Detroit 2010: Chevrolet Aveo RS concept answers one question, poses another [w/video]

Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

By Damon Lavrinc
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Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

We lost track of the number of times the Chevrolet Aveo RS concept was dubbed a “euro hot hatch” during The Bowtie brand’s press conference, and judging by the number of times the word “tuner” was used, Chevy’s desperate to rebrand its econobox.

The other reoccurring word: “Concept.” This isn’t the next Aveo – at least not yet. We expect a more pedestrian, near production version of the RS to be unveiled in the very near future (Geneva?), guaranteed to ditch its lighted brake cooling ducts, 19-inch wheels, slotted rotors and center-mounted dual exhausts. Even the C-pillar’s awkwardly integrated door handles aren’t likely to make it to production, but we hope the black-on-black interior, contrasting blue stitching and “motorcycle-inspired” dash all get the green light.

The drivetrain is destined to carry over unchanged, with the Cruze‘s turbocharged 1.4-liter four cylinder sending 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque to a six-speed manual transmission. All of this will surely improve the breed, but it leaves us wondering something…

Jim Campbell, Chevy’s general manager, announced that production of the Chevrolet Spark for the U.S. will begin late next year. With the Spark supposedly on the way, how does GM plan to market two economical runabouts in a market that’s remained luke warm to the original Aveo? We’ll find out next year.

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The current Chevy Aveo? We're not big fans. Generally, we think that every day GM pushes that car out to the public it fundamentally flubs what could be a great customer interaction point with a lot of buyers. For many, the Aveo will be the first experience buyers have with the company and -- from talking to dozens of them over the last few years -- we know a good number of them who say it will be their last.In order to stem this problem, Chevy is hard at work at a new Aveo, which you see manifested in this "show car" Aveo RS that's debuting at the Detroit Auto Show.Research the Chevy AveoChevy Aveo OverviewChevy Aveo PhotosFree Chevy Aveo Price Quote
Chevy Aveo RS Concept: Chevy’s New Small Car

The current Chevy Aveo? We’re not big fans. Generally, we think that every day GM pushes that car out to the public it fundamentally flubs what could be a great customer interaction point with a lot of buyers. For many, the Aveo will be the first experience buyers have with the company and — from talking to dozens of them over the last few years — we know a good number of them who say it will be their last.

In order to stem this problem, Chevy is hard at work at a new Aveo, which you see manifested in this “show car” Aveo RS that’s debuting at the Detroit Auto Show.

GM
Don't believe the hype that this is just a show car. GM insiders have said to us that "other than the mirrors, door handles, wheels and perhaps some of the grille venting, this is pretty close to what we want the next Aveo to look like." We hope that the wheels and grille become production standards (the mirrors and door handles aren't bad, but we know they're probably too much of a show car fantasy for us to get excited about). GM is serious about small cars (check out their Cruze that they launched in LA -- it's bigger than this Aveo but is an indication of them wanting to put value in small cars for perhaps for the first time in the company's history).Research the Chevy AveoChevy Aveo OverviewChevy Aveo PhotosFree Chevy Aveo Price Quote
Chevy Aveo RS Concept: A Real Car

Don’t believe the hype that this is just a show car. GM insiders have said to us that “other than the mirrors, door handles, wheels and perhaps some of the grille venting, this is pretty close to what we want the next Aveo to look like.” We hope that the wheels and grille become production standards (the mirrors and door handles aren’t bad, but we know they’re probably too much of a show car fantasy for us to get excited about). GM is serious about small cars (check out their Cruze that they launched in LA — it’s bigger than this Aveo but is an indication of them wanting to put value in small cars for perhaps for the first time in the company’s history).

GM
This Aveo RS concept won't be the cheapy, garden variety Aveo that you'll see in a few years, though. The RS line is an upmarket trim that Chevy carefully selected for the first view at this new Aveo. It comes equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, massive 19-inch wheels (that fill up the wheels wells rather beautifully, don't you think?), super-sized brake calipers and a six-speed manual gearbox.Research the Chevy AveoChevy Aveo OverviewChevy Aveo PhotosFree Chevy Aveo Price Quote
Chevy Aveo RS Concept: Sporty And Small

This Aveo RS concept won’t be the cheapy, garden variety Aveo that you’ll see in a few years, though. The RS line is an upmarket trim that Chevy carefully selected for the first view at this new Aveo.

It comes equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, massive 19-inch wheels (that fill up the wheels wells rather beautifully, don’t you think?), super-sized brake calipers and a six-speed manual gearbox.

GM
Besides the large wheels, beautiful and big grille and the aggressive stance, we're impressed by some of the finer details of this thing. The front and rear light "glass" (plastic, in reality) is quite stunning. Inside, the interior could have used a bit of editing (it's not a paragon of restraint, but GM is trying to really point everyone's eyes to how much better this interior is than the current model's), but the blue lighting throughout is great.Research the Chevy AveoChevy Aveo OverviewChevy Aveo PhotosFree Chevy Aveo Price Quote
Chevy Aveo RS Concept: Design That Makes Us Think…Not Of An Aveo

Besides the large wheels, beautiful and big grille and the aggressive stance, we’re impressed by some of the finer details of this thing. The front and rear light “glass” (plastic, in reality) is quite stunning. Inside, the interior could have used a bit of editing (it’s not a paragon of restraint, but GM is trying to really point everyone’s eyes to how much better this interior is than the current model’s), but the blue lighting throughout is great.

GM
The new Aveo will go on sale as a 2012 model and production will start in 2011 in Michigan. Pricing is expected to stay in the low to mid teens for most models, although an example such as the RS will likely be somewhere north of $15,000 (and probably closer to $20,000) should it go on sale. Which, by the way, GM won't confirm.Research the Chevy AveoChevy Aveo OverviewChevy Aveo PhotosFree Chevy Aveo Price Quote
Chevy Aveo RS Concept: The Next Aveo

The new Aveo will go on sale as a 2012 model and production will start in 2011 in Michigan. Pricing is expected to stay in the low to mid teens for most models, although an example such as the RS will likely be somewhere north of $15,000 (and probably closer to $20,000) should it go on sale. Which, by the way, GM won’t confirm.

GM

Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

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