2011 Chevrolet Cruze set to debut in WTCC

Chevrolet are the defending champions in both the WTCC Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championship, and they have now unveiled their contender to defend their crown, with the new 2011 Cruze, designed to the new FIA specifications for touring cars.

The new rules calls for smaller and more efficient turbocharged engines, so manufacturers are required to switch from normally-aspirated 2.0-litre powerplants, to 1.6-litre turbocharged engines, starting from the 2011 WTCC season.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze WTCC car therefore features a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that produces 306bhp and 335Nm of torque. To allow for the new powerplant, sever design changes have to be made to the Cruze, including redesigns for the cooling and ancillary engine systems, front suspension, brakes, weight distribution and aerodynamics.

The driver line-up for the 2011 season will remain the same however, with defending champion Yvan Muller driving the number 1 Cruze, and Rob Huff piloting the number 2 car. Frenchmen Alain Menu will be driving car number 8 for Chevrolet, and a special, orange-liveried Cruze will be run at the season opening race in Brazil, to be driven by Brazilian driver Carlos Bueno.