Chevy announced at last week’s New York International Auto Show that it will release its 2011 Cruze Eco in the United States by December 2010. This new model from Chevy utilizes a light hybrid system along with an innovative body design to achieve improved fuel economy. The 2011 Chevy Cruze will be available in three traditional trims along with the Eco. While the 40 miles per gallon projection may not seem like much on first blush, Chevy is taking a big stride toward cleaner vehicles with the Cruze Eco.
The 2011 Cruze Eco is powered by a 1.4-liter, 138 horsepower Ecotec engine. Chevy will offer six-speed manual and automatic transmissions to accommodate driver preferences. This sleek sedan has been designed with a lower profile compared to the competition to reduce wind resistance. Chevy also included low resistance tires, underbody panels and a front grill that opens and closes to improve aerodynamics.
Chevy’s presentation at the New York International Auto Show focused on the fuel economy of the 2011 Cruze Eco. This Chevy hybrid is projected to achieve 40 miles per gallon in highway driving according to early tests. We don’t know what the 2011 Cruze Eco gets in city driving but 40 miles per gallon would be a significant improvement on the company’s current lineup. Chevy also said that its new hybrid could travel up to 500 miles per tank of gas thanks to better design and a more efficient engine. The 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco can hit 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in less than 10 seconds using both manual and automatic transmissions.
On the preview page for the Cruze Eco, Chevy touts the 4,000,000 miles of test driving that has gone into the production model. The company’s global testing process allowed the hybrid to go through the paces of driving in rain, cold and extreme heat. In addition to a substantial testing process, Chevy is also prepared to mobilize its Lordstown, Ohio facility for Cruze Eco production. The Lordstown plant has a team of 1,200 line workers who will work around the clock to mass-produce the Cruze Eco for its fall release. Chevy spent $350 million to redesign the plant and train staff to produce the Cruze Eco and future hybrids. If the 2011 Cruze Eco proves successful, it is clear that Chevy is willing to push most of their chips to the center to make future hybrids successful.
