Chevrolet will reveal a five-door hatchback version of its Cruze model at the Paris Motor Show later this month.
The new hatchback is targeted at Ford's forthcoming new Focus and the Volkswagen Golf. The addition of Europe's most popular body type, the hatchback, will help widen its appeal in the UK and other markets, though saloons are still very popular in Ireland.
The sloped roofline and short overhangs at both the front and rear give the new hatchback a dynamic stance. It will be built using the company's body-frame integral system (BFI).
According to Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe, "Hatchbacks play a critical role in many markets. The total compact segment in Europe represents around 4.8 million units which is over a quarter of the total market, with hatchbacks representing around 65% of that volume. We therefore expect to see increased business in a number of regions, while sending out a signal that Chevrolet is now a serious mainstream player in Europe."
The new Chevrolet Cruze five-door hatchback will go on sale across Europe in 2011 with prices to be announced nearer the launch date.
Along with the Cruze hatchback, Chevrolet's first entrant into the European MPV segment, the Orlando, will be unveiled for the first time in Paris, along with two, as yet unannounced, Chevrolet world premieres.