The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback is heading to dealership stores and when it does, the car will witness a couple of important upgrades including an all-new transmission system as well as a diesel engine variant.
Buyers will have the choice to go for a petrol engine or a diesel engine variant. They can also upgrade their model to a nine speed automatic transmission or a six speed manual transmission setup. The car is expected to go on sale by next year, probably in the first quarter. The information was confirmed by Alan Batery, General Manager of Chevrolet in the North American region.
The diesel engine variant is a first ever launch and it will be available both in America and Canada. The announcement was made during the 2017 Cruze hatch drive. The current model available in stores is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged I-4 gasoline engine and has a six speed manual transmission setup. There is also an option to buy the car with a six speed automatic gearbox.
According to the announcement made during the drive, the upcoming hatchback will be powered by a 1.6-liter turbo diesel engine. The powertrain is scheduled to be used by the Chevrolet Equinox but it will be tweaked accordingly to match the smaller Cruze. The automobile brand strongly believes that by offering a diesel engine variant and manual transmission variants, they can attract young buyers onboard.
While a lot of cars are being upgraded to hybrid variants and newer electric vehicles are rolling in, the U.S. diesel engine market is still strong. The lightweight vehicle category has about 400,000 and those who already have a diesel car are most likely to buy the same variant again. Besides, the lowered fuel prices also pay an integral role in pushing buyers to go for gasoline or diesel powered cars.
“We have to cope up with changing trends. Our team will ensure that they continue to deliver what people really like and create spectacular, practical cars. The mileage will be satisfactory,” added Batery.
The company is yet to receive its approval for the diesel vehicle from the environmental protection agency. They may have to make some modifications to the vehicle before it finally gets approved to meet U.S. standards. Once done, the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback will be a notable variant in the affordable segment, with two different powertrains to choose from. We look forward to such conventional models as they are practical and a crowd favorite.