http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...00119943/1115#


Aveo RS is a car guy's Chevy, Lutz says
Chrissie Thompson
Automotive News -- January 12, 2010 - 12:01 am ET




DETROIT -- Among all of Chevrolet's upcoming small cars, the one inspired by the Aveo RS concept most appeals to car guys, General Motors Co. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said after the model's unveiling Monday at the auto show.

The concept is a sportier version of the current Aveo budget car that hints at the next-generation car due in 2011. Lutz called the car a “pocket rocket” and said he'd like to juice it up more.

“We're showing it with a 1.4 [liter] turbo, but [Vice Chairman] Tom Stephens and I are not satisfied with a 1.4 turbo,” Lutz said. “We'd like something with a little more horsepower, please. So we're working on that.”

The car has a six-speed manual transmission and the same 1.4-liter, 138-hp turbocharged engine that will be available in the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze small car.

The five-door hatchback is longer and wider and has more space than the current Aveo. Motorcycle styling inspired designers to give the show car protruding headlights and taillights, Chevrolet said. The Aveo also has 19-inch wheels designed to appeal to enthusiasts.

The car's blue interior stitching and blue backlit electronic displays echo the electric blue exterior color. That color also is found on the brake calipers, which show through the wheel openings.

The handles on the rear doors are hidden in the C-pillar. A small spoiler flows off the rear roof. Rear seats fold flat for extra space.

The next-generation Aveo will be built next year at GM's plant in Orion Township, Mich. The current Aveo is built in South Korea.

GM originally planned to make the redesigned vehicle in China or Mexico. But last May, the company agreed to build the car in the United States in exchange for UAW concessions in advance of the automaker's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

 

I think it's important that the Aveo get over 40mpg hwy and be better than the Cruze/Focus/Civic in city mileage.

I think fuel economy is important in the RS, but if it dropped to 35-37mpg hwy I don't think that would be too big of a deal. Maybe they can do a turbo DI 1.6L. Of course then they would have to move away from using the Family 0 engine and into Family II.

Are there any other Turbo direct injection engines ready to go other than the LNF and other versions of the 2.0L

 

I was thinking about the 1.6T from the Corsa OPC too. Wouldn't that be something if a Family 1 turbo fit in the smaller Aveo and not the larger Cruze?

 

If not the LNF, why not the non-turbo DI 2.4L Ecotec found in the Equinox? It has 182hp / 172 lb-ft and could probably be tuned for a bit more in a lightweight, sporty car than it is for the 'Nox.

 

That would be good as long as the fuel economy numbers are there. I'm sure some people will say they should use the 260HP+ LNF, but to me that would be too much for this little car. It is like a LS9 in the Camaro, and we all know what designing a car around the S/C 6.2L does for it.

 

I'd rather see some hotrodding done to the new 1.4 . Its turbo charged , direct injected with varible valve timing ...in a perfromance model , theres definately wiggle room for more .

 

IMO, GM has hit a grand slam both times they put a supercharged 6.2L LS engine in a car. Do you really have a negative opinion of the CTS-V or the ZR1?

For that matter the LNF in the Cobalt SS (and even the HHR SS) is a great combination. Why would putting it in a smaller, lighter car make it worse?

 

I have no problem with the CTS-V or ZR1, but many blame the weight of the new Camaro on designing it to handle a 600HP supercharged V8. It would be even worse for the Aveo to gain weight and lose MPG.

Price and MPG are the most important factors in the "B" car segment. If the Aveo RS only got 29mpg then what would be the point. You could just get a Camaro V6.

Cobalt SS was a great car, but why would anyone want one over a Camaro LT or the new 305HP V6 Mustang when the cost and fuel economy are about the same

 

I just want armrests

 

According wikipedia's info the 1.6L DCVCP Turbo gets 35mpg, combined (180hp), but then again its a Family I powerplant.

I concur.

I was guessing that GM would eventually develop a sportier hatchback version of the Cruze; however maybe keeping that focused as an economy car is the right direction.

 

200-210 HP Is the "Standard" set By the Mini JCW for a sporty hatch. It should at least be in the 180HP range.

 

Four doors? A bigger back seat? A bigger trunk? Front wheel drive? Easier to park? Better sightlines?

Engines don't get fuel economy by themselves -- they have to be in a vehicle, with a known set of gear ratios and a known curb weight, before you can say anything about fuel economy. So, what vehicle was that in?

 

The Cobalt SS Turbo is also much faster and much better handling than a 3.6 Camaro ... a stock SS will typically run high 13's@102-104 with a person who can drive . Im a Camaro di-hard and would rather have a Cobalt SS coupe over a 3.6 Camaro . And returns better fuel economy , my pedestrian supercharged SS routinely averaged upper 20's and went as high as high 30's on long trips .

 

That's faster, but I wouldn't say it's much faster. 2010 V6 Camaros are running 13.9-14.0 with good drivers.

You're right about the handling, though...

 

Damn , I didnt know the v6 was running those kinda times , nice . I did kinda jus 1/2 a$% assume with the v6 mag times ( mid14's ) and quite a few videos over on ss.net of stock Cobalt SS's walking v6 camaro's .