The all-new 2016 Chevy Cruze looks to be a winner all-around, with the technology, powertrain, and looks to continue making inroads into the mainstream compact sedan segment. But what about a coupe variant?
Consider the following: the Cruze’s predecessor, the Chevy Cobalt, was offered in a 2-door coupe body style and various competitors offer two-door variants of their compact entries.
| Sedan Variant | Coupe Variant |
|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | Scion TC |
| Honda Civic Sedan | Honda Civic Coupe |
| Hyundai Elantra Sedan | Hyundai Elantra Coupe (discontinued) |
| Kia Forte Sedan | Kia Forte |
And thus our question: should Chevy offer a Cruze Coupe? Vote in the poll and discuss in the comments below.
Update: after a resounding “yes” from the poll, we just published our rendering of what a Chevy Cruze Coupe could look like.
Comments
At this point the RWD coupe is not going to come to market so I would like some form of a coupe here.
The keys would be to sell it at a price it would sell in good numbers.
To do a performance version right it is down right impossible to do and not creep into Camaro pricing.
If they can do a well done coupe and a performance version that is class leading at under $30K I say yes. the latter is Damn near impossible anymore.
I know first hand that once you get over 300 HP at the front wheels you need AWD as you just have a hard time getting the power to the ground. Power to the ground is a waste if you can not hook it up. I can light my front tires up now at 50 MPH.
But AWD can add cost if you use a respectable tuned system. Get too high priced you may as well buy a GS.
I don’t think it’s downright impossible to do a performance version at a decent price; there are so many examples being done by companies with less scale than GM — including Honda (Civic Si/Type R) and Subaru (WRX/WRX STi). The only companies with similar scale to GM doing this are Ford (Focus ST/RS) and VW (Jetta and Golf GTI/GLI).
All of those fill performance and then even higher high-performance classes, and the Cruze should do the same.
Not impossible but damn near difficult.
Once you get over 3K it is difficult to sell many cars in this range if you also offer a RWD V8 for near the same price.
Your Camaro people will always go Camaro and your GTI people will never go to a FWD Chevy, At the lower volumes here loyalty is difficult to overcome.
There is a lot more to this than just building the car. Pricing and selling can be difficult. The Cobalt SS hit the sweet spot and if they could do that with only a better car that would be great. But again that is not easy to do in a Chevy model.
I completely disagree with you, Scott.
First, let me address the notion that it is “difficult” to bring a mainstream compact performance vehicle to market at under $30k. Consider these prices:
The Focus ST has a starting price of $24,370.
The Jetta GLI has a starting price of $26,920.
The Honda Civic Si Coupe starts at $27,890.
The Subaru WRX starts at $26,595, and that’s with the “added” cost of AWD.
Most of these have at least $500 manufacturer rebates on them on a monthly basis.
So, it is more than possible to do a compact performance vehicle in the mid-20s, and do it well. And considering that GM has roughly the same scale as Ford and VW, and much larger scale than Honda and (definitely great than) Subaru, let’s put to rest the notion that it’s difficult to do this at under $30,000.
Second, let’s give some thought to your notion that “Camaro people will always go Camaro” and “GTI people will never go to a FWD Chevy”. The majority of Camaro V6 customers (non V8/SS buyers) are actually not that loyal to Camaro (or the idea of longitudinal powertrain placement and RWD) . Take a look at Polk data if you want to confirm this if you must, but it is true. At least half Camaro V6 buyers purchased the Camaro because it was “sexy” and “sporty” (verbatims). Given the option of another coupe that meets those criteria, there will be a healthy portion of buyers who would rather have something like a Cruze Coupe. And that’s not even considering the fact that the Cruze “Performance” model would likely offer more features/equipment than a comparably-priced Camaro. Look at the difference between the Mustang and the Focus ST for examples.
Also, the notion that “GTI people will never buy a FWD Chevy” is also shaky, at best. Did you know that roughly 1 in 4 Focus ST buyers switch from Volkswagen? I wonder which model they’re switching from. Consider the fact that in the eyes of many, VW is no longer innovating the GTI/GLI lines as much as it did before; for instance, horsepower in the MK7 Golf GTI is still stuck in the 220/230 mark despite major advances in turbo-charged powertrain technology, as your know.
The bottom line here is that if Chevy builds a better product in a performance Cruze (sedan or coupe, hopefully both) AND markets it right (tedious yet effective direct conquest campaigns are a must here), buyers will come. And there will be enough of them to make it worth it, especially with the huge economies of scale enjoyed by the Cruze line. Perhaps that goes in line with the statements you make in your last paragraph… but the situation isn’t anywhere as bleak as you make it out to be. Quite to the contrary, actually.
Chris as sold these cars all reach stickers around $30K as no one buys them gutted.
Hell my HHR SS was $28K sticker back in 2008 as was the Cobalt SS was in at $27K.
First off a coupe is a difficult sell in this country.
Second the perfoarmance version are not cheap as per sticker price with all the options most people get.
Third this segment is loyal. The Subaru has its own followers. VW has a very loyal following and they seldom stray. Honda they keep coming back if they offer something which they do off and on.
Ford is just rally starting to show some traction but also how many of these go to fleet sales. I see many with names on the side.
Chevy had a start of respect with the Cobalt SS but never was able to continue it. Even with that said the Cobalt SS production was very low compared to the big picture. Yes they could do a sedan SS but has anyone really looked at the Cobalt SS production numbers. One they are extremely rare.
The one thing that would have to play into this is this.
First Chevy needs to make a Cruze Coupe Global. All the big names that offer coupes are global models. This removes the pressure of recouping the investment on one market.
Two They have to find styling and ergonomics that fit the life of the young person that is the most likely buyer. Keep in mind 50% or more will be women.
Three the main stream model must be affordable but well optioned. It has to present as a good value. Not just in price but insurance and MPG.
Four if you are to do a performance model you need two things. Keep it affordable and under $30K with all the good things. Also you must make it open to the after market. Upgrades and easy to make it go faster parts are where these cars thrive. My own HHR SS added 55 HP with just a change of two Map Sensors and a computer flash. That was only $500 for right at 300 HP and 315 FT LBS and still under warranty. That is the kind of performance younger people can afford as even the LT is much more in the price range of mid lifers.
The whole picture is not bleak it is just a lot more difficult to do a car like this than many realize anymore. The days of a young person buying a new car in High School are gone and even many who just graduated Collage are now loaded with debt that they can not afford a car for years after graduation if they get a good job.
It is tough to sell in this segment anymore outside the family looking for a affordable but good sedan. That is why there has been such an absence of the model for so long.
But with that said the odds are much better for a FWD coupe than a small RWD coupe right now. At least GM would not have to created a new platform and the Small RWD coupes are just not selling as expected.
But even with the HP wars of the small coupes you have to consider too that most need to run on Regular gas. You generally lose half of your buyers over several cents more per gallon. Silly yes but all the same real. GM has tried to hold the line to the Regular recommended vs required. It gives buyers the option. Now if you go required 270 HP turns into 300 HP right now as I can see regularly 23 PSI.
Now one more thing. Even many here have never driven an Eco Turbo. They have no idea this is not the same turbo 4 as many of us experienced in the past. One drive in mine I was hooked as well as several friends. They had no idea that the little engines hold so much torque from 2000-5300 HP. A solid flat torque that will spin the tires at will at speeds most RWD cars will never do.
This brings me to the last step, FWD is horrible for getting the power to the ground. The weight transfer to the rear makes hooking up hard and even launch control will just slow you down as much as wheel spin. More Work needs done here or a way to make a Haldex AWD system light enough and cheap enough for a car in this segment.
Keep in mind on the performance end I work in the performance industry and deal with it all from FWD to RWD globally. I know were the market is, I know of the strong loyalty and I also know what the driving factors involved from the MFG are for making money in this segment.
Too many people think it is a just build it and they will come. Even cars like the RWD Scion and Subaru as many as they have sold has been a disappointment profit wise and they are looking for ways to change them to make them sell better. But at this point they may fade away at the end of their cycles if the money is just not there.
It is no longer about just making money but you have to make a specific level of profits anymore. That is why some models are missing and some get the nod. Some companies take a chance and some times they pay off but many times they don’t. If you are going to invest a couple billion into something you have to get the most return and the model that offers that wins. Sadly it is not always the fun model.
FYI if you have a $500 Rebate that is a sign you did something wrong.
The key from this point forward will be right at 300 HP or just over for most small performance cars unless they cut weight. You get under 3000 pounds and you can get by with less.
FYI VW has a notion to do a 395 HP Golf AWD so they have that covered too but that one was said to be around $40K-45K if they do it. So the numbers you speak of at VW are just of the moment. I expect numbers between the 395 and the 230 HP range will be filled.
Note too it is not just HP but the whole package. The reason I bought my HHR SS was not because I liked HHR’s. To be honest I never had anything for them but like the Cobalt SS it was a product of the GM performance division that really fixed all the ills of the Cobalt and HHR suspensions. Sachs Struts, new Control arms, bigger bars lowered springs and much better steering. Note my HHR SS was tuned by Mark Stielow who also was in charge of the Z/28. The key here is the vehicles suspension and engine are a whole package. Not just a bigger tire and stiffer spring upgrade. Even on 4 cylinders a Cobalt was only a couple seconds shy of the Camaro SS time at the ring. By the way I have my fillings yet as they tuned it to be less stiffness is more performance unlike GM cars of the past with the springs that were only good on the test track black lake and not the real roads.
Just let me make it clear. I am all in on a coupe like this but I just ponder all the little and big things a product planner have to consider that people on the web never consider.
I wish it was so easy as to build it and they will come. But real life is not like that anymore.
There’s honestly no more Hyundai Elantra coupe anymore but I’d say why not a Cruze coupe?
I’d rather an Impala coupe. Well I’d rather a rear drive 650 hp Impala in a two door SS configuration and 4 door. But that’s not gonna happen. So I’d rather, If any got a coupe setup, an Impala.
There is literally zero or close to zero demand for such a vehicle.
Most of the mainstream market is in the sub-compact, compact, or midsize segments today and it’s difficult enough to sell a full-size sedan nowadays, let alone a full-size coupe. Though a coupe could be more profitable, so the break-even volume would likely be significantly lower for an Impala coupe.
Did I not say that I know it would never happen? Well allow me to say it again, I know it will never happen. The only reason I said I want a coupe, rear drive Impala is because I have a personal attachment to classic Impalas with rear drive and a V8 but again I know that will never happen.
Well, when you put it that way… 🙂
It is called a Camaro. There is only so many people in the coupe segment and a small FWD is your best shot.
There hasn’t been a good looking Camaro since 1973. Forgive me if I’d rather have a 2 door Impala in rear drive than a new Camaro.
“There hasn’t been a good looking Camaro since 1973”
Speak for yourself on that one… I would take a 2016 Camaro over any of the previous generations without a second thought.
Congratulations.
Well sorry you have been in the minority.
I’d change the name of the car. I just doesn’t grab me.
IT just doesn’t grab me.
Cruze RS = 300hp AWD Civic Si fighter
meant to say Civic Type R Fighter
How much and how many do you think it will sell and to whom?
Answer these and you have a business case.
I want the first generation Cruze to come back as performance version, transformed as coupe, of course.
I can’t understand why GM dumped the design identity of the first generation Cruze.
Second gen is almost the mixture of Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, and Honda Civic, which is totally
void of the consideration how important it may be to maintain the design identity
between generations.
Cruze has lost its original design identity and connection with the first gen.
Second one is just another class of compact sedan, with only the name being identical.
Imagine Porsche 911 someday refreshed as a hybridized mixture of Corvette and Audi R8.
It will suck very much.
The Camaro 2.0 Turbo IS the Cobalt SS successor. No need for a 2 door Cruze
So a turbo-charged powertrain transcends a vehicle into an entirely different segment?
Does that mean that if I put a 2.0L Turbo in my Silverado, does it make a compact city truck? No, it does not.
Do you think Honda Civic Coupe buyers (or the buyers of the aforementioned coupe variants) would buy the boosted Chevy Camaro? They wouldn’t, as it’s a completely different buyer profile. If Chevy follows your advice, they would be losing out on profitable sales… and we don’t want that, do we?
Oh, but a Silverado with the 2.8 Duramax tuned to compete with the Ram EcoDiesel would be awesome!
Chris if priced the same the Camaro would have a major advantage over the Honda in getting the power to the ground. Also a simple Turbo upgrade would put it over 300 HP. Note the Solstice was able to put down 340 FT LBS with the RWD version of my tune.
You would never win the loyal Honda guys who gut their cars to make them faster but you would draw away the guys tires of spinning front tires and never putting the power down in a FWD.
If your truck was 3000 pounds and doing 13’s In the quarter mile it is a good start of a performance vehicle.
Cars like this often lend themselves to cheap and easy to find HP. With simple things like larger intercoolers a three bar maps you can flash the computer with up to 60 more HP for less than $1000.
Now this is a draw for many of the younger buyers who can not afford the cost of building up a LT engine that can run several thousand dollars just for the entry changes.
The fact many buy these small turbo’s in FWD is only because it is generally only found in a FWD and not a RWD. This is an issue for most as it is so damn difficult to get a FWD to hook up. The weight transfer unloads the front of the car with the weight going to the rear under acceleration.
Now that is not to say that I am not saying not to do the FWD coupe but it would be just as foolish to no accept the Turbo Camaro as a reasonable performance vehicle with much potential with RWD 2.0. In fact that is one of the one things if I could have Changed on my 2.0 would be it would have RWD.
I hope GM makes a performance model of the next gen Cruze. Say an SS with a bigger motor and matted to a 6 speed manual transmission. I want to go back to a GM compact car so bad but they don’t have a performance model
The reason I say the 2016 Camaro is the Cobalt SS successor is because the 2016 not only has an updated version of the Cobalt’s 2.0 Turbo, but it is also smaller and lighter than past Camaros (I’m guessing 400lbs more than Cobalt SS)
My hopes of a Alpha based Code 130r concept to act as a performance variant to the Cruze were dashed and I figured the new Camaro would fill that Void.
I agree that the reality is hot hatch buyers such as GTI, Focus ST, Mazdaspeed3 etc are not interested in value price Camaros and Mustangs, because they also enjoy the functionality of their short wagons.
We’ll have to see when the Camaro 4 pricing is announced, but I have a hard time imagining that a 2 door Cruze 2.0twouldnt creep awfully close in price
G.M is missing a trick by not developing a coupe version of the next generation cruise, in Europe we have enjoyed the Astra GTC coupe for many years and I was saddened to discover this stunningly handsome, driver focused version of the perennially popular Astra, won’t see a next-generation version due to relatively low sales. The answer is simple, leverage the engineering work across the world by launching Buick and Cruze versions. G.M really need to learn to flex their global muscles when it comes to perceived niche vehicles, of course they can create a business case for this and many other vehicles by leveraging the best of their global product portfolio.
Completely agree with you, Glen. To add, GM loses scale by not having Chevy in Europe any more, where a 5-door hatch, 5-door wagon, 3-door hatch, and 2-door coupe would do relatively well (and better than the 4-door Cruze sedan).
I think GM needs a coupe and a hatch in this segment just to be competitive. They’re cutting themselves short otherwise.
Paul at the end of the day they have to look to see how much money they make with just the sedan alone vs. the investment into a coupe and sedan. Too often the one alone produces more profits.
This is why above I said this needs to be a global thing and sold everywhere to take the investment and shrink it to where you can do this.
This is how the others are pulling it off.
Can someone look up the split of Cavalier/Cobalt 4dr vs 2 dr sales? It seems like what I see on the road of those models it was about 50/50. I would buy a Cruze SS before a 4/6 cyl. Camaro,if I was buying Camaro it would have to be V8 SS. I see Camaro as muscle, Cruze SS as “mini” muscle.
Although a coupe would be a good looking car, the general public in this segment isn’t looking for a 2door version.
You only have to look at the prior 2 door Cobalt. The Hyundai Elantra 2 door was discontinued due to lack of interest and the 2door Civic is not selling in any volume.
When profit is considered, I believe throwing money at a 2 door version will not pan out.
I agree a performance hatch might be a better gamble
I’d really like to see a coupe in the Cruze. After going from a coupe to a 4 door, I’m constantly annoyed by the B-pillar when checking my blind spot over my left shoulder. Merging on a poorly designed on ramp is frustrating. I don’t have that problem in a coupe. If for no other reason than this, I’d like a coupe.