- Chevy rolls out two sporty compact concepts — one rear-wheel drive, one front-wheel drive — aimed at younger buyers who value connectivity and personalization.
- The Code 130R features a turbocharged hybrid gasoline powertrain and rides on a rear-drive platform.
- The Tru 140S shares its front-drive platform with the Chevy Cruze and Volt.
DETROIT — Chevrolet is rolling out two sporty compact concepts — the rear-wheel-drive Code 130R and the front-wheel-drive Tru 140S — at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Chevy says the concepts are aimed at younger buyers who value connectivity and personalization. Both cars are being considered for production, with projected price tags in the low 20s.
The Code 130R is a four-passenger hybrid coupe, featuring a turbocharged Ecotec 1.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine coupled with General Motors' eAssist hybrid technology. The engine makes 150 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Chevy says the driveline can be equipped with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, and is projected to return 40 miles per gallon in highway driving.
The Tru 140S is a four-passenger hatchback that shares its platform with the Chevy Cruze and Volt. It also gets the 150-hp Ecotec 1.4, fitted with stop-start technology and other fuel-saving systems, and is projected to deliver 40 mpg on the highway.
Both cars were developed at GM's Advanced Design studio in Los Angeles.
The Code 130R was designed with "heritage" styling cues and features red metallic paint and matte anodized gold wheels with P245/40R20 tires. The Tru 140S has more of a contemporary look and is painted matte white with Chevrolet performance chrome wheels shod with P245/35R21 tires.
GM North America President Mark Reuss said the automaker is "seeking out our newest customers' opinions, listening to their advice and engaging them in new ways." Toward that end, Chevy has been surveying younger buyers and, in response to their feedback, said it designed the newest concepts with such features as wireless connectivity and smartphone integration.
Inside Line says: Chevy has all the feedback from that younger audience — but interpretation is always the tricky part.
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bourne2run says:
08:22 AM, 05/18/2012
Bout time Chevy stepped outside the box car with the 130 & 140. Now incorporate some of the style lost when they shut down the other GM divisisions. Pontiac had just achived this with the hard top Solstice when they stacked the company. I'm in the market for a car priced in the 20's that has enough horse power to be fun to drive and gets good gas mileage. I've always driven GM but now considering something more stylish than the standard Chevy box car. Build the 140 for 2013 and I'll buy it.
jariw says:
04:41 PM, 04/20/2012
Many of the posted comments on various sites miss the point of this new concept. Car magazines always tease us with $100K and up exotic cars that have beautiful styling, but are impractical, temperamental, and unaffordable. And whenever someone compares the 140S to an Eclipse, that tells me that they haven't seen this car in person, but are basing their opinion on the available pics. I have, and the photos simply do not do this gorgeous car justice. It is low, wide, and wedge-shaped like an Acura NSX or the 80"s Lotus Esprit, and looks like it's mid-engined, with its short hood and cab-forward design. The windows of the concept vehicle were blacked-out, so the interior is a mystery, but with the wheels positioned at the far ends of the car, it could easily be a 2+2. Some criticized the front-wheel drive and the moderate powertrain intended to produce 40mpg, but if you're looking for a powerful 15mpg RWD performance car, buy a Camaro. As long as Chevy doesn't change the dimensions of the car, give it 14 inch wheels, or put minimal effort into it(remember the Fiero), it will be a runaway success.
400gp11 says:
01:06 PM, 01/31/2012
I kinda like the 130r even if it looks like a baby Camaro.
bb49 says:
10:04 PM, 01/18/2012
If Chevy can deliver a production vehicle of the 140 without changing it---it will be one of the best looking if not the best looking coupe in this price range. This is what the Civic coupe and the so called new Accord Coupe should have looked like. Honda/Acura continues to be taken to the cleaners by its competiton with regard to styling as it has yet to release any new models that have styling that would be able to sell the car on looks alone. I'm still waiting for Acura/Honda to actually produce a car that would win me over on styling alone.
geewillie says:
10:21 PM, 01/15/2012
I don't agree naming the notchback 2-door a "Nova." Too much more recent bad vibes w/ that name for today's audiences, NOT the geezers like me who recall the "better" Novas of the '60s - '70s (really... better?). And is this tongue-in-cheek about "well, ChryslerFiat's come up with the Dodge Dart, so..."?
Give it a name, a REAL name, not numbers and letters, but give it a new name, or a very rare Chevy name of the ancient past which spelled out performance for its era.
HOW 'BOUT the CHEVROLET CORSAIR???
speeddemon086 says:
09:40 PM, 01/11/2012
Chevy stay with these cars!!!! This is your chance!
rwdmuscle says:
07:21 PM, 01/10/2012
The 140 looks like Chevy just updated the last generation Eclipse. If it didn't have a bowtie on the front and someone asked me to name the brand I wouldn't hesitate by answering Mitsubishi
mklrivowner says:
09:26 AM, 01/10/2012
130R looks like an 80's Nova, except good. Unfortunately, I doubt it will go into production looking like that. It's probably plagued with the same aero inefficiencies as the original Volt concept. It'd get me in the door, at least. Keep it around $22K with a decent list of standards, and I'd even consider buying one.
brians01 says:
08:55 AM, 01/10/2012
Hopefully the cease-and-desist letter on the 130R name is coming from the Suzuka circuit.
damaje says:
08:55 AM, 01/10/2012
The 140 does look better than the Veloster if Chevy can bring it out before people grow tired of the Veloster, though I think the 140 would have wider appear since it is without the funky design elements that give the Veloster its balls and does not look as much like the Cruze as the TC looks like a Corolla. And pretty sure the 140 smokes the Civic coupe in the looks department.