2006 Chevrolet Aveo: In Depth

Press Release

Page 1: Overview

Page 2: Design and Bodywork

Page 3: Engines and Chassis / Market and Model

Page 4: Specifications

Design and bodywork

Full-grown compact sedan with a dynamic touch

• Modern design methods create concise body language

• High-grade materials shape the interior

• Stable bodywork structure improves passenger protection

Sportier, more stylish and higher quality: The designers of the new Chevrolet Aveo set themselves clear targets when they got down to work in autumn 2003. The compact notchback sedan was the first project to be taken on by the brand-new Design Centre in Bupyong, Korea. The Deputy Design Director, Sangtak Choi, recalls: "We had three key factors to consider to achieve our goals – the first was balanced proportions for an overall more powerful appearance, the second was the inclusion of stylish details such as the pull-out type door handles, and the third was to create an interior design that put the classic world of small cars well behind it."

To turn the ideas and specifications into reality, the designers were assisted by the modern aids now available to them at the new Design Centre. Sangtak Choi: "By being integrated into GM's design community, we can regularly exchange ideas and information with our colleagues in GM's worldwide design studios and thus gain valuable feedback and suggestions. Apart from that, we now also have the possibility, through the state-of-the-art digital equipment in our studios, to animate our drawings and are thus able to evaluate them far more accurately." Another contributing factor was that cooperation with developers and designers was considerably improved because they were able to evaluate the feasibility of ideas very much earlier with the aid of digital pre-data.

The new Chevrolet Aveo looks far more grown-up than its predecessor, which was already marketed in many European countries. All dimensions of the body have been increased, but to a differing extent. The new Aveo is 4,310 mm long (plus 75 mm), 1,710 mm wide (plus 40 mm) and 1,505 mm tall (plus 10 mm). The net result is a stretched silhouette that is further underlined by the dynamically rising sideline, pronounced shoulders and the door sills painted in the colour of the vehicle. The overall appearance is boosted by attractive details like the large pull-out type door handles and the newly designed 15-inch wheels. At the rear, the decorative strip across the whole width of the car and the unobtrusive spoiler lip at the edge of the trunk lid emphasize the grown-up stance of the Aveo, as does the 20mm wider track. The rear lights are designed just as strikingly as the front headlamps.

The most visible expression of the brand's new self-confidence and the new design line is the front of the sharply contoured sedan. The most eyecatching features here are the three-dimensional headlamps pulled into the engine hood and front wings, plus the grille surrounded by hefty chrome strips. A chromium-plated cross strut bearing the Chevrolet emblem is a clear attention-grabber in the middle. These optical elements of the Aveo front end impart a sense of dynamism, as do the striking, V-shaped profile edges of the engine bonnet. They extend into the solid looking bumpers and, in combination with the black-bordered circular fog lamps, emphasise the four-door Aveo's sporty appearance.

Generous interior dimensions and high-grade materials

With its generous dimensions and a wheelbase of 2,480 millimetres, the new Chevrolet sedan is intent on demonstrating that it is certainly not among the smallest in its class. The generous outer dimensions are also reflected in the spacious interior. For example, the Aveo sets the standard in its segment with shoulder room of 1,362 mm at the front and 1,340 mm at the rear. It also boasts top statistics for the front legroom of 1,048 mm (898 mm at the back) and the headroom of 998 mm (950 mm). As regards its luggage carrying capacity, too, the capacity of the Aveo trunk has been increased by 20 litres to 400 litres (according to the VDA standard). By folding the rear seat backrest flat, this capacity can be considerably increased.

The interior of the four-door Aveo is both stylish and comfortable. The technical structure of the plastic surfaces and the soft-touch finish of the dashboard and the upper half of the door panels are very pleasant to touch. The materials used are just as high-quality as the woven fabrics of the seats. The bright, two-colour design also makes an important contribution to the friendly, inviting impression created by the interior as a whole.

The instrument panel has been completely redesigned. It is clearly divided into four chrome-bordered circular instruments and a centre console with striking air outlet nozzles, a fully integrated audio unit and large, easy-to-operate rotating knobs for the air-conditioning. Between the four round instruments is an information display for the trip computer. The passenger airbag is now integrated invisibly into the instrument panel and can, if desired, be deactivated. Like the driver airbag concealed in the sporty four-spoke steering wheel and the two side airbags, it comes as standard. They are supplemented by the safety belt pretensioners.

New body structure improves passenger safety and comfort

The body structure of the Aveo has also been thoroughly modified. Three clearly defined load paths absorb the forces in the event of a front impact. They are supported over a large area on the new structure of the passenger cell. A new feature here is the use of high-strength steel – for the B post for example – which plays an important role in the case of a side impact. Protection is optimised by the longitudinal reinforcements in the doors. However, the far more torsion-resistant body not only adds to the protection of the occupants, it also contributes to their comfort. Together with a generous insulating mat package, it ensures much better noise comfort inside.