Cruze Debuts Industry First Flexible Venting Driver Air Bag

The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze introduces an industry-first driver-side air bag that uses a flexible venting technology designed to deploy more efficiently while providing equivalent crash protection to more expensive and complex air bag systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently tested the 2013 Cruze with the new air bag technology under its New Car Assessment Program. The Cruze received NHTSA’s maximum 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the same rating it received in 2011 and 2012 when the small car used a dual-stage air bag system.

Unlike more complex dual-stage air bags that use one inflator for low-speed crashes and another for high-speed crashes, the Cruze’s new single-stage “smart air bag” uses one lower output inflator to manage both low-speed and high-speed crash forces. The more compact, lighter weight system’s flexible vent reduces the risk of inflation-induced injury by allowing the driver’s forward momentum to effectively push the air out and away.

GM testing shows the single-stage driver air bag provides excellent cushioning for drivers of varied sizes in both low-speed and high-speed crash events.

“This new air bag technology is a smart way to manage crash forces, and is an integral part of Cruze’s continued success in safety testing,” said Gay Kent, GM general director of vehicle safety and crashworthiness. “The latest safety rating lects the confidence we have in its new and carry-over safety technologies and overall crashworthiness.”

Cruze’s flexible venting driver air bag is the second new air bag technology General Motors has announced for 2013. The new Chevrolet Traverse crossover helped introduce the industry’s first front center air bag, an inflatable restraint designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

GM and safety restraint supplier Takata co-developed the flexible venting driver-side air bag and the front center air bag.

The 2013 Cruze continues to offer more standard safety features than many vehicles in its class and represents Chevrolet’s commitment to continuous safety – before, during and after a crash. Standard features include StabiliTrak electronic stability control, Panic Brake Assist and Enhanced Smart Pedal / Brake Override. When it was introduced, the Cruze was the first car in its class with 10 standard air bags, including front knee air bags – a segment first. OnStar safety and security is standard for six months as part of the Directions and Connections package. 

The 2013 Cruze also maintains the highest-possible ratings of “Good” in front, side, rear and rollover crash protection tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which recognized Cruze as a 2011 and 2012 Top Safety Pick.

Courtesy of Chevrolet News

New Chevrolet Cruze diesel to debut at Chicago Auto Show

General Motors Co.s Chevrolet brand will reveal the new Chevrolet Cruze diesel model during a Feb. 7 news conference at the Chicago Auto Show.

GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan confirmed Monday that the Detroit automaker will debut the Cruze diesel, expected out later this year, at the Chicago show. The Cruze diesel is one of 13 new or updated models Chevrolet will roll out in 2013.

GM plans to start production of the Cruze diesel in the second quarter, with vehicles hitting showrooms in April or May, a source close to the plan said Monday, asking for anonymity because GM has not announced when production of the new Cruze will begin.

General Motors Co. North America President Mark Reuss said in mid-December that GM would be "putting the Cruze out here (in the) first quarter."

"Im thrilled with the car," Reuss told journalists last month in Pontiac. "The cars going to be great."

Reuss also hinted that the company is interested in offering more diesel-powered options in the United States.

"Theres a place for diesels here. Theres a place for diesels in the future, as well," he said in December. "At the end of the day, its still the most efficient thermodynamics of combustion that we have. The mass piece of it in the U.S. has been problematic. But now were beginning to produce clean diesels. We need some stability in the quality of fuel across the country, which that would help us calibrate and bring to market more effectively."

The Cruze diesel will be built at GMs Lordstown Assembly Plant near Youngstown, Ohio.

In August, GM announced it was investing $200 million into the Lordstown plant and $20 million at a metal center in Parma, Ohio, for tooling and equipment for a new Cruze model. The automaker planned to produce the current generation of the Cruze at Lordstown through model year 2014.

Diesel sales among all light-duty cars and trucks rose about 25 percent to 125,000 units in 2012, up from 100,000 in 2011.

Many new diesel models will be introduced over the next two years, including a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Courtesy of Detroit News

2014 Chevy Cruze diesel unveiling expected to take Chicago Auto Show spotlight

General Motors Co. is expected to be one of the standouts this week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.

Following an array of debuts at the 2013 North American international Auto Showlast month in Detroit, GM will unveil its 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel.

Little has been released about the vehicle, but analysts expect it to grab a lot of the spotlight at the show, which starts Thursday with two Press Preview days.

“It’s a big deal that Chevy is bringing a diesel vehicle to the lineup in the United States,” said Brandy Schaffels, TrueCar.com senior editor and content manager. “These tend to be higher performance cars that are giving us diesel powertrains for fuel economy and performance.

“It’s really interesting to see a diesel engine come to a mainstream consumer vehicle.”

Diesels currently represents less than 3 percent of all U.S. sales. However, some companies expect that percentage to grow to 10 percent by 2020.

Robert Bosch, a global multibillion-dollar engineering and electronics automotive leader, anticipates more than 50 light-vehicle diesel models to be announced or released by 2017 in North America, including 22 new models in 2013.

European automakers – particularly Volkswagen – have dominated the diesel market in the U.S., which has increased from 235,500 units in 2008 to 301,300 in 2012, according toEdmunds.com.

“What diesel needs is more exposure in different brands,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com senior analyst and director of pricing and industry analysis. “Chevy coming out, being a non-European car, in a volume segment with the volume car, I definitely think it can make more of an impact.”

Caldwell said Chevrolet and Volkswagen aren’t traditionally direct competitors, but with the limited amount of passenger car diesel options, that could change.

Excluding luxury vehicles, such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz, VW is the only automaker to offer a strictly diesel passenger vehicle in the U.S. since 2008, when Chrysler offered a Grand Cherokee diesel, which it will once again start to offer later this year.

Diesel-powered vehicles have remained a niche market in the U.S. for decades due to consumer perception, pricing and the fuel being more expensive than standard gasoline, according to analysts. Diesels cost about $2,000 to $3,000 more on average than a standard gasoline engine.

American automakers have remained reluctant to build anything but diesel-version pickup trucks and heavy-duty vans.

But now, “clean diesels” are 30 percent more fuel-efficient, produce lower CO2 emissions and maintain a higher residual value compared to traditional gasoline engines.

“People that buy them tend to know a lot about the automotive industry,” Caldwell said. “I think for a lot of commuters, diesel makes a lot of sense.”

The Chicago Auto Show,celebrating its 105th year, is open to the public from Feb. 9-18 at the McCormick Center, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive. Dozens of vehicles from the world’s top automakers are expected to debut during the show’s press preview days Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.

Courtesy of MLive 

New Chevrolet Cruze diesel to debut at Chicago Auto Show

General Motors Co.s Chevrolet brand will reveal the new Chevrolet Cruze diesel model during a Feb. 7 news conference at the Chicago Auto Show.

GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan confirmed Monday that the Detroit automaker will debut the Cruze diesel, expected out later this year, at the Chicago show. The Cruze diesel is one of 13 new or updated models Chevrolet will roll out in 2013.

GM plans to start production of the Cruze diesel in the second quarter, with vehicles hitting showrooms in April or May, a source close to the plan said Monday, asking for anonymity because GM has not announced when production of the new Cruze will begin.

General Motors Co. North America President Mark Reuss said in mid-December that GM would be "putting the Cruze out here (in the) first quarter."

"Im thrilled with the car," Reuss told journalists last month in Pontiac. "The cars going to be great."

Reuss also hinted that the company is interested in offering more diesel-powered options in the United States.

"Theres a place for diesels here. Theres a place for diesels in the future, as well," he said in December. "At the end of the day, its still the most efficient thermodynamics of combustion that we have. The mass piece of it in the U.S. has been problematic. But now were beginning to produce clean diesels. We need some stability in the quality of fuel across the country, which that would help us calibrate and bring to market more effectively."

The Cruze diesel will be built at GMs Lordstown Assembly Plant near Youngstown, Ohio.

In August, GM announced it was investing $200 million into the Lordstown plant and $20 million at a metal center in Parma, Ohio, for tooling and equipment for a new Cruze model. The automaker planned to produce the current generation of the Cruze at Lordstown through model year 2014.

Diesel sales among all light-duty cars and trucks rose about 25 percent to 125,000 units in 2012, up from 100,000 in 2011.

Many new diesel models will be introduced over the next two years, including a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Courtesy of Detroit News

2013 Chevrolet Cruze

 Information Specification modification Review Price Image 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Recall

The Chevrolet Cruze has been a standout product in many respects. With its introduction a couple of years ago, Chevrolet showed shoppers that it could produce a serious, top-tier compact sedan—one that excelled in comfort, interior space, safety, and features. And if those aspects are your shopping priority, the Cruze is one of the best picks in its class—especially for 2013, with a bolstered lineup of infotainment and active-safety features.

When it was first introduced for the 2011 model year, the Cruze set a new design direction for GM compact cars. And while it isnt all that head-turning from the outside, the interior has one of the most stylish, cohesive layouts in this class of rather look-alike sedans. Inside, rich materials, stunning two-tone combinations, and an upscale feel all keep the Cruze above the rest. The Cruze is almost mid-sized, with enough space for four adults (five in a pinch), plus excellent adjustability for drivers and a huge trunk.

 The Cruze features two new small-displacement four-cylinder engines; a 140-hp 1.4-liter turbo, or a 138-hp naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter. Depending on trim, a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels. Available safety features include ten airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control and anti-theft alarm with engine immobilizer. The Cruze can be equipped with features such as heated leather power seating, sunroof, remote start, satellite radio, navigation system and automatic climate control.

 The all-new Chevrolet Cruze station wagon offers a modern passenger cabin that is progressively styled and has the degree of flexibility to meet the demands and active lifestyles of modern families and individuals alike.
The interior features Chevrolets signature dual cockpit, with wrap-around front fascia that flow into the driver and passenger door. Mid and up-level trims will boast a seven-inch high resolution touch screen located in the integrated center stack.

The mid-instrument panel is colored to match the seat inserts and door trims. A new interior color, Brownstone, will be introduced on mid and up-level specifications.

In cars that come with the brand-new Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, or with the new base and mid-level radios, the layout of the instrument panel and center console has been re-designed. The storage compartment in the upper instrument panel is flanked by tall and sleek HVAC outlets. It has been moved forward, closer to the radio unit, and now houses USB and aux-in sockets.

Those connectivity features remain in the storage compartment located under the center console armrest in vehicles featuring the current integrated navigation system available in both left and right-hand-drive markets. In front of the driver, the instrument cluster is efficiently packaged, featuring Chevrolets trademark ice-blue backlighting. A centrally located digital readout highlights average speed, selected gear in automatic transmissions and fuel range as well instantaneous and average fuel economy.

Vehicles equipped with Start/Stop technology will sport a cluster display with a eco drive assistance menu. It highlights an intuitive selection of data related to the ecological aspects of driving, in particular fuel efficiency.
Thanks to Passive Entry, Passive Start (PEPS), another up-market feature that is new in the Cruze, entering into and disembarking from the station wagon becomes a truly effortless affair. The system allows drivers to keep the car key in their pocket when unlocking, locking and while starting their vehicle with a push-button.
Customers can choose from two kinds of seat fabric or opt for heated leather seats, for a maximum of comfort. Depending on the trim level, air conditioning systems will be either manual or automatic and incorporate a filter that reduces the inflow of particulates and pollutants which may cause asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Customers whose car will be fitted with the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment or the integrated navigation systems will be able to use a standard rear view camera, a feature still rather uncommon in this segment.
If an accident does happen, six standard airbags are ready to be deployed by the sensing diagnostic module. The station wagons rigid body structure, welded tubular section members in the doors, door beams made of ultra-high strength steels, and strong cross suspension members at the rear provide excellent all-round protection.

The front and rear crush zones, meanwhile, have been engineered to collapse in a controlled fashion, so as to maintain the integrity of the passenger cabin. A collapsible pedal assembly reduces the risk of injuries to the drivers legs and feet during moderate-to-severe impacts.

All Chevrolet Cruze station wagons are equipped with five three-point seatbelts and six standard airbags. Safety seats for children can be secured using the ISOFIX anchoring system on the two rear outboard positions.source:netcarshow.com,thecarconnection.com,autos.aol.com