New Chevrolet Matiz

Press Release

A Top Seller in Top Form

• Matiz grows up: Second generation of the compact city car comes to Europe
• Improved engineering: Economical gasoline engines with much lower consumption
• Safer driving: Better handling and greater comfort through new rear axle

The new version of one of the most popular small cars on our roads is ready for the off: From mid-April, the new Matiz will premiere in the show rooms of the Chevrolet dealers. Like the first generation - some 630,000 have so far been sold in Europe - the second generation of the compact city car immediately attracts attention through its modern design, clever space utilisation, favourable price and solid engineering. The new Chevrolet Matiz is just 3.50 metres long and thus ideal for urban and short-distance traffic, although it is equally capable of longer journeys in comfort. It will be available in three equipment variants and with a choice of two gasoline engines (0.8 and 1.0 litres) that comply with the Euro 4 emissions standard. Fuel consumption is as much as 15% or 0.9 l/100 km lower than that of its predecessor. The mini was developed by the designers and engineers at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM DAT), the Korean car manufacturer, whose models are being marketed across Europe under the name Chevrolet since the beginning of the year. Around 80 percent of all the components in the new Matiz are completely new.

Characteristic of the more grown-up look of the new model is the revised form and the short overhangs. The steeply rising shoulder lines and converging feature lines in the engine hood that extend through to the front side windows add tension and dynamism to the side view. The design also picks up some of the emotional elements that had given its predecessor its unmistakable smiling face. Alongside the bold new bumper design and large air intake, the front of the new 2005 Matiz is dominated by the striking new round headlamps with large lens effect. The front end design conforms to the new European regulations on pedestrian safety. The front headlamp design is matched at the rear by the signature round tail lights.

The most striking feature in the interior of the new Matiz is the completely redesigned cockpit. The operating elements of the design are divided into two parts. First, in the driver's direct area of view, is the control and warning light unit, and secondly, strikingly positioned at the centre of the dashboard and easily visible to all Matiz passengers, are the speedometer and instruments - a combination of analogue and digital displays. Depending on the upholstery and exterior colour, their background comes in blue, green or orange.

Thanks to the intelligent packaging and wheelbase of 2,345 mm, this full five-seater offers a comparatively large amount of space and a feeling of roominess. The trunk volume is 170 litres according to the VDA standard. The rear seat back rest can be divided in the ratio 60:40, enabling longer objects to be transported without a problem. If the complete bench is flipped up, the capacity rises to an impressive 845 litres. The interior also offers a number of clever storage locations with shelves, trays, bottle and can-holders. The ashtray is removable or can be sited in one of three locations - left or right door bin or in the center console.

With its compact body dimensions (length x width x height/including the roof rack which is standard: 3,495 x 1,495 x 1,500/1,518 mm) and its small turning circle of 9.20 m, the Chevrolet Matiz is not only extremely manoeuvrable, it also fits into any parking space. Apart from boasting the vital dimensions that make manoeuvrability a real plus point, it has power-assisted steering fitted as standard to make parking even easier.

The Matiz also offers its passengers good protection in the event of an accident. It all centres on the stable passenger cell, where precisely defined load paths absorb the impact energy in the event of a head-on, side or rear collision. The cell is made predominantly of high-strength steel, which not only ensures greater rigidity and stability but also lowers the weight of the body shell by 10 kg. Many other innovations like moulded pedals help the Matiz shed further weight and reduce fuel consumption in the process.

There is also a full safety package to complement the passive safety features of the new Matiz. Depending on the country and equipment variant, this includes driver, passenger and side airbags, three-point belts and head restraints for all five seats, electrically operated belt tensioners and belt force limiters at the front, an energy-absorbing steering column and knee padding.

The new Matiz also chalks up a number of points when it comes to active safety. Apart from the standard four-channel anti-locking system from the renowned German supplier, Bosch, the newly-developed torsion beam rear axle also plays a major role. Compared with the previously used trailing link axle, it guarantees much greater precision in wheel control and more agile handling. Ride comfort has also been significantly improved through a combination of softer suspension mountings, new gas-pressure shock absorbers and an optimised front axle with MacPherson struts.

Buyers have a choice of two well-proven engines for the smallest member of the Chevrolet range, each of which has been significantly upgraded for the new model: A 796 cm³ three-cylinder gasoline version with 38 kW/52 bhp and a four-cylinder unit with 1.0-litre capacity and 49 kW/66 bhp. The engines have been optimised by various technical improvements such as low-friction valve gear. Combined with the weight reduction and the improvement in the drag coefficient from 0.399 to 0.342, fuel consumption has been cut significantly. Compared with its predecessor, the MVEG average for the 0.8-litre model, for example, has gone down by 15% from 6.1 to 5.2 litres per 100 km. The reduction for the four-cylinder version is similar, with consumption dropping from 6.4 to 5.6 litres of regular-grade gasoline.

Both power units come as standard with a five-speed manual transmission. From the middle of the year, a four-speed automatic transmission will also be offered for the three-cylinder unit. Equipped with the smaller engine, the front-wheel drive car will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 18.2 sec and has a maximum speed of 145 km/h. The 1.0-litre four-cylinder Matiz naturally is faster and has a top speed of 156 km/h and a sprint time of 14.1 sec.

All the Matiz models come with a generous range of standard features, including ABS, power-assisted steering, comprehensive active safety package, electrically operated windows at the front and central locking with remote control. Depending on the model, the standard equipment could also include comfort features like air-conditioning, audio systems with CD and MP3 player, and electrically operated rear windows.

The Matiz has been on the market since 1998, and a total of 1.3 million have so far been sold around the world. With the company's desire to retain its true city car dimensions and not to upsize the product, the second generation remains true to the needs and desires of a segment of the market for which the marketing experts at the Swiss Chevrolet Europe headquarters predict strong growth. That is also one of the reasons why 80,000 - 90,000 new registrations are slated for this year. This is a figure that will ensure that the compact front-wheel drive city car from Korea will remain what it has been for many years: The second-most successful model of its class in Europe, and in some countries, the number one.