Is Chevrolet Planning a Compact Rear-Drive Coupe? Sales Numbers Say 'Nope'

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

General Motors wants to use a model name once applied to a compact, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, and has the trademark filing to prove it.

The automaker applied to trademark the name “Chevrolet Code” for automotive use on June 2, AutoGuide reports, leading many to believe the taught, Alpha-platform Code 130R concept car shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show could soon be headed to production.

But is Chevrolet really going to slot another rear-drive coupe into the Chevrolet lineup? It’s very unlikely, and here’s why.

The Code 130R got everyone hot and bothered as GM roared back from bankruptcy and the car market recovered from the recession. Borrowing the Alpha platform from the Cadillac ATS, GM envisioned the Code 130R using the Chevrolet Cruze’s 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder, hitched to an eAssist mild hybrid system.

Featuring tight, retro proportions, a four-seat interior and modest power output, the concept seemed to position itself below the Chevrolet Camaro — a domestic sport coupe for the everyman. Of course, GM then threw the concept back into the ether and it was written off as another piece of vaporware eye candy.

Now the Code is back — in name only — but there’s not much evidence to support the idea that it will return in the same form as the concept.

The refreshed Camaro now uses the Alpha platform. That strong-selling four-seater offers a base 2.0-liter turbo four, and it’s hard to see how another sport coupe riding on the same platform wouldn’t cannibalize its sales.

GM doesn’t like low-volume vehicles. With a U.S. sales volume of 31,886, the recently axed Buick Verano sold more units in its worst year (2015) than the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata and Nissan 370Z combined. Previous model years saw sales above the 40,000 mark. Hell, there was even a Chinese market version it could have offered as a second generation Verano, but the brand was more interested in pushing higher-volume products.

It’s easier to see the Code return to the Chevy lineup as a front-wheel-drive coupe, despite the dwindling market for such a layout. Honda just introduced a two-door version of the acclaimed Civic, so what’s stopping Chevrolet creating a new model based on the flexible global FWD platform that underpins the compact Cruze?

Volume is everything, and the compact coupe market (hell, the entire non-crossover/SUV market) is on unstable ground, but a FWD Code seems less likely to steal sales from elsewhere in the Chevy lineup than a RWD version.

Already, we’ve seen the Cruze spawn a hatchback, and the current generation benefits from a significant power boost from the upgraded 1.4-liter four. There’s also an overflowing parts shelf the automaker could raid for more power — Chevy’s 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbo fours seem like good candidates.

If GM is really keen on bringing back the Code, this is one way they could do it.

[Image: General motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Sgeffe Sgeffe on Jun 10, 2016

    At least unlike the Camaro, this has something resembling a greenhouse, something that's always impressed me about this concept. Kind of a modern-day interpretation of a Monza notchback or Citation Club Coupe.

  • Shiv91 Shiv91 on Jun 10, 2016

    Meh, give me a Personal Luxury Coupe. I'd love me a 2017 Monte Carlo! I'll never understand why coupes just stopped selling. At least where I live, probably 60-70% of drivers are alone or have one other passenger. And IMO nothing says "I'm my own person and do what I want" like a coupe. But idk that's just me.

    • See 1 previous
    • Shiv91 Shiv91 on Jun 10, 2016

      @Vulpine The only time I ever use my back seats is when returning Empties or donating books to Salvation Army. Apparently the previous owners were the same way, rear seats were in mint condition when I bought it.

  • Dukeisduke Is the Volvo EX30 even on sale yet? It was pulled from the NACTOY awards because they were having software problems with the vehicle.
  • Wjtinfwb If you've only got 5k to spend on transportation, I cannot imagine a worse way to spend it than on a GM orphan from Sweden that's 15 years old with 150k on the clock and limited plus expensive parts availability and dwindling techs who'd even want to work on it. Go find a similar vintage Camry or Accord with 150k miles or even a Ford or a Chevy, whatever. Hell, even an old Jaguar is less of a crapshoot than a Saab. At least you can still get parts.
  • Kwik_Shift Brands that were considered from China include BYD, Dayun, Great Wall Motors, Maxus, Nio, Omoda/Chery, Seres, XPeng, and Zeekr. KG Mobility from South Korea also made the list of candidates.That's a lot of car companies from there ready to head here.
  • Analoggrotto Clean sweep and unanimous victory for the world affluence engine of 22nd century : Hyundai/Kia/Genesis. Toyota and Lexus, for 120 years of history have not been able to capture the zenith superlative status of Hyundai Motor Corporation the most awarded, decorated and revered automotive corporation in the history of historical. Featuring best ever, first ever and greatest ever e-ATPs the Hyundai Genesis Kia lineup is posed to become the envy of every country club, ivy league college and fortune 500 corporation in the world. I've been taking a roadtrip in my loaner Elantra N, visiting colleges from east to west, elite universities of higher learning to inspect their parking lots. WHat did I find? Leagues of Genesis models, outnumbering Lexus 3 to 1. When I interviewed faculty and staff at these places of greater learning, their response was unanimous : they chose HMC for the ATPs.
  • Mikey 2019 Chevy Impala Premier FWD with 20 inch factory Bridgestones. I'm looking at replacing tires at the 65,000 KLM's (40,000 miles ) mark ....It doesn't thrill me .. I'm pricing Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires ouch !! ..Up here in Canuckastan ....Big $$$$$
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