2.0L Diesel Engine Coming to 2013 Chevrolet Cruze

[FenwickHockey65]

North American Cruze to get Diesel Power
Link to Article

By Nick Saporito
February 19, 2011

The Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan just launched in the North America market a few short months ago and represents Chevrolet’s first truly global vehicle. The Cruze is sold is over 60 countries worldwide and utilizes both gasoline and diesel powered engines in the 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.

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 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 2013 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.

[Apex Motorsports]

Interesting. I wonder what kind of MPG they are looking at.

[FenwickHockey65]

Euro-spec diesel Cruzes do 42 MPG on the highway. Here in the US, GM had to substantially modify the Cruze ECO for 42 MPG highway on gasoline.

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Euro-spec diesel Cruzes do 42 MPG on the highway. Here in the US, GM had to substantially modify the Cruze ECO for 42 MPG highway on gasoline.

Drop the diesel in the Cruze ECO and I'm guessing better than 42MPG.

[nester7929]

I don't know why diesel hasn't caught on in the US.

[SSOOCH]

I wonder if it will gain any low end torque?

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

I wonder if it will gain any low end torque?

Australian-spec Cruze CDX Diesel does 235 lb-ft @ 2000 RPM.

[DGthe3]

Very interesting.

I wonder ... if you get the LUZ engine, in LTZ trim, can you call it the 'Lutz edition'?

Originally Posted by nester7929

I don't know why diesel hasn't caught on in the US.

People associate diesels with large trucks, or bad cars.

[nester7929]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

People associate diesels with large trucks, or bad cars.

Yeah, but a simple explanation as to how diesel today isn't like it used to be could probably change a lot of minds.

[13 ZL1]

I would be interested. I have a Duramax in my Sierra and its awsome.

[LimaCharlie]

Good decision by GM. Success will depend on the MSRP.

[McBeevee]

Originally Posted by nester7929

Yeah, but a simple explanation as to how diesel today isn't like it used to be could probably change a lot of minds.

It would take more than that around here. There are a ton of rednecks bellowing stinky black smoke all over the roads. This is common of what you would experience while commuting around here.....




And no, I'm not some tree hugging hippie. I'm actually a big fan of the Cummins and ususally attend most of the local truck pulls. It's just most of these guys running around on the streets with modified diesels are gonna continue to perpetuate the stigma.

[FenwickHockey65]

Volkswagen's been making some headway with their TDIs, so I think the diesel stigma is slowing wearing away.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by nester7929

Yeah, but a simple explanation as to how diesel today isn't like it used to be could probably change a lot of minds.

If it were that easy to change peoples minds about cars, the Detroit automakers would probably each have an extra 5% market share. But bad experiences from 25 years ago play a big role in the stigma of cars built today. Its not logical, but who said that the average car buyer was logical?