1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

GM shifting tiny Chevy Beat car to U.S.

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Rybold, Jul 3, 2008.

  1. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2008
    2,760
    322
    3
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    "NEW YORK - General Motors will shift its Chevrolet Beat concept car to the U.S. market as the ailing car maker attempts to lift its fortunes from its lowest stock price since the Eisenhower administration, according to a report Thursday. The perky two-door, which packs a gas-sipping 1.2 liter turbocharged engine, had been targeted for the Asian and Latin American markets, gets about 40 miles to the gallon."

    image: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/data?pid=avimage&iid=ikv142mkyatQ
    "In November, GM said it approved a model based on the Beat prototype for markets outside the U.S. and Canada starting next year. GM wouldn't disclose where the new vehicle would be built. GM may also expand the Volt electric car program. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, 76, said last month the company currently plans to build about 60,000 Volts a year after they go on sale in late 2010." GM shifts tiny Chevy Beat car to U.S. market - MarketWatch

    Also: A "small pickup GM is considering for the U.S. would be similar to the Chevrolet Montana, according to the people with knowledge of the plans. The 174-inch Montana is sold in Brazil and in Mexico as the Tornado and in South Africa as the Opel Corsa Utility. The Chevrolet Colorado, GM's smallest U.S. pickup, is 192 inches." - Bloomberg.com: U.S. - Yesterday, there were several articles that I read that said the over the past decade the size of trucks has ballooned compared to the pickup trucks that were on the market ten years ago. The truck market needs to go back to where it was - a lot of people want to buy those little four-cylinder pickup trucks that are the size of an economy car.
     
  2. SVPriusFan

    SVPriusFan Hymotioned and loving it...

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2007
    115
    1
    0
    Location:
    Denver Suburbs
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hmmm - perhaps Chevy is finally catching on as to what people want [especially in the current market conditions]. Lets hope the quality is better than the Aveo...

    BTW, the OP's linked image of the front end looks...angry:mad:. Maybe the designers have unconsciously channeled the feelings of Chevy/GM's management regarding the success of the Prius?...

    Just my observation
     
  3. rpiereck

    rpiereck Regenerator

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2008
    289
    3
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thta car is the new version of the Daewoo Matiz, the smallest car made and sold in the Korean market. Last year, while still living in South Korea, I met a GM engineer at the Lotte Mart superstore and I asked him if Gm would be bringing the Matiz to the US. He mentioned that GM wants to but they were having problems getting the car to pass US crash standards. I'm sure this new Chevy Beat will be built with that in mind, the Matiz is a nice little car.