Recently a rumor that the Cruze’s two-liter diesel engine will be federalized for the 2013 model-year has been confirmed to the AP [via the DetN] by “two people briefed on GM product plans.” Even so, GM still won’t comment on the matter.
The engine that powers this car, designed by VM Motori and built since 2006 by GM-Daewoo, was recently updated to Euro 6 standards. According to the Holden website, the Australian-spec version makes 160 HP (at 3,800 RPM) and 236 lb-ft (at 1,750 RPM), while returning 42 MPG (combined with manual transmission) or 35 MPG (combined, automatic). Not being EPA numbers those numbers could easily change by the time the engine is certified for US emissions standards.
GM thinks there’s room to jump into the diesel game and offer efficiency that the AP says “would rival the the popular Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid,” this after analysing VW capacity-constrained in its ability to sell more diesels in the US market while enjoying take rates near 75% on the Jetta Sportwagon.
One important question can be rise: will those numbers, and more importantly the VM’s notorious roughness(Australia’s The Motor Report notes “It’s pretty clattery from outside, and an old-school diesel rattle can be heard inside the cabin when accelerating”), be as attractive two years from now as a VW TDI is today? Just as importantly, does this herald the coming of the Cruze wagon as well?
Source: Thetruthaboutcars
