Chevy to Build Diesel-Powered Cruze in Ohio

Compact Car Could Reach 50 MPG When It Arrives in 2013

ANDOVER, MASS. (11/02/2011)(readMedia)-- Americans have been quick to warm up to the Chevrolet Cruze since the compact car debuted last year as a 2011 model, but in a couple years Chevy will find out whether consumers will be as enthusiastic towards a diesel-powered version of the same car. General Motors recently confirmed that the new diesel Cruze will be manufactured alongside its gasoline-powered sibling at the company's Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant before being shipped to Chevy dealerships in 2013.

While General Motors has announced where the diesel Chevy Cruze will be built, the American automaker has yet to say which diesel engine will be found under its hood. In Europe, Chevy Cruze models featuring a 2.0-liter diesel engine provide the equivalent of 43 mpg on the highway and are more popular than those models with gasoline engines. However, analysts have predicted that another diesel engine with smaller displacement could boost fuel economy up to 50 mpg on the highway before the car makes its U.S. dealership debut.

"A 50-mpg Cruze would be a great alternative for those who want incredible fuel economy without sacrificing much in power," said Bill DeLuca III, president of Massachusetts Chevy dealership Bill DeLuca's Woodworth Chevrolet Cadillac. "Americans are starting to realize that diesel-powered cars are not what they used to be. New diesel technology has allowed them to be more fuel efficient than gas-powered cars and more powerful than hybrids."

General Motors will be investing $5.5 million into its Lordstown manufacturing plant to prepare it for production of Chevy's first diesel car since the 1980s. The plant is already running day and night during weekdays and sometimes during weekends to keep up with demand for the gasoline-powered Chevy Cruze, which outsold the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla in the United States this summer.

Regardless of the future success of its diesel models, the Chevy Cruze has already established itself as a fuel-sipping innovator with its Cruze Eco, which offers the best highway fuel mileage of any conventional gas-powered vehicle in America. Capable of 42 mpg on the highway with its six-speed manual transmission, the 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco has a cruising range of 529 miles, enough to go from Boston to New York and back without refueling.

While the Chevy Cruze's fuel efficiency may grab headlines, it is built to provide a comfortable and responsive ride for the lifetime of the vehicle. Chevy's compact car is available with leather seats, a sport-tuned suspension and automatic climate control, meaning drivers of larger cars can downsize without downgrading.

"Since it debuted, the Cruze has sold more than 212,000 units," DeLuca noted. "If that's not proof that Chevy got the recipe right then I don't know what is. The Cruze is worth a look, even for those who haven't previously considered a compact car."

About Bill DeLuca's Woodworth Chevrolet Cadillac:

Located on Main Street in Andover, Massachusetts, Bill DeLuca's Woodworth Chevrolet Cadillac is a premier new and used Chevrolet and Cadillac dealer. They offer a wide variety of Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as the entire line of luxury Cadillac vehicles, and their expert service staff can diagnose and quickly repair any issue their customers have. Interested buyers can browse their current Chevrolet and Cadillac inventory online at www.woodworthmotors.com or stop by their dealership at 339 N. Main Street in Andover. Their friendly staff can also be reached by phone at 978-296-4145 to answer any questions.