Introduced toward the end of last year, it offers budget conscious motorists with a passion for cruising and a well-engineered car to combine both desires as they slip into the seat behind the wheels and sprint away.

Slated to fill the slot of a sporty compact family car, this vehicle comes in with a bit of history. It won both races of the Race of France that took place on the extremely demanding streets of Pau in southern France last year.

Drivers Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Nicola Larini secured top honors for the gold bowtie on May 3 in Morocco after taking the new car to the track for the first time in the opening round in Curitiba, Brazil, on March 8.

Participating in the WTCC, one of only three official FIA-sanctioned world championships, alongside Formula One and the World Rally Championship, the Cruze is its first contender having been designed from the outset with a competition application in mind.

With its striking “four-door coupe” styling, sporty character and smart new livery, the Cruze race car cut a distinctive presence in last year’s WTCC.

It benefits from some of the road car’s fundamental design advantages, including a wider track, close-to-the-ground stance and a stiffer body structure that promise better handling, improved aerodynamic performance and a greater sensitivity to setup changes. Great care has also been taken to reduce weight for the race circuit.

The Cruze has been co-operatively engineered at GM facilities in Germany, the US, Australia and South Korea. In key areas such as the body structure, suspension, safety and electrical systems, engineers have drawn on GM “best practices” around the world. 

Backed by an anticipated high level Euro NCAP crash safety rating and an all-new power train lineup, the Cruze also heralds the introduction of a new global design language for the Chevrolet brand.  

And for you techies out there, the vehicle comes with a choice of a 1.6 or a 1.8 L DOHC 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or the six-speed automatic one.

The interior is smooth and devoid of road chatter as you zip about the Kingdom’s streets. Take out a demo for a spin. Its fast enough to remind you of your youth, yet comfortable for an entire family as well. Mark my words: You will not be disappointed, nor will your wallet feel the pinch.