First look: Holden's Viva to Cruze

GM HOLDEN's replacement for its unloved Viva has broken cover as the Chevrolet Cruze. To be launched at the Paris motor show in October, the front-wheel drive Cruze is the first car to employ General Motors' global new Delta small-car platform.

Cruze sales kick off in Europe next March, with Holden pencilling in an Australian release for sometime in the second half of 2009.

Developed by Opel in Germany, the Delta architecture will also form the basis of the 2010 Opel Astra, slated for an unveiling at the next Frankfurt motor show in September 2009, as well as the 2011 Zafira seven-seater people-mover, which continues to be a big seller for GM in Europe.

While the Cruze will be built at GM Daewoo Auto and Technology in South Korea, as well as in Thailand and perhaps China, the next Astra will be manufactured in Europe. GM Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in England has already been confirmed as one source.

Whether Holden will continue its two-pronged value and premium small-car strategy in Australia by importing both the Cruze and Astra is unclear, particularly as they share much underneath the skin.

It is also unknown whether the Cruze will adopt the expensive new multi-link rear suspension system being devised for the next Astra in order for the European small car to match the ride and handling attributes of the similarly suspended Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3.

Design-wise, the Cruze four-door sedan shown here is a complete break from the Giugiaro-penned Viva, which began life as the 2002 Daewoo Lacetti.

It is unknown whether the Holden will look exactly like the Chevrolet version.

Nevertheless, the arching roofline, sloping pillars and stubby tail are visual titivations that GM hopes will become its Chevrolet value brand's signature styling cues.

Also setting the Cruze apart from the small-car flock is its slightly larger and wider proportions, as well as a deliberately wide stance, protruding wheel arches, headlights that flare out from each corner, and a concave shoulder line.

"Our goal in designing Cruze was to be bold, not evolutionary," says chief designer Taewan Kim.

"We wanted to take a big step forward, making a strong design statement for Chevrolet products around the world."Along with the sedan, there will be a number of other Cruze variants that will eventually make their way to Australia.

Expect a five-door hatchback and a wagon to arrive with the sedan in Australia next year, although these may not be displayed in Paris in October.

A much-rumoured small crossover SUV based on the Delta architecture is also believed to be heading our way in the next two to three years, slotting beneath the mid-sized SUV Captiva.

More importantly, the long-awaited Chevrolet Volt electric/petrol hybrid will use the Delta platform, and GM has indicated that it will be sold as a Holden in Australia. Whether it shares any visual elements with the Cruze remains to be seen.

On the subject of powerplants, an 82kW 1.6 and 103kW 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engines with variable valve timing are under development, as is a variation of the 110kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit that drives the Captiva and the just-launched MY09 EP Epica sedan.

Gearbox choices will be a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic - again with the latter based on the unit found in the Epica.

The Cruze's dashboard is said to follow the 'twin cockpit' design of the Chevrolet Corvette.

GM promises a much higher grade of interior, with "...the use of grained surfaces, soft-touch materials and low gloss trim panels (to ensure) a quality ambience..." stated strongly in the Cruze's press release.

Whether the Cruze name makes it to Australia is a mystery, although it was used very successfully by Holden for its Suzuki Ignis-based ultra-compact SUV from June 2002 until June 2006.

Holden is believed to be contemplating dropping the Viva name as it continues to move away from the 'legacy' vehicles it inherited following GM's acquisition of GM-DAT in 2002.

Of the ex-Daewoo vehicles, only the TK Barina remains, and that is due to make way for an all-new GM-DAT-developed design sometime in 2010.