Car Design News: 2007 Chevrolet Aveo in Detail

Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Design/Driving Experience
Page 3: Drivetrain/Safety
Page 4: Specifications

Crisp, modern exterior design

The 2007 Aveo sedan is high in style and progressive in attitude. It is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor and features crisp, sculpted lines and a wide, confident stance. The design skillfully creates the illusion of a larger car through attributes such as contoured side feature lines that rise from front to rear, pronounced ??shouldersover the wheel openings and body-color door sills.

Aveo sedan V-shaped hood lines point to its distinctively Chevy front fascia, which boasts a chrome-accented grille with prominent cross bar and iconic gold bowtie emblem. The sedans new, more assertive and dynamic look is highlighted by premium cues, including three-dimensional, richly detailed headlamps that extend into the hood, available front fog lamps and bold, round taillamps, which are set within jeweled bezels.

Contributing to Aveo sedans more aerodynamic design is the incorporation of the radio antenna into the rear glass. Extensive wind tunnel testing also helped reduce the coefficient of drag from 0.348 to a more slippery 0.326, compared to the previous model.

The redesigned Chevy Aveo sedan represents the new global face of Chevrolet design for the more than 120 countries where Aveo is being introduced.

Refined interior with a modern twist

The new Aveo sedan cabin reflects a youthful interpretation of refinement. Its signature ?�??tall car design and generous dimension offer ample interior space capable of accommodating passengers more than 6 feet tall in each of the five seating positions. An enhanced combination of sound-dampening technologies and improved aerodynamics provides a quiet and comfortable ride, even at higher speeds.

The contemporary appearance of the 2007 Aveo sedans interior is achieved through integrated components, meticulous craftsmanship and complementary colors in three different interior design packages. Striking features, including a two-tone scheme, rich instrumentation; attractive accents (metallic grain and satin chrome for charcoal and charcoal deluxe cloth upholstery, respectively; wood grain appearance for neutral cloth and neutral deluxe cloth and available neutral perforated leatherette) provide visual and tactile interest. Precision in fit and finish details caps the Aveo sedans high-quality appearance.

The sedans interior was designed for maximum comfort and convenience, which is evidenced in elements such as standard tilting front-seat headrests, a folding drivers armrest and lower-profile rear-seat headrests. Additional conveniences include dual visor vanity mirrors, a sunglass holder on the driver side headliner, door and seatback storage pockets; and clever hooks, located on headrest posts, that can hold items such as backpacks or shopping bags.

Theater-style rear seating provides a commanding view for all passengers. A fully reclining front passenger seat and a 60/40-split folding rear seat expand Aveo interior cargo capacity, enabling long items, such as skis, to be carried between the trunk and passenger compartment. The trunk offers 12.4 cubic feet (350L) of storage space, more than the previous model.

More value is delivered through the tilt-adjustable steering wheel, six-way adjustable front seats (with manual lumbar adjustment on driver seat), on-key remote keyless entry (no separate fob) and available cruise control.

Aveo sedans radios are derived from GM new family of premium radio systems, distinguished by upscale appearance, simplicity of operation and range of features and capabilities. An auxiliary input jack for iPods, satellite radio accessories and other devices is standard on all radios. The base radio is an AM/FM stereo with four speakers. A CD/MP3-capable ratio with six-speaker sound system is available, as is a six-disc in-dash CD changer radio. Steering wheel audio controls are available.

A high-quality driving experience comes from a strong vehicle body that is well insulated. Extensive sound insulation, enhanced even further for 2007, helps minimize wind, road and engine noise inside the cabin. Even the stainless steel exhaust system is tuned to reduce noise.

A dynamic driving experience

The 2007 Aveo sedan was engineered and validated for a broad range of driving and road conditions around the world and tuned for a dynamic, well-planted driving experience.

The chassis systems on the 2007 Aveo reflect further refinements of features developed for the 2006 models, which were enhanced significantly compared to earlier versions of the car.

The suspension system begins with a MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar and an independent torsion beam axle mount compound link-type rear suspension with gas-charged shocks.

Power-assisted, variable-rate rack-and-pinion steering is standard. The steering gear is mounted on the front suspension cross member for precise action and stability.

Standard on the Aveo sedan are power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes; a four-channel ABS system is available. The four-sensor one at each wheel system incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances braking performance based on factors including road conditions and the weight of passengers and/or cargo.

For 2007, the focus is on delivering more refined, precise ride and handling characteristics for more confident high-speed road command and agile, responsive control, especially in more demanding driving situations such as rapid lane changes at highway speeds.

New drive-enhancing features on the 2007 Aveo sedan include:

A wide, solid stance and long wheelbase (97.6 inches / 2479 mm) with a front tread of 57.1 inches and rear tread of 56.3 inches (compared to 55.5 inches in 2006) deliver a smooth, confident, stable ride. This wide footprint is among the best in class, making the car very surefooted, imparting a sense of confidence and stability among driver and passengers.

A 17-mm front stabilizer bar combined with higher rate front springs and more highly damped front shocks minimize the amount of vehicle roll and increase the roll damping to provide more precise control for the driver. New suspension bushings also contribute to the precise handling control. This fully retuned suspension package provides a distinctively European-style performance and feel.

Valve tuning in the rack and pinion hydraulic-assist steering system is consistent with the suspension tuning to provide more precise control.

Fifteen-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels are standard on LT and available on LS, which also offers available 14-inch aluminum wheels. Fourteen-inch steel wheels with a redesigned bolt-on wheel cover are standard on LS.