GM's Upcoming Compacts

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback (Europe)

There has been much debate about upcoming compacts from General Motors.   The Cruze is off to a great start being the best selling C-segment car in the month of May 2011.   There have been reports from GM Autority that multiple sources are saying that a Cruze Hatchback (Europe & Australia sale only), Cruze Coupe, and Cruze diesel are coming beginning in the 2013 model year.  At the same time, GM Inside News is reporting that GM officials are saying there is a two door C-segment car coming, but it's not a Cruze.  The GMI article shows an artists rendering of a Buick version of the upcoming Opel Astra GTC sport hatchback.   Reading these two stories.  It's hard to decipher what is really going to happen; and that's exactly what General Motors wants.

2012 Opel Astra GTC

My take on what will happen is that both stories have accuracy.  First of all, the Buick version of the upcoming Opel Astra GTC is a 3-door car, not a 2-door car.   I think the GM source who blabbed this information is trying to take back something he said by masking it has a model that has already been officially announced for the U.S. market.   The Cruze Coupe, on the other hand, has not officially been announced.  As with each new upcoming model that has not officially been announced, GM sources are required to say that the model "doesn't exist" or "is not coming to U.S. dealers".   

A diesel powered Cruze has already been announced.   The Cruze hatchback has been shown in production form in Europe where it will go on sale later this year.   With Ford and other companies having success with company hatchbacks, GM will follow with the Cruze hatchback.   Remember, the Cruze was on the market for two model years in other markets before it came to the U.S. market.   It makes sense that the Cruze hatchback will follow this trend and show up for the 2013 model year with a mid-cycle refresh.   A two door coupe version of the Cruze is another natural variant that will help increase sales for General Motors.   The pathetic Cobalt coupe was a good first car for many high school and college aged people.   Honda has been successful with sales of their Civic Coupe.   Offering several body styles of the Cruze will help increase sales with a small developmental cost to the company.

There is room for both the upcoming Buick and Chevrolet Cruze variants.  Here's how I see it stacking up

Cruze 2-door coupe:                 $18,000 - $27,000 (LS, 1LT, 2LT, LTZ)

Cruze 5-door hatchback:           $18,500 - $27,500 (LS, 1LT, 2LT, LTZ)

Buick 3-door hatchback.           $21,500 - $30,000