Chevrolet's 3-Door Kalos Points Way to a Sportier Aveo

The 3-door Kalos has a few purposes. One is to give the subcompact a trendy new look emphasizing sportiness, which is

The Kalos was designed and built by GM's Korean division, GMDAT, however it will be sold as a Chevrolet. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

translated through a more curved roofline and angular rear quarter windows. Although it doesn't have a pair of rear doors, the Kalos retains the same dimensions of its 5-door hatch at 3,880 mm (152.8 inches) in length, 1,670 mm (65.7 inches) in width, and 1495 mm (58.9 inches) in height. What has changed, however, are minor details such as new bumpers, plus aerodynamically optimized add-ons such as the rooftop rear spoiler, and of course the golden bowtie badge. Unlike the five-door, the new three-door also features wedge-like door rub-strips to add an extra bit of visual flair while protecting the handsome body. The European Kalos features unique

Will we be seeing the three-door model in Canada? Most likely yes, as it's Chevy's would-be answer to the entry-level Toyota Echo hatchback. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

headlights, which encompass the main beams plus the turn signals, a slightly different design than the North American Aveo.

Aside from the Chevy bowtie on the steering wheel, little has changed inside. New seat fabrics, additional storage bins, faux carbon fiber trim plus the addition of a two-toned dashboard sum up major modifications. Chevrolet of Europe has not released any interior dimensions, but front-seat room is expected to be identical to the Aveo five-door. As for the rear seats, they'll be less accessible due to the lack of rear doors. Rear seating should be equal in size, however, as the exterior dimensions are identical. Equipment levels are also expected to match those of the five-door Kalos, with options including a CD player and air conditioning.