DETROIT- The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel will achieve up to 46 miles per gallon on the highway, according to General Motors Co.
The Environmental Protection Agency-rated highway mileage, which is higher than originally expected, makes it the best highway fuel economy of any non-hybrid passenger car in America.
The vehicle, also known as the Cruze 2.0 TD, has an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city and 33 mpg combined.
“We harnessed generations of diesel expertise to adapt our world-class global engine for the North American market,” said Gary Altman, chief engineer of Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, in a statement. “The Cruze Diesel is the best diesel passenger car out there. Chevrolet is redefining the meaning of great fuel economy with this car.”
Equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, Cruze 2.0 TD has an estimated range of 700 highway miles on one tank of diesel fuel based on the EPA highway estimate and the vehicle’s fuel tank capacity, according to GM.
The vehicle, available in certain cities this spring and nationwide in the fall, will have a starting price of $25,695, including an $810 destination charge. Detroit is not one of the initial markets.
The four-door compact sedan, which was unveiled at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, features a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces estimated 148-horsepower and 258 lb-ft torque.
The engine is based on proven architecture already used in European models, where approximately 40 percent of all Cruze models sold feature a diesel engine.
The Detroit-based automaker's Lordstown Assembly in Ohio will build the vehicle, but the engines will come from GM's Kaiserslautern, Germany plant.
GM has sold more than 2 million Chevrolet Cruze models globally since it was launched in mid-2010. GM produced more than half a million small diesel-engine cars across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America last year, including Cruze.
Cruze 2.0 TD is the first passenger diesel vehicle from Chevy since the 1.8-liter 1986 Chevette, according to GM.
Source:
mlive.com
