Explaining the Chinese Car Industry and Chinese Cars
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The Chevrolet Cruze is set to launch in the USA in late 2009, according to various websites, but it appears that the Cruze maybe closer to a launch in China from these pictures:
From what China Car Times understands, the Chevrolet Cruze will be fitted with a 1.6l and a 1.8l engine, which will put the Cruze in direct competition with its Buick cousin, the Excelle.
According to GM top dog, Mr. Lutz, the Chevrolet Cruze is expected to enter the Chinese market place in 2009. The Cruze is expected to go on show for the first time at next months Guangzhou Auto show where it will no doubt be well recieved by the Chinese media and GM fans.
China Car Times cant see for sure where the Cruze will fit into the Chinese line up, although we can guess that it will be placed above the Aveo, but below the Chevrolet Epica.
The Epica is reportedly selling around 2000 models per month on average, and the Aveo is also doing very well in the small car segment, it could also mean that the Cruze is set to be another winner for GM China.
The Chevrolet Cruze has also been spotted out testing in the PRC, once or twice.
The Chevrolet Cruze is quite possibly the most anticipated car from Chevrolet this year, and is grabbing headlines in the Chinese automotive media quite frequently over the past few weeks.
In foreign markets, the Cruze is expected to replace the Daewoo Lacetti, which is usually badged as a Chevrolet for Euro markets, or Suzuki for the US market. However, it appears that in China the Chevrolet Cruze will sit below the Chevrolet Epica, but above the Chevrolet Aveo, and is unlikely to see service under the Buick brand, which will leave the Daewoo Lacetti badged as a Buick HRV in China. So, only a little complicated!
The Chevrolet Cruze has been spotted in China wrapped in the usual GM/SAIC camo. The Cruze was reportedly developed by GM’s international design team and will be sold as an international car, i.e. under different brands in different markets. The Chevy Cruze is expected to replace the aging Daewoo Lacetti in Europe, and we can except the same in China, except the Lacetti is sold under the Buick brand in China, thus the Cruze may well become the Buick Cruze.
The first renderings of the Cruze were shown at a GM Press conference on July 18th, so the time from coming from renderings into a prototype car is extremely fast.
Other websites report that the Cruze will getting a 1.4 Turbo gasoline engine, however from what we have learned so far, the above test mule is a 1.6 Auto model, not quite as interesting as a 1.4 Turbo, but still adequate for the Chinese market place.
This was spotted outside of the Chinese National Department for Automobile Quilty (the people that award sales licenses to car manufacturers). Generally speaking, if a car is spotted outside this building, then chances are it plans to go on sale in China.
Is GM trying to raise Chevrolet from being a bargain bin GM-Daewoo rebranding excercise into a premium brand? We hope so!
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