Typically associated with big, loud, Auzzie V8 muscle cars, Walkinshaw Performance (WP) have turned their attention to the hot hatch market in the form of the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback.
The WP Cruze hot hatch package introduces a number of visual and performance upgrades. Power from the Cruze’s turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine has been boosted a massive 75 per cent, from 103 kW to 180 kW, while torque has also climbed 55 per cent from 200 Nm to 310 Nm. The power increase comes courtesy of an ECU recalibration, along with an upgrade to a larger turbo and and a new exhaust manifold. Walkinshaw Performance estimates their Cruze will launch from 0 – 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, making it roughly 3 seconds quicker than the standard car.
The WP package also includes 18-inch Irmscher alloy wheels, 343 mm Competition Friction front brake discs rotors with 4-piston calipers, sports suspension developed with Bilsten and Irmscher, as well as a new stainless-steel exhaust system.
While the performance gains are impressive, so is the price tag. The WP Cruze Hot Hatch costs AU$19 995, which is almost 68 percent of the original car’s purchase price. Walkinshaw Performance do offer a more mild-mannered update for just AU$1 195, which delivers up to 15 percent more power and 20 percent more torque with some tweaks to the ECU.
