Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept: Wake-Up Call in Small-Car Segment

GM unveiled the Aveo RS Concept at this year's (2010) Detroit Auto Show.

It's gotten a lot of favourable words in the press.

It's supposedly very close to the next gen production Aveo. Wonder if they're planning to upgrade the price too... seems likely. The new Aveo will slot into the model lineup a little above the current model, sort of becoming the "hatchback" version of the Cruze. (Which of course then makes you wonder what's the future for the Aveo sedan.) Then the new Chevy Spark will slide in a little below the position of the current car, effectively taking its place.

[youtube:2zbd4gdv]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vly3G-ZWnkQ[/youtube:2zbd4gdv]

-------------------

From GM, 2010-01-08:

Chevrolet Aveo RS Show Car: A Wake-Up Call For The Small-Car Segment

http://media.gm.com/content/Pages/ne.../image.img.png

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.

Source: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us...t/0108_aveo_rs

The cruise shares platform with the new aveo, so information I had found is the cruise actually is the new aveo sedan. The new aveo is also bigger, thought to be a replacement for the pontiac vibe which is not coming back, and the cruise has already been called the cobalts replacement.

Not sure how they are cross marketing, the cruise is already available over seas, but us cars will be built here.



I am in fear of how odd that aveo would look without that "aggressive body kit" as that is the only thing that makes the car flow. thats the first report i have heard saying it is coming off? Wheels, i am not too worried about. But the 1.4t and 6 speed is a must have..

That's a good point about the Aveo moving up into the Vibe's slot.

Did you see the Car and Driver report I posted too? They're specifically calling for an Aveo sedan, which is odd considering the car's Cruze platform.

They're also saying the 1.4T is a no-go in the hatch.

It's typical to get all kinds of conflicting info about new models. We won't know for sure until they're practically in showrooms.

I believe they are going to mess up the aveo again if they do not release a RS model with the aggressive body kit.

Well lets see what happen when this New Aveo hits the car lots. We will see what people have to say and if GM pushes this modal or if they forget about it like we always have been.

GM has been stringing us along with promises of a sport version of (or sibling to) the Aveo for years. While I would love to see that happen, I really don't think it will. Not in the US anyway. The market for it just isn't there. The only reason the Aveo has managed to survive this long is because of the price. All these upgrades and improved styling that we want will price the Aveo out of its current sales space and move it into competition (price-wise anyway) with cars that are just plain better. GM can't afford any kind of failure right now, so I don't see them launching something as risky as an Aveo RS for at least 3 more years.

I think you're right - the Spark is going to become the "new" Aveo in terms of being GM's entry level car.

Moving the Aveo up a few notches in price and features could make it more likely that they'll actually produce a version like the RS.

Here's GM's official video (animation) for the Aveo RS:

[youtube:6ty8ac2m]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1FzUsc_-Fw[/youtube:6ty8ac2m]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I think you're right - the Spark is going to become the "new" Aveo in terms of being GM's entry level car.

Moving the Aveo up a few notches in price and features could make it more likely that they'll actually produce a version like the RS.

---

Your also forgetting it will be made in the USA, so it might be incentive for them to make the model.

With the killing of the cobalt though, i don't see the 140hp aveo RS as enough to replace the 260? hp cobalt ss,,

Even though with the size increase, the introduction of a cheaper entry level car, and removal of other models, its hard to figure out what barrack, er i mean gm is doing.. If it was just a basic model update i think the RS would be dead in the water here. But the 1.4T is now approved for the cruze, so it can be put in the aveo without repaying for epa testing and approval.. And they are removing other models (eventually) they will need the sportier compact to compete wiith the foreign market cars..

It will be a tough choice between a polo gti, and the aveo rs if they both come.

I guess GM is gonna have to step up on the Cruze if its going to replace the cobalt. Anyone know if its coming with an SS or RS model?

theres rumours already of a hotted-up cruze w/ the 2L turbo ecotec

i think all manufacturers ware jumping into the performance B-segment car....similar in idea to the cooper S, but less expensive

id certainly be interested in the aveo RS....however, the yaris is our DD (w/ a supercharger sitting in my garage) and the aveo is the family hauler (likely eventually replaced by a larger vehicle (maybe chevy orlando?) when we have a second child) so the odds of me spending the loot on an aveo RS is slim

but if i were young again and looking for my first car out of school, id hit an aveo RS. factory forced induction ftw

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

The cruise shares platform with the new aveo, so information I had found is the cruise actually is the new aveo sedan.

---

I keep reading that the 2011 Aveo is based on GM's "Gamma II" platform (see detnews.com and Wikipedia), which is shared with the upcoming Spark; and that the Cruze runs on the "Delta" platform (see Wiki).

thats interesting because they are not carrying over the platform from a cobalt to the new cruze, and the cobalt is a delta platform.

plus it says the delta platform is for cars with ecotec family ii (2) engines. which the 1.4T is a family 1 engine, like the aveo already has. the only platform I have seen listed as "GM" in the US that accepts family 1 engines is the gamma ii.. ?

I am not allowed to use wiki as a resource, but perhaps my other research is wrong.

from what i have heard online is the cruze is already available in other parts of the world built by daewoo in korea. only the US version is being built here, and it is going to be nothing more than a "copy" of the daewoo car just the labor to build it will be 3x as much..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebarber

so the odds of me spending the loot on an aveo RS is slim

---

That is always the story and it is the Manufactures fault. They fail at creating new trends and don't see what is going on in the streets. By the time they get their sht together, its too late. The trend has moved on to a dinosaur or the market is saturated.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by XJCasper

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebarber

so the odds of me spending the loot on an aveo RS is slim

---

That is always the story and it is the Manufactures fault. They fail at creating new trends and don't see what is going on in the streets. By the time they get their sht together, its too late. The trend has moved on to a dinosaur or the market is saturated.

---

thats true. if it had been an option 3 years ago when i bought my yaris, i might have considered it (however we were going for a cheap bare-bones car at the time, so really its kind of good that there was no hot-hatch B segment car at the time)

however, NOW i wouldnt get it because we're going to need something larger for our next vehicle....

Found some more video showing the car (NOT computer generated this time)...

[youtube:3pngmx0v]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmrdnBV4CdI[/youtube:3pngmx0v]

all that time videoing the car and the missed the window sticker...
:? :cry: :roll: :P :lol:

LOVE this thing... too bad it probably won't look much like that when it hits the lots... :( Love the fogs... by the speed of them turning on it looks like they're HID... I like the optics on it too (the high/low projection lamps).. And 6 speed manual... man... if they had one here I'd trade mine in in no time...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

all that time videoing the car and the missed the window sticker...
:? :cry: :roll: :P :lol:

---

I would like to see that too though...

Cars.com video "review" of the RS concept:

[youtube:3qnj5gw5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vly3G-ZWnkQ[/youtube:3qnj5gw5]

(added to post 1)

No halos, huh... that sucks. :( ;) That would be nice if they offered them as an OEM upgrade... That's fine if they take some of the cool features off (as they most likely will to keep the price down) but that would be unbelievably awesome of GM to let you buy all those things to upgrade it to this show car...

Love the LED turn signals on the mirrors and sides of the headlights.

And nice to know that 1.4T is coming in Cruze... that much more likely to be in the Aveo RS. :D 8)

That's one car I would trade mine in for...

I wouldnt want to buy halos from the dealer as an upgrade because they might just charge like $1000 extra just to add em on there. Dealers charge way too much for upgrades.

they just need to do enough to put them ahead of the other cars in the segment, like the one without a radio for instance :roll:

this car will fit in very well with the streets of the uk,
i think it amazing,
its just got that look about it! :mrgreen: