Frankfurt Preview: Look out, the new Chevy Aveo 5-door wants to eat you
Click image for gallery
The Chevy Aveo has never been a car to set one's heart racing, but the restyled 2007 edition in sedan form is a decent-looking economy car with a visually appealing interior. Here in the US, the Aveo5 hatchback retained its old looks, which were nothing special, and we all assumed that at some point it would take on the same freshened appearance of the sedan.
Well, we were wrong. Chevy will introduce a revised Aveo 5-door next month in Frankfurt for the European market, but those looking for a hatchback version of the sedan that all markets share will be disappointed. And possibly even frightened. That's because the Aveo hatchback's new face has taken the Chevy split-grille to the extreme, adopting an oversized, angry maw bissected by a substantial Bowtie-adorned crossbar. The upturned headlights augment the angry look, but all that visual aggression backed only by a pair of docile four-bangers putting out 84 hp (1.2L ) or 98 hp (1.4L). The Aveo even gets a trendy side extractor vent on the front fender, leading us to believe that it's probably time to put that styling cue to bed. On the upside, Aveo now has something in common with Cadillac.
GM also says the hatchback sports a new interior, but has not yet released photos. We're guessing it's the same one found in the sedan. The European models will launch in March of next year. Will the new Aveo 5-door come to the U.S.? We certainly hope not looking like that.
[Source: GM]
Gallery: 2008 Chevy Aveo 5-door (EU)
Striking exterior and high-class interior
New Chevrolet Aveo celebrates its world premiere in Frankfurt
- Launch in Europe as of March 2008
- Two petrol engines with 84 or 98 hp; manual or automatic transmission
The Aveo hatchback sports Chevrolet's new design features, as characterised by the big horizontally split radiator grille with a body-coloured crossbeam and the brand logo sitting prominently in the center. The dynamic detailing includes large, curved, clear-glass headlamps and fog lamps that project like spotlights from the lower part of the bumper. In profile, the body's prominent shoulder lines catch the eye, while the back of the car is dominated by the solid bumper and the round tail lamps in a clear-glass housing.
There is a choice of two petrol engines: a new 1.2-litre unit with an output of 84 hp, and the existing 1.4-litre engine, which now develops 98 hp and is available with automatic transmission.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
AlexP 2:40PM (8/13/2007)
LOL! :D
Gotta print this and show it to Gilles, I'm curious to know what he'll say about it.
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Ganesh 3:37PM (8/14/2007)
NICE COPY FROM AUDI....STILL LOOKS LIKE CRAP.....CLUELESS IDIOTS
calebe 2:44PM (8/13/2007)
Old news. We already knew it was just getting a restyled front clip and some new tail lights. It's not a total redo.
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Don 8:51PM (8/13/2007)
And unless they address the anemic engine and its tendency for unfrugalness, I don't give a rip about the new Aveo.
AlexP 2:46PM (8/13/2007)
It still looks over 9000 times better than my 07 sedan.
... Speaking of which, I wonder how they'll rebadge it in Canada and Mexico (to Pontiac)... Not to mention in South Korea (to Daewoo). o_O
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geo.stewart 2:47PM (8/13/2007)
TONS better than the current version. sedan version is an improvement but pretty vanilla. All those who balked at it being plain, and the new Subie being plain are NOW chastising GM for going for adding some spice.
make up your mind.
VW will probably sue anyway ;-)
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the marais 2:48PM (8/13/2007)
Can someone please explain to me why, as a continental European, I would purchase a Korean-Aveo/Kalos instead of buying a Opel-designed Corsa? Do those two models not compete directly? Is anyone going to argue that Aveo looks or performs better than the Corsa? Why does one need a Chevy dealership in Germany anyway, especially one that sells nothing but Daewoos -- and when Opels are arguably the best-designed line-up in GM's entire operation?
I am confused!
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Bill 3:03PM (8/13/2007)
To Marais, probably price.
Here in my area I've suddenly noticing a lot of these running around. Maybe some people who just want basic urban transportation realized it's not such a bad buy vs. the Fit/Yaris, and you deal with a dealer that actually wants your business.
To AlexP: I was in Mexico last month and don't remember seeing this, but saw a TON of little cars simply badged "Chevy". It is a different car, I'm guessing of GM Brazil origin. Pontiac already has the Aveo in Canada, where it's called the Wave.
AlexP 3:42PM (8/13/2007)
Yes, it's called a Wave in Canada, and I should know, since I own one. :V
http://www.pontiac.com.mx/content_data/LAAM/MX/es/GMMGM/showroom/pontiac/index.html
See G3 - they might not be popular, but they are for sale there.
1337 10:38PM (8/13/2007)
AlexP,
I'm glad you're up on these things, but I still can't understand why anyone would pay money to own one of these junkboxes.
AlexP 2:53PM (8/13/2007)
Because they're cheaper?
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StinkyPete 2:56PM (8/13/2007)
Trying to cash in on Audi's styling cues and not doing a very good job.
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Keith 4:11PM (8/13/2007)
Nice Audi front end! Wonder if Audi will sue GM just like Jeep that other car company for "using" their 7 bar front end. LOL
tikirob 3:02PM (8/13/2007)
Makes you wonder if they have something else planned for here like the Beat?
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
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Alfamike 3:17PM (8/13/2007)
So that's what happens if you feed a guppy steroids.
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MassExit 4:09PM (8/13/2007)
I am driving a Chevy Aveo while I wait for my new GMC pick-up, and much to my surprise, it's not a bad little car at all. Fairly peppy, I would not have believed it had only 98hp, and very quiet, runs as smooth as a singer sewing machine. If I was looking for something to run to the store or market, around town, that gets good mileage(the one I'm driving 37mpg) and is cheap, I would buy an aveo.
I'm impressed, all the bad press is just that, bad press form people that are totally clueless of what this little car actually can do. Yes I would buy one in a heartbeat.
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Mike G 4:48PM (8/14/2007)
Would you really buy one? Even though it looks like crap and a side of crap with some crap sprinkled on top?
And hey what's so wrong with your brand new Chevy pickup that you would need a rental car?
FrankTheCrank 3:28PM (8/13/2007)
OK, is this design look, the huge front grille, officially over? Kinda like when The Fonz jumped over some sharks?
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db25 3:29PM (8/13/2007)
Hope it will have an updated engine. The Daewoo sourced four is low on power and doesn't get very good gas mileage for such small displacement.
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AlexP 3:44PM (8/13/2007)
I get 36MPG in mixed driving with A/C on, and it's an auto, so don't tell me it doesn't get good mileage.
I said mixed, but at least 75% is city, I'm pretty satisfied since that's just a liter more per 100KM than a Yaris, and a comparably equipped Yaris costs a ton more here.