Spy Shots: Chevy Beat caught testing in China
We saw the Chevy Beat concept unveiled a year ago, and now a camouflaged mule has been caught testing in China, fueling speculation that the Beat will succeed the Spark in that market. The Beat is certainly far less dowdy than the Spark, which is also sold, sometimes gratuitously, as the Matiz in other markets. When the Beat debuted as one in a trio of concepts, it was the sportiest of the three and described as a "tuner car" offering substantial levels of customization at the retail level, much like a Scion. That rhetoric may not be for world-wide consumption, however, and the Beat could wind up looking sharp on the outside and offering you roll-your-own windows and milk jug-quality plastics in the cabin. Of course, GM could pull a Ford and deliver a deliciously stylish small car everywhere but the United States, just as our fuel costs skyrocket ever further. Thanks for the tip, Kevin![Source: China Car Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MachinaDC5 8:34AM (4/01/2008)
I wonder if Honda is aware of this.
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adamahmad 9:29AM (4/01/2008)
ohh..now i which car GEELY copied from...
total doubt that GEELY are able to produce such nice concept car at Beijing...
nice car...please bring it to Malaysia please..pity us have only OPTRA,OPTRA NOTCHBACK and Aveo in
chevrolet lineup
Mike 8:58AM (4/01/2008)
sry but its gross :(
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Rick 9:15AM (4/01/2008)
Yea, even if it does come here, it won't have that same sporty look with low profile tires and nice wheels. It will be small 14" steelies and 60 series tires and they'll wonder why sales suck.
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Chris 9:06AM (4/01/2008)
With our luck I bet we get the ugliest of the trio. I remember when these came out and Automobile magazine pointed out that current GM thinking was to keep the cool looking green coupe in Europe (like how they got the really good looking focus), the black HHR four door looking thing would come here, and the other would end up in developing markets.
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PJ 7:04PM (4/01/2008)
Is Daewoo developing it?
This will be replacing the Matiz in most markets, and the 2004-Aveo-ish alloys on the test mule worry me. Unless they've dramatically improved the fuel efficiency of their powertrains, a Daewoo isn't going to cut it in this soon-to-be-crowded segment.
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