Chevrolet confirms diesel powered Cruze (U.S)

Chevrolet has confirmed that a diesel-powered Cruze will go on sale for the 2013 model year. The plan would make Chevrolet the first non-German car manufacture to offer a diesel engine in a compact car. Other notable diesel cars on sale in the U.S include the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Ford F-350, and Mercedes S350 CDI.

While Chevrolet gave very little in the way of information, the marque said “the diesel will bolster the already fuel-efficient Cruze line-up.” Power would come from a 2.0 VCDi that would produce 148bhp (150PS/110kW) and 320Nm (236lb-ft) of torque.

Last month, Chevrolet sold 24,896 Cruze models.

Press Release:

Chevrolet confirmed today it will add a diesel variant to the Cruze lineup in North America in calendar year 2013. Diesel versions of the Cruze are currently being sold in Europe. Additional details on the Cruze diesel for North American markets will be released at a later date.

The diesel will bolster the already fuel-efficient Cruze lineup. Cruze Eco with a standard six-speed manual transmission, is the most fuel-efficient gas-powered/non-hybrid vehicle in America, with an EPA-rated 42 mpg on the highway.

Cruze recorded a total of 24,896 sales in the United States in June, the fifth consecutive month sales have exceeded 20,000. The success of the Cruze has increased Chevrolet's total share of the compact-car segment from 9.5 percent a year ago to 11.9 percent for the first five months of 2011, even as the segment size grew 19 percent.