In a slight change of plans, General Motors has reportedly opted to hold back on launching the all-new Chevrolet Cruze by a year, citing engineering changes and the desire to wring out more sales on the current model — including the diesel version that’s just now arriving at dealerships across the U.S.
This engineering change-up might could mean increased development costs for the new model, but if it results in a better product, it’s hard for anybody to complain about it. The delay means that the all-new Cruze, which will be based on GM’s new D2XX platform, will launch around December 2015, instead of late 2014.
Are engineers making room for a bigger engine? All-wheel-drive? Yet even more airbags? Looks like we have some digging to do…
Comments
Odds are they have more work to do and more things to work out that they are not happy with. Also the present car is selling in great numbers so there is no hurry right now.
Get the car right first is how GM is working anymore. This is part of Lutz Legacy. He did the same with the first Lacrosse when he was not happy with it and it was a year late.
A company can change a lot in a car in a year.
Who knows it may have failed in some clinics.
If its an effort to properly fix some flaws with the next model or revise some areas, this is a good move. Get it right the first time. But if this is just GM trying to make more money by dragging out the life of the current Cruze, then this is a mistake. The lifespan of car models is shrinking more and more, significant updates are happening almost every two years on a model and a new one usually arrives after 4 years. The Cruze’s market segment is extremely competitive and new models are doing very well. The Cruze came from nothing to being a sales leader in some months. I would hate for it to lose that position just because GM is sucking every last dollar out of the current model.
They don’t want to pull another ‘Malibu’
I bought a Cruze a few months ago. What an awesome car! I don’t blame Chevrolet for wanting to get an extra year out of this current car.
I’m ‘witch you. The Cruze is selling well and it still looks GREAT- if it ain’t broke! All the other cars in the segment look good, but they have that “spleen” shape to them, the Cruze looks unique and contemporary.
Hello, I was hoping to see the Chevrolet Cruze sooner..hmm
Good, that means my new Cruze won’t feel old for at least another year.lol
I agree though, we don’t want another Malibu. This one has the best the competition in every way, not just many ways like the current one does.
Let’s hope that they are deciding to make it more than one body style too. The European hatchback version was gorgeous and we can all remember the success of the Cavalier Z24 ….. a Cruze Z24 coupe would be great!
Cruze was a late bloomer here in thw states: delayed launch not to mention the Chapter 8 blow back.
While slightly bland, Cruze is a solid car on par with 1990s Jetta which sold until recently as Jetta Classic in the Chinese market.
Like Impala before it, Cruze can hold on for a bit until the perfect next gen is developed. The spy shots depicted a step down for The General. Hoping next gen will be more Elantra, less Sonic
I have no problems with GM holding on to the current cruze for another year, it’s not like the car is sitting on lots begging people to buy it!
GM should maximize their profits off this car!
I seen plenty of complaints about this and it just goes to show you some people are just not ever happy
The more I think about it GM has not gotten ready the new transaxle yet. Could it be unlike the many other models where they come out with one transmission then then change it the next year like the Trucks they will do the entire package as one while the tie up other smaller details.
I really do not see this as a attempt to not have another Malibu. The reality is the present car is selling as well as ever and the other in class are not making any big changes in the next year. For once GM did not have to rush a car to market to shore up sagging sales or a car that was as old as the W body.
New platforms are often over-rated from a driving experience point of view. W platformed Impala drove well and did fairly well in the mpg department.
Exterior design, not the W, was Impala’s problem. Automakers often create new platforms to cut cost and not as a means to woo customers. Only car junkies care.
Concur. Based on each year’s ecstatic new car reporting one would think that older cars were nearly worthless. In fact, old cars were often very fine driving cars with features sometimes hard to find on new cars.
Car makers are fiercely cost-cutting. Examples include Toyota’s reduction of sound insulation and harsher ride, Volkswagen’s lower interior quality in its VW brand, and Honda’s replacement of a better front suspension with the cheaper MacPherson strut design on some cars. Less noted are the smaller gas tanks, increased use of forced options packages, etc. Long ago one could buy two-tone paint on many cars, along with other amenities no longer widely available.
Same is true of the old short wheel base Epsilon platform which was a better fit for NA Malibu. VW makes a unique large Passat for our market. Mazda 6 went big for NA, and it harmed them globally. Kia made a big Optima and raised the brand profile.
As everyone expanded, Malibu shrunk as to share lines with Regal and also to finally create mid sized global scale. In the process, we got a less inspired car with a less refined interior.
tired of waiting. Brought home 2013 impreza hatchback Sport w/5-speed. First non-GM ever. Maybe I’ll be back someday? Feel left out of GM’s plans.
Trader!
Huh?
GM is a company, not a country. They have been happy ro cheat on us with cars like Aveo and Vibe.
Your either a GM loyal customer or your not! Pick a side!
I did why can’t you?
I can be a GM fan while admiring the hard work of other automakers. I love the artistry of the entire industry.
Well if you keep looking over the fence one day your going to wish you were over there!
It’s really sad these days people have lost the soul and roots! Now they just pick what ever makes their friends or family happy So they can feel popular!
Where’s the conviction? Where’s the pride? Where’s the line in the sand?
Why would anyone feel a sense of convictions when it comes to a car company? We are not talking religious or the patriotic.
Loosing sales is good for G M. It makes them worked hard and earn customers. They would build crap if only loyalty mattered.
So you have no respect for non G M designs?
“Why would anyone feel a sense of convictions when it comes to a car company.”
Gentlemen — if I may add some perspective here.
Some people love fishing, others love football, and yet others love cars. And for one reason or another, those who love cars feel strongly about their them, most likely because it’s a subject of love and passion — something automotive enthusiasts (such as yours truly) have chosen to care about and love, rather than being forced to by school, society, or other external pressures.
In my experience, this observation can apply to any topic a person is truly passionate about, be it underwater basket weaving, knitting, or chess.
@brian ritter To @thehofinator’s point, GM doesn’t even offer anything remotely close to the Impreza hatch in the States. It’s GM’s problem, not his. I’m sure if The General offered the Cruze hatch in the States, he would be all over it. But alas GM doesn’t, and he’s not.
Im with ya, I have a solid GM family, Im the first with a non Chevy/GM vehicle in a while. Even have Family at a local Chevy Dealer *unfortunately not primary family so no discount*, Being a Suby Owner here I love my 09 Legacy, drove a 2013 ‘Preza hatch, unfortunately it just didnt feel substantial enough for me. That and the CVT in the Impreza was terrible, with the 2.0 boxer, I drove a 2012 Legacy, and loved it but not for 22 grand for used. I shop around a lot…. But until GM brings a good AWD system over for us here in the states as an option, even as a low volume alternative for their cars Im sticking with Suby in the north east, as I have no use for a Truck or SUV.
While the Cruze has aged well, it is becoming stale, gm can’t afford to do what they did to the Cavalier, and only do minor facelifts over a 10 period… To stay in the market and stay competitive they have to remain fresh. Structurally they probably had to revise as well especially with the latest IIHS testing. Hopefully they will bring a Coupe and a Hatch to the US market, something desperately needed, as no US manufacturer has a Coupe other than a muscle car, and only 1 US manufacturer has a Hatch.
You mean staying fresh like the Toyota Corolla that has been a pig for around 10 plus years and guess what people still buy them!
Not sure what goes threw those people’s heads but being fresh only takes care of car guys like us! Mom’s and grandma’s could care less how old the platform is or when the last refresh was!
I agree the Corolla is a pig… however…. That is just a testiment to Toyota owners, having been historically happy with bland, boring lifeless, soulsucking crap… *Cough that Toyota tells them they want Cough*….
Being a Subaru owner myself I have been disappointed in how, Suby is going toyodor on the line up, its too safe, there’s little to no edge, and its far too mainstream…
For GM to get ahead and attract the younger buyers they are looking for, as opposed to fleet sales for rentals, and company cars they have to get this refresh right.
I love the Cruze, however Euro spec beats us by far, they get some way better styling queues, and its a matter of time until people see it and say “Hey I want that feature”
Testing the waters is fine, People who keep cars for x number of years until it dies is fine, however for those who lease, or trade frequently they need to give them a reason to stay in the family.
The European Cruze hatch was gorgeous but they haven’t been able to sell a hatch in volume since the Citation. If they assume it’s going to be low volume and whack it with a big price differential over the sedan, it will be low volume.
As for coupe, I don’t know why they abandoned this market. Even if you only made an up-level version — say Z24 Cruze — the volume would still be significant enough and the profitability on a per unit basis than an entry level Cruze because of the all the equipment.
I feel like this Cruze will be around for a while globally like VW did with 90s Jetta, a varient of which is still sold in China today. I know GM has said something about keeping the car in production in developing markets. GM will probably sell it to rental companies in NA for years to come like Impala and Captiva.
GM needs to keep Cruze simple, but Reuss (so-called car guy) has indicated he thinks Chevy needs to takes more risks meaning ‘sporty’ as in Sonic–barf!
Elantra demonstrates that a sub compact can be simple yet sexy. Mazda 3 is another example. My nightmare is that a beautifully simple almost Germanic car will go all speed racer in the typical GM tradition of plastic and crome as opposed to taking a cue from companies like Nissan and Kia that have made smart, sophisticated and sexy sub compact cars.
As the enlarge, the sub compact segment has become the global mid sized, and a vital component in any company’s line up. Chevy’s future rides on this car.
I never thought the current cruze didn’t need the coupe or a hatch or wagon the first time it came to the states cuz most people thought it was going to be a failure before it got here and I didn’t think adding models that might sit on the lots not selling hurting the image of the car!
Now that the car is threw one model run it’s time to bring a new car with a 2/4 door hatch and wagon to take on the sales leader!
I saw the hatch they sell in AUS and got all mad that they don’t sell it here. It would be perfect for work.
The European hatch was awesome too. For some reason GM hasn’t been very successful selling hatchbacks in the US so one would suspect that it’s the way GM equips/prices/markets hatchbacks.
Guys — the Holden Cruze hatch is the same exact car as the “European” Chevy Cruze Hatch. Just wanted to clear that up, in case there was any confusion.
Many of us want the Cruze hatch to reach the U.S. As an example:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/03/opinion-fine-dont-bring-the-cruze-wagon-but-please-bring-the-hatch/
Luckily, GM knows about this, and will offer the next-generation Cruze hatch in the U.S.:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/11/reuss-next-gen-2015-chevy-cruze-to-offer-hatchback-variant-in-north-america/