Chevrolet’s new global compact car, which will debut at the Paris Motor Show in early October will be called Cruze.
A global design and engineering team designed the Cruze which will be built in multiple locations around the world and will be sold here as a Holden.
It will replace the Lacetti, a rebadged and restyled Daewoo and sold as a Chevrolet in Europe and here as the Holden Epica (pictured).
The Cruze is almost 4.6 metres long – the E[ica/Lacetti is 4.8.
Chevy says the new car “offers ample interior space and cargo capacity for five passengers.”
The marketing spin kicks in with Chevy saying the Cruze” features Chevrolet’s new global design language that will continue to be a signature element for future vehicles carrying the gold bowtie (the Chevrolet badge).”
Chevy promises the car will have “high safety standards and excellent build quality.”
The Cruze goes on sale in Europe in the northern hemisphere spring of 2009, followed by other global regions.
If the Cruze name sounds familiar, it was used for a small Holden SUV based on the Suzuki Ignis with a 1500cc motor replacing the 1.3 used in the Japanese car.
Holden gave the Cruze minor styling changes from the Ignis.