Chevrolet Aveo Sedan, 2012

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Aveo Sedan, 2012

Equally at home on the daily commute to work or the weekend drive to the countryside, the new Aveo is a compelling choice for young and young-at-heart, style-conscious drivers - and it complements a range of exciting new Chevrolet designs that will be launched throughout 2011, Chevrolet's centennial year.

The Chevrolet Aveo has been engineered to make everyday driving in a small car a more dynamic and enjoyable experience, while delivering practical, hands-on solutions and value. In order to ensure responsive handling, engineers developed an all-new chassis for the Aveo that is among the most rigid in its segment.

Featuring a sporty exterior that speaks Chevrolet's global design language, the all-new Chevrolet Aveo appeals to the young and the young-at-heart. This holds true for both body styles, but especially for the five-door hatchback, with its aggressive, flowing body lines. Meanwhile, the all-new four-door version conveys a more mature, upscale feel. The notchback is aimed at young families in particular.

A road-gripping ride
The new Chevrolet Aveo's sporty driving experience is a key feature that contributes to the car's appeal. It consists of an exceptionally rigid body-frame-integral structure, with the upper body and the frame engineered as a single unit, ensuring a more mass-efficient and stiffer structure. Advanced steels used on the new Aveo have considerably greater tensile strength, which improves passenger safety.

A McPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension, deliver a tempered, stable ride. The vehicle's outstanding feedback to the driver is enhanced by electronic stability control (ESC) and a column-mounted electric power steering system (EPS), which is available on models equipped with the 1.2 liter gasoline or 1.3 liter turbo-diesel engines. This sophisticated support system includes a wear compensator to guarantee consistently precise steering as the vehicle ages.

The Chevrolet Aveo also offers a quiet, relaxed driving experience. Refined noise control measures have, in some instances, resulted in a damping performance that is 10 to 40 percent greater than previously applied materials and techniques.

Two distinctive body styles
The new Chevrolet Aveo's external styling will bring a fresh breath of youth and sportiness to the segment. At the front end, the Aveo's large, dual-port grille with the centrally positioned bowtie immediately identify it as a Chevrolet.

A key signature element distinguishing the Chevrolet Aveo is its exposed, motorcycle-inspired headlamps, which are devoid of any lens cover. They are housed in dual tubes, with high-gloss black bezels and chrome rings. Pronounced wheel arch forms, the 114 mm offset between the roof-rails and short overhangs underscore the hatchback's planted, assertive posture.

As is the case in the Chevrolet Spark, the hatchback's rear door pull handles are positioned in the upper section of the door, creating a coupe-like appearance. The hatchback's taillamps have no lens cover and play harmoniously with the vehicle's front-end design. In contrast, the notchback's rear lamps are enveloped by a dual element lens, delivering a touch of chic to the sleek, aerodynamically refined sedan. The Chevrolet Aveo Sedan is 360 mm longer than the hatchback, which measures 4039 mm in length.

All wheels feature Chevrolet's five-spoke design and are available in the following sizes and styles: 15-inch steel and alloy, as well as 16-inch and 17-inch alloy.

Sporty sophistication inside
A high level of detail applied in the design of the Chevrolet Aveo's passenger cabin has resulted in a more upscale execution that is typically seen in higher-segment vehicles. On the same trim level, there is no difference in interior layout or styling between the hatchback and the sedan.

The instrument cluster further carries the motorcycle theme apparent on the exterior, incorporating a round speedometer and a digital LCD readout. Ice-blue ambient backlighting adds a stylish, contemporary feel to the cabin.

Efficient and fuel-saving powertrains
Fuel efficiency and enjoyable driving that creates a small environmental footprint were the main criteria guiding the design of the Chevrolet Aveo's engine lineup. The 1.6 liter gasoline engine (115 hp) gives the Aveo strong acceleration characteristics and an immediate feeling of performance during low-speed driving.

The petrol engine range also includes two 1.2 liter versions rated at 70 hp and 86 hp, respectively, a 1.4 liter unit (100 hp) and a 1.6 liter engine (115 hp). From this autumn, the new Chevrolet Aveo will also be offered with a 1.3 liter turbo-diesel engine - the first in a small Chevrolet in Europe - featuring common-rail fuel injection, start/stop technology and a variable-geometry turbocharger.

The 1.2 liter, 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter four-cylinder gasoline engines feature dual-overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. Their a cast-iron cylinder block is based on a hollow frame structure. The 1.2 liter and 1.4 liter engines feature a cast-iron bedplate that provides a stiffer structure, resulting in quieter and smoother engine performance. The 1.6 liter engine has a toothed timing belt that has a change interval of every 10 years or 160,000 kilometers.

Fuel consumption on a combined cycle is 5.1 liters/100 km for the 86 hp version of the 1.2 liter engine and 6.6 liters/100 km in the case of the 1.6 liter engine coupled with a manual transmission. The 1.2 liter Ecotec gasoline engine will emit 119 g of CO2 per km.

Ride & Handling
The Chevrolet Aveo delivers ride comfort and responsive handling traits that are designed to match the best in the segment. It is a car developed for global markets, but engineers tuned the Aveo specifically for the driving tastes of European customers, giving it a more athletic feel and balancing the vehicle for a broad range of driving conditions.

The Chevrolet Aveo's ride is tempered, stable and comfortable over virtually all road surfaces. It is fun to drive, while displaying vehicle dynamics usually associated with cars in higher price brackets. Moreover, various enhancements to its structural design and powertrain systems have resulted in a vehicle that is very quiet.

A tight chassis for confident road command
A wheelbase of 2525 mm, combined with wide, 1509 mm front and rear tracks, give the Chevrolet Aveo a firmly planted stance, which contribute to a balanced driving experience. The key enabler to its stability and confident road feel, however, is a very tight body-frame-integral (BFI) structure that ranks among the stiffest in the global small-car segment. Throughout the vehicle's structure, 10 percent more spot welds are used, while some of the steel selected to build the new Aveo exhibits tensile strengths of more than 1000 MPa or higher - twice as strong as the 340 to 550 MPa seen in the previous generation.

The chassis' main underbody rails run continuously from front to rear, providing great strength. A long, six-mount engine cradle contributes to lower noise levels, and smoother ride and handling dynamics. Specifically tuned engine mounts - including a hydraulic mount - are tailored to the engine's inherent torque axis, effectively disrupting the transmission of vibration and noise. This configuration also helps control the transfer of momentum, resulting in improved dynamic balance.

Complementing the strong body structure are suspension systems tuned for responsive ride and handling qualities. All models feature a McPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules. These are designed to reduce the sliding friction by the bending load on the strut inherent to most suspension geometries. Side load compensation, in turn, allows for the front wheels to be moved further outward, which is key to achieving improved stability.

The rear suspension incorporates a specifically adapted compound crank (torsion beam), with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged shock absorbers. This design combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle - minimal space requirements - with low weight and consistent camber control. Thanks to the rear suspension's compact dimensions, the 46 liter fuel tank fits between the rear wheels, enabling a lower mounting position of the seats for greater overall vehicle balance.

Sophisticated noise abatement
A stiffer structure also facilitates insulation of the powertrain and suppression of road and wind noise. Due to a drag co-efficient of 0.30, the Chevrolet Aveo has an excellent wind noise rating of 40.5 decibels at highway speed. Special damping mats, which are tailored to each specific powertrain package, act as an abatement to high-frequency noise transfer. Other measures aimed at achieving a quiet, pleasant cabin comfort level include the use of thicker glass for the windshield and windows, and the application of composite nylon baffles in various structural intrusions and of formed resin or felt blanket on the underside of the hood.

Liquid-applied sound deadening (LASD), by means of melt-on patches, is strategically applied to the interior body structure, dampening smaller section interfaces that may resonate over time. When compared to more conventional, adhesively applied damping material, these patches fit almost perfectly into the areas they are applied to. As a result, LASD achieves 10 to 40 percent greater damping performance over adhesively applied materials.

Small turn radius and advanced driving aid systems
An array of electronic systems assist the driver in maneuvering the Chevrolet Aveo through everyday traffic and more challenging driving situations. Turning diameter measures a tight 10.1 meters curb-to-curb, and less than three turns lock-to-lock, which are amongst the best in segment. In 1.2 and 1.3 liter diesel-equipped cars, a column-mounted electric power steering system (EPS) is available, which saves fuel when compared with an engine-driven power steering pump. In order to ensure precise steering action over the system's life, a wear compensator continually adjusts its interaction with the steering gear. This GM-engineered proprietary technology is an uncommon refinement in the segment.

The standard electronic stability control (ESC) system may apply individual brakes selectively to counterbalance oversteer and understeer, helping the driver maintain control. It also ensures more precise, controlled performance of the anti-lock system as well as exceptional traction and yaw stability.

The Chevrolet Aveo is equipped with a four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) that uses data input from wheel-speed sensors to reduce stopping distances. The enhanced steering control during braking maneuvers coupled with the brake assist system (BAS) allows for more efficient emergency braking. An integrated electronic brake distribution (EBD) system proportions brake pressure.

Exterior Design
In line with its agile, athletic disposition, the all-new Aveo exhibits a purposeful, assertive appearance. From every angle, the redesigned Chevrolet Aveo Sedan and five-door models feature exterior forms that convey strength, stability and sportiness. A 114 mm offset between the roof rails and shoulder line, along with a track width of 1509 mm and pronounced wheel arches, ensure a confident, grounded posture. Progressive, raked body lines imply performance and suggest swift movement even when the car is stationary.

The five-door hatchback and four-door sedan versions share a number of design cues that immediately identify them as a Chevrolet. One of the most prominent exterior features is the large, dual-port grille. It consists of honeycomb grille inserts in matte-finish black and chrome surrounds in the upper ports of up-level LT and LTZ models. The iconic badge is center-positioned and sculpted into the cross bar separating the upper and lower grille ports. It is also located on the liftgate, carrying an acrylic-encased dimpled gold finish for a crisp, three-dimensional appearance.
All wheels feature Chevrolet's five-spoke design and are available in 15 inch steel, as well as 15, 16, and 17 inch alloy styles.

Chevrolet Aveo hatchback: coupe-like appearance with five-door functionality
While both the hatchback and the sedan speak a design language that appeals to the young and young-at-heart, their shapes differ in several important aspects. The five-door hatchback comes in a tight, two-box package, with aggressive diving feature lines and short front and rear overhangs. A sharply forward-swept shoulder line extends from the upper rear corner of the greenhouse to the front wheel arches. It runs in parallel to the lower body side scallop, accentuating the hatchback's forward-moving dynamic.

Another distinctive Chevrolet cue is the hatchback's rear door pull handles, which are almost invisible at the rear upper portion of the door behind the glass. Just as in the smaller Chevrolet Spark, the result is a three-door-like appearance with five-door functionality. The front-door handles are mold-in color black on base models and body-color-matched on LT and LTZ models. Beltline chrome moldings are also available on LTZ models.

The rear hatch glass is curved at the outboard edges to flow in unison with the vehicle's rear quarters - a level of sophistication usually found in more premium segments. A standard body-color matched spoiler for enhanced aerodynamic performance runs along the upper and side perimeter of the rear window.

An upscale, sleek presence for the Chevrolet Aveo Sedan
The Chevrolet Aveo sedan shares the hatchback's purposeful, swift look, but features a number of characteristics that contribute to a more upscale, mature appearance. It is longer and wider (4399 mm x 1735 mm) than its predecessor, while its trunk has a cargo capacity of 502 liters - a 102 liter increase over the previous model.

Precision work: minimized body panel gaps and weld joints
The exterior fit and finish on the new Chevrolet Aveo exemplify the attention to detail apparent throughout the vehicle. Door-to-door, door-to-fender, hood-to-fender, and lamp-to-fascia gaps, for example, are all 3.5 mm or less.

Interior Design
A small car with great performance and handling and a distinct, youthful appearance, the new Aveo also challenges competitors with a stylish, user-friendly passenger cabin. Its interior craftsmanship and refinements are designed to engage passengers with everything they see, touch or hear.

Cockpit emphasizes performance
Sportiness and sophistication characterize the Aveo's interior arrangement and details. The all-new Aveo features Chevrolet's signature dual-cockpit theme, originally a trademark of the Corvette, one of America's most iconic sports cars. Another key design element in the cabin is the wrap-around instrument panel. It flows from the dash into the doors.

The mid-instrument panel is available in dark titanium or red brick and is plastic-injection-molded with a low-gloss surface of textured three-dimensional technical grain. Meanwhile, the upper instrument panel and upper door surfaces are black. To the left and right of the instrument panel, round air conditioning (HVAC) outlets protrude from the panel surface. Non-woven materials were used to fabricate the headliner, rather than the traditional felt applications that are more common in the segment.

A three-spoke steering wheel is in tune with the theme of sporty refinement. A silver-metallic finish on the bottom spoke section and leatherette trim around the circumference is standard in LTZ models, while cruise control with speed limiter is available on all trims.

Abundant, practical and discreet storage opportunities
Both the five-door hatch and four-door sedan models of the new Chevrolet Aveo offer generous cargo space. This includes an under-seat pullout drawer and a storage compartment beneath the cargo floor (hatchback). The luggage capacity of the notchback is 502 liters, while the five-door's luggage compartment holds 290 liters with the rear seat in the upright position. When the rear seat - a 60/40 design - is folded, the hatchback has a storage capacity of 653 liters. Front-seat travel is among the best in the segment: 189 mm forward, 54 mm rearward, 28 mm up and 37 mm down.

Comfort and connectivity tailored to satisfy different needs
Tastes and comfort requirements may vary significantly and so does people's need to use modern communications and entertainment equipment. The designers of the Chevrolet Aveo have allowed for such variations. Seats are offered in three trim levels, color-coordinated according to the mid-instrument panel's color. Heated seats are optional on LT and LTZ models.

Two configurations of radios with four- or six-speakers and auxiliary device control are available. The audio system is capable of playing personal devices, such as the iPod through either the radio or steering wheel control. The uplevel radio offers USB/iPod as well as Bluetooth connectivity for wireless devices and also allows hands-free phone operation.

Air conditioning is available on the Aveo and featured as standard equipment, depending on the model or sales region. It includes a standard air and pollutant filtration system.

Engines & Transmissions
The Ecotec 1.2 and 1.4 liter gasoline engines make their debut in the new Aveo, while a new 1.3 liter turbo-diesel will be the first diesel in a Chevrolet's small cars in Europe. It debuts this autumn and features a high-performance common-rail fuel-injection system and advanced, electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger with intercooler.

Fuel-efficient 1.2L and 1.4L gasoline engines
With the introduction of the newest entries of GM's family of small-displacement engines, the Chevrolet Aveo's powertrain benefits from a range of enhancements that display a strong performance and excellent expected longevity.

The engines' cylinder block is based on a hollow-frame structure, with a cast-iron bedplate. This stiff foundation ensures exceptional balance, smoothness and a quieter ride. The engineers also succeeded in raising the compression ratio to 10.5:1, thereby increasing fuel efficiency and improving emissions.

Both the 1.2 and the 1.4 liter gasoline engines feature dual-overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. The four-valve head design provides increased airflow as well as optimized cooling circuitry and inlet ports. Depending on the engines' speed and operating conditions, the valve timing can be tuned for optimum performance over a wide range of engine speeds while reducing fuel consumption.

The 1.2 liter gasoline engine, which is expected to be the highest-volume for the Aveo range, delivers 86 hp, and 115 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. Performance figures for the 1.2 liter engine, when combined with the manual transmission, include a top speed of 183 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 13.6 seconds. Fuel consumption with the manual transmission on a combined cycle is 5.1 liters/100km, while emissions are 119 g of CO2/km. The 1.4 liter gasoline engine delivers 100 hp, and 130 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.

1.6 liter gasoline engine delivers greater performance
The Chevrolet Aveo's 1.6 liter gasoline engine is rated at 115 hp. Not only does 1.6 liter engine's larger displacement provide more power, it also supports a robust peak torque of 155 Nm, which gives the Aveo strong acceleration characteristics and an immediate feeling of performance during low-speed driving.

Like the 1.2 and 1.4 liter engines, the 1.6 liter features a hollow-cast iron block and cylinder head made of aluminum. Despite its increased complexity, it weighs three percent less than previous generations of the same family of engines, while exhibiting greater stiffness and structural strength. In fact, the weight of the cylinder block was reduced by 20 percent compared to engine offerings from the previous generation.

The 1.6 liter engine is equipped with a 16-valve cylinder head with dual overhead camshafts. It also uses dual-continuously variable valve timing and shares the use of piston-cooling oil jets and oil circulation optimization features, similar to the 1.2 and 1.4 liter engines.

Further refinements include a crankshaft sensor that is a first on these engines. It is fitted into the cylinder together with the crankshaft seal and measures crankshaft position at all times, thereby enabling smoother and more efficient operation. The Chevrolet Aveo's 1.6 liter gasoline engine has a toothed timing belt that has a change interval of every 10 years or 160,000 kilometers.

When combined with a manual transmission, the 1.6 liter gasoline engine enables the Chevrolet Aveo to attain a top speed of 189 km/h. Acceleration is rated at 11.3 seconds (0-100 km/h). On a combined cycle, fuel consumption is 6.6 liters/100 km. Emissions are 156 g/km.

All-new transmission lineup includes six-speed automatic
A five-speed manual transmission is standard with the 1.2 and 1.4 liter gas engines, while a higher-capacity five-speed manual transmission is matched with the 1.6 liter. A GM Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic is optional on models with the 1.4 liter and the 1.6 liter engines, while a six-speed manual transmission will be offered exclusively with the 1.3 liter turbo-diesel later this year.

Both five-speed manual transmissions use a single-piece, lightweight aluminum housing and feature triple-cone synchronizers for first and second gears, which foster smoother low-gear engagement and easier launch and shifting characteristics. In the higher-capacity five-speed manual, needle bearings for all gears result in low-friction gear meshing, enabling more comfortable shifting.

The Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission that is available with the 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter engines represents Chevrolet's first application of a six-speed automatic front-drive transmission on a small car.

Safety
Ever increasing traffic volumes and limited amounts of space mean that even the most able, experienced and vigilant drivers may find themselves faced with the possibility of a collision in certain circumstances. Occupant safety is therefore an overriding objective for automotive engineers. The new Aveo is equipped with an array of safety features and sophisticated electronic control systems that are engineered to make it one of the safest vehicles in the small-car segment.

The backbone of Chevrolet Aveo's safety design is its exceptionally strong body structure provided by a body-frame-integral (BFI) structure. The BFI design is a single, welded unit consisting of full-length, high-strength frame rails and a safety cage. Welded tubular-section members are used to frame door openings and to support the roof while steel members reinforce the doors.

High-strength steels ensure stiff body structure
More than 60 percent of the body structure, as well as the six-point-mounted engine cradle, use high-strength steel. Ultra-high-strength steel is strategically integrated in the forward portion of the rockers and the center cross bar. The Aveo's engine cradle distributes energy in frontal and side impacts. It is another structural element that helps optimize occupant safety. Together with the front bumper system and the engine compartment rails, the engine cradle bars absorb the brunt of a frontal crash.

Intelligent sensor suite, six airbags standard
A set of sensors that controls the deployment of six standard airbags is mounted into Aveo's structure. The centerline of the vehicle incorporates the sensing and diagnostic module. Upon receiving data from the car's sensors, this electronic device establishes the severity of the impact and whether to deploy the airbags. In Europe, the Chevrolet Aveo features single-stage airbags for the driver and the front passenger, roof-rail airbags and side-impact airbags as standard.

The B-pillar features two side-impact sensors that prompt the roof-rail airbags, as well as seat-mounted thorax airbags and seatbelt pretensioners. If the Aveo's onboard sensors register that the vehicle "tips up" on a flat road surface, the brakes are activated to reduce lateral force.

When activated, the Chevrolet Aveo's cruise control with speed limiter function allows the driver to set a maximum speed and the system triggers an audible alarm once this speed is reached. Available as an optional feature, ultrasonic parking assist alerts the driver via an audible signal about the proximity of persons or objects located directly behind the Aveo. Meanwhile, an engine immobilizer offers a measure of security against car theft.