Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the Chevy Aveo

Consumer Reports isn't known for completely trashing cars in its reviews. In fact, the publication is more often criticized for going too easy on them and finding something to like in everything that passes through the CR garage. But dang if they didn't just tear apart the 2008 Chevy Aveo sedan, going so far as to say its big-bro Cobalt is an all-around better car and better deal for bargain shoppers. They cite Cobalt's comparable fuel economy, better handling, quieter more refined interior and, after discounts, better price.

The magazine calls the Aveo a "miserable little car" and, since they couldn't find the name "Aveo" anywhere in the car's interior, thinks GM might think so, too. CR says its readers certainly thought the Aveo was miserable, rating the hatchback and sedan variants at the very bottom of their classes.

Worse than the Cobalt? Ouch. We tested the 2007 model and gave it a resounding score of "eh." Any Aveo owners out there who want to defend their little Korean cars' reputation? Anyone?


[Source: Consumer Reports]

Click above for more high-res shots of the Chevy Aveo5

While the outward appearance of the Chevy Aveo5 could charitably be described as "polarizing", its recently announced pricing will likely polarize a few people, as well. Currently, the Aveo sedan and Aveo5 hatchback boast the lowest average transaction price in the United States of $12,258 according to J.D. Power and Associates, but the 2009 model might end that trend with a big price bump for the redesigned 2009 Aveo5. The new five-door Aveo5 hatchback comes in with a starting price of $12,120, which is $1,125 more than the 2008 Aveo5 that starts at just $10,895. This increase is partly due to the fact that the Special Value edition has been dropped. We should also note that the Aveo5 is redesigned for 2009 and features a number of upgrades, but the price bump will still be felt hard by those looking for the cheapest Point A-to-Point B transportation. The sedan version, meanwhile, now has the same $12,120 starting price as the Aveo5, which means its MSRP has actually been lowered compared to the 2008 model that starts at $12,830. Stepping up a notch to the LT model, meanwhile, will get you standard air conditioning and a $14,255 starting point.

Desirable safety features such as dual frontal and side-impact air bags, front safety belt pretensioners, a tire pressure monitoring system, oil life monitoring system and OnStar come standard on all Aveo models. Available on the up-market LT models are XM Radio, leatherette seating trim, steering wheel audio controls, a power-operated sunroof and power-adjustable and heated outside mirrors. Regardless of what you think of the Aveo's styling (we're not fans), its still relatively low price and decent fuel mileage of 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway should yield a good chunk of buyers for GM's entry-level model.


[Source: Chevrolet]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevrolet Aveo Three-Door.

What more can be said about the Euro-market Chevy Aveo three-door? Fortunately, not much. The new Aveo gets the reworked front fascia, complete with Anime eyes and gaping maw, while the shallow accent lines that flank the doors angle slightly higher to conform to the three-door's shorter shape. Aside from the much-despised fake fender vents, it's not a bad looking runabout. And with a choice of either an 84 hp, 1.2-liter or a 101 hp 1.4-liter four driving the front wheels, what it lacks in style it makes up for in fuel economy.

Hit the jump to read Chevy's press release on the new Aveo three-door.

UPDATE: Back by popular demand, direct download of the podcast has been added as a link below.

The biggest news of the past week: the suckfest that was the Knight Rider movie. Alex liveblogged it so that we didn't have to watch. Sure it was crap, but was it really that bad? The original was a clunker, too, remember. There's car stuff going on, too, and we move on to covering what's in our respective Autoblog Garages. Keep an eye out for some new reviews, and John has a podcast-exclusive announcement, too.

We spin off into a small car smackdown, postulate on who should buy Jaguar if Tata flips them, and boomerang back to our MINI vs. Aveo sales number deathmatch. In this week's installment of "Fords We Don't Get," there's a new Austrailian Falcon that is available in full-on sinister. It's badass in FPV trim, not available here, and Alan Mullaly wants one, too. One Ford we are getting is the Fiesta (Verve) and that's something to actually be excited about. That's about it, thanks to Adam Curry for the plug, it's 52 minutes of fun this week.

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click above image to view high-res gallery of the Chevy Aveo5

For 2008, Chevy is adding to its small car lineup with the return of the Aveo5. Two trim levels are being offered, including a Special Value Model and LS. Key standard features include 60/40 flip-and-fold rear seats, standard dual front and side-impact air bags, and body-color rear-view mirrors and door handles. Those wanting a little more with the LS version can opt for ABS brakes, cruise control, power sunroof, remote keyless entry, a six-speaker sound system and more.

The look of the new Aveo5 is identical to the one introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show for the European market. Whereas the Euro model features your choice of a 1.2L producing 84 HP or a 1.4L producing 98 HP, the U.S. version will only be available with a 1.6L Ecotec four-cylinder producing 107 HP. The looks, however, are the same, which in our humble opinion is not a good thing. Surprisingly, many of you disagreed with us when the Euro-market Aveo5 debuted, claiming that it's not that bad. Still think so?

Hit the jump for a full Chevy's official press release and view our gallery of high-res live shots below.

[Source: GM]

Ladies and gentlemen, the new Chevy Aveo for the European market is proof positive the grass is not always greener on the other side (at least for now). Previously known as the Kalos in Europe, the new Aveo five-door should vaguely remind you of the same car sold in the U.S. as the Chevy Aveo5. Except, that is, for the hyperbolic front end with its gargantuan grille. When we first reported on the car prior to the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, there were actually many readers who commented on how much they liked the car's new looks. These people are more than welcome to move to Europe, as far as we're concerned. (I'm into my fourth stein at the moment, so excuse me for my frankness). The cherry on top of the Aveo's design is surely its fender vents, which tie with those on the 2008 Ford Focus for most useless.

What's worse, the Aveo is powered by your choice of a 1.2L producing 84 HP or a 1.4L producing 98 HP, neither of which is powerful enough to whisk you away from the pointing and giggling you'll encounter while behind the wheel. Chevy calls the interior "high-class", though we think you'll agree after seeing it in pictures that the wide expanse of unadorned black plastic says otherwise.

We said earlier that the grass isn't greener on the other side for now because, well, this car could be coming to the U.S. At the moment, both the U.S. and Europe are sold similar version of the Chevy Aveo four-door sedan. While Chevy still offers us the current gen Aveo5, there's a good chance it will be replaced with this one soon. Sigh...

Click image for photo gallery

Meet Swerve, lamest of the Autobots! Oh, sure, he looks pretty tough in 'bot mode, ready to dish the pain to the Decepticons, but man, it must suck to be him when he's a robot in disguise. While the rest of his posse rolls around playing dress-up as the new Camaro, a trick-looking TopKick, and other generally appealing machinery, Swerve transforms into an... Aveo. God, the humiliation. He should scan the next Corvette he sees and get out of those frumpy duds, ASAP.

According to Transformers fansite Seibertron.com, this particular version of Autobot Swerve is part of a GM promotion and is limited to 2,000 pieces. To get one, you apparently need to buy a new Aveo, which is asking a lot of even the most ardent TF collector. Fortunately, for them, there's eBay, but beware: Aveobot Swerve's bringing in quite the pretty penny.

Thanks to Alex T for the tip!

[Sources: Seibertron.com, AcToys.net]

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]

For whatever reason, the Chevy Aveo5 didn't get a freshening when the Aveo sedan was updated, but help for the lone domestic-branded subcompact is on the way. An alert photographer snapped some shots of the Aveo hatch while at an amusement park in South Korea, and it looks like several changes are on their way over to our shores. First off, the front end styling of the sedan makes its way over to the five-door, and the tail lights will get a makeover, too. The awful interior of the first-gen Aveo5 is being replaced with the surprisingly good-looking cabin of the updated sedan, which should help the General bring more small-car buyers into Chevrolet dealerships.

We thought the updated Aveo sedan was OK as a low-priced, fuel-efficient subcompact when we had it in the Autoblog garage, and the new updates to the hatchback will be a welcome addition. Click on "Read" below to view all three pics from The Car Blogger.

[Source: TheCarBlogger]

Perhaps there are some of you who haven't found the music, dancing, passion, heartache, drama, and redemption that manage to find their way into every Bollywood film exciting enough. If so, and the addition of NASCAR-style trading paint and Turn Three excitement is what you're looking for, then the new Bollywood film Ta Ra Rum Pum is just the ticket.

According to the storyline, it looks to be a cross between Days of Thunder, The Truman Show, and every Andrew Lloyd Weber production. But as any Bollywood fan knows, no mere words or comparisons could begin to describe the movie is actually about. It is equally difficult to describe why the movie's creators chose to have the hero drive a NASCAR-ready Chevy Aveo (race on Sunday, sell on Monday . . . in India?). Go here to check it out for yourself, and to get songs, videos, and downloads (note: adjust your volume first). And if you want to sing along, it goes a little something like this: "Jab bhi ho gham, zyada ya kam, muskuraayenge, gaayenge hum, ta ra rum pum, ta ra rum pum. . . ."

[Source: Hemmings Auto Blogs]