The constant on-and-off rumor of the Chevy Cruze (or even Holden Cruze) getting an SS badge is getting old, and still remains fruitless. If anything, we may still see the implementation of a more wholesome engine such as a boosted 2.0L ECOTEC in the hot-selling Chevy, giving it SS characteristics sans the badge. Besides, Ed Welburn wants one.
Source: Car and Driver
Comments
SS badges would be nice, I’d rather have 2.0liter tubo and call it Not so ECCO or Hello Kitty, or Vega GT or Chevette GTE, or well you get the picture, not calling it SS and still being the fastest FWD around Der Nurburg Ring, would show more attitude than GM has ever in history, I for one think it would get respect from the cognesetti in the media and blogs
Z-Spec FTW!
The cruze is taking place of the cobalt right? So why wouldn’t you make an ss model? I saw pictures of what might be the ss model and they are sweet! I would fore sure buy if it was built.
Yeah, the Cruze is the Cobalt replacement. But it seems that Chevy is focused on emulating Toyota’s boring model of “we don’t know what high performance is” when it comes to mainstream vehicles such as the Cruze and Malibu. Granted, we have the Corvette and Camaro — but I would love to see a Z-Spec variant of the Cruze with a boosted 1.4 (and higher output or maybe the 1.6), ground effects, and a stick…
I like the idea of a hi-performance version of the Chevy Cruze but I honestly would have to lean towards a 2 dr coupe (ala Vega GT) instead of a 4 dr sedan (for all those mid-life dads who still haven’t grown up yet). Of course, it has to have the “hot” motor under the hood with plenty of torque (not torque steer) with an unbeatable exhaust tone reminesant of the ’81 thru ’85 Citation X-11 or Celebrity Eurosport V6 Sedans-we “true blue” chevy people still remember that exhaust sound and it was nothing short of great. For manual transmission vehicle’s it should be referred to as a GT and automatic versions are GTA…..ah, the future of Chevy Hi-Performance in the American showroom–let’s keep our fingers crossed.
why?
Chevy is still gonna be in the shitter, and the Cruze and fun as it may be to drive (so i’ve read) it isnt gonna reinvigorate the compact market for them and it especially won’t put them in the same league as the other sport compacts out there.
Hopefully you’re aware that the Cruze is currently the best selling vehicle in the segment through the past year. And it comes in just one body type and offers merely two engines. There’s so much room to expand on the market for this car, even though it’s already dominating.
The Cruze is a quality vehicle that delivers on what most people want in a compact, and most would want a cool-looking 2-door Camaro over a 4-door SS-Cruze or Malibu. I’m seeing the latest Camaro everywhere. GM seems to be trying to do a few things well, catering to most, rather than failing at trying to do everything. If GM wants to successfully expand (for “most”) it should probably go in the opposite direction (from SS versions) – toward a more efficient Cruze or hybrid to compete at the same price level with new entries from Toyota and Honda. Those cars were being flocked at a recent auto show, as was the Camaro. The Cruze diesel will be an excellent first step.