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THE Chevrolet Aveo is sold in 120 countries by five
General Motors brands in 11 different nameplates. This car that
flaunts the iconic American Chevrolet bow tie logo was originally
penned by the famed Italdesign Giugiaro studio and was later
developed by the GM Design Center in Korea. Talk about a global car.
On May 20, General Motors Phils.
(GMPh) unveiled the 2008 version of the Aveo Hatchback, which now
speaks a distinctintly American Chevrolet design language.
The new Aveo Hatchback gets a new
face that’s dominated by a grille split horizontally by a
body-colored crossbeam (ala Audi), the Chevrolet logo proudly
plastered in the middle. Huge, upswept headlamps that are recessed
from the bulging grille and redesigned bumpers and lower air intakes
with oval lamps complete the car’s new look. The re-contoured hood
with its more pronounced lines further lends the latest Aveo the
edginess to update its styling.
The new car’s crisp lines in
front flow to the sides to create a muscular shoulder. Round tail
lamps that float in a clear housing provide whimsy in the car’s
rear, as do the faux air intakes with shiny bezels in the new
Aveo’s front fenders.
According to GMPh, the car’s
interior was also updated and made more inviting with a CD/MP3
player, large air-conditioning control dials, smooth plastic
surfaces and the soft material covering the dashboard and the upper
parts of the door panels. GMPh said the Aveo seats five in comfort.
The new car’s body is stiffer,
GMPh said, thanks to high-strength steel that surrounds the
passenger cell—which makes the latest Aveo safer, too. There are
three clearly defined load paths that would absorb the forces in the
event of a frontal impact, the carmaker assured. ABS with electronic
brake-force distribution, large 15-inch wheels and rack-and-pinion
steering enhance active safety while airbags provide for passive
safety features.
GMPh said the latest Aveo, which
played a role in Chevrolet’s favourable sales last year, remains a
spacious, well-equipped and reasonably priced compact car. The Aveo
1.5 L Hatchback with manual transmission is priced at P670,000 while
the automatic gearbox variant sells for P710,000.
--Motoring Times
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