Although gas prices have fallen well below $3 a gallon around the country – with some regions seeing prices around $2 – U.S. car buyers still have fuel economy high up on their ‘must have’ lists. But even with car buyers still clamoring for fuel economy, General Motors’ highly-efficient Chevrolet Cruze is still almost three years off – or is it?
For U.S. residents, the answer is still yes. But for those living in Korea, you can have a Cruze today, or rather its clone, the Daewoo Lacetti, as it officially rolled into dealerships on Wednesday. Other than a 114 horsepower 1.6L engine – the U.S.-spec Cruze will use a 140 hp 1.4L unit – and a revised grille, the Lacetti is almost exactly identical to the Chevy Cruze we’ll get here.
The fact that GM has delayed the Cruze’s U.S. launch until 2011 yet has launched the car in Korea really speaks to how bad things are in Detroit. The only thing from stopping GM from launching the Cruze here is the re-tooling of its future home – the company’s Lordstown, Ohio plant – which would cost the company billions that it doesn’t have right now. Add in the fact that the Cobalt – which is currently built at the Lordstown plant — is actually seeing decent sales thanks to its high fuel economy, and we won’t see the Cruze until half-way through the next President’s first term.
The European market is also slated to get the Cruze before us, with an on-sale date set for March 2009.
10/29, 6:47 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Lamewoo.
10/29, 6:57 PM
posted by:
pzimet
weird, you gotta wonder if the cruze would achieve better sales than even the cobalt right now if they would just launch it due to the cobalt’s low quality…but then i guess there’s still the issue of the plant
10/29, 7:19 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
So, what’s the point of Daewoo anyways if they’re just rebadged Chevy’s down to the bone.
10/29, 7:19 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
This is stupid. Dress it up like a Chevy, throw it on a boat and bring it over. Isn’t that how Aveos get here?
10/29, 7:42 PM
posted by:
MurcieMe
Tyler, I think you have it the other way around . . . All the cheapy Chevy’s all over the world are rebadged Daewoo’s – the Cruze / Lacetti was a joint venture.
10/29, 8:39 PM
posted by:
A4
lamewoo? cmon nobody even said Gaywoo… thats so much more obvious
10/29, 9:05 PM
posted by:
Lawnchair88
I bet the 1.4 turbo will get some good fuel economy in this little car
10/29, 9:36 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Maybe I do.
10/29, 9:44 PM
posted by:
tastyorange
wow, another distinctive Asian car with a trapezoidal grill with 3 or 4 horizontal lines.
10/29, 10:05 PM
posted by:
tzu13
Hmm, I somehow feel like I’ve seen that car before…
10/29, 11:35 PM
posted by:
Mr. Piston
This is the gayest brand-woo.
10/29, 11:36 PM
posted by:
cereal
I am laughing my A off.
Now I’m cerel. (corny)
But seriously. This is funny. Seriously.
-eat your cerel
10/30, 1:24 AM
posted by:
441Zuke
pathetic
10/30, 9:02 AM
posted by:
Fromes
so why don’t we have this here? Does GM still think the Cobalt is going to be a hot seller despite the Cost of oil dropping like a rock? why not just slap a Chevy grill on this now and bring it over before its to late?
10/30, 11:47 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
It does not cost BILLIONS to retool a single plant. Come on now, LLN, stop with the over-exaggerations.
10/30, 4:04 PM
posted by:
golf4me
If anything, GM should spend what money it has left and build this thing for the USA, even if they have to import re-badged versions until the US plant is done. Dumb. Cobalt is only selling because gas got high, but I wonder how sales are this week. Well, that and the incentives.
10/30, 8:44 PM
posted by:
steve333
Cruze
Worst name ever
LLN
Worst website design ever
10/31, 10:45 PM
posted by:
monte
I agree, ship them over. By 2011 they will already be behind on tech. And why don’t they retool one of the plants they’re closing to avoid down time to retool lordstown.