It’s Safe To Say The Idea Of A Chevrolet Cruze SS Is Dead
20
Sponsored Links
The sport compact seemingly died off in the early noughties, but the automotive world took solace in knowing affordable performance would carry on in the idea of a livable and functional hatchback. Various automakers had already taken to the hot hatchback segment, but it wasn’t until recently we saw Ford truly ramp its efforts up with its ST and RS line of performance hatchbacks that the segment got really hot. Which, by the way, will set record sales number this year.
Today, nearly every major automaker offers a stepping stone into affordable performance, normally with a hopped up hatchback. Chevrolet has skipped out. And it seems Chevrolet will continue to do so following the plethora of information on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback released recently.
With the announcement and confirmation of the 1.6-liter diesel CDTi turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine heading to the Cruze hatchback, Chevrolet also looks to cover its “sporty” bases with a Cruze diesel RS. Not SS, but RS.
And with that news, it seems we can kiss the idea of a true Cruze hot hatch goodbye. We have no doubt a Cruze hatchback will be plenty of fun to drive with oodles of low-end torque and an optional six-speed manual gearbox, but that’s not really what makes a hot hatch a hot hatch.
Consumers buy them for their boy-racer looks, look-at-me styling cues and major performance credentials under the hood. If anyone thinks a potential performance hatchback buyer would seriously cross-shop a Cruze hatchback diesel with, say, a Volkswagen Golf R or Ford Focus RS, that simply is outlandish.
We’ve heard on various occasions a Cruze SS has internal fans at Chevrolet, but ultimately, sources have told us the brand is iffy on hurting the Cruze’s “family car” image with a go-fast variant. Yet, the idea of a Honda Civic Si sitting alongside a more pedestrian Civic sedan has worked out just fine … for years, mind you.
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: a Cruze SS is a seriously missed opportunity to court younger, more affluent buyers into Chevrolet showrooms. Maybe the brand will surprise us in the future, but it seems unlikely. However, if sales and price tags are anything to go on, a turbocharged Camaro coupe isn’t cutting it.
Sponsored Links
Put the 2.0T in the Cruze and call it RS or SS and I will buy it !
Not building a true SS because it might hurt the family car image is one of the dumbest things I have heard… Zora is rolling in his grave.
That is GM speak. Let me translate.
” We will not sell enough volume to make the profits expected from the investment”
GM can not say that as it sounds bad but it is the truth.
Performance is frosting on the cake and GM is still working on the cake. Lets face it the Cruze is still not fully where it needs to be yet in the general market. Now if it were outselling the Civic in general sales globally then that might be different.
What is grossly missed here is the Golf R and Ford RS are truly global models selling small numbers in several global markets.
Chevy has no real model globally or reputation like the Golf or Ford does globally either.
With that said. Opel, Vaxhaull and Buick would be the perfect place to market OPC versions of their hatch and at a price Buick can get vs. Chevy.
There is only so much people will pay for a Cruze.
Just look back at the old SS Cobalt. Great car but low volumes and little profit with no global foot print.
I suspect that we will see a small Buck Opel hatch in the neat future that will support some really neat things with AWD. Just call it a hunch based on the clues that have been given out with other products and the killing of the nice but dull Verano.
GM has three brands in America and others globally that we much look at to see how they can make the best use of them to make profits and get the price needed to make the profit.
In America Ford and Chevy are similar. Globally Ford has been a presents for nearly 100 years while Chevy remained local. There is not a lot of volume in a car like the RS in America but there is in small numbers globally in several markets. GM can do the same with their most global brands they have put together.
If GM did a Cruze SS with AWD that cost $42K like the RS how many do you think they would sell in America? Even the Diesel would out sell it.
I want a small performance hatch in the worst way but I also have to consider what GM has to consider when putting one in market. With the failure of Chevy in Europe much of this is going to have to shift to Opel and Buick now to turn the numbers needed to make a business case.
The days of just making a car because it is a cool idea is pretty much over. Anything made has to not only make good money but sell in numbers great enough to make more money than other options that can be presented.
Now if they can do a Opel Buick OPC like model and if it sells in volumes they could trickle some of the trick parts over and make a ST like model for Chevy where it could sell in greater numbers at a lower price.
Making cars today is not just as easy as saying oh this is a cool idea lets build it. Even the cool cars have many hurdles to over come and the difference is global sales anymore.
It used to be enough to just make money but today it is all about how much money will be made. Even cars that could make small profits are rejected today for programs that make more money.
Just making money is not enough anymore.
Not trying to burst any balloons here but dreams only can take you so far in reality.
I understand the fact that a Ford is. A Ford across the globe and the same with VW. I n GM’s case at least the platforms and Engines are global so it shouldn’t be that costly to drop one of those engines in a Cruze.
I think it’s going to be a missed opportunity if Chevy doesn’t put a Cruze ss just because Hyundai is putting N performance on the Elantra
Just as before with the Cruze, only one body style and miss out. Now this, no truly sporty version and miss out. Typical GM befuddlement going on I think. But hey, we have a diesel to try to gather up the spoils from the VW fallout.
Never say never; but putting a 275 horsepower LTG 2.0L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo to compete against Ford’s Focus RS would have made a lot of sense; but even the LWC 1.6L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo from the Buick Cascada would be welcome as it is capable of 200 horsepower.
Well, GM, I can buy a Type R in 2018. You still have time.
At least offer the top of the line model with a manual gear box. Left GM and bought a Civic SI for 1 and only 1 reason. Wanted a fully loaded model with a manual transmission. I want a Cruze hatch Primere, with the RS Package, orange in color but won’t drive an automatic.
I have not seen *anything* that says this.
Just because they’re offering the Cruze Diesel with the RS package – which is an *Appearance Only* package, does not mean they won’t make a go-fast version.
They didn’t offer the CTD with the RS package last generation, and it was something people would have liked. They are just offering it across the board in every available configuration. The underpinnings of the Cruze Hatch are the same as the upper-level Cruze Sedans (with the Z/Watts-Link out back).
I would totally buy SS version of the Cruize! This is too bad….your loss GM!
I started looking at the Cruze RS Hatch, yesterday. It’s the first new Chevrolet that I’ve been even remotely interested in buying, since… ohhhhh 2010? I had an 88 Firebird Formula, in my early 30s. That was my last new GM purchase, other than S series trucks. Everything else was just boring, ugly, or absurdly expensive (like the new Camaro.)
I might actually fork over for a Cruze SS Hatch, provided I could option it like I wanted.
But I won’t likely be buying a Cruze “anything” with only 153 HP. It has, essentially, the same power-to-weight ratio as my 88 Fiero did. (Which now has a V8 in it. Fixed THAT little problem.)
I’m almost 60, BTW. So there is, maybe, a market that GM isn’t even considering.
I drove a Cruze hatch last week as we are beginning to figure out what will replace my wife’s 2012 Volt. The test drive took it off of our consideration list. Why? Mainly because it is not a fun car to drive. It handles ok, and if we were to buy one it would be an LT with a manual trans, so that might help some, but it is too underpowered to be fun to drive. The rear seat room was enough for our kids, so we would consider something with 200 plus HP and a manual. What is frustrating is that it seems that everything to do this right is there… but they refuse to put the pieces together. There is NO performance oriented family car from GM right now. (I would love an SS sedan, but the combination of rear drive and high price make it impractical for us as a daily driver.) And yes, I did buy a new Cobalt SS Supercharged and it was fun to drive. The Cruze is more refined, but also much more boring. We also drove a 2.0T Malibu, but the transmission drove me nuts. It cuts so much power at each shift that it kills the fun factor. A manual trans Malibu would make the list for us… it doesn’t need to be an SS, but that isn’t available either. I want to buy a Chevrolet, but they aren’t giving me much for options.
I want to say you can probably tune it. But again I do agree that they have to bring the performance version of it. Did you ended up looking at least at the Focus ST or RS?
Funny thing is the same thing happened to me. I test drove a Cruze hatch and I am glad I did since it took that car our of the equation. I wanted a fun car to drive again and something not requiring premium fuel like my Lincoln that I traded in. I test drove many and the car that had everything I was looking for, including price was the Elantra Sport sedan. The hatch is out now, but that 1.6L turbo and the 6-speed manual is such a fun car to drive and I have had many people ask me about it when they see it in a parking lot. It handles well, good on gas, loves being in third or fourth gear at 2500 to 3000 rpm’s and is extremely well stocked with features including a heated steering wheel. The price and warranty were fantastic and I really like that Hyundai produces their own virgin steel. My next car will be a Hyundai as well and who knows if it will be an N version.
GM Please Make a Chevy Cruze SS!
I love my 2012 Cruze LT but I would definitely buy a performance version of it if you guys had it. R.I.P Cruze SS 🙁
I have a 2012 Cruze LTZ RS with a trifecta tune. It does ok but it is a bitter pill that i know Chevy has every piece to make a kick ass Cruze SS and they never made it. They have the 2.0L turbo that has been kicked around in the ATS for years. They have the seat design they used in the Cobalt SS. They have the chassis that begs for it. They have the expertise to create the suspension to handle it. But do they do it? Nope, Chevy is allergic to success and money. I would kill for a three door Cruze with a 2.0L turbo and the Buick Regal GS gauges. While your at it Chevy get rid of the butt stache on the second generation RS.
Anyone has any idea why GM refuses to join the performance crowd in cars such as the Cruze? I think GM would do well to offer some type of performance upgrade across the board instead of only in the high dollar vehicles. It does not have to be an all out assault on the ultimate performance vehicle just some type of suterable performance upgrade.