Topic: GM Confirms Diesel Cruze for 2013

[hopsoid]

Chevrolet has just announced that some time in 2013, it will launch a diesel-powered version of the Cruze in the U.S. The car will use a variant of the 2.0-liter four that’s installed in Cruzes throughout the world, but the company is otherwise silent on details, providing no further information on pricing, fuel economy, or output ratings.

Some markets receive a diesel Cruze with 163 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, while others get a version with 148 hp and 236 lb-ft. Our bet would be for us to receive the latter—this is a small car, after all, and Chevy’s play here is to pump up its fuel-economy numbers. Whether the diesel-fueled Cruze will roundly trump the other small cars clustered around 40 mpg—including the Hyundai Elantra and Chevy’s own 42-mpg Cruze Eco, which the company assures us will still be sold when the diesel arrives—is up to the EPA. Considering that Chevrolet offers a six-speed manual transmission in all of the gasoline-powered Cruze models sold here already, we would expect that a row-your-own gearbox will be on offer for this new model, as well.

blog.caranddriver.com/here-comes-the-chug-chevrolet-confirms-diesel-cruze-for-2013/

[Vanstar]

The real question is how much it will cost and if it is actually worth the extra outlay. This goes with most diesels in my experience

[TopGun]

Heard the Bosch Pres for Americas say they just did a study that a diesel makes up for its higher initial cost when it is sold (and by higher efficiency obviously)

[sailor723]

I know when I was shopping the Mercedes ML diesel had a higher 3 year residual than the gas models. I suspect the higher resale spread would only get larger at higher mileages.

[tpl]

The good thing about this imho is if Chevy brings a small diesel to NA that we'll then see a Diesel Focus, a Diesel Accord and so on. If the major manufacturers can make it to the 2016 CAFE with diesels there is a good chance some of the higher powered gasoline cars will survive. Mustangs and Camaros for example without them becoming again wimpy powerless cars as they were in the '70s and '80s.   I don't want a pony car myself but I do want a near 300 bhp BMW,Audi or VW please.

[sailor723]

^

From my experience people at the dealership level often have very little idea about what's in the product pipeline.

edit

For what it's worth when I was researching my ML purchase one interesting fact I found was that diesel's accounted for 80% of ML sales in Canada but only 20% in the US. If that holds true through other car lines it wouldn't make much sense for Chevy to offer the diesel Cruze in the US but not in Canada.

[JSCC]

^

From my experience people at the dealership level often have very little idea about what's in the product pipeline.

edit

For what it's worth when I was researching my ML purchase one interesting fact I found was that diesel's accounted for 80% of ML sales in Canada but only 20% in the US. If that holds true through other car lines it wouldn't make much sense for Chevy to offer the diesel Cruze in the US but not in Canada.

Your stats are true, and to show them in real numbers:
CAD sold about 4000 MLs in 2010 (~800 gas, ~3200 diesel)
USA sold about 30000 MLs in 2010 (~24000 gas, ~6000 diesel)

It is a similar story for the GL.

I wonder when we will get the GLK diesel, I wonder. 

[sailor723]

^

From my experience people at the dealership level often have very little idea about what's in the product pipeline.

edit

For what it's worth when I was researching my ML purchase one interesting fact I found was that diesel's accounted for 80% of ML sales in Canada but only 20% in the US. If that holds true through other car lines it wouldn't make much sense for Chevy to offer the diesel Cruze in the US but not in Canada.

Your stats are true, and to show them in real numbers:
CAD sold about 4000 MLs in 2010 (~800 gas, ~3200 diesel)
USA sold about 30000 MLs in 2010 (~24000 gas, ~6000 diesel)

It is a similar story for the GL.

I wonder when we will get the GLK diesel, I wonder. 

Sounds like it's on the way

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercedes-diesels-glk-in-2011-and-c-class-in-2012-eight-models-in-u-s-by-2014/

[johngenx]

Given the huge success MB has had in Canada with diesel engines, I see them expanding the availability.  But, I could be very wrong, as MB does weird things all the time...

GM needs some neat stuff to set their products apart, and maybe the diesel is the answer.  With large volumes, the marginal per unit cost over gasoline engines doesn't have to be huge.  MB has shown this with their diesel engines carrying smaller premiums ($1500) and in some cases, the models are priced lower!

[JSCC]

^

From my experience people at the dealership level often have very little idea about what's in the product pipeline.

edit

For what it's worth when I was researching my ML purchase one interesting fact I found was that diesel's accounted for 80% of ML sales in Canada but only 20% in the US. If that holds true through other car lines it wouldn't make much sense for Chevy to offer the diesel Cruze in the US but not in Canada.

Your stats are true, and to show them in real numbers:
CAD sold about 4000 MLs in 2010 (~800 gas, ~3200 diesel)
USA sold about 30000 MLs in 2010 (~24000 gas, ~6000 diesel)

It is a similar story for the GL.

I wonder when we will get the GLK diesel, I wonder. 

Sounds like it's on the way

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercedes-diesels-glk-in-2011-and-c-class-in-2012-eight-models-in-u-s-by-2014/

That was 6 months ago, many things have changed.

[sailor723]

^

From my experience people at the dealership level often have very little idea about what's in the product pipeline.

edit

For what it's worth when I was researching my ML purchase one interesting fact I found was that diesel's accounted for 80% of ML sales in Canada but only 20% in the US. If that holds true through other car lines it wouldn't make much sense for Chevy to offer the diesel Cruze in the US but not in Canada.

Your stats are true, and to show them in real numbers:
CAD sold about 4000 MLs in 2010 (~800 gas, ~3200 diesel)
USA sold about 30000 MLs in 2010 (~24000 gas, ~6000 diesel)

It is a similar story for the GL.

I wonder when we will get the GLK diesel, I wonder. 

Sounds like it's on the way

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercedes-diesels-glk-in-2011-and-c-class-in-2012-eight-models-in-u-s-by-2014/

That was 6 months ago, many things have changed.

This was posted today and there is a recent post on Benzworld.com from someone claiming to have seen several GLK's with "220CDI" badges parked somewhere.

http://www.planetbenz.com/2011/07/spy-the-2013-mercedes-benz-glk-class-facelift-snagged-on-u-s-soil/

http://mbworld.org/forums/diesel-forum/408537-glk-220-cdi-us.html

[sailor723]

Getting back to the topic at hand......I agree with the post above by TPL. If the diesel Cruze sells in any numbers it will quickly spawn a flock of compact diesel cars from the competition. One thing I've never understood about CAFE, is it what a manufacturer offers or actually sells that counts?

[Erik]

Problem in the states is that diesel costs more than gas. Substantially more, a year ago. Makes it that much harder for people to get past the diesel sticker shock.

[tpl]

Getting back to the topic at hand......I agree with the post above by TPL. If the diesel Cruze sells in any numbers it will quickly spawn a flock of compact diesel cars from the competition. One thing I've never understood about CAFE, is it what a manufacturer offers or actually sells that counts?

I don't know the answer to that question.   I suspect it might be sells rather than offers.  But the combination of "money on the hood",  a few cents/litre off diesel for a year and quotas on big cars might do it for a diesel Cruze.


If and only If it is reliable and pleasant to drive from day one.   I would hope that after selling it for 3 years with a diesel in other markets they ought to be able to manage that but it would not be the first time GM has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Getting back to the topic at hand......I agree with the post above by TPL. If the diesel Cruze sells in any numbers it will quickly spawn a flock of compact diesel cars from the competition. One thing I've never understood about CAFE, is it what a manufacturer offers or actually sells that counts?

I would like to agree, except everyone seems to have forgotten about Volkswagen.  A mainstream non-premium brand that has been alone in the diesel market for decades.  They sell every one they can make (certainly here in Canada).

The noted competition's response? Dumped $XXX,XXX,XXX into hybrid/plugin/Volt vehicles to improve FE numbers in an unproven, limited market, rather than the likely more modest cost of creating or collaborating on a 'Clean Diesel' for a proven (by VW) market.

If Chevy (and how many auto writers will - in the same breath - not fail to mention the Oldmobile Diesel in every review of the Cruze Diesel) manage to overcome THAT stigma, AND lead a new Diesel charge? (no pun on the Volt).....I'm betting aganst them, unfortunately.

Though I've always hope for the competition to show up with diesels.....JEEP - Hear Me....

[tpl]

Getting back to the topic at hand......I agree with the post above by TPL. If the diesel Cruze sells in any numbers it will quickly spawn a flock of compact diesel cars from the competition. One thing I've never understood about CAFE, is it what a manufacturer offers or actually sells that counts?

I would like to agree, except everyone seems to have forgotten about Volkswagen.  A mainstream non-premium brand that has been alone in the diesel market for decades.  They sell every one they can make (certainly here in Canada).

The noted competition's response? Dumped $XXX,XXX,XXX into hybrid/plugin/Volt vehicles to improve FE numbers in an unproven, limited market, rather than the likely more modest cost of creating or collaborating on a 'Clean Diesel' for a proven (by VW) market.

If Chevy (and how many auto writers will - in the same breath - not fail to mention the Oldmobile Diesel in every review of the Cruze Diesel) manage to overcome THAT stigma, AND lead a new Diesel charge? (no pun on the Volt).....I'm betting aganst them, unfortunately.

Though I've always hope for the competition to show up with diesels.....JEEP - Hear Me....

The Volt R&D started some time ago...maybe before the newest CAFE standards came out. The Volt and its successors although expensive does give them a platform that with some tweaking will enable them to meet 2016.
Do GM consider VW a competitor in NA...really?
GM did not really have a modern competitive small car with a proven diesel until the Astra and for the last 3 years they have been struggling a bit with the bankruptcy stuff.  Without the bankruptcy we might have seen an Astra diesel here.  As the Cruze is selling well they can now afford ( in all senses) to take a risk with a diesel. If it works great...if not then it is just a relatively small amount of money spent to certify the EU diesel for NA AND having that engine certified makes making a competitor to the Transit Connect cheaper.

[Thinking Out Loud]

I wasn't suggesting whether GM considers VW a competitor in N/A, so I don't dig your drift. 

My point is VW was leading the way with a spotlight for TWENTY YEARS and nobody gave a rats a$$ about their VW's inability to supply a product that was a business case for Supply/Demand/Profit. 

"Yes, that's right Mr. Ford. VW can't keep them in stock.  Yes, there were people waiting a year+ to purchase a new VW until a new clean diesel was available..... OK, so you are SURE diesels are a loser?  OK, I'll let the Germans know they are on OBVIOUSLY the wrong track. We'll proceed with EcoBoost."

Honda, Toyota, and Nissan either ignored it or pursued alternates that (depending on the manu) has a very limited target market OR weather issues and involved extensive development costs relative to an obvious and cheaper choice. 

To suggest that Chevy will be the tide-turner?  Like I said, I have been hoping for a diesel product that is reliable and where the dealer won't play hardball on the price cause they are the only game in town.   

Fingers crossed nonetheless.

 

[tpl]

I was trying to suggest that GM just paid no attention to a marginal player like VW...so what...why bother about some German car company that produces and sells weirdo cars...we have enough to worry about with Toyota and Honda.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I wonder what the EPA numbers will be.

[EV Dan]

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/04/cruzediesel-20120427.html

"Historically, diesel cars have sold strongly in Europe, where the fuel is less expensive than highly taxed gasoline. In the United States, diesel fuel typically costs between 25 and 40 cents more than gasoline, but the difference has been trending downward the past couple of years, according to Schaeffer. When factoring in diesel’s relatively higher fuel efficiency, he said the cost differential appears less significant. "

... so it's really the price of fuel that's holding back the diesel in NA, namely the US. When ppl see an economic advantage of buying a diesel car they will, despite of it being noisy and smelly, Canadian ML mentioned above is a good  example of the trend.