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

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]