Full-production Cruze 5-door presented in Geneva

Having been teased as a near-production concept at the October 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Chevrolet Cruze Five-Door was unveiled in full production form in Geneva this Monday. This year marks Chevrolet’s centerary, whilst 2010 saw Chevy’s biggest ever market share in Europe, something the Cruze hatchback is hoped to aid in future years – given the success of the mid-size hatchback class in Western Europe.

Chevrolet seems focused on chasing these European markets with the Five-Door, which uses the saloon’s Body-Frame Integral System to ensure ‘taut ride and handling well suited to European tastes.’ The Cruze is based on GM’s Delta platform, as found in the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, and offers hatchback versatility for the Cruze, the company’s best-selling car in 2010.

Despite the Cruze’s success in the 2010 WTCC, there’s no word yet from Chevrolet on a ‘hot’ Five-Door, but the car will be available with a new range of engines – the strongest of which being the 161bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel as found the Orlando MPV.

The Five-Door offers a 60:40 split rear bench seat and 400 litres of seats-up boot capacity. The car goes on sale in summer, although Chevrolet has yet to announce the new car’s pricing.