Cruze Hatch SS?

"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg) 10/12/2016 at 11:44 • Filed to: None

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GM hasn’t had an “awesome” small car since the Cobalt SS. I’m using the term “awesome” here lightly, because it admittedly was a Cobalt (bland styling, crappy interior), but also had 260HP in turbo trim, with a 290HP factory performance package available, and “sky’s the limit” aftermarket support (700HP Ecotecs anyone?)

In the Cruze GM finally has a competent, world class small car. Now they need to step their game up. With the success of vehicles like the Ford Focus RS, Volkswagen’s R line, MazdaSpeed 3, I think it’s long overdue for GM to make a hot hatch.

The best part is, they have all the ingredients sitting on the shelf - Namely the aforementioned 260HP, 2.0L Ecotec turbo 4. The engine fits because it’s also used in the Buick Verano which is based on the same Delta II platform. Even more interesting is the fact that the Delta II was used in an AWD application in the Chevrolet Orlando, so the Cruze could benefit from this.

So how about it? Chevrolet Cruze SS vs. Ford Foucs RS? I’d be down for this.

HammerheadFistpunch > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 11:48

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A HiPer and LSD equipped Cruze FWD with 240 HP would be a lot of fun. Sure you could stretch it to 260 or more, but 240 would be more fun with FWD and it would keep the costs down.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HammerheadFistpunch 10/12/2016 at 11:52

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True. The thing that makes me sad is they’ve had ample opportunity to do this already with the Cruze platform. The engine already fits, they just won’t do it, and I can’t fathom why. Ford has had a good seller with the FoST. The Cruze also has a great chassis, it’s been awesome in various Touring Car series over the years, so I would think it would be a riot with a hot motor.

Since it’s all just corporate parts bin shuffling, I don’t see why we can’t have both? 1.4L Turbo base, 2.0L turbo (240HP) FWD as the SS, and then do a 300HP AWD version as a Focus RS competitor.

LongbowMkII > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 11:55

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They probably can’t build a slave cylinder to handle it.

IM NOT BITTER.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LongbowMkII 10/12/2016 at 11:57

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You can actually get an optional 6 speed manual behind the Ecotec Turbo in the Verano, so I kind of doubt the reason. I think its just GM being GM.

LongbowMkII > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:01

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I doubt their ability.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LongbowMkII 10/12/2016 at 12:02

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Fair enough.

Svend > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:02

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The Cruze looks very much like the model before the current Vauxhall Astra.

The still current Astra GTC VXR has a 2.0i 280ps (276bhp), 6 speed manual gearbox. Not all that economical but then it is a more performance version I guess.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Svend 10/12/2016 at 12:05

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YES! That’s what I want! I’d love to see it with AWD too, make a proper Focus RS fighter. But I supposed I’ll take what Ican get.

djmt1 > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:07

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I think it’s long overdue for GM to make a hot hatch.

Ahem.

Also hot Astras don’t tend to be that good. That said the last one (^) was a big improvement but then again that wasn’t a high bar to clear.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > djmt1 10/12/2016 at 12:11

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I should have clarified that we need one in the States. I largely forget about the Vauxhalls/Opels becasue we don’t get them here, sometimes we get a rebadged, watered down model, but that’s it.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:22

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#143, there is no reason to use “awesome” lightly.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/lightning-lap-2016-results-historical-lap-times-and-more-feature

bwp240 > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:30

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I always thought the Cruze SS was something Chevy missed

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/12/2016 at 12:34

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Well I meant awesome in terms of the overall package. The SS was absolutely a freaking fast car, but it also suffered from a critical lack of any other sort of refinement. It was the same old ho-hum styling of the Cobalt, and had the same cheap interior, but with Recaro seats.

The Cruze is in every way shape and form a better package. I love the styling, especially on the new generation, and the interiors are miles ahead of the old Cobalts. I think it’s just as good as any other small car from Europe or Asian in it’s price range. Now it just needs some more powah!

Dean Beyer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:36

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They’ve (GM) has been talking about the torque-vectoring AWD system that’ll be on the new Insignia/Regal. All the parts and systems are there, they just need to be applied.

Svend > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:36

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Well the GTC VXR is a 3 door based on the old Astra shape.

There has been some rumour that a new VXR will be a 3 door, yet with everyone else deleting their 3 door performance vehicles I’d imagine the replacement will be a 5 door and even an estate version like Ford has with the 5 door and estate Focus ST.

Textured Soy Protein > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:39

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In order to make a proper Focus RS competitor it’d need to have some fancy awd trickery, not your basic on-demand awd that finds its way into commodity crossovers.

handyjoe > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 12:41

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I guess it depends on your definition of “success”. There is no current-gen Mazdaspeed. The FoST doesn’t sell as well as it may seem, and the FoRS builds on an international reputation that the Cruze just doesn’t have. Also you could be rocking a Camaro SS for that money (different car, sure...)

I’d love a Cruze SS, but I just don’t think it makes business sense.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Dean Beyer 10/12/2016 at 12:42

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I didn’t know the Insignia/Regal were getting torque vectoring AWD. But I think this just further strengthens my case.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Svend 10/12/2016 at 12:44

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Hmm, I’ll have to keep a lookout for the new VXR and see what happens with it. But you do have a point, not too many small 3 doors these days.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Textured Soy Protein 10/12/2016 at 12:45

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According to Dean Beyer (comment above) GM has a new fancy torque vectoring AWD system going into the new Regal. Another piece of the puzzle?

Svend > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 13:01

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Of the Focus/Astra sized cars they are settling for 5 door and estate body styles leaving only the Fiesta/Corsa sized cars available in 3 and 5 door body styles.

From 2014, the new VXR had been penned for a 2017 release. So we should seeing or hearing more about it soon.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 13:16

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We’re just ignoring the Astra VXR? (Which, I should note, shares a platform with the Cruze?)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > handyjoe 10/12/2016 at 13:19

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All good points. And you’re probably right, it may make more sense to focus on the Camaro and Corvette as the core performance cars. With the new 4 cylinder turbo Camaro you can get pretty good fuel economy and performance, etc., in a RWD package for much less than a Cruze SS would probably end up costing.

Also, the Cruze has seen a lot of success in Touring Car racing, its just relatively unknown here in the US. Then again the Focus RS had most of it’s success in Rally, which is only somewhat more popular here than Touring Car racing.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2016 at 13:20

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No, it was an oversight on my part. It’s also not available in the US market, which is primarily the market I was thinking of.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 13:24

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It shares a plaform with the Cruze, so the go-fast bits shouldn’t be too hard to swap into a Cruze.

handyjoe > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 13:25

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And Ken Block. Chevy doesn’t have Ken Block. Millions of views will sell a car with “Drift Mode”.

Dean Beyer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 13:26

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http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/news/a27695/buick-torque-vectoring-all-wheel-drvie/

Snuze: Needs another Swede > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2016 at 13:27

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Exactly. That’s one of the beautiful things about global platforms, lots of sources to pull parts from.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > handyjoe 10/12/2016 at 13:28

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Hmm, well I suppose in Chevy’s case, they need the car first. Ford at least had the advantage of a euro-spec RS that Block could hoon around until the US car became available. But I think you’re ultimately right in that Chevy would need a marketing machine to push a car like that.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Dean Beyer 10/12/2016 at 13:33

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Thanks for the link.

So this is very similar to the Focus RS system (made by the same company even). Just needs a 6 speed manual and 2.0L Ecotec Turbo and we’d have an AWD Cruze SS.

In the course of the comments I’ve had some good discussions about how the RS has worked for Ford. They had a euro spec car with rally history, and Ken Block as a marketing machine, to leverage. GM has none of that, so I think they need to compete on price. If they can undercut Ford by a few grand, i.e. keep it around $30-32k, I’d buy it all day, and I would think a lot of other people would.

camarov6rs > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 13:58

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The motor in the cobalt ss is a close relative to the turbo 4 in the ATS and Camaro so I wouldn’t be surprised to see that in a Cruze SS

Snuze: Needs another Swede > camarov6rs 10/12/2016 at 14:15

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Yeah, its very similar indeed, and as I mentioned it already makes an appearance in the Verano which is the same platform as the Cruze, so there’s no reason it doesn’t fit.

Probenja > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 14:39

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AFAIK The Orlando never had AWD, as it’s basically a minivan. The Buick Envision does have AWD though.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Probenja 10/12/2016 at 14:50

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The Orlando is based on the same Delta II platform as the Cruze. I’m sure it’s been stretched and stuff, but it’s the same basic chassis. Wikipedia also says it was offered as both a FWD and AWD car, so I’m just trusting Wiki on this one.

More of the point, the Envision does have AWD and is based on the Delta II XX/UX updated platform, which I think the new Cruze is also using, so it should definitely fit. Some other interesting bits - the Envision has the 2.0L turbo Ecotec, and in markets outside the US can be had with a 7 speed dual-clutch gearbox. I’m not sure if that’s compatible with the AWD, but it would be slick it if was. Jam that whole drivetrain up in a Cruze hatch and we’d be talking!

Monkey B > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 17:55

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GM got it right with this one...wonder how well it will do vs the sedan. The Focus does better in hatch form so this will be interesting. I certainly think GM will do an SS, but something tells me they wont go AWD.

Dean Beyer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/12/2016 at 19:54

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Like I said, all the parts are there.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Monkey B 10/13/2016 at 08:21

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I agree with you on all points. Which is sad, I’d love to see this in AWD, I think the capability is there, but they probably won’t for cost reasons.

Monkey B > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/27/2016 at 16:11

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I was at the Chevy dealer I service yesterday and I saw one pulling in from a test drive. It was black and I think it’s a fantastic looking car in person...better in fact than the photos. I think they have a hit with this car as to me it’s nicer looking than the Focus.

Next week if I’m not as busy I might go take a closer look and take one for a spin. My wife had a 12 Focus so I’ll be able to direct compare the 2.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Monkey B 10/28/2016 at 09:58

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That’s awesome, cant wait to hear how it goes.