I Love Graff Okemos: Ecotec

Thursday, January 7, 2016

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Unveiled Before Detroit Auto Show

OKEMOS, Mich. –– Each year, automakers tease the public with glimpses of or hints at new models they plan to debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. But for 2016 Chevrolet went a step further and fully unveiled their 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback before the Detroit Auto Show.

What's become one of the most laudable sedans in the industry, after 3.5 million sales the Chevy Cruze is now breaching the borders of its comfort zone. With a "9% market growth in small hatchbacks last year," according to Alan Batey, president, General Motors North America and Global Chevrolet, this market is the perfect opportunity for the Cruze to speed into a segment of peculiar buyers who prefer a vehicle with a rounded back end and extra space to the conventional sedan design.

The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback was unveiled before the Detroit Auto Show with some important selling points worthy of mention. The hatchback will provide ample room for extra storage thanks to its 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, made 42 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seat folded down.

The 2017 Cruze hatchback will be equipped with an EcoTec turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder engine with direct injection and start/stop technology. With the hatchback, the Cruze's former 138 horsepower will gallop to 153, and its 135 ft-lb. of torque will increase to 177. The hatchback will also be lighter by 100 pounds as a result of its lean body design, and by 44 pounds as a result of the new EcoTec engine.

While we can expect some differences between the 2017 Chevy Cruze sedan and its hatchback variant, most are assuming the biggest contrasts will be visible in design, though Chevy hasn't promised the hatchback will attain the same fuel efficiency or be available in a manual transmission. Regardless, we're already confident in this new Cruze design, and we can't wait to have a few on the lot of our Chevrolet dealership.

You can see our current inventory of 2016 Chevrolet Cruze models here, or get a downloadable 2016 Chevrolet Cruze brochure for more details and photos.

Looking for a new vehicle, or need vehicle service taken care of? Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos help you. Call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Flint Engine Operations Manufactures Millionth 1.4L Engine, Transitions to Ecotec Engine

OKEMOS, Mich. – Recently, General Motors’ Flint Engine Operations manufactured its millionth 1.4L engine, but will transition production to an all-new Ecotec small gas engine for the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze by year’s end.

Production of the 1.4L engine began in 2001 for the current Volt, Cruze, and Sonic. Flint Engine opened in 2002 to bolster production, and will receive $200 million in upgrades to manufacture the replacement Ecotec engine.

By 2017, GM expects to produce 2.5 million Ecotec engines a year in eight engine plants, including Flint Engine, across six countries. For now the Volt and Cruze are the only vehicles GM has announced to receive the Flint-built engine.

In 2013, Flint Engine employees formed a launch team that spent months collaborating with GM engineers and employees in Michigan, Mexico, and Japan to develop the Ecotec engine. It was the first instance hourly and salaried GM employees collaborated as a team for the powertrain pre-production process.

While the launch team developed the new Ecotec engine, construction crews installed new equipment and prepared Flint Engine for the impending production shift set for fall 2015. As 1.4L engine production comes to final halt at the beginning of September 2015, the plant will finish installing and testing the necessary equipment for production of the new engine.

GM will ship the first batch of engines to its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant for the Chevrolet Cruze by year’s end. Volt production will begin later in 2016.

Although Flint Engine Operations manufactured its millionth 1.4L engine and will transition to the Ecotec engine, the plant will continue to produce the 3.6L engine while production shifts. The plant manufactures the 3.6L engine for the Chevrolet Colorado and Traverse, GMC Canyon and Acadia, and Buick Enclave.

As a Williamston area Chevrolet dealer housing a large inventory of new and used Chevy's for sale, we're excited to see this transition come to fruition. We're confident the new Ecotec engine will carry the Volt and Cruze, and subsequently chosen vehicles, to new heights,

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you –– simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!