Chevrolet dumps Cavalier name
By Rick Kranz
Automotive News / June 01, 2003
DETROIT -- Chevrolet will abandon the Cavalier name when it redesigns the car for the 2005 model year. The front-wheel-drive car is expected to be called the Cobalt, say dealers who saw the car last month at a Chevrolet event. Cobalt is a metallic element widely used in alloys.
General Motors wants to start fresh with a new name because the company eroded the Cavalier's brand image with high rebates and cheap leases. For example, the 2003 Cavalier carries a $3,000 rebate, which expires today, June 2.
"I can confirm that it will have a new name, but I can't confirm that name," says Tom Wilkinson, Chevrolet's director of communications.
The new car will be developed on GM's fwd Delta architecture. Dealers who saw it last month say the car does not resemble the 2003 Saturn Ion, the first Delta car.
Dealers say the car's front end adopts the division's family look, with a wide, chromelike horizontal bar featuring Chevrolet's bow tie.
The car's market position is expected to be the same as the Cavalier's, although the new vehicle will have more standard equipment. Sources say the 2005 car line will have several models: base, LS, LT, SS, all with naturally aspirated engines. The supercharged SS will produce about 220 hp.
"The supercharged SS will be a low volume, kind of a halo car for the Cobalt brand," an industry source says. "It is really aimed at the import tuner crowd."
Chevrolet has used the Cavalier name since 1981.
By Rick Kranz
Automotive News / June 01, 2003
DETROIT -- Chevrolet will abandon the Cavalier name when it redesigns the car for the 2005 model year. The front-wheel-drive car is expected to be called the Cobalt, say dealers who saw the car last month at a Chevrolet event. Cobalt is a metallic element widely used in alloys.
General Motors wants to start fresh with a new name because the company eroded the Cavalier's brand image with high rebates and cheap leases. For example, the 2003 Cavalier carries a $3,000 rebate, which expires today, June 2.
"I can confirm that it will have a new name, but I can't confirm that name," says Tom Wilkinson, Chevrolet's director of communications.
The new car will be developed on GM's fwd Delta architecture. Dealers who saw it last month say the car does not resemble the 2003 Saturn Ion, the first Delta car.
Dealers say the car's front end adopts the division's family look, with a wide, chromelike horizontal bar featuring Chevrolet's bow tie.
The car's market position is expected to be the same as the Cavalier's, although the new vehicle will have more standard equipment. Sources say the 2005 car line will have several models: base, LS, LT, SS, all with naturally aspirated engines. The supercharged SS will produce about 220 hp.
"The supercharged SS will be a low volume, kind of a halo car for the Cobalt brand," an industry source says. "It is really aimed at the import tuner crowd."
Chevrolet has used the Cavalier name since 1981.
