To compete with established models such as the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, a vehicle better have a lot to offer – and that’s a billing that General Motors is hoping the Chevrolet Cruze can live up to.

The 2011 version of the car will make its North American debut at the LA Auto Show tomorrow and features a new Ecotec 1.4l I-4 turbo with variable valve timing that delivers up to an estimated 40mpg on the highway with a high efficiency model.

The Cruze, which is already established in Europe and Asia, won’t go on sale in the US until the third quarter of 2010. It has already logged more than four million miles in quality and durability testing worldwide, with US and Canadian versions scheduled to be built in Lordstown, Ohio, where $350million has been invested towards production.

The car will be available with three trim levels – the LS, LT and LTZ. It will also feature a new family of efficient four-cylinder engines, which will include a 1.4l turbo and a 1.8l unit, as well as six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. Electric power steering comes as standard, with an enhanced exhaust-driven turbocharger standard on the LT and LTZ models that allows the 1.4l turbo to perform like a larger engine when needed.

The Ecotec 1.8l four-cylinder has the same architecture as the 1.4l turbo and is standard on all LS models. Both engines are part of GM’s family of global small displacement engines that have been designed with fuel efficiency in mind. Indeed with the Ecotec 1.4l turbo, the Cruze has a cruising range of more than 500 miles.