2011 Chevy Cruze Interior Shown at Paris Auto Show

[fp115]

Originally Posted by steve333

The Mazda 3 competes with all the cars listed. The Civic can cost more than the 3.
The Cruze is going to retail for more than the Cobalt so it will compete directly with the 3. All the more reason to think it will not do as well as GM would like.

You keep telling yourself that. Continue to twist things in your favour.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by fp115

Honda has no new platform or powertrain for a new Civic that would be able to compete with the Cruze. If they did it would be announced by now to compete with the Cruze next year when it is introduced.

Honda doesn't talk about their MY2011 stuff in 2008... unlike some other automakers.

Because hybrids don't last as long

Don't 95% of people keep their cars less than 10 years anyway?

hybrids are built in limited quantities

Tell that to the Prius... I think by itself it outsells most GM cars.

and you get extra weight on a car that dramatically affects handling.

Everyone knows that sub-$20k compacts are bought mainly for their great handling Price and mileage don't matter at all.

Honda sales were down 21%, how is that doing so well?

Honda 2008 sales (up to October 1st, the most recent data we have) are down 1.1% compared to 2007.

I call this "doing EXTREMELY well". Just compare to how GM/Ford/Toyota/Chrysler are doing this year!!!!

What does a link about stocks have to do with the Cruze?

You don't read, do you?

That link is my source for the quote posted right below (I always post links when I quote sources).

The quote posted right below (hope you read it, otherwise I don't even know why I bother) defends why I said, in my previous post, that the Malibu replacement could very well be put on hold, and the current one be allowed to grow stale. (When I said that, you said I was dreaming. The info in the quote comes from "several sources inside GM". I would tend to label that more reliable than you.)

So, this "link about stocks" has to do with the Malibu replacement being reconsidered due to utter lack of cash at GM. What has the Malibu to do with the Cruze, you ask? Well, YOU actually brought it up by confusing the Corolla and the Camry. Otherwise, I agree the Malibu isn't the subject of this thread.

The Malibu is getting an upgrade very soon, it can very well stay where it is. But that was not the point of what I said.

See the info from the "link about stocks" regarding what might happen to the Malibu in the future.

Yet the same people who said didn't like the CTS, Malibu or the Enclave saw it in person and said it was a dramatic difference. To judge any car by images is rather meaningless, for all cars.

Dramatic difference?

Non-conventional? You must mean the coupe, the sedan is bland and boring. The coupe is slightly better, but still nothing to be overly impressed about or that would make my head turn. It has very flat lines, and the details are carved into the shell, there are no defining accents or anything about the car. The front bumper is as close as it gets to any sort of definition, definition is what makes a car stand out.

Again, please read... that's YOUR personal opinion. I'm talking about the generally accepted opinion in the auto industry press back when the 8th gen Civic was intro'ed.

I said the Euro Focus is coming and it is, the Civic I said it came out in 2006 and it did, how is that wrong again?

OK, if you insist.

Originally Posted by fp115

Ford isn't getting much of a brand new car, they are simply getting their European version of the Focus.

If the MkIII Focus isn't a new car, then please tell me what qualifies... they're not "simply" bringing the current Euro Focus (MkII) here, as you seem to imply.

Originally Posted by fp115

You must be blind of something, the latest generation, 8th generation was released in 2006 as a 2007 model.

No, released in 2005 as a 2006 model. (But maybe you're right... in your own GM-centric world.)

It's actually the second time I have to correct you on this in this very thread... I pointed it out already when you first said it. I'm beginning to wonder if you read what I write...

The competition's future is easy to see as they have been repeatidly doing the same thing over and over again.

Of course. The competition is standing still, so as long as GM keeps improving, they're sure to beat everyone.

Honda and Toyota have not announced any new ground breaking platforms

Because they aren't in the habit of showing their entire Camaros, in, out, and specs, 5 years before they're in the showrooms.

their internal combustion powertrains are laughable comparatively. By the time the Cruze is introduced in Europe next year, the bulk of the competition will be caught red handed and by the time the powertrain for the US model comes around, still it will continue to lead with its powertrain. The only competitor I can see hitting the Cruze's numbers is VW, though with their TDI variants which also cost much more.

Yep, everything the competition does is laughable compared to what GM does. That must be why GM is down like 30% this year...

[lio45]

Originally Posted by fp115

The Cruze doesn't compete with this. It competes with the Civic, Corolla, Focus crowd. The Mazda3 is considered a premium compact.

GM has been telling everyone forever that the Cruze will be a premium compact.

It competes with the Mazda3 just as directly as the Silverado 1500 competes with the F150.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Mr. Burns

you dont get it do you? He's talking about the next gen Civic, which should be out in 2010 (i.e. we do not know what it looks like yet inside or out).

Thanks for helping, but it's useless.

I've come to the conclusion that these guys need to be living in the safety of knowing that their beloved MY2011 (debuts CY2010) is better than a MY2006 (debuted CY2005) car.

I mean, what else would you cling to, with GM currently in the shape it is?

[Canyonaro]

Originally Posted by lio45

Thanks for helping, but it's useless.

I've come to the conclusion that these guys need to be living in the safety of knowing that their beloved MY2011 (debuts CY2010) is better than a MY2006 (debuted CY2005) car.

I mean, what else would you cling to, with GM currently in the shape it is?

You have made some honestly good points and frankly some utterly wrong and fanboyish ones as well. I am talking about the Cruze being competitive since it is going to be out March of 2009 in Euope. And even feel it could be competitive here in NA come 2011, that is to be seen how much. Not accurate of you to lump "these guys" as everyone who doesn't agree with you. I don't but I am talking about a different setting, read.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by lio45

Honda doesn't talk about their MY2011 stuff in 2008... unlike some other automakers.

Check again, Honda has been talking about the Insight, Civic, and NSX. Concept images were also released for the 2010 Civic as well and they have officially shown the Insight model.

Originally Posted by lio45

Don't 95% of people keep their cars less than 10 years anyway?

In Canada I know that the government is pushing that people don't keep their cars more than 10 years, so its a very strong possibility. Yep but people buying these hybrids are often caught between finding ways to replace battery cells after several years of driving them. The car has a poor look and you can feel all the extra weight.

Originally Posted by lio45

Tell that to the Prius... I think by itself it outsells most GM cars.

That made me laugh. The Prius sells about 180k per year in North America (based on 2007) numbers and may hit around 160k this year (sales are down 13% in Sept and 4.8% YTD). In 2005, when the Cobalt has its best year it sold 215k, in 2007 however having 200k. This year I am thinking it may end up being around 210k. Cobalt isn't even GM's best seller, the Prius is one of Toyota's best sellers after the Camry and Corolla.

Originally Posted by lio45

Everyone knows that sub-$20k compacts are bought mainly for their great handling Price and mileage don't matter at all.

Name me another company that has a powertrain that hits more than 40 mpg, is sub $20k, is not a hybrid. The only one that comes close is VW, but it is over priced. Remember how everyone said the Civic handles so much better in its class and was the reason it sold so well? The Astra for one is getting much popular in Canada because people are driving them in malls as a test drive and seeing how well it handles and buys them. Handling and the feel of a vehicle has a lot to do in the sale of a car.

Originally Posted by lio45

Honda 2008 sales (up to October 1st, the most recent data we have) are down 1.1% compared to 2007.

I call this "doing EXTREMELY well". Just compare to how GM/Ford/Toyota/Chrysler are doing this year!!!!

If you look at Honda's sales it makes sense, but it isn't doing extremely well. Honda's sales are 60% cars and 40% trucks. As most other brands, their cars have gone up and their trucks have gone down. The amount of volume that Honda pumps through their trucks (about 500k ytd) the market switch doesn't nearly affect Honda as much. Their larger trucks are down by 20-30% (with the RDX down 52%), which are the ones that are directly affected by the market switch.

You aren't doing a proper comparison in this case and if you look at the numbers it is exactly on par with the other automakers.

Originally Posted by lio45

Dramatic difference?

Yes I was one of them, I wasn't too impressed by the CTS I saw in the pictures. Now I own one.

Originally Posted by lio45

Of course. The competition is standing still, so as long as GM keeps improving, they're sure to beat everyone.

How often has Honda's "flagship" changed platform? How often have they made a dramatic change in their power train? Repeat the same questions for Toyota. Ford is the only competitor here that is likely to produce something completely different from the last gen.

Originally Posted by lio45

Because they aren't in the habit of showing their entire Camaros, in, out, and specs, 5 years before they're in the showrooms.

Since when are platforms cars? Platforms and power trains are always announced much in advance of the actual car being shown.

Originally Posted by lio45

Yep, everything the competition does is laughable compared to what GM does. That must be why GM is down like 30% this year...

GM's total YTD is down 18% Trucks are down 23%. No idea where you get those numbers from. And this is just North America, GM is up in nearly all other markets.

The entire US market is down with the exception of Small Cars. Cars are down 21%, light trucks are down 31%, Cross-overs down 22%, SUV down 47%.

Market Share comparatively to the market, GM is increasing its market share of the Top 5:

http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/pag...autosales.html

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by fp115

Market Share comparatively to the market, GM is increasing its market share of the Top 5:

http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/pag...autosales.html

Just wanted to point something out: It appears that GM's ups and downs in market share are very closely related to toyota's ups and downs. Interesting.

[Gm786]

Originally Posted by steve333

You're not paying attention. I am bashing GM about the Cruze, its name, and its design, and its suspension.
I praise Ford for actually doing something about their situation, realizing that Ford of Europe has better cars , and is bringing them over here unchanged. Ford has got its act together, they deserve praise. GM doesnt know what the hell its doing from one minute to the next and it shows.
I own a Cobalt LT Sedan. I bought it mainly to support GM and because nothing out there, except the Mazda 3, blew me away, and there were no Mazda's available (remember the ship capsizing with all those Mazda's on it?)
The Cruze will be an improvement over the Cobalt in interior design and may have a little more room, but it has the same suspension, a wierd cheap look to it and a horrible name.
All that leads me to believe that th next Focus, and Mazda 3, will blow the Cruze away. Easily. I didn't want it to happen but unfortunately that's what I see happening.

Please.... Ford doesn't have anything together alright! Your too blind or something to see what's in front of your eyes. As I've stated previously, "it's starting to sound like your a Ford owner and also a Wannabe Ford Fan boy". It doesn't make any difference what kind of Car you own. For all we know you can be making all that up. Your already talking about the next generation Ford Focus, Mazda 3, and most of all the Honda Civic blowing the new Cruze away which I find funny and hard to believe. You know how far off the new Honda Civic and Ford Focus is? I don't think you do... By that time GM is probably going to have given the Cruze a few tweaks or improvements here and there but even as the car is, it should have no problem fending off it's competition.

[moon111]

I'm not sure I've liked the styling of any GM product built since the 50's. But this interior rocks. Very well done. Externally, the C-pillar area looks too busy.

[A.J.]

Originally Posted by moon111

I'm not sure I've liked the styling of any GM product built since the 50's. But this interior rocks. Very well done. Externally, the C-pillar area looks too busy.

The exterior design of the Cruze is sort of a love-hate thing for me - I hate the front and was expecting more Malibu design cues throughout. However, the side profile reminds me a little of 2003's SS concept.

[Z06ified]

OK, why does the $15k Cruze have a nicer interior and better bolstered seats than the $50k (even $105k ZR-1) Corvette? And why does the Cruze get a NAV option, while the more expensive Malibu does not?

More GM'isms that'll kill the company if they don't straighten these issues out.

[blank disk]

Is that fabric on the dash.

Big mistake.

[ponchoman49]

Originally Posted by Gm786

There's seriously something wrong with you! LOL.... Sorry to say but the Chevy Cobalt while a good car it's interior is very cheap when compared to the Cruze's interior. I think you need to go and take a detailed look at the new Cruze's interior instead of constantly trashing it.



compared to this:



The new Cruze completely smashes the Cobalt. Sorry to say.

I think that is a gross exaggeration. Both look like bland small 4 door sedans. Other than the fact that the car you have pictured is the top trim Cruze with chrome door handles and the Cobalt is a regular LT without chrome exterior package neither car is a stunner. Take away the Cruze chrome door handles and what your left with is another bland generic plain foreign looking sedan that will blend right in with everything else.

[Gm786]

Originally Posted by ponchoman49

I think that is a gross exaggeration. Both look like bland small 4 door sedans. Other than the fact that the car you have pictured is the top trim Cruze with chrome door handles and the Cobalt is a regular LT without chrome exterior package neither car is a stunner. Take away the Cruze chrome door handles and what your left with is another bland generic plain foreign looking sedan that will blend right in with everything else.

Sorry buddy but I have to disagree with you there. I'm pretty sure that even the base or Chevy Cruze LT will look a lot better than the Chevy Cobalt from an exterior design stand point. I don't see why your only taking notice of the Cruze's door handles in the picture I posted some time ago. Don't be surprised if the upper end models come with chrome trimmed door handles. In no way does the new Cruze look bland or generic. While it does share or should I say borrow some styling cues from BMW, or Lexus, the design is straight GM with some styling flairs from the competition. The Cobalt in comparison while decent looks bland and generic. When you look at the Cobalt's exterior, there is nothing but dull or stale design that came from GM of yesterdays. The new Cruze is a totally new direction for GM in the small car segment and one that's shaping up nicely.

[darnell89]

I think the Cruze might be the sexiest chevy ever. The design for some reason looks like a Hyundai Sontana a little.

Can't wait to see it in 2010 as a 2011 model.