Spy Shots: 2011 Chevrolet Viva caught at the 'Ring
If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in. Of course, that's going to include small cars, and the current Chevy Aveo doesn't stand a chance against newer, more desirable models like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and the upcoming Ford Fiesta (not to mention possible Fiat-based small cars from Chrysler). Execs at GM realize this fact just like the rest of us, which is what makes the automaker's recent announcement that it will build a new small car here in the U.S. so interesting.In a speech to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit last week, Bob Lutz showed off some slides that included references to future GM products, and Todd Lassa from Motor Trend noticed a new model called the Viva. Could this perhaps be the next mainstream small car from Chevrolet? If so, the Viva probably wouldn't be built on an existing Daewoo platform (as is the case with the current Aveo and upcoming Chevy Spark hatchback), and would likely need to be a slightly larger upmarket model if it's going to make any profit being built in the States and sell anywhere near the 160,000 figure that GM bandied about last week. Stay tuned.
[Source: Motor Trend]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
KeatMP 6:39PM (6/01/2009)
I sure hope they get off the Daewoo platform with the Aveo successor. Seems like they can't do much more with that aged cheap setup.
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TyWright 6:51PM (6/01/2009)
Why would I buy a car that fuels socialism and abusive unions??
KeatMP 7:00PM (6/01/2009)
@ TyWright
Please don't reply to me with that crap.
my2CENTS 1:27PM (6/02/2009)
Hey KeatMP: Take the money out of your bank. It's probably owned by the government too. Stop sending mail through the US postal service because its partially controlled by the government. Don't take Amtrak anymore.
That's a dumb argument by Rush Limbaugh,Fox news, and the GOP and everybody knows it. That's why they aren't taken seriously anymore.
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On this, It's clear from these pictures and the pictures that have already been out on the web that GM is keeping the (too big for the car) grill from the current Aveo. I'm not a fan and GM should probably use the same size grill from the next-gen Spark.
alex 6:48PM (6/01/2009)
now can we finally put to rest all the accusations that GM has completely stopped product development other than the volt?
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Tagg 10:36PM (6/01/2009)
North American product development is still frozen. This is GM Europe, they are earning profits and have cash.
So no, we can't, because it's still 2009 and the article says through 2010.
"Cash-poor General Motors Corp. is postponing nearly all spending on product development in 2009 and 2010."
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/081030-Report-GM-Freezes-New-Car-Development/
So until this car laps the proving grounds in Milford or is caught testing in I-96 or you find an article that refutes mine it's still frozen.
Zerk 6:55PM (6/01/2009)
Vega
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Peter L 7:46PM (6/01/2009)
The Vauxhall Viva was worse than the Vega
Rich 11:03PM (6/01/2009)
Oh god... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Viva
scappy 6:56PM (6/01/2009)
Good Luck
GM is going to have one hell of an uphill battle attempting to make a dime off of each one sold. Small cars have poor revenue margins as it is and to that that it will be made in a high cost environment. All the while being desirable and affordable, it just is not adding up to me. I understand they have to say jobs will be made in the US, but this sounds like a very difficult business proposition. We know the folks over at GM struggle with those sorts of things.
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mikemaj82 7:01PM (6/01/2009)
ahhh yea GM is pretty much screwed.
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Ed 7:02PM (6/01/2009)
It looks like... an Aveo with cow spots.
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Peter L 7:44PM (6/01/2009)
The Vauxhall Viva was imported into Canada from GM England in the 60s. I hope the new one is a better product. A very poor name to resurrect.
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Bloke 9:31AM (6/02/2009)
Viva was resurrected by Holden for its rebadge of the Chevrolet Lacetti hatchback (Suzuki Reno in the US). The Vauxhall model disappeared 30 years ago, I think it's rather apt to bring it back.
JimboNC 7:49PM (6/01/2009)
The battle to win hearts and minds in the small car wars is going to be tougher than ever before. What's out there now isn't very much. The Mazda3 is a good car, but it's too small inside to be a good buy for anyone other than students with few close friends. The Aveo looks like a Korean copy of the Honda Fit and the Toyota version is so ugly nobody can recall seeing one. The Versa is made, poorly, from Renault platforms. All of these little cars look like they were rushed to market to fill-in until the companies could design and produce good models. The BMW 330i is what that company produced when German buyers said they wanted big BMW enginering and features in small cars. America needs something in between the 330i and the Fit starting out, at an affordable price. Not barebones mouse-fur seats.
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mikhalian 7:56PM (6/01/2009)
I may get flamed for saying this, but the proportions are better than I was expecting. Seems a lot more Golf-ish than Aveo-ish. Kinda stubby yet raked back a bit, and it's a bit wider looking than the aveo. Although, I think it may all come down to the surface styling and what's under the hood.
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Taglane 12:11AM (6/02/2009)
Yeah I was about to say it reminded me of a Volkswagen.
P.V. 8:29PM (6/01/2009)
SEE? I TOLD you all about this news, yet no one seemed to care! (jk)
Anyway, I sincerely hope it moves off of the old platform. Ideally, it would be mechanically identical to the Opel Corsa, but that's just my hope.
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Phil 9:13PM (6/01/2009)
Even today Id take a Vauxhall Viva over a Chevrolet Vega, Ive driven and worked on both.
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Ziggy21 10:01PM (6/01/2009)
Chevrolet Viva is a Brasil project not a Daewoo platform... In fact is based in a older Corsa (Opel) platform to make another GM Brasil car called Prisma, a small sedan. To see more information look this links: www.autoesporte.com.br, www.quatrorodas.com.br... Is not only one car, but a family with a small or mini SUV too...
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