2006 Chevrolet Aveo

CHEVROLET AVEO BRINGS SURPRISING INNOVATION TO ENTRY-LEVEL CAR SEGMENT

Expressive styling, surprising spaciousness,exceptional refinement, little extras that make a big difference: The recipe for the 2004 Aveo heralds a fresh alternative for entry-level car buyers. Add in Chevrolet value and dependability, and the Aveo sets a new standard for its segment. 'Aveo brings a big-car attitude to the small-car segment,' said Chevrolet General Manager Brent Dewar. 'With Aveo, valueconscious customers don't have to sacrifice the style, the safety, the room and the features that they want in a new car. Aveo provides them with a well-designed, practical choice that is also enjoyable to own and drive.'
The subcompact Chevrolet Aveo lineup includes both a four-door sedan as well as a stylish five-door. Each seats five adults and is available in three models: Special Value, Base and LS. While its size and maneuverability are ideal for city living, its capable highway manners and surprising interior roominess make it an excellent choice for a road trip. A GM-proven E-TEC II 1.6-liter, dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine brings peppy performance to all models. The front-wheel-drive Aveo offers a standard five-speed manual and an available four-speed automatic with a 'hold control' mode, which enables the driver to stay in the appropriate gear in conditions such as getting started on slippery roads or driving through hilly areas. Production of Aveo is slated to begin in September 2003 at the GM Daewoo Automotive and Technology (GMDAT) assembly facility in Bupyong, Korea. Aveo is based on the GMDAT Kalos platform that has been well received in the Korean and European markets. Aveo's regional retail sales rollout will begin in December 2003 in key Ú.S. markets, including trend-setting California, with national availability following in January 2004. Aveo has the backing of Chevrolet's outstanding network of 4,100 Ú.S. dealers. Aveo prices will start at $9,995 for a Special Value model, and the Base and LS models will be competitively priced. A well-crafted car, Aveo has outstanding fit and finish and extensive sound insulation to provide a solid, quiet ride.

The Aveo launch also plays a key role in Chevrolet's effort to strengthen its presence in the small-car market, the second-largest passenger-car segment with about 28 percent of Ú.S. car sales. In recent years, the small-car market has evolved to include two distinct parts, an entry-level segment and a premium segment. Aveo will compete in the entry-level segment against vehicles such as Toyota Echo, Scion xA, Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. Chevrolet will complete the one-two punch with the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, designed to compete in the premium small-car segment. The entry-level segment is strategically important to Chevrolet and General Motors because it includes a large number of young, first-time buyers. Aveo's mission is to create Chevy customers for life by providing a product, sales and service experience unmatched by any entry-level competitor. Chevrolet expects 70 percent to 75 percent of Aveo customers will be first-time new-car buyers.

Stylish design
Aveo's understated lines, high roof, and short front and rear overhangs give it a sense of panache that is rare in cars of this class. Created in Giorgetto Giugiaro's renowned Italdesign studios in Turin, Italy, the five-door is a particularly striking design and an outstanding achievement in highly efficient packaging. While the sedan and five-door have the same wheelbase, the overall length of the five-door (152.8 inches) is nearly 14 inches shorter than the sedan and helps create a distinct profile. Aveo's design includes a number of uplevel touches, such as highly distinctive standard aerodynamic halogen headlamps with turn indicators underneath, amber side turn signal lamps, and jewel-like taillamps. While the design is international, Aveo also features distinctive Chevrolet cues, such as Chevrolet's signature brand bar and gold bowtie.



A monochrome instrument panel with large, easy-to-read gauges is standard on base and Special Value models, while a two-tone IP is standard on LS models. The IP includes a tachometer, speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, fuel gauge and coolant temperature gauge, with a lighting dimmer control. The IP also provides a center storage tray, lighter, ashtray, extra 12-volt outlet for cell phones, digital quartz clock, and lighted glove box. Integral knee bolsters provide a safety feature for both the driver and passengers. Materials and textures provide an uplevel feel, while circular elements set a recurring interior design theme that is reflected in air vents, cockpit displays, and fabric liners on the four doors.

More-than-expected standard amenities
Aveo offers a lengthy list of comfort and convenience features, including AM/FM stereo, tinted glass, a highly functional floor console with storage compartment, front roof radio antenna, two-speed variable intermittent wipers, rear window defogger, carpeting, floor mats, remote fuel-filler door and trunk releases, overhead courtesy lamps, day/night rearview mirror, driver and passenger visor vanity mirror, dual front cupholders, and a luggage floor mat. Base models add air conditioning with cabin-air filtration, floor mats, plus available options such as automatic transmission and a CD player with MP3 playback capability. The LS models go a step further, with AM /FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback capability, power door locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, body-colored dual folding outside heated rearview mirrors (passenger side power), and uplevel seat fabric. Alloy wheels are also available on both the Base and LS models. Several other options will be available for orders placed in early 2004, including a sliding power sunroof, a six-speaker premium sound system, and an engine immobilizer for added security.

Powerful and nimble
Aveo combines its strong new designs with a powertrain and chassis providing refined, responsive performance and excellent fuel economy. Aveo features a peppy, E-TEC II 1.6-liter dual overhead cam 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 103 horsepower and 107 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy is estimated at 27 mpg in city driving, 36 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission, and 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway with the automatic.

A deep-skirted block, large intake resonator, dual-muffler exhaust systems and other sound-damping technologies help reduce engine noise, while roller-type hydraulic lifters, a single-belt accessory drive and durable rubber
timing belt help reduce the need for routine maintenance. The variable-geometry induction system is indicative of Aveo's well-executed design. The system uses a longer runner length for air induction at low throttle settings, increasing torque by approximately 10 percent at lower rpm. Once engine rpm reaches 4600 and above, a valve opens to allow more direct induction, so that there is no sacrifice of high-rpm performance. A lightweight, smooth shifting, high-efficiency five-speed manual transmission is standard. A four-speed Aisin automatic is optional. The automatic features a 'hold control' button. Selecting 'hold control' turns the four-speed automatic into a three-speed manual, with the driver changing gears by moving through the gated shifter. The 'hold control' mode enables the driver to better control wheel spin at low speeds on slippery surfaces by manually selecting a higher gear. It's also useful on hilly roads, allowing the driver to stay in the appropriate gear for better control while also saving wear on the brakes. Aveo's 97.6-inch wheelbase contributes to a smooth ride and stability. Its suspension was extensively tested and was tuned by North American engineers to provide a controlled ride and responsive handling in both city and highway driving. The independent front suspension features MacPherson struts with a stabilizer bar. The semi-independent torsion beam rear axle provides good camber control under a wide variety of loads. Aveo is equipped with a standard rack-and-pinion steering system providing nimble handling and enhancing

Solid and quiet
Aveo's unibody design, outstanding workmanship and extensive sound insulation all contribute to the sort of quiet ride associated with much more upscale cars. The Aveo's unibody design uses high-strength steel in more than 46 percent of its structural components, primarily concentrated in the critical underbody components, along with tailor-welded blanks to create a solid structure. Outstanding workmanship is exemplified by the fit of the exterior body panels, which have consistent 3-mm gaps, a benchmark level normally associated with much more expensive vehicles. The close fits contribute to low NVH as well as overall quality. Extensive sound insulation helps to minimize wind, road and engine noise, allowing driver and passengers to converse in normal tones even at highway speeds. Sound insulation includes outer and inner pads on the dash panel, engine hood insulation, multi-layer floor insulation and double door seals, which are features typically found in luxury vehicles. Two large mufflers help minimize exhaust noise, with a three-liter (183-cubic inch) capacity front muffler for
high-frequency noise absorption and a 13-liter (793-cubic inch) rear muffler for low-frequency noise absorption.

Safety features
Aveo's impact-absorbing frame, single-stage frontal air bags and available anti-lock braking system (ABS) help provide confident control and peace of mind under a wide variety of driving conditions. Aveo's passenger compartment forms a protective safety cage that runs from the front door hinge pillars to the A-pillars to the roof rail, back to the reinforced B-pillars and C-pillars and includes the rocker panels. The front structure is designed to distribute crash energy along multiple load paths, helping direct energy away from the passenger compartment. Each of the doors features a roll-formed steel intrusion beam to help protect the occupants in certain side-impact collisions. Impact energy is distributed up through the side rails to a large front longitudinal member, then through a flat cross member to the front axle and wheelhouse, and finally down to the fender-door support.

The Aveo's dual diagonal brake system includes large ventilated front discs and self-adjusting rear drum brakes. Rear brakes have a wide lining for increased service life. A large 9.5-inch (241-mm) power brake booster helps improve braking capability and provides solid pedal feel. A four-channel, four-sensor ABS system with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is available as an option. Single-stage frontal air bags, safety belt pretensioners and height-adjustable shoulder belt anchors for the front seats are all standard. Rear-seat positions feature shoulder belts in all three seating positions. The standardized child-safety seat system, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) secures the seat base and helps keep the child seat from pivoting forward during an aggressive stop or a forward collision. Other child-safety features that are standard are rear child-safety door locks and an emergency trunk latch release handle inside the trunk of the sedan. (concept carz)

Source - GM Media