Chevy future models

Begining 2009, the General Motors will be replacing its aging and unloved global car; the Chevy Optra aka Holden Viva (Australia), Daewoo Lacetti / Nubira (Korea), Chevy Lacetti / Nubira (Europe) and Suzuki Forenza (USA), with an new model that is set to debut in next months Paris Motor Show. As a pre-emptive effort against overzealous paparazis, GM has released two official images of the new generation Optra, while will be unveiled as the Chevrolet Cruze in Paris.


Internally known as the J300, the Cruze is developed with more European influence plus with greater access to GM's resources, hopes are high for the Cruze to correct the public's initial misgivings to the Optra. European sales will begin in March 2009, followed by introduction in developing markets of India, China, ASEAN and Eastern Europe from 2010 onwards.


The current generation Optra is actually fairly decent car with a relatively well sorted ride and handling that is better than some equivalent Japanese models. But unfortunately there is nothing much else to it. As an overall package, the Optra never quite stood up against the equivalent Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic in Asia-Ocenia markets, or even the more popular Ford Focus in Europe. But the first generation Optra has its origin traced back to the now defunct Daewoo Motors, a company with had many talented engineers but lack the sort of resources and management talent to join the big boys.
 Image from GoAuto.
Daewoo was then partly owned by GM. Daewoo ran into financial troubles in 1999, reeling from the effects of the '97 Asian economic crisis. GM would eventually assume full control of Daewoo in 2001, forming GM-DAT (General Motors Daewoo Auto Technology). The first fruit of this merger is the Captiva SUV, built on GM's Theta SUV platform. And it is a rather impressive vehicle but let down by poor marketing (it's not even listed on the local Chevy website, but on a seperate site). The Chevy Captiva is also sold under the name with the Holden badge in Australia, and also reworked as the Saturn Vue in USA.

The Cruze is built on GM's global small car Delta platform. The delta platform will also be shared by at least 4 more models :
a) European market focused 2010 Opel Astra hatchback (to be unveiled in 2009 Frannkfurt Motor Show).
b) 7-seater MPV Chevy Nabira / Opel Zafira (2011 debut)
c) Small crossover-compact SUV, to be slotted below the 7-seater Captiva (end 2010).


Could the Orlando (codenamed Delta MPV7) MPV-SUV Concept provide hints to the sub-Captiva crossover? Or could this be the next Zafira? Shots of the Orlando development mule has already been spotted in China.
d) Volt hybrid (available on lease only, public sales by 2010)

Next up to be replaced is the entry-level Aveo, also known as Daewoo Kalos in Korea and Holden Barina in Australia. Like the Cruze, the Aveo replacement is expected to be significantly better, built of GM's Gamma-2 compact car platform. Spyshots of the next Aveo, codenamed T300 have been spotted in China, where it is sold as the Chevy Lova. The Aveo replacement is expected to be introduced by 2010.


Image from AutoInCar.

 Image from WCF.
Current unloved, unimpressive Aveo. The Aveo generated a lot of negative press in USA and Europe when in a crash test done by independent EuroNCAP, the Aveo was rated to be "unacceptably high risk of life-threatening injury to the driver's chest." The next Aveo, built on a far more "European crash safety compliant" Gamma-2 platform is expected to sort this out.

Next up is the replacement for the hopeless terrible Chevy Spark (Daewoo Matiz) Beat compact hatch, to be introduced by 2011. The Beat was first unveiled in concept form in the 2007 New York Auto Show.

Unlike the current Spark, which is powered by an awful 0.8-litre (yes it's not a typo) petrol engine, the Beat is rumoured to receive a more acceptable 1.2-litre 4 banger. Like the Aveo T300, spyshots of the Beat have also been spotted around China.

More images from NextAutos.