The 2011 Chevy Cruze, GM's additional vehicle which will some day, we're sure, replace the Cobalt, will be able to achieve 45 MPG from it's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, at least according to a small aside in an Associated Press report:
One model, the sleek new Chevrolet Cruze due out in 2010, is the replacement for the clunky Chevrolet Cobalt small car. GM plans to power the Cruze with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, allowing it to get around 45 miles per gallon
This follows our report that the Cruze would get better than 40 mpg. If it can achieve 45 MPG it'll put the 2009 Toyota Prius, which gets 45 MPG highway, right in its sights.
It couldn't be more important for the Cruze to be a hit given that, in the same article, the AP pointed out Honda is getting $19,000 for the Civic compared to just $12,000 for each Cobalt. Now that the era of everyone getting a large SUV and putting $10,000 in GM's coffers is over, those small cars need to be more valuable and profitable than ever. [Source: AP via Forbes]