General Motors Brazil has just released the first official image of its new Agile small car. Thankfully, contrary to earlier speculation, the somewhat awkward-looking car that you see here will not be GM's new B-segment model for North America (oft referred to as Viva). The North American model will actually retain the Aveo name when it debuts next year and wear styling that emulates the even smaller Chevy Spark in some respects, only stretched over a longer platform. We saw the next-generation Aveo last week and while it doesn't quite have the style of the competing Ford Fiesta, from where we sit, it's a huge improvement over either the current Aveo or the Agile shown here.
We don't know many details of either the Aveo or the Agile yet, so it's possible that they'll share some underpinnings. Judging by the way the Agile sits on its wheels, it looks like it is designed for less-developed markets where road quality might not be up to most US or European standards and more wheel travel is required. The Google translated press release is after the jump.
[Source: General Motors Brazil]
press release translated from Portugese by Google
Revealed first image of the new Chevrolet Agile
Model, fully developed in Brazil, with a surprising and memorable novel design to enchant the Brazilian consumer
It's finally revealed the first image, without any disguise or camouflage, Agile, the new Chevrolet automobile, whose stylistic lines were being stored by the mark. The novelty, now known, will officially launch in the Brazilian market during the month of October 2009.
Totally developed for the areas of Design and Engineering Development Center General Motors vehicles in Brazil, the new Chevrolet Agile surprises with its novel design and remarkable, in addition to offering the consumer other strengths such as indoor comfort, versatility and a very modern technology .
So the big launch this year in Bombay is now known, less than two months before their arrival at dealerships, and to Jaime Ardila, president of GM Brazil and Mercosur, "The Agile, a leading news and Chevrolet the market in 2009, shows the confidence we have in the preference of Brazilian consumers and potential of the country. "
In turn, Jose Carlos Pinheiro Neto, vice president of GM Brazil, emphasizes that the Agile "is a clear demonstration of the capacity, technology and infrastructure of GM Brazil, which now dominates the development of a completely new vehicle, since its conception and design to production assembly line, including key areas such as design, engineering, powertrain (engine assembly) and manufacturing. "
- And the GM Brazil utilizes the latest in automotive technology, "adds Pinheiro Neto.
Astonishing Design
Revealing some details of the line of Agile, Carlos Barba, general director of GM Design in Brazil, said: "It is a vehicle that goes beyond a traditional hatchback. Our task was to devise an ideal car for the Brazilian, who is a client and demanding. Bold design is critical, as the internal space and an aspect of crossover, ie a car that 'sweat' versatility and being able to attract several profiles, from the urban to the User or another sportsman who loves the countryside. "
- I am convinced that the design of Agile surprisingly, is a car with young style, "concludes Barba.
The Agile has a new global visual identity of Chevrolet, with two air inlets clearly marked on the front, converging to the golden logo of the brand.
The model comes to complement the Chevrolet, which is the most comprehensive in the country and currently formed by the models Celta, Classic, Prisma, Corsa hatchback, sedan Corsa, Astra hatchback, Astra sedan, Vectra GT (hatchback), Vectra sedan, Omega, the trucks Montana, S10 Single Cab, Double Cab S10, the Meriva and Zafira, and SUVs Blazer and Captiva. Therefore, Agile will become the 18th Chevrolet's model line in Brazil.
Agile Project
The design of Agile - first model of the Viva family - was fully developed by the Center for Development of Vehicles in Brazil, located in Sao Caetano do Sul and Field Evidence of Cruz Alta (CPCA), which is in Indaiatuba, both in Sao Paulo . Project Viva is the result of an investment of U.S. $ 400 million, including the stage of development and production of models in GM factories in Argentina and Brazil. The Agile is intended for emerging markets like Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The Agile is the final stage of completing the project at a special moment for the company, or the celebration of 35 years of activities of the CPCA, where the GM vehicles are developed and enhanced. The CPCA is the greatest testing ground in the Southern Hemisphere and it carries out not only for GM in Brazil but also for other subsidiaries of the General Motors Company in the world, with numerous test tracks and also extremely modern laboratories.
GM, 84 years of success in Brazil
GM Brazil has a history of success in the Country, written since his inauguration on January 26, 1925. Today, with 84 years of existence, and three industrial complexes that produce vehicles in Sao Caetano do Sul and São José dos Campos - SP both in-and Gravataí (RS), and still other units in Mogi das Cruzes, Sorocaba and Indaiatuba (SP), the company also has a modern Technological Center of Engineering and Design, in São Caetano do Sul, able to develop a completely new vehicle from conception to assembly line. The Brazilian subsidiary is one of five centers worldwide in the creation and development of vehicles in the fields of engineering, design and manufacturing.
In 2008, GM Brazil posted its record annual sales, with 548,941 vehicles, with Chevrolet's brand leadership in four market segments, such as Classic (sedan 1.0 liter), Prisma (sedan up 1.0 liters), Astra ( medium hatchback) and S10 (middle pickup). GM was the first company in the Brazilian automobile industry to produce 100% of its vehicles (except the diesel) with the power system flex-fuel.
The company, showing confidence in Brazil, announced on July 15, 2009, a new investment of $ 2 billion to launch a new family of vehicles, hit the market in 2012 and the expansion of capacity produced its factory in Gravataí (RS) to 380 thousand units annually.
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