Chevrolet at the London motor show 2008

By Gavin Green and CAR reader reporter Sandy T

Motor Shows

23 July 2008 02:06

Chevrolet's most exciting car for ages – the Volt plug-in hybrid – wasn't at the London show, as we'll have to wait until autumn 2008 to see the finished thing. But Chevy continued to show its eco colours with a rather more mainstream alternative.

What’s new on Chevrolet's London motor show stand?

Nothing we haven’t seen at other motor shows.

CAR’s Chevrolet highlight

The Beat concept. It’s the new Matiz baby car. Unlike the gawky rollerskate-wheel styling of the current Matiz, the new one looks modern and desirable. It goes on sale early in 2010. It rides on GM’s new ‘world car’ B-class platform, developed in Korea by Chevrolet/Daewoo. Also worth seeing is the Chevrolet Camaro convertible concept, directly opposite the Beat. This is a good old-fashioned Yank muscle car, a perfect antidote to all the eco weenies at the London show.

What were they thinking

Thunderous all-American Chevrolet Camaro… tiny all-Korean Chevrolet Matiz. Nice to see that the Chevrolet name has such a clear brand message. The production Chevrolets that gather around the Beat and Camaro on the show stand, of course, are mostly horrible. The first proper post-GM takeover Chevrolet/Daewoo is the Cruze C-segment car, which debuts in Paris.

In a nutshell

Pore over the Beat and Camaro on your Excel visit. Then move on quickly.

Click here to go to CAR's London motor show A-Z homepage

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By Gavin Green and CAR reader reporter Sandy T