Our jaws practically hit the keyboards when we encountered the first official images of the facelifted variant of the subcompact offering from Chevrolet (*cough Daewoo). The first official images of the European Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback were released by GM today, ahead of its official unveiling in Frankfurt.The Kalos, the original marque the European Aveo5 wore, will be renamed to Aveo Hatchback just like its four-door brother. However, the big news ought to be the reworked front fascia. Headline: Daewoo injects abundant doses of the bold juice. It seems the folks at Daewoo worked a tad too hard in an effort to make the new hatch stand out. The front Chevy split-grille, found on the new Malibu and Uplander, has been taken to the extreme and it's frightening to some. Couple that with the enlarged Epica headlights and you have a real eye-catcher. The front fascia is completely overhauled and new side vents add an extra oomph into the car.
Our late spyshots of the Aveo5 testing showed the new interior lifted from the current Aveo Sedan, which indicates the interior issue has been solved. New engines are also being offered for the European model: 84hp 1.2L petrol and a 98hp 1.4L petrol. GM's press release hints of the rear of the new Aveo, albeit not releasing images of the view. The "round tail lamps" should evoke that of the HHR. More information will be available when it shows its face to the media on September 11th. For now, two press images and an official press release after the jump will do.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE: Striking exterior and high-class interior
New Chevrolet Aveo celebrates its world premiere in Frankfurt
* Launch in Europe as of March 2008
* Two petrol engines with 84 or 98 hp; manual or automatic transmission
Zurich. Chevrolet Europe will present the Kalos' successor at the Frankfurt Motor Show (13 to 23 September 2007). The most significant features of this completely reworked model are its striking exterior, its high-class interior and a new, even more efficient petrol engine. Like its notchback stable mate, the new hatchback model will now bear the Aveo name throughout Europe. Sales will start in March 2008.
The Aveo hatchback sports Chevrolet's new design features, as characterised by the big horizontally split radiator grille with a body-coloured crossbeam and the brand logo sitting prominently in the center. The dynamic detailing includes large, curved, clear-glass headlamps and fog lamps that project like spotlights from the lower part of the bumper. In profile, the body's prominent shoulder lines catch the eye, while the back of the car is dominated by the solid bumper and the round tail lamps in a clear-glass housing.
There is a choice of two petrol engines: a new 1.2-litre unit with an output of 84 hp, and the existing 1.4-litre engine, which now develops 98 hp and is available with automatic transmission.
