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Facelifted Chevy Cruze photos emerge

Jan 04 2012 01:03 PM | black-knight in Chevrolet News

If there's one car that's been crucial to GM's recent sales success, it's the Chevrolet Cruze. Since it's global introduction in 2008, the compact Chevy has had healthy sales worldwide and has also handily outsold its competitors at times here in the U.S. market. GM is obviously intent on keeping the momentum going and knows that the only way it'll keep making sales progress is to update the Cruze for the immediate future. So, it comes as no suprise a spy photo of the Cruze's upcoming refresh has already surfaced over on Czech auto website AutoForum.

The spy shot reveals that the shape of the grille opening will be modified slightly and the inserts will change from the current honeycomb-style pattern to ones with bold horizontal slats. The fog lamp openings are also changed to ones that are a little more Ford than Chevy in their design.

It's unclear if overseas markets will see this facelift a significant time before we do, but when it does show up here we can count on a diesel version appearing and possibly the snazzy five-door hatch as well.

75 Comments

black-knight

Jan 04 2012 01:52 PM

This is slighty unrelated to the article, but when I was hunting down a photo to use for this article, I came across a website that had a few design sketches for the Cruze: http://www.yosax.com...-cruze-sketches

Try not to get angry when you see them.

GMTruckGuy74

Jan 04 2012 02:06 PM

I actually like those sketches... and prefer the taillight design of the sketch better than the Asian-automotive inspired rear end styling that the Cruze got. If there's one area of the Cruze I don't like, it's the rear end styling.

z28luvr01

Jan 04 2012 02:08 PM

The foglamps actually remind me of something HSV would do.

I hope your optimism about the hatch is right.

black-knight

Jan 04 2012 02:12 PM

I actually like those sketches... and prefer the taillight design of the sketch better than the Asian-automotive inspired rear end styling that the Cruze got. If there's one area of the Cruze I don't like, it's the rear end styling.

I think the sketches were great and got the rear end styling right.

The current production car, in comparison, looks like a commitee tried to tweak those sketches over coffee and ulitmately forgot about them.

Cubical-aka-Moltar

Jan 04 2012 02:18 PM

The sketches are quite exaggerated compared to a production model and remind me a lot of Hyundai designs..

GMTruckGuy74

Jan 04 2012 02:20 PM

I got a Hot Wheels-feel when viewing them, but can see Hyundai too now that you mentioned it

black-knight

Jan 04 2012 02:24 PM

Well, design work on the Cruze was well underway before Hyundai designers started work on the current Sonata.

I'll admit, though, if anything those sketches take a few cues from the original Mercedes CLS.

ocnblu

Jan 04 2012 06:42 PM

Those sketches don't bother me because they're way too exaggerated to be recognizable as something production-ready.

The new foglamp nacelles totally remind me of Corolla and Camry. They make me unhappy because of that.

I cannot wait to see the coupe.

- -1

hyperv6

Jan 04 2012 06:52 PM

The rear looks like an angry Transformer. If anything the rear in the drawing reeks of the new Regal which is not a bad thing but we already have one.
I tend to believe the rear of the Cruze will if anything go more the shape of the Volt to some degree. They have learned a few things to drop CD numbers with the Volt that expect to show up in other vehicles. Note how the quarters of the Volt are flat and come to a sharp edge on a somewhat flat tail. GM picked up 7 miles with them on the Volt in electric mode. I would expect there would be gains with gas MPG too. Toyota already has done something similar with the new Camry.

I just hope they keep up with the Cruze and keep it fresh every 2-3 years till it is due for a make over. I really was not impressed with the first preproduction I saw but I must admit it has really grown on me in styling. If anything the present rear is better than my Malibu. The present Bu is like they started at the front and ran out of money on the tail.

Daryl Z71

Jan 04 2012 07:14 PM

My wife just bought a Cruze on Monday. I like the front of it better than that updated version. I an VERY impressed with this car! Thats two Brand New GM Products in less than 2 months for us!

hyperv6

Jan 04 2012 07:45 PM

My wife just bought a Cruze on Monday. I like the front of it better than that updated version. I an VERY impressed with this car! Thats two Brand New GM Products in less than 2 months for us!

A lot of long time GM people who have not driven really don't understand how far this car has improved over the Cobalt.

I know the car deal as we did two in 3 weeks a little while ago. The Salesman put me on his Chistmas card list LOL!

dwightlooi

Jan 04 2012 09:58 PM

The Cruze doesn't need a face lift. The front and flanks of the car are pretty enough. Class leading in asthetics from those angles actually.

The Cruze needs an ASS LIFT. The rear of the car is untidy and generic. A revision of the tail light cluster and adoption of cleaner, more tidy lines in the back will help.

daves87rs

Jan 05 2012 12:03 AM

The Cruze doesn't need a face lift. The front and flanks of the car are pretty enough. Class leading in asthetics from those angles actually.

The Cruze needs an ASS LIFT. The rear of the car is untidy and generic. A revision of the tail light cluster and adoption of cleaner, more tidy lines in the back will help.

This!!!

Cubical-aka-Moltar

Jan 05 2012 12:04 AM

The Cruze doesn't need a face lift. The front and flanks of the car are pretty enough. Class leading in asthetics from those angles actually.

The Cruze needs an ASS LIFT. The rear of the car is untidy and generic. A revision of the tail light cluster and adoption of cleaner, more tidy lines in the back will help.

Maybe the MCE will adopt Malibu-style taillights..

GMTruckGuy74

Jan 05 2012 11:50 AM

The Cruze doesn't need a face lift. The front and flanks of the car are pretty enough. Class leading in asthetics from those angles actually.

The Cruze needs an ASS LIFT. The rear of the car is untidy and generic. A revision of the tail light cluster and adoption of cleaner, more tidy lines in the back will help.

This!!!

the_yellow_dart

Jan 05 2012 07:11 PM

I think these tallights help

http://www.aliexpres...holesalers.html

hyperv6

Jan 05 2012 07:25 PM

I would not get too crazy yet. They showed the nose because they had a photo of it. That does not preclude that there will not be some change to the rear. Generally when GM does a clean up update they hit the nose and tail both. While they may not be major changes they often refine the look a bit.

The only thing we don't want is it to remain unchanged as the present Malibu has. The styling as not bad but it is getting stale with all the other new cars out.

Cubical-aka-Moltar

Jan 06 2012 03:54 PM

The only thing we don't want is it to remain unchanged as the present Malibu has. The styling as not bad but it is getting stale with all the other new cars out.

Yes, 5 model years w/ no styling changes is a bit much (the only changes I can think of were the GM emblems and fender lights going away).

hyperv6

Jan 06 2012 09:00 PM

The only thing we don't want is it to remain unchanged as the present Malibu has. The styling as not bad but it is getting stale with all the other new cars out.
Yes, 5 model years w/ no styling changes is a bit much (the only changes I can think of were the GM emblems and fender lights going away).

Well considering the lack of money and so much to do it is understandable that there was little done. Just be glad they were stuck with this Bu vs the one before it.

If they had not had the money crash the 2013 would have been a 2010-2011.

RjION

Jan 07 2012 08:43 AM

Does the CRUZE get a 190-260 hp engine update? If not I don't want one.

hyperv6

Jan 07 2012 09:25 AM

Does the CRUZE get a 190-260 hp engine update? If not I don't want one.

I would expect a little upgrade in HP but not 260 HP unless they decide to do a performance coupe version. That would mean we would need a coupe first. I would not expect 260HP in the sedan. The sedan drives very well and gets good MPG which is what it's mission was. If you have not driven one yet you will be suprised that while it is not an all out performance car you are not beating the dash to get the car to go so you can merge with traffic. Even the Eco version is a good drive. The gearing may keep you in 4th more but with the 6sp man it is a nice drive.

Never say never since GM is speaking little about future plans but with sales as strong as they are I suspect they will not mess with it too much and try to remake this car into what it's not.

Will have to see if we get a Coupe or Hatch here. I suspect a coupe has a good shot but a hatch may have a more difficult time. I get the feeling GM is looking to do something like a Chevy Beat in place of a hatch.

I think you will be best to watch Buick. The new Verano with 220 HP will be a very good car and I expect Opel Astra GTC to arrive as a Buick and really become a hit. If they add more power a Verano coupe would ve prime for 270 HP shared with Opel.

We will just have to wait and see as they are giving few clues.

dfelt

Feb 10 2012 02:27 PM

WOW, those aer some pretty interesting styling exercises. I see a happy face in the rear and a menacing face in the front. Leaves me with a shark like feeling, not bad but will wait to see the real thing.