NYIAS: Pics from GM's small car press conference

[Chris_Doane]

I don't know about everyone else, but I haven't been able to get a good idea on just how small these cars are yet.

I just got off the phone with AH-HA and others who are on the show floor. They say the cars are B segment sized.

In other words, they are Mini Cooper, Toyota Yaris, Chevy Aveo, Honda Fit sized.

Maybe these pics with people around the cars will help:

[aaaantoine]

Ah. Griffon implied that these would be smaller than a Mini. But from these pictures, the cars at least look much taller than a Mini (A segment), if not longer. Of course, looks can be deceiving...

At any rate, these things are definitely larger than a Smart ForTwo.

[Northstar]

The front of the Trax looks sort of cute in these pics, but it would appeal to women much more than men, I think. The Groove is the most masculine by far with it's aggressive front fascia, but I find the rest of it ugly. The Beat is obviously the most sporty and I think it would appeal to the most people, and is the only one I think as a whole is attractive.

BTW, what's with the little green thing under the Trax in the last pic?

EDIT: I see, they were throwing them around at the beginning and must not have picked them all up afterwards.

[Chris_Doane]

Oh does anyone think they narrowly averted a wardrobe malfunction here?

[CSpec]

I would say that the black one is the biggest, and by looking at pictures I would say it is slightly smaller than a Scion xA.

[Cory Wolfe]

They still look like the size Giffron said, to me. *shrugs*

[aaaantoine]

I will concede that the Groove has the best face of the three, but that the Trax is my favorite in terms of overall stance.

[Chris_Doane]

One more with all the designers next to them:

[AAS]

I really like the Trax... too bad it's losing in the voting.

[vrazzhledazzle]

I hate it when there are dancers like this around the cars

Reminds me of the Kia Rondo introduction...lol

[thegriffon]

They still look like the size Giffron said, to me. *shrugs*

It's hard to tell without actual specs. Perhaps they are A-segment (Mini, Swift, Micra, C2, Ka, Yaris hatch) rather than A0, but maybe not. Height is not s determining factor. A0-segment minicars are just as tall or taller (to make up for the lack of horizontal legroom) than hatchbacks, MPV, vans or crossovers in larger segments. Since GM described tham as "minicar", rather than "small car" I assumed they would be smaller than the Celta and Sail as well as the Corsa and Aveo, but then the new Twingo is already right at the boundary of the A-segment (just below the 3-door Echo and Mini), so maybe the new minicars will be closer to the Mini than the Matiz.

[thegriffon]

I really like the Trax... too bad it's losing in the voting.

For those keeping Score at this time it's

41% Groove

33% Beat

26% Trax

[RBB]

I would say that the black one is the biggest, and by looking at pictures I would say it is slightly smaller than a Scion xA.

She doesn't look that big to me....

-RBB

[Hudson]

The "triplets" in the second picture are small...maybe five-feet tall, so it makes the cars look larger than they are.

[thegriffon]

According to Michael T. Albano, GM Global Design & Product Planning Communications:

"These cars are Matiz/Spark sized. About 20 inches shorter than Aveo."

[Chris_Doane]

LoL...well, I dont know why Im hearing different from people who saw them yesterday. Apparently the press kits they handed out don't have any measurements or specs.

Was that guy referring to the Aveo sedan (169.7 in) or hatch (152.7 in)? Matiz is 137.6 inches. Someone at NYIAS must have a tape measure!

[aaaantoine]

I think for the best comparison we should park them next to a HUMMER H2.

[Intrepidation]

The morons dancing round the cars is well..stupid...the cars themselves are cool though.

[Chris_Doane]

Heh OK I give up....just talked to a few more people in NYC who saw the cars and they all compare them to an Scion xA (154 in) or Honda Fit 5 door (157 in) length.

[haypops]

I think for the best comparison we should park them next to a HUMMER H2.

O rmaybe INTO a Hummer H2. :AH-HA_wink:

[thegriffon]

Heh OK I give up....just talked to a few more people in NYC who saw the cars and they all compare them to an Scion xA (154 in) or Honda Fit 5 door (157 in) length.

They are obviously very narrow, like the Matiz. It can be very hard to eyeball the difference in length unless the vehicles are parked side-by-side, and the Fit gains a good 6" or so (nearly half the difference) just to make US-compliance.

[Chris_Doane]

They are obviously very narrow, like the Matiz. It can be very hard to eyeball the difference in length unless the vehicles are parked side-by-side, and the Fit gains a good 6" or so (nearly half the difference) just to make US-compliance.

*shrug*

Heh, Im really not trying to be argumentative...I'm sure it seems like I am though. Just reporting what the people who've seen the car in person are telling me.

[turbo200]

they all look terrific. I love the tough truck miniute stance of the Trax....for a woman it'd be a great car. The surfacing on the Groove is excellent. What would be the con of making all three of them? And is this concept debut far far away from production, or are we looking at maybe one year wait? OR has GM still not learned the waiting game lesson?

I am loving the proliferation of Camaro interior bits/materials. The materials used in the Beat are phenomonal. I would like to see at least one of these cars, maybe the Groove since it'll be the manliest, with a performance package and with a great interior. These are winners for Chevy, especially if they are really close in size to the Scion Xa. Heck, I would love it if these were the replacements for Aveo. Build them all.