Geo/Chevrolet Prizm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Manufacturer | NUMMI |
|---|---|
| Parent company | General Motors |
| Also called | Geo Prizm(1989-1997) Chevrolet Prizm(1998-2002) |
| Production | 1989–2002 |
| Assembly | Fremont, California |
| Predecessor | Chevrolet Nova |
| Successor | Pontiac Vibe for 2003 and Chevrolet Cobalt for 2005 |
| Class | Subcompact (1989–1992) Compact (1993–2002) |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | GM S platform (Toyota AE92, AE102 Platforms) |
The Geo/Chevrolet Prizm (Chevrolet Prizm starting 1998) was a United States-market entry-level compact car from model years 1989 through 2002. Like the 1985–1988 Chevrolet Nova it replaced, the Prizm was a rebadged version of the Toyota Sprinter, an upmarket version of the Toyota Corolla sold in Japan. All Prizms were built at NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc), a joint venture plant between Toyota and General Motors in Fremont, California.
|
[edit] First generation
 |
|
| Also called | Geo Prizm Toyota Sprinter Toyota Corolla Seca |
|---|---|
| Production | 1989–1992 |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
| Engine(s) | 1.6 L 4A-FE I4 1.6 L 4A-GE I4, 105 hp (78 kW) |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 95.7 in (2431 mm) |
| Length | 170.7 in (4336 mm) |
| Width | 65.2 in (1656 mm) |
| Height | 52.4 in (1331 mm) |
| Related | Toyota Corolla Toyota Sprinter Toyota Celica Toyota Paseo Toyota Tercel Holden Nova |
The Prizm was introduced in 1989 for GM's then-new Geo brand of import cars. The hatchback version sold through 1991 was a rebadged version of the Toyota Corolla Seca/Cielo. The sporty GSi model of 1990–1992 was notable for its 130 horsepower (97 kW) twin-cam engine, sport suspension, disc brakes, and 14-inch (360 mm) wheels. In 1991, the lettering the car was changed from "Prizm" to "PRIZM" in italicized and capital letters (although the steering wheel continued to use "Prizm"), and the B-pillar and door frames were now body-colored instead of black. In Canada, the Prizm was never sold, opting for the brand to sell the Geo Metro sedan instead. However, the Geo Metro sedan was first sold in the United States in 1995.
[edit] Second generation
 |
|
| Also called | Geo Prizm |
|---|---|
| Production | 1993–1997 |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Engine(s) | 1.6 L 4A-FE I4, 105 hp (78 kW) 1.8 L 7A-FE I4, 105–115 hp |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 97.0 in (2464 mm) |
| Length | 173.0 in (4394 mm) |
| Width | 66.3 in (1684 mm) |
| Height | 53.3 in (1354 mm) |
| Related | Toyota Corolla (E100) Toyota Tercel Toyota Celica Toyota Paseo Toyota RAV4 Holden Nova |
The Prizm's 1993 redesign gave it more room (resulting in an upgrade to United States Environmental Protection Agency "compact" car status), a driver airbag, and a new 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine optional on LSi trim. With the larger engine came a rear stabilizer bar, wider tires, and an optional automatic transmission with four speeds instead of three. A second airbag became standard in 1994; leather seats were an option on the LSi between 1994–1997. In contrast with the Corolla, this generation Prizm lacked a front stabilizer bar in its suspension, resulting in somewhat twitchier (some say "sportier") handling.
[edit] Third generation
 |
|
| Also called | Chevrolet Prizm Toyota Corolla (E110) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1998–2002 |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Engine(s) | 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4, 120–125 hp |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 97.1 in (2466 mm) |
| Length | 174.2 in (4425 mm) |
| Width | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
| Height | 53.7 in (1364 mm) |
| Related | Toyota Corolla Toyota Celica Toyota RAV4 Toyota Paseo Toyota Tercel |
The Prizm's 1998 redesign coincided with the conversion of all Geos into Chevrolets. The most notable change was the new 1.8-liter engine, which was now all-aluminum, driven by a timing chain, and featured more power (yet the same fuel economy) than the engines from the Geo years. Along with the Corolla, the Prizm also became the first car in the compact class to offer optional side airbags. 1998 Prizms without the LSi's optional "Handling Package" (containing a front stabilizer bar) were singled out by Consumer Reports for having sloppy emergency handling; Toyota addressed the problem for 1999 by making the Handling Package standard. For 2000, the engine gained variable valve timing for five extra horsepower (to 125). The last Prizms were built in December 2001, resulting in a brief 2002 model year. Due to decreased sales, low popularity, and as in the same competition with the Chevrolet Cavalier (another compact car in Chevrolet's lineup), the Prizm was effectively replaced by the Pontiac Vibe, a twin of the Corolla-based Toyota Matrix hatchback for 2003, and also later the Chevrolet Cobalt in Chevrolet's lineup for 2005. Like the Prizm, the Vibe was also produced by NUMMI.
In any generation, the Prizm's distinctions over its Toyota twin mostly came down to minor cosmetic differences, a GM Delco radio (except on first-generation cars), and more substantially, the Prizm's consistently lower perceived value. The bluebook value of a used Prizm typically stands $1,000–$2,000 below an equivalent Corolla.
[edit] Engines
All Prizms were powered by the same engine as the then present Toyota Corolla models.
- 1990–1992 Geo Prizms were powered by the 4A-FE or optional 4A-GE engine.
- 1993–1997 Geo Prizms were powered by the 4A-FE or optional 7A-FE engine.
- 1998–2002 Chevy Prizms were equipped with Toyota's 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4 engine; 2000–2002 models included VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) technology.
[edit] External links
| « previous – Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, road car timeline, United States market, 1980s–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |
| Subcompact | Monza | Sprint | Geo Metro | Geo Metro / Metro | Aveo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chevette | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spectrum | Geo Storm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nova | Geo Prizm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Citation | Geo Prizm | Prizm | Cobalt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HHR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cavalier | Cavalier | Cavalier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Malibu | Corsica / Beretta | Malibu | Malibu | Malibu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Celebrity | Lumina | Lumina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Impala | Impala SS | Impala | Impala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caprice | Caprice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal | Monte Carlo | Monte Carlo | Monte Carlo | Monte Carlo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Camaro | Camaro | Camaro | Camaro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corvette | Corvette | Corvette | Corvette | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
