Chevrolet Cruze marks an ASEAN premiere

Kuala Lumpur: The wait is over, Chevrolet Thailand has made a proclamation that it would launch the new 2015 Chevrolet Cruze at the upcoming 2015 Bangkok International Grand (BIG) motor sales event. Cruze is Chevrolet's best selling car model with sales figures surpassing 3.5 million units worldwide consisting of 115 countries. Including Malaysia, all the other ASEAN countries would also be able to get their hands on the new Chevrolet Cruze.

Before you start making any speculations, let us make it clear that the new Cruze is likely to be a facelifted version of the current generation Cruze which is making rounds in the Malaysian Automarket. Chevrolet has also released a sole teaser image which has got nothing but a glimpse of the rear lights of the car. Currently, the Korean, US and Chinese market feature a 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine in it, but as the company's press statement made no intimation about any new engines, you can't expect the turbocharged engine to be offered here.

Though the automaker has revealed that all new Cruze would feature a fresh interior along with a brand new in-car infotainment technology. Currently, the Malaysian Chevrolet Cruze is powered by a 1.8 litre DOHC engine with Emission Control Optimization Technology (ECOTEC). This power mill can generate a maximum power of 140 PS at 6200 rpm along with a peak torque of 176 Nm at 3800 rpm. It is also mated with a 6 speed GM hydramatic automatic transmission, which provides power to its front wheels.

With these specifications, you can definitely expect something better from the all-new 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The models sold in ASEAN countries are products of Thailand manufacturing and are developed by General Motor's Korean subsidiary Daewoo, currently known as GM Korea. However, the second generation Cruze is developed by GM'S European subsidiary known as Opel.