The big news for Shanghai GM, General Motors’ joint-venture with China’s SAIC Motors, at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show that just kicked off today, is the world premiere of the new generation Chevrolet Cruze.

GM says the new Cruze was developed by its global R&D team, but has pointed out in previous statements that it’s a Chinese Domestic Market (CDM) model and that the North American version due within the next 18 months will be different. We’ll have to wait and see what that means in practice.

The new CDM Cruze is a clean-sheet design riding on a brand-new architecture, with GM stating that the “goal was to set new benchmarks in the segment for fuel economy, handling and intelligent technology”.

You may think of the Dodge Dart or the Toyota Corolla when you view the new Cruze, but what GM sees is a car inspired by the Chevrolet Tru Concept coupe shown in Detroit back in 2012.

Under the hood, the 2015 Cruze is the first model to be offered with the new-generation Ecotec small-displacement engine co-developed by GM and SAIC. According to GM’s release, “it is available with a choice of the segment’s first 1.4L mid-mounted direct injection turbocharged engine or the first 1.5L mid-mounted naturally aspirated engine”. Unless we’re missing something , we assume GM means the engine is mounted in the front end of the car, not in the middle…

The Cruze will offer three different transmission options, including an all-new DCG seven-speed dual-clutch transmission co-developed by GM and SAIC, an all-new six-speed manual transmission developed in Europe, and the third-generation S6 six-speed automated manual, with GM promising fuel economy improvements of 14-21 percent compared with the previous model.

Photos via GM and ifeng

By John Halas

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