Chevrolet Reveals North American 2011 Cruze Sedan, Available with 1.4L Turbo and 1.8L Engines, Competes Against Civic and Corolla

More than a year after its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 2008, GM has unveiled the U.S.-market production version of the 2011 Cruze compact sedan that will make its first public outing at the L.A. Auto Show on December 2. When it arrives in GM's dealerships in the third quarter of 2010, the Cruze will be offered with a new family of small displacement four-cylinder engines including a 1.4-liter turbocharged unit and a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter.

GM said that the Ecotec 1.4L turbo produces an estimated 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) offering up to 40mpg on the highway and a cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km). No figures were released for the naturally aspirated 1.8-liter engine, but buyers should expect a similar power output with lower torque.

All engines will be coupled to six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will be offered in three different trims, LS, LT and LTZ. Standard and available equipment will include 10 air bags, electronic stability control with rollover sensing, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and navigation system.

"The amenities, quietness and roominess you expect in larger cars are what the Cruze delivers," said Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet product marketing manager. "This is a car that will shake up the compact segment, with a more spacious interior and more cargo room than the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla."

The U.S. and Canadian versions of the 2011 Cruze will be assembled in Lordstown, Ohio, where GM invested $350 million for their production.

The Detroit automaker claims that the plan's body shop was retooled with the latest in body-framing and welding equipment to optimize the manufacture of a very solid body structure promising minimal production variance and repeatable gap tolerances of 3 mm or less between most exterior panels.