GM Daewoo has commenced sales of the long-awaited Lacetti Premiere compact sedan today in South Korea. Unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show this month, the Lacetti Premiere is a collaborative work of GM's global design and engineering teams as it will be also sold in other markets around the world, including the United States. In the U.S. and Europe, it will be called Cruze and badged as a Chevrolet. Assembled at GMDAT's Gunsan plant, the Lacetti Premiere will initially be powered by an ECOTEC III 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that produces 114 horsepower. Coupled to it is a standard Hydromatic 6-speed automatic transmission. It is expected to achieve over 40 MPG. The Lacetti Premiere has a base price of 11.15 million Won (US$7600) in South Korea. Later models will be available with a 150 horsepower 2.0L turbodiesel engine.
Perhaps the more significant news is the Cruze's impact in the U.S. and the world. The USDM Cruze will be assembled at GM's Lordstown facility, and will replace the aging Cobalt. The Cruze will also pack the 1.6L engine and will reach U.S. showrooms in, get this, 2010. GM stated that it took 27 months to develop the Cruze and is counting on it to make a very needed impact in the competitive C-segment market in America. The Cruze will arrive in Europe in spring 2009.
[Source: Trading Markets]
Continue reading to view more images.
