Chevrolet Calls Time On Kalos

Out with the old, in with the new - that's the message from fledgling UK brand Chevrolet. Bosses have unveiled a fresh face for their cars, while Auto Express has learned that the Kalos badge could soon be dumped.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Richard Yarrow

27th April 2005

Taking the stage at this month's Shanghai Motor Show was a new four-door version of the Aveo small family car. Codenamed T250, it won't go on sale in the UK - but three and five-door hatchback variants will arrive here late next year. Aveo is the name given to the Kalos in overseas markets, and we've discovered it's likely to feature in British showrooms, too. A company insider told us: "We said when we transformed the brand from Daewoo we would carry over existing model names, but as cars are replaced we would move to Chevrolet ones.

"Aveo is a badge that is known in Eastern Europe, North America and China, and when the two hatchback versions of T250 are launched in the UK - probably in the third quarter of next year - it's highly likely the name will change to Aveo." The show car's nose features the famous Chevy logo, while the grille is more prominent than on the current Kalos. The lights are squarer, too.

Our source said this styling will be carried over to the eagerly awaited SUV, based on the S3X concept first seen at last year's Paris expo. The off-roader is due to take its motor show bow early in 2006 - maybe in Detroit - and go on sale here in the summer. Name changes for Chevrolet's Matiz, Lacetti and Tacuma models have been ruled out for the time being.