Reference Auto

General Motors or GM has seen roaring success with its Chevrolet brand of compact cars, namely the Chevrolet Spark and the Chevrolet Beat, and is now ready to rev up in the Rs 13 lakh to Rs 15 lakh-category with the roll out of a new variant of the Cruze diesel, but such an engine may not be a big factor in this category as customers in this bracket are usually not very cost conscious.

The all-new Chevrolet Cruze has a new 2.0-litre diesel engine, claimed to be the most powerful in its segment, along with a new manual transmission and added features.

The new Cruze will be available in three variants – Chevrolet Cruze Manual for Rs 13.85 lakh, Chevrolet Cruze LTZ Manual at Rs 14.77 lakh and Chevrolet Cruze Auto Rs 15.67 lakh (offer prices in New Delhi).

General Motors has upgraded powertrains to ensure better performance and higher fuel efficiency which is commendable but could it buoy the Cruze’s sales in India?

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze comes with an upgraded diesel engine of 2.0 VCDi which will offer 15 bhp more than the previous model (the new model will offer 163 bhp and 360 Nm torque).

The peak torque generated by this powertrain has revved up from 327 Nm at 2,600 rpm in the old car to 380 Nm at 2,000 rpm in the new one.

The Chevrolet Cruze can reach from 0 to 100 km per hour in less than 10 seconds and comes with a top speed of 220 km per hour. The new car’s acceleration as well as stability have improved manifold.

So, with a diesel engine variety, GM plans to rope in diesel car buffs in the wake of a preference for such cars in India.

But buyers in the above Rs 13 lakh bracket may consider ergonomics as well as comfort and safety as more important factors rather than just a diesel engine, which only brings down the running cost of a car (owing to a huge difference in the prices of diesel and petrol in India).

Despite a slew of changes, the exteriors come with almost the same features.

General Motors has a mix and match of manual and automatic type cars in its new variants, the LT and LTZ (with next-generation six-speed manual transmission) and LTZ (with automatic transmission). The variants will come in seven body colours. The new versions are already available at Chevrolet dealerships across the country.

“The Cruze has got an overwhelming response from customers across the country, since its launch three years ago,” said Lowell Paddock, president and managing director, General Motors India. He added, “We expect the newest member of the Cruze family to meet expectations of car buyers also and stand out against the intense slugfest in its segment.”

The new Chevrolet Cruze will compete with the likes of the Honda Civic, the Volkswagen Jetta, Maruti Suzuki’s Kizashi (which is though in a higher price bracket) and the Toyota Corolla.

With the Rs 13 lakh-Rs 15 lakh category car buyers not really being pinched by a surge in petrol prices, the question remains whether customers who prefer cars in this price bracket will turn euphoric about the new diesel Chevrolet Cruze.