General Motors has filed a trademark application to register the term Cruze Eco with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), GM Authority has discovered.
Filed on December 1st, 2017, the filing is assigned serial number 87704431 and states that the term will be used in conjunction with “Motor land vehicles, namely automobiles.”
The GM Authority Take
This serves as a rather clear indication that GM is planning to introduce a Chevrolet Cruze Eco – a more fuel efficient variant of the current, second-generation compact Cruze car line.
Notably, the first-generation Cruze launched the “Eco” trim in the United States market for the 2011 model year. It was more fuel efficient than the non-Eco model by applying a number of creative features that enhance the car’s aerodynamics, minimize weight and reduce rolling resistance. Specifically, the first-gen Cruze Eco included:
- A lower front grille air shutter that closes at higher speeds to improve aerodynamics and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow
- A unique upper grille with more “closeouts” to improve aerodynamics
- A lower front air dam extension, extensive use of underbody panels and a rear spoiler to enhance aerodynamics
- A lowered ride height to improve aerodynamics
- Unique 17-inch lightweight aluminum wheels
- Ultra-low rolling resistance 17-inch Goodyear tires
First-generation Chevrolet Cruze Eco (2011 model year)
All that added up to a highway fuel economy of 40 MPG (with the six-speed automatic) and 42 MPG (with the six-speed manual), gaining the Cruze Eco the title of the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered vehicle in America. By comparison, the most fuel-efficient first-gen Cruze of the non-Eco variety achieved 36 MPG on the highway.
When the second-gen Cruze debuted, it didn’t get an Eco variant like its predecessor. Even so, the second-gen Cruze achieves 42 MPG highway (in L, LS, and LT trimmings with the six-speed automatic transmission) and 41 MPG (with the manual). As such, it is safe to imagine that an Eco variant will attain well over 42 MPG highway. Notably, the second-gen Cruze equipped with the 1.6L Turbo Diesel engine achieves a segment-leading 52 MPG highway with the six-speed stick and 47 MPG with the nine-speed auto.
Stay tuned as we follow this one, as well as other Chevy Cruze news and GM news.
Comments
Electric Drivetrain.
Nope. Highly unlikely for this model and price range.
Think first-gen Cruze Eco meets the already-lighter and more efficient second-gen Cruze.
which as the sizes are comparable to a bolt, and when comparatively equipped the bolt is 40k and the Cruz is 25K, and then if you take 200000k/40mpg=5000gallons/carlife and then multiply that by $2.50 gallons, that is 12500$ to make total cost of a cruz vs EV 37500 vs 40K not counting additional charges such as electric bill or high insurance. who in their right mind would buy an EV???
Eh being in a bolt is a different experience than a cruze (even the hatchback which I like). I agree that it is hard to choose a bolt over a cruze based on economy alone, but there are a lot of other factors at play that could have someone buying a bolt instead.
I wonder if this would replace the Cruze Diesel if GM loses too much money on it. They’ve only sold about 1400 so far this year, or about 130 a month. It won’t come close to the fuel economy, but it could give them the same fleet MPG average if they’d sell more.
No these not going to replace these diesel engine.
I was able to be 44 mpg in my 2017 Cruze Hatchback for a 400 mile trip.
Manual or auto? Would like to see the 9spd auto available, it is a gem.
Six speed automatic. I believe the manual would be a little bit worse fuel mileage but very close to the automatic.
I have 23,000 miles on my 2017 Cruze Hatch with manual. According to OnStar my average gas mileage for that entire distance is 37.1 mph. I’m kind of anal about keeping gas mileage records and record every tank I put in. I also calculate mpg the old fashioned way and those numbers are consistently (i.e. for every tank filled during the entire 23,000 miles) 2-3 mpg less than what OnStar tells me. My 2011 Cruze Eco also showed OnStar to be about 2 mpg more than my calculations. That’s been the case with the past 4-5 compact cars (all manual transmissions) with the exception of a 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth ( where the two methods were essentially identical), a 2014 Fiesta ST ( where the two methods were again essentially the same) and a 2014 Fiat 500L (where the long hand method was usually 1 mpg higher than the cars said). Like I said, pretty anal.
Buy US made not mexican hatchback
I prefer US Cruze’s more than Mexico’s Cruze’s. Its ironic that I live near the Lordstown plant where the sedan is built. Some of the car dealerships in the Lordstown area lock up their Cruze Hatchbacks inside fences so they are not vandalized by GM workers.
It may be a turbocharged I4 to compete with the Ford Focus and imports. As Alex mentioned it will not be electric, and may not even be a hybrid.
I would like to see a Cruze SS with the 2.0T putting out 300hp with a manual trans or 9 spd auto. I like the Cruze styling but, to me, it should be able to compete with others like the new Honda w/300hp.
How about a bloody performance variant. There doesn’t need to be another economy version. There is no excuse to not have the 2.0T in this car by now.