AVEO BRINGS STYLE, ROOMINESS AND PERFORMANCE TO ENTRY-LEVEL SEGMENT

Chevrolet is taking the no-compromise approach to the entry-level car market with the stylish and well-equipped 2004 Aveo, a small car with contemporary European design, a roomy interior, peppy performance and the backing of more than 4,600 Chevy dealers across North America.

Arriving in showrooms in early 2004, the Aveo will be available as a sedan or sporty five-door in base or LS trim.

Value, fuel economy, European flair and safety features go hand-in-hand with Aveo's fun-to-drive factor. Add in Chevrolet dependability and the support of Chevy dealers nationwide, and you have a winner in the making.

Chic and cabin friendly:
Created in Giorgetto Giugiaro's renowned Italdesign studios in Turin, Italy, Aveo's clean lines and short front and rear overhangs give the cars a sense of panache that is rare in cars of this class.

Highly distinctive standard aerodynamic halogen headlamps with facetted lenses, amber side turn signal lamps, jewel-like taillamps and the gold Chevy bowties front and rear give the Aveo a distinctive look.

The Aveo carries five passengers comfortably, and its high roof and raised seating offer good visibility and the roomiest interior among its closest competitors.

Drivers have plenty of flexibility to select the most comfortable driving position with standard tilt steering, a seat with standard easy manual fore/aft, recline, seat height and headrest height adjustment. A 60/40 split folding rear bench seat has integral headrests on the sedan and separated headrests on the five-door.

Every Aveo has flexible storage, with seat back pockets for items such as maps and magazines. The rear seat of the four-door folds flat to provide more cargo room, while the rear seat of the five-door folds flat and flips forward, yielding 42 cubic feet (1,190L) of cargo area. The top of each headrest integrates a composite hook for holding/suspending a shopping bag over the backside of the seat, and the driver-side door also provides a huge storage pocket to carry miscellaneous items.

Seat cushions and backs are constructed of high-density foam to ensure solid comfort and support, even on extended trips. Base model seats feature standard fabric, while the LS models come with deluxe cloth covering.

A monochrome instrument panel with large, easy-to-read gauges is standard on base models, while a two-tone IP is standard on LS models. The IP includes a tachometer, speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, fuel gauge and coolant temperature gauge, with a lighting dimmer control. The IP also provides a center storage tray, cigar lighter, ashtray, extra 12-volt outlet for cell phones, digital quartz clock, lighted glove box, and knee bolsters, as a safety feature for both the driver and passengers.

More-than-expected standard amenities:
Aveo offers a lengthy list of comfort and convenience features, including AM/FM stereo, tinted glass, a highly functional floor console with storage compartment, front roof radio antenna, two-speed variable intermittent wipers, rear window defogger, carpeting, floor mats, remote fuel filler door and trunk releases, overhead courtesy lamps, day/night rearview mirror, driver and passenger visor vanity mirror, dual front cupholders and a luggage floor mat.

The LS models go a step farther, with standard AM /FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback, air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, power outside passenger-side rearview mirror, dual outside heated rearview mirrors and fabric door trim.

An appearance package available on LS models includes fog lamps, bright aluminum 14-inch alloy wheels and mudguards. The appearance package on the five-door also includes a rear spoiler.

A sliding electric sunroof and a six-speaker premium sound system are available on LS models.

Powerful and nimble:
Aveo combines these strong new designs with a powertrain and chassis that provide refined, responsive performance and excellent economy.

Aveo features a peppy 1.6L dual overhead cam 16-valve inline four-cylinder that delivers 103 hp (77 kw) and 107 lb.-ft. (145 Nm) of torque. A deep-skirted block, large intake resonator, dual-muffler exhaust systems and other sound-damping technologies help reduce engine noise, while roller-type hydraulic lifters, a single-belt accessory drive and durable rubber timing belt help reduce the need for routine maintenance.

A lightweight, smooth shifting, high efficiency five-speed manual transmission is standard. A four-speed automatic is optional. The automatic features a gated shifter, allowing the driver to easily shift the transmission manually, and a "hold" button for second-gear starts on slippery surfaces.

Aveo's 97.6-inch (2,480-mm) wheelbase contributes to a smooth ride and stability. Its suspension was extensively tested in both Europe and the U.S. and tuned to provide a controlled ride and responsive handling. The front suspension features MacPherson struts with a stabilizer bar. The torsion beam rear axle provides good camber control under a wide variety of loads. Aveo is equipped with a standard rack-and-pinion steering system providing nimble handling and enhancing road feel.

Safety features:
Aveo's impact-absorbing frame, standard dual front air bags and available anti-lock braking system (ABS) help provide confident control and peace of mind under a wide variety of driving conditions.

Aveo's passenger compartment forms a protective safety cage that runs from the front door hinge pillars to the A-pillars to the roof rail, back to the reinforced B-pillars and C-pillars and includes the bottom rocker panels. The front structure is designed to distribute crash energy along multiple load paths, helping direct energy away from the passenger compartment. Each of the doors features a roll-formed steel intrusion beam to help protect the occupants in certain side-impact collisions.

The Aveo's dual diagonal brake system includes large ventilated front discs and self-adjusting rear drum brakes. Rear brakes have a wide lining for increased service life. A large 9.5-inch (241-mm) power brake booster helps improve braking capability and provides solid pedal feel.

A Delphi four-channel, four-sensor ABS system with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is available as an option.

Dual frontal air bags are standard, as are seat-belt pretensioners and height-adjustable shoulder belt anchors for the front seats. Rear-seat positions feature shoulder belts in all three seating positions. The standardized child-safety seat system, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) secures the seat base and helps keep the child seat from pivoting forward during an aggressive stop or a forward collision. Rear child-safety door locks are also standard.

Story by Chevrolet