Currently reading: Hot Chevrolet Aveo RS at Detroit

Chevy shows off its next Aveo supermini with this hot hatch concept at Detroit

Chevrolet’s Aveo RS concept, which will be launched at the Detroit motor show next week, is the first look at the firm’s next Aveo supermini, as well as its first foray into the hot hatch market.

Set to reach the UK in production guise in 2011, the Detroit Aveo concept is longer, wider and more spacious than the current generation car. Chevrolet has given the show car a hot hatch makeover and a source told Autocar that a performance version was likely to be offered in the Aveo line up when it goes on sale in the UK early next year.

Official Chevrolet Aveo RS pics

Powering the front-wheel drive Aveo RS is a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, which puts out 136bhp and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. A graphite silver and brushed aluminium engine cover has been created for the concept. No performance figures have been revealed at this stage.

Styling wise, the five-door Aveo RS gets the dual front grille from the recently launched Cruze and Spark models and show car features include exaggerated bumpers, fog lights, a lower stance and brushed and polished aluminium headlight and grille surrounds. The high beltline and low roofline contribute to the Aveo RS’s sporty stance.

Hidden away in its C-pillars are its rear door handles, while at the rear it gets a centre-mounted chrome-tipped exhaust, a roof spoiler and motorcycle-inspired rear lights. Completing the Aveo RS’s sporty exterior are large 19-inch alloy wheels, in a gun metal metallic finish.

“This car hints at what the next Aveo will look like,” said our source. “It’s an all-new model and is designed to preview where we want to take the Aveo, including this sporty concept.”

Inside, the striking Boracay Blue theme from the outside continues, while design cues from the Vauxhall Insignia and Astra, as well as the Cruze are also evident. This is mainly evident in its wraparound-stlye interior, while the fascia, steering wheel and seats have all been seen in the more premium General Motors offerings before.

The blue features on the instrument panel, doors, steering wheel, gear knob and in the stitching of its leather seats. The interior has been designed to be functional, with the rear seats able to be folded flat and additional storage can be found in the centre stack and doors.

The car will also be sold in the US, where production will begin at GM’s Orion plant later in 2010.

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Mart_J 11 January 2010

Re: Hot Chevrolet Aveo RS at Detroit

HyundaiSmoke wrote:

The Point, dont come to our American market with MINIs, A3s,Golfs, etc... thinking you can run the show, on the premise of fun to drive and "Premiumness",and think Us Americans are too stupid to realize what a true rattletrap is from a reliability stadpoint. These little Aveos are starting to prove their worth here slowly but surely, and who knows one day youll get some Aveo fanatic in there raising hell like myself.

But I don't want to drive a fridge. Speaking of whcih, an update. Partner's sister 3 month old Lg washing machine went spectacularly kaputt over Christmas and her 9 yr old Hyundai has now been sent to the crusher in the sky. New 120d being delivered March. She is utterly convinced that she will never buy anything Korean again (apart from pho).

Mini1 8 January 2010

Re: Hot Chevrolet Aveo RS at Detroit

Very nice indeed. The current Aveo is already past its sell-by date (it is a modified Daewoo Kalos after all), and this sit nicely alongside the Spark. Hopefully Chevrolet can pull out some more decent offerings with clean engines. I guess this could go into production relatively unchanged, maybe the grille will be toned down at the front.