Audi's Walter da Silva was having a restless night. Turning uncontrollably. Throwing the sheets off. His stomach the size of a walnut, he was waking up from a headache that pounded in syncopated rhythm with the thumping in his own chest. It wasn't internal turmoil at Volkswagen Group that waylaid Mr. Sandman. It wasn't the mild critical reception of the A5 coupe. No, he was reeling in the wake of knowledge that he was responsible for a raft of imitation single-frame grilles, the most ghastly manifestation of which had appeared on the facelifted Chevrolet Aveo, which is making its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
The facelifted model will feature either a 1.2-liter, 84-horsepower or a 1.4-liter, 98-horsepower gas engine, the latter available with an automatic transmission, and will go on sale in March of 2008. We wonder what kind of exciting new Geelys this newest Aveo will spawn.
I love how the front wheel arch looks like it's for a completely different vehicle than the back one. Somehow, I think this thread and the one about the Ram with the light pole in its front end are connected...
"Everyone knows that the Car Lounge Car of the Year is the E36 M3, the answer to all transportation problems. Need to haul a family of 8 - M3! Tow a boat trailer - M3! Have only $15k to spend and want a Japanese car - M3!" -- Tom
funny how the us refresh was so much nicer looking too.
The distinction isn't US/Euro but sedan/hatch. The hatch worldwide is still the same as the original '04. This thing will be replacing it.
There was a time not long ago when I lamented the fact that styling trends seemed to be doing away with grilles, either reducing them to small oval holes or eliminating them completely. However, when I said that grilles should come back, this is not quite what I had in mind.
I'd still take a Versa or Fit over this, but the better engines should give Chevy a helping hand in the Euro market. They need to get a better (more fuel efficient, not powerful) engine for the North American market.
2007 2-Door GTI Hufs, BMP, 6MT, Pkg. 2, Nav Koni FSD's, Eibach Prokit Springs, Neuspeed Rear Swaybar
Except that looks NOTHING like the new Audi grilles...
and neither does the chrysler...
jesus christ people. who cares how people got ideas, just know that they are designing cars and you are NOT (well atleast most of us here).
Inspiration for things will always come from somewhere, no one just thinks of something random without having seen something that made them think of it, be it an animal, a tree, something.
What is a Libertarian? A Republican who owns a bong.
The "Van Dike Beard Effect" grille is the creation of obscure automotive designer and Civil War Re-enactment Enthusiast, Billy Ray DuPree. He was too modest to claim credit for his work (plus the fact that he can't read).
Billy Ray. AKA "One-Track-Mind DuPree":
Modified by vwlarry at 11:12 AM 8-13-2007
Please read my first published article in the February 2010 Chevy Enthusiast magazine (page 37; "Zora Arkus-Duntov And Five Easy Corvettes"). Link: http://www.amosautomotive.com/ Thanx!
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” - St. Thomas Aquinas
The "Van Dike Beard Effect" grille is the creation of obscure automotive designer and Civil War Re-enactment Enthusiast, Billy Ray DuPree. He was too modest to claim credit for his work (plus the fact that he can't read).
Ah, Billy Ray DuPree. The Virgil Exner of the 21st Century.
11ty billionth time this has been pointed out, too...
Oh come off it already. If you can't see that the new Aveo bears more than a passing resemblance to the newer Audi grills (and nothing like the Chrysler for that matter,) you're letting your "Go USA" mantra cloud your vision a little too much.
The Subaru is gone, time to start looking for a Tweed jacket with leather elbow patches...
And on what car(s) did that style of a nose first appear on? I'm not calling ripoff here, but Audi was not the first to make that style of a nose on a car; making it angular, rather than rounded, does not make it a completely new concept. I don't care who would have done it first or from what country they happen to be, but claiming something is the original when it isn't, especially when there are traces of ripoff calling in the message, really bothers me.
This isn't some "Go USA!" BS and it never has been; pointing-out things that you feel aren't right or having a disssenting opinion aren't to be equated with some ignorant "AMERICA!!! *** YEAH!!!" cheering. So while I like different things than most of you like, critique of these things doesn't necessarily make me an ignorant moron, nor does defending things I like from the "haha!!! X sucks!!!" and other such forms of that crap. I've given-up the actual wide-open instigation of crap quite some time ago and will (generally) only give real criticism... yet you wouldn't know it by reading some of the replies I get.
Somehow, outright bashing Buick (or Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, etc.) is ok, but criticism of Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, etc. makes me a "redneck" or something; GM quotes, press releases et al are also to be considered useless PR while questioning Toyota's word (or practically any other manufacturer) is again grounds for being labelled an ignorant moron. Here, for example, we have the article somewhat claiming tht the Aveo is ripping-off the Audi grille and somehow this is probably to be considered a disgrace, I point out that style of nose as not being an Audi creation and of course, I'm a horrible person for it... Maybe the " " wasn't necessary, but it has been discussed ad nauseam.
It's a discussion forum guys, a little contrast or differing opinions never hurt anyone. At least you'll never see me make a serious post that can be summed-up in "OMG Honda sucks!!!", unlike all too many post in threads about things I like. I've actualy been ridiculed for liking Chryslers, Lincolns or Buicks by people who practically worship old Rabbits and such.
Oh, and when will I stop "playing the victim," you ask? I know someone will or would have brought this up. Well, when people stop making it personal.
It looks even worse with a numberplate on it, seeing as they've made NO room for it...
Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive ! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve ! [...] - July 14, national day of France
we'll call this article....."the old man and the grille" LOL
Helluva lot better looking than the present car.....to bad it's such a bottom feeder.
Keep up the good work! Maybe Hemmingway's ghost can test it when it comes out!
The feeling of immortality extends right up to the moment of impact. Every 10% weight reduction equates to 7% fuel mileage gain. Priuses are ECONOMY cars for people who can't add.....
Audi's Walter da Silva was having a restless night. Turning uncontrollably. Throwing the sheets off. His stomach the size of a walnut, he was waking up from a headache that pounded in syncopated rhythm with the thumping in his own chest. It wasn't internal turmoil at Volkswagen Group that waylaid Mr. Sandman. It wasn't the mild critical reception of the A5 coupe. No, he was reeling in the wake of knowledge that he was responsible for a raft of imitation single-frame grilles
And on what car(s) did that style of a nose first appear on? I'm not calling ripoff here, but Audi was not the first to make that style of a nose on a car; making it angular, rather than rounded, does not make it a completely new concept.
Dude, to be fair, they're right. That Aveo looks like an Audi ripoff. Yes, Chrysler was first with the large grille, and yes, Chevy's done the split-bar grille for several years now, so it's not like it was completely intentional, but it is what it is.
Incidentally, that Aveo facelift is horrifyingly ugly.
OK... I'll say it. I like the front fine. I even like the Aveo current sedan. While not sporty, it is def "cute" and plain at worst.
The saddest part is that they forgot or ran out of funds to finish from the A-pillar on back. Maybe they are redesigning 1/4 of the car per MCE? That's how they will "keep it fresh every year" (i.e. Change a 1/4 of the car every year until the generation is dead. Maybe at the end of the gen, we will know what they really intended.). I bet the actual designers are frustrated as hell with this strategy.
It's no wonder they're getting spanked, but then that is what they get for milking the Daewoo sales bargain for what its worth... instead of being happy they got such a massive discount on the purchase.
For advertising information Click Here
.
That's how they will "keep it fresh every year" (i.e. Change a 1/4 of the car every year until the generation is dead. Maybe at the end of the gen, we will know what they really intended.). I bet the actual designers are frustrated as hell with this strategy.