GreenBkk Auto | FIRST LOOK: Chevrolet Aveo Sporty Chevy

FIRST LOOK

Chevrolet Aveo Sporty Chevy

GM's all-new B-segment saloon uses styling to lure punters of the Honda City and Toyota Vios.

Hey, this Chevy looks quite kewl ...

Yeah, especially with the prominent front grille that's now the new identity for most of Chevrolet's new cars. Also, note how handsome the front lights look, as if they were copied from the Mitsubishi Lancer EX and Alfa Romeo 159.

Even better is its profile which doesn't have that high-butt appearance found in the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2 saloons. This may be subjective, but the new Aveo - called Sonic in North America - should fare well on the catwalk against the Honda City and Toyota Vios, the leaders in the Thai B-segment car market.

Is it as dreadfully cramped as the old one?

Certainly not mate, otherwise Chevrolet wouldn't have bothered developing an all-new model. Although the Aveo's 2,525mm wheelbase length is 25mm shorter than in the City and Vios, it has larger dimensions elsewhere including a 4,399mm length, 1,735mm width and 1,517mm height.

Chevrolet claims that the Aveo has competitive interior and cargo room against the Fiesta in particular, and that versatility is enhanced by rear seats that fold flat when more boot area is needed.

The flashy fascia features a motorbikeinspired panel.

That fascia is eye-catching ...

Uh-huh, just like the five-door hatchback derivative (see sidebar). Basically speaking, the prominent steering wheel and centre console is of the same concept used in the bigger Cruze C-segment saloon.

But it's the details that make the Aveo more special, like those rotary air-con vents on the left and right and the motorbike-inspired instrument panel in which there's an analogue rev-counter and digital speedo.

And if you check out the interior picture on this page, there's a two-tone interior with sporty leather upholstery. But that's also because the Aveo pictured here is a racy range-topping model.

With more than 150hp under its bonnet?

Oh no, not that much. The Aveo you see here comes with a 138hp 1.4-litre petrol-turbo engine and six-speed manual gearbox. There would also be less powerful engines probably displacing 1.4 or 1.6 litres like in today's model developing between 90-120hp to keep the Aveo's price in the 550,000-700,000 baht range.

There's also the likelihood that Chevrolet will fit a six-speed automatic into the new Aveo. You really can't consider the existing four-speeder to be competitive against the City's five-speed and Fiesta's six-speed dual-clutch automatic option.

The new Aveo is due in Thailand early next year.

And when's the new Aveo coming?

Most likely early next year. You might question its late arrival, but its timing seems to be just about right. By 2012, the City and Vios will have already reached mid-life, while the Fiesta (and Mazda 2 sibling) will be 2 years old.

In fact, Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) will be busy rolling out Cruzes from showrooms and be preparing to launch the all-new Colorado pickup and its SUV derivative this year.

As for the today's Aveo, there's a new bi-fuel CNG/petrol variation to choose from for economy minds - if you can live with that hopeless boot.

Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)