VIDEO: Chevrolet's Designers Talk About the 2012 Sonic

Revealed for the first time here in North America at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic will replace the Aveo as GM's new subcompact model, while retaining the Aveo nameplate in Europe and other international markets. In this latest video, the firm's designers discuss the styling features of the Sonic, highlighting the motorcycle elements featured in both the sedan and hatchback. According to Design Director John Mack, the aim was to create "a youthful, spirited car, one that stands out in the market". For the complete walk-around check out the video after the break. Read more »

Chevrolet Sonic Z-Spec Concept Bows in Detroit

Making its world premiere alongside the regular variants of the all-new Chevrolet Sonic sub-compact at the Detroit Show today is a Z-Spec-badged concept study of the five-door hatchback model.

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Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Sonic in Both Sedan and Hatchback Body Styles

General Motors will be showing off the Aveo's North American market replacement in the form of the all-new Sonic sub-compact at the Detroit Show later today. We've already seen the Sonic five-door hatchback, which will continue to use the Aveo moniker in Europe and other international markets, but the US automaker also released the first photos of the four-door sedan model.

“The all-new Chevrolet Sonic blends the practicality of a small car with the passion for driving that Chevrolet vehicles like the Corvette are known for,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “Its combination of great design, fun driving experience and the latest connectivity features create a serious competitor with a fun spirit.”

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic: First Photos of the North American Version of the Aveo

[Updated] It appears that the wait for Chevrolet's Aveo replacement is almost over as we have the first official photos of the North American-spec model. Confirming previous rumors, General Motors ditched the Aveo moniker in favor of a new name as the small car will be called the Chevrolet Sonic on this side of the Atlantic. The company noted that the model for markets outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico, which was first seen at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, will retain the Aveo name.

"The Sonic represents a new beginning for Chevrolet in the small car segment and so we felt it was time to give it a new name,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet U.S. Marketing. “The new car is roomy, stylish and fun to drive, and Sonic is a youthful, energetic name that helps convey what this vehicle is about."

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GM's South Korean Plant First to Produce New Chevy Aveo

General Motor's South Korean Daewoo unit announced today that it will handle initial production of the new Chevrolet Aveo at its local Bupyeong plant in Incheon. The new Aveo will make its debut under the Daewoo brandname in the South Korean market in the first half of 2011 before a global rollout as a Chevrolet.

"GM Daewoo is proud to be the first member of the GM family to produce and sell GM's next-generation global small car," said GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone. "With demand for small cars on the rise worldwide, this is great news not only for GM Daewoo and our suppliers, but for Korean consumers as well."

The Detroit automaker has previously stated the North American market Aveo will be built at its Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Mich., in 2011, a move that is said to restore around 1,200 jobs to Southeast Michigan.

The production version of the new Aveo hatchback was given its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show last week.

In European guise, Chevrolet will offer the Aveo with four petrol engines, including two 1.2-liter units delivering 70HP and 86HP, a 100HP 1.4-liter and a 115HP 1.6-liter powerplant, plus a 1.3-liter turbo diesel engine featuring Start/Stop technology that will be available with either 75HP or 90HP.

Chevrolet is also planning to introduce a four-door sedan version of the Aveo, which will most likely make its debut either in LA this November or in Detroit in early January 2011.

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GM's South Korean Plant First to Produce New Chevy Aveo

General Motor's South Korean Daewoo unit announced today that it will handle initial production of the new Chevrolet Aveo at its local Bupyeong plant in Incheon. The new Aveo will make its debut under the Daewoo brandname in the South Korean market in the first half of 2011 before a global rollout as a Chevrolet.

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Paris Show: Chevrolet Aveo 5-door, Sedan Coming Soon [With Live Pics]

The Aveo is finally here and in the metal, and Chevy says it's aimed at younger buyers interested in a hot-hatch "looking every bit as good as the Aveo RS show car concept". Points for trying, guys, but not really...

Set to hit Europe in the summer of 2011, the Aveo 5-door will be powered by a variety of small-displacement gasoline and diesel engines (ranging from 70 to 115 horsepower) and even be available with a 6-speed stick. For all the specs on available engines and the like, check out our previous post.

The sea of black plastic has seeped out from the interior and found itself all over the exterior of the car, as evidenced by the front and rear light housings and former rear quarter window. Also, whatever was once attractive from the rear 3/4 view (like the C-pillar kink and rear end treatment) seems to have been watered down a notch.

And if the hatchback doesn't do it for you, Chevrolet should be presenting a sedan version of the car either in LA in November or in Detroit in January 2011. Anyone interested in a 180-horsepower SS version?

By Phil Alex

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Paris Show: Chevrolet Aveo 5-door, Sedan Coming Soon [With Live Pics]

The Aveo is finally here and in the metal, and Chevy says it's aimed at younger buyers interested in a hot-hatch "looking every bit as good as the Aveo RS show car concept". Points for trying, guys, but not really...

Read more »

VIDEOS: 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, Captiva Facelift, Orlando MPV and Cruze Hatchback

As promised, here are the respective promotional videos of Chevrolet's Paris Motor Show-bound Aveo sub-compact, Captiva 7-seater SUV, Orlando 7-seater MPV and the Cruze five-door hatchback. From these four cars, only the Aveo has been confirmed for the U.S market with sales of both the five-door variant and the yet-to-be-revealed sedan model to start sometime in 2011.

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First Photos of 2011 Chevrolet Aveo Interior

When General Motors lifted the wraps off the production 2011 Chevrolet Aveo hatchback on September 8, it only gave us a couple of pictures of the subcompact's exterior. But today, we came across a promotional video (to be added soon) and took some snapshots of the cabin.

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Chevrolet Europe Presents Special Edition Cruze Irmscher, Aveo Sport and Captiva Family

Chevrolet's European arm is expanding its German lineup with the introduction of three special edition packages for the Aveo supermini, Cruze sedan and Captiva SUV.

Priced at €1,990, the Sport package for the Aveo is available on both the 3- and 5-door models with the 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter engines. It adds a sport suspension that lowers the Aveo's ride height by 30mm, 15-inch black alloy wheels shod in 195/45 R15 tires, a stainless steel exhaust system and a roof spoiler.

The Cruze, which was revealed in U.S.-spec form at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is offered with a sport package developed by long-time GM tuner, Irmscher.

Available with either a 1.8-liter petrol unit that makes 141HP or a 2.0-liter diesel with 150HP, the kit is priced at €1,990 and it includes a lowered suspension, 18-inch alloys wrapped in 225/45 R18 rubber, stainless steel scuff plates, sport exhaust tips and Irmscher logos.

Finally, the Captiva Family Edition adds more standard equipment to the SUV including cruise control, parking sensors, air-conditioning, leather seats, steering wheel and gearbox knob and a higher grade audio system.

Prices for the Captiva Family Edition start from €26,590 for the petrol model and from €28,190 for the diesel.

Extra-Terrestrial Vehicle: A Chevy Aveo of the Third Kind

The Extra-Terrestrial Vehicle or ETV -we're not even kidding, that's the car's official name- is a futuristic-looking custom build created by Mike Vetter and his Florida-based company, 'The Car Factory'. It's hard to believe it just by looking at the ETV, but underneath that sci-fi outfit you'll find a Chevrolet Aveo stripped out of its body but not its heart.

Mike, who also works on Carrera GT replica bodies for the Porsche Boxster, claims on his website that buyers can opt either for an Aveo or a Boxster donor car. Somehow though, we find it hard to believe that anyone would give up a Porsche, no matter how many thousands of time they've seen Captain Kirk and Spock fighting off intruders from other planets.

But even in the case that the Chevy Aveo is the donor car, the ETV will most likely alienate you with its 'out of this world' price. We discovered that the Florida-based company has listed a completed ETV on eBay with a 'Buy it Now' price of just... $86,000. Cool but not $86k cool.

Links: The Car Factory & eBay