North American Cruze To Get Diesel Power

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North American Cruze To Get Diesel Power
All of GM's diesel talk is finally more than just...talk.
www.GMInsideNews.com
February 19, 2011
By: Nick Saporito

The Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan just launched in the North American market a few short months ago and represents Chevrolet’s first truly global vehicle. The Cruze is sold in over 60 countries worldwide and utilizes both gasoline and diesel powered engines in global markets. In North America, however, the Cruze sports only gasoline power. According to multiple sources, at least one diesel option is coming for the North American Cruze in the near future.

GMI’s sources at the Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant that produces the Cruze state that management informed them this week that they will start building a Cruze diesel model for the 2013 (or 2014) model year. Management stated that production of the new engine option would begin sometime next year.

Sources familiar with GM engineering were able to confirm to GMI that the diesel option is currently slated for the 2014 Cruze. The engineering sources also confirmed that the engine is a 2.0-liter with the RPO code of ‘LUZ.’ Power output or fuel economy figures are unclear at this time, however test mules of the Cruze diesel are operating now in metro Detroit.

In Australia the Holden Cruze CDX has a 2.0-liter diesel engine. In that application the car produces approximately 147 horsepower and 235 feet-pounds of torque. Converting from the Australian fuel economy figures, the Cruze CDX is rated at 34 miles per-gallon in combined driving. It is unclear if the same 2.0-liter diesel will be in the North American Cruze, but one is compelled to assume that will be the case.

Last November GMI reviewed the Holden Cruze CDX, and walked away fairly impressed with it.

GMI has also been told that the 2012 Cruze will be getting push button start. According to the Lordstown sources keyless ignition will be option on mid-level LT models and standard on the high-end LTZ trim.

[dewey9315]

Great move.

Looks like I'm getting a 2013 Cruze!

[1G6]

Awesome.

[zl-1]

The European Cruze's new diesel is rated at 163PS. Whatever rating it gets in the US, this is good news.

[Titanic]

Unexpected.

[FenwickHockey65]

*happy dance*

Bring on the diesels!

[ne_one]

Well that didn't take long:

2013 Chevrolet Cruze To Offer 2.0-Liter Clean-Diesel Option

Vultures.

It will be interesting to see if an Eco version of the diesel is in the works.

235 foot pounds of torque must make it rather peppy - too bad they're noisy and smelly.

[bballr4567]

Hmmm, Eco version is a very smart idea along with an automatic that actually has more than one overdrive gear.

The diesel is going to be the engine to get. I wonder what the price increase will be.

[G8Montana]

Now we're talking.

[CaddyLac10]

Awesome!

Does this mean the Verano might get it as well?

[ChevroletGuy]

Looks like I might be trading my Grand Prix in a little earlier than I wanted. But that's ok.

[Pinnacle]

Dont **** with me!

[Pinnacle]

Looks like I might be trading my Grand Prix in a little earlier than I wanted. But that's ok.

I have the same car, and my beloved 3.8L is gotta coolant leak. 2013 is too far away.

[Impalibu]

Thats awesome!! Looks like 2013 is the MCE for the Cruze. I wonder what else it'll get.

[Exploder]

Never thought I'd see the day. Good move, now let's see it happen with other models.

In other news, weather reports say pigs are flying around the rainbow...