Detroit - General Motors will unveil its new Chevrolet Cruze family saloon at the Paris Motor Show in October in the run-up to the European sales start in early 2009, the car maker announced recently.

The Cruze, which will also be sold on the North American market, is powered by a 1.4-litre engine with an output of 88 kW/120 hp and 103 kW/140 hp engine.

The saloon measuring 4.6 metres in length is part of GM's new strategy in building smaller more economical cars as petrol prices surge worldwide.

It is built on the same platform underpinning the new Opel Astra, the Saab 9-3 and the electric-drive Chevy Volt. (dpa)