Lincoln, Cadillac woo buyers with extras

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Auto dealers vie to distinguish their brands in a soft market
Robert Snell / The Detroit News

General Motors and Ford have dropped their fur-lined gloves and are engaging in one-upmanship to distinguish their luxury brands in a competitive segment of the market.

Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln and General Motors Co.'s Cadillac are dangling free maintenance deals, a perk long offered by rival import BMW, but dropped by luxury automakers Lexus, Audi and Mercedes-Benz in recent years amid high costs.

The goal is not to boost sales during the short term in a soft luxury market, but to distinguish the premium domestic brands from their foreign rivals, raise brand awareness for Lincoln and Cadillac, and cultivate long-term repeat customers.

Their efforts come as the luxury car market has posted single-digit percentage gains and luxury sport utility sales have increased 30.7 percent in the first half of the year, despite a weak economy. Other vehicle segments, such as pickups and sport utility/crossovers, have notched double-digit increases this year, while the overall market has climbed 16.7 percent.

The domestic brand incentives sparked mixed reactions from dealers and industry analysts, who said free maintenance perks could help them compete with foreign rivals, but likely won't boost sales in the short term.

"It's a customer comfort sort of thing and a little bit of exclusivity," said auto analyst Joe Phillippi of AutoTrends Consulting in Short Hills, N.J. "You're not going to get this at a Chevy or Ford dealership. Someone's not going to buy a Cadillac or Lincoln because they think the free maintenance deal is better than the other guy's. But it's going to make them happy while owning the car."

While Cadillac and Lincoln lag Lexus, BMW and Mercedes in sales, the domestic brands were up 33.3 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, through June, compared with the 9.4 percent increase in the overall luxury segment.

Dealers encouraged
Some dealers are encouraged and hope the perks trigger an increase in showroom traffic at a time when retail sales remain sluggish amid a weaker-than-expected recovery in the auto industry.

"It will make it a little easier to get customers in the door," said Justin Osen, a salesman at Don Gooley Cadillac in St. Clair Shores.

Last month, Lincoln unveiled a deal offering free scheduled maintenance for three years or 45,000 miles for those who buy or lease a new 2010 or 2011 Lincoln. Cadillac followed three days later, upping the deal to four years or 50,000 miles on 2011 models.

The Lincoln program, which expires Sept. 7, covers oil changes, tire rotations, routine inspections, engine belts, hoses and replacement of wiper blades and brake linings. The Cadillac offer will be standard on 2011 models.

Chrysler Group LLC doesn't have any luxury brands and declined to comment whether it has any similar perks for its lineup.

The Cadillac and Lincoln offers aren't the right tool to lure buyers or close sales, said Lincoln dealer Tammy Darvish, vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group in Silver Spring, Md.

"I don't think it will really have a lot of impact," she said. "People don't come in and buy a car because of free maintenance."

But the offer could convince a customer to stay loyal to a particular dealership and help the dealer build a relationship with the customer, Darvish said.

"I prefer to go into a relationship with longevity at the heart of it," she said. "Not just a quick 'come in and get a free oil change,' and we'll never see you again."

The timing of the offers coincides with automakers clearing out 2010 models and introducing new models. For Cadillac, the first vehicle eligible under the deal is the CTS Coupe, which reaches showrooms later this summer.

"It's a good time to offer these types of deals. They're being competitive at a time when people are luxury shopping," said Jessica Caldwell, a senior analyst at Edmunds.com.

"They need to prove themselves and offer a competitive product before they can compete with BMW or Mercedes," she added. "Right now, it's crucial for them to step up their game and break into the luxury market strongly."

Caldwell is encouraged that the luxury segment hasn't tanked along with the economy. Sales should improve later this summer and early fall as 2010 models are liquidated and 2011 models introduced, she said.

A mixed reception
The offers' varying lengths and coverage met with mixed reception among some analysts, however, who say Cadillac, in particular, didn't go far enough.

James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, faulted Cadillac for failing to cover wear-and-tear items such as windshield wipers and brakes.

Cadillac's deal covers scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, engine and cabin air filters, and a multipoint vehicle inspection.

The offers should generate additional warranty and service profits for dealerships coping with sluggish retail sales, Bell said.

In addition, they should help ensure that owners take better care of leased and low-mileage vehicles, which ultimately will be resold by those same dealers, he said.

"Our bet says these programs become standard offerings from both U.S. manufacturers in the next year," Bell said.

The offers are not particularly novel -- many European brands have offered such perks for years -- but they do signal bids by Ford and GM to more aggressively pursue luxury segment leaders Mercedes and Lexus.

"The program is designed to raise satisfaction for owners by ensuring access to expert service," said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac sales and service. "It should lead to higher loyalty rates for dealers by establishing them as a valued resource for our customers."

The efforts also could increase margins for sales staff and ease the stress of buyers seeking freebies.

Each time Osen sells a Cadillac SRX, for example, his cut is $280 before taxes. But that amount shrinks after taxes and the $80 oil change that he routinely offers free to his customers.

The incentive also could help ensure leased vehicles are returned in better condition and easier to sell, Osen said.

"If the car gets fixed for free, what do they care?" Osen said. "I can't tell you how many lease turn-ins have the light on saying it needs an oil change."

Come check out all of the new Cadillacs at Bradshaw Cadillac in Greer SC. Shop 24/7 at www.BradshawGreer.com

Preview: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Another Great preview. This time on the all new Chevy Cruze by Clare Dear.  Bradshaw Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac will be your Cruze headquarters in the Upstate. Stop by to see the full line of Chevys at 14000 E Wade Hampton Blvd. Greer SC, 29651. Shop 24/7 at http://www.bradshawgreer.com/.

Milford. Mich. • The initial impression of Chevrolet’s new compact Cruze sedan is that it’s a mini-Malibu — and that opinion sits well with the bow-tie brass. Their intention is to deliver mid-sized comfort, dynamics and amenities, but at compact-sized pricing and fuel efficiency. And although pricing and final fuel numbers won’t be known for several months, this global product is right on target with its other objectives.

The Cruze is already available in 60 markets around the world, but North Americans won’t get their hands on it until the third quarter of this year. With the compact category evolving as the fastest-growing segment in the industry (it’s expected to be the second-largest in the United States by 2012), coupled with the consumer trend to downsize, the timing is right for this car. In fact, it is expected to be General Motors’ single largest volume small-car line globally.

During the preview at General Motors’ Milford proving grounds, Chevy executives described the Cruze as a “transformational” car for the brand, a product that will be sought after by consumers and will be better than competitive models such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It’s expected to generate “huge volume for the brand” and, as a major player for GM globally, the team working on developing the North American edition is enduring unprecedented scrutiny.

As a result of that corporate focus, the Cruze is undergoing intensive testing here, even though it’s a model already on sale elsewhere. For example, although it has already earned five-star-equivalent crash ratings in several overseas markets, including Korea, China, India, Australia and Europe, the North American version is undergoing extensive additional evaluations at GM’s vehicle safety facility.

In addition to significant structure and system analysis, GM engineers have already written off 20 to 30 Cruzes in destruction (crash) tests. The body count went up by one during my visit, with test vehicle No. 17269 sacrificing itself in a side-impact crash by taking a midship hit from a 1,500-kilogram sled (with a Ford F-150 snout, no less) careening down the track at 50 kilometres an hour.

The dust had hardly settled when technicians were already scouring the remains, documenting the physical damage. From this untrained eye, the results were reassuring, with the side pillar making a limited intrusion into the cabin, while air bags helped minimize potential injuries to the occupants.

Obviously, safety is a key issue and the Cruze will be offered with a full suite of standard features, including four-wheel ABS (with brake-force distribution), electronic stability and traction controls, breakaway pedal assemblies, OnStar automatic crash notification and a segment-leading 10 air bags — two front, two knee, a pair of side curtains that protect both rows of seats, plus seat-mounted side-impact bags front and rear.

Chevrolet also wants the Cruze to be a class leader in ride, responsiveness and quietness. After doing several laps on the test circuit in several Cruze iterations, as well as a Civic and Corolla, it appears the car has attained that goal. The suspension, with MacPherson struts up front and a unique torsion beam and Watts-link arrangement in back, has a European feel (firm but compliant). The Cruze stayed well planted on bumpy sections of the track, while the Japanese competition skittered about.

Similarly, the Cruze had a noticeable advantage in the noise/vibration department. Its 18 acoustical treatments, including an acoustical laminated windshield with triple sealing at its base and hydraulic ride bushings, keep the cabin well isolated from road and wind noise.

The Cruze will be offered as a four-door sedan in four trim levels (LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ), with two suspension options (touring and the firmer sport package.) Two engine choices will be available — a 1.4-litre turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder generating 138 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 148 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,850 rpm, or a naturally aspirated 1.8L four-cylinder that pumps out the same horsepower (but at 6,300 rpm) and 123 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm.
Transmission choices are a fully synchronized six-speed manual or the global 6T40 six-speed automatic. The gearing in the manual box has overdrive ratios in fourth, fifth and sixth to enhance fuel economy while the first three cogs are underdriven for better acceleration.

A special Eco model will be offered that uses the 1.4L turbo engine coupled with the six-speed manual. (A version using the automatic box is in the works for later introduction.) Chevy engineers set a target of 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway for this car, giving consumers the benefit of hybrid-like fuel efficiency without having to shell out the higher price tag such products command. However, it was made quite clear the Eco will not be a stripped model. Instead, huge efforts have been exerted to reduce weight and improve the car’s aerodynamics to achieve the target consumption rating.

Weight-reducing measures include replacing the car’s audio speakers with lighter units, saving about a kilogram. The weld flanges have been trimmed by a millimetre or two, while the Watts link in the rear suspension has been deleted (although the pending automatic version will have the setup.) The carpets are lighter than the standard Cruze models. The 17-inch tires, borrowed from the new Volt, are ultra-low-rolling resistant and they’re mounted on lighter alloy wheels.

To help the Eco model slip more smoothly through the air, the front fascia has been lowered and an air dam added. There’s also an underbody belly pan and shielding around the tire wells and rear axle, and a spoiler has been attached to the deck lid. Another aero initiative is the addition of shutters on the lower grille opening that close as the car’s speed increases. Overall, the Eco Cruze has a drag coefficient of 0.016 — the lowest in its class.

Chevy brass believe the Cruze is the right car at the right time. My initial impressions suggest they’re right.

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Preview: 2011 Buick Regal

I found this great preview article on the new 2011 Buick Regal by Scott Deveau. Get information on the new Regal at Bradshaw Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac 14000 E Wade Hampton Blvd Greer, SC 29651.  Shop 24/7 at http://www.bradshawgreer.com/.  Stop by today to see all of the new Buicks.

Frankfurt, Germany • The Nürburgring Nordschleife race track is widely held to be the most dangerous and difficult in the world. Not only has it been the cause of countless deaths, but its 73 turns over 21 kilometres are some of the most difficult to drive.

At first blush, it would seem the infamous track should be the last place to test a new Buick, screaming around curves at 100 kilometres an hour like a roller coaster but with no promise of remaining hinged. Yet the Nürburgring turned out to be an excellent test of Buick’s new 2011 Regal sport sedan. Not only did the base CXL model prove adept at handling the pounding delivered by the Nürburgring, but the 2.0-litre turbocharged version actually appeared built for just such a test.

There’s a very strong reason why. The Regal, which is sold as the Opel Insignia in Europe, underwent hundreds of thousands of hours of testing during its development at General Motors’ facilities at the Nürburgring.

GM makes it no secret the track was the “birthplace” of the Regal, and it will likely figure heavily in the car’s marketing. The result so far is a sleek, sexy sedan that can handle the switchbacks of the German countryside as smoothly as being opened up to 220 km/h on the autobahns.

The Regal is Buick’s most aggressive foray into redefining the embattled brand, carrying on where the LaCrosse and Enclave models made inroads.

For decades, Buick had aligned itself with the Greatest Generation — Second World War veterans and the like — creating vehicles GM would have described as “big, safe, quiet and comfortable.” But the limitations of that market have become abundantly clear, with the buying power of the subsequent Baby Boomer generation shifting to more youthful brands.

The Regal is not your grandfather’s Buick. The car was designed by a team of engineers and designers based at GM’s Opel facility in Germany, but incorporated the talents of the company’s counterparts in China and the United States to create the Buick’s truly global platform.

While the Regal is already sold in China and carries the Insignia name in Europe, the model destined for North America has more than 230 different parts, many due to regulatory demands (such as different headlights), but also aesthetics, including the car’s trademark waterfall grille. Interior designers from China put their stamp on the interior — the Regal’s cabin has a sexy, slick look that borrows from premium brands, including ice-blue lighting for the instruments, a thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and raised stitching in its leather seats.

But the most noticeable departure of the Regal’s previous incarnations comes in the sculpted and contoured exterior that draws heavily from tight European designs. Buick is attempting to position the Regal as a sport sedan and is taking aim at the likes of Acura’s TSX and the Volvo S60.

The Regal CXL (base price of $32,990) comes standard with a 182-horsepower 2.4L four-cylinder, the same engine as in the LaCrosse, as well as a six-speed automatic transmission and 18-inch wheels. Later this year, a sportier version with a 220-hp 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four will be available, carrying a base price of $35,990.

The Regal is just a starting point for Buick as it looks to expand into other segments. The brand estimates its vehicles cover about 14% of the North American market. By 2012, it plans to have another, smaller crossover in its portfolio as well as another compact car, based on the Excelle it sells in China. This will expand its product portfolio to the point where it covers 42% of the North American market. By 2016, Buick wants to have enough models on the road that 60% of the market’s segments are covered. It’s through the continued introduction of products that GM hopes that it will finally be able to appeal to a younger demographic, as well.

The question remains whether Buick will be able to successfully reposition itself in the North American market, where it still carries a connotation for being the brand of choice among an older demographic. While acknowledging it might take a decade or more to entirely reposition the brand, GM believes that as more products are introduced into its lineup — such as the Regal  — the company will be able to reinvent itself for a younger clientele.

Only time will tell, but the Regal is certainly a step in the right direction.

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Chevrolet boasts that Cruze Eco could get 40 mpg

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If you think you need hybrids or electric power to get astounding gas mileage, look at the latest entry from Chevrolet.

For the New York Auto Show, Chevrolet plans to show off the high-gas-mileage version of its Cruze compact sedan, the Cruze Eco.

How good is the gas mileage? Chevy thinks it can get it certified at 40 miles a gallon. Not bad for compact with, GM boasts, the "spaciousness and amenities of a midsize car." Chevy hopes to get its great mileage by combining a small 1.4-liter Ecotech engine with a turbocharger and variable valve timing.

General Motors is plenty serious about the Cruze. It announced a third shift at the Lordstown, Ohio, plant that will add 1,200 workers to support a smooth ramp-up of Cruze production. More than $350 million has been invested to re-tool the plant and add state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment.

The Cruze Eco is supposed to come to showrooms at the end of the year.

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Bradshaw Chevrolet Goes To Bat for Northwood Little League

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Bradshaw Chevrolet to provide Northwood Little League with new equipment, monetary donation, instructional clinics; Additional funds via Chevy Vehicle Giveaway

Greer (March 26, 2010) – Bradshaw Chevrolet announced today it will be investing support in Greer through a partnership with Northwood Little League. Bradshaw Chevrolet will provide baseball equipment, instructional clinics, a monetary donation, and an opportunity to raise an additional $10,000 in funds through a Chevy vehicle giveaway-fundraiser. The effort by Bradshaw Chevrolet is part of the Chevy Youth Baseball initiative sweeping the nation from March through July 2010.

“Chevrolet has a long history with baseball at the national level. We wanted to bring that excitement and commitment to youth baseball, in the communities where our customers and their families live,” said William Bradshaw, of Bradshaw Chevrolet. “Youth baseball has always played an important role in Greer so we are thrilled to support our kids in a meaningful way.”

Bradshaw Chevrolet will present the Northwood Little League with equipment kits complete with equipment bags, baseball buckets, dry-erase coach’s clipboards and Chevy Youth Baseball t-shirts. The sponsorship includes clinics with experienced instructors from former MLB/MiLB players and coaches or the Ripken Baseball professional staff.

In addition, a one-time monetary donation check will be presented by Bradshaw Chevrolet to Northwood Little League. The team also will have an opportunity to raise additional funds for their use as part of a Chevy Youth Baseball Fundraiser. Sponsored leagues across the country will each receive 2,000 fundraiser entry tickets to distribute for a suggested donation, and the league will keep 100% of proceeds raised. At the end of the fundraiser, there will be five winners of a Chevy Equinox or Chevy Malibu vehicle of choice (up to $30,000 in value), and in each participating market there will be a secondary prize of a home entertainment center valued at $1,000.

Chevrolet is recognized on the national level as the “Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball.” “At some point, we hope the kids or their parents will consider a Chevrolet as an official vehicle of their household,” said Bradshaw. “Our vehicles are ideal for transporting families, teams and their gear.”

Chevrolet has expanded its support of MLB to the youth baseball players in communities across the country through the Chevy Youth Baseball program. The Chevy Youth Baseball program began in Atlanta in 2006. Now in its fifth season, the grass roots initiative has activation in more than 20 states and seeks to establish a positive connection between local dealers and the communities they serve. Since its beginning, more than $7 million dollars has been raised by Chevy for community youth baseball leagues.

For more information about Chevy Youth Baseball, please visit www.YouthSportsWired.com

Test Drive: Buick LaCrosse

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From Mark Eckos Complex.com

By now you’ve seen the commercials where Buick calls out Lexus and claiming that their new LaCrosse is as good, or better, than the ES series. And not only is it better, that it’s cheaper, too. Sounds too good to be true, don’t it? We thought so too until we hopped behind the wheel of Buick’s new mid-sized luxury sedan. The car that was designed partly by GM’s Chinese arm—Buick’s are HUGE in China. It packs in a hell of a lot of luxury in a package that doesn’t look as if it was made for your grandmother. Read on to see if Buick latest offering is as good as they claim. Spoiler alert: it is!

RIDE: The goal for the LaCrosse, as you can see by the commercials, was to go head to head with Lexus’ ES. But in order to do battle against their mid-sized, front wheel drive offering, they had to make sure the LaCrosse was just as comfortable to drive. And they’ve succeeded. The CXS we drove with the 3.6 L, 280 hp V6, was a smooth as any Lex we’ve driven. There’s a real sense of calm when you drive it. The six-speed automatic transmissions shifts smoothly, the road noise is kept to a minimum and the steering is nicely weighted to provide you with just the right amount of info. Not enough for you to confuse it for a sports sedan, but enough so you don’t fall asleep behind the wheel.

EXTERIOR: The LaCrosse is the best design to come out of Buick in decades. Most people resign Buicks as cars for the elderly, but the LaCrosse, though it sounds old, actually envokes a youthful spirit. It’s curvy, but sharp. We could go without all the chrome slathered on the rear and grill, but what can you do? It looks substantial and expensive, without coming off as stuffy and pretentious. The latter is probably due to the fact that it’s a Buick, but it is what it is.

INTERIOR: Back in GM’s heyday, when they had a number of overlapping brands, Buick served as the nameplate that delivered the same a features as the higher priced Cadillac’s but in a more reasonably priced package. The LaCrosse carries on that tradition with its interior. It doesn’t have all the trick electronics that Caddy’s have, like the navigation screen that rises out of the dash. But we’d be damned if the interior wasn’t the one of the best in GMs entire line up. That may have something to do with the fact that it was designed in China where Buick is considered better than Mercedes-Benz. Everything is comfortably set up. From the nice blue that shines through the gauges and the dash, to the nice wood trim swirling throughout, it all just works. However, there are some pieces that were overlooked. In our test car, the indicator stalk was very loose and rattled at times while driving. But one thing we did like is the rear legroom. Because the car is used to chauffeur rich business and government types, the rear legroom was made to accommodate accordingly.

TECH: Besides GM’s OnStar service, our LaCrosse CXS came with a CD/DVD player that had an 3.5″ aux connection for your MP3 player, a 40 gig hard drive and a rearview camera. All of which worked well.

SUMMARY: The LaCrosse is a great step in Buicks goal to once again become the affordable luxury car maker. For about $1200 less than a comparable Lexus, you get most of the same tech and features as well as a car that can ride just as comfortably. It ain’t the end of the road—there are still a couple things the Lex does better: fit and finish, audio quality. But Buick managed to create a package that would do well against other luxury marquees in any country. If you’re looking for a comfortable cruiser, it’s worth the look.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze First Drive

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Cruzing the World
By Matt Davis, Contributor Published Apr 1, 2009

Amid the financial mess that has become General Motors, we're told that the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is coming our way, one more piece of GM's constantly improving product portfolio. Despite GM's financial drama, the Cruze refuses to get sidetracked. Good thing, because GM needs this new small car to have a firm footing in markets around the globe, including the U.S.
The Cruze sedan is being delivered to customers in European markets right now, and it has been on sale in Korea as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere since late 2008. It will also be sold as the Holden Cruze in Oceania. Our several drives of the bowtie-badged Cruze with a variety of powertrains and transmissions in northern Spain have shown us that GM has at long last become a global thinker and planner like Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and VW.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze replaces the Chevy Cobalt, which ends production in its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, early in 2010, but this is much more car than the Cobalt was ever planned to be. The Cruze has handsome exterior work, while the interior is impressively good for big people, and the car also looks and feels better than the price should allow.
Going GlobalKnown internally as project J300, the Cruze is the very first GM car to be planned from its green light back in late 2006 as a totally global model. It's taken GM awhile to set up something as brilliantly cost-effective as this car, but it's finally here and there is now no looking back. Here's hoping it's not too little, too late.
Engineering for the J300 project has been headquartered in Germany at GM Europe's headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany. All design work has been led by the international team in Incheon, South Korea, at the former Daewoo facility, with designers Dave Lyon and Taewan Kim presiding (love the BMW 3 Series-style taillights also found on the recently sexed-up Citroën C5). Cruze production is cranking full steam at a plant in Bupyong, South Korea, and will soon also rev up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Shenyang in China.
With today's globalized perspective, all this makes the Cruze GM's most significant car ever. Provided economies in key markets pick up in timely fashion, annual worldwide sales of the Cruze could easily top 1 million vehicles. The best year for worldwide Chevy Cobalt sales came in 2005 with 148,949 sales; the total dipped to 118,349 in 2008. The Cruze has been given the task of exceeding these numbers in the U.S. alone.
The image of the car depends on the market you're talking about. In Southeast Asia (and perhaps in China as the Buick Cruze), it's a family's dream car. In Korea or Russia and Eastern Europe, it's a solid midmarket player, a clear notch above the Korean brands or VW-based Škoda. In Europe and Australia, the Cruze is the smart, well-finished alternative with big-car room and small-car practicality. For us in North America, the Cruze needs to steal customers from the Japanese, the Koreans, and from the Ford Focus.
Is It the Hit It Needs To Be?If we're to go by our industrious driving over two days, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze measures up to expectations. The Chevrolet people tell us that the Cruze as it sits on the new Delta 2 architecture (shared with the Chevy Volt and the next Opel Astra) incorporates lots of lightweight, high-tensile-strength steel. Our driving over lots of different surfaces shows that structural rigidity is noticeably better than the Cobalt's Delta 1 architecture.
While the new platform's front suspension struts and rear torsion-beam axle are fairly basic work, they are feeling finer than anything we've ever experienced under a Cobalt. This could be due to the Cruze's stretched wheelbase (2.4 inches longer), slightly wider tracks, plus optional 17-inch tires. The Cruze unsurprisingly doesn't steer like a BMW or Infiniti, although it doesn't feel out of the ordinary, with a strong on-center response. Understeer is, however, less than on the generation of cars the Cruze replaces worldwide.
The base model Cruze will be equipped with a 1.8-liter inline-4 rated at 140 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque. Later on, an optional turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4 will be available, which produces 140 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. The Cruze weighs 2,844 pounds with the manual transmission and 2,899 pounds with the auto, so both are lighter than the current 2,991-pound Cobalt. We think this is a great thing, even though we're giving up 10 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque compared to the current Cobalt's engine, and can expect acceleration to 60 mph to be no quicker than 9.5 seconds.
The optional six-speed automatic transmission is a first in this segment, but the 1.8-liter base engine we get is a bit underwhelming, as any slight incline on the highway results in an old-school tug of war between 5th and 6th gears if the transmission is left in Drive. (What'll it be like with five passengers and luggage then?) Meanwhile, the standard five-speed manual is always good because its ratios mesh better with the power curve, and 5th gear is overdrive enough to make highway cruising, Cruzing. If North America gets the six-speed manual transmission that's being discussed, all the better.
Living Space Every DayBy the measurements, the Cruze passenger cabin tops the competition while also looking swell and managing to keep exterior noise from the wind, tires and motor from pestering occupants. We felt compelled to ask the product people right away whether the supportive front seats are optional. Same for the natty, soft-touch fabric that upholsters the dash. All standard, they say.
Rear passengers in a Cruze are also treated better than in any other car in this class, with 39.4 inches of headroom in front and 37.9 inches in back. Rear-seat legroom in back is tremendous at 36.1 inches. Rear shoulder room measures 54 inches, 5 inches more than in the Cobalt. We adjusted the driver seat to our 6-foot frame and jumped in the back. The space is worthy of an Impala, a real improvement as the Opel Astra-based Cobalt has always been desperately short of rear-seat space. Both ingress and egress are notably upper class for this market segment, with large door openings and an overall height of 58.2 inches, 2.7 inches more than the Cobalt.
The trunk of the Cruze is tops in class with 15.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. In Europe, the Cruze will have a 60/40-split folding rear seat, but the U.S. model will get a cheaper one-piece folding seatback with a pass-through, although the 60/40 seat will be an option.
This Is Year Zero for the New ChevroletAfter all the calculations are done, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze should provide comfort and space and build quality never before seen in this segment at this price. A U.S. model of the base Cruze with manual transmission should start with an MSRP of around $15,500 (unless some way is found to sell it for the magical $14,999), and then about $1,500-$2,000 more will be tacked on for the LS, LT and LTZ trims.
After the Cruze is set on its way, the tiny Spark will be introduced in Europe in early 2010, followed by the next-generation Aveo to slot between the Spark and Cruze in mid-2010. Soon after the global passenger car lineup is complete, then comes the Delta 2-based Orlando crossover with available seven-passenger seating, arriving in North America at the start of 2011. Soon after that, the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and Chevy Impala will be combined into one world car.
For now, we like what we see and hear and drive with the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. We do hope, however, that a Cruze SS with the 260-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 arrives without too much delay. And maybe a Cruze Sport, with a turbocharged, 170-hp version of the 1.8-liter engine. There is a hatchback version in the plans for Europe as well, not to mention some talk about an electric Cruze based on the Volt chassis.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.

Penske terminates Saturn acquisition discussions

General Motors Media Statement Attributed To President & CEO Fritz Henderson

Today we learned that Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has decided to terminate discussions with General Motors to acquire Saturn. This is very disappointing news and comes after months of hard work by hundreds of dedicated employees and Saturn retailers who tried to make the new Saturn a reality. PAG’s announcement explained that their decision was not based on interactions with GM or Saturn retailers; rather it was because of the inability to source new products beyond what it had asked GM to build on contract.

As a result of PAG’s decision, we will be winding down the Saturn brand and dealership network, in accordance with the wind-down agreements that Saturn dealers recently signed with GM. Pursuant to the terms of those agreements, the wind down process will be determined and communicated shortly.

Saturn customers and owners will continue to be able to purchase and have their vehicles serviced at Saturn retailers during this process. Once the wind down is complete, Saturn owners will still be able to have their vehicles serviced at other GM dealerships. We will be communicating with our customers very soon to explain the next steps in this process.

Today’s disappointing news comes at a time when we’d hoped for a successful launch of the Saturn brand into a new chapter. We will be working closely with our dealers to ensure Saturn customers are cared for as we transition them to other GM dealers in the months ahead. I’d also like to thank every GM employee and Saturn retailer who worked so hard to try to make this new beginning happen for Saturn.