http://jalopnik.com/5606339/chevy-cr...s-wont-get-two


The Chevy Cruze that will finally wash onto U.S. shores soon will not get an SS badge version despite previous rumors and some overseas sticker packages. This is progress.

Chevy marketing chief Jim Campbell told Jalopnik "there won't be an SS" model of the Cruze in the U.S. for 2011 and suggesting none would be added in the years beyond, sparing us the indignity of some tape-and-sparkle job like the Singapore caning unveiled earlier this year. Instead, the Cruze will top out with a faux-grilled RS version that has the sex appeal of an afternoon with your local gardening club.

The Cruze could certainly be shown up if Ford decides to bring one of its rally-infused Focus RS models to the U.S. when it reboots the line next year. But Ford has a racing history with the Focus; Chevy has done little, other than the WTCC racer, to test the Cruze on the track, instead going flat out to build the best Toyota Corolla ever.

It's probably better to leave the power work to the SEMA crowd who can tear out more weak Daewoo bits than GM really wants to mess with than glue those two letters on yet another fender that hasn't earned it.

 

There was talk a while back that Chevrolet was trying to bring some dignity back to the SS nameplate. Maybe they are going to give it a 'Z24' badge instead?

I can't see them totally abandoning the pocket-racer segment. I don't know how well the Cobalt TCSS sells, but I know it has a solid reputation as a performer.

 

What a dumb dumb dumb move . With the 08-10 Cobalt SS , they had possibly the best FWD sport compact formula on the market maybe anywhere in the world . It was simply stuck in a bunk car with a walmart interior . They did have a sucessful showing with the supercharged and turbocharged SS in the Koni Challenge series , several strong showings and quite a few records in proffessional drag racing with the Ecotec . They could of built on that history as well as fold the Cruze WTTC program into the mix . Plus to add to all that , the LSJ and LNF Cobalt SS's had GM's ever coveted mid-low 20's demographic as the average buyer .

Oh well , Chevy is the big loser here . Ford will step in with the Focus . And undoubtably when a RS or ST is a sucess , you will clamour to throw something to together to yet again play catch up . Niiiiiiiiiice And if not , there is the GTI , there is a Mazdaspeed 3 and Im sure Honda will do everything to make sure the next SI is not the slow car the last gen was .

....and FWIW , the Cobalt SS earned its to S's just as much as the Camaro .

 

Z24 not SS.

 

It's too bad, but maybe it's for the better in some ways.

Some things to keep in mind.

- The Cruze is larger than the Cobalt. Think of it as more last gen Malibu sized, so it's no sport compact.

- The Cruze's engine bay cannot accommodate a turbo Ecotec.

- Fully loaded, the Cruze is no lightweight.

- No matter what was done to it, the VERY well developed Focus performance version(s) would have destroyed it.

- Lastly, without the big wheels, the Cruze has a pretty frumpy appearance.

Which now brings up an important question. With Chevy's self-stated goal of becoming a "youth brand" as one of it's strategies, which entry level product can carry that performance banner? Aveo? Something else?

 

The Cruze certainly can take a turbo Ecotec motor, as the 1.4L turbo motor (LUJ) is an Ecotec Family 0 motor. I have seen posts stating that the Cruze cannot accommodate the Family II style motors of which the LSJ and LNF are a part of. As far as I know, the 1.8L NA motor is a Family 1.

I think the Aveo would move in to take on the hot hatch category. We haven't really seen any real prototype for a performance Aveo though.

 

Correct. I meant no turbo beyond Family 0.

 

Dumb move

 

damn d,man damn damn damn. where the hell is my Aveo Z14 concept image at!!!!!!!!

 

I think I left out the important part of my post.

Family 0 was supposed to be the smaller displacement four cylinders. I am not well enough versed in their design to explain why. It seems most have a 2.89" bore (and a 3.3" stroke for a the 1.4's) whereas I think max on the Family 1 is 3.17" and Family II is 3.4". I could speculate that the bore spacing is different among families. Dunno how many other differences there are that would prevent you from putting a Family II where a Family 0 is supposed to go.

I do not know how much performance increase we could see from a hotter version of the 1.4L turbo in the Cruze, although it is notable that it will debut with port injection rather than direct injection. So a few ponies are to be had there. I do not think we would see much of a displacement bump if any given that the Family 0 seems capped at 1.4L. There is always more boost though.

 

Sounds like you're better versed on the subject than me Matt. Bottom line is that the larger 2.0L turbo versions won't fit due to the positioning of the turbocharger.

Even if it did, it still may be the equivalent of bringing a knife to a gunfight when compared to the Focus RS's 305 hp, 2.5L, I5.

Maybe dropping a revised and updated version of the LNF into the Aveo and sending it to a rigorous course of Nurburgring finishing school, might provide a serious competitor to what Focus can bring. Of course, that would require a commitment of will and cash on GM's part.

 

I haven't looked too closely at the next Aveo but I think the current one only has Family 1 engines in it... The Aveo RS concept had the Family 0 1.4L turbo. Even so if Family 1 is all that will fit then that caps displacement around 1.8L.

As far as the LNF, that motor could make a lot of power. The GMPP kits are like 290HP and 340lbft which are just a new MAP and tune essentially (at least in the Kappa's with MT). This may be a little conservative. Aftermarket guys claim to get over 300HP easily on these cars with just tuning. I think the foundation was there to make a very competitive little motor.

 

Step over into the Cobalt world , over 300hp and 400 lb ft is is attainable with the stock intake to oil pan engine and stock turbo . Typical mods like higher capacity intercooler , hot and cold pipes , CAI , 3" dowpipe and exhaust with a well sorted out tune net very nice returns .

Again , a BIG BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to GM for not working the "original" ecoboost 2L LNF into the Cruze .

 

Both Focus and Fiesta will have performance versions if we are to believe the reports coming out of Ford.

Perhaps GM's strategy is to spend pennies on the cosmetic RS packages for the Cruze and Aveo and capture the enthusiast wannabes. In the mean time, Ford will be capturing the more discriminating enthusiast.

I hate that plan.

 

It's slightly larger than a Cobalt, yes. But .5 inches longer and 2.5 inches wider isn't huge growth.

The 2005-09 Malibu is actually .5 inches narrower than the Cruze, but it's 7.3 inches longer. That's pretty significant IMO.

Still, I agree that the Cruze doesn't have a sport compact vibe.

I'm not sure if Chevy has published official figures yet, but Car and Driver estimated 2850-3000. That's pretty close to what a well equipped 2009 Cobalt weighs (but a couple hundred pounds more than what a stripper Cobalt LS weighs).

There were rumblings a while back of a dedicated Delta coupe that could fill the affordable performance space. That's something I'd like to see.

But I think that an Aveo RS with a tuned 1.4 and a tweaked suspension could fit as a youth performance offering if done well.