Thanks to the loose lips of Paul Hewitt, a General Motors Canada product manager, we now know much more about the forthcoming Chevrolet Cruze diesel. According to GM Inside News, Hewitt revealed that the Cruze’s diesel engine will be paired with either a manual or automatic transmission, and be offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles.
The news comes shortly after the bow-tie brand revealed its new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover SUV that also offers a diesel engine. We reached out to General Motors to confirm what was reported; however, GM representatives were unable to discuss the model.
Unlike the last-generation Cruze diesel, which relied on a 2.0-liter unit, Chevrolet likely will equip the new Cruze diesel with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel from the Equinox. In that vehicle, the engine is estimated by GM to produce 136 horsepower at 3500 rpm and 236 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission is the sole choice for shifting duty in the Equinox; however, GMI reports that all Cruze diesel trims, short of the top-of-the-line Premier model, will also be available with a manual transmission?in Canada, at least.
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Regardless, we’re eager to find out if the promise of the diesel offering a manual transmission in both sedan and ...