If you want to cover all of the potential new car sales bases, having a compact crossover vehicle is essential. Mazda sank serious development money into its CX-5, as did Ford with its new Escape.
Radical changes were necessary for those makers to compete against the new Honda CR-V, and even MINI is now in the segment with its new Countryman crossover.
In fact among major automakers, only Chevrolet lacks an offering in the compact crossover segment.
Today, Chevy’s smallest crossover offering is the Equinox, and that competes more in the midsize segment than in the compact one. Stacked up against a Mazda CX-5, for example, the Equinox is a much bigger vehicle.
That may soon change, as French magazine L’Automobile recently published a patent drawing of a new Chevrolet model, allegedly based on the new 2013 Buick Encore.
While an Opel equivalent (called the Mokka), already exists in Europe, the compact Chevy could be destined for sales on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to Motor Authority, possible engine choices for a Chevrolet compact crossover in Europe include GM’s 1.6-liter and 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engines, as well as its 1.7-liter turbodiesel.
For U.S. sales, however, the diesel option is unlikely--at least until the company has gained more experience with its upcoming 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel model.
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