You can read the first installment of the editorial piece here.
Aside from unveiling the 130R, Chevy noted that it will be reaching out to young public attendees of the auto show on just what they would like to see in the interior of tomorrow’s car. If its anything along the lines of what GM is thinking, they will be looking for cars with seamless smartphone connectivity, Wi-Fi, a Heads Up Display (HUD) and other technology riff-raff. That may be true, but are they right in thinking that such features matter to people that have their hearts set on one? I’m talking about the young enthusiast, who cares about nothing else but performance combined with simplicity and a dash of efficiency.
This hard-core demographic cares not about GPS, power windows, heated seats, the factory sound system, etc. That’s not why they spend hours and hours on their cars working under the hood, tweaking the suspension system, or replacing the interior with a design more fitting to them. They want to make their car an extension of themselves, and they care most about showing everyone else what their car can do on the track with what little money they have.
As any Southeast Michigan resident will know, Woodward Avenue is crawling with young enthusiasts driving all different makes on any Friday and Saturday summer night. And except for the spoiled ones that roll up in their dad’s M5 (or the flashy auto-writer showing off his ride of the week), each car has a touch — or a splash — of personalized flair. It would be this group that would truly appreciate a car like the Chevy Code 130R.
So, here’s a wildcard thought: if GM does indeed plan on bringing this car to market, give customers the option of deleting a few features. Take a page out of Ford’s book regarding what they did to the Mustang Boss 302 Leguna Seca. Offer a rear-seat delete and replace it with a rear stabilizer bar, offer a sound system delete — but keep the spaces open for the inevitable after-market system installation — give it crank down windows, and the most basic steel wheel package available.
In return, reward the budget petrolsexual with a cheaper bottom line, with perhaps the option of upgrading to Recaro or Sparco seats, a gauge cluster, better brakes and perhaps a more track-oriented set of wheels and tires from GM Performance Parts. Hell, it could be its own trim package. Because its those kinds of things combined with the promise and deliverance of exhilarating performance that would build a new following around Chevrolet, as the elder generations perform burnouts of approval in their Corvettes and Camaros.
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Comments
I agree that there should be a bare bones version, as performance always over-trumps whatever bells and whistles are on the dashboard. But let’s not forget that the Camaro and Corvette are timeless. The new 2009-present Camaro is already a hit, and the Corvette has no signs of slowing down yet. I see this coupe complementing an already popular GM lineup, just as the Pontiac Trans Am had done in the past. And if anything, if the folks at Chevrolet are reading this… BRING BACK THE MONTE CARLO!
Yup! What Chris said! Specially on the Bring back Monte Carlo! lol
I know Alex loves this ride! I really want too as well! Reason I wanted a Fastback hatchback version of this was to make full use of what there is of the miniscule trunk on this Codey 130R,Plus it would look so much better!
.The trunk area has to be smaller than the new Camaros and that thing is tight just to get a laundry bag into it! I know we have one! It’s no Monte Carlo SS and I have 2 of those!
The Codey could have foldown rear seats or have removable rear bucket seats. I like the stripped down versions idea as well. No rear seats would be fantastic! Radio Delete would be cool if they didn’t integrate all the cars functions through it! Paddle shifters or stick optioned would be sweet! (Not Buttons!) Positraction and would have to have a performance engine option better than the imports they are going up against! Hmmm Just needs awesome looking hood. L88? Cowl? Stinger? Stock one is to naked! 🙂
Great ideas here, but Millennials will go for both types. The DIYers are probably into a bit of history and will want the more retro 130R. The rest will want the 140S to be different. As for my (older, but futuristic) tastes, sadly, we will never see the 140S from GM until it is dated. Hyundai will build it first and grab the market after GM spent the money to generate the buzz.
I have two concerns about using the alpha chassis/platform for the 130R, however, if that what it takes to get one into production – I’m not complaining.
1) The ATS is alpha based and loaded with luxury options, sound deadening and premium materials. It comes in weighing just under 3400 lbs – which is great for a 2.0T or a 3.6L, but not for a 1.4L turbo.
2) The alpha platform had a lot of quality components & underpinnings that make it a world-class handling package. I don’t see how a 130R could be placed atop this platform and keep a $20k target price without a lot of thrifting to remove cost – i.e. stamped steel suspension components in place of cast aluminum, smaller/cheaper brakes, et al. Doing that also costs time and money to do right.
I think I would be happy with a $30k price ceiling – but it would have to include the 2.0T at that point. Heck – I just want to destroke an all aluminum 5.3L down to 4.8L, use the Z06’s valvetrain in it and have a 400hp @ 7000rpm V8 to squeeze in the engine compartment.
Too bad Tom Stephens is retiring. 🙁
There is a lot of hand wringing about GenY/Millennials and will “they” ever put down their electronic devices, get off Facebook and drive a car? The manufacturers, including GM, Ford, BMW and Honda, think that the key to attracting this demographic is connectivity – a car as an extension of a smartphone – internet- and cloud-connected. So it’s a given that practically any new car is going to be loaded with electronics to “please” this mythical demographic. The bottom line is that no one really knows what will attract this generation of car buyers to a given vehicle.
That said, it’s like real estate’s old maxim: The only thing that matters is location, location location – right? The only thing that matters with a car is product design, product design, product design. A great product will sell itself, regardless of the target demographic.
It will be very difficult for GM to take the Alpha ATS platform and decontent it down for Chevrolet. And in that process, it may lose what makes it great – lightweight materials, sophisticated multi-link suspension, high-strength steel, and the high-tech nature of the components that are fitted to it. The only hope is that by increasing the volume from one product (ATS) to a much higher volume car (a Chevy), prices will fall enough to make the project feasible and profitable. Time will tell. But it still needs to be a great product, not a clown car.
I say bring back the Monte Carlo nameplate too!
Today’s WSJ:
“Chevrolet is evidently wondering how to offer sporty cars for youths unable to heft the payments for a Camaro or Corvette. They served up two very different possible answers in Detroit, only one of which will likely get built. The Code 130R is a small, rear-drive car that harks back to Detroit’s glory years. The Tru 140S is a rakish, front-drive car in the Japanese/Korean “Fast and Furious” mode.
Pros: Chevy can use both of these cars to catch younger buyers before they scoot over to the Asian brands.
Cons: Chevy may be too late. The soon-to-launch FR-S from Toyota’s Scion brand will scoop up kids enamored by retro, rear-drive cars like the Code 130R. The Tru 140S looks like the Veloster that Hyundai is already selling.”
Idk about the Veloster part, but Chevy might indeed be too late to capture millenials -few of whom would be able to buy these cars new anyway.
I read Joseph White’s WSJ Column today “Which Car Fantasies Should Come to Life” and it’s clear that GM needs to have something in the market very soon or it will lose an entire product cycle (or two) to the competitors.
I see the Hyundai Veloster already running around LA and with the Turbo coming, it will capture an even greater share of the boy-racer/Fast Furious market. Both the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ will take another niche market. GM will have to rely on what it has now – The Chevy Sonic, Spark and the Buick Encore – to entice the younger buyers.
To sell any car to todays’ younger buyers all I would do is install a detachable iPad as the main infotainment screen.
You wouldn’t be able to build the cars fast enough!
As much as I like the idea of rear-drive vehicles, such as the Vette & Camaro, please keep in mind that for a good portion of the US, say above I-70, rear wheel drive cars can be out maybe 6-7 months of the year. I realize that they may do well in southern states & west coast, but up here in the upper midwest…the snow belt, rear-wheel drive vehicles just are not practical for an every-day driver.
Additionally, you would be hard-pressed to find a school or independent-based driver’s ed. program teaching young folks how to drive a rear-drive vehicle. I have nothing against anyone, regardless of age, driving anything they want, but please do yourself and the general public a favor by learing how to handle a rear-drive vehicle.
There is absolutely no reason at all that either of these vehicles shouldn’t be produced, however please keep in mind climate, price, terrain and technology and where you plan on selling the vehicles.
All that being said, there is room for both the 130 & 140, and a new Chevelle or Monte Carlo SS, a new El Camino (Ute), and for goodness sakes…please bring the Trailblazer or something similar-a Jeep/Durango/Explorer fighter with great fuel mileage but rugged enough to go off road & pull a camper, boat or snowmobile trailer.
Oh, if you’re going to bring new rear-drive vehicles here…Do the Civilian version of the Holden built Caprice, put the LSA & a blower and let it scream.
Once again, just an opinion 😉
The new Cadillac ATS will have an AWD option, as Mercedes and BMW. Dodge & Chrysler offer AWD on the Charger and 300 sedans. They know that in order to sell outside the sunbelt, they have to offer AWD.
Mercedes-Benz just opened a driving academy here in LA. It offers a full 6-month program and most of the trainers are C-class rear drive cars. I think they teach driving in rain/snow too. It’s $1,390 for the full 6 months. They offer less expensive programs too. Given that our schools no longer teach drivers education (you know, California is broke), it’s at least a start to teach new drivers/teens proper driving techniques and the dangers of distracted driving.
Build the tru140S on the alpha platform with an LFX and change the name to Z28.
And that’s where I disagree. If the 130 was to be produced, it should NEVER be availabe with an LS engine; that’s to be left to the Camaro.
That, and an LS would drive the price beyond being affordable muscle. If the 130 is light enough, an LS would be overkill for its purpose.
Also, what happens if this was a hit with the under 30 crowd? People with not much disposable income vying for an LS powered 130 would have to suggle with increased cost of LTZ or SS trims, the higher fuel costs (fuel economy consistantly rates high among the under 30’s), and the higher insurance rates; perhaps ever more so from those that suffered from high insurance rates in the 2000’s when they were ricers in Z-Type Cavaliers.
Not every RWD platform GM makes needs to be large enough for an LS.
Graw, the LFX is the 3.6L V6 engine, not an LS V8. But a tuned 2.0L turbo would offer better torque, near equal horsepower numbers, and would be more mass efficient.
Hey, I know what is dyslexia. You do?
😉
This is a weird generation, I guess I would be counted as a Millennial though since I am still in high school. I asked a few of my friends that are actually interested in cars and they ALL said that my mom’s 2007 Honda Civic Si is cooler than my dad’s 600hp 2007 Corvette Z06. Strange generation indeed. I remember my first day of of preschool, in a ’69 GTO Judge, first day of elementary school, in a ’63 Corvette, then in my first day of high school, in a 2007 Z06, and I remember all the muscle cars my dad has owned that I have loved to look at sitting in the garage. I guess that is why I am not some queer that prefers high tech asian cars over bad ass muscle cars, whatever.
Yep, Im in college and I have experianced the same thing, I guess you live in California too.
And the ones picking the Hondas are the ones who supposedely know about cars!
Well it depends on the Honda.
An old NSX, CRX or S2K I can understand the kids’ appreaction for those two.
If it’s mom’s V6 Accord, then the school board should bring back the strap.
Who designed the 130, Pixar?
I’d sport this car any day in its current form. And even then, one needs to look past the concept-only elements (headlamps) and seriously consider this car’s driving potential.