Last month, GM showed off the Chevrolet Aveo RS at the Detroit auto show as a sneak peek of the upcoming compact car. Here are the first official photos of the production version.

The Aveo, whether in sedan or hatchback form, has been a source of cheap wheels for car shoppers for years, but the new Aveo looks to be a significant upgrade in style and materials. Chevrolet wants to make it something more than just an affordable choice. The design of the sedan shown here is sharp, with a handsome front end that offers something on par with Ford’s new Fiesta. The interior — shown in images below — looks to follow the trend of the Chevy Equinox in terms of improved materials and design. The offset analog tachometer and digital speedometer are unusual.

With a front end that stays true to the RS, along with a set of bulging fenders and an artfully carved swage line, the 2012 Aveo is a dramatic departure from the budget-conscious model roaming the streets today. Coupled with a thoroughly revised interior, complete with upgraded materials and the RS’ motorcycle-inspired gauge cluster, the Aveo has its sights set squarely on the new Ford Fiesta, particularly when it arrives in five-door form.

Pricing remains a question mark, but we’d suspect all the details to be revealed before the end of the year, with sales starting sometime in 2011.

These are the first official sketches of the all-new Chevrolet Agile, a Ford Fiesta-sized hatchback that was developed and designed entirely by GM’s South American operations.

Bob Lutz, who formerly headed GM product development and recently un-retired to return as head of marketing, has claimed the new car’s design will be competitive or better with the best in its segment.

“It is a full car of youth, with a design that is going to surprise,” says Carlos Beard, design chief of GM Mercosur

The GM manufacturing plant in Argentina is already tooled up for the Agile operation and workers have been trained in its assembly. It will join other products being sold in the Mercosur market such as the Chevrolet Corsa models, Spark, Aveo, Astra, Meriva, Vectra, Zafira, Blazer, Captiva, S10 and Corvette.

As General Motors’ Chevrolet brand prepares to launch two fuel-efficient small cars in Europe and across the world, its U.S. arm prepares for the boost it expects the vehicles to give it at home.

The Chevrolet Cruze compact and Spark minicar are cornerstones of its plan to double its European sales to a million cars a year by 2015 and elevate the fuel economy and style of its U.S. small-car line.

“These cars are both good examples of the fit and finish, quality materials and appeal an automaker can get when it spreads its development costs over a large number of vehicles sold around the world,” said Erich Merkle, a Grand Rapids-based auto analyst. “That’s what Toyota and Honda have been beating GM’s head in with for years: the benefits of leveraging global sales.”

The Cruze will become one of Chevrolet’s core models, rolling out of a high-output plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Chevrolet promises it will offer highway fuel economy of at least 40 m.p.g. and more passenger space than any other car in its class — including best-sellers like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

“The Cruze is going to be huge sales volume” when it replaces the Cobalt as Chevrolet’s primary compact car, Chevy general manager Ed Peper said. “It’s going to be a mainstay of the brand like the Silverado, Malibu and Impala.” The Cobalt averages about 200,000 sales a year.

References to the Malibu come frequently when the topic is the Cruze. The midsize Malibu sedan gave Chevrolet a legitimate competitor to leading midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. People paid thousands of dollars more than they had for the old model, and the car topped the Accord and Camry in fuel-economy ratings and independent quality surveys. It was the first Chevy car to benefit from global engineering.

Chevrolet’s small and midsize cars labored in obscurity for decades, overlooked by buyers and GM’s North American leadership. They earned little or no money compared to big cars and trucks, so GM’s North American operations invested more time, money and talent in larger vehicles.

In Europe, Asia and Latin America, however, subcompact, compact and midsize cars dominate sales and determine the profit-loss equation.

“It the United States, small cars were an afterthought,” said analyst Stephanie Brinley of AutoPacific. “In the rest of the world, they were vital.” A few years ago, GM realized it could offer better small cars in the United States by selling globally engineered vehicles.

“There’s a better understanding outside North America of how to do cars that are small, efficient, profitable and appealing,” Brinley said. “GM is leveraging their global capabilities on the Cruze and Spark.”

The Cruze is the first vehicle developed to be a worldwide Chevrolet from the ground up. The rakish Spark minicar, which is to go on sale in Europe in a year and in the United States in 2011, is to come next, followed shortly by the Orlando, an innovative seven-seat compact minivan.

Chevrolet’s global design has a few key elements: a twin-port grille, gold Chevy badge, twin-cockpit interior that wraps around the front passengers, and round taillights.

“With a consistent design theme and global engineering, we can move a vehicle from one region of the world to another if we see potential for it,” GM design chief Ed Welburn said. “The Spark was never planned for sale in the U.S., but the market changed” when fuel prices soared and the economy crashed.

The Spark is to go on sale first in Europe, where Chevrolet sold 507,000 vehicles last year.

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* Edgy styling adds brio to mini-car segment
* Youthful interior look with unique motorcycle-inspired instrument pod
* Class-leading front and rear passenger room
* Frugal 1.0/1.2-liter engines deliver sub-120 g CO2 emissions

The all-new Chevrolet Spark, making its world premiere at Geneva, is a small car designed to make a big statement. It’s big on style, big on fuel economy and, like all products carrying the gold bowtie, big on value.

Distinctive, edgy styling conveys energy and spirit because this is a mini-car that’s as fun to drive as it is economical to own.

With punchy 1.0 and 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines and a five-door hatchback body format offering surprising versatility, the Chevy Spark is set to light up Europe’s mini-car segment.

Due on sale early next year, it is a production-ready version of the Beat concept car, the most popular of a trio of Chevy mini concepts that toured international motor shows in 2007. A clear majority among 1.9 million internet voters said it was the car they preferred.

“Spark will bring a fresh dimension to Europe’s growing mini-car segment,” says Wayne Brannon, GM Europe Vice President, Chevrolet. “It offers fuel efficiency, functionality and eye-catching design combined with excellent value.”

Size matters

For ‘cute and cuddly’, read ’strong and sharp’ – that’s the message behind Spark’s head-turning looks. Its edgy styling breaks the usual mold for city car design by making no soft, visual concessions about lack of size. Spark continues Chevrolet’s design revolution by bringing exciting looks to products in the value segment.

The crisp lines of the mono-cab body express a wedge-like profile, with the deep glasshouse balanced by prominent side body scallops, sculptured fenders and slim, teardrop headlamp units. The ‘active’ contours of the bodywork are free from rubbing strips or exterior trim.

At the front, the bold twin-port grille leads up to a hood that’s heavily sculpted above the headlamps. Below the grille, the lines of the fog lamp housings and the ‘floating’ lower air intake extend the sense of forward movement. Muscular rear wheel-arches, well filled with a choice of 13, 14 or 15-inch wheels, give the car a crouched, ready-to-go stance.

Rear door handles, disguised to preserve the clean look of those wheel-aches, an integrated rear tailgate spoiler and signature Chevy tail lights with round elements are other design details that add to Spark’s ‘must-have’ appeal.

Purposeful and poised, the Chevy Spark is a city car with ‘attitude’, small yet proud of its size.

Inspired cabin

The progressive design of Spark’s surprisingly spacious cabin has the flair to match its exterior looks. The use of quality materials and an uplevel execution were key interior design requirements, demonstrating that small cars offering big value need not look utilitarian or spartan inside.

Bright and engaging, the interior features an evolution of Chevrolet’s signature ‘dual cockpit’ design. The textured front fascia moldings flow each side of the cabin into the doors, creating a feeling of space that belies Spark’s diminutive size.

Exterior bodywork colors are carried through into the lower fascia and door panels. And the main controls are all highlighted in signature Chevy ice-blue, adding to the cabin’s youthful looks.

A unique, motorcycle-inspired main instrument pod, incorporating a large speedometer and digital tachometer display, is another striking design feature.

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Chevrolet Spark: World Premiere at Geneva Auto Show

Fun and fashion add sizzle to mini-car segment
Youthful interior with motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster
Fuel-efficient 1.0-liter and 1.2-liter 4-cylinder DOHC engines

All-new mini-car with maximum attitude
The all-new Chevrolet Spark, making its world premiere at the Geneva auto show in March, is a small car designed to make a big statement. It’s big on style, big on fuel economy and, like all products carrying the Chevrolet gold bowtie, big on refinement and value.

Its design breaks the mold for mini-cars and takes Chevrolet’s signature styling elements to this vehicle segment in a youthful, fun and fashion-conscious way.

Spark was inspired by the Chevrolet Beat concept, the most popular of a trio of mini-car concepts that has toured international auto shows since 2007. A clear majority among 1.9 million internet voters said it was the car they wanted produced.

Exterior
The crisp lines of the five-door hatchback provide a wedge-like profile. Below Chevrolet’s hallmark two-tier grille and headlamps that resemble diamond cut lines, the shape of the fog lamp housings and the “floating” lower air intake extend the sense of forward movement. Strong wheel arches accommodate up to 15-inch wheels to give the car a dynamic, ready-to-go stance.

The rear door handles are integrated into the upper part of the door to preserve the clean lines of rear quarter panel and wheel arches. In the rear, an integrated tailgate spoiler and Chevrolet’s round tail lights add to Spark’s appeal.

With an overall length of 3,640 mm and a generous 2,375 mm wheelbase, Spark offers a spacious cabin with outstanding leg and hip room in the front and rear.

Interior
The design of Spark’s spacious cabin clearly matches its fun and fashion exterior look and functionality. A unique feature is the motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster. Mounted on the steering column, it provides easy- to- read information to the driver utilizing a combination of analog and digital displays.

With fresh colors and fabrics, exterior color schemes continue inside to Chevrolet’s signature ‘dual cockpit’ layout and the door panels. Textured inserts flow from the instrument panel to each side of the cabin into the doors, adding another eye-catching element to the interior.

Spark also boasts a high level of interior acoustic refinements typical of larger vehicles.

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General Motors (GM) has postponed its Flint, Mich., plant that was to make engines for its Chevy Volt vehicle, FOX Business has learned.

GM confirmed to FOX Business’s Jeff Flock that it had cancelled construction contracts on the plant, saying it does intend to move forward with the new plant at some point, but because of economic conditions it is halting construction at this time.

It’s “part of the tough, wrenching decisions being made in Detroit these days. On the positive side, the urgency they are facing now is forcing these types of difficult decisions which in the end are probably best for the health of the company,” a source told Flock.

GM said it is “not ruling out” the possibility of making the Volt engine at its existing Flint engine plant.

The Volt, an electric car that GM has trumpeted as a big part of its future success in a world gravitating toward energy efficiency, was scheduled to be ready by 2010, but this development leaves its future up in the air.

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2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX:
A COMPACT CROSSOVER FOR ALL SEASONS – AND ALL LIFESTYLES

All-new crossover delivers expected segment-best highway fuel economy

DETROIT – Chevrolet unveiled the all-new 2010 Equinox, a compact crossover that blends distinctive design with outstanding efficiency. A new, 2.4L direct injection engine helps the Equinox deliver expected best-in-segment estimated highway fuel economy of 30 mpg (EPA certification pending) – a 25-percent improvement over the previous model. Chevrolet expects nearly two-thirds of customers will choose the efficient, 2.4L engine.

The new Equinox draws its exterior design inspiration from the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and Traverse crossover; and like those vehicles, the new Equinox complements its styling with attention to detail and unexpected features, according to Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet.

The Equinox makes its world debut at the North American Auto Show in Detroit next month.

“At a time when customers are so concerned about the fuel efficiency of their vehicle, the Equinox delivers,” said Peper. “It offers the roominess and capability of a crossover with great fuel economy. Equinox will provide customers a vehicle filled with refinement, comfort and great value.”

The 2010 Equinox goes on sale in mid-2009. It is available in LS, LT and LTZ trim, with available all-wheel-drive. Two new engines are offered, each with fuel-saving direct injection and variable valve timing technology. Vehicle highlights include:

* New 2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 engine estimated at 182 horsepower (135 kW), which delivers an estimated 30 mpg highway, 21 mpg city (EPA certification pending)
* New 3.0L DOHC direct injected V-6 engine estimated at 255 horsepower (190 kW), which delivers an estimated 25 mpg highway, 18 mpg city (EPA certification pending)
* Driving range of more than 500 miles (800 km) with both engines, for less-frequent fill-ups
* Six standard air bags: dual frontal air bags; head curtain side air bags and pelvic/thorax seat-mounted side air bags
* Standard four-wheel disc brakes with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control
* Standard OnStar and XM Satellite Radio
* “Smart” remote starting system that also activates the HVAC system and optional heated seats depending on the outside temperature

“With the 2010 Equinox, we focused on appealing to the senses – from the overall design to the feel of the interior,” said Peper.

Design details

The design features Chevy’s signature global face – the two-tier grille and prominent gold Bowtie insignia. Strong fender shapes, a distinctive premium roofline, wraparound headlamps and dual round taillamps are additional elements that define Equinox as a true Chevrolet, Peper said.

“The new Equinox blends function and style into a very sporty, yet upscale compact crossover,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. “Both the exterior and interior surprise and delight with careful attention to detail.”

Additional design features include:

* A multi-dimensional hood and wraparound rear side glass and a wheels-at-the-corners stance
* Improved aerodynamic performance through a number of carefully designed exterior features, including moving the base of the windshield forward approximately three inches (75 mm) for a sleeker profile

Equinox’s rocker panels are integrated into the doors to make it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. They narrow the area over which a passenger must step, offering protection for pant legs that could brush against dirty rockers. Also, the select use of chrome trim and flush-fitting “exposed-edge” windshield and rear glass reinforce Equinox’s build quality and reduce wind noise.

Dimensionally, the Equinox rides on the same 112.5-inch wheelbase (2,857 mm), but is about one inch (25 mm) shorter in length and an inch wider. It also has a wider front track that enhances the ride and handling.

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A ‘small car with a BIG design’, the new Chevrolet AVEO E20 is ready to roll, bringing even more benefits for cost-conscious motorists.

Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) is gearing up for the nationwide launch of the AVEO E20 at its 103 Chevrolet showrooms across Thailand on 29 October 2008.

The E20 version of this ‘small car with a BIG design’, will be available in standard, LS, LSX and LT models as well as a dynamic ‘Sport SS’ version and a desirable, high-end ‘LUX’ model. All AVEO E20 models are configured to run on gasoline, E10 or E20 fuel, offering motorists affordability and convenience, both in town and on the open road.

“The Chevrolet AVEO has been well received by both the local and global market,” said Antonio Zara, Vice president of Sales, Marketing, and Aftersales Service, Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Ltd. “Enhancing the AVEO to run on E20 is the sensible fuel option for customers who demand a compact car at an affordable price. We have put the new AVEO E20 through exhaustive tests to ensure the vehicle’s durability and performance using this new fuel.”

As well as increased fuel flexibility, AVEO customers can be confident in the performance of the newly configured sedan. Before its release, Chevrolet engineers completely overhauled the fuel system to make it ready for E20, changing seals, pumps, pipes and gauges to run on the new fuel and prevent erosion from the ethanol. These changes will ensure longer-lasting, higher performance for drivers of the Chevrolet AVEO E20.

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