Making its debut in Malaysia and launched by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Chevrolet Cruze has been highly successful in Europe, Australia, India and in the Asean region. 3rd time lucky…..this is what the Chevrolet brand needs to be this time around with its new marriage with the Naza Group. The last ‘two’ marriages Chevrolet had in Malaysia ended with high depreciation and little trust in this global brand. The car division of Chevy has had little success with the Aveo and Optra sedan, but the global SUV, Captiva has enjoyed some success and now with the facelift Captiva and this Cruze sedan in the market, the brand should see some growth. The Chevrolet Cruze will be equipped with a 1.8-litre (1,796cc), 4-cylinder power plant featuring Double Continuous Variable Cam Phasing (DCVCP) and Variable Intake System (VIS) to produce 140hp at 6,200rpm and 176Nm of torque at 3,800rpm. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a new, first-in-class six-speed automatic transmission with shiftronic function – complete with a shortened shift handle to enhance the car’s sportiness.
Performance is equaled by the car’s superior safety features, which earned it a 5-star rating by the European and Australian New Car Assessment Program (Euro-NCAP and ANCAP).
NAZA Group of Companies Joint Group Executive Chairman Dato’ Hj SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin said the Cruze’s success in the region and beyond is testimony to the car’s superior characteristics. “This will be the first of many new Chevrolet products in Malaysia. As we have constantly strived to showcase the widest choices to Malaysians, we will work closely with Chevrolet to bring to Malaysia only the best from the brand,” he said.
He added both parties will be working closely in evaluating the viability of a local assembly program in Malaysia, which may also include the possibility of further collaborative support for regional demands. “The Cruze is a dramatic re-interpretation of the traditional sedan. Its exciting design, quality, materials and great style
inside and out further define Chevrolet. We wanted to build a car that gives our customers high levels of ride comfort and user-friendly ergonomics, superior performance with advanced technologies on safety and drivability”, said Mr. Martin Apfel, President of General Motors, Southeast Asian Operations.
Apfel added, “We’re confident and committed to our partner Pavilion Crest and to the Malaysian automotive market. We will work together to ensure that more ‘best cars and trucks’ are delivered to Malaysians in the not-too-distant future.”
As a global car, the Cruze benefits from GM’s comprehensive global quality process and Global Delta architecture targeted at achieving top-level build quality. All aspects of the vehicle are highly scrutinized to meet worldwide expectations. The Cruze’s design and development is the collaboration of global expertise originating from Germany, Korea, North America and Australia.
