Update on Chevy Minicar vote
Time to check in on the voting for America's Next Micro Chevy. Remember the online voting Chevy opened up to determine which of their three minicar concepts would reach production? Well, in just a short time, the site has registered nearly 800,000 votes. The leader so far is the baby HHR-like Groove, with the WTCC-like Beat a ways back in second, and both far ahead of the baby-ute Trax. In case you don't remember these three concepts, Chevy decided to bring three minicars to the 2007 New York Auto Show earlier this month to hedge its bets and let the public decide which one we like best. You can still head over to www.vote4chevrolet.com to vote for your favorite. Chevy has said there is no guarantee the most popular vehicle will be built, but the voting results will help guide the development of a future global mini car from GM.
Have you voted? The Autoblog team is split, with at least one vote for each.
[Source: Winding Road]
In brief, the candidates are: The Beat (green) is by far the most sporty of the trio, with its slicked back styling and comparatively large 1.2L turbo engine. Technically described as a "tuner" car, the Beat is meant to be customized much like a Scion to an owner's own individual tastes. The Beat is a front-wheel-drive, three-door hatch with an automatic tranny to divvy up the tiny motor's available power.
The Groove concept (black) is much like a mini HHR, a five-door wagon with a tall roof and flat sides. It's extremely short hood, big wheel arches and nonexistent overhangs mean that every square inch of the platform is utilized. Consider this the most practical concept of the three. Also a front-driver, the Groove is powered by a 1L diesel engine.
Finally there's the Trax (orange), which we've met before. The Trax concept is the mini ute of the bunch, doing its best to feign even the slightest ability to venture off the beaten path. We wouldn't suggest it however, as those tires lack any meaningful tread and the ride height, while high compared to the other two concepts, could hardly clear a curb (if that). It's the only one of the three that features round headlights, though its four-door, upright, box-like packaging mimics that of the Groove concept. It's powered by a 1L gas engine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bmoredlj 3:10PM (4/24/2007)
I say if all three could be produced cheaply, to go for it; but I agree with the votes that the Groove is the best. It balances versatility and style better than the other two.
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Will 3:19PM (4/24/2007)
I think the most important point here is just how many people actually went out and voted and showed they are interested in these vehicles. I'm partial to the beat myself, and think it's most likely for production.
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LGM 3:23PM (4/24/2007)
Cool, Beat has won in a brazilian site, I think it's more compatible with non-US coutries tastes than Groove, but both could be made, Groove by US Chevy and Beat by Opel/Holden/Vauxhall/Chevrolet Brazil...
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Owen 3:51PM (4/24/2007)
I'm a big fan of the Beat but with the Groove engine.... That made the decision difficult for me. The small diesel was sooo enticing.
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Bob in Cobb 3:47PM (4/24/2007)
So the Aztek guy is designing little Gimmy's now, cool, these out "ugly's" the Aztek by a just a bit. At least when Honda and Toyota design small cars they are bland. The only redeeming feature of these is they will fall apart early.
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Rich 4:06PM (4/24/2007)
those are nice scions.
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Rich 4:08PM (4/24/2007)
its funny how bob lutz said nearly 4 years ago "i give them till the end of the year to survive" regarding scion and here they are making scion like cars.
how ironic.
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Bryan 4:35PM (4/24/2007)
Since when did Scion invent the small car? Thanks, get a life and read every now and then. People complain because Chrysler, Ford, and GM do not offer small cars here. Then they start to get in on it, and people still complain. This is the intelligence of import car buyers. Not much there huh? And you call us American car drivers ignorant and rednecks..lol..yeah, right!
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Chris W 4:39PM (4/24/2007)
I just want to add that the TRAX concept seems to me like it is aimed at women. My unscientific guess is that most people who voted online are men. Does this really tell GM anything?
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Bonita 4:55PM (4/24/2007)
Why don't they name it "Fugly" ?
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3cubedminus3squared 6:35PM (4/24/2007)
I voted for th eGroove, it wasa kind of obvious to me. The Trax looks like a submarine on wheels.
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HotRodzNKustoms 7:12PM (4/24/2007)
I voted for the Groove, I think it is like a little even cheaper HHR, and I am in love with the HHR. Any of these cars if produced would finally give the market an interesting small cheap car. Cheap cars don't have to look cheap!!!
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Bob 9:24PM (4/24/2007)
trax style = ugly, bad very bad
beat style = lets rocks
groove style = its nice and not bad
www.mininova.wordpress.com
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TG 9:36PM (4/24/2007)
Looks wise, these three have lost out to the 2002 Honda Insight. 700 miles per tank.
Americans are cold towards really small cars.
I drove a Renault on a 6 lane [each way], Texas freeway and I wished it was a Hummer, just for survival.
GM, just make a Hoda Insight like car and sell them to seniors who never use freeways. = TG
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Jaymez 9:41PM (4/24/2007)
The Beat, I guess, is my pick. I wouldn't be interested in anything that small, though.
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adam.spencer 5:01PM (5/04/2007)
Why does it never surprise me that Americans don't know the first freaking thing when it comes to car design?
How on EARTH can someone find the Groove a good looking car? I agree the engine package should be from the Groove, but the Beat is where the party's at!!!!
One day...in my dreams American car manufacturers will learn from their international design departments....HELLO MONDEO/TRANSIT/FOCUS!!! Same with GM and it's OPEL/HOLDEN/VAUXHALL counterparts....one day....
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naggs 12:38AM (4/25/2007)
adam.spencer
you come off as a real ass. maybe americans dont think of 1.2 liter fwd cars as sporty which the beat obviously tries for. the groove is much more in line with american tastes, its a very american design recalling the old woodies among others. its a much more practical 4 door that we could put our big fat asses in and still get decent milage. that would clearly do better in the american market than the other 2.
try not to be an impertinent douschbag in the future.
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Rich 2:01AM (4/25/2007)
Bryan: first off "i" never said scion invented the small car. when i said "scion like cars" it was towards the "design" and if you say that none of these vehicles look like a scion then you are defintely a redneck living in the middle of nowhere america.
intelligence of an import buyer that has a paid of house worth 900k in southern california, a paid of 2006 S2000, with an annual salary of 180k+ the past 4 years. all at a ripe old age of 30.
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mike 8:24AM (4/25/2007)
I think it's obvious that the engine choice for the Groove is driving it's numbers. It is a bit more practical but if all had the same engine choice I think the Beat would win. I chose the Groove based entirely on engine choice but, I think GM would be nuts not to make the Beat. Offer that diesel in all three.
Rich: Although you may be a smart guy, talking about how much money you have doesn't make you sound intelligent. It makes you sound insecure.
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Chet 11:36AM (4/25/2007)
I chose the Groove for its design -- it looks most like a car, least like a minivan or SUV. It also looks the least angular-angry. "Angry kitchen appliances" don't do it for me.
But the most important message for the General: inexpensive diesel ASAP.
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