New Aveo Sedan Makes Global Debut at Auto Shanghai

The significance of the Chinese market to General Motors has been emphasized with the international debut of the new T250 Chevrolet Aveo at Auto Shanghai 2005, China's premier auto show in 2005. The new sedan was developed in Korea by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) with assistance from GM and SAIC's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in Shanghai. Previewed by Korean media in Daewoo Kalos guise in January, the T250 will be rolled out in more than 120 countries and territories.

"The new Aveo is a perfect example of how GM is utilizing our global and domestic resources for the development of cutting-edge products tailored for local users," said Troy A. Clarke, GM Group Vice President and President of GM Asia Pacific. "We look forward to introducing it in China within the next year to complement the rest of our unmatched lineup of locally built and imported products."

In China the Aveo will be assembled and marketed by Shanghai General Motors with a choice of GM Daewoo 1.4 L or 1.6 L DOHC four-cylinder engines, matched to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. With strong sales gains in recent months from Honda and Hyundai, the new Chevrolet Aveo is a key new product for Shanghai GM, providing Chevrolet with a direct rival for the Honda Fit, Toyota Vios and Hyundai Accent.

"From a styling point of view, this is a totally new car," explained David Lyon, Executive Director of GM Asia Pacific Design and GM Daewoo Design. "We have given the exterior a more dynamic look. The attractive interior has been improved significantly through the addition of a series of new comfort and convenience features.

"The result is a vehicle that will serve as benchmark for exterior and interior craftsmanship," Lyon added. "It is a product that will appeal to families and individual users alike who are looking for a small car that offers something more than the ordinary small car."

The T250 Aveo has an all-new exterior linking it more closely with Chevrolet's global styling. The front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, headlights and taillights with cylinder-type lamps , outside rearview mirrors, long outside door handles, aluminum wheels and wheel covers have all been styled to differentiate the sedan from its hatchback sibling.

Edged side character lines, hood character lines that extend to the front bumper, round fog lamps, an optional rear spoiler and 15" wheels add a sense of sportiness to the Aveo's progressive design.

The T250 Aveo has a wheelbase of 2,480 mm (97.6") and a height of 1,495 mm (58.9"). Its overall length of 4,310 mm (169.7") and width of 1,710 mm (67.3") are the greatest in its segment. Three inches longer and nearly two inches wider than the T200 Aveo, the T250 also rivals small C-segment sedans such as Renault's Logan and the T3000 Astra-based Chevrolet Viva.

Upper B-segment           Dimensions (mm inches)
   sedans       Wheelbase  Length      Width      Height
Skoda Fabia     2462 96.9  4222 166.2  1646 64.8  1449 57.0
Kia Rio         2500 98.4  4240 166.9  1695 66.7  1470 57.9
Lada "110"      2492 98.1  4265 167.9  1680 66.1  1420 55.9
Hyundai Accent  2500 98.4  4280 168.5  1695 66.7  1470 57.9
Toyota Vios     2500 98.4  4285 168.7  1690 66.5  1440 56.7
Honda Fit       2450 96.5  4310 169.7  1690 66.5  1485 58.5
Chevrolet Aveo  2480 97.6  4310 169.7  1710 67.3  1495 58.9
Suzuki Aerio    2480 97.6  4350 171.3  1690 66.5  1545 60.8

These large exterior dimensions provide the basis for a very generous interior, offering headroom, shoulder room and hip room that are among the best in its class. A high seating position provides Aveo passengers a better view of the road ahead. The Aveo's generous trunk provides improved capacity of up to 400 L (14.1 cu-ft). Convenient split-folding rear seats increase the amount of space for carrying cargo.

Like recently introduced competitors, the Aveo has a number of amenities that are generally found in higher-end, higher-priced vehicles. These include tilt steering, a driver's seat armrest, seat-belt height adjusters, power windows, power door locks, intermittent wipers and remote controlled central door locking. The use of wood grain accents on the door panels and instrument panel and optional leather seats provide a luxury feel expected in many Asian markets such as China.

The Aveo's fwd chassis system features MacPherson struts in front and a torsion-beam suspension in the rear. The steering gear is situated on the front suspension cross-member, which improves shock absorption and provides more precise and stable handling. Rack & pinion hydraulic assist steering adds to the Aveo's driving pleasure. The wide stance with a front tread of 1,450 mm (57.1") and a rear tread of 1,430 mm (56.3"), which are both among the best in the Aveo's class, provides enhanced handling and makes the sedan very surefooted.

The Aveo offers strong occupant protection in the event of an accident. It all centers on the stable passenger cell, which is made predominantly of high-strength steel. The B-pillar moves like a pendulum rather than being folded and protruding into the passenger compartment. Known as Tailor-Welded Blanking, or the pendulum method, this is normally used only in larger, upper-segment vehicles.

Providing additional safety are dual front air bags and seat-belt pretensioners, in addition to four-channel, four-sensor anti-lock brakes. The T200 Aveo sedan's hatchback sibling received a top five-star rating in U.S. NCAP frontal crash tests.