Chevrolet Cruze sales pass 270,000 before model comes to U.S.

July 26, 2010 Omar Rana 2011, Chevrolet Cruze, Compact Cars, Sedans

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze won’t hit dealerships in the United States until September, but it is already a very popular vehicle on an international level. General Motors announced today that the Cruze among the fastest-growing nameplates in the world with sales rising an average of 18 percent per month.

GM said today that 140,000 units of the Cruze were sold in the first six months of 2010 and a total of 270,000 since Cruze launched in the spring of 2009 in Europe, followed by other major markets, such as China in summer of 2009.

“Cruze is currently available in more than 60 countries, with China, Russia, Mexico, India and Spain as the top five sales markets,” GM said in a statement. “Including Holden and Daewoo versions sold in Australia and South Korea, total sales exceed 340,000 vehicles across five continents.”

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is going to start production next month at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio, plant. It will hit dealerships with a starting price tag of $16,995 for the base LS model. Click here for full pricing details.

Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze”s base LS model is powered by a 136-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, while the Eco, LT and LTZ model get a 1.4L turbo 4-cylinder Ecotec engine making 138-hp and a maximum torque of 148 lb-ft. The 1.4L turbo models are expected to have a cruising range of more than 500 miles and the Cruze Eco is estimated to get an EPA fuel-economy rating of 40 mpg on the highway. All 2011 Cruze models will be available with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.