New Concept Car: Chevrolet Cobalt

The Chevy Cobalt is dead; long live the Chevy Cobalt? Although General Motors dropped the Cobalt nameplate when the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze finally launched in the United States, it recently surfaced on an all-new small car concept that debuted earlier today at the Buenos Aires motor show.

This isn’t a mere reskin of the Cruze’s mediocre predecessor. In fact, GM’s South American operations refer to it as a preview of an all-new small car, designed for cost sensitive markets like South America, Africa, and parts of Asia. GM is remarkably mum on the subject, but the new car could potentially replace a number of aging subcompacts sold in several South American and African countries.

For once, we can write with a straight face that the Cobalt sports some design flare. From some angles, the car looks like a mini Malibu, although the chiseled sides, unique swage lines, and upright taillamps do lend the car a character of its own.

Inside, the Cobalt sports a two-tone interior, along with a pseudo-dual cockpit dashboard, which is topped with an motorcycle-like gauge cluster, much like that found in the Sonic and Spark. This show car also sports two-tone leather seats, a panoramic glass roof, and dual rear-seat DVD screens. We wouldn’t be surprised if these are merely conceptual flourishes, or perhaps ultimately relegated only to high-trim models.

GM isn’t providing any firm specifications, but does note the Cobalt “could” be equipped with either 1.3- or 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines. That — along with the shape of the A-pillar — is leading some to speculate the car may well be based off the architecture used underneath the new Aveo/Sonic, but we’ve yet to receive any firm confirmation at this stage.

Thanks to: Motor Trend