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The Detroit automaker's engineers achieved this by making the powertrain more efficient, further reducing the car's weight and improving the Cruze's aerodynamic coefficient.
The Detroit-based automaker has not yet released details on its Z-Spec concept models, but from what we can tell by looking at the photos, all three cars receive similar upgrades including unique alloy wheels wrapped in chunkier tires, exterior graphics, mild body modifications and numerous touches inside like the sports steering wheel and niftier materials and colors. Photo gallery after the jump.
In the event that Opel does come to Australia as a stand-alone brand, HSV is looking for its own hot hatch to go up against the likes of the Focus RS and Subaru WRX, and the Australian developed Cruze 5dr hatchback is on the cards.
While keeping the front end and taut body lines of the sedan model, the refreshingly stylish hatch comes with a sweeping coupe-like roofline and a unique rear end treatment. GM has not yet issued any photos of the cabin, but don't expect any changes over the four-door saloon.
The brand needs to reinvent its small car's image for the 21st century to that of a higher quality car and not just the lowest common denominator; quality and reliability, which still have to be proven over time, are a must.
It's very likely as in a recent webchat on GM's Reinvention site, Mark Reuss, the man in charge of the automaker's core North American operations, strongly suggested that a coupe variant of the Cruze could be on the horizon.
And while most of us would assume that a coupe model would basically translate to a reshaped Cruze with two-doors less and perhaps a sportier roofline and other unique styling cues, independent designer David Cardoso has a different idea in mind.
The compact sedan, which has already stacked more than 200,000 sales in overseas markets since it went on sale in 2009, will be offered in the States in four different versions.
The basic LS starts at $16,995 and comes with a 1.8-liter rated at an estimated 138HP and 125 lb.-ft. of torque (168 Nm) at 3,800 rpm. The four-pot is matched to a standard 6-speed manual transmission.
Dubbed the Cruze Irmscher Edition, the car gets an optional boot lid spoiler along with 18-inch alloy wheels shod in beefier 225 sport tires and aluminum door sills.
Now, they plan on taking things one step further by offering unique packages that will hopefully allow it to compete with segment top dogs like the Civic and Focus.
First comes the Cruze RS, which boils down to an appearance package (and a pretty snazzy one at that) available on LT and LTZ models. According to the PR people, said package "bolsters the car's styling with unique fascias, rocker moldings, rear spoiler and fog lamps."
Powered by a 2.0-liter common rail diesel engine delivering 150 horsepower, the automatic version of the Cruze sedan accelerates from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 9.9 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 124mph or 199km/h.
It offers up to 51.4mpg UK on the extra urban cycle and 42.2mpg UK combined, with CO2 emissions of 177g/km.
The Cruze 2.0 VCDi LT Auto is priced £17,145 on-the-road and comes with several standard features including full climate control, parking sensors, cruise control, front fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, rain sensitive wipers, automatic headlights, a six-CD autochanger and MP3 socket, and an alarm system.
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