Seoul, Korea - General Motors has brought new meaning to the phrase "the littlest Chev" with three Korean-created supermini concepts.
The Trax, Beat and Groove are from GM's design studio in Incheon, South Korea for the world market and to meet changing tastes in the American market where small, fuel-efficient cars are selling better each year.
The most rugged is the Trax, an urban-crossover concept that would be equally at home humming around town as it would playing among rougher terrain with its one-litre petrol engine, rear-mounted spare wheel and 16" alloys.
Its cabin is even more functional with a fold-flat load area and high ceiling for extra carrying space - but the real innovation is an independent battery pack and electric motor that drive the rear wheels, which GM says gives it cheap, low-tech all-wheel-drive with no negative effect on fuel consumption.
The Groove has recalled styling cues from Swingin' Sixties hotrods to create a city car that'll really stand out in traffic. It has a one-litre diesel engine and 17" rims placed right out at the corners to make the cabin as big as possible.
Completing the trio is the three-door Beat, a high-tech, high-performance small car for a younger audience. It has a 1.2-litre turbo engine, bold alloy rims, loud green paint and mean-looking LED headlights that extend the length of the bonnet.
Unusual fabric and mesh seats add to the car's feeling of space while fibre optics in the headlining provide ambient lighting.
The usual in-fascia audio unit has been replaced by a pop-up juke box that also handles satellite navigation.
The concepts were designed with GM components and engineering from around the world so that cars for developing economies can be produced from the same architecture as those intended for America or Europe.
GM design vice-president Ed Welburn said: "The Trax, Beat and Groove highlight the diversity of GM's design capabilities and its ability to meet the evolving needs of markets around the world."
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