Some auto writers (not us, truly) have been known to sneer at car forum sites. But we try to monitor the forums regularly, 'cause sometimes you see the darnedest things.
Take, for example, this photo of a 2011 Chevrolet Aveo in undisguised form, minus the usual spy-shot camouflage.
2011 Chevrolet Aveo (RS Concept, 2010 Detroit Auto Show)
2011 Chevrolet Aveo (RS Concept, 2010 Detroit Auto Show)
2011 Chevrolet Aveo (RS Concept, 2010 Detroit Auto Show)
It comes from the folks at AveoForum.com, who started by licensing a spy shot we originally ran on Motor Authority. Then they went to work with their trusty Photoshop tools to remove all the irregular black splotches that GM test engineers use to hide its shape.
The result is a subcompact hatchback that looks remarkably close to the Chevrolet Aveo RS concept car displayed in January at the Detroit Auto Show.
Chevy design cues
That car used several of Chevy's traditional design elements--a two-part grille, round tail lamps--but exaggerated them on the concept for effect. Extra-big brake cooling inlets give an "aggressive face," and both headlamps and tail lamps use exposed projectors.
The five-door's rising beltline meets a roof that tapers at the rear, and surprisingly, the rear door handles have stayed hidden in the pillars, giving a touch of Alfa Romeo to this Korean-designed baby with a bowtie.
The one styling compromise now, in our eyes, is the smaller wheel arches and 14-inch tires that replace the brawny 19-inch boots on the RS. Economy cars have to be economical, of course, so we're not surprised. Let's hope for a performance version that splits the difference.
This is a different car, by the way, to the even smaller Chevrolet Beat minicar now on sale in Asian markets. While the Beat concept was displayed at several U.S. auto shows, Chevrolet has said nothing about any plans to sell the Beat in the States.
