Chevrolet Cruze Eco Sets Fuel-Efficiency Record

An Australian couple set a fuel-efficiency record for the forty-eight contiguous states behind the wheel of an unmodified Chevrolet Cruze Eco. During the 23-day, 9,552 mile trip sponsored by Shell Oil, John and Helen Taylor averaged 64.42 miles per gallon.

That is fifty percent better than the Environmental Protection Agency estimate of forty-two miles per gallon highway for a Cruze Eco manual. To achieve such fuel economy, the car’s engineers focused on aerodynamic performance, mass optimization, and powertrain enhancements

The Cruze Eco was the first in the compact-car segment to offer an active air shutter that closes at higher speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow. Engineers also made more than forty-two changes to reduce weight on the vehicle, such as light-weight seventeen-inch wheels and tires save 21.2 pounds (9.6 kg) per vehicle.

The Cruze Eco features a standard Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine that delivers the fuel efficiency of a smaller engine, as well as the power of a larger engine when needed. The Ecotec 1.4L turbo delivers 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps the engine deliver a better driving experience and performance.

With the standard six-speed manual, the Cruze Eco delivers an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city, and 42 mpg highway, while the six-speed automatic offers an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, and 39 mpg highway.

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