Chevrolet will unveil a small crossover - Cruze at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. Growing concerns on fuel economy and pollution legislation around the world has compelled most auto makers to re-align their vehicle lineup to reduce carbon footprints.

General Motors has not lifted the veil on what this small crossover will look like as yet.  All we know is that the Cruze has been penned by Chevrolet’s global design and engineering team and is to be built in multiple locations around the world. The Cruze is designed to handle a parcel of five passengers.

Chevrolet used to sell a badge-engineered version of the Suzuki Ignis with the same name ‘Cruze’ in Japan as well as some South Asian markets. The same was rebadged as the Subaru Justy for Europe and Holden Cruze for Australia. We are not sure if Chevy is intending to launch an all-new Cruze altogether or scout around from its partner parts-bin and come up with some sort of a compact SUV to keep up with the rest of the players in the market!

One thing we are definitely sure of is that the Cruze is gonna cruise to this side of the world as their press release rightly puts it: The new Chevrolet Cruze will be available in European markets in spring 2009, followed by other “global regions”. Currently the smallest SUV offered by Chevrolet here in the Middle East is the mid-sizer Captiva.

The image shown with this story is that of the Captive and not Cruze.