Cargo Trunk Top
Will the Rest of America Think Small?
Small cars have been in the industry for five decades now. But sooner or later, if California and the greens have their way, it is predicted that people will be driving smaller and more fuel-efficient cars.
The popularity of small, fuel-efficient cars was heightened by the introduction of the MINI Cooper and the Chevrolet Aveo. The very first MINI Cooper was a nimble and affordable car which debuted in 1961. But a more powerful version of the car which was dubbed as the ‘S’ was released two years after. The car featured the 1071 cc engine and had larger servo-assisted disc brakes.
The Mini Cooper S earned acclaims with the Monte Carlo Rally victories in 1964, 1965, and 1967. Minis were initially placed first, second and third in the 1966 rally. Unfortunately, it was disqualified because of the controversial use of a variable resistance headlamp dimming circuit in lieu of a dual-filament lamp.
The Chevrolet Aveo, on the other hand, is a subcompact car based on the Daewoo Kalos. It has debuted in 2003 from the GM Daewoo platform called the T200. The car also is a de facto late successor to the Chevrolet Metro subcompact available in North America. The Metro was discontinued in 2000 without a similar replacement.
The new 2007 Aveo sedan, which debuted at the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, is equipped with improved auto parts and accessories to lure more purchasers. In Canada, the car is sold as the Pontiac Wave and the Suzuki Swift. In the United States, the car has been renamed as the Aveo hatchback to conform with the naming scheme. The four-Door Aveo is sold in Ireland under the Chevrolet badge with the five-door model branded the Kalos.
The car may not be flaunting the Chevrolet pickup cargo net but its attributes are more than enough to create a following in the industry full of picky purchasers. In the future, it is expected that this model line will be integrated with the GM Gamma platform or it might still retain the existing platform.
So far this year, in the segment, Aveo sales of 19,944 are an uncontested second only to 26,418 for the Toyota Yaris. But one could argue that the Yaris is really a C-car entry with its wheelbase slightly over 100 inches. Thus, the B-car could be deemed as the segment sales champ. That would make the second and third best sellers the Honda Fit at 12,795, and the Hyundai Accent at 11,190.
Notwithstanding the figures, Americans have nothing to fear in “moving down” to a B-car. Most of the rest of the world drive primarily B-cars and thrive on them. Today’s American-market Bs like the Aveo also are crammed with comfy and advanced amenities like the front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, and good crash-test ratings from the NHTSA.
After a week of trying out a stick-shift Aveo four-door sedan for some 400 miles over every kind of driving Southern California offers, a car enthusiast has this to say: “I came to a few conclusions – mostly Aveo-centered, since the MINI has a cultish following and the Aveo is arrowed right at the mainstream, nearly all cuteness excised.â€
The Ford Motor Co., which has announced it will offer a B-car in the U.S. by next year, will have to hustle to come up with a car as good as the Aveo. If Chrysler expects to have a credible B-car entry, the company has to work fast and efficient. That is because though not flawless, Chevrolet’s Aveo is well-appointed, smooth, quiet, nimble and most of all – fun to drive. As a fact, its trunk can even take in two or possibly four golf bags without indigestion. The Aveo is a cutting-edge milestone over the three-cylinder Suzuki-supplied Chevy Metro of a few years ago, before GM took over Daewoo, a Korean automaker.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
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