2011 Chevrolet Cruze Delayed

WOW, that's a nice looking car!

In regards to quality, I'm a bit skeptical with the delay as the Solstice/Sky had a similar delay yet the overall quality of those 2 were no where near the Miata's. Hopefully the Cruze will be more fortunate.

Although the delay may not be actually necessary, delaying a car's debut because of potential or uncertain levels of quality doesn't look good for the brand.

Chevy in Paris - hmmm.

^ agreed.

How is it a nice looking car?

Nothing wrong with it but it could be any Kia, Hyundai, whatever on the road today.

After all the hype I see just another Cobalt. A nice car bought by those who only care about it being a nice car and affordable.

GM needs a small car that will make people go WOW for a change.

This is really a non-issue. I don't think anyone is shedding tears over a few month delay. I took a poll of 1,103 Americans aged 16 to 98 and found that 0% would say "I can't wait for the Chevy Cruze!". This study has a 3% margin of error.

The real issue. What's up with the giganto brakes?

It's a handsome car, in a BMW 5-series way (which is a big improvement from the Cobalt 4-door). And if it can set up as good as the Cobalt SS, then they may have a winner!

It kinda reminds me of the Sebring actually. Check out the C-pillar.

Great looking car, I'm looking forward to it. I hope the extra time actually results in a quality product in its first model year, unlike far too many GM models...

It's European so it hast to be better, just like the Astra. No wait....

That looks pretty sharp. Like the lines better than a Focus or Elantra.

Not a bad looking rig....It does kinda look Sebring-ish around the c piller. I think it is smart of GM to wait and get it right......it vary rarely does.

@sabastian,

I was about to post what a nice looking car that is until I saw, "It kinda reminds me of the Sebring actually." Now you've ruined it for me.

And what's with the huge cross-drilled brakes? Does that thing have enough tire to make use of those stoppies?

Sorry bimmer :-/. I'm sure it'll be a lot better in the flesh than the Chrysler.

@firstwagon: Small cars that produce a "wow" from the public are pretty few and far between. Maybe the Soul, maybe the Fit--for some folks. But it's pretty hard to produce "wow" on a small-car budget. Even harder when you have a corporate culture that doesn't value weight-saving as an appropriate use of engineering talent. Only one GM car that I can think of--the Corvette--employs significant weight-reduction technology.

bimmerjay has a point. That thing has some pretty low profile tires and some crazy brakes on it. What we're looking at is not what's going to be sold to your neighbor as a commuter car.

Looking good, looking good baby.

I guess I'm one of the few here who can see a bit of sophistication in its design, at least in this picture. The big rims just help complete it. It's purposeful and substantial similar to how the current Mazda3's design is executed. Very nice.

However, in person it could be the exact opposite as I've seen other pictures that cheapen the overall design significantly. Chevy needs to rid themselves of the association to the bottom basement compact.

It's clear that Chevy needs a GREAT small car not another Cobalt or Cavalier. Chevy also needs to add CONSISTENCY to this area as the constant name changing of their small cars over the years shows their own lack of confidence in the product and that alone can seriously their reputation regardless of segment. Stop promising and deliver.

Notes to Chevy:

- Find a solid and potentially successful compact formula/philosophy.
- When that formula/philosophy is found, build upon it and continuously evolve that formula/philosophy for generations to come.
- Stop shooting for the bottom end of the compact segment as people will pay more for a higher quality, better executed package. (EX: Honda Civic / Mazda3)
- Raise the bar for Chevy compacts as well as the segment.
- Broaden the lineup: Possibly add a hybrid model, maybe a 5 door, and more high end features on the higher end models (EX: Mazda3 GT).
- Don't make one bare boned fuel efficient model (XFE) and then project the overall (Cobalt/non SS) lineup produces similar results as that level of fuel efficiency should exist across the board. Of course the hybrid model would have greater efficiency and the SS model will have a lower level of efficiency, but that's expected.

Agreed, hondacura4. I'd throw a mini-mpv into the mix too. Let the Cruze become an uplevel small car a la Mazda3 and leave the bottom-feeding to the Aveo and the Spark.

"leave the bottom-feeding to the Aveo"

Blech. Let the Cobalt replace the Aveo.

There's no way the beancounters at GM will allow this to reach production in the US.

"let the cobalt replace the Aveo"

Cobalt sales have dropped considerably and even C4C didn't significantly push sales.

http://www.business-journal.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=14759&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1711&hn=business-journal&he=.com

hondacura: I agree.

"In regards to quality, I'm a bit skeptical with the delay as the Solstice/Sky had a similar delay yet the overall quality of those 2 were no where near the Miata's. Hopefully the Cruze will be more fortunate. "

I think its really a supplier or ramp up issue, not a quality issue. They said the delay will allow all variants of the car to be sold from day one which means there is some delay in one of the critcal subsystems like powertrain. My guess is this is related to the 1.4L turbo or the 6 speed automatic. They have been preparing for this car for a while so this "quality control" story doesn't wash.

"There's no way the beancounters at GM will allow this to reach production in the US."

You're being facetious I assume. We are getting the same car sold in China and Europe in the US- only engines will be different. The interior blows away the Corolla and is at least as nice as the 3, probably better.

"I guess I'm one of the few here who can see a bit of sophistication in its design, at least in this picture. "

No, it looks good but the USual Suspects hate everything that comes from GM so I don't know why you are taking them seriously. You might as well look for pro-Pelosi chatter on Fox "news". Don't expect anything rational or objective from biased people. Notice no one is saying what compact looks BETTER, they are just saying this is lackluster. No compact sedan for sale in the US has a sportier look. The 3 hatch is OK looking, but the sedan is frumpy and awkward.

"It's clear that Chevy needs a GREAT small car not another Cobalt or Cavalier. Chevy also needs to add CONSISTENCY to this area as the constant name changing of their small cars over the years shows their own lack of confidence in the product and that alone can seriously their reputation regardless of segment. Stop promising and deliver."

I know its hard to accept, but people at GM already know all of this stuff which explains why much of what you are prescribing is already being done. The name is changing because this is a GLOBAL car. It is called Cruze everywhere just like Civic and Corolla and Focus. The car will have features like leather, heated seats, rear parking sensors, 6 speed auto, remote start, etc. Overseas it has nav and a on board HD and I believe auto climate control. GM has already said the car will be more expensive than the Cobalt. The Cobalt name is being dropped because it hasn't been around long and there isn't much equity in the name anyway. The Aveo and Spark will slot in below this car at the bottom end of the market. This has all been stated numerous times.

"There's no way the beancounters at GM will allow this to reach production in the US."

Its under "future vehicles" on the Chevy site. Its supposed to be unveiled at the LA auto show in production form.

"Broaden the lineup: Possibly add a hybrid model, maybe a 5 door, and more high end features on the higher end models (EX: Mazda3 GT)."

The Orlando is the MPV version of this car.

"And what's with the huge cross-drilled brakes? Does that thing have enough tire to make use of those stoppies?:"

That is the show car, not the production car. No compact is coming with cross drilled brakes. I would expect 18s to be offered since the Cobalt has them already.

This car looks nothing like the sebring.

"Great looking car, I'm looking forward to it. I hope the extra time actually results in a quality product in its first model year, unlike far too many GM models..."

what first year quality issues did the Cobalt have? I think you are confusing it with the Focus- that's a Ford product.

The car would look worlds better if that black plastic triangle on the C-pillar was removed and it had a solid sheet metal flank.

3 things:
1- agree with breif, the greenhouse looks too cheap with that plastic thing tacked on.
2- the rear looks like the bangle butt
3- looks better than anything Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota have in that segment; still not better looking that the upcoming Hyundai, or the current Mazda3 and Honda Civic.

Put down the Kool-Aid 1487......do you really think chevy builds better cars than Ford? I mean really?

You know what we need around here? A good old-fashioned Chevy vs. Ford debate. It's always GM vs. "the imports", BMW's are too expensive, CTS-V this, CTS-V that. Time to beat a new dead horse.

Here I'll start: Chevy sucks. Ford rules. (specifically, the new Fiesta is better than the new Cruzbalt)