GM Reveals 2011 Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept!

[FenwickHockey65]

Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept
Link to article at GMInsideNews

By Tony Pimpo
January 8, 2010

The past few launch products from General Motors have been impressive, with entries like the 2010 LaCrosse and Equinox working to establish GM a better position in the all-important mid-size car and crossover segments.

One area that GM hasn't excelled at (ever) has been with small cars. The current Aveo, introduced in 2007, hasn't changed that for the most part, despite the segment taking on increased importance as of late. When fuel prices spike, sales of small cars correspond - a company as large as GM needs to have a well rounded lineup that is able to excel in various market conditions. In the meantime, Ford has been creating quite a stir with the European-sourced Fiesta. With the next-generation Aveo, GM should be fielding a highly-competitive entrant in the segment. The Aveo RS serves as a preview for the production car.

Interestingly, GM says inspiration for the Aveo was taken from motorcycles. That inspiration shows up in the the front with the Aveo's exposed headlamps with aluminum surrounds, and in the rear with round stacked taillamps. The profile is aggressive, and the car takes a cue from European small cars like Seat. The Aveo might seem like a three-door hatchback at first, door handles for the rear doors are placed in the car's C-pillar. The sheetmetal looks like a more expensive vehicle, with sharp creases and a clamshell hood design like the Malibu.

Inside, the Aveo uses a combination of glossy black, metallic and blue accents. Again, the ambiance is upscale. Like the Malibu, the interior is in the dual-cowl design, with a round analog tachometer trimmed in metal and round vents featuring.

The RS is powered by the same 1.4L 138 horsepower turbocharged Ecotec inline-four available in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. This engine should ensure excellent fuel economy in the lighter Aveo, in addition to spirited performance.

This time around, GM is serious about making an effort in the segment, and it shows in the Aveo's design. “We hope the Aveo RS show car will demonstrate that we are as serious about redefining the Aveo and its place in the small-car segment as we were about reinventing the Malibu,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager. Seeing the Malibu and how far the company has progressed since then, expressing that position really means something.

The Aveo RS is very close to the actual production vehicle, serving as a production preview like other GM concepts the Enclave, CTS Coupe and others. The next-generation Aveo goes on sale in late summer of 2010.

Photography

Originally Posted by Press Release

DETROIT – Chevrolet today announced the world debut of the Aveo RS show car at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. It features a European-inspired hot hatch look designed to appeal to young enthusiasts, and hints at the next-generation Aveo.

Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the Aveo RS showcases the car’s upscale-looking design cues both inside and out, and presents the many personalization options potentially available on the next-generation car.

“We hope the Aveo RS show car will demonstrate that we are as serious about redefining the Aveo and its place in the small-car segment as we were about reinventing the Malibu,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager.

First Impressions

The Aveo RS show car, finished in electric Boracay Blue, wears global Chevrolet design cues such as the dual element grille, round taillamps and fender flares, but designers turned up the attitude on the show car with low openings and a lower mouth trimmed in a combination of brushed and polished aluminum. Outboard fog lamps are integrated into an exaggerated brake-cooling inlet that flows into the front fender flares, creating an aggressive-looking face.

Exposed headlamps, with their brushed aluminum structural surround, are inspired by the designers’ affection for motorcycles. The sleek side profile is characterized by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors with amber-colored turn signal indicators carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile. At first glance, the car actually looks like a three-door hatch because the rear door handles are discreetly located in the “C”-pillar area.

“The Aveo RS show car demonstrates how progressive design can inject personality into a small car,” said Michael Simcoe, executive director, North American Exterior Design. “We want customers to see it and have an emotional reaction to it.”

No performance-minded car earns its street cred without large wheels and tires. The Aveo RS show car’s wheels are 19-inch, five-spoke with a gun metal metallic finish Chevrolet logo. The wheel openings reveal large Boracay Blue brake calipers.

The rear of the show car continues the sport theme, with an integrated spoiler that flows from the roof, a center-mounted exhaust and chrome exhaust tips. The exposed motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps feature tinted aluminum housings and a discreet Bowtie logo.

Spacious and stylish interior

With its matte black interior highlighted by gloss black, metallic and blue accents, the Aveo RS show car reflects as much attention to detail as the exterior. The Boracay Blue theme continues inside, with accent stitching across the dual cockpit instrument panel, front and rear door insert, steering wheel rim, gear shift boot, parking brake, leather seat bolster and even the floor mats. The integrated center stack holds the gearshift, HVAC controls and the sound system, including a USB port. Ice-blue backlighting on the audio display, telltale indicator screen and knobs augments the blue stitching.

The motorcycle inspiration also carries inside, with a round, analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout also trimmed in milled metal with round cutouts; and round, aluminum-trimmed side vents.

The interior is as functional as it is stylish, with storage compartments in the center stack and doors. The rear seats fold flat for carrying larger items.

Efficient performer

The Aveo RS show car is powered by the same highly efficient 138-horsepower (103 kW) 1.4L I-4 Ecotec turbocharged engine that will be available in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze.

A six-speed manual transmission is designed to ensure the car will provide a spirited driving experience.

For the show car, designers created a special engine cover in graphite silver with a brushed aluminum insert. The coolant and power steering fluid fill caps are rimmed in ice blue, and the honeycomb vents flanking the center of the cover are matte-finished in shadow chrome and designed to match the wheel color.

Chevrolet has previously announced the new Aveo will be built at Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Mich., in 2011, a move that will restore 1,200 jobs to Southeast Michigan. Timing for retooling Orion Assembly for Aveo production is anticipated to begin in late 2010.

[Kyle2k]

Lol, never thought I'd say the Aveo might look cool.

[wbt]

Not excited with this.....

138HP is not going to get it done.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by wbt

Not excited with this.....

138HP is not going to get it done.

138 HP and and 148 lb. ft. of torque won't get the job done?

C'mon folks. It's not a Camaro.

[SSmoked]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

138 HP and and 148 lb. ft. of torque won't get the job done?

C'mon folks. It's not a Camaro.

lol a stock 2.2l ectoec makes more power. should have used a LNF in this bad boy. go big or go home. it will be good to make power since its factory turbo.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by SSmoked

lol a stock 2.2l ectoec makes more power. should have used a LNF in this bad boy. go big or go home. it will be good to make power since its factory turbo.

GM's also shooting for fuel economy. They need to beat the Fiesta, remember? Representatives from Ford have said on more than one occasion that they're open to using a 1.6L Ecoboost I-4 in the Fiesta. Aveo needs to be as good or better.

[TFord]

I actually like that little thing. Head and tail lights look sinister

[FenwickHockey65]

What the standard Aveo will probably look like, courtesy of MonaroSS on GMI.

[SSOOCH]

I like it!!

[Legend]

That's cool...I like it!

Not like it's going to perform against the European Focus RS or marketed towards performance really....it's a peppy compact!

Chevy is turning the page it looks like...good on them!

[AdamCzap]

throw a 'busa engine in that thing and see what happens!!

[storm79]

this is a really really nice car....i just have one thing, i wish they would have made the grill less tall if they did that a little i would definetly like it....this thing is way better than the Fiesta in my opinion

[FenwickHockey65]

There's talk of bringing more sporty vehicles like this to the lineup following Camaro's lead with the RS model.

[Black5thgen]

That's actually a pretty cool little car. GM has been impressive with their new vehicles. It look like with this car and the granite that they are going after the urban, scion crowd. Future looks pretty bright.

Edit: I just realized something, based on the pics RS gives you HID's and halo's. Hmmmmmm

[305pride]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

138 HP and and 148 lb. ft. of torque won't get the job done?

C'mon folks. It's not a Camaro.

atleast its not a smart. it only has like 50-60 hp lol

[305pride]

this is just a concept.it probably wont look anything like this -_- the aveo is soo boringggg. i hope it does come out looking like this.

[CamaroScotty]

138 HP......

I'll have to send it to Hennessey.

[Morepwr]

Hey I wish GM the best of luck and I hope they sell a bunch of those....but they wont sell one of those to me!

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by 305pride

this is just a concept.it probably wont look anything like this -_- the aveo is soo boringggg. i hope it does come out looking like this.

Are you sure about that?

This is basically the same as a Camaro + RS package. Take off the fancy headlights and body kit, and you'll get the standard production Aveo.

[comiskeybum]

ugly and pointless. just like the Focus RS

[Stew]

Originally Posted by wbt

Not excited with this.....

138HP is not going to get it done.

It should be less than 3000 pound. 0-60 in under 8 seconds and I would expect MPGs in the low 40s for the highway. IMHO, not bad at all and it actually looks pretty damned good.

[305pride]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Are you sure about that?

This is basically the same as a Camaro + RS package. Take off the fancy headlights and body kit, and you'll get the standard production Aveo.

yea you make a point. when i was reading the inside line article, i couldnt help but think that this is the production car basically. but insideline kept saying little things that makes me doubt it will look alot like this. i hope it does though. i like the look.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by 305pride

yea you make a point. when i was reading the inside line article, i couldnt help but think that this is the production car basically. but insideline kept saying little things that makes me doubt it will look alot like this. i hope it does though. i like the look.

A contributor at GMI is friends with Lutz who basically confirmed that this rendering IS the standard production Aveo.



Keep in mind that I said "standard." The RS package for the Aveo and some other models is still a possibility.

[Brokinarrow]

Very nice And I'm sure with the cars size, the 138 HP will be enough to have a lil fun with. Remember, this thing is meant for MPG, not power (that would be the Camaro and Vette's job)

[bng804]

For what it is, it's sharp as hell. GM continues to impress with their offerings as of late.