Designed To Protect: The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

As reported by General Motors

Detroit – The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ’s class-leading safety features and structural strength were demonstrated today in a blunt manner – engineers crashed it. It was a planned test that highlighted the active and passive safety features, as well as the technology, of Chevrolet’s new, fuel-efficient sedan.

Photo: General Motors

Cruze enters the market in the third quarter of this year with more standard safety features than any vehicle in its class, each contributing to Chevrolet’s goal of protecting passengers before, during and after a crash. Highlights include:

• Ten standard air bags – the most in the segment – including frontal, head curtain side air bags, front and outboard rear-seat side-impact air bags and new knee air bags
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control and anti-lock brakes
• Collapsible pedal system, which allows the pedals to detach during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries
• OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.
• The Cruze’s safety development included testing at GM’s rollover test facility. It is the only manufacturer-owned rollover test facility in North America.

“We are very confident of the safety performance of the Cruze and believe it will prove to be one of the safest vehicles in the segment,” said Chuck Russell, vehicle line director. “To benefit our customers, we went way beyond requirements to exceed government safety mandates.”

The comprehensive list of standard safety features on all models includes:

• Dual-stage frontal air bags
• Roof rail-mounted head curtain side air bags that help protect the front and outboard rear seating positions
• Seat-mounted side-impact air bags (front and rear)
• Front knee air bags
• Front passenger seat occupant sensing system
• Rollover sensing and protection system
• Collapsible pedal assembly
• Three-point safety belts in all five seating positions
• Safety belt retractor pretensioners and lap pretensioners in the driver and front-passenger positions
• Safety belt load limiters (with pretensioners) in the front safety belt retractorChild seat latching system in the rear seat.

Along with the standard safety features on all models – including a tire pressure monitoring system, daytime running lamps and automatic headlamps – LT and LTZ models include four-wheel disc brakes and offer rear-parking assist.

Photo: General Motors