CAR MODIFICATION

The Chevrolet Aveo RS show car makes its Washington, D.C. debut this week at the 2010 Washington 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 personalisation options potentially available on the next-generation car. Its 1.4L I-4 Ecotec turbo engine delivers exceptional fuel economy with performance when it’s needed.

“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 aluminium. 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 aluminium structural surround, are inspired by the designers’ affection for motorcycles. The sleek side profile is characterised by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors with amber-coloured 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 tyres. 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 callipers.

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

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 aluminium insert. The coolant and power steering fluid fill caps are rimmed in ice blue, and the honeycomb vents flanking the centre of the cover are matte-finished in shadow chrome and designed to match the wheel colour.

Chevrolet has previously announced the new Aveo will be built at Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Michigan, 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.

The Aveo is an important member of Chevrolet’s family of small cars, positioned between the upcoming Cruze compact sedan and the Spark five-door mini car in size.

The Chevrolet Camaro first hit the market in the USA during 1966. General Motors, Chevrolet's owners, had to produce a car to provide essential competition to the market dominating Ford Mustang. The 1967 Camaro used a frame and lots of large components from the Pontiac Firebird (another General Motors off-shoot), and so the time required and finances required to produce the Camaro were massively reduced.Called a a muscle car, or a 'Pony' car, a word that at the time referred to small vehicles that were both affordable and had a stylish feel about their looks (a style started by the Ford Mustang in 1964), the car lined up alongside an ever growing number of vehicles that were fighting for an ever growing market. American owners loved the performance, the look and the great value of such cars and the multiplying sales guaranteed that plenty of manufacturers made their own variations out as quickly they could.

The 1970's and 80's were the car's heyday, when the Camaro was desired by millions of buyers, not just in North America but throughout the world. The mix of style, performance and various TV shows using muscle cars added to a massive demand, and the desire for many to own one never disappeared.

So far there have been five distinct generations of the Camaro have been sold. Generations one to four were sold between 1966 and 2002 (when development of the Camaro and Firebird both ceased), and building of the fifth generation Camaro started again in 2009 and despite opposition to these polluting big engined cars from campaigners, the Camaro has proven to once again be a big success with the North American public.

The Camaro was sometimes available in a hardtop coupe and a convertible, the convertible was very popular among owners from sea bordering states who loved the thought of driving along the beach side roads with the roof down, the stereo up and the sunglasses on. The car has a large group of fans with many buyers having owned every generation of the car at one time or another and even more hanging on to original 1960's models and maintaining them in pristine condition.

The car was always a favourite car for modification through the years, with owners spending weeks and months and lots of cash adding aftermarket parts to improve their Camaro's style and performance. Camaro's have also been very strong in car racing taking many Trans-Am series wins and any number of other races and titles through its lifetime. Plenty of motor racing enthusiasts still use old generation Camaro's today and are still successful, winning against much more modern race cars.

The Camaro is still going strong today, and with its legendary status, power and great style from the latest incarnation, it's bound to be around for a long time to come.

2010 Chevrolet Agile picture

2010 Chevrolet Agile side view

2010 Chevrolet Agile interior