Chevroley Tripletts Groove, Beat, and Trax By ALAN GELL (4/22/07) Automotive Journalist There were a lot of vehicles to see. I'd like to describe a set of triplets that were unveiled there. Chevrolet set up a small stage and enhanced it with a set of blond-headed models, which were in fact, real-life triplets. They pulled the coverings off three new Mini-Cars. We probably won't see all three of these vehicles actually make it into production, but more than likely, one or two of them will.

The first of the three Mini-Cars was called the GROOVE. I didn't really care for this one too much, and listening to other journalists around me at the time, they didn't either. They call the GROOVE a "funkastalgia" themed car, mostly because it is designed to be more tough looking than mini-car cute. Most women I know call all those mini-cars "cute." The GROOVE appears to be rather funky in appearance with prominent fender flares. Those big fenders look somewhat like a little car dressing up to be a big-brother hot rod. The GROOVE is powered by a 1 liter diesel engine, which is engineered for efficiency. The light shade of purple colored exterior paint probably didn't do much to stir enthusiasm in me.

The second of the Chevrolet Mini-Cars was the BEAT. I liked the BEAT fairly well. The BEAT is a three door hatchback with front wheel drive. It appears to lend itself to being personalized by its owner. It is powered by a 1.2 liter turbocharged gas engine, which allows it to have a little bit more pep and energy. The Vertigo Green exterior color conveyed a strong sense of energy and made you think it could get up and go, even though it is an economical mini-car. The lines of the BEAT cause the car to look like it's kneeling down in the front -- not necessarily in prayerful thought at a church altar, but more like the back tires are raised up and ready to rumble. To attract younger buyers, there is a pop-up jukebox style sound system, complete with six speakers and a subwoofer mounted in the trunk area.

The third member of the triad was the TRAX. Chevrolet folks call it an Urban Crossover. I guess I like it more because it appeared to have more room and might be able to go into the back woods. It had a little more rugged appearance to it and really had the appearance of a mini-SUV. This micro SUV has an electric limited-slip differential, an independent battery pack, and an electric motor to drive the rear wheels. This is truly a low-cost all-wheel drive system. It's powered by a 1 liter gas engine. The TRAX is a perfect mini-vehicle for a commuter wanting gas savings, but can double as a fun-car for weekend jaunts into the countryside. It was displayed in a Blaze Orange exterior finish.

All three of these Chevrolet mini-cars have unique features. The power plant engines are all slightly different. The shapes are different. Their approach to buyers is even different. The bottom line, however, is that Chevrolet is making major attempts to provide something that will appeal to consumers wanting fuel-efficient mini-cars. Who knows? They might take all three of these into production, offering a real challenge in the marketplace for other car makers to follow. There are a number of mini-cars available in foreign markets and a few of these are working their way into the American acceptance. With Chevrolet's introduction of these Triplets, it lets us know they are serious about competing against foreign car companies.

I have no doubt we'll be seeing more mini-cars coming into the marketplace here. Chevrolet is not sitting still and letting other car makers inundate us with their brands. Look for the Chevy GROOVE, the Chevy BEAT, and the Chevy TRAX. They may be here sooner than you think.