AP Sources: GM to sell diesel Chevy Cruze in US


By TOM KRISHER, AP


DETROIT — The Chevrolet Cruze, the most popular car in the U.S. last month, will come in a diesel version that could boost gas mileage to around 50 mpg, two people briefed on General Motors Co. product plans said Monday.

A diesel Cruze would help GM meet more stringent government gas mileage requirements. It also would rival the efficiency of the popular Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid, which gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway, according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The diesel Cruze won't hit showrooms until at least 2013, according to one of the people, both of whom asked not to be identified because the company hasn't made a formal announcement.

The people didn't know the price of the Cruze. Cars with diesel engines generally cost more than those with gasoline engines because they are more expensive to produce. The base version of the Cruze now starts at $16,525. The diesel Cruze would be built at GM's factory in Lordstown, Ohio, southeast of Cleveland.

GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson would not comment on the diesel engine.

GM sold about 25,000 Cruzes last month, vaulting the model past perennial leaders such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord to become the best-selling car in the U.S. Both Toyota and Honda had fewer models to sell because of parts shortages caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

GM has several diesel-powered cars in other parts of the world, including a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel Cruze that's selling well in Australia.

GM and other U.S.-based automakers have been reluctant to bring diesel engines to the U.S. for fear that people wouldn't pay extra for them. Only 2.7 percent of cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. came equipped with diesels in the 2010 model year, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank.

But Volkswagen, which offers diesels in several models including the Golf and Jetta compacts, can't produce enough diesel engines to meet demand in the U.S., spokesman Scott Vazin said. About 22 percent of the automaker's U.S. sales came from diesel vehicles in the first half of the year.

The Jetta diesel gets an estimated 42 miles per gallon on the highway and 30 in the city. A diesel Jetta starts at $22,995, about $2,000 more than the starting price of a comparably equipped gas-engine Jetta. But the diesel also gets about 35 percent better fuel economy on the highway.

GM, Volkswagen and other automakers will have to use diesel and other technology to meet stricter U.S. fuel economy standards in the coming years. Already the U.S. new-car and light truck fleet has to average 35.5 mpg by 2016, up nearly 10 mpg from current standards. The Obama administration is proposing that the standard reach 56.2 mpg by 2025.

Each auto company will have a different fuel-efficiency target, based on its mix of vehicles.



http://xfinity.com...S.GM.Diesel.Cruze/

Posted by PorkChopExpress GM and other U.S.-based automakers have been reluctant to bring diesel engines to the U.S. for fear that people wouldn't pay extra for them. Only 2.7 percent of cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. came equipped with diesels in the 2010 model year, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank.

idiots... today, people love the idea of 50+mpg!!!!

But Volkswagen, which offers diesels in several models including the Golf and Jetta compacts, can't produce enough diesel engines to meet demand in the U.S., spokesman Scott Vazin said. About 22 percent of the automaker's U.S. sales came from diesel vehicles in the first half of the year. The Jetta diesel gets an estimated 42 miles per gallon on the highway and 30 in the city. A diesel Jetta starts at $22,995, about $2,000 more than the starting price of a comparably equipped gas-engine Jetta. But the diesel also gets about 35 percent better fuel economy on the highway.

real world mileage is better for the VW's than on paper... i mean there are people on this board who can attest to that.

as a side note... my mom loves her 2011 Cruze Eco.
on thursday, i got the paperwork to buy one... but i don't know if i can part with my Cobalt. I have been through hell and back with that car.

Man, I can't see you go from the 'balt to a Cruze. Maybe if it was a diesel model, but not a everyday one.

Posted by jeepdave Man, I can't see you go from the 'balt to a Cruze. Maybe if it was a diesel model, but not a everyday one.

they had two on the lot that I liked. One was the same color/package as my mom's, only it was a 6speed manual. The one next to it was white with the RS package, but the 6speed automatic. i just can't imagine giving up my Cobalt... it's so much fun to drive. But the mileage of the Cruze is hard to walk away from, plus interior wise, it's leaps and bounds ahead of my Cobalt.

Posted by Samurai they had two on the lot that I liked. One was the same color/package as my mom's, only it was a 6speed manual. The one next to it was white with the RS package, but the 6speed automatic. i just can't imagine giving up my Cobalt... it's so much fun to drive. But the mileage of the Cruze is hard to walk away from, plus interior wise, it's leaps and bounds ahead of my Cobalt.

Maybe, but is the improved MPG worth the debt the Cruze will bring. And its easier to make that payment when you atleast get some enjoyment out of it. You put way too much heart and soul in that 'balt. Can't see ya givin it up.

Posted by jeepdave Maybe, but is the improved MPG worth the debt the Cruze will bring. And its easier to make that payment when you atleast get some enjoyment out of it. You put way too much heart and soul in that 'balt. Can't see ya givin it up.

here's the thing:
as the car sits, it's worth $11,300. the dealer had already said they would give me that. I owe (by the payments) $14k, so the payoff will be a little less that 14. The cars were around $19k. I was eligible for $1000 off because my mom owns a Cruze, $500 off for supplier discount (International Paper is a supplier to GM) and a GM loyalty discount (my last HOW MANY CARS have all be GM's) of about $500 off... so right there was 2k off the sticker price. So now, the car is down to $17k which means that the rollover from the Cobalt to the Cruze is about $2k... so I'd owe on the car what the car was stickered for.
Does that make sense? I can never tell.

Posted by Samurai here's the thing: as the car sits, it's worth $11,300. the dealer had already said they would give me that. I owe (by the payments) $14k, so the payoff will be a little less that 14. The cars were around $19k. I was eligible for $1000 off because my mom owns a Cruze, $500 off for supplier discount (International Paper is a supplier to GM) and a GM loyalty discount (my last HOW MANY CARS have all be GM's) of about $500 off... so right there was 2k off the sticker price. So now, the car is down to $17k which means that the rollover from the Cobalt to the Cruze is about $2k... so I'd owe on the car what the car was stickered for. Does that make sense? I can never tell.

Oh, it makes sense hoss. In an evil way.

i also had him find me a Summit white 2011 Camaro LS V6/6speed for $23,600
... not sure if i can swing the payments on that, though. the Cruze seems like a more sensible purchase because then I don't need two cars, won't be upside down and can get on with my life.

Sam...I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I distinctly remember you stating "two more years of payments and I'm out of this fucking job".


Just something to think about.




ps - If the 2013 Cruze diesels look good, and I can afford one, I will be in the market.

I have sworn off every buyin another new car unless I have cash for the purchase. Honestly Sam, I would look harder at the Ford Fiesta than the Cruze.

You know Turbo would have been all over this, tellin' us how stupid and slow we were to catch up with (Use Homer Simpson voice)EUROPE......And la de da.......

I miss that skirt wearin' Scotty. I emailed him, got no response.

Anybody know what became of him?

Do you just disappear if you piss off AV?

Posted by jeepdave I have sworn off every buyin another new car unless I have cash for the purchase. Honestly Sam, I would look harder at the Ford Fiesta than the Cruze.

by the time I got done optioning out the Fiesta the way I wanted it, I was already up to about $21k. For that money, why not a Camaro?
Seriously.

Samarui go for it; while the Cobalt has been your thing since 2006, its not loving you back recently so I say upgrade!

Does GM know how to make a good small vehicle diesel engine?

GM can't even make a good large engined diesel vehicle... the Durascrap is a total boat anchor, all generations of it.

This should be entertaining.

...and my '99 Beetle diesel gets 62 mpg highway, and has 615,000 km on it. Fuck you Obama. Or something like that.

Posted by yokes Does GM know how to make a good small vehicle diesel engine?

They did...until they sold Electro Motive Division

I forgot about trains

Camaro, you will be happier.
The price difference is worth it.
As well resale will be better, not that it matters.

instead of buying a new car, i have decided to make some life choices instead. I am thinking about changing jobs.