2009 Chevrolet Cruze first official images
21 Aug, 2008
39 Comments 
General Motors has today finally released the first official images of its all-new Chevrolet Cruze, which will make its first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show.
The four-door compact family car is set to appear in showrooms across all continents by early 2009 as one of Chevrolet’s key models.
Its boldly styled sweeping roofline, shallow rear-pillars and wrap around headlights compliment the restrained use of exterior trim giving it a clean, unfussy appearance.
“Our goal with the design of the Cruze was to be bold, not evolutionary,” said chief designer Taewan Kim. “We wanted to take a big step forward, making a strong design statement for Chevrolet products around the world.”
Inside, the car features a twin-cockpit design, with the centre console ergonomically divided for both driver and passenger alike - a styling cue taken from various iconic Chevrolet performance cars.
Three engines will be available at the time of launch - an 82kw 1.6-litre and 103kW 1.8-litre petrol models and a 110kW 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel.
Its introduction will strengthen an already impressive European portfolio, which saw a 23 percent growth in the first half of 2008.
“We are very proud that Europe is leading the introduction for this global product,” said Wayne Brannon, Executive Director, Chevrolet Europe. “Chevrolet has always stood for expressive value, and Cruze delivers on that promise like never before. It redefines value with its quality, design, materials and great style both inside and out.”
The Cruze is likely to fall under the Holden nameplate as the replacement for the aging - and bland - Viva model.
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Wow, love the styling but does the rear look like a mutated civic? Any pics of the interior?
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:22 pm
interesting. Is this designed and engineered by GM’s european, american or korean arm?
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:28 pm
just found a pic of the interior, do a google search on 2010 chevrolet cruze interior and you should find it. Looks petty good actually, quite stylish and appears to be quality materials and so forth. The badge on the steering wheel appears to be a daewoo badge, so is this actually the much talked about epica replacement that is built off the insignia’s new platform? If it is, and therefore it is what holden is going to replace the epica with, then it’s actually fairly good! Certainly a big step forward and hopefully something to shut the holdenwoo crap beaters up!
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
One thing is for sure you can see the family resemblence with the Headlight/indicators setup as the Epica and now Barina have similar treatment. I think you could possibly see Epica styling similar to the Cruze and also see the Insignia badged as a Premium Holden although as I have heard the GM Plant in South Korea will be used to build the European engineered Opals and also the Cheaper Holdens such as the Viva and Epica. The premium Holdens such as the Euro Corsa, Astra ad Insignia though will be a more competitive price than the Ford vehicles due to the more cost conservative Euro designed and engineered but Korean built Holdens. Despite what the Anti Holden drongos believe I see this as being a very successful business decision GM made when they bought Daewoo as euro engineered cars will just get more and more expensive unless they can also have them built at plants where Labour costs are cheaper.
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
ahh ok just did some research and its actually the daewoo/chevrolet lacetti replacement, which ofcourse is the holden viva here. So this is actually a smaller car then the insignia and epica, it’s actually astra/corolla/lancer sized. So yeah it will in all likelyhood come here as the next holden viva, just hopefully under a different name! It’s built off the same platform as the next holden astra so the hardware underneath it should be quite good.
Only question i really have is, how come i was able to find all of this out in 10 minutes on google, and caradvice couldn’t?
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
To quote Caranddriver.com
“The Cruze was engineered at GM’s Russelsheim, Germany, development center, and was designed in Korea by GM Daewoo. The car will be assembled in plants around the world, including the U.S. and Mexico, various parts of Europe including Russia (GM is building a new plant in St. Petersburg), South Korea, and Brazil.”
So yes, we will see it here, with a holden badge. Better looking that the Viva, and hopefully better built.
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:46 pm
the fact it was engineered in Germany and its built of the next astra’s platform suggests that this and the next astra where probably engineered alongside each other, which can only mean good things!
I think this whole GM daewoo thing is starting to fall together. All the “daewoo” products will be built off the equivilant “opel” models including sharing platforms, engines, suspension etc. The only difference will be styling (opels done in germany, daewoos done in korea) and the place of manufacture. So basically the same car, just in cheap and epensive trims. Alot like VW’s and Skoda’s, same cars underneath, just built in cheap and expensive variants. Finally GM is starting to play the global game!
Also provides holden with the opportunity here in australia to place cars in both the cheaper and premium segments of any given market. IE the cruze and the astra could sell along side each other in the same segment, one occupieing the cheaper end of town, and the other occupying the more expensive end of town. Makes sense!
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Yech, its so Astra 06 inside! Blocky and Lego-istic. Its surely to be Korean made. Why couldnt they take a cue from the Insignia?
And Richo, you’re right. We shouldnt dismiss them just becoz of their past reputation. But They better get it right with this model coz Hyundai would be at least 2 steps further with design and quality by 2010.
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:58 pm
ht tp : / /jalopnik .co m/398077/2010-chevy-cruze-to-hit-paris-motor-show-like-a-missile
link to a site with an interior pic in it, just take out the spaces to make the link work obviously.
Definetly doesn’t look 06 astra inside and actually has alot of styling cues taken from the insignia, you sure your looking at the right pics andy?
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August 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 am
It’s almost good. The double-decker grille adds a touch of unavoidable yank hideousness.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:40 am
Ohhhhhhhh. Yup I was looking at something else. WoW thats more like it!! Shame about the grille but overall good package.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 am
I really like this.The side profile has a lot of ausi A4 in it and i love it its looks great this is the long awaited viva replacememtn.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:07 am
Also some of the euro prototypes do not havve the grill but lets hope holden doesnt put that skoda grill on it lol
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:32 am
Frosty Says:
August 21st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
“…The premium Holdens such as the Euro Corsa, Astra ad Insignia though will be a more competitive price than the Ford vehicles due to the more cost conservative Euro designed and engineered but Korean built Holdens”
NM RESPONSE…………..your a unit to suggest that the premium Holdens such as Astra (not made in Korea) will be cheaper due to Korean built Holdens influence. That has not been case now you unit with the Astra being “NOT” significantly cheaper then the Ford equivalent. So your point is utter drivel nothing! Call a spade a spade pseudo car luver!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:33 am
Front is like Golfie says. Its bizarre as over top bigger then Ben Hur Upsized Yank Overkill “FUGLY”!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:35 am
The basis is there for a cool car nonetheless and I do like mostly the look.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 am
“It’s almost good. The double-decker grille adds a touch of unavoidable yank hideousness.”
Thats exactly what i was thinking, lets take the Insignia design and
put it through the “MakeItLookLikeYankieShite” department. Now we have squashed Honda legend at the front with a civic ar*e!
Yup the US Focus got the same deal also, why why why…
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August 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 am
lazybones, this isn’t built of the insignia for a start, plus australia will be getting a different grille on it, so don’t fret
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
I like it a LOT. If it maintains Viva pricing and drives ok I might actually consider trading the Swift on it when the time comes.
Things are looking up for the Holden range!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
while things are looking down for ford :S yet more aussie jobs lost in the automitive sector… things are starting to get very worrying!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
“lazybones, this isn’t built of the insignia for a start, plus australia will be getting a different grille on it, so don’t fret”
I’m just talking about the design Richo, its a very similar design to the insignia but with changes for the US market. I don’t understand why they do this, but there are a few Euro cars which get design tweaks before they hit the us market. I just don’t get it!! why bother. :)
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Richo Says:
August 21st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Only question i really have is, how come i was able to find all of this out in 10 minutes on google, and caradvice couldn’t?
From article:
The Cruze is likely to fall under the Holden nameplate as the replacement for the aging - and bland - Viva model.
Richo, mate, having trouble reading?
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Eddy - ya don’t reckon they ever modify articles after they have been posted? This definelty was not their last night when the article first came up as i double checked before i posted, so don’t be a smartypants!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
last night the last line in the article said “this is creates an interesting situation for holden with the cruze, epica and insignia all jostling for places in the Aussie lineup”
so again, don’t be smart! lol
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
take out the is obviously, typo
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Actually, that’s a bit annoying! Both Dlr1 and myself should be acknowledged by car advice for correcting them rather then just leaving us to look silly like that. Even a simple post in the comments saying “thanks for the correction” would have been appropriate. If you can’t get it right the first time car advice and you have to be corrected, at least acknowledge the people who corrected you!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Cheers Richo, just shows some of us are on the ball.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Yes Eddy, the articles last line was edited lastight from mentioning Epica to mentioning Viva. I can see why they mentioned Epica but after a few of us did checks obviously Car Advice looked at the links we posted and changed the last line……
And to NM, The Astra will be built alongside the new Viva as I mentioned and as a result of that the price will be able to be kept stable instead of rising like many Euro sourced cars. Do you not think Holden learnt from the last Vectra which was priced out of the equation which is why the Epica came about the first time. Don’t start criticising my comments because as verybody knows that Cars built in Korea generally are cheaper in Australia. I am not and did not say Astra will be cheaper. I did say and was the first in this blog to say the Astra will become the premium small car (not light car ie. Barina/Corsa) but instead of seeing price rises as is usually the norm when a new model is brought out alomg with the new features that also come out with it. Instead the Astra’s price will either remain the same or have very minimal icrease to keep it ultra competitive against the Focus. You to me NM carry no positive imput and your opinions to me mean nothig because obviously you just try to discredit people who actually know more about business and the car industry than you do. I for one have some contacts in the car industry (Engineers NOT Assembly workers) have a business background and know of ways that all industry not only the car industry can still make a profit on a new product despite a new product possibly being 75 to 90% better than the outgoing product and building the Euro engineered Astra in Korea alongside the Viva using the same Astra derived platform is one way of doing the profit thing by keepig it affordable to the average person.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Frosty Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Frosty Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:37 pm
pressportal dot com dot au dotdotdot08-05.html
According to press portal this is likely to be the replacement for the Holden Viva not Epica, This looks very promising indeed as it will be sold as a Holden.
Obviously Car advice have decided to moderate my talk about the the Viva which came at roughly the same time as Richo probably because I left a direct link
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
That’s where my shoe box went!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
your right frosty, it automatically moderates if you put a link in, hence why you have to put so many spaces around the https and .coms etc to get it to work
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August 22nd, 2008 at 11:35 am
I hate the front…. i dont fancy the double decker grill design.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Hmmm… it looks ok but I will reserve my judgement untill I know more since it is the Viva replacement to be built in Korea, and we all know how that one turned out.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Looks like I have annoyed a toyo and they are imitating me and putting unholy Holden/Ford comments under my label.LOL.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
that thing is just plain ugly as only the yanks know how to do.
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August 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Andy, I agree with the rear end bit about the Cruze. The rear does look similar to the Honda Civic. So does the headlights. The headlights have the swept back design like the American Accord. So there maybe Honda influence.
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August 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am
That bar across the grill reaily looks crap and ditch the flow back head lights,apart from that it looks good.
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August 24th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Looks like a GM designer snuck into the Honda factory and got punched in the face. The design reflects that.
UGLYY
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September 8th, 2008 at 1:04 am
The interior of Cruze not look like the Astra. Look much better than that ugly, boring, black, tipical german car interior.
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