2009 CHEVROLET AVEO: NEW, MORE POWERFUL ENGINE INCREASES FUN FACTOR WHILE M
06/09/2008
Chevrolet
The fuel-efficient Chevrolet Aveo is an uncompromising performer, with a great design, a smooth, safe driving experience and amenities that are rare in the segment. For 2009, a more powerful engine, the 1.6L Gen 3 Ecotec, is standard in all models, delivering more usable horsepower with the same great fuel efficiency.
"Aveo characterizes the Chevrolet mission of delivering a great-looking, fun-to-drive car that is fuel efficient," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "Its great fuel economy continues to be a smart choice for customers seeking solutions to the dependence on petroleum, as the Aveo offers the fuel efficiency of many hybrid vehicles."
The 2009 Aveo lineup includes the sedan and Aveo5 - a sporty five-door hatchback that is redesigned on the outside and inside. The new design features Chevy's bold, global front-end design with refined details including prominent, Malibu-inspired grilles separated by a bowtie emblem.
Both the Aveo sedan and Aveo5 offer smart-looking styling and roomy interiors characterized by thoughtful details and refinement. They also deliver confident, dynamic driving experiences and offer generous features usually seen in more expensive cars, challenging the expectations of what an entry-level car can deliver.
In addition to the more powerful standard Ecotec engine and the Aveo5's new look, the '09 Aveo lineup includes the following new or revised features:
OnStar standard on all models
XM Satellite Radio available
Revised driver information center with outside temperature display and fuel economy/driving range function
New 15-inch aluminum alloy five-spoke wheels
New 15-inch steel wheel with bolt-on wheel cover (standard on Aveo sedan with the 2LT package)
Three new exterior colors: Black Granite Metallic, Blue Moon and Tahiti Green
New Charcoal leatherette seating
Available leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob (included with leatherette seating)
Revised LS/1LT/2LT trim lineup
Auxiliary input jack included on all radios
GM Oil L ife monitoring system
More powerful 95-amp alternator
Variable intermittent windshield wipers
New spoiler for Aveo5
Enhanced ergonomic controls and features
Aveo sedan lineup and features
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.
The 2009 Aveo sedan and Aveo5 are available in LS, 1LT and 2LT models. Each model offers many standard features, such as standard side-impact air bags, and a wide range of optional equipment.
Aveo LS standard features include:
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Variable 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
Aveo sedan powertrain, chassis and suspension options include an Aisin four-speed automatic transmission with Hold Control Mode that gives the driver the ability to manually shift gears, and four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution. Additional LS options include:
Engine oil pan heater for easier starting in extreme-cold climates
Provisions for dealer-installed air conditioning system
The uplevel Aveo 1LT offers the standard features on the LS model, as well as the following:
Air conditioning
AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player and six-speaker premium sound system
Floor mats
Aveo 1LT options include the four-speed automatic transmission, ABS, XM Satellite Radio, a trunk-mounted rear spoiler with CHMSL and a power and convenience package that includes power windows, locks, remote keyless entry, alarm system, and cruise control.
The 2LT includes the standard equipment of the 1LT model, but adds key comfort and convenience features, including:
Heated power outside rearview mirrors
Power windows, locks, remote keyless entry, and alarm system
Cruise control
Deluxe cloth seat fabric
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
XM Satellite Radio
Other 2LT standard equipment includes 15-inch wheels, fog lamps, and, on the Aveo sedan, chrome exterior door handles. 2LT options include the four-speed automatic transmission, leatherette seating (including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob), ABS, rear spoiler and a premium power sunroof.
Aveo5 lineup and features
The Aveo5's signature "tall car" design boasts smooth lines and short front and rear overhangs that give it a bold personality. 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.
New exterior styling for 2009 includes a front-end design that leaves no doubt that the Aveo5 is a contemporary Chevy. Signature, Malibu-inspired upper and lower grilles are flanked by sweeping headlamps that give this small car big attitude. At the rear, a lower fascia insert and roof-mounted spoiler complete the sporty look.
The Aveo5 offers the same standard equipment and options as the sedan, with the following differences:
Aveo5 has a standard rear wiper/washer
Aveo5 offers standard 60/40 flip-and-fold seats; Aveo sedan 60/40 seats fold, but do not flip
Aveo sedan has standard inside trunk release
Refined interior
Aveo sedan and Aveo5's cabins reflect a youthful interpretation of refinement. A "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 interiors were designed for maximum comfort and convenience, which is evidenced in elements such as the standard 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 sedan'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. The spacious Aveo5 hatchback offers up to 42 cubic feet (1,189 L) of cargo space with the rear seats folded.
Aveo sedan's radios are derived from GM's 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. XM Satellite Radio is available.
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 of the Aveo 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.
Fifteen-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, while new 15-inch wheels and wheel covers are standard on 2LT models.
Responsive powertrain
Powering the Aveo lineup is an enhanced version of GM's sophisticated 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine. This 1.6L Ecotec engine features variable valve timing for optimal power and fuel efficiency. It is rated at 106 horsepower (79 kW) and 107 lb.-ft. of torque (148 Nm). Technologies such as electronic throttle control and an electrically controlled thermostat to help maximize performance and efficiency across the rpm range. It also features an integrated oil cooler with piston spray nozzles.
The engine also features long-life and environmentally friendly features, including a timing belt designed to last 100,000 miles and replaceable cartridge-type oil filter rather than a conventional, spin-on metal can filter.
A smooth-shifting, five-speed manual transmission is standard on all models and an Aisin four-speed automatic transmission is available. It features a segment-exclusive Hold Control Mode that helps reduce wheel spin and traction loss on slick roads by allowing the driver to select and hold a higher gear, reducing 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.
All models 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:
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
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). Nearly three-quarters of the 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.