The Chevrolet Cruze->ke3230 isn’t exactly what you’d call a high-performance model. It’s actually far from one, even if you slap an “RS” badge in it. But it is a popular model in North America; Chevy even calls it the ‘cornerstone’ of its North American small-car lineup. The Cruze certainly has a lot of appeal, especially for first-time car buyers. That’s exactly why Chevrolet->ke199 is presenting the Cruze RS Plus Concept at the 2014 SEMA Auto Show.->ke216

The Cruze RS Plus Concept is an “imagine the possibilities” take on the compact sedan. Imagine if you dress it up in this color; imagine if you put this and that material on the interior; and imagine if you add a performance-enhancing Stage Kit to its 1.4-liter, turbo engine. These are all scenarios Chevrolet put together in one package, resulting in the Cruze RS Plus Concept.

Whether or not the American automaker has plans to offer it for production is the question at hand. The company didn’t specify its plans, but considering the new options it presented as part of the whole package, I’d be surprised if we don’t see it offered in dealerships soon.

Hopefully, the Cruze’s status as Chevy’s “cornerstone” small-car is enough reason to justify these new options being made available to the public.

Click past the jump to read more about the Chevrolet Cruze RS Plus Concept.

2014 Chevrolet Cruze RS Plus Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Chevrolet Cruze RS Plus Concept
  • Horsepower: 148
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Chevrolet Cruze RS Plus Concept in detail

If you were expecting a car with scissor doors and an ear-splitting audio system, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. That’s not what the Cruze RS Plus Concept is about, even though those do add a lot to the Cruze’s overall appeal.

What you can expect from this model is a suite of styling modifications honed for the Cruze’s fun and refreshing personality. A Wildfire Metallic paint finish is the highlight of the exterior, even if it’s far from the only one. The body also received unique lower-body moldings, a custom rear spoiler, and matte-black twin-stripes courtesy of Chevrolet Accessories.

Inside, the Cruze RS Plus Concept was dressed up in a Jet Black interior that is brightened up with the addition of an ambient lighting kit and illuminated door sills, which are courtesy of Chevrolet Accessories. It also has a new sport pedal kit, and a Kicker subwoofer and amplifier kit. It’s far from the mind-numbing audio units we usually see at SEMA, but it’s powerful enough for the average buyer.

Chevrolet also indicated that the Cruze RS Plus Concept comes with a performance-enhancing Stage Kit from Chevrolet Performance. According to the Chevy Performance catalog, the Stage kit includes a high-flow exhaust system and a dealer-installed calibration to jump the output to 148 horses. Also included ias a Chevy Performance induction kit to help the 1.4-liter breathe more freely. As standard, the Cruze's 1.4-liter puts out 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque.

Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze is arguably one of Chevrolet's most important models, largely because of its status as one of the best-selling cars in the U.S. In fact, it only trailed the Toyota Camry at one point for top honors, a clear indication that the model is attracting a fair share of interest ever since it arrived as a global model in 2010.

The 2014 Cruze doesn’t offer wholesale changes when compared to its previous model years, but what it does have is a new turbo-diesel engine that offers tremendous fuel returns without sacrificing its performance numbers. That being said, the 1.4-liter, turbo engine it shares with the Sonic is still the most popular engine option for the Cruze. This small mill produces 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, enough to allow the Cruze to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 9.5 seconds to go with a top speed of about 110 mph.

The cheapest trim of the Chevrolet Cruze is the LS Manual, which costs just $17,995. The aforementioned Diesel Automatic is the most expensive trim at $25,710.