aveo

General Motors has contracted with Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ), "Russia's largest producer of commercial vehicles" of a certain size, for the production of next-generation Aveo sedans and hatchbacks for the Russian market.

According to GM, the GAZ Group "has 18 production plants in 10 regions of Russia...GAZ Group produces light commercial vehicles, heavy trucks, buses, cars, road construction equipment, power trains, and auto components."

"The cooperation with GM will strengthen quality and technology of every production capacity of GAZ," said Bo Andersson, president and CEO of GAZ Group. "The decision taken … Read more

We've already taken a few first looks at the upcoming Chevrolet Aveo Sonic, but sometimes it's interesting to hear details about a vehicle from the source. Then again, sometimes a slightly misguided Car Tech editor just wants an excuse to post a video of the replacement to the beloved CNET Aveo. Whatever the reason, the video below showcases the Sonic, as its designers talk up the vehicle's interior and exterior styling.

General Motors won't be selling cars in South Korea under the Daewoo label, the automaker announced today. The Daewoo logo will be replaced by the Chevrolet name and signature bow-tie logo. The company name, GM Daewoo, will also be changed to GM Korea Co., the company said in a statement.

"This important new brand strategy is designed to strengthen our commitment to the Korean market, recognizing it as one of the strongest-performing countries within GM's global operations. We are well positioned to bring one of the world's iconic brands to Korea," said Mike Arcamone, President … Read more

Today, a Ford press release crossed my desk with an interesting tidbit about the sales figures for its new Ford Fiesta. It turns out that the majority of buyers have chosen the five-door hatchback body style over the more conventional four-door model. Apparently, someone at Ford thought this was newsworthy, but for me, it was sort of a no-brainer: the five-door was always the better car in my eyes. But that got me to thinking, "What is it with Americans and hatchbacks?"

We're big fans of hatchbacks here at CNET Car Tech, particularly those of the hot … Read more

I maintain a sort of goofy interest in all things Chevy Aveo, but it's mostly tongue-in-cheek irony. However, the sexy Chevrolet Aveo RS concept unveiled at the 2010 Detroit auto show made me do a double take. (Yeah, I'm having an issue with the juxtaposition of "sexy" and "Aveo," too.) Now, we have what looks to be the first shots of a production-ready 2012 Aveo (in sedan configuration) and it looks like the concept to car lot transition has been kind to the subcompact.

Pulling more that a little inspiration from its larger sibling … Read more

Detroit auto show had a lot going for it;Ford steals the show with its new cabin tech; GM has gone seriously toward small cars; and Toyota deploys a new technology across the board to squash rumors its cars aren't safe.

• CNET Coverage of the Detroit auto show

• Toyota to install brake override systems across the board

• Your license plate is being scanned by the repo man

• GM to make a pure electric Chevy Volt?

• Cadillac CTS-V and Mustang GT shine -- even in the era of less is more… Read more

For years, style was absent without an excuse from American subcompacts. But the days of slab-sided, no-frills hatchbacks may soon be history.

For decades, something was missing in the small cars designed, built and sold in the United States. It was gone for so long that most American consumers probably didn't know what it was.

But to Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Group's chief designer, the missing ingredient was obvious. U.S. subcompacts lacked emotional appeal.

"Small cars of the past were not necessarily done with passion," he said.

Generations of Detroit designers seemed to say: No one buys a small car for its styling, so why bother? Uninspired, appliancelike econoboxes? What else did you expect?

American subcompacts had none of the attributes found in the cool, quirky and even elegant small cars created elsewhere in the world, from the original BMC Mini to the first Peugeot 205 to the modern Citroen C3.

U.S. automakers were forced to churn out small cars to raise corporate average fuel economy averages, so they could keep selling big trucks. Small-car design? An oxymoron.

But consumer preference has shifted -- the result of higher gasoline prices, new fuel-efficiency standards and concern about climate change.

"Small cars and vehicles powered by four-cylinder engines have been on a steady increase since 2004," said Ford Motor Co. sales analyst George Pipas.

U.S. fleets must average 35.5 mpg by 2016, compared with 25.3 mpg this year. Combined with stricter emissions standards, it means the number of small-car nameplates for sale in the United States will increase.

And when a market segment gets crowded, automakers must rely on styling to set their vehicles apart from the crowd.

"It's not business as usual for small cars here anymore," said Moray Callum, Ford Motor's design director for cars.

The expanding lineup of new small cars means styling will get a lot more creative and appealing, just as it did with mid-sized cars recently. (Think of the modern Chevrolet Malibu, the new Ford Taurus and the current Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.)… Read more

Pontiac Manager of Communications, Jim Hopson confirmed, on the GM Fastlane Blog, that Pontiac would be selling the G3 in the U.S. General Motors must have something of a penchant for cannibalizing their own sales, because the G3 is obviously just a rebadged Chevrolet Aveo5, the cheapest least expensive new car in America.

When challenged on about the matter of the econobox G3 not fitting into Pontiac's claim of building exciting vehicles, Hopson states, "True, it's not a RWD V8, but that's why the G8 is sitting in the same showroom." What he fails … Read more