Sometimes a few words can make all the difference.
In last week's seminars and presentations on the new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, GM discussed its 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and gave a few scant details on a future 1.6-liter diesel model as well.
But the company also suggested the possibility of a future Chevy Cruze Hybrid model.
DON'T MISS: 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan Unveiled; 40-MPG Highway Rating Promised
It was just a single modifier in one line on a slide about the future 1.6-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that will propel the next-generation Cruze Diesel.
That engine, Chevy noted, would provide the highest "non-hybrid" fuel economy of any Chevy Cruze model.
That's called "begging the question."
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid launch - 2015 New York Auto Show
In other words, a future hybrid Chevrolet Cruze model might in fact deliver even higher fuel-economy ratings than the upcoming Cruze diesel.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Any future Cruze Hybrid would presumably use a version of the same Volt-derived full-hybrid system unveiled in the 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid at the New York Auto Show in April.
ALSO SEE: 47-MPG Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid: Volt's Sibling Without A Plug May Be First Of Several
And while the 2016 Malibu Hybrid competes against several established models--including hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Toyota Camry--a hybrid Cruze would give Chevy an entrant in a sector with few competitors.
There are no compact sedans presently in the U.S. with hybrid powertrains, although Toyota offers a Corolla Hybrid in a few other global markets.
A Cruze Hybrid using roughly the same powertrain as the larger, heavier Malibu Hybrid might well hit the magic 50-mpg combined rating, equaling three current Toyota Prius models.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid - drive unit cutaway
But a hybrid Chevrolet Cruze wouldn't have the visual distinction and reputation--positive or negative--of the Prius. It would just look like a Cruze, with a lot better gas mileage.
It would also give General Motors additional economies of scale on the Voltec powertrain, now known to be used in three cars: the 2016 Volt, the upcoming Malibu Hybrid, and the plug-in hybrid version of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 luxury sedan.
And if it wants to make the second-generation Volt plug-in hybrid break even over its model life, lowering component costs is absolutely crucial.
MORE: How Similar Are Chevy Volt & Malibu Hybrid Powertrains? Very Much; Here's Why
There's also the increasing pressure of the corporate average fuel-economy rules that ramp up steadily from now through 2025, ending at a window-sticker fleet average of about 42 mpg.
This site was pleased to have predicted the unveiling of a Malibu Hybrid three months before it appeared, so we're throwing the dice again.
We've been wrong before, of course ... but we'd bet there's a Cruze Hybrid in the offing, possibly as a 2017 model.
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