Chevrolet unveils 2016 Cruze sedan

Chevrolet has unveiled the 2016 Cruze sedan. The car will be sold in more than 40 global markets from next year.

The new Cruze has longer and leaner appearance than the current model with a sharply raked windshield and a sloping rear end. It has swept back headlamps with projectors, LED daytime running lights and a dual-port grille.

Chevrolet claims that the new car has a more rigid and lighter architecture than the current one. It is constructed of about 8-percent hot-stamped/high-strength steels, which makes the body structure  approximately 27% stiffer. The overall kerb weight of the car is 113 kg lesser than the current model. At the same time the structure is also 68 mm longer and 25 mm shorter in height than the current model and has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm and a drag coefficient of 0.29. The car will be available with wheel sizes ranging from 15 to 18 inches. The car will also be available with an RS package that includes different grilles, front and rear fascias, fog lamps, front splitter, rocker panels and rear spoiler.

The new Cruze's interior follows Chevrolet's signature dual-cockpit theme. There is a three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel, dual gauge instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch MID and a 7-inch touchscreen display in the centre with Chevrolet's MyLink system that features smartphone integration and navigation. An 8-inch screen is available as well with Apple CarPlay.

Other features include 10 airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, rearview camera, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charging, heated rear leather seats, heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, electronic stability control, traction control, rollover mitigation and anti-lock brakes.

The interiors of the new Cruze also offer more rear legroom and knee room than that of the current model.

The new Cruze gets a new, 1.4-litre, direct injection, turbocharged petrol engine that develops 152 BHP and 240 Nm of torque. This engine features an aluminium cylinder block and head, stop/start technology and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. In India, a new 1.6-litre diesel engine is expected to be offered as well.

The new Cruze is expected to come to India in 2017.