Stunning Chevrolet Mi-ray Roadster Concept Premieres at Seoul Motor Show

GM's Korean subsidiary lifted the wraps off the Mi-ray hybrid roadster concept at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show today, as a tribute to Chevrolet's 100th anniversary this year. The aggressive-looking Mi-ray (which means “future” in Korean) was developed by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul and pays homage to the bow-tie brand's sports car heritage.

The roadster uses styling cues from Chevy's 1963 Monza SS and the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, but also from aircrafts, with its aerodynamic fuselage being reminiscent of modern jet fighters. Elements like the scissor-doors, the pronounced wheel-arches and the sharp front bumper add further drama to the Mi-ray's appearance.

The car's bodywork is made of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastics, while the turbine-shaped wheels (20-inch front/21-inch rear) are made of aluminum-carbon fiber composite.

The cockpit-like interior is split in two areas by a high center console and contains a mix of brushed-aluminum, natural leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces. The steering-wheel and the centrally located start button are also inspired by jet aircrafts, while information is displayed on the instrument panel by means of back projection.

The sweet looks are backed by a performance-oriented drivetrain layout, dubbed “mid-electric” by Chevrolet. A mid-mounted turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine drives the rear wheels, while two front-mounted electric motors, each delivering 15kW (20 horsepower), send their juice to the front wheels. The electric motors are fed through a 1.6 kWh battery located on the floor of the car, behind the seats. The 3.99 meter-long Mi-ray is also fitted with regenerative braking and start-stop systems and can run on electric power alone in the city, although Chevrolet didn't reveal details on the driving range.

Interestingly, the roadster model can also be switched from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. Chevrolet didn't announce any performance figures, but communicated preliminary fuel-economy ratings. The roadster averages 60 mpg US (3.92 lt/100 km) in the city and 63 mpg US (3.73 lt/100km) on the highway.

“By combining GM propulsion technology and visionary design, the Mi-ray points to the future of Chevrolets around the globe – expressive, youthful and entertaining,” said Mike Arcamone, CEO of GM Korea.

By Dan Mihalascu

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New Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck Unveiled Ahead of Bangkok Premiere

General Motors has lifted the wraps off the pre-production version of its next generation Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck in advance of the Bangkok International Auto Show on March 25, where it is making its global public debut. The Colorado Show truck will lead to a toned down production model that will be revealed within the next few months and first go on sale in Thailand later this year. The Detroit automaker is keeping mum about whether or not the Colorado will come to the States.

“Although this is a show vehicle, the basic proportions and form convey the vision for the next-generation Colorado that we will bring to market,” said Brad Merkel, GM's global vehicle line executive.

“It reflects a stylized version of the new truck, one that takes into account rugged dependable truck capabilities for commercial use as well as sophisticated refinement for personal-use needs.”

The Bangkok show truck features an extended-cab body atop a high-stance AWD chassis and rides on large, 20-inch wheels and off-road tires size 285/50R20. Certain details such as the large alloy wheels, futuristic exterior mirrors and LED lamps will most likely be absent from the production model.

The interior styling of the Colorado is inspired from the latest Chevy models including the Aveo/Sonic as well as the Camaro. Chevy says soft-touch materials have been used throughout the cabin, which also features number of storage compartments including a covered center bin and a large, dual glovebox.

Power for the Colorado show truck comes via 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine.

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Chevrolet Sonic Z-Spec Concept Bows in Detroit

Making its world premiere alongside the regular variants of the all-new Chevrolet Sonic sub-compact at the Detroit Show today is a Z-Spec-badged concept study of the five-door hatchback model.

In a similar fashion to the Z-Spec 2011 Cruze , Volt and Spark minicar displayed at the SEMA Show last November, the Sonic Z-Spec demonstrates a possible lineup of factory-engineered accessories. The parts seen on the concept could be purchased individually, to suit customer tastes and budgets, but could also spawn a limited-edition version from Chevrolet in the near future.

The Detroit Show study is finished in a black paint job with contrasting orange details such as the BBS alloy wheels, the front grille surround, the upper part of the mirrors and the roof wing, plus the racing stripes. The car is also fitted with a body kit that comprises of a front and rear apron, and side skirts, while the larger chrome exhaust tail pipe completes the look.

Inside, the Sonic Z-Spec features a two-tone color theme with beige leather sports seats, steering wheel accents and gearbox, complemented by a piano black trim on the center console and doors.

Chevrolet has not yet issued a release on the performance upgrades, but judging from the aftermarket partners featured on the labels just above the rocker panels, the Z-Spec model should feature Brembo-sourced brakes, a Borla sport exhaust system, a K&N filter and a sport suspension from Pedders.

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