Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Economy, Videos, Hatchbacks, Chevrolet, GM
VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show
This morning's Today Show on NBC featured General Motors' design chief Ed Welburn talking with host Matt Lauer live from General Motors' Warren Tech Center. Welburn previewing the Detroit Auto Show's coming attractions, including the new Buick LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Camaro. Most newsworthy, however, was the designer's willingness to pull back the sheet - albeit partially - on what looks to be a production-bound version of 2007's Chevrolet Beat concept. Welburn promised that the car would be unveiled at the show in Cobo, leading us to speculate that the Beat may come to the States after all. Check out the Beat concept's high-res gallery below, and video footage from the show after the jump.
[Source: MSNBC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ack154 10:01AM (1/08/2009)
This car needs to be in the US yesterday.
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cb 10:04AM (1/08/2009)
hmm, color and styling reminds me a lot of the new Ford Fiesta. I hope for GM and Ford that they both do well.
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FThorn 10:20AM (1/08/2009)
I watched the whole segment live. Pity. They chose to unveil the LaCrosse, and Matt Lauer spent all of 20 seconds and then wanted to talk about the Camaro. Then, almost/tesingly pulled off the whole Beat's cloth, giving everyone a heart attack.
I felt bad for Ed and the shortchanging that segment gave them on those cars.
The LaCrosse looks nice. (and has in the multitude of web coverage it's received as well)
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Joe 10:20AM (1/08/2009)
Matt Lauer can kiss my a$$, man I despise him. "Are you sure this is the kind of car GM wants to be making in this glodal climate"
Matt you are an idiot. Totally ignores two of the most important cars for the cheapest.
But I guess in GM's defence, it is groundbreaking, cause it's one of the few models in their lineup that doesn't have to rely on a small block variant to get it out the door...
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the vegas style guy 10:25AM (1/08/2009)
My god the Camaro is stunning!
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JDC 10:37AM (1/08/2009)
That was the concept version of the Camaro. I am surprised they did not show the production one.
Torrent 11:40AM (1/08/2009)
JDC: They look almost exactly alike, so it's not like it really matters.
Alex Nunez 10:25AM (1/08/2009)
Smart, assuming they're indeed bringing it here. Plus, GM will be able to milk Transformers for all it's worth once again, since the Beat is one of the Autobots.
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Red 11:21AM (1/08/2009)
The Camaro having been the star of the first film, I'm not sure that was a strategy that actually worked. A couple thousand pre-orders would've made noise prior to the first Transformers film. But considering the concept debuted, what, three years ago now? And the movie was released, two summers ago? And there's still no Camaro on the lots? And we're speculating that because it's coming to NAIAS it MAY come to the United States in two-three years from now?
You can begin to see a pattern emerging...
Red 11:22AM (1/08/2009)
I meant, the Beat* coming to NAIAS.
Jizzlobber 12:20PM (1/08/2009)
Yeah, since they missed the boat on the first movie with the Camaro.
RMc 10:31AM (1/08/2009)
I remember when the SSR "Sport Truck" was being release and Welburn tagged it along the lines of "revolutionary" and "a game changer for GM." And look how well the SSR did. And look where they are now.
I hope the Beat sells well, however. They need help although I thought initial reports said that it wouldn't be sold in the US?
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GOT 5:58AM (1/09/2009)
GM completely screwed themselves with the SSR. They missed the SSR's demographic by a landslide. Whenever a company takes beauty and whips the majority with it, they will lose. IE: Nobody could afford the SSR except those who would buy a Corvette instead!
I thought the SSR was incredible! But I was also thinking GM was going to market it at around 30k. Beauty sells except when the producer uses it as a classist-tool.
But then again: If the fabulous style of the SSR wasn't a performer, then the beautiful shell might've been labeled as deceptive.
DP 10:36AM (1/08/2009)
Well, if they are bringing the Beat to the US, they've finally figured something out, if a bit late.
The Camaro and LaCrosse are nice looking cars and will sell well, hopefully, in their classes, but won't be the cars to save GM. The Beat and Cruize and a decent Accord fighter (Malibu, perhaps, but with better marketing) are what will bring about new life at GM.
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cdwrx 3:53PM (1/08/2009)
My crystal ball (or is it GM history) tells me that they will show us the foreign market version (with real cajones they'd even show the old show car) and blame the US government for holding back all the great products they could be selling us when we all know they're too short-sighted to have made it a global car in the first place.
remy 10:37AM (1/08/2009)
GM has to be the worst company with concept to production cars..The Camaro should have been here at least 2 years ago and the beat is still just talks. Get stuff moving GM !!!!!!!!
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jtrock 10:38AM (1/08/2009)
If it is engineered well, has the fit and finish and driveability of a Honda Fit...??
Good luck GM..there small cars are much better but everybody else always seems to be a step ahead..Also can they build it here with the new labor agreements and our bail out money....nice to see Americans working rather than Koreans or Chinese or Japanese.....
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Alex 10:39AM (1/08/2009)
picture #6 is nice.
gives us a good look at the cars headlights
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moyoi 11:23AM (1/08/2009)
if they all come with this interior upgrade, I'll buy 2.
teamkitty 1:53PM (1/08/2009)
Haha, nice large round headlights indeed! Do you think they swivel around corners, too?