Chevrolet Cruze RS production started

Article
Gallery

By Alborz Fallah | November 09th, 2010

09/11/2010 Update:

Following some quality issues with the production of the Chevrolet Cruze RS in October, the ‘sporty’ model has finally began production in the United States this week.

The U.S. spec Cruze RS has no additional power, just a sporty body kit. Speaking to CarAdvice, Holden’s Director of External Communications, Emily Perry, said it’s still too early to say if a Holden Cruze RS would be available in Australia next year.

—–

Following on from news earlier today that Chevrolet will unveil a greener version of its Cruze model, dubbed Cruze Eco, at this week’s New York Motor Show, comes word that a sporty RS appearance package will also be offered when the car is debuted in the US in a few months time.

The Cruze RS package will add unique front and rear fascias, side skirts, front fog lamps, ‘RS’ badging and a rear spoiler to LT and LTZ trim level sedans, but does not include any mechanical or performance upgrades.

Although interior pictures have not yet been released, Chevrolet say the cabin will add chrome accent rings to the instrument panel surrounds, which are currently painted silver.

Pricing for the Chevrolet Cruze RS is expected to be announced with the rest of the Cruze model range at its official launch later this week at the New York Motor Show.

Holden currently have no plans to introduce such an option on its locally available Cruze CD or Cruze CDX models.

Jesse

Always nice to know what we’re missing out on Looks pretty good really.

DGS

Powered by Daewoo’s big block 1.8 litre 4?

Come on GM, if you are going to make a sporty model that looks fast, at least bolt on a turbo on or drop a bigger engine into it.

john

Makes you wonder why the local holden lot couldn’t and haven’t done this here yet. They were all telling us when the cruze was released what they had in mind and a time table and still nothing from the local dills.. It’s just another one of there toys that they dont want to play with any more. Useless holden.

D

You have to wait for local manufacturing to start first.

Lazybones

Great headline, but what a disappointing result. I guess you just can’t make something as bland looking as the Cruze look hot. In this case RS just means “Really Sh*t”. Seriously you can’t pitch this against the Focus RS. Where’s the Wing, aggressive nose job, hot rims etc. This is no more exciting than the CDX.

crouchy

You have to be kidding me? You really think this is pitched against the Focus RS??? hahaha oh buddy, you need to take your blinkers off…

dennis bird

since when has this garbage been in a rally , the focus is all over this thing in looks and preformance
Goa way

Cruze RS, Focus RS. Cmon crouchy, its in the name, its not that hard to understand what lazybones was saying. Think a bit harder before you type next time.

Chairman

Just because the name is similar doesn’t mean they’re competing. Think HSV GTS and Porsche Carrera GTS.. Ssangyong Actyon Sport and Suzuki Swift Sport..

Lazybones

Your right, the Focus RS has a pulse. This is a flat liner for sure.

Shak

GM has said that its RS line are purely for looks and not for performance at all. their performance variants are of SS nature.

t

ok, why not call it the RICE, not RS.

makes more sense really?

Lazybones

Yup its nothing more than a badge. What a joke. To every other maker RS means sporty, extra performance etc etc.

Andrew

But as before mentioned, RS doesn’t in Gm lingo, that would be SRI or SS.

Joof

Nor in Subaru lingo either. Don’t forget the Impreza RS is simply a WRX Lookalike (minus the bonnet scoop) with no performance upgrade at all…

RS is not necessarily synonymous with high performance.

Personally, I can’t understand why ALL the manufacturers can’t see the cult following the WRX has established. No players in that market really want to see a small performance hatch/sedan without a turbo and all-wheel-drive.

Really is a missed opportunity by Mazda (3 MPS), Focus (XR5 & RS), methinks…
Chairman

In days gone by the RS badge was used by GM on the lower spec Camaro..

Robin Graves

One step closer to DSV “Daewoo Special Vehicles”
My Cars Called T-Rex

Why can’t manufactures give there so called sporty models more power even if its just 10 kw.

nickdl

It wouldn’t matter really in a car like this. The extra power would only come in right at the top of the rev range.

My Cars Called T-Rex

Its a 4 cyl non turbo,ofcoares its extra power would come in at the top of the rev range,but thats what it needs for marketing reasons.

JEKYL & HYDE

looks like an american version of the aussie cdx(wheels,crome etc).wait to the coupe version comes(if?).its bound to be a bit different…
noj

Just wondering how long it will take for the Holden tools to start putting Chev badges on the Cruz.LOL

Krish

Funny you say that, I saw a black Cruze with quad exhausts and dropped to a ridiculously low height with Chev badges driving on Victoria Rd Sydney. I was in stitches LOL!

Rocket

Holden could could market terds on wheels and people would like them.

noj

What do you mean, they already do. lol

Tomas79

HEHE… Well Said!!

toxic_horse

I do find it strange that GM have used the name RS rather than SS or GX or somthing with some GM sports history. I mean RS is just so ford.

If its ok for Chrysler to use the mighty RT badge on a neon then surly GM could use SS or even GTR on this.

toxic_horse

if course i meant GTS , time for bed !

alko

A hatch cruze or a GTR, HSV, SS, Whatever but not RS – four door would be a great addition when Adelaide starts production. I have a 1.8 petrol CD 6 speed, 8 months 15000 km, very happy, handles well, fun to drive. You do get a radio reflection on windscreen at night, however put visor down and blocks it out. I do run it on 98 octane E10, which gives it a bit more zip and torque, It costs me 6% more for the fuel, get more go and 8% better economy, drives better with trans shifts just when you would want it to.(must be more torque)
A 1.4 turbo with higher torgue, optimised to be able to utilize this type of fuel, (or even E85 -flexfuel)would be a hit by me, alko

Brian Jones

If your going to make things up, you should at least try to make them believable.
E10 is generally 3-4 cpl CHEAPER than ULP, thats around 2.4 % cheaper, but generally delivers around 5% LESS economy.

Banicks

*double takes*

What the heck is sporty about that 0.o
mmmmmm

so it’s ok for ford to play dress up with their fleet taxis and call them xr6s, but if GM in America do it with a Cruze its time to start bucking holden.
There is just no logic to the ford fan boys.

nickdl

Except for the fact that the Falcon is already a powerful car. The XR6 at least has a different suspension tune to the XT.
crownleyian

Don’t compare the XR6 why don’t you mention the Focus XR5?

I know why because this Cruze will be Humiliated, face to face against the XR5 and I won’t even mention the “true” RS.
The engineering of the European Focus XR5 (ST) just outclasses the Daewoo!

Comparing a Cheap Daewoo with a world class Rally Chassis car is actually sad…
Acfsambo

The XR6 does have stiffer suspension and a LSD available as well and low profile tires.

Nick K

Good looking in profile and nicely presented interior… Marred by ugly Nth American inspired nose and tail. No body kit can fix the US styling elements… It needs a euro style face lift. While GM are at it please fix the noisy diesel and the excessive turbo lag.
ABMPSV

When finally somebody will give us a kW/Nm performance graph. In Germany when they do a test there the graph and you can check at what rpm you got top Nm or kW. CA you should do it. It is very useful!!
Shak

Well we may see salvation in the form of a HSV tuned variant. But we will also have to wait for the locally tuned variant.

Robin Graves

DSV tuned variant, ffftt how much more can you polish a turd? A run-of-the-mill 1.8 NA will be battling to get a 10% increase in power without turning it to 8000 RPM. A turbo variant might go harder but the budget bracket chassis wont know what to do with it anyway.

Oosh

You can’t polish a turd. But you can put sprinkles on it. So in this case, it’s clear RS = ‘Random Sprinkles’, and is about as far from ‘Race Spec’ as a Cruzes auto gearbox is from selecting the correct gear!
vt368rwkw

I have it from a reliable source the aussie version is gunna have a 3.0 twin turbo version of the alloytech.

This thing is gunna fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

zahmad

That would be the worst thing to do….no contest against the Ford then lol!

They need to stick in the 190kw Ecotec in-line four from Opel/Vauxhall!
crownleyian

Right!

It’s all about the Power and forget the balance and the curves.

I bet the Focus XR5 will eat this toy for dinner.

crownleyian

The actual Focus XR5 outclasses this Daewoo and the new Focus XR5/4 will again Humiliate the Daewoo.

Sorry but Europeans do it better!

Al Juraj

But unfortunately, a simple claim of being Australian is the one that sells.

Toxic_Horse

Why is it unfortunate. No one is making you buy it.
My Cars Called T-Rex

like Volvos in Sweden
Skodas in Czechoslovakia
Jaguars in England
Fiats in Italy
Citroens and Peugeots in France
Seats in Spain
BMW and Mercs in Germany
Toyota,Nissan and the rest in Japan
Do you see the Pattern here????

http://BMW Nelson

Sadly Holden don’t concentrate to build a great Performance hatchback, Australia has the brains and quality to do it.

If some multimillionaire would create an Australian own brand to compete with VW, Toyota, Honda, Renault, Citroen, Seat, etc…
That would be great to take this country to the top in the Automotive industry. We had to engineer the Camaro for the Yanks because they can’t get it right. Just imagine what we could achieve and send the Australian brand all over the world.

Holden is and will always be GM it’s not really ours.

bangel

Well all the ricer boys can stick a big wing on the back , that will make it look faster .

RS rice saver , what a dumb effort just another tarted up make believe go faster korean car .
filippo

“Following some quality issues with the production of the Chevrolet Cruze RS in October… The U.S. spec Cruze RS has no additional power, just a sporty body kit.”

So what were the quality issues? Seriously, there must be some issues in the Daewoo factory if they cannot even bolt on a body kit.
http://www.beercartel.com.au/ Beer Club

Would you really shell out any extra $ for a sporty kit but no additional power? You would be better off just buying the standard Cruz.

Robin Graves

Youd be even better off buying something else, almost anything else.

Golfschwein

It would sell heaps as a Holden just as it is. If we get our minds around it being just an alternative trim level, and nothing more, there’s nothing wrong with that. In the history of the automobile, precisely that has been done, what, a thousand times? Two thousand times?
Toxic_Horse

Exactly, no one from GM is saying this is a competitor for the Focus RS or XR5 . It will probally be only a couple of grand more than the normal Cruz.

I don’t understand using the RS name though. Remember the Gemini XXX , that would be a cool name in australia.
Hooda

What’s the point of manufacturing it in so many locations?

GM is gonna be in trouble again.

Golfschwein

You don’t reckon they’ve done the sums?
Shak

They only manufacture it in three locations. How is that too many for one of their highest volume products.

waggaclint

Its still just a flash Daewoo….
vt368rwkw

When the V6 twin turbo gets slotted into this in the aussie version it will destroy STI’s and EVO’s

Australia is in charge of developing an AWD verson of this.

Game over,best hot hatch in AUS!!!!, best hot hatch in the WORLD, ha ha ha

And its a HOLDEN!!!!

Robin Graves

Keep dreaming, one day your polished turd might get a Daewoo fake chrome plating.

http://BMW Crownleyian

It’s not all about the power.
A V6 Engine in this car would be too much.
Look at the Renault Megane RS250 it’s quicker than a Focus RS on track and only has a 2.0l engine.
Power without balance does not mix.

vt368rwkw

Mate the twin turbo V6 will destroy the tiny 2.0 megane, it just does not have the power of the cruze.

Mate I have heard 280+KW in a 1300kg car, mate this will destroy anything on the road except a GTS, hah haha!!!!!!!!!

Robin Graves

Just by saying Mate a thousand times in one post doesnt make it sound convincing. The mythical twin turbo ‘rattletec’ has been thrown around since the Torana concept a few years ago. When and if GM can pull themselves out of the poo, they might start looking at such an option. Right now there is nothing Holden (or Daewoo) can do to match Ford in Australia, so keep dreaming and sticking posters on your school books, one day it might happen after you graduate from year 8.

JEKYL & HYDE

holden matching ford??

for what exactly??

wouldn’t be retail sales.go buy a focus,robin,you lines are getting old quickly…

Robin Graves

All the blinkered rednecks buy conformadores to fit in with their retarded bogan mates. God knows why they buy any other Daewoo that Holden dish up. Name one Holden that is better than any Ford in the same category….. None! I’m not a Ford lover but now that the Coyote is out Holden are way behind in every model, especially any of the crap they source from Daewoo. I dont see why people blatantly think Holden are Aussie, they are made up mainly from US and Korean parts and screwed together here. The rattletech is 100% US design and the V8 is made in theUS. The Ford I6 is 100% Aussie and it kicks the rattletech into orbit, as does the FG to the VE in general except for the FG’s weak aircon.