HOLDEN CRUZE HATCHBACK

Its coming has been known for as long as its sedan sibling has existed in Australia, but at last the covers have come off: this is the 2012 Holden Cruze Hatchback - albeit, in showcar form and wearing its international Chevrolet front-end.

Designed and built in Australia, the Cruze Hatchback will be marketed as a global model for GM - wearing the Chevrolet badge and face in most markets - with assembly for the Australian market to be carried out right here at home from late 2011.

The Cruze sedan is expected to switch to local production in the first quarter of next year.

The 2012 Holden Cruze Hatchback was designed and built in Australia.

While the Cruze Hatchback pictured here is a showcar only, Holden's design boss Richard Ferlazzo said today that it is a precursor to a production model, designed over 12 months alongside GM designers from around the world.

Despite its seemingly smaller shape, Holden says luggage capacity in the rear of the Cruze Hatchback is "close" to the 400 litre capacity of the Cruze sedan, and the rear seats feature a 60/40 split fold.

Holden and Chevrolet have released little else at this stage, although the full details of this Cruze Hatchback showcar will likely be revealed at this month's Paris Auto Show.

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• reply ” like !

  Collin Siu says,
  2 years ago

  This car looks amazing, i want one now.
• reply ” like !

  says,
  2 years ago

  2 likes

  The front headlights design still puts me off.
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  MotorMouth says,
  2 years ago

  Wow! Holden have done an awesome job with this. I agree about the headlights [and grille] but hopefully the comment that the local Cruze will be "given an appearance consistent with the rest of the Holden portfolio" means that the local version will have a better front-end. Right now the lights/grille absolutely ruin the look of the Cruze sedan, which looks great from any angle where you can't see the front.
  I hadn't thought at all about a locally made car to replace my Brera in a couple of years but, if HSV get hold of this and make a decent hot hatch out of it, I think it might be near the top of my next shopping list. It has more than a slight look of the new Guilietta about it but with much sportier tail-lights. In fact, the rear reminds me a lot of the Ritmo, which is easily the best looking 5-door hatch on the road at the moment, only with it's more angled hatch, it has a far more sporty look. I suppose with the sedan being such a strong, popular design, they could afford to make the hatch lean more towards sporty than practical. I love it!
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  Callous says,
  2 years ago

  Love it. Always liked the front end styling of this car. The hatch works well with it. Good job GM.
  
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  daviepops says,
  2 years ago

  Cruze already looks good as a sedan and the same is true for this hatchback body. I hope the daytime LEDs make it onto the production car. I was really disappointed that Holden failed to add those to the just released VE ll to make it stand apart more from the original VE.
• reply ” like !

  

  MotorMouth says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  DRL's are stupid.
• reply ” like !

  

  5 valve per cylinder says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  Very similar to Subaru Impreza looking at the car at it's side profile and on a good note. Also there's an on-going Subaru theme with those rear bumper reflectors.
  
  It's got a very aggressive stance and kudos on Holden for keeping it that way.
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  MotorMouth says,
  2 years ago

  Yeah, imagine how good it would look if HSV got hold of it and toughened it up with lower suspension, big wheels and a good body-kit!?! As it is, I think it looks better than the new Astra, although Opel still have the new 3-door up their sleeve, which could be something really special if the sketches are anything to go by.
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  Wheelnut says,
  2 years ago

  Good job Holden.. Id say Holden will also end up designing/building the Cruze Coupe; which Mark Reuss illumed to in a recent interview.
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  gibbo12 says,
  2 years ago

  Another ***y looking girls hatch. When is Holden going to make a mans mid size car?
• reply ” like !

  says,
  1 year ago

  mmmm i saw/touched this car tonight at work got a shell of it.