Rumour: General Motors to launch Cruze facelift by year end?

Internationally, the Chevrolet Cruze C+ segment sedan got a mild facelift in the middle of last year. The updated Z-Series, 2 liter turbo diesel engine was a part of that facelift and the India-spec Cruze got this update last year. The new diesel engine, while boosting power and torque outputs, also reduced turbo lag to make for more linear power delivery. However, the other bits from the international facelift are yet to make it to the India-spec Cruze.

A tweet from Mr Rohin Nagrani, a senior editor at BSMotoring, suggests that the India-spec Cruze could get a facelift by the end of this year. While details of what the facelifted Cruze will feature remains unknown at this point in time, it is likely that General Motors India will introduce the same visual and feature changes that the car maker introduced in the international version of the Cruze last year. These changes include:

• Refreshed front bumper with larger air intakes
• Redesigned fog lamp housings
• Longer front overhang
• Revised rear bumper
• Refreshed leather-fabric seats
• Redesigned 16 inch alloy wheels

The India-spec Cruze is assembled at General Motors' Halol factory in Gujarat, through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route. The current version of the car is available with 6 speed manual and 6 speed automatic gearboxes, driving the front wheels. The car is available in three variants: LT, LTZ and LTZ AT. Prices of the 2013 Cruze start at 13.91 lakh rupees, ex-showroom Delhi. Currently, General Motors India is offering a festive discount of 85,000 rupees on the Cruze sedan.   

Meanwhile, the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze is slated to make its global debut in 2015. The car will hop on to the D2XX platform, a platform that will play host to a range of cars wearing the Chevrolet and Opel badges. The next-gen Cruze will feature completely new styling and features, and will be powered by turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines. The car is also likely to get larger, liberating additional space at the rear.