GM’s Revamped Chevy Cruze Small Car Gets Larger, More Profitable

General Motors Co. is adding size and power to help spur demand for the redesigned Chevrolet Cruze compact, which the company also expects to be more profitable than the current model when it goes on sale early next year.

The new model was engineered using common engines and parts with GM’s other small cars around the world, including the European Opel Astra, said Mark Reuss, GM’s executive vice president of global product development, in an interview on Wednesday. By capitalizing on global sales volume and using common parts, Reuss said GM expects the new Cruze and Chevy Malibu family sedan together will boost variable profit by $1,500 to $2,000 per car.