CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO SHOWS OFF FUEL EFFICIENCY
General Motors held a special drive through southern Ontario recently to demonstrate the fuel economy of Chevrolet Cruze Eco. Starting at the Courtesy Chevrolet dealership in Toronto, Ontario, Cruze Eco was driven in a variety of road circumstances (highway, city and country), ending in Port Perry, Ont.

Cruze Eco contains many fuel economy improvements, including aerodynamic gains such as more closeouts in the upper grille, lower front air dam extension, rear spoiler, a lower ride height and underbody panels, all of which lower highway fuel consumption on manual transmission equipped models by 0.8 litres/100 kilometres to 4.6L/100km.

Light weight alloy wheels and low rolling resistance tires are also part of the Eco package. Eco offers a lower front grille air shutter which closes at high speed to reduce drag, then opens at low speed to optimize engine-cooling airflow. In all, drag is reduced by 10 per cent.

“The Cruze Eco is in a league of its own and will challenge perceptions of the efficiency available in an affordable compact car,” said Marc Comeau, Vice-President Marketing, Chevrolet Canada.

Cruze Eco uses an Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine with a standard six-speed manual transmission, which produces 138 horsepower and 148 foot pounds of torque. An automatic transmission is also available. Over 42 changes were made to the Eco to reduce weight from 1,462 kilograms down to 1,365 kg.