![Bugatti Bird-gate Followup: Driver identity revealed <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash video!]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bugatti-veyron-swim-1258147199_143x85.jpg)
Spy Shots: Chinese Chevy Lova reveals next-gen Aveo?
Click above for more spy shots of the Chinese Chevy Lova
We were hoping to get a new sub-compact from Chevy that would ape the design of the Beat concept, but we're seeing more of a Malibu influence in these spy shots of what appears to be the next-gen Lova in China, or what we know as the Aveo in the U.S. The front grille especially looks inspired by the Malibu's schnoz, which is fine, but the rest of the car -- in particular the tall greenhouse -- is still easily identifyable by its econo-car roots.
You can also see a few shots of the interior in the gallery below. Though not very clear, the instrument panel looks agreeable, though you can bet the materials were chosen to hit a specific price-point rather than look and feel like high quality pieces.
Truthfully, however, we don't really know if this updated Lova has anything to do with the U.S. market Aveo, and these pics aren't the greatest. Still, it could hardly be any worse than what we've got now... right?
Gallery: Spy Shots: Chevy Lova
[Source: Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
michael pettibone 4:22PM (9/03/2008)
Don't think it's so bad-the 09 hatch looks fairly good&has more power and economy not the best but you can get them very cheap.Rather own one then be making payments on a Fit.
Reply
Flashpoint 4:23PM (9/03/2008)
After having lived in Shanghai, Beijing and Hang Zhou, I recognize that GM has extraordinary challenges ahead of them in order to make good products for the Chinese market.
You're dealing with a place that has extremely high air/water pollution. When I would get my vehicle washed in Shanghai for example, by the end of the day, their would be a thick layer of dust on it. Imagine what that kind of pollution does to your air filters. We are talking about lots of maintenance requirments.
China's cities are jam packed with traffic, roughly equivalent to LA traffic.
If they are makind country side tourers, they need to build a vehicle that is comfortable to travel in yet can handle extreme changes in terrain. The Chinese government keeps most of the roads in pristine condition, but when you transition from their city to the rural areas, you end up needing a car that can traverse rocks. That's one of the reasons the Enclave is such a desireable car their...they also like longer wheelbase vehicles.
Maintenance isn't easy there either if its a factory recall or part order due to the long distance between licensed auto repair shops who are qualified to fix American made autos.
Reply
tekdemon 1:49AM (9/04/2008)
Your post is good except I'd point out that these cars are mostly made in Shanghai by SAIC...and I'm pretty sure parts are pretty easy to find (at least if you live near Shanghai) since the cars I saw the most often were Chevys and Buicks (ok, if you don't count the Santana 3000 taxis).
There's no way anybody should have trouble ordering parts for a Chevy in Shanghai, and probably not in Hangzhou since it's fairly close by. Beijing might be another story.
Honestly though there's so many crazy regional car companies in China I'd say that it's not any easier to get parts for any of the smaller companies anyway...I doubt it's that easy to go find Jiangsu motors parts if you're not near Jiangsu.
MachinaDC5 5:07PM (9/03/2008)
Looking hideous.
Reply
Kumail891 5:31PM (9/03/2008)
honestly, i dont know why people would buy this over the fit, unless it's for the price. but then again, they could get a yaris 5-door...
Reply
The Luigiian 8:18PM (9/03/2008)
1.) Because they want to buy American.
2.) High greenhouse.
The first reason, of course, is laughable. The second makes a bit of sense, but still, at 28 mpg you're getting worse mileage than a Fit and you'd probably get a better overall vehicle in the Scion xB.
REALITYCHECK 8:49PM (9/03/2008)
Last I looked you can get a fourty percent discount on the Chevy and for people in this price group that is a big deal. I also can't find a reason for a navigation system on the Fit to get stability control? Honda will sell all they make but that dosn't make them any smarter then the Chevy driver if you can't aford the Honda. I just think that means there is plenty of room for a second Chevy model, there will be over lap but they can use the same starting point and cover a bigger return on their investment.
Nathan 1:10AM (9/04/2008)
The "Lova"!!?!
That name is just one letter away from an abomination... Please don't bring this over here as the *shudder* "Nova". What a terrible car that was (the econobox version not the original duh)
Go ahead and revive the Nova nameplate, just not for an econobox.
Reply
Alex E. 4:47AM (9/04/2008)
Agreed, but it's worth pointing out... It's really hard to come up with a name for the Chinese market. It has to: 1) Sound good to Chinese ears, 2) Be easy for Chinese to pronounce, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY 3) Since Chinese characters are ideograms, the character which corresponds to the to the spoken pronunciation has to have a positive and auspicious ("lucky") meaning. If you don't understand what I mean, imagine Egyptian hieroglyphics, and imagine that one symbol can have various meanings and pronunciations attached to it. They had a hell of a time trying to come up with a way to write "Coca-Cola" in Chinese. Furthermore, when Pepsico tried to use a written version of their old slogan, "Come alive with the Pepsi generation," it came out in Chinese characters reading, "Pepsi brings back your dead ancestors!"
FYI: this is why English on Chinese-made products is so awful - they're just looking the Chinese characters up in the dictionary one by one and copying down the definitions (often the wrong one)! For example, a Beijing Olympics 2008 banner: "The biggest world sports meeting will be blown up!" They got confused about the meaning of a character which conveys dynamism, meaning explode, erupt, etc. (e.g., "The crowd erupted in cheers.").
Alex E. 4:49AM (9/04/2008)
Agreed, but it's worth pointing out... It's really hard to come up with a name for the Chinese market. It has to: 1) Sound good to Chinese ears, 2) Be easy for Chinese to pronounce, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY 3) Since Chinese characters are ideograms, the character which corresponds to the to the spoken pronunciation has to have a positive and auspicious ("lucky") meaning. If you don't understand what I mean, imagine Egyptian hieroglyphics, and imagine that one symbol can have various meanings and pronunciations attached to it. They had a hell of a time trying to come up with a way to write "Coca-Cola" in Chinese. Furthermore, when Pepsico tried to use a written version of their old slogan, "Come alive with the Pepsi generation," it came out in Chinese characters reading, "Pepsi brings back your dead ancestors!"
FYI: this is why English on Chinese-made products is so awful - they're just looking the Chinese characters up in the dictionary one by one and copying down the definitions (often the wrong one)! For example, a Beijing Olympics 2008 banner: "The biggest world sports meeting will be blown up!" They got confused about the meaning of a character which conveys dynamism, meaning explode, erupt, etc. (e.g., "The crowd erupted in cheers.").
Reply
Rick 8:52PM (9/04/2008)
Fine, bring it here. Just for the love of Bob, PLEASE put some real wheels/tires on and not the current 13" bicycle wheels they use in Asia.
Reply