2011 Chevrolet Cruze Earns IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK

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SEE ALSO: 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK Winners

DETROIT, Dec. 22, 2010; -- The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze received the highest possible ratings of "Good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash protection tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which recognized Cruze as a 2011 Top Safety Pick.

"The new Cruze was clearly engineered from the ground up to meet the highest standards in safety performance," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "The Top Safety Pickawardmeans that buyers of the Cruze will know they're getting state-of-the-art protection in the most common kinds of crashes."

The 2011 Cruze offers more standard safety features than any vehicle in its class and represents Chevrolet's commitment to continuous safety – before, during and after a crash.  Standard features include StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, anti-lock brakes, Panic Brake Assist and Enhanced Smart Pedal/Brake Override.

The Cruze is the first car in its class with 10 standard air bags, including dual-stage frontal air bags, seat-mounted side-impact air bags and head curtain side air bags in the front and outboard rear seating positions and front knee air bags – a first for the segment. OnStar's standard safety and security package is included.

"The IIHS Top Safety Pick Award builds on the already strong global safety reputation of the Cruze," said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "Cruze delivers the level of comfort, quality and safety that customers expect in larger, more upscale vehicles with the fuel economy of a compact."

Cruze continues to be a strong contributor to Chevrolet's sales momentum, helping the brand increase retail sales by 13 percent in November.  The new Cruze Eco arrives in showrooms in January with segment-leading fuel economy, beating its non-hybrid competitors. Cruze Eco delivers an EPA-estimated 42 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg city fuel economy.  The model will carry a suggested retail price of $18,895.

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial in 2011 as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly" solutions, such as Chevrolet Cruze Eco with an EPA-estimated 42 miles per gallon highway, and the Chevrolet Volt offering 35 miles of electric driving and an additional 344 miles of extended gasoline range, according to EPA estimates. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.