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Faurecia helps improve the pedestrian protection in the new Renault Clio. The subcompact has Faurecia's front end module, which has no protruding edges that can cause injuries to people in the event of a collision.

I've said it a number of times over the years: Product is key. In fact, I recall calling out GM and strongly suggesting that they take the Cruze, break down what they did to come up with this car, study it, and repeat.

Although the jury's out on whether or not they're doing so, they are clearly looking to push the appeal of the Cruze and see where they can take it. The arrival of the diesel version of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is as controversial as it is brilliant. Our VW TDI vs. Chevy Diesel comparo test generated many comments from a number of points of view.

Regardless of whose side you may be on, the bottom line here is that the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a very impressive offering from a manufacturer that nearly single-handedly annihilated diesel technology in North America in the 1980s. Powerful and frugal, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a compelling car that requires consideration. In that consideration, be mindful that refinement was not the priority.


What is a Chevrolet Cruze?
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is GM's compact car, one of their first successful world cars to come to our shores. Introduced in 2010, it has received a large number of awards.

A far more successful and popular product than the slightly less pricey Chevrolet Spark and Sonic, the Cruze is the real gateway car to the famous brand. In 2012, it was the 5th bestselling small car in Canada.

The Cruze is offered as a five-door hatchback and station wagon in other markets. Neither is expected to come to our shores.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is GM's compact car, one of their first successful world cars to come to our shores. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel Price and Specs
The German-built turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine puts out 151 horsepower and a staggering 264 lb-ft of torque. The only available transmission for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a 6-speed automatic.

As with the vast majority of modern diesel engines, the Cruze's powerplant generates 90% fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) than previous-generation technology thanks to particulate filters, exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalyst reduction, and other technologies. It does not require urea like a number of diesel engines from other manufacturers. The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel meets Tier 2 Bin 5 emission standards.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel starts at $24,945. With the Enhanced Safety package, power sunroof and MyLink with navigation, my tester retailed for $28,310.

The German-built turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine puts out 151 horsepower and a staggering 264 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Chevrolet)

Driving the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
The most notable shortcoming with the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is the noise and general lack of refinement from the powertrain.

One of the common complaints pertaining to diesel is the noise generated by the engine. Unfortunately, it proved to be even a bit much for me, a huge fan of the technology. Cold start-ups and mild bouts of acceleration generated an awful din that should no longer emanate from a car.

Thankfully, the burst of torque created by the overboost (280 lb-ft for up to 10 seconds) quickly excuses the engine's lack of sophistication. The transmission does a fine job of coping with the energy. Shifts are generally clean, but lack the smoothness and overall efficiency of VW's 6-speed DSG ‘box.

Be that as it may, there's no denying that the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is powerful and especially thrifty. My weeklong test drive average rolled in at a hair under 6.0L/100km despite me being fully addicted to the torque.

Ride quality and handling are very good. The suspension does not propose the finesse afforded by Volkswagens, but most would be hard-pressed to find a tangible disadvantage here.

The transmission does a fine job of coping with the energy. Shifts are generally clean. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
I'm still a huge fan of the Chevrolet Cruze as I find it blends American boldness with strong European subtlety. For the 2014 Clean Turbo Diesel version, this statement could not be truer. With only distinct wheels, a few minor enhancements up front, an integrated rear spoiler, and the small, green badge with the inscription “2.0 TD” beside the Cruze name on the trunk lid, there are very few differences between the gas- and diesel-powered models.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel's cabin is unchanged from the regular car save for a tachometer that displays a redline at 5,000 rpm.

The seats are reasonably comfortable as I felt throughout the week that I was sitting on the seat as opposed to in it. The base of the centre console is wide and impedes somewhat on legroom. Otherwise, four adults will be at ease in the 2014 Chevy Cruze. Ergonomics are good, and fit and finish are the same. The MyLink system continues to be quite appreciated for its ease of use.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel's cabin is unchanged from the regular car save for a tachometer that displays a redline at 5,000 rpm. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel finds itself squarely in the middle of Volkswagen's sacred ground on this side of the pond.

Until now, only the compact Jetta TDI and Golf TDI played the diesel card. The coming of the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a ballsy move on behalf of GM. I reckon it will be difficult to convince diesel fans (i.e., VW enthusiasts) to shop in a Chevy store for their next car. However, currently, the Cruze is the better “diesel” in terms of power and efficiency.

The Riverside Speedway in Ste-Croix, Quebec, hosted the fifth round of the 2013 Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC) over the weekend. And it started off with a TOP 32 including all the Pro drivers and a few others from the Pro Am Class.

The practice and qualifying sessions as well as the competition itself all took place on Saturday.

Jeff Laflamme, who's had his fair share of troubles this season, became the highest-scoring qualifier, followed by Kevin Morin and Alex Michaud. Dave Briggs and Jonathan Guitard both trailed the trio by a single point; the former earned the fourth spot thanks to a higher entry speed.

Overall, 28 drivers managed to get a score.

Photo: Antoine de Cardaillac

Heated battles... and some damage
During the Top 32, many drivers suffered from mechanical failures. Martin Langlois, Alexandre Blanchette, and Alex Gosselin all had to quit. Two One More Times were necessary for François Pérusse to beat Eric Warnet and advance to the Top 16.

Jeff Laflamme's promising day ended at this very stage when Tanner Munson got the better of him. Pat Cyr also failed to advance as Eric Paradis moved into the Top 8.

Photo: Antoine de Cardaillac

Youri Lévesque stands out
Two talented Pro Am drivers duked it out in the Top 16. Following a loss of control by Jonathan Guitard, Youri Lévesque became the only member of the Pro Am Class to reach the Top 8. Unfortunately, he was outraced by the highly experienced Dave Briggs.

Meanwhile, Francis Tassé drifted his way to the final stage by besting Claude Poirier in the Top 16, Patrick Gauthier in the Top 8, and Vincent Théberge in the Top 4.

Briggs defeated Munson to take on Tassé for the title. Munson went on to surpass Théberge to secure third place, while Briggs needed four laps to eclipse Tassé and be crowned the winner in Ste-Croix.
On a side note, crowd favourite Marc Landreville failed to take part in the competition due to lingering engine problems. Hopefully he'll bounce back in the next round, which is set for August 17th at Autodrome de Montmagny.

For more information, visit www.dmccdrift.com.

Barracuda Racing unveiled Tuesday its driver line-up for the remainder of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar season.

The team headed by Bryan Herta announced that JR Hildebrand and Luca Filippi will fill the seat of the No. 98 Honda-powered Dallara.

Twenty-five-year-old California native JR Hildebrand will make his return to the IZOD IndyCar Series, piloting the Barracuda Racing entry for the upcoming GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma.

JR Hildebrand (Photo: LAT)

One week later, Luca Filippi will return to the Barracuda Networks sponsored No. 98 car at the Grand Prix of Baltimore. The Italian driver will also compete for Barracuda Racing in the Shell and Penzoil Grand Prix of Houston double-header weekend.

Finally, Hildebrand will finish out the season, competing in the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway, where he led 56 laps in last year's IndyCar season finale.

August 21, Barracuda Racing and JR Hildebrand will participate in the IZOD IndyCar Series open test at Sonoma Raceway. The team will then head into the race weekend, featuring three practice sessions and Firestone Fast Six qualifications before the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on Sunday, August 25.

Luca Filippi (Photo: LucaFilippi.com)

Stewart-Haas Racing announced on Monday afternoon that Austin Dillon would drive the No. 14 Chevrolet while Tony Stewart continues to recover from his injuries in a sprint car race in Iowa last week.

“I've watched Austin for many years and at each stage of his racing career he's been successful,” Stewart said.

“He's proven to be a very fast learner, and he's able to adapt quickly. Being the youngest champion in the history of the Truck Series is proof of that. His background in dirt racing is an asset, and off the track we share many of the same interests, specifically, hunting and fishing. I know he'll perform well at Michigan and I'm just as confident in his ability to properly represent Mobil 1 and Bass Pro Shops throughout the race weekend.”

SHR has not determined who the interim driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet will be for the Sprint Cup Series' following race Aug. 24 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Max Papis drove for the team this past weekend at Watkins Glen.

While no timetable has been established for Stewart's return to the No. 14 Chevrolet, the three-time Sprint Cup champion was discharged from the hospital late Sunday afternoon. 

Part of the decision to put the 23-year old in Stewart's seat has to do with his sponsor is also the sponsor of the car at Michigan and Dillon's (who is a full-time Nationwide Series driver) experience there. Dillon qualified seventh and finished 11th at the two-mile MIS track in June. This will be his tenth Sprint Cup start and eighth this year.

Austin Dillon (Photo: Justin Edmonds/NASCAR via Getty Images)

As Dillon is the points leader in the Nationwide Series, which will run at Mid-Ohio on Saturday, arrangements have to be made for him to alternate between both tracks.   

“Yeah, we're working all of that out right now,” said Dillon “We're going to be running both of them, and the scheduling is pretty tough this weekend, so we'll be on doing our best to give equal amount of practice time.  The good thing about Mid‑Ohio, we have a full test day there Thursday, so we'll have plenty of time on the track.  We have lots of sets of tires, and we'll be using them up on Thursday.

“Qualifying seems to be the issue for the Nationwide race.  That is the only part that will be tough.  We might have to start in the rear.  But I think we've done a good job of trying to work out where each party gets a good amount of practice on both cars.”

Between preparing cars and keeping Tony Stewart in good spirits, Zipadelli has been kept busy by unemployed drivers who would like a shot at the well prepared race car.

“I would say it was more in the 50 range,” said Zipadelli.  There's been people that I didn't even know raced called.  And we appreciate everybody reaching out and willing to help.  But it's been interesting, let's leave it at that.

Here is a short video showing the Hyundai i20 WRC being tested on tarmac.

Hyundai Motorsport is currently testing various versions of its i20 as the team ramps up its test schedule ahead of an entry in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2014.

All three of the team development drivers, Juho Hanninen, Bryan Bouffier and Chris Atkinson, go behind the wheel of the i20 WRC as the team evaluated a range of new components.

From GMM

After all the 'Russian rescue deal' talk, the news about Sauber is now back into a backwards slide.

A week ago, amid reports Russian entities have saved the Swiss team with promised millions, boss Monisha Kaltenborn admitted there was a delay.

That holdup could now run Sauber off the road, with Die Welt newspaper saying Ferrari has threatened to cut off the supply of customer engines unless part of an unpaid bill is paid imminently.

And the latest news is that F1 tire supplier Pirelli was also not paid in 2013.

The newspaper claimed on Sunday that the entire Russian deal could now collapse, due to the uncertain job prospects of Oleg Sirotkin.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32 (Photo: Sauber)

Sirotkin, who heads up Russia's National Institute of Aviation Technologies (NIAT), is vital to the deal, with his 17-year-old son Sergey also scheduled to make his Sauber debut in 2014.

Bild newspaper reported on Monday that Sauber's worsening situation has taken yet another "dramatic" turn, with potential "insolvency" now looming.

"The Russian sponsor rescue could fail," the latest media report read.

"According to our information, the NIAT board has voted by large majority against the EUR 400 million investment," added Bild.

From Kawartha Speedway

Andrew Gresel (No.81 Sauble Falls/CUSW/London Recreational) started inside the front row for the Midas of Orangeville 50-lap A-Main and never looked back on Sunday night at Kawartha Speedway.

Gresel led every lap of the main event to earn his second career OSCAAR win in his rookie season.

Gresel fought off challenges from Brandon Watson (No.9 Shear Metal Products) on a number of different occasions and from Rob Clarke (No.49 Cars by Clarke/London Mechanical) in the closing laps as well.

Gresel's second win of the season comes one week following his runner-up finish at Peterborough Speedway on August 3.

Rob Clarke would finish second while 2013 Don Biederman Memorial champion Dwayne Baker (No.48 Baker Performance Parts/St. Onge Recreation) would battle his way to the third spot at the end of 50 laps.

Glenn Watson was fourth, Kennedy came home fifth, while Shane Maginnis (No. 03 Budds' GMC) was sixth and Tyler Hawn (No.42 Stewart Carriers Ltd./Belford Haulage) was the final car on the lead lap in the seventh spot.

Darren Kearnan Steals OSCAAR Modified win at Kawartha
Darren Kearnan (No.46 TTR Transport) wasted little time proving he had the car to beat on Sunday night Kawartha Speedway, cruising to his first career OSCAAR Modified tour win.

Kearnan, a part-time driver with the tour, made the pass for the lead around the outside of polesitter and championship points leader Gary McLean (No.8 McLean Industrial Design) on lap eight and was never challenged for the remaining 17 circuits in the 25-lap main event.

Canadian actress Pamela Anderson has launched a new race team called Racealliance by Pamela Anderson.

The outfit is set to take part in the remainder of the FIA GT series and the 2014 season with a Ferrari 458 Italia driven by former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi and three-time world champion Niki Lauda's son Mathias.

Anderson ventured into motorsport once before, with Downforce 1 Racing, an Austrian-based team that was supposed to race in European Le Mans Series (ELMS). Unfortunately for the 46-year-old Canadian, the plans never got off the ground.

Former GT racer Markus Fux, who Auto123.com understands was involved in Downforce 1, will help run the new team as well.

Pamela Anderson (Photo: Downforce 1 Racing)

Racealliance will have its headquarters in Germany, but could expand to America, as the team plans to race in NASCAR later on.

As team principal, Anderson is set to attend all race meetings of her team.

Outside the world of racing, the British Columbia-native is better known for her many sexy appearances on the screen, which include many movies unknown to motorsport fans, and her animal rights activism.

Goodman, the global integrated property group that owns, develops and manages logistics space, is constructing a 24,000 sqm export hub for Volkswagen in the Duisburg-Kasslerfeld port and logistics area of Duisport. From there, the German automaker will operate its Completely Knocked Down (CKD) business, which involves supplying automotive components to all of its non-European plants.

The handover of the completed facility is planned for the first quarter of 2014. There will be a 20,000 sqm storage area, with over 3,000 sqm for loading and unloading trucks, and a 1,000 sqm loading bay.

Located in Europe's largest inland port, this export hub will allow VW easy access to the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, in addition to its convenient rail and motorway access. It will also meet the latest environmental and sustainability standards. These include light bands in the facade and light domes in the roof, which guarantee a high level of daylight and good working conditions.

Photo: Goodman

For 2014, the FIA has called for the usage of new, 1.6-litre, V6 turbo engines in Formula 1. Hordes of fans and Bernie Ecclestone are opposed to such as move, saying that F1 must remain the pinnacle of motorsport.

Back in the '80s, small, 1500cc turbo engines that could barely rev at more than 10,000 rpm powered all Formula 1 cars. However, they could deliver mind-boggling levels of power because their turbochargers could produce very high boosts.


Les Wright from Australia is currently restoring a Benetton B186, chassis No. 05, including the tub, the wings and the infamous BMW 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine.

From the dyno sheets, we can see that the restored engine produced 802 bhp at 9700 rpm.

The power band of the BMW was known to be peaky. We can see that the engine is going from 450 to 800 horsepower in about 1000 rpm, between 8600 and 9700 rpm.

Note that the boost used was 3.3 bars, which is 48.5 psi.

Back in 1986, BMW used a boost of 5.5 bars (80.8 psi) in qualifying trim, for a power of 1300 bhp. A year later, in race trim, the boost was down to 3.8 bars (55.8 psi) for 900 bhp.

Continue reading F1 technique: The amazing power of the turbo engines (+video)

Ford has agreed to pay the maximum $17.35 million fine after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined it took too much time to recall 485,000 V6-powered Ford Escapes from 2001-2004, which suffered from sticking gas pedals.

The NHTSA began investigating in July of last year after receiving 68 complaints, including 13 crashes and nine injuries. A teenage girl in Arizona even died in January 2012 as a result of this problem.

According to the NHTSA, Ford discovered that the Escape's gas pedal could remain stuck about six months earlier and didn't take necessary action to prevent these incidents.

Before Ford, Toyota and Chrysler also had to settle a recall dispute with the NHTSA, with the former paying the maximum fine as well.

Source : thedetroitbureau.com

Photo: Ford

The Riverside Speedway in Ste-Croix, Quebec, hosted the fifth round of the 2013 Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC) over the weekend. And it started off with a TOP 32 including all the Pro drivers and a few others from the Pro Am Class.

The practice and qualifying sessions as well as the competition itself all took place on Saturday.

Jeff Laflamme, who's had his fair share of troubles this season, became the highest-scoring qualifier, followed by Kevin Morin and Alex Michaud. Dave Briggs and Jonathan Guitard both trailed the trio by a single point; the former earned the fourth spot thanks to a higher entry speed.

Overall, 28 drivers managed to get a score.

Photo: Antoine de Cardaillac

Heated battles... and some damage
During the Top 32, many drivers suffered from mechanical failures. Martin Langlois, Alexandre Blanchette, and Alex Gosselin all had to quit. Two One More Times were necessary for François Pérusse to beat Eric Warnet and advance to the Top 16.

Jeff Laflamme's promising day ended at this very stage when Tanner Munson got the better of him. Pat Cyr also failed to advance as Eric Paradis moved into the Top 8.

Photo: Antoine de Cardaillac

Youri Lévesque stands out
Two talented Pro Am drivers duked it out in the Top 16. Following a loss of control by Jonathan Guitard, Youri Lévesque became the only member of the Pro Am Class to reach the Top 8. Unfortunately, he was outraced by the highly experienced Dave Briggs.

Meanwhile, Francis Tassé drifted his way to the final stage by besting Claude Poirier in the Top 16, Patrick Gauthier in the Top 8, and Vincent Théberge in the Top 4.

Briggs defeated Munson to take on Tassé for the title. Munson went on to surpass Théberge to secure third place, while Briggs needed four laps to eclipse Tassé and be crowned the winner in Ste-Croix.
On a side note, crowd favourite Marc Landreville failed to take part in the competition due to lingering engine problems. Hopefully he'll bounce back in the next round, which is set for August 17th at Autodrome de Montmagny.

For more information, visit www.dmccdrift.com.

Currently leading the 2013 Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC) standings, Maxim Lemoine isn't the most experienced driver out there, having joined the DMCC only a year ago in Pro Am Class. Now, he's taking on the best drift racers from the Pro Class, and his first place in 2013 (one tiny point ahead of Marc Landreville is definitely something to be impressed with.

You can easily spot Lemoine on the track thanks to his 1999 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. Here's what he had to say after the fourth round of the 2013 DMCC in Victoriaville, Quebec.

Marie-Laurence Paquin (Auto123): How did you start drifting?

Maxim Lemoine (ML): I bought my truck when I was just 15, and didn't even have my driver's licence yet. A year later, I was drifting all the time in empty parking lots, practicing my clutch kicks, and loving it. I attended a few DMCC events and wanted to be a part of it. I tried to sell my truck to buy a Silvia, but it didn't work out, so I decided to turn it into a drift car. I said to myself: “I learned how to drive with this truck; now, I'm going to win races with it!

I started the tuning process six years ago. Every penny I earned -- and a few more I borrowed -- went into it. My parents helped me a lot so that I could live my passion. In 2011, I took my truck to the track for the first time, and I performed minimal tests as part of the 418 Drift Days. It was still a prototype -- an ugly black-and-yellow prototype with a welded suspension!

Auto123: What drove you to enter the DMCC Pro Am Class in 2012?

ML: During the 2011-2012 off-season, I modified just about everything by myself: the engine, the chassis, and so on. At the time, entering the Pro Am Class cost $800. I was very motivated, and I worked hard to get the cash.

My first-ever competition took place on a rainy day, but since I was so used to drifting in the snow it felt easy and I actually won. The truck drove on worn-out rubber, so I invested my $1,000 prize into a brand new set of tires. And what do you know? I won the second round, too! I couldn't believe it. Unfortunately, I finished 12th in the next event, which hit me really hard. Still, I managed to post good results over the remainder of the season and became the Pro Am champ!

Auto123: What modifications did you make to your Chevy this past winter?

ML: Well, I replaced the engine with an LSX 454 developed by Chevrolet Performance. It generates 700 horsepower. Then, I fitted wider tires and wheels to enjoy a better grip, and I changed the suspension following my crash in Montmagny late last year. I also had the truck repainted.

Auto123: Do you think it's harder to modify a truck than a car?

ML: No, not really. It's all manual work. I have leaf springs in the rear and adjustable coil over shocks up front. If drift racing with a big truck like that was a real handicap, I wouldn't be leading the DMCC!

My top priority is reliability. It's a lot less stressful during the competitions: I see other teams scrambling to repair and adjust their cars, while it's smooth sailing from where we stand.

Auto123: Tell me, what's your goal for this season?

ML: Back in the spring, my goal was to qualify in each round and keep progressing from the Top 16 to the Top 8 and then the Top 4. I never really aimed for the podium. Of course, after finishing 8th in Montmagny to kick off the season, I won the next round in St-Eustache! With my second place in Ste-Croix, I needed to revise my plans.

Between you and me, I would love to win the championship, but sometimes I think it's next to impossible. I'm still a rookie in the Pro Class, after all. I go up against drivers who've been doing it for 10 years -- guys like Pat Cyr, my childhood idol, whom I almost beat after a “One More Time” at the beginning of the season. Going neck-and-neck with him was surreal!

The amount of time I spend on the track gives me an edge. Beyond the competitions, I train and practice at least a dozen times throughout the season.

Photo: Antoine de Cardaillac

From GMM

Within the space of a few more races, Ferrari could shift the full weight of its resources to the 2014 car.

That is the claim of Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, who is pushing to remain a part of the Maranello based team's plans beyond the 2013 season.

Next year, a new era dawns in formula one, but teams are already hard at work designing and developing all-new cars for the radically different V6 turbo regulations.

"We are already thinking about next season," Massa is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138 (Photo: FelipeMassa.com)

After a solid start to the season, Ferrari's development progress has faltered more recently, with Fernando Alonso's challenge now almost 40 points behind Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel's title lead.

It means Ferrari, like most teams, is now counting down the races until preparing for the 2014 challenge becomes the absolute priority.

"It is very important," said Massa, "because so much is changing that we have had a whole group that only works on the next car for a long time.

"But we need to look at the performance in the next races to determine if we should continue to develop this (2013) car, or focus completely on 2014," he added.

I've said it a number of times over the years: Product is key. In fact, I recall calling out GM and strongly suggesting that they take the Cruze, break down what they did to come up with this car, study it, and repeat.

Although the jury's out on whether or not they're doing so, they are clearly looking to push the appeal of the Cruze and see where they can take it. The arrival of the diesel version of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is as controversial as it is brilliant. Our VW TDI vs. Chevy Diesel comparo test generated many comments from a number of points of view.

Regardless of whose side you may be on, the bottom line here is that the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a very impressive offering from a manufacturer that nearly single-handedly annihilated diesel technology in North America in the 1980s. Powerful and frugal, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a compelling car that requires consideration. In that consideration, be mindful that refinement was not the priority.


What is a Chevrolet Cruze?
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is GM's compact car, one of their first successful world cars to come to our shores. Introduced in 2010, it has received a large number of awards.

A far more successful and popular product than the slightly less pricey Chevrolet Spark and Sonic, the Cruze is the real gateway car to the famous brand. In 2012, it was the 5th bestselling small car in Canada.

The Cruze is offered as a five-door hatchback and station wagon in other markets. Neither is expected to come to our shores.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is GM's compact car, one of their first successful world cars to come to our shores. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel Price and Specs
The German-built turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine puts out 151 horsepower and a staggering 264 lb-ft of torque. The only available transmission for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a 6-speed automatic.

As with the vast majority of modern diesel engines, the Cruze's powerplant generates 90% fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) than previous-generation technology thanks to particulate filters, exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalyst reduction, and other technologies. It does not require urea like a number of diesel engines from other manufacturers. The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel meets Tier 2 Bin 5 emission standards.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel starts at $24,945. With the Enhanced Safety package, power sunroof and MyLink with navigation, my tester retailed for $28,310.

The German-built turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine puts out 151 horsepower and a staggering 264 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Chevrolet)

Driving the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
The most notable shortcoming with the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is the noise and general lack of refinement from the powertrain.

One of the common complaints pertaining to diesel is the noise generated by the engine. Unfortunately, it proved to be even a bit much for me, a huge fan of the technology. Cold start-ups and mild bouts of acceleration generated an awful din that should no longer emanate from a car.

Thankfully, the burst of torque created by the overboost (280 lb-ft for up to 10 seconds) quickly excuses the engine's lack of sophistication. The transmission does a fine job of coping with the energy. Shifts are generally clean, but lack the smoothness and overall efficiency of VW's 6-speed DSG ‘box.

Be that as it may, there's no denying that the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is powerful and especially thrifty. My weeklong test drive average rolled in at a hair under 6.0L/100km despite me being fully addicted to the torque.

Ride quality and handling are very good. The suspension does not propose the finesse afforded by Volkswagens, but most would be hard-pressed to find a tangible disadvantage here.

The transmission does a fine job of coping with the energy. Shifts are generally clean. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
I'm still a huge fan of the Chevrolet Cruze as I find it blends American boldness with strong European subtlety. For the 2014 Clean Turbo Diesel version, this statement could not be truer. With only distinct wheels, a few minor enhancements up front, an integrated rear spoiler, and the small, green badge with the inscription “2.0 TD” beside the Cruze name on the trunk lid, there are very few differences between the gas- and diesel-powered models.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel's cabin is unchanged from the regular car save for a tachometer that displays a redline at 5,000 rpm.

The seats are reasonably comfortable as I felt throughout the week that I was sitting on the seat as opposed to in it. The base of the centre console is wide and impedes somewhat on legroom. Otherwise, four adults will be at ease in the 2014 Chevy Cruze. Ergonomics are good, and fit and finish are the same. The MyLink system continues to be quite appreciated for its ease of use.

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel's cabin is unchanged from the regular car save for a tachometer that displays a redline at 5,000 rpm. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel finds itself squarely in the middle of Volkswagen's sacred ground on this side of the pond.

Until now, only the compact Jetta TDI and Golf TDI played the diesel card. The coming of the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel is a ballsy move on behalf of GM. I reckon it will be difficult to convince diesel fans (i.e., VW enthusiasts) to shop in a Chevy store for their next car. However, currently, the Cruze is the better “diesel” in terms of power and efficiency.

From press release

Conquest Racing along with Octane Racing Group will offer Canadian fans the one and only North American 3-Seater GP Experience!

A former ChampCar, IndyCar and NASCAR driver, Patrick Carpentier, will drive the 3-seater F1 on St-Eustache's road course, September 5 and 6.

Photo: Conquest Racing

If you like to go fast, going really fast, here is your experience of a lifetime. Our program puts you next to a professional driver in a modified Jordan F1race car with 2-side seats, testing all of your preconceptions in the 1.8 seconds it takes to get from zero to 60 mph. It's not the top speed of 200 mph that make these cars so impressive, but the acceleration in which it gets there.

Conquest Racing has two 2003-2004 Jordan GP chassis with Judd V10 engines producing over 750 horsepower and a combined weight of only 640 kg, along with carbon fibre brakes and Pirelli F1 tires. Passengers can expect to pull up to 4.5 G's in braking and cornering conditions.

For more information and a look at the 2013 calendar please visit: www.formulagpexperience.com.

You can also call (317 441-1936).

Photo: Conquest Racing

Stewart-Haas Racing announced on Monday afternoon that Austin Dillon would drive the No. 14 Chevrolet while Tony Stewart continues to recover from his injuries in a sprint car race in Iowa last week.

“I've watched Austin for many years and at each stage of his racing career he's been successful,” Stewart said.

“He's proven to be a very fast learner, and he's able to adapt quickly. Being the youngest champion in the history of the Truck Series is proof of that. His background in dirt racing is an asset, and off the track we share many of the same interests, specifically, hunting and fishing. I know he'll perform well at Michigan and I'm just as confident in his ability to properly represent Mobil 1 and Bass Pro Shops throughout the race weekend.”

SHR has not determined who the interim driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet will be for the Sprint Cup Series' following race Aug. 24 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Max Papis drove for the team this past weekend at Watkins Glen.

While no timetable has been established for Stewart's return to the No. 14 Chevrolet, the three-time Sprint Cup champion was discharged from the hospital late Sunday afternoon. 

Part of the decision to put the 23-year old in Stewart's seat has to do with his sponsor is also the sponsor of the car at Michigan and Dillon's (who is a full-time Nationwide Series driver) experience there. Dillon qualified seventh and finished 11th at the two-mile MIS track in June. This will be his tenth Sprint Cup start and eighth this year.

Austin Dillon (Photo: Justin Edmonds/NASCAR via Getty Images)

As Dillon is the points leader in the Nationwide Series, which will run at Mid-Ohio on Saturday, arrangements have to be made for him to alternate between both tracks.   

“Yeah, we're working all of that out right now,” said Dillon “We're going to be running both of them, and the scheduling is pretty tough this weekend, so we'll be on doing our best to give equal amount of practice time.  The good thing about Mid‑Ohio, we have a full test day there Thursday, so we'll have plenty of time on the track.  We have lots of sets of tires, and we'll be using them up on Thursday.

“Qualifying seems to be the issue for the Nationwide race.  That is the only part that will be tough.  We might have to start in the rear.  But I think we've done a good job of trying to work out where each party gets a good amount of practice on both cars.”

Between preparing cars and keeping Tony Stewart in good spirits, Zipadelli has been kept busy by unemployed drivers who would like a shot at the well prepared race car.

“I would say it was more in the 50 range,” said Zipadelli.  There's been people that I didn't even know raced called.  And we appreciate everybody reaching out and willing to help.  But it's been interesting, let's leave it at that.

From GMM

Within the space of a few more races, Ferrari could shift the full weight of its resources to the 2014 car.

That is the claim of Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, who is pushing to remain a part of the Maranello based team's plans beyond the 2013 season.

Next year, a new era dawns in formula one, but teams are already hard at work designing and developing all-new cars for the radically different V6 turbo regulations.

"We are already thinking about next season," Massa is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138 (Photo: FelipeMassa.com)

After a solid start to the season, Ferrari's development progress has faltered more recently, with Fernando Alonso's challenge now almost 40 points behind Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel's title lead.

It means Ferrari, like most teams, is now counting down the races until preparing for the 2014 challenge becomes the absolute priority.

"It is very important," said Massa, "because so much is changing that we have had a whole group that only works on the next car for a long time.

"But we need to look at the performance in the next races to determine if we should continue to develop this (2013) car, or focus completely on 2014," he added.

From press release

Conquest Racing along with Octane Racing Group will offer Canadian fans the one and only North American 3-Seater GP Experience!

A former ChampCar, IndyCar and NASCAR driver, Patrick Carpentier, will drive the 3-seater F1 on St-Eustache's road course, September 5 and 6.

Photo: Conquest Racing

If you like to go fast, going really fast, here is your experience of a lifetime. Our program puts you next to a professional driver in a modified Jordan F1race car with 2-side seats, testing all of your preconceptions in the 1.8 seconds it takes to get from zero to 60 mph. It's not the top speed of 200 mph that make these cars so impressive, but the acceleration in which it gets there.

Conquest Racing has two 2003-2004 Jordan GP chassis with Judd V10 engines producing over 750 horsepower and a combined weight of only 640 kg, along with carbon fibre brakes and Pirelli F1 tires. Passengers can expect to pull up to 4.5 G's in braking and cornering conditions.

For more information and a look at the 2013 calendar please visit: www.formulagpexperience.com.

You can also call (317 441-1936).

Photo: Conquest Racing