Autoblog

We might have suspected it'd eventually come to this. Chevy has started paying people to pay attention to its Aveo. Well, not exactly. In a unique piece of advertisement, Chevrolet erected a billboard in London with an image of an Aveo hatchback decorated in real one-pence pieces. It was certainly a clever ploy to grab the attention of the public and illustrate the 769,500 pence price of the car, but it didn't stand a chance against the prying fingers of passersby. In a mere 30 minutes, human vultures had picked the billboard clean of currency. Perhaps it's some kind of sad commentary on the nature of society, though it's kind of amusing to think that you could dig around for pocket change, and with a little determination, go buy an Aveo.

[Source: Carscoop]

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 2007 Chevrolet Aveo

Every year, cars get just a bit more expensive. There was a time, which doesn't seem too long ago, that ten grand and a signature was all you needed to walk out of a dealership as the owner of a brand new car. Today, not so much. In fact, according to J.D. Power and Associates, $15,000 gets you just two-thirds of the choices you had just two years ago. Holding up the bottom of the list is the Chevrolet Aveo, which, along with the base-model Cobalt, makes GM the only American player in the cheap-car sweepstakes. The 2009 Aveo, however, has a higher base price than before thanks to the elimination of the lowest price value model. The Koreans in the form of Hyundai and Kia offer three choices, and the remaining five slots are ably filled by Japanese manufacturers.

While there may be a few more vehicles that have base prices below the $15,000 mark, J.D. Power's numbers actually reflect transaction prices rather than MSRPs. Some vehicles, like the Honda Fit, are able to maintain some driving enjoyment to go along with their low prices, and these cars often command higher prices because of the demand for them.


[Source: JD Power via Winding Road]

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...

High-res gallery available by clicking image

The Chevy dealers of Chicagoland decided to add a little extra pizzazz to the Chicago Auto Show this year by toting out some of their best accessorized concept vehicles from the past few years -- cars and trucks that help customers see what they can do with their own Bowtied babies. Love it or hate it, the HHR is like Chrysler's PT Cruiser in more ways than one. It's also a blank canvas for customizers. While there were a few modded wagons on display, our favorite was the neo-Nomad white HHR two-door. Lowered and sporting a 270-horse 4-cylinder, this is one stylish, relatively understated ride. The rest of the display was a bit more Xtreme.

Continues after the jump

[Source: Chevy]

UPDATE: Chevy released a video promoting the new Aveo which tracks two PR-infused 20-somethings as they travel to Lollapalooza. Cringe factor is HIGH, watch at your own risk.



During a webcast that will begin shortly, Chevy GM Ed Peper will officially launch the new 2007 Chevy Aveo sedan for the US market. (The car's page is already up at the Chevy website, if you're interested in checking out the specs in detail.)

The new Aveo gets a dose of panache with a restyle that bestows some chunky good looks on Chevy's low-priced econocruiser. The beefy nose, with it's raised, V-shaped center section is very evocative of the VW/Audi look out there today -- this is not a bad thing at all. The lower fascia gives the car a mildly aggressive appearance, with nicely integrated foglights available as an option.

Two trim levels are offered, LS ($12,395 base) and the more dressed-up LT ($13,925 base). Both are powered by a 1.6L Ecotec that pumps out 103 horses and 107 lb-ft of torque. Variable geometry induction helps increase available torque even at low speeds. Of most interest to many Aveo buyers, however, is its fuel economy. With the 5-speed manual the Aveo has an EPA rating of 27 mpg city / 37 mpg hwy. Opting for the 4-speed automatic drops the number down to a still-respectable 26/34.

The interior is said to be comfortable for passengers over 6" thanks to the car's taller bodystyle, and maximizes available space with handy storage areas and grocery hooks. The rear seat splits 60-40 and allows pass-through from the trunk if you're hauling any big stuff. The seats themselves are covered in cloth as standard, but perforated leatherette is an option that looks pretty nice (see photo after the jump). Also optional is a seat-mounted side airbag system for the front passengers.

The dash layout is very "new GM," with controls logically arranged and an attractive, readable gauge cluster. The look is trimmed with either imitation wood or aluminum inlays, which break up the sea of grey that faces the two front seat passengers. All available radios sport an auxiliary input jack that you can plug your MP3 player into.

GM also promises a better ride quality than the outgoing car. We'll reserve full judgement until we get our hands on one to test, but the 2007 Aveo looks like a very attractive option for anyone shopping for a new economy car. The styling is eye-catching, the cars are nicely-equipped, and it's easy on your wallet when it comes time to pay up at the gas station. That's enough to make a pretty good first impression on anyone.

(Photos, press release after the jump)

[Source: GM]