NAIAS: Chevrolet Concept Coupes
Our Chevrolet event coverage comes to us courtesy of Byron Hurd and Speed:Sport:Life. Take it away…
“Near as we can tell, the Chevy press conference wasn’t actually about a car. For that matter, it wasn’t really about cars at all. The intro video for… whatever it was they were trying to introduce, was simply and near-endless string of “man on the street” interviews featuring what we can only assume is Chevy’s new target market. They’re young, they’re poor and they want cars. Also, they don’t really like or care about cars. They just want one, you know? Cuz like, Facebook, twitterconnectivityInternetRacecar.
As for the concepts? Well, they showed us two designs, both four-seater, two-door coupes. The code130R is something concocted from an emasculated Camaro and a little bit of BMW’s 1-Series, though (in many ways like BMW) they forgot to spec the attractive parts. The other draws heavily on the high-haunched (and nearly dead) Mitsubishi Eclipse and a little bit of GM’s own Cadillac Converj concept. Both were meant to capture the imaginations of this newfound youth market, so naturally, they’re an ADD-addled mish-mash of “needs” and “wants” as specified by a sample of the 80-million strong market that, in the Chevy presenter’s own words, can’t truly be defined. Fortunately, they can still be compartmentalized by a demographic, and that demographic wants two doors, Brembo brakes with cross-drilled rotors, and an iPod dock.
The last institution to so disastrously probe the youth market ended up the target of a federal investigation. Fortunately for GM, nothing Chevy’s market research teams have done is considered illegal. Some of us, however, might think it should be. ”
Edit: Powertrain details have surfaced. The Tru 140S (white one) uses a Cruze-derived 1.4L Turbo making 150 horsepower and 148 lb-ft, returning the all important 40 mpg. A 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto are the transmission choices. The Code 130R (red one) uses the same engine and transmission but also employs eAssist and a front engine, rear-wheel drive setup, whereas the Tru is front-drive.
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One thing I've noticed here on TTAC: Any mention of Mitsubishi is typically met with at least half a dozen sarcastic comments questioning their relevance and life expectancy. Yet, here I sit, perhaps the lone Mitsubishi fan in this audience, laughing that General Motors is only now - 20+ years after Mitsubishi introduced the Eclipse - thinking about introducing an Eclipse of their own - and it even LOOKS like an Eclipse (albeit, one that's been through the requisite, post-bailout Opel design studio). I wonder if there will be a collective groan, 12 years from now, when the third generation 'Chevy Tru 140 LS Z24 Irmscher(/'Buick Andante GSCXL Special') is released with Pontiac-inspired cladding and a dowdy V6 and slushbox. Will people still be so sarcastic about Mitsubishi's nearly 100% electric offerings? Just stirring the pot. :)
I kind of dig the red one. Makes me think of the early-'80's Celica notchback coupe that an upperclassman had when I was in junior high.