General Motors Co. hopes its best-selling Cruze will fuel the automaker's transition into the U.S. diesel market, which is expected to grow to 10 percent of total sales by 2020.
The highly-anticipated 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel is set to debut next week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.DETROIT, MI- The highly-anticipated 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel is set to debut next week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.
General Motors Co. hopes its best-selling Cruze will fuel the automaker’s transition into the U.S. diesel market, which is expected to grow to 10 percent of total sales by 2020.
According to the Detroit-based automaker, officials in Pontiac have been working with engineers at GM’s diesel center of excellence in Torino, Italy and Russelsheim, Germany to develop the vehicle that is expected in showrooms later this year.
“U.S. customers are going to be pleasantly surprised when they get a chance to drive the Chevrolet Cruze diesel,” said Mike Siegrist, 2.0L diesel assistant chief engineer, in a previously released statement.
The diesel variant could also help fuel some sales for the aging Cruze, which is now entering its third full year without a significant redesign.
GM sold 237,758 Cruzes in 2012, a nearly 3 percent increase from 231,732 in 2011, the vehicle’s first full year of sales.
The compact sedan is one of 22 new diesel models expected to debut in the U.S. this year, according to officials.
Robert Bosch, a global multibillion-dollar engineering and electronics automotive leader, anticipates more than 50 light-vehicle diesel models to be announced or released by 2017 in North America, including 22 new models in 2013.
Bosch expects diesel’s market share in the region to jump to about 10 percent by 2020. It's currently below 3 percent.
Automakers in the U.S. – particularly the Detroit Three – have held off on diesel models because of the engine’s polluting reputation in the '70s and the $2,000-$3,000 average increase in retail pricing.
The Cruze diesel is expected to debut Feb. 7 during the Chicago Auto Show’s first Press Preview day.
The Chicago Auto Show, celebrating its 105th year, is open to the public from Feb. 9-18 at the McCormick Center, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive. Dozens of vehicles from the world’s top automakers are expected to debut during the show’s press preview days Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.
Follow all of MLive's coverage of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show at mlive.com/auto.
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