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European premiere for new Aveo Sedan in Geneva

2011-02-08

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Zurich. Just like at the recent Paris Motor Show, Chevrolet has a whole host of stories to tell at Geneva, among them being the European debut of the new Aveo four door notchback. This handsome small sedan is being shown hot on the heels of its hatchback cousin, which received warm reviews when it world debuted last September.

The Aveo notchback made its world debut at the Detroit show in the U.S. in January (where it will be sold as the Sonic) and shares many of the new confident design elements of the hatchback. However whereas the hot hatch is likely to appeal to younger buyers, Chevrolet expects the more mature design of the sedan to attract a different type of customer, in particular families.

"The new Aveo represents another important step forward for us in every respect: design, handling, quality and space," said Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe. "We'd love to see it emulate the Cruze in terms of sales success. The current Aveo sedan is 5th best seller in Europe in the small 4-door segment with a share of 12.5%.With the new model, we expect to increase that share significantly."

From the front, the Aveo notchback and hatchback share the same purposeful look with exposed twin-headlamps, dual port grille and compact taut body panels. The rising shoulder line of the notchback is particularly striking, giving the new four-door a premium profile, and is reminiscent of its larger cousin, the Cruze sedan.

With a 4399mm length and 1735mm width, the new Aveo sedan is both longer and wider than the current model. Cargo volume is also among best in class at a generous 502 liters.

However, the interior is not only spacious, it is also characterized by modern design such as the motorcycle-inspired instrument binnacle with an analogue tachometer.

Blue backlighting features on the center console while the whole of the front cabin is enveloped in a wrap-round fascia. Aveo customers will appreciate the quality materials used in the interior as well as multiple storage spaces in the center stack and the modern audio system with USB, aux-in and Bluetooth functionality.

Engineered to meet European tastes

Aveo's chassis has been tuned to provide involving handling, a characteristic which stems partly from its tight body frame integral (BFI) structure. All models feature McPherson strut front suspension. Electronic power steering (EPS), electronic stability control (ESC) and ABS brakes will be standard.

A comprehensive range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines will be available incorporating the latest technologies such as variable valve timing, double continuous variable cam phasing and common rail fuel injection for the diesels.

The petrol engine range includes two 1.2 liter versions (at 70 hp and at 86 hp), a 1.4 liter unit (100 hp) and a 1.6 liter (115 hp). 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 feature on the Aveo 1.4 and 1.6 as an option in most markets; manual transmissions are of 5 or 6 speed depending on engine choice.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at http://www.chevroleteurope.com or http://media.chevroleteurope.com.