Here's What the Chevrolet Cruze SS Hatchback Could Look Like
A high-performance Chevrolet Cruze SS hatchback could be in the works.
The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback made its debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show and Chevrolet executive Alan Batey told Car Advice that there’s potential for a high-performance variant. “Yes – for sure, for sure,” Batey said when asked about the possibility of a big-engine performance model.
Although we might not see it hit the streets anytime soon, AutoGuide.com has renders of what the model could look like, sporting more aggressive styling, sportier wheels and red brake calipers along with a quad exhaust setup.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Looking Pretty Sweet in Detroit Debut
With Ford offering plenty of high-performance hatchbacks like the Focus ST and Focus RS, and Volkswagen rolling the GTI and Golf R models off the assembly lines, it’s no surprise GM wants a competitor of its own. There’s also the upcoming new Honda Civic Si to battle against and one could argue even the MINI Cooper S models belong in this sultry segment.
The American automaker wouldn’t have to dig very deep into its parts bin to find a suitable powertrain, either. Just look at the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Chevrolet Camaro. It provides 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
The standard Chevy Cruze hatchback comes with a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine making 153 hp @ 5600 rpm while getting 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.
While several automakers have announced they will discontinue production of their small cars, the Cruze is set to live on.
Discuss this story on our Chevrolet Cruze Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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The big question, will it be AWD?
This is pure speculation. GM doesn't have the hairs to do this. All we really will see is a watered down thing dubbed "RS" instead. They have enough in house hardware to do it and AWD but wont.