Chevrolet has taken the wraps off the production-ready Aveo, based on the Aveo RS concept car. It’s set to make its live debut at the Paris Motor Show on September 30th.

The car stays true to the concept, which is a good thing, as the concept car looked great. Unfortunately though, it is still relatively toned down, but considering the bland predecessor, we can’t complain. It’s also longer and wider than the predecessor, allowing for more interior space.

Speaking of the interior, no pictures have been revealed, but Chevy is saying that it will have blue back lighting on the centre console, multiple storage spaces, and a modern audio system with USB, auxiliary-in, and Bluetooth capabilities.

The car will be offered with six inline-four engines (In Europe at least, some of these engines may not make it across the pond): two different 1.2L gasoline engines (70 hp and 86 hp), a 1.4L with 100 hp, and a 1.6 producing 115 hp. Then there will be two 1.3L diesels, at 75 hp and 95 hp. The diesels will be equipped with Start/Stop technology.

The cars will be offered with an optional six-speed automatic on the 1.4 and 1.6, while the standard transmission is either a five or six speed manual, depending on the engine.

North American sales begin sometime in 2011, while Europe will get the car along with an upcoming sedan variant in the summer of 2011.

Press Release

New Chevrolet Aveo brings ‘hot-hatch’ style to small car segment
2010-09-08

• Aveo is one of four Chevrolet world premieres at the Paris Motor Show
• Dynamic design stays true to Aveo RS show car
• European engine lineup includes 1.3-lliter diesel engine and 6-speed transmissions

There is no shortage of world firsts for Chevrolet at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, and joining the Orlando MPV and Cruze hatchback show car will be the all-new Chevrolet Aveo 5-door.

The car will go on sale in the United States and Canada in 2011.

The Aveo RS show car was displayed at the Detroit and Geneva motor shows earlier in 2010, and the final production-ready car looks every bit as compelling as the show car.

Entering the highly competitive global small car segment, striking design elements of the new Chevrolet Aveo include the dynamic looking front with its exposed twin-headlamps and Chevrolet’s signature dual port grille, compact taut body panels with a rising shoulder line and short rear overhangs,  rear door handles “hidden’ in the c-pillar and a ‘body in, wheels out’ profile.

Reminiscent of the recently introduced Spark in Europe, the new Aveo is designed to appeal to younger customers with its sporty hot-hatch look. A four-door sedan variant will launch in Europe alongside the hatch next summer. Both hatch and sedan are practical small cars providing ample interior space.

Final specifications of the new Aveo will be carefully tailored to each market in which it’s offered.

Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe says: “It’s just such an exciting time to be at Chevrolet; in Aveo we have a car which is ready to compete against the best in the small-car segment.”

The new Aveo is longer and wider than the current model, giving it a spacious interior and cargo volume that is among best in class. The interior design perhaps holds even more surprises than the outside, in particular the motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster which features an analog tachometer combined with a digital speedometer.

Blue backlighting is featured on the center console, while the whole of the front cabin is enveloped in a wraparound fascia. This can be color-coded and flows from the dash into both the driver’s and front passenger’s doors. Aveo’s interior provides consumers with high quality materials as well as multiple storage spaces in the center stack and a modern audio system with USB, auxiliary-in and Bluetooth functionality.

Reflecting its sporty personality, Aveo has been engineered to provide communicative handling, a characteristic which stems partly from its tight body frame integral (BFI) structure where highest levels of torsional rigidity have been achieved.

The new Aveo’s chassis has been fine tuned to satisfy discerning tastes with a ride and handling ratio that combines comfort with responsiveness. Electronic power steering (EPS), Electronic stability control (ESC) and ABS brakes will be standard.

In Europe, a comprehensive range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines will be available in the new Chevrolet Aveo, incorporating the latest technologies such as variable valve timing, double continuous variable cam phasing and common rail fuel injection for the diesels.

The gasoline engine range includes two 1.2 liter versions (at 70 hp and at 86hp), a 1.4 liter unit (100 hp) and a 1.6 liter (115hp). For the first time, Aveo will be offered with two versions of a 1.3 liter diesel engine (at 75 hp and at 95 hp) featuring Start/Stop technology.

Chevrolet’s first 6-speed automatic transmission on a small car will be featured on the Aveo 1.4 and 1.6 as an option in most European markets; manual transmissions are of 5 or 6 speed depending on engine choice.

Source: General Motors