Chevrolet Aveo 5-door to premiere in Paris

Continuing its bet on the European market, Chevrolet has released the first images of the production-ready Aveo 5-door model. The awaited small car will have its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, where it will be joined by three other world firsts, including the Orlando MPV and the Cruze hatchback.

Already having displayed the Aveo RS show car at the Detroit and Geneva motor shows, Chevrolet kept the looks of the final production-ready model very close to the earlier concept.

Entering the very competitive small car segment, the Aveo front look is dominated by the exposed twin-headlamps and dual port grille. It features compact taut body panels with a rising shoulder line, short rear overhangs and 'hidden' rear door handles now placed in the c-pillar. Part of the new Chevrolet design language, the 'body in, wheels out' profile is also present on the new Aveo.

As it happened with the recently launched Spart, the new Aveo will be looking to conquer the hearts of the yonger customers with its sporty hatch look.

In order to meet European drivers’ tastes both in terms of design and dynamics the new Chevrolet Aveo has benefited from an extensive development program. Each European market will get careful tailored final specifications for the new Aveo.

According to Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe: "It's just such an exciting time to be at Chevrolet; not only do we have new entries into the MPV and compact classes, in Aveo we have a car which is ready to compete against the best in the small car segment, which is also Europe's largest segment."

In the summer of 2011 the new Aveo will be launched with an available range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines, which will feature the latest technologies such as variable valve timing, double continuous variable cam phasing and common rail fuel injection for the diesels.

The petrol engine range will include two 1.2 liter versions (at 70 hp and at 86hp), a 1.4 liter unit (100 hp) and a 1.6 liter (115hp). In a premiere for the Aveo, the Chevrolet model will be also offered with two versions of a 1.3 liter diesel engine (at 75 hp and at 95 hp) featuring Start/Stop technology.