The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze jumps the pond this year as the new diesel-powered compact car makes its debut at the Chicago Auto Show today.
Bringing a diesel car to the United States from Europe is a move that worked for Volkswagen in the past, as the company gets almost 18 percent of its sales from diesel-powered models, according to NBC Chicago.
General Motors is looking to challenge Volkswagen to a duel, boasting that their new compact model will win in every aspect of the game.
"We expect to beat the Jetta in terms of price, features, range, even horsepower and torque," chief engineer for Chevrolet small cars Gary Aultman said.
And in a fuel-conscious world, GM introduces the 2014 Cruze at a time when the 30 percent increased fuel efficiency of a diesel engine will attract buyers.
GM sold close to 238,000 Cruzes last year, increasing sales by 2.6 percent from 2011.
The new diesel compact has been outfitted with a two-liter turbo diesel engine with 148 horsepower.
A six-speed automatic transmission will be the only option for now, and GM says the zero to 60 mph time is 8.6 seconds, claiming that it beats out the Jetta with an automatic transmission.
And what about the most important feature to the fuel-conscious buyer -- gas mileage?
The new Cruze is expected to get at least 42 mpg on the highway, but city and combined mileage testing has not been completed yet.
There is also an eco version of the regular gasoline-powered Cruze that gets 42 mpg as well with a manual transmission, but the automaker says it does not perform as well as its diesel sibling.
"You're getting a little performance sedan with superb fuel economy," spokesman Tom Read said.
The 2014 Chevy Cruze starts at $25,695 which includes shipping, compared to the $17,940 price tag on its gasoline-powered counterpart--a hefty price increase for the diesel engine.
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