General Motors opened the New York Auto Show on Wednesday morning with
the first vehicle reveal, hosted by GM Chairman Bob Lutz and Vice
President of GM Global Design Ed Welburn. A high-energy hip-hop dance
troupe presented a trio of brightly colored mini cars meant to
highlight Chevy's new focus on design. Introduced as "the Triplets" we
were told the creative little Beat, Groove, and Trax concepts are
supposed to drive the energy, diversity, and excitement of urban life
into cars that will also deliver good-looking fun, fuel economy, and
value. (Yep, that's a lot of adjectives to digest.) Then we were told to choose from a trio of matching foam balls and throw one onto the stage to indicate our favorite. (Did I do what I was told? Heck no! I'm bringing those balls home for my kids!)
Taking an approach meant to increase the post-show buzz about these
cars, Chevy is also allowing consumers to pick their favorite of the
three by visiting www.vote4chevrolet.com
and casting their vote for the Beat, Groove, or Trax. In the typical
veiled language we expect at autoshows, Chevy said the results will
help them determine which of the three cars they should build.
Of
course, no auto show press conference would be complete without the
mandatory announcement of manufacturer statistics, and in this case we
were informed that Chevrolet is one of the fastest-growing brands in
the world, showing a sales increase of 158 percent outside North
America since 2001. Chevrolet says it sold 4.3 million vehicles
worldwide in 2006, 2.8 million - or 65 percent of them - in the United
States. This information is relevant to these cars because, according
to Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper, "The Chevrolet Beat, Groove, and
Trax concepts have the potential to expand the reach of Chevrolet -
already a beloved brand around the world - even further, connecting
with young buyers on multiple continents who desire fun-yet-efficient
transportation."
Here's
a quick summary of the three minicar concepts, which could potentially
be modified off the existing Matisse and Spark vehicles that are
already on sale in Europe.
Chevrolet Beat:
Designed
to evoke the mood of a speedy micro import tuner, the eye-popping-green
Beat is a front-wheel-drive, three-door hatchback meant to be
personalized, and would be powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline
engine mated to an automatic transmission. If brought to market, it
would be loaded with technology, including a navigation system and
premium stereo.
Chevrolet Groove:
A
"funkastalgia"-themed vehicle that Chevy says is too tough-looking to
be "cute," the Groove concept is a retro-inspired vehicle with
bodacious fender flares and an upright windshield, like a new-gen HHR.
The front-drive Groove would be powered by a small, efficient 1-liter
diesel engine. Its Lunar Quartz matte paint is ideal for application of
vinyl decals for additional personalization by owners.
Chevrolet Trax:
An
urban crossover concept that's equally at home on the trails or in
traffic, the Blaze Orange suv-let gets a low-cost all-wheel-drive
system and looks the part of a rugged SUV many times its size, thanks
to a voluminous one-piece bumper and fender system in the front and
back, a rear-mounted spare tire and a roof rack. Trax would be powered
by a 1-liter gas engine.
You might want to take a good look and
try to figure out which one of them your teenager could be parking in
your driveway in about three years. Don't forget to vote!
By Brandy Schaffels