South American Bound Chevrolet Agile Revealed

Chevrolet Agile

Designed and built in South America

By Michael Gauthier
August 23, 2009 9:25 AM
Filed Under: American, Chevrolet

GM has released the first official image of the new Chevrolet Agile.

Destined for South American markets, the Agile looks nothing like the attractive teaser images that were previously revealed. The font end, with its corporate Chevrolet grille, looks decent enough but the overall design leaves something to be desired. Despite this, GM says the hatchback offers "an innovative design" with the "internal space of a crossover."

As the first model fully developed at GM's Mercosur Center for Development, the Agile represents the company's commitment to vehicles designed and produced in South America.

Look for more information to be released when the Agile is launched in October.

Source: General Motors

Press Release (Click to expand)

(Translated with google)

General Motors revealed the first image of the new Chevrolet Agile

General Motors confirmed for next October launch vehicle waited in the Mercosur region: the Chevrolet Agile, an entirely new model is distinguished by its design, comfort and versatility.

Jaime Ardila, president of GM Mercosur, notes that "The Chevrolet Agile, a leading Chevrolet launches and market in 2009, demonstrates our confidence in the public's preference and the potential of our region."

For his part, Edgar Lourencon, president of GM Agile Argentina said that "not only demonstrates the capacity for Chevrolet vehicles with modern design and world class, but confirms the strength and integration of our company to provide the best products our customers.

Design amazing

Revealing some details of the line of Agile, Carlos Barba, General Director of GM Design Mercosur, notes: "It is a vehicle that goes beyond a traditional hatchback. Our task was to design a vehicle for customers in the region, which are demanding consumers. An innovative design is essential, as the internal space and a crossover, or a vehicle that 'breathes' and versatility that is attracting different customer profiles, from the urban to the surfer or customer that to enjoy the countryside. "

"I am convinced that the design of Agile will surprise since it is a car full of young people," Barba ends.

The model comes to complement the Chevrolet line, which is most of the market and currently consists of models Spark, Corsa Classic Corsa, Aveo, Astra, Vectra GT (hatchback), Vectra sedan, the Meriva and Zafira people carriers, Captiva SUVs and the Blazer, the S10 pickup and the Corvette.

Investment in progress

The Agile Chevrolet - first model of the family live - was fully developed at the Center for Development of Mercosur GM vehicles, located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is the result of an investment of U.S. $ 400 million, which includes the development and production phases of the model in the region, with its production complex in the Automotive business in Rosario, province of Santa Fe The Agile aims to emerging markets as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

In Argentina, advancing the implementation of the investment to start production of Chevrolet Agile. This investment has meant, among other actions, the construction of a new building of 5000 square meters of weld, new dies for the stamping of parts and components; 59 robots incorporating the latest technology to focus its work primarily on welds considered anti ergonomic, and in those parts of the body that are critical to passenger safety as well as conducting over 6,500 hours of training to operators of the new production line of Chevrolet Motor Complex in Argentina .

Are currently in the final testing of the new model for which the company is implementing global processes of validation, which are identical to those used in developing the overall architecture of Chevrolet. They take place in laboratories and in field. Are 150 units of Chevrolet Agile are rolling over 1 million miles of testing, including vehicle and partially assembled, in order to validate components, vehicle safety, durability, bodywork, brakes, noise and vibration. Finally, it is important to note that 9000 pieces were subjected to more than 3000 tests for global certification criteria, and safety, 20 vehicles passed through various laboratory impact tests, including testing now underway.

Comments

nederina
August 23, 2009 11:15 AM
what were they thinking? definitely not a class leader as they hoped for where the car is built at a cost. i wonder how the chevy voltz is going to turn out like. so much on building a brand image rather than building a proper car

theoldman
August 23, 2009 11:35 AM
the front looks rather bland.... the rear looks like its going to be even worse... and the blacked out C-pillar is hideous

sorry if i sound critical

Bristol411S3
August 23, 2009 11:44 AM
She ain't a looker, is she? What's this based on?

N20_Purge
August 23, 2009 12:28 PM
Uh oh, it looks like a bigger Chevy Beat, and that isn't a good thing.

wmgtxi
August 23, 2009 1:14 PM
agile and agila what next?

wmgtxi
August 23, 2009 1:23 PM
if this is typical south american design i dont wanna see another. i so hope this doesnt become the next holden barina

911fnatic
August 23, 2009 1:45 PM
Ooh its a horrible thing, an Astra mutant.

BENZian
August 23, 2009 4:13 PM
...kill this design like you did the new Buick...this design is not attractive...keep the concept but make it more attractive now before you start production...Kinda reminds me of the Malibu Hatchback sedan from a couple years ago....ugly


Edited by user on August 23, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Renegade
August 23, 2009 4:29 PM
Well, it's ugly, but for South America it will do, most of those people don't have to much taste anyway, have u seen the crap that VW is selling there like the Gol or Fox?


Edited by user on August 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Floppy
August 23, 2009 5:59 PM
looks like off road Opel astra^^

xLumino
August 23, 2009 10:58 PM
I guess, it's nothing more then that. the a-pillar/fender, the sidedoors, the mirrors. all parts of Opel/Vauxhall Astra H

The Design isn't finished yet. I cannot imagine that.

nederina
August 23, 2009 6:09 PM
not just the south american markets but in south east asia too. it is good to see that the japanese are offering so much more with good design, quality, driving dynamics and excellent value. sorry chevy but this car reminds me of that dacia logan with a flat body panel, glass and cheap plastic parts.

politz
August 23, 2009 8:21 PM
That is one ugly car. Too bad GM didn't manage to make it a 'comeback car', since it is the first domestic all new Chevrolet in years. Still, in a lineup where the early 90s and the early 00s Corsa coexist, and a previous generation Astra is overpricedly sold as the new Vectra, that weird little car might even be refreshing. GM Brazil doesn't seem to worry that much, since it still holds the 3rd spot of the best selling makers due to its HUGE brand equity and image here - since Chevrolet, VW, Fiat and Ford were the only brands sold in the country for over 50 years, brazilians still identify them as 'domestic' brands, buying from the 'big 4' nearly 80% of all cars in the market, even after several automakers (such as Renault, Nissan, Citroen, Peugeot, Honda, Merecedes, Mitsubishi and Toyota) have established their plants in the nineties.

GRAVE
August 24, 2009 12:06 AM
The front head light is so huge and ugly!

effington
August 24, 2009 4:19 AM
they have pretty much taken everything nice looking off the teaser... aaand discarded it. the result is a very awkward looking astra/Korean barina!

hata0101
August 24, 2009 6:22 AM
is there any other word than can say this thing is way beyond UGLY? concept looks great but end up like this? that's the best good GM can do? how come GM couldn't make it like the concept? that's why GM will never win again...they'll bankrupt again. hopeless comapny.

awhk
August 24, 2009 12:57 PM
This is now on the top of my "ugliest" list. Good job Chevy, you've done it again!

Mister-G
August 24, 2009 5:15 PM
Honey I blew up the (Chevy) Beat.

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