NAIAS 2012: Chevrolet TRU 140S Concept Is Really Just A Sexy Cruze Coupe
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With the introduction involving a video of teens and young twenty-somethings talking about what they look for in a car, the tone for the Chevrolet press conference was set. GM has recognized the huge market that is the Millennial generation — roughly 80 million strong — and plans to use Chevy to harness more consumers. And with this young generation, GM has elected to take modern research and marketing techniques to effectively target the consumer.
For instance, all of the marketing for the Chevy Sonic has been done online — where the kids these days spend the lion’s share of their time. And this morning, at the 2012 North American Auto Show, Chevy unveiled two concepts aimed directly at the youth, with plans on asking attendees during public hours just what they are looking for in the interior of these cars. For instance, show-goers at the exhibit can select options such as Wi-Fi, a heads-up display, and intense smart phone integration to mold the shape and function of the interior.
Both concepts feature alphanumeric names, and GM’s turbocharged 1.4L engine for the sake of 40 mpg fuel economy, but with an output of 150 horsepower. And if GM were to produce them tomorrow, both would feature a price tag of around $20,000. The first is the Chevy CODE 130R Concept, and the second is the TRU 140S Concept — the one photographed above (and below).
Based on GM’s Delta II architecture, it shares the same bones as the hot-selling Chevy Cruze, and hints again at a two-door version of the car… only with a different name, and much better design. It might have a slight resemblance to the Mitsubishi Eclipse from some angles, but this thing is still hot. White hot.
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January 9, 2012 at 11:23 am
Now Alex can shut up about his Cruze coupe.
January 9, 2012 at 11:40 am
Does Chevy want to recreate Mitsubishi Eclipse? I like the design features of this car, but the body style.
January 9, 2012 at 11:37 pm
That’s EXACTLY what I thought. It looks frighteningly similar to the Mitsubishi Eclipse…the same one that has now been discontinued. Not too sure that’s a good thing. I would advise them to not do the downward swoop of the waistline, for starters. This would help to distance this design from one that is arguably an also-ran.
April 30, 2012 at 11:21 am
the eclipse is being discontinued cause it sucks not because of how it looks. imo this is a definate yes and so is the code 130r. (i hate that name though, noooo numbers on that one) i think it should be put into production as the cruze z24
January 9, 2012 at 11:46 am
too edgy for me
January 9, 2012 at 11:51 am
its still a concept, the production version will be significantly toned down
January 9, 2012 at 12:00 pm
I love it, especially the rear axle close to the rear. Kind of reminds me of a Pontiac G6 coupe only better. I hope they don’t tone it down too much.
January 9, 2012 at 12:51 pm
OMG, wow… This is my next car.
January 9, 2012 at 1:23 pm
The TRU 140S looks like a nice mash up of a Honda CR-Z and an Audi TT with maybe a pinch of Hyundai Genesis Coupe, not a bad job at all. The interior better be something like a Cadillac Cue or more, that’s what all us “Millenials” expect to be standard, we’re not really impressed by it and they shouldn’t cost $2-4k to add on, an iPad is better than those interfaces and costs at most well under $1k.
The Code 130R looks like a BMW 1 series minimization of a Camaro. Don’t let it have the same terrible retro interior though. The inside of the new Camaro feels and looks like a cheap transformers toy.
Wifi definitely isn’t mandatory, and unless it’ll be free for the life of the car no one will want to buy wifi for your car when you already pay for “unlimited” data for your smartphone. “intense smartphone integration” however IS mandatory, everyone texts while driving – if you can have Siri do it for you then that’s a way better solution. Plus who doesn’t want their car to be like kit from nightrider?
They look good, especially the 140S, but will they can’t get better fuel economy than the Cruze sedan even though they’re presumably smaller and lighter?
How do they stack up against the Scion FR-S/ Toyota FT-86? These are like the budget versions of those?
January 9, 2012 at 2:29 pm
*but why can’t they get better fuel economy
January 9, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Sexy, fun, racy – just nice. I like this design a lot. It’s not like this basic shape hasn’t been riffed off of before – Remember the Acura coupe from a few years back…And as Manoli says – a bit of a edgier Eclipse. That said, this take is sweet, real sweet.
Close your eyes for a second and take a deep breath – now envision how this car would look in a production version. Remove the 20″ wheels, add lots of sidewall to the tires, add real side mirrors and remove the flourescent-tube looking surrounds of the inner headlights, and replace them with plastic shape similes. Pop, there – now you have what a production version would look like. Remember a couple years back, the Honda CR-Z and Insight concepts in all their internet and auto show glory? Yes, they both were revealed in pearl white with huge low profile sexy rims – with razorblade mirrors and catchy LED headlight and foglamps. What we got months later-were rather roundy, small-wheeled facsimiles that were about 50% more boring.
Show cars are kind of like reading Playboy magazine and wishing for a 110 lb. brunette, only to finally meet your gf who is nice to look at, fun to be with mostly, and fields a good 140-150 real-world pounds! LOL
While I really like this car’s shape I wish GM would get rid of the GM crease. My gawd why is it some kind of GM law for the ages that EVERY SINGLE CAR, TRUCK and SPORTS CAR have the center crease even if it doesn’t set off the car, or enhance it in some way? I think this design is a perfect example of why somebody at GM needs to break the granite edict that says every GM car needs a folded-envelope crease in it’s center. This crease takes away from the flow of the sloping hood and sporty decklid.
Build this car GM – make a PHEV version or give it EV-Boost. Make it very close to the showcar and you’ve got a big seller.
January 9, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Drivetrain be dammed.
140 > 130
Even mathematically.
January 9, 2012 at 5:09 pm
wow this is a nyce car dont forget you need to build model to keep time…good ex hyundai sonata very nice but after one month soso…
January 9, 2012 at 7:30 pm
PLEASE MAKE THE TWO CONCEPTS INTO PRODUCTION!!!
January 10, 2012 at 5:29 am
I wish this one was RWD…
January 10, 2012 at 8:54 am
I like the looks of this. It’s forward thinking (and the forward cabin with gradual roof angle gives it a dynamic and aggressive look)
Take out the back seat and it could be a mid-engined RWD vehicle.
You could get two cars out of this, a front engined FWD four seater and a Mid engined RWD two seater. The mid engined offering could be marketed to replace the Solstice/Sky fans (and older fans of the Fiero)
Bottom line: This has definite potential. GM needs to capitalize on it and move forward with it.
January 10, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Lots of camaro style in this. I love it. I would like to see some Lamborghini air scoops designed into this. Cool the brakes or something. Make the car kind of evil looking. Even as is it would sell.
January 29, 2012 at 10:35 am
Loosing 90000 sales in Colbalt coupe sales only makes sense to make a youth market coupe. Competing with the Civic & Scion coupes in the $20000 range, should get Chevy/GM new ‘street cred’.
April 12, 2012 at 7:02 am
Pics definitely don’t do this car justice. Without the Chevy emblem, no one would guess this was a Chevy. In person it looks nothing like an Eclipse. It more resembles an NSX in the front, and the rest of the car is pure Italian exotic, without the mega-pricetag. 40mpg, 5 spd, and 4 seats. A practical affordable car that looks like the cars most of us lust after but can’t afford. Some of the styling and performance mods that others are suggesting are nice, but would only add to the price. If thats what u want, buy a Ferrari. And who needs a 400 hp car that does 180 mph? The 140S uses the same formula that makes the new Elantra such a runaway success. Great looks, practical and affordable. GM’s designers have hit one out of the park!!!