Poll: Which Do You Like Better – 130R Or 140S?

Chevrolet debuted two unexpectedly-awesome concept coupes at last week’s Detroit Auto Show — the TRU 140S and CODE 130R. The former is a basically a Chevy Cruze wrapped in some (very) sexy clothes, while the latter is a retro-styled coupe with modern elements.

The General will use feedback received from the 130R and 140S in deciding whether (and how) to build one or both of the vehicles, which will be joined by more concepts aimed at the Millenial generation throughout 2012.

So the question for this week’s poll is… which concept do you like better?

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GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

Alex Luft

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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  • Neither. The TRU looks too much like a Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the CODE looks too much like a BMW 1-Series. Perhaps if they made the TRU the rear drive model I could be convinced it was worth the effort. I'm not a fan of rear-drive but it matters to many so it's reason enough to make it happen.

  • I like the 130r just because it looks like it can be a production vehicle and i like the retro styling . While the tru140s looks like a concept and gm wouldn't have the balls to bring a car like that into production.

  • I like the styling of the TRU140 and the drivetrain layout of the Code130, so I'm a bit torn.

    I'm curious why they choose a Red for the Code130 that makes it look like Lightning McQueen, and white for the TRU140 that has a muting effect on the aggressive style.

    Re-imagine these cars with the colors swapped and see what you think.

    • @Skip GM has made it abundantly clear that both vehicles are production-feasible and that they will serve the market (Millenials) effectively with these cars.

  • Don't be so sure Skip. Chevrolet has wanted to do a coupe based on the Cruze and the 140S is based on a Cruze platform. I think this one has production potential.I say build it!

  • The 130R is the better looking of the two; however, it has too much Chevy look. The 140S is too far out there in its design style. There are better-looking cars out there I would purchase over these two. Chevy needs to come up with better styling, Hyundai has done it so can Chevy. Only good-looking car Chevy has is the Camaro and I bought one.

  • I love the 130R. it's exactly what young driving enthusiast in the states need. right now if you love driving and truly want to explore and understand the skills needed to control a car at the limit, you are forced to buy tired 20 year old Japanese RWD coupes, or Fox bodies, and old F-bodies. You could also fool around with old BMWs and the like, but all of the above equal lots of money spent on a tired used car.

    The Upcoming Toyota FR-S, and Subaru BRZ, as well as the Hyundai Genesis coupe, are addressing this problem directly. the Genesis coupe is unfortunately a lil too pricey and large to actually be dead on. But it's an option non the less.

    What many misunderstand about these types of cars, is they will NEVER be volume sellers nor are they intended too. they are about guys like me who love driving above nearly everything else. we just want to go out and drive. Not cruise, not drag race, not blast from stop light to stop light, but DRIVE. I mean the kind of guys and girls who dream of nice curvy switch back roads, and can't wait to go out in fresh snow with a RWD car. the kind of guys and girls who spend months learning to heel and toe effectively, and understand why "drifting" is awesome, and what exactly is happening when a a car is pushed to it‘s limits, or exceeding them.

    Lastly the type of people who these cars appeal to DO NOT want to spend a large amount of money to drive a fun, good handling RWD car, and know that there is no reason that one should have to. so yes GM, do the 130R. tweak it, but stay away from the extremely feminine shape of the 140R (that shape alone is what defines nearly ALL sissy volume selling FWD cars, and garners NO respect from true car guys the world over).

    I saw the renderings by Manaorss for the 130R and although nice, he ruined everything that made the 130R perfect as a classic small RWD coupe. he lowered the green house, ruining the proper upright driving position as well as the commanding view of all 4 corners of the car. He also shortened it; dropping the 4 place seating. the car NEEDS to be practical. if it can't serve as a sole form of transportation for the owner than it's just another pretentious, toy. Yay, yet another 370z, Genesis, Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, etc: insert every other typical pricy, non practical, severely compromised in some way, sports coupe or sports car here.

    The type of car that that the US market has been completely devoid of for nearly 20 years is a pure, light, RWD, CHEAP, simple, sport sedan/coupe. That a car guy on a budget, or unconcerned with image, can go out and buy on a entry level budget, and have years of fun with. yet the same car readily takes his friends out on Saturdays, and holds all of their junk on a road trips, and is cheap to insure, while being cheap to operate, or modify.

    That's a TRUE enthusiast car. a car that allows young and old, uninitiated, or experienced alike to fall in love with driving! there are very few cars that even approach that market now. the 130R has the potential to blow that segment wide open. GM tread very lightly here! If you go forward with a car of this magnitude, you BETTER get it right. The kind of people a car like this appeals to will tear you to shreds in print and by word of mouth if it doesn’t drive worth a damn, weighs too much, and cost too much. All points of which you have a unfortunate and LONG history of doing.

    A well executed car like the 130R will do more for GM’s image than even the Corvette or Camaro.

    • edit: the reference to Manaross's renderings relates to a pretty heated discussion on GMinsidenews.com about these two cars. i just copied my post there and posted it here because i felt it directly related to the discussion.

      • Very well-put, jz. I'm with you all the way there.

        The only other thing to keep in mind here is that a vehicle like the 130 could attain mainstream status/volume since it will be effectively marketed to a broad range of Millenials. Even if it's somewhat popular among those folks, then it could attain "mainstreamity" -- and thus be financial lucrative.

  • You are right Alex. I just feel that GM marketing may not be up to the task of properly marketing a car like the 130R. It would be a dream come true for GM and enthusiast alike if such a car went 'mainstream' a true win win for everybody.

    • We'll see. Of course, marketing today makes a huge difference in a vehicle's success. But seeing that GM even identified the Millenials as potential customers and built these concepts, I think they'll be able to market it properly. Just don't call the same team handling Scion's campaigns :)

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