- GM will unveil the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.
- New five-door model goes on sale across Europe in mid-2011.
- GM has no immediate plans to market the Cruze hatchback in the U.S.
DETROIT — General Motors will unveil the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback at the upcoming 2010 Paris Auto Show. The new five-door companion to the Cruze sedan, which was launched in spring 2009, will go on sale across Europe in mid-2011. GM says it has no immediate plans to market the Cruze hatchback in the U.S.
The Cruze is now on sale in more than 70 countries and most major geographic regions, including Russia, China, India and Latin America. The Cruze sedan is just going on sale this fall in the U.S. In Europe, the Cruze is the bestselling compact sedan in such countries as Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. This year, it has become Chevrolet's top-selling global passenger-car nameplate.
GM is withholding technical details and specifications on the Cruze hatchback until the Paris show but said the car will feature 60/40 split rear seating and cargo capacity of nearly 14.3 cubic feet.
Inside Line says: The new model is critical to Chevy's continuing success in the European compact segment, where hatchbacks account for two-thirds of sales. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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exinobel102 says:
12:22 PM, 10/04/2010
Americans like hatches,however that buyer is a select target audience. Much as the same way of a coupe or even and SUV. I see this target audience as twenty sometings and people in their early thirties. Look at how well the VW and Mazda hatches sell. The auto manufacturer just needs to get the equation just right for the amercan public to want to buy the hatch. It needs to combine a fun to drive experience, decent looks, and a hatch that is not too big in size, yet utilitarian enough to justify buying a hatch in the first place. I have never owner a hatch but am considering in getting a GTI. On the other hand auto manufacturers like VW, Mazda, Subaru and the likes all have years of experience in marketing and selling hatches. This is new territory for Chevy and GM. Lets see if the Cruze sedan ever obtains mass appeal to the american public. Wishful thinking, but maybe then GM may contemplate a Cruze hatch.
ev56 says:
01:02 PM, 10/03/2010
Two things. First of all, the fact that the Cruze is just now coming to the American market probably speaks to the cold feet about the higher price point of a car that supposedly replaces the Colbalt i the Chevy lineup. We Americans are just getting used to premium small cars.
Also, the upcoming Focus mark the second time it is being sold as a virually identical car in all markets, only this time, there doesn't seem to be an us versus them mentality, which lead to the 2005 Euro Focus being so different from its American cousin. Although the pundits put it down, American car buyers know a good economy car when they see it, and it sold well, anyway.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
08:53 AM, 09/30/2010
Chevrolet's arguement of no hatchbacks for USA is tiresome and shortsighted. Hatches do sell well here if they are designed well and marketed effectively.
wikiwiki says:
07:57 AM, 09/29/2010
Is it me or does it seem like the American cars sole in Europe are better than the ones they sell to us here?
john1168 says:
07:22 AM, 09/29/2010
GM needs to bring this hatchback to the USA!!! The other thing that pisses me off is the fact that the Cruze has been for sale in 70 countries worldwide and the sedan is JUST NOW coming to the USA. I feel like we're getting someones hand me downs. It really is pathetic. Now we're looking at this hot hatch. IF we get this car in the USA, IF, it'll probably be 5 years from now and by then, the 70 other countries will be getting the NEXT version of the Cruze. It'll be like the past Ford Focus where everyone else got the newer version and the USA got the old one.
ambee514 says:
04:54 AM, 09/28/2010
WTF GM!? I want a Cruze hatchback in the US, or at least a coupe. The Cruze is on my list of cars to check out before I buy my next car, but with it being only offered as a sedan it really has an uphill battle to win for me because I hate sedans. If i were to buy a sedan i thnk i would die of boredem, give the US some hatchbacks, not just the Aveo, cars that I would like to buy!
GM needs to impiment the same thing as Ford with the "One Ford" plan. because I really am sick of this, check out how awesome this car is! Well I am glad you like it but, F-you USA Domestic market this is only being sold in Europe and China
mustang5507 says:
06:38 PM, 09/05/2010
Mazda 3's hatchbacks sell seemingly better than the sedan, as does the Subie Impreza...and I see more GTI's than Jetta GLI's. I think Chevy needs to bring this one to the US. It may not make a better sales case, but it is DEFNITELY better looking than the sedan.
rpvitiello says:
12:47 PM, 09/05/2010
Who still says hatchbacks don't sell in the US? I would say almost 1/2 of the vehicles sold in the US are hatchbacks, they are just called an "SUV" or "CUV" or something. As people go smaller, they don't want to give up that utility and get a sedan. Toyota/scion, Ford, hyunda/kia, all offer hatchbacks. Ford with the last gen focus dropped the hatchbacks to come out with a coupe, which was a sales disaster compared to the hatchback models, and thus ford is bringing the hatchback BACK. Scion is a US only brand, and every single car scion makes are hatchbacks.
tbone85 says:
11:30 AM, 09/05/2010
The Cruze's design is far from revolutionary, but the two top selling cars in the segment are the Corolla and Civic. Design excellence is clearly not the primary consideration of these buyers. I like the Cruze at least as much as either of those, but wish it was more compelling on paper. We'll see what it looks like in the flesh. I hope they bring the hatch as it is a bit more interesting.
myob says:
06:47 AM, 09/05/2010
Better looking than the Mazda3. I assume you could have a ms3 competitor pretty easy with a turbo and some suspension upgrades.