2008 CHEVROLET AVEO: SMALL CAR WITH BIG FEATURES
08/01/2007
Chevrolet
Redesigned for 2007, the Chevrolet Aveo sedan cruises into the '08 model year with refinements designed to bolster its appearance and safety. In the style department, new 15-inch aluminum wheels join the lineup, along with chrome door handles. From a safety standpoint, a tire pressure monitoring system is standard on all models.
The Aveo sedan offers a smart-looking exterior and a roomy interior that is characterized by thoughtful details and refinement. It also delivers a confident, dynamic driving experience and generous features usually seen in more expensive cars. It was designed to challenge expectations of what an entry-level car can deliver.
Also returning for '08 is the versatile Aveo5, a five-door model infused with the dynamic attributes of the Aveo sedan, but with a distinctive five-door body style. Both the Aveo5 and Aveo sedan are powered by a sophisticated and fuel-efficient 1.6L DOHC engine that offers fuel economy among the segment's best.
More than just an affordable small car, the 2008 Chevy Aveo is an uncompromising performer, with a great design, a smooth, safe driving experience and amenities that until now were rare in the segment.
Aveo sedan lineup and features
The 2008 Aveo sedan is available in LS and LT models. Both models offer many standard features, such as standard side-impact air bags, and a wide range of optional equipment. The LS and LT sedans are complemented by the Aveo5 hatchback LS and Special Value Model.
Aveo sedan standard features include:
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Intermittent windshield wipers
Dual-stage frontal driver and passenger air bags and seat-mounted side-impact air bags
Body-color outside rearview mirrors and door handles
AM/FM stereo with auxiliary input jack (for an iPod or other device)
Driver's seat with fold-down armrest, manual height adjuster and manual lumbar adjuster
Fully reclining front seats
60/40 split-folding rear seats with height-adjustable head restraints for outboard passengers
Tilt steering wheel
Front head restraints with convenience hooks
Rear window defogger
Sunglass holder
Driver and front passenger seatback map pockets
Interior fuel door and trunk releases
Air conditioning with cabin filtration and rear-seat air vents.
Aveo LS sedan options include an Aisin four-speed automatic transmission with Hold Control Mode that gives the driver the ability to manually shift gears (also available on LT); four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (also available on LT); and 14-inch alloy wheels (14-inch steel wheels with a redesigned bolt-on wheel cover are standard).
Other LS options include:
Fog lamps
AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player and six-speaker premium sound system
On-key remote keyless entry with content theft-deterrent system, power windows with passenger lock-out and power door locks
Trunk-mounted rear spoiler with CHMSL
Engine block heater for easier starting in cold climates.
The uplevel Aveo LT offers the standard features on the LS model, as well as standard equipment that is generally optional on competitive vehicles, including:
New-design 15-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels
Heated, power-adjusting outside rearview mirrors
On-key remote keyless entry with content theft-deterrent system, power windows with passenger lock-out and power door locks
AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player and six-speaker premium sound system
Deluxe cloth seats.
LT options include steering wheel-mounted audio controls, fog lamps and trunk-mounted rear spoiler with CHMSL, as well as LT-only perforated leatherette seats.
Crisp, modern exterior design
The Aveo sedan is high in style and progressive in attitude. It features crisp, sculpted lines and a wide, confident stance. The design skillfully creates the illusion of a larger car through such attributes as contoured side feature lines that rise from front to rear, pronounced "shoulders" over the wheel openings and body-color door sills.
Aveo sedan's 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 sedan's 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.
Refined interior with a modern twist
Aveo sedan's 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. A combination of sound-dampening technologies and aerodynamics provides a quiet and comfortable ride, even at higher speeds.
The contemporary appearance of the 2008 Aveo sedan's interior is achieved through integrated components, meticulous craftsmanship and complementary colors in three distinctive 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 sedan's high-quality appearance.
The sedan's interior was designed for maximum comfort and convenience, which is evidenced in elements such as standard tilting front-seat headrests, a folding driver's 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's 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 (350 L) of storage space.
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 sedan's radios are derived from GM's 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 are steering wheel audio controls.
A dynamic driving experience
Chevy Aveo models are 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 suspension system features 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.
Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes are standard ; a four-channel ABS system is available. The four-sensor system - one at each wheel - incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of passengers and/or cargo.
Drive-enhancing features on the 2008 Aveo sedan also 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 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. The 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.
New, 15-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels are standard on Aveo sedan LT and available on LS (including Aveo5). Fourteen-inch steel wheels with a bolt-on wheel cover are standard on LS.
Responsive powertrain
Powering Aveo and Aveo5 is GM's proven, sophisticated 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 103 horsepower (77 kW) and 107 lb.-ft. of torque (148 Nm). The engine is enhanced by an electronic throttle control and variable geometry induction system, which help maximize power across the rpm range.
The engine's variable geometry induction system is designed with a longer runner length at slower speeds to increase low-end torque up to 10 percent. The system includes a bypass valve that is activated in high rpm or heavy throttle applications. Features include:
A plastic engine upper cover for noise dampening / quieter operation
A single serpentine accessory belt drive system with automatic tensioner
An engine cooling fan system with 366-mm diameter fan
A smooth-shifting, five-speed manual transmission is standard. The available Aisin four-speed automatic transmission features adaptive shift technology.
The segment-exclusive Hold Control Mode special feature helps reduce wheel spin and traction loss on slick roads by allowing the driver to select and hold a higher gear, which reduces torque to the wheels. It enables sportier driving operation by allowing the driver to control shift points similar to manual transmission operation.
Aveo meets the ULEV II emissions standard, which - along with its outstanding fuel economy - makes it one of the cleanest, most economical vehicles available in North America .
Safe and secure
The Aveo sedan and Aveo5 are supported by a comprehensive system of safety and security technologies designed to meet safety standards in markets around the globe.
Aveo's safety starts with a high-strength steel structure that creates a safety cage around the passenger compartment. The structure has been engineered to help maintain passenger compartment integrity and features tailor-welded blanks, a feature not typically found on vehicles in the segment.
The 2008 Aveo sedan and Aveo5 include standard advanced dual-stage frontal air bags and the Passenger Sensing System. The dual-stage frontal air bags deploy at different levels, depending on the severity of the crash. Standard seat-mounted side-impact air bags provide additional head and thorax protection.
Additional safety and security features include:
New-for-2008 tire pressure monitoring system
Daytime running lamps (DRLs)
Front safety belt pretensioners with front-load limiters
Height-adjustable shoulder belt anchors
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH) child seat attachment system in the rear seats
Rear child safety door locks
Emergency hatch release inside the trunk
Fuel door lock with remote release feature
Available engine immobilizer theft-deterrent system
Available four-channel ABS.
Aveo5 details
Aveo5 is the car that ignited a renaissance in the United States economy car segment when it was introduced only a few years ago, demonstrating that a highly efficient, inexpensive car didn't have to look boring or lack refinement. It was conceived for maximum versatility and practicality, such as the convenience of easy access for both front and rear passengers, and the versatility of a hatchback configuration with ample cargo space that can reach all the way to the front of the cabin.
The Aveo5's signature "tall car" design boasts smooth lines and short front and rear overhangs that give it a bold personality. Distinctive cues, such as the division's signature brand bar and gold bowtie, capture its Chevrolet identity. Dual, folding outside body-color mirrors lend a streamlined, upscale look and are standard.
Aveo5 is offered in LS and Special Value Model trims. The Aveo5 Special Value Model is surprisingly well-equipped, with standard features that include dual-stage frontal driver and front passenger air bags with GM's Passenger Sensing System; seat mounted side-impact air bags; vented front disc and rear drum brakes; and front MacPherson strut suspension and rear semi-independent torsion beam suspension.
Other Aveo5 Special Value Model standard features include:
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Intermittent windshield wipers, and rear wiper with washer
Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs)
14-inch steel wheels and all-season blackwall tires
Body-color outside rearview mirrors and door handles
AM/FM stereo
Driver's seat with fold-down armrest, manual height adjuster and manual lumbar adjuster
Tilt steering
Tilting front head restraints
Rear window defogger
60/40 flip-and-fold rear seats with height-adjustable head restraints for outboard passengers
Sunglass and ticket holders.
Aveo5 Special Value Model options include an engine block heater and dealer-installed air conditioning. The uplevel Aveo5 LS includes standard features on the Special Value Model, as well as standard air conditioning with cabin filtration system. Aveo5 LS available features include:
Four-speed Aisin automatic transmission with Hold Control Mode that gives the driver the ability to manually shift gears
Four-wheel anti-lock brakes
Rear spoiler
Fog lamps
Cruise control
On-key remote keyless entry with content theft-deterrent system, power windows with passenger lock-out and power door locks
Premium power sunroof with sliding shade and tilt position
Auxiliary radio input jack for iPods or other devices
AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player and six-speaker premium sound system.
Options on the LS model, such as a rear spoiler, fog lamps, 15-inch aluminum wheels and a premium power sunroof with sliding shade and tilt position, allow owners to maximize the Aveo5's personality.
Aveo around the world
The Aveo lineup attracts the highest rate of first-time buyers of any GM vehicle, providing a great opportunity to earn these customers' long-term loyalty. Like the small, premium-car Cobalt family and the HHR small crossover vehicle, Aveo also generates a high number of conquest sales.
The Aveo is making inroads around the world and is sold in more than 120 countries under several nameplates (primarily under the Chevrolet brand). It is the top-selling car produced by GM Daewoo in Korea (GMDAT). About half of vehicles produced by GMDAT are Chevrolet models. The number is steadily rising as the expertise and quality record of GM's Korean subsidiary and Chevy's tradition of "more than expected" value increasingly resonate around the globe.
The Aveo is the top-selling Chevy model in Europe and is a great contributor to the brand's global expansion.