DETROIT – Chevrolet today announced the world debut of the Aveo RS show car at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. It features a European-inspired hot hatch look designed to appeal to young enthusiasts, and hints at the next-generation Aveo.

Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the Aveo RS showcases the car’s upscale-looking design cues both inside and out, and presents the many personalization options potentially available on the next-generation car.

“We hope the Aveo RS show car will demonstrate that we are as serious about redefining the Aveo and its place in the small-car segment as we were about reinventing the Malibu,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager.

The Aveo RS show car, finished in electric Boracay Blue, wears global Chevrolet design cues such as the dual element grille, round taillamps and fender flares, but designers turned up the attitude on the show car with low openings and a lower mouth trimmed in a combination of brushed and polished aluminum. Outboard fog lamps are integrated into an exaggerated brake-cooling inlet that flows into the front fender flares, creating an aggressive-looking face.

Exposed headlamps, with their brushed aluminum structural surround, are inspired by the designers’ affection for motorcycles. The sleek side profile is characterized by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors with amber-colored turn signal indicators carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile. At first glance, the car actually looks like a three-door hatch because the rear door handles are discreetly located in the “C”-pillar area.

“The Aveo RS show car demonstrates how progressive design can inject personality into a small car,” said Michael Simcoe, executive director, North American Exterior Design. “We want customers to see it and have an emotional reaction to it.”

No performance-minded car earns its street cred without large wheels and tires. The Aveo RS show car’s wheels are 19-inch, five-spoke with a gun metal metallic finish Chevrolet logo. The wheel openings reveal large Boracay Blue brake calipers.

The rear of the show car continues the sport theme, with an integrated spoiler that flows from the roof, a center-mounted exhaust and chrome exhaust tips. The exposed motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps feature tinted aluminum housings and a discreet Bowtie logo.

The Source: Jalopnik

After you switch from electric to gasoline or “flex fuel” motor, the engine maintains what is left of your charge. Once you’ve passed the 40 mile range of the ion battery your regular engine completely takes over. According to Chevrolet, this is done so that you get the most out of each battery – drain it almost completely, and recharge it back to full at your home or a power grid (aka, fuel stations of THE FUTURE!) – It’s kind of like draining your cell phone battery when you get a new mobile device, then charging it full and draining it again – it gives the user’s battery a longer lasting life span. Great…cars that charge like cell phones. Does this mean that after a year your Chevy Volt won’t hold a charge anymore?

Initially, General Motors reportedly released promotional photos of the Volt, watermarked by several of Chevrolet GM’s top officials. Shortly after these Volt pictures debuted GM followed up with a press release stating the photos were leaked accidentally. They blamed “human error” for the premature unveiling of production model stills. A day after the executives made their Chevy pictorial appearance, official (non-blocked by human bodies) Volt pictures appeared online.

Volt’s original internal design looked more Blade Runner and less real world, but who wouldn’t want to drive while playing with those signals and touch screen indicators. As you’ll see below, the real Volt dash is much more user friendly, but still keeps the look and feel of a car that should have been produced by the crew of the Starship Enterprise.

And behold! The 2011 Chevy Volt in all its glory. Revealed yesterday morning, the vehicle is a 5-door front wheel drive car with room for four. GM claims the Volt can reach a top speed of 100 mph (not bad for the old Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) motor) and a city mileage of 40 mpg! Yes, we said CITY. Volt also has “full regenerative brakes for top energy capture.” Power steering will also be controlled electrically, while 20 lithium-ion cells make up the Volt’s power plant.

GM estimates a fuel savings of $1500/annually. They are also reporting a starting price of $35,000, but if they want to compete with Honda’s more aggressive hybrid Insight (which is apparently starting as low as $18,5) Chevrolet will need to drop that number.

The vehicle is a 5-door front wheel drive car with room for four. GM/Chevy is reporting a top speed of 100 mph (not bad for the old Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) motor) and city mileage of 40 mpg! Volt also has “full regenerative brakes” for top energy capture. Power steering will also be controlled electrically.

220 lithium-ion cells make up the Volt’s power plant. GM estimates a fuel savings of $1500/annually. 

As we speak GM officials are unveiling the Chevrolet Volt electric car to a press junket for the first time! Aren’t you excited?! Well, since the Volt has been teased in front of us for the past several months, we don’t blame you for feeling a little ambivalent towards this American made hybrid-electric automobile. Some are excited, while others feel this serves to finally get the giant elephant out of the living room so we can move on with our lives. At the risk of sounding obvious, when Volt goes on sale in 2010 only then will we know for sure how people really feel. Chevroletpedia will be back to update you on reactions to GM’s electric pet.

It’s ALIVE!

Behold: The Volt and the job-secure Men who financed her