Today General Motors President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson and Ed Welburn, vice president of Global Design revealed the all-new Chevrolet Cruze at a special premiere event at the "Le Pavillon Dauphine", located in the heart of Paris.
The event was attended by approximately 350 journalists from around the world, who also saw the reveal of the Chevrolet Orlando show car and the European premieres of the Chevrolet Volt and Camaro.
Media and guests got a first-hand look at the arching roof-line of the Cruze that extends from the steeply raked windshield to its sloping rear pillars and short rear deck, bringing coupe-like proportions to a compact sedan.
"Tight panel-fits and shut lines, a restrained use of exterior trim, a dual bezel design on the headlamps, an integrated rear spoiler - everywhere your eye settles, there are fine details that add to that sense of substance and value," Ed Welburn said at the presentation of the Cruze.
Chevrolet's mantra that exciting design and value are not mutually exclusive is also reflected in the interior. It carries a new level of detailed execution, spaciousness, and appointments that stand out in the segment.
While putting emphasis on comfort, spaciousness and a sporty appeal, interior designers and engineers set a goal to create a cockpit environment that is harmonious, flowing and uniquely inviting to the senses.
"The interior must build a relationship with drivers. It's where they spend their time," says David Lyon, executive director of GM Interior Design. "Fabric is warm and inviting in ways plastics cannot be. It offers unique detail with fibers, colors and textures. Instead of limiting fabric to seats, we spread that warmth and luxury throughout the vehicle."
Another contributing factor to the refined look is an integrated center stack (ICS) design which houses the infotainment display, radio and HVAC controls. It eliminates traditional framing of these interfaces, resulting in a contemporary, flush and harmonious relationship between control heads and outlying surfaces.
Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze will start in Europe in March 2009, followed by other global regions. The arrival of the new compact vehicle spearheads a roll-out of new products for Chevrolet, expected to further propel the global growth of brand.
About Chevrolet:
Chevrolet is the largest division of General Motors. Founded in 1911, Chevrolet fulfills the transportation needs of millions of people daily around the world.
In the Middle East, Chevrolet has a strong heritage stretching back more than eight decades. Today Chevrolet brings the most comprehensive range of value vehicles to customers across the region, offering superlative excitement, strong personality, value for money, safety and security from a brand that has long been a trusted partner in the region.
Chevrolet boasts the widest range of passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Middle East, from the cost effective entry-level Spark, Aveo, Optra and Epica models to the iconic Corvette, and the full-size Caprice and Lumina sedans. Chevrolet also offers exciting and capable SUVs from the compact Captiva and mid-size TrailBlazer, to the fullsize Tahoe and Suburban, the Avalanche and Silverado pickups, the Uplander van, as well as chassis for commercial applications.
About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.
In the Middle East since the 1920s, GM's vehicle brands sold in the region are Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER and Saab supported by a unique set of customer-focused services. GM parts and accessories are sold under the GM Parts and ACDelco brands. The regional office in Dubai covers the company's operations in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen. In 2007, GM sold 135,894 vehicles in the Middle East.
For more media material, please visit GM's global media website media.gm.com where you link to various country sites including the Middle East media website http://media.gm.com/me/gm/en/ . More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer websites www.gm.com and www.gmarabia.com.
On 16th September 2008, General Motors will celebrate its 100th birthday. A series of activities and initiatives will take place during the year, under the banner of GMnext, to showcase the company's accomplishments and vision for the future. For more details on GM's centennial, log on to www.gmnext.com
For more information, please contact:
Saada Hammad
Communications and Public Relations Manager
General Motors Middle East
Tel (+9714) 3143350
E-mail: saada.hammad@gm.com
© Press Release 2008
