The all-new Chevrolet Aveo made its worldwide debut, last week, at Auto Shanghai 2005, China’s premier motor show.

The new sedan, which was developed in Korea by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) with assistance from the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Centre (PATAC) in Shanghai, will be rolled out in more than 120 countries and territories.

The Aveo will be assembled and marketed in China by Shanghai General Motors, which like PATAC is a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC).

“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.”

“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 a 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.”

Progressive Exterior

The Aveo is a true sedan that has an all-new exterior. The front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, headlights and taillights with cylinder-type lamps , outside rearview mirrors, long outside door handles, aluminium 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-inch wheels add a sense of sportiness to the Aveo’s progressive design.

The Aveo has a wheelbase of 2,480 millimeters (97.6 inches) and a height of 1,495 millimeters (58.9 inches). Its overall length of 4,310 millimeters (169.7 inches) and width of 1,710 millimeters (67.3 inches) are the greatest in its segment. These large exterior dimensions provide the basis for a very generous interior.

GM's Bob Lutz introduced the new Chevrolet Aveo last week at the Shanghai Motor Show

Roomy and Attractive Interior

Although a small car, 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.

The Aveo is not just good looking, it also is roomy, 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 litres (14.1 cubic feet). Convenient split-folding rear seats increase the amount of space for carrying cargo.

Refined Chassis

The Aveo's front-wheel-drive 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 millimeters (57.1 inches) and a rear tread of 1,430 millimeters (56.3 inches), 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 centres 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 Aveo sedan’s hatchback sibling received a top five-star rating in U.S. NCAP frontal crash tests.

Powertrain Choice

The Aveo sold in China will come with a choice of a 1.4-litre or 1.6-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine, matched to a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission.