Chevy preps a Cruze hatchback for the U.S.

DETROIT -- Chevrolet plans a hatchback version of the next-generation Cruze compact sedan for the U.S., targeting a niche segment that could be ripe for growth.

Chevy executives showed a hatchback Cruze to dealers last week at a national meeting in Las Vegas, according to three people who attended. The car was billed as a 2016 model, although its launch date is unclear.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra is scheduled to unveil the redesigned 2016 Cruze sedan at a media event here this week. A five-door model likely would arrive sometime after the first-quarter rollout of the sedan.

"We have not announced other variants for any other markets at this time," a Chevy spokesman said. 

Chevy already sells a hatchback Cruze in overseas markets, including Australia and China. GM product chief Mark Reuss has called the omission of a Cruze hatchback for the U.S. "a pre-bankruptcy planning mistake." 

American buyers historically have been cool to hatches, although more automakers are betting that could change. Honda plans to return a Civic hatchback to the U.S. market, likely next year. 

The Cruze hatch also will take on the Ford Focus, which derives about 40 percent of its sales from the five-door model. Other hatches include the Hyundai Elantra GT and Volkswagen Golf. 

IHS Automotive expects hatchbacks to grow to 7.8 percent of U.S. light-vehicle sales by 2020, up from an estimated 5.3 percent this year.