Spy Shots: Chevrolet Viva 2011
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:32 pm
Car and Driver wrote:While the Aveo is the most fuel efficient car in Chevrolet’s current lineup, it is about as exciting—in both styling and behavior—as mowing Iowa with nosehair trimmers. Chevy will seek to rectify that with the next generation of the car, due in 2011 and discarding the Aveo moniker in favor of something a little zestier.
The 2011 Chevrolet Viva—the name isn’t settled just yet and could still change—appears as if it will bring actual style down to the compact-car level, both inside and out. Although heavy armor covers most of the mule seen here, details like the sharp bodyside crease, multi-element taillights, and the camo flap concealing a vertical handle for the rear door suggest that elements of the smaller Spark’s design will be incorporated into the Aveo replacement.
The edginess from the outside styling is echoed inside with a rich diversity of materials, bold shapes, and a cool asymmetrical instrument binnacle that looks like it will host a mix of analog and digital gauges. The fact that our spy shooter caught the Viva at the Nürburgring gives us hope that similar attention has been paid to the car’s dynamics, as well. Sadly, the dissolution of GM’s High-Performance Vehicle Operations makes a hot Vivass—er, Viva SS—unlikely.
Rumor has the Viva growing slightly larger than the Aveo to make room for the Spark below it in Chevrolet’s lineup. The diminutive duo’s size and efficiency will help the company prepare for recently announced increases to federal fuel-economy standards.
