The big news for Shanghai GM, General Motors' joint-venture with China's SAIC Motors, at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show that just kicked off today, is the world premiere of the new generation Chevrolet Cruze.

GM says the new Cruze was developed by its global R&D team, but has pointed out in previous statements that it's a Chinese Domestic Market (CDM) model and that the North American version due within the next 18 months will be different. We'll have to wait and see what that means in practice.

The new CDM Cruze is a clean-sheet design riding on a brand-new architecture, with GM stating that the "goal was to set new benchmarks in the segment for fuel economy, handling and intelligent technology".

You may think of the Dodge Dart or the Toyota Corolla when you view the new Cruze, but what GM sees is a car inspired by the Chevrolet Tru Concept coupe shown in Detroit back in 2012.



Under the hood, the 2015 Cruze is the first model to be offered with the new-generation Ecotec small-displacement engine co-developed by GM and SAIC. According to GM's release, "it is available with a choice of the segment's first 1.4L mid-mounted direct injection turbocharged engine or the first 1.5L mid-mounted naturally aspirated engine". Unless we're missing something , we assume GM means the engine is mounted in the front end of the car, not in the middle…

The Cruze will offer three different transmission options, including an all-new DCG seven-speed dual-clutch transmission co-developed by GM and SAIC, an all-new six-speed manual transmission developed in Europe, and the third-generation S6 six-speed automated manual, with GM promising fuel economy improvements of 14-21 percent compared with the previous model.

Chevrolet is about to start sales of a facelifted version of its Cruze sedan in the U.S. later this year, but the next generation of the car has already been revealed. The new Cruze, which is due in local showrooms next year, as a 2016 model, was revealed over the weekend at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. The car was revealed in its Chinese specification and is expected to look slightly different when it goes on sale here.

In designing the new Cruze, the aim was to set new benchmarks in the segment for fuel economy, handling and intelligent technology, Chevy tells us. The car also sports the Bowtie brand's new design language, which is characterized by the slogan "Design with a Heartbeat." Key elements of the design are a streamlined shape, wheels pushed out to the corners, short overhangs, and a coupe-like roofline that stretches all the way to the rear of the vehicle to improve headroom. At the front, a dual-mesh grille extends to the sleek headlights to create a more dynamic visual effect.

Chevrolet has confirmed that the new Cruze in China will be powered by next-generation Ecotec engines. At launch the lineup will include a 1.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 113 horsepower, and a 1.4-liter turbo four rated at 148 horsepower. Chevrolet has also confirmed that the car will be available with three different transmissions: a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic and a new seven-speed dual-clutch unit. Expect similar offerings in the U.S.

The new Cruze in its American specification should be revealed early next year. Production for the U.S. market will continue at a General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio, the same one where the current model has been assembled since 2010. Underpinning the car will be an upgraded version of the outgoing model’s Delta II platform, possibly dubbed D2XX.

General Motors will build the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in Mexico, the company announced on Monday. The automaker will invest $350 million to build the Cruze at the Coahuila facility, as part of a $5 billion investment in its Mexican plants announced in 2014.

Building the Cruze in Mexico makes economic sense as the country has low labor costs and free trade aggreements. However, the compact sedan will continue to be built in Lordstown, Ohio, as well. The model will also be assembled in China.

According to a GM spokeswoman cited by Reuters, the production of the Cruze in Mexico will be mainly for the local market. The Cruze is currently imported to Mexico from GM’s assembly plant in South Korea.

GM sold 7,870 Cruze models in Mexico last year, down nearly 15 percent from the year before, according to data from the Mexican Association of Automobile Distributors and the Mexican Automotive Industry Association.

The current-generation Cruze will continue to be manufactured in South Korea as well for domestic and export markets. GM also agreed to build the next-generation model in South Korea from 2017 as part of a new wage deal last summer.

Mexico is a hot spot for automotive manufacturing thanks to its low wages and access to the US market. Toyota is said to be finalizing plans for its first passenger car assembly plant in Mexico, while VW recently announced a $1 billion investment in its Puebla plant.