Chevrolet Viva is spied, set to replace Aveo

The lowest rung on the Chevrolet car ladder currently is home to the Aveo. But that car is scheduled to be replaced midway through 2010 with a new model.

Spy shooters have captured engineers testing a prototype of the new car, which Internet chatter says will wear the Viva nameplate.

This is the car that Chevy will put up to compete against the new Ford Fiesta, the Honda Fit, the Toyota Yaris and the Nissan Versa in the small-car segment in the United States.

Our spy shooter grabbed a shot of the interior, as well as several exterior looks. And a little Photoshop work gives us an idea of what the finished product may look like.

Look for a small four-cylinder engine under the hood for the U.S. market. This car is also bound for other markets, where it may get small diesels or three-cylinder engines.

Also, General Motors recently announced that it would build a new small car in a U.S. plant. It wouldn't name the car, but we're betting that this is it.

By Dale Jewett