Three Chevy Minicar Concepts Unveiled

The ongoing New York International Auto Show is hosting some of the most captivating concept vehicles. The country’s largest motor show is the best place to unveil concept vehicles which are designed to be loaded with advanced features that will be integrated to production vehicles in the near future.

Car manufacturers have gathered at the event to showcase their developed concept vehicles. One of the major brands in the U.S. auto scene has even unveiled not just one but three concept minicar concepts at the said event.

Chevrolet, the most popular and the best selling marque of General Motors, has unveiled three minicar concepts at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). These three are the Chevrolet Beat, the Chevrolet Groove, and the Chevrolet Trax. All of these three concepts are characterized by good-looking exteriors which are designed to be coupled with a good fuel economy. These three vehicles were designed at General Motors’ design studio located in Inchon, South Korea. The said facility is known for designing small cars and has been tapped to provide a concept vehicle that may soon hit the U.S. auto market.

Ed Welburn, the Vice President of GM Global Design, has this to say during the unveiling of the three concept minicars: “The Chevrolet Beat, Groove and Trax concepts highlight the strength and diversity of GM’s Global Design capabilities, as well as the ability of our Global Product Development team to anticipate and quickly meet the evolving needs of our diverse markets around the world.” The diversity of GM’s Global Design is exhibited in the fact that while the three vehicles were designed in South Korea, the Beat was built in India while the Groove and the Trax are built in Michigan.

Welburn also emphasized on the design team’s zeal to provide fun minicars in urban centers around the world. “The design team was so enthused about being given the assignment to develop the perfect small car for urban commuters that they created not one, but three interpretations of how this car may be developed for Chevrolet customers around the world,” says Welburn.

While these vehicles have one common aim, they are being pitted against one another in a poll by Chevrolet. The car manufacturer urges consumers to vote for their favorite concept minicar at the web site www.vote4chevrolet.com. The result of the poll will help the company determine which features they will include in a future production minicar for the United States.

The Chevrolet Beat is a micro import tuner designed for fun-loving individuals. It has a front wheel drive configuration. The Beat is a three-door hatchback loaded with entertainment and technology features. It features a state-of-the-art navigation system and top of the line stereo system. The Beat is powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine coupled to an automatic transmission designed to give smooth gear changes. It is also equipped with amenities found in other Chevrolet production vehicles like power windows powered by Chevy window motors.

The Chevrolet Groove on the other hand is designed to look “aggressive”, bordering on “sinister” even. Its dark finish gives the Groove concept that luxury vehicle look. Its short hood and extended cabin makes it look longer than it really is although it gives adequate interior space. Its power comes from a 1-liter diesel engine. It is one of the best choices for those who are looking for a cool looking vehicle without sacrificing fuel efficiency although interested consumers will have to wait if General Motors will indeed put the Groove into production.

The third concept minicar is the Chevy Trax and it is designed for tough driving conditions. The crossover concept is equipped with features that allow it to handle off-road terrains quite respectably. The Trax looks strong enough to tackle harsh terrains due to the fact that it employs design concepts one can find in a full size SUV like the Trax’s one-piece bumper. Just like large SUVs, the Trax concept also features a rear-mounted spare tire and a roof rack. The Trax’s power comes from a relatively small 1-liter gasoline engine.