To complement the rakish TRU 140S Concept, Chevrolet rolled out a completely different, yet equally plausible concept car in the CODE 130R. And whereas the TRU 140S is a Cruze-based front-wheel-drive coupe, the CODE 130R is good old-fashioned rear-wheel-drive, just like the car gods intended. But there is an extra ingredient to the formula, as the CODE 130R’s turbocharged 1.4L Ecotec engine is mated to GM’s eAssist mild hybrid system. As a result, the car is said to be good for 150 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
In the looks department, the car is a completely fresh take. So much for retro-inspired looks. But we’re not about to slam the gavel on the looks of this concept car just yet, though maybe you would like to. Sound off in the comment section below to give us your feedback.
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Comments
The 130R looks too small to be a Monte Carlo preview, and I doubt it would be a new Nova. Just too close in size to the Camaro.
It seems to me that Chevrolet it testing the public’s reaction on the general shape/direction the next-generation Camaro is heading. Or just plain preparing us for what is to come.
It’s a good bet that it’s on the Alpha platform.
I think what is so jarring about the 130R is the overall proportions. The trunk needs to be extended a few extra inches.
So…………I played with the proportions, and extended out the trunk. Nothing too dramatic, just trying to subtlety balance out the design.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6667864193_21e1ec2428_b.jpg
If this is on the Alpha platform does that mean we will see a Cadillac version of the
BMW 1 series humm..
Not necessarily. I think it will be a long time until Caddy moves into the subcompact space. It took them a good decade to move into compacts with the ATS… (not counting previous failed attempts).
Nice!
It looks so natural I could barely tell its been modified.
The rear third of the car looks like a mini camaro, and the front looks like a mash up of the original Volt concept and an Aveo5. If not retro, certainly recycled. The “fresh take” on the headlights look like they were lifted from an Audi.
So no interiors for either?
Nope. Doors weren’t exactly what you would call unlocked/functional.
Does anyone else think those headlights look like eyes? With that “face” it could be auditioning for the next “Cars” movie. I like it.
I hate the gold wheels
I’d like to drive that 130R… off a cliff! Geez that thing is an ugly mishmash of about 4 cars. Now we know what the Pontiac Aztek designer’s been working on for his next design…
I really like the idea of this car, the design is cool but needs some refinement. This must be on a refined Kappa platform, bring it… Loving these concept intros… Keep it comming GM…
Just a thought. If this is truly previewing the next-gen Camaro, it looks and seems to me that Chevrolet it going to try and design the car for the global market, not just for North America.
That could be why there’s German & Asian design influences.
A BIG gamble, but if successful, could also be a HUGE success.
I really like this concept. It’s not an appealing design right away, but I’m sure it will grow on folks. I find it amazing how people like Zaphod above who have never seen it, hate it right away. See the car in person before driving it off a cliff. Or better yet, drive it.
This car looks like a 1 series but with a better-looking, more aggressive design. And it will probably move and handle better than the 1 series too. There are some people who hate the design of the Camaro… But hey, don’t buy it then. Same here: don’t like the 130? Don’t buy it. Just make sure GM gets the right feedback and actually builds this car so I don’t have to buy the Toyota GT86.
I don’t know where to start – but “AWFUL”, and “MISHMASH” seem to come first to mind.
The greenhouse of the car doesn’t in any way mesh with the body structure, so I see a rounded, creased form with some form of retro coupe, squareish nonsense up top like some creepy sci-fi movie where the head of one creature has been sewn onto another’s body.
I get a first-gen Viper vibe from the side of the front qtr. panel – mixed with Audi-esque very angry headlights. Yet the bulbous curves on the sides and rear give off a kind of Miata-friendly vibe. Tack on a RX-8 type grille – and just in case this whole deal isn’t grotesque enough – let’s make sure everyboy knows this is a SHEV-RO-LEY by pasting the world’s largest logo right in the center of the snout!
GM, please hide this trainwreck in a warehouse somewhere never to again see the light of day! Sheesh! Gag! If you want to study side-surfacing that works – look to Hyundai’s latest designs wherein the curves add interest but don’t add mass to the appearance of the vehicle.
To be just and fair I always have to see some positive aspect, so I’ll go with the rear end. Not wild for the folded-rim taillights, but they are a new form – and from quarter and side and rear angles, I like the rear end of the car. It’s simple and sleek. While I dig the TRU 140S in nearly every way stylistically – it looks like somebody just couldn’t put down the stylus and added some crease flourishes that really aren’t necessary – and in fact don’t add good eye-catching detail, just clutter and business. Designers: Remember – K.I.S.S. .
For all of you who hold “RWD or nothing”…..well, this is what you get. The entire greenhouse looks like ti was grafted on from another car; specifically, an LC Accent coupe circa 2005.
http://www.yiparts.com/2008/pic/modelpic/HYUNDAI/ACCENTLC/2008aug01-4892775b4c1a6.jpg
The 130 may have RWD, but when you hang everything on just that one lone fact at the expence of a coheasive design, it makes you look like a one-issue politician.
I think quite a few enthusiasts like the idea of a RWD sports coupe below the entry level Camaro, but 1.4L turbo + e-assist??? C’mon man. Make it 200 hp and then offer an “all-in” focused “R” or whatever model with 250+ hp for the wanna-be drifter crowd.
A turbo 2.0L wouldn’t be a bad idea.
I bet it would be a blast to drive if GM kept the weight out of it. I can see what they were trying to do…could work with some refinement…and it’s not about hp…150 is enough for the base engine if the car is light. Throw in 2.0L DI turbo engine option to bring it to 270hp for an SS version.
Dudes we are missing a major intro here, the Sonic RS. Manoli/Alex I have been waiting all day for the scoop on the Sonic RS.
I think that was posted a long time ago.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2011/12/chevy-previews-2013-sonic-rs-before-detroit-auto-show/
If you want pictures from the actual auto show and some more info:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/09/2013-chevrolet-sonic-rs-detroit-2012/
Hey, we’ve photos from the show floor as well!
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gallery/2013-chevrolet-sonic-rs-naias-2012/
I don’t get all the bashing here. This is a good looking car. Better looking than the Honda in my driveway (which I LOVE). I really like the styling. Still not a fan of hybrid crap. That’s what would keep me away, not the looks.
Why is my comment in response to Yabadabadoo awaiting moderation?
What is the meaning of this?
Means that we’re controlling overlords 🙂
Well, not really. It’s part of our spam comment prevention system, which places certain comments (such as those containing 2 or more outbound links) into a moderation queue. Hang tight 🙂
Oh ok, thought it was something I said, kind of annoying but I guess its better than having spammers fill up the comments area.
So are we only going to see one of these make it to production? Chevy’s facebook page was asking people to vote after posting short videos of each vehicle (inside and out). If I had to guess, I’d say we get the Chevy 1 series/ Camaro above and the Tru 140S becomes a Cruze coupe?
What a great idea. A BMW 1 Series for 1/3 of the price. Like it. Great car for competition drifting.
Looks like a baby Camaro.
i am really feeling this car. regardless if it has one minuscule similar feature to the bmw. its cheaper, rwd!
I’d like Chevrolet to bring both the 130 and the 140 into production, but if I had to choose I’d pick the 130. While the 140 is kinda cool in its own way, it reminds me too much of the cars they imagined we’d be driving here 2012 circa 1989, or the lovechild of a last-generation Toyota Celica and a new Hyundai Veloster-both of which I like stylewise, but Chevy’s an American company and taking too many styling cues from Asian manufacturers almost seems like an admission of defeat to me…
Hi. I don’t understand why sports car makers insist on competing against taxis and limos? These days, the open back seat on an open convertable is an open invitation for a carjacker to hop in. Plus, slicing out inches of back seat would make the car lighter and stiffer. … ?