The 'Cruze' sedan from Chevrolet's production line is a sheer performer that delivers on the tarmac while simultaneously making a style statement. The sedan has recently been launched in a new avatar for the Indian market. At the recent launch event, Rajesh Singh, Vice President, Sales, Marketing and after sales, General Motors India, said, “We are constantly upgrading our car lines according to the evolving needs of the Indian consumer. The updated Chevrolet Cruze with all new Gen2 automatic transmission returns improved fuel economy and also provides turn indicators on outside rear view mirrors, both of which are crucial for Indian road conditions.” The face-lifted version is offered at a starting price tag of Rs 16.19 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). A first glimpse of the ‘Ciaz’ sedan from Maruti Suzuki was seen at the Delhi Auto Expo 2014 event held in February, 2014. When launched, pricing and mileage shall be two vital factors in India for this car to do well, hence the sedan coming from the Maruti stable the product's mileage is likely to be decent, as far as price is concerned a hypothetical starting price of Rs 7 lakh is being expected for this sedan.
The Ciaz sedan is slated to be launched sometime by second half of 2014, probably just before the festive season. The Ciaz will enter the Indian automobile market loaded with a 1.4-litre K-Series petrol engine that is also found under the Ertiga's hood, along with a 1.6-litre diesel engine, which will most probably be supplied by Fiat. The engine is expected to be mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It is also said that the company may introduce the Ciaz sedan in an AMT variant. Moreover, sources have stated that the car may feature infotainment system with Bluetooth, AC with climate control, cooled glove box, steering mounted audio controls in the interiors. For safety, the sedan may be loaded with ABS and EBD technology. Though Maruti Suzuki refused to divulge details about it, a company official confirmed that the mid-sized sedan is built on a new platform and will be a completely new car for Suzuki’s global range.
Under the hood the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is powered by turbocharged 2.0-litre VCDi engine that generates about 166 Ps of power with 380 Nm of torque. The powerful engine is mated to optional six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. To handle unpredictable Indian road conditions, the sedan gets gas-charged McPherson strut type suspension for the front wheels, whereas the rear wheels shall be blessed by U-shaped rear suspension loaded with torsion beams and gas-charged shock absorber. While peeping into the interiors, you may see sport graphic infotainment display, radio and HVAC controls. The driver's seat comes with six-way power adjustable option. On the exterior front, the powerful sedan displays masculinity with redesigned front and rear bumpers, smartly designed dual bezel headlamps, and gets a smart dash of chrome on the fog lamps that are complimented with dual-port front grille with gold bow-tie.
The upcoming Ciaz is expected to perform well in the Indian market owing to smart design, along with performance and reliability factors that comes naturally with the Maruti Suzuki line in the country.
