GM says: next Aveo will have class leading MPG

[MetroMPG]

Via GCC:

Buried among announcements about the possible demise/sale of HUMMER, green-lighting the Volt and a bunch of other stuff...

Also recently approved was a next generation of the popular Chevy Aveo. Based on a global architecture, the Aveo is also expected to have segment-leading fuel economy when it goes on sale in the US market in the second half of 2010.

We'll of course see if that actually materializes, but it's nice to see GM may... MIGHT.. perhaps go from last place MPG in the subcompact segment to aiming for the top.

Are the small car fuel economy wars of the 80's and early 90's back on?

I hope so.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008...sponds-to.html

[tasdrouille]

If only they could come out with something like what was the vw lupo 3l (the audi a2 3l would be asking too much...), and gas prices continue to go up, they'll probably have a winner there.

[jsl4980]

GM doesn't improve their products compared to their class, they'll just change the class of the vehicle. In 2010 the Aveo will be considered a full size SUV.

[MetroMPG]

tasdrouille: I read a separate news item that suggested Canadian automakers are seriously looking at bringing more A-segment vehicles here. (A Hyundai executive's comments.) So maybe it'll happen - Hyundai has the Getz in Europe - competes with the Polo and the other super minis.

jsl: oh, so cynical! And possibly correct!

[ebacherville]

OK so 2 years well have to wait and all the other manufactures are now trying for better MPG too.. GM will still be last in the race.. they need to make HUGE ground.. by 2010 honda or toyota will put out some new thing plugin hybrid that makes the volt look like a brick on wheels and a extension cord outlet on the front.

use carbon fiber or aluminum, Lighten the cars put small diesels in them.. easy formula for 70 mpg and hel of a lot longer life.. no rust on AL or CF cars..

Still think my idea car would be a mazda RX8 with a fuel efficient motor instead of the gas guzzler rotary they got in there now... its a 2door 4 door aluminum small car.. just needs about 15th the HP to make it a fuel miser.

[i_am_socket]

well, going by vehicle size growth by generation... LINK ... it could be considered a full size SUV in the next gen

Still waiting on that tiny Al/CF plugin with biodiesel generator backup...

[whokilledthejams]

With any luck, the next-gen Aveo won't be a hasty rebadge of a POS Daewoo, either. To say the FE of the current model is lackluster is being polite. Hell, GM just put out an efficiency-centered trim package for the Cobalt that's rated at 36mpg highway (via taller gearing and LRR tires, mostly), so we all know the Aveo can do better.

[JohnnyGrey]

Exactly, the Cobalt makes the current Aveo obsolete. Why would ANYONE buy an Aveo? "No thanks, I don't need the extra cargo space or MPG."

[homeworkhome53]

Last 2007 Aveo tank, 350 miles, 48.32 MPG. what's the problem. Not bad for a car which new, went out the door for $9500 including tax, lics, and title. I couldn't ask for more and nothing in it's price could do better, cause there is nothing in it's price range. The nearest I could find was a Toyota Yaris and it was $13,500 not including tax, lics. and title. Would I ever get that $4k+
back with the mpg difference, doubt it. I bought cause my workride melted down. It was either that or used and the used didn't come with a 100,000 mile warranty.
POS Daewoo, maybe. I'll be ready for a trade just about when the new ones get here. How's that for timing. Don't care, they said the same thing about my '77 pinto wagon, 274,000 mile later I traded it for a Merc. A week later I wished I had the Pinto back. Other than a couple clutches that car never gave a moments trouble. Here,s hoping this POS Deawoo Aveo does the same.

homeworkhome53

[JohnnyGrey]

Why are the EPAs ratings of the Aveo so ridiculously crappy?

[MetroMPG]

homeworkhome - I thought of you when I posted this thread. You've got the highest MPG of any Aveo owner I've seen. Your fuel log graph is still going up. Really impressive.

When GM redoes the car, maybe it'll be good for another 5-10 mpg for you

[homeworkhome53]

Well, if I had not found ecomodder i would still be getting 32.5mpg. Each tank I just take it a little farther, it's like a hobby, it grows on you after a while you don't think about what you're doing you just do it, it's like shifting with a clutch you don't think about it, just do it. I do think the epa ratings are low though. But a higher 5th gear or a 6 speed trans and a 1.2 l engine like they have in the Aveo in Asia would be nice. I like the car. It's just what you need and nothing more, ok, maybe you don't need a radio.

homeworkhome53

[tasdrouille]

My GF had a 2004 Swift+ before. It's the same thing as the Aveo, a rebadged new gen Lanos. It gobbled fuel big time. The 2007 are probably better, and improving too. The car was not badly designed, but the engine was not very efficient for it's size.