   2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco. Click image to enlarge |
You can’t option the Eco into a top-line LTZ, but there are a few add-ons available, such as a connectivity package that includes Bluetooth and OnStar, fog lamps, tire pressure monitoring system, premium stereo and a real head-scratcher, a set of illuminated sill plates for $490, should the unlit $150 ones not be to your taste. The Eco with automatic can also be optioned with a remote starter, which doesn’t really seem to make sense given that idling wastes fuel. Still, GM says that many people want them and the company prefers to make a factory-installed one available, rather than deal with customer complaints should aftermarket installers do a poor job of tapping into the vehicle’s wiring system.
There are several fuel-saving tricks on board, but by far the most important is a set of electronic air shutters tucked in behind the lower grille. Made of high-strength plastic, and protected from road debris by the grille, the shutters operate similarly to the way a Venetian blind works. The system uses several sensors that determine such factors as vehicle speed, engine temperature and ambient temperature, keeping the shutters open when maximum airflow is required and then closing them to reduce drag at higher speeds. They also help to warm up the engine faster, bringing it to the optimum temperature quickly for maximum efficiency. They stay closed in freezing weather so there’s no danger of them attempting to open while they’re frozen shut. Hewitt says that of the ten per cent aerodynamic advantage that the Eco has over its siblings, over half is attributable to the shutters. They’ll be showing up on some other models in future, including the upcoming redesigned Malibu.
Other items that help reduce drag are Eco-specific underbody panels, a slightly lower suspension, the lightweight wheels, front and rear tire blockers, extensions in the wheel well liners, modified grille and the low rolling resistance tires. At 1,365 kilograms, it’s 97 kilos lighter than the LT model (it’s actually the slimmest Cruze model, undercutting the base LS by 21 kilos). It was a case of shaving wherever possible: the hundreds of weld flanges on the body are reduced by a millimetre, and in select components, sheet metal gauge thickness was reduced by about 0.1 millimetre where it wouldn’t affect the structural integrity. It also uses a tire sealant and inflation kit in place of the compact spare found in the other models (the doughnut tire can be optioned on the Eco if desired). They’re small steps individually, but it all adds up.
