seems that Americans are going to be stuck with only the sedan variant for a while. Hopefully the hatch will make an appearance during the impending global refresh…
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Yet another good idea traigcally being barred from North America. The new GM is rapidly advancing to the ways of the Old GM. It’s a shame, really. With the HHR gone, and not having a Cruze Coupe nor hatch, the General is missing out on potentially thousands, even hundreds of thousands of sales.
Why is it that the U.S. has become the “afterthought” of GM product development? It’s as if American’s aren’t capable of an original engineering thought any more. It’s down right pitiful that North America has become the “dumping ground” for euro, asian and south american designs. Why can’t we start from scratch with a blank sheet of paper here in the US and design a vehicle from the ground up, and actually see it available here BEFORE somewhere else in the world? I understand the cost-cutting ideas behind “platform sharing” & “global architecture”, but why oh why can’t the idea start here, THEN go to the rest of the world instead of the other way around???
Granted, GM is coming up with some awesome vehicles…it’s just a shame that we can’t get them here in the US.
Is it GM’s fault that American are buying cars designed elsewhere (Cruze, Regal) in droves while those same Americans shun alot of American designed cars. GM is primarily a business, and they will do whatever is most profitable. We must also realize that were not the only ones in the world and there is nothing wrong with having global cars that are good for everyone.
GM vehicles designed by and for Americans:
Equinox
Traverse
Tahoe
Suburban
Colorado
Silverado
Avalanche
Express
Volt
Malibu
Corvette
Camaro
Impala
Lacrosse
Enclave
Terrain
Sierra
Yukon
Acadia
CTS
SRX
many more
thats all I can remember…
While we lust for alot of European market cars, that is also true vice versa. as many Europeans drool over American market cars.
Though I agree that “new” GM is still making the old mistake of not bringing pefectly good ideas like the cruze hatch to America when they could easily do so and when there is evidence that it will sell.
I agree, we have awesome cars to choose from, but denying us something that consumers and the automotive press agree would be a joy to drive here in America goes against capitalistic sense – choices are good for you!
Kia offers a coupe, sedan and wagon in the Forte; Ford offers a sedan and a wagon Focus; Honda has the sedan and coupe Civic – where are our Cruze variation?
The Focus wagon was discontinued years ago, the hatch is still rockin 5 doors though 🙂
I wonder if they were afraid of canobolizing Sonic purchases, which makes sense. However GM should provide a range of options in all categories, I personally have mixed feelings about the approach, what if Sonic did not exist but you have that full range of Cruze vehicles, some with more powerful engines and improved RS packages then you almost create a brand Lexicon within a brand. In other words the Cruze almost becomes its own brand. I think GM really blew this opportunity,
Do you think that the Spark went away for this reason? That’s my opinion, but it would make CAFE easier to have all three.
All these sudden announcements of cancellations is suspect. VERY suspect. I think this is reverse psychology at work. Come out and say “we’re not gonna build it” or “we’re not gonna sell it” and then see just how much hate mail and how many death threats they get. If the number of those are high enough then build. The bonus of that is the (rightful) claim that GM listens to its customers! Sounds like ingenuity to me…but then again..only if I never thought of it first! LOL!
I think that it’s being deliberately done to kill off manufacturing in Australia.
Pontiac got shut down, meaning no export market for the Commodore as the G8, the Monaro was cancelled and now the cancellation of the Cruze Hatch snubs Australian manufacturing yet again.
Well done GM. It’s a fine way to flip off people in other countries.
Hard to believe. Watch for this model to make it stateside with the next gen Cruze.
@Rollo: Kind of makes me wonder if the Holden Ute will EVER make it to the United States as a rebadged Chevy El Camino. If I knew any better (and this would be rather unfortunate to the Australian spirit and morale), Holden may just be folded into Chevy as the Korean Daewoo had been merged earlier. A good number of their cars are rebadged Opels, and those models that aren’t Opels come out of South Korea now. As far as I know, only the Cruze and Commodore are manufactured in Australia today.
Yea its unfortunate whats happening to Holden, its death will be even worse for austrilians than Pontiac was to us, but the reality is that Holden is destined to die, it is no longer a question of if, but one of when. 🙁
@Kris Starring: Of Holden’s current line-up, there are no Opels on sale. Opel have even realised this and will sell cars in their own right in 2012. Basically all Holden manufactures are the Commodore and variants and only the Cruze Hatch; the sedans come from Korea.
Holden builds all Cruzes in Australia now. We no longer import them from Korea.
I think its quite perplexing that GM wont be offering North American customers a Cruze Hatch. In Australia, we have the Hatch alongside the Sonic (we call it Barina) and they are in completely different market segments.
Holden anticipates the Hatch will almost double sales of the Cruze, already one of the top 5 highest selling vehicles in Australia.
Well that’s not surprising coming from GM Chevrolet. Anything absolutley nice looking that the Chevy fan would love to see and purchase rarely to never comes to be (with the exception of the Camaro) .Just teased at an Auto Show then let down. I know the Cruze Hatch is just basically a Opel Astra with a Bowtie but would have been welcomed with open arms! I doubt the TRU130S will ever make it here either as is just a Vauxhall Astra VXR over in Europe. I have a better chance on waiting for Alfa Romeo’s to come to America than GM making a American made Hatchback, Holden UTE as an El Camino or Midsized RWD 2 door coupe like the 2011 CTS Coupe. Not getting overly excited for any more Auto Shows GM will be at! Maybe Just maybe they have other plans for something similar but better? A Malibu Hatch? That rumored Chevelle Concept that didn’t never came…It’s just frustrating!
The Alfas are coming, as a Doge Dart. Have fun paying the service bills.
Sounds like a lot of these offerings are being pushed back to the next generation…how sad though for those that want/need a car like this now.
This is even more reason why Chevy should have an Orlando-sized vehicle available NOW in the US. My family doesn’t need something as large as an Equinox and the only way I would buy one is if I could get the new 2.5L with eAssist. How long am I going to have to wait for that? Just silly that it isn’t offered in 2012.
I really hope Richard is right, that they are looking to see what kind of public backlash they see to cancellations to determine where the ax falls. Let’s hope the Cruze hatch makes it. Don’t eff this up GM, please!
was looking foward to the hatch, holden is to Oz what chevy is to us a home grown source of pride VERY FOOLISH of G.M. to kill off the brand
@Rob, I meant the current Focus. Hatchback, notchback, wagon – they’re so interchangeable today. Cut me some slack! 🙂
NO SLACK FOR YOU! 🙂 I made the distinction because I miss the small wagons. I’m currently looking for one, and the best option is far and away the Subaru Outback. GM could compete, and a Focus wagon with AWD and the Fusion V6 combo could be a cool ride. I know that the small wagons were a small market, but those who had them drove them exclusively in most cases. They’re an orphaned group now, but the foreign companies are welcoming them with open arms.
Sigh… I want a hatch or wagon. I WILL NEVER EVER, EVER BUY A MOMMY SUV! GM, Get it thought your HEADS! NO SUV FOR ME till it gets the same mileage as a small hatch or wagon (which, if the laws of physics remain the same, is impossible). I WANT TO BUY A CHEVY….. But GM does not want to sell me the car I want to buy…. Sigh, looks like VW Golf or Sportwagen, again, perhaps Mazda if they offer a Diesel alternative.
I guess it’s not too soon to start talking about the GMC Granite again. LOL.
I was interested in the Granite concept. I think GMC had the right idea of going compact in light of fuel economy and driver wants, but used the WRONG method of how to do it. GMC doesn’t need to be greenlighting hatches or anything else that resembles a Scion xB. It’s just not their market. Never has been, never will be. Their best bet is something similar to the Suburu Outback or the Baja. Maybe even a relaunch of the Sprint/Caballero. Anything truck/SUV based without getting too minuscule to justify being a GMC.
i didn’t actually like the wagon variant of the cruze and the hatch in othe pics is ugly but in this pic its gorgeous come oooon chevy we need a cruze hatch. jeremy the orlando in my opinion is a copout for chevy but thats my opinion i live in canada (we get it and you don’t 😉 just kidding) and i have yet to see one on the road even though they are at the dealers. i think the orlando would have fit better as a buick in my opionion.
i think a malibu hatch but with a rear door instead of the actuall hatch but not a wagon would sell better especially if they offered a awd version. id also love to see a malibu coupe, my idea would be it would be as long as a cruze but still as wide as it is making it an awesome corner carver. these are only my opinions so be nice please 🙂
Right, the Orlando must have not been ready for the American market. Not having actually seen one up close I can’t say whether GM made the right decision or not…but something is still needed in this segment…Delta-sized small CUV. Interested in the Buick Encore, but it’s going to be on the small side…like a Subaru Impreza (which I love, but will need larger eventually) I think they still need something between the Encore and the Equinox. Been a small-AWD wagon guy for years. So damn practical.
Chevy drops the ball again. We had been waiting for the hatchback to replace our HHR with 179k miles, but it looks like we will be looking at other brands now. You wonder who makes these bonehead descions. They revive themselves (with our tax money) only to go back to their stuck in the mud ways.
Tired of waiting for GM to build what I want. My last three vehicles were GM, and I love them. No hatchback and no diesel, then I guess I will go elsewhere.. VW dealer 70 miles away, would love the Sportwagen TDI. Hey whats this C Max from Ford? Looks very interesting.
i dont know why GM dont make Cruze Hatch in U.S, it looks nicer and useful