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Chevrolet Cavalier

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Chevrolet Cavalier
2000-2002 Chevrolet Cavalier LS sedan
Overview
ManufacturerChevrolet
Production1982–2005
Body and chassis
ClassCompact
LayoutFF layout
PlatformJ-body
Chronology
PredecessorChevrolet Monza
SuccessorChevrolet Cobalt (For United States and Canada)
Chevrolet Optra (For Mexico)

The Chevrolet Cavalier was Chevrolet's version of the compact GM J platform. The book American Automobile 1983-1993 notes that the Cavalier was aimed at competing with quality imports such as the Honda Accord. It was one of the most popular cars in the United States and Canada from its introduction in early 1981 as a 1982 model. Even in the 2000s, it was GM's best selling car and trailed only the Ford Taurus, Toyota Camry, and Honda's Accord and Civic in total sales.[1]

The Cavalier was a compact Chevrolet produced from 1982 to 2005. The Cavalier is widely cited as the most successful of Chevrolet's long line of cars aimed at combatting the influx of compact imported vehicles, starting with the Corvair, Vega, Monza and the Chevette, with the Cavalier leading up to current Cobalt. The Chevrolet Vega defined the subcompact class, before being replaced by both the Monza and the Chevette.[2] After the exit of the Vega, the Monza and Chevette would do little to expand Chevrolet's share of small cars, but the arrival of the front-wheel-drive Cavalier would change this.

It was not the only J-car to use the Cavalier name; it was also used in the United Kingdom on the Vauxhall-badged version of the Opel Ascona C, and indeed the badge had been used by Vauxhall since 1976. The J-cars were offered by all five US divisions of General Motors, as well as GM in Britain, Germany and Australia.

Before the Pontiac brand was officially introduced in Mexico in 1992, Cavaliers sold there featured Pontiac Sunbird body panels, as opposed to US Cavalier panels. From 1993 on, the sibling marques were both offered.

Predecessors

The Cavalier replaced the Monza, which was available as a 2-door coupe, a 3-door hatchback and a 3-door wagon (using the same body as the discontinued Vega wagon, the model it replaced). The inexpensive Chevette was retained even as sales declined, and was formally replaced by even smaller captive imports. Both platforms had conventional rear-drive layouts which suffered in comparison with more efficient front wheel drive offerings such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Ford and Chrysler also introduced new front drive compacts. The largely successful mission of capturing the bulk of domestic compact sales would fall on the Cavalier's 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan and 4-door station wagon, the relatively short-lived 3-door hatchback (which replaced the stylish Monza 2+2 Sport 4-door hatchback) and, in later years, a 2-door convertible. The small Cavalier even helped fill in lagging sales of the mid-size Citation (a Nova replacement).

Criticisms

Even at its launch, the Cavalier received wide criticism from the automotive press, who maintained that it was inferior in almost every respect to competitive vehicles from Japanese automakers. 1988 marked the first major restyle, although the size and shape remained the same and few body panels changed. The visual changes did little to change the criticisms that the car was underpowered (except the Z24 edition), unattractive and, still inferior in quality to Japanese imports.

A major redesign in 1995 corrected many faults that had plagued the earlier cars, but despite the introduction of dramatically improved build quality and noticeable improvements in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), the basic conundrum remained: it was inferior to competing products from Toyota and other Japanese makers. Nevertheless, the third generation car enjoyed strong sales, despite being widely criticized by automotive journalists for its aging platform, interior design and quality control.

The Cavalier had poor crash test ratings, most notably the high risk of pelvic injury in the third generation model (according to the NHTSA). The 1995-2005 model received a rating of "Poor" from the IIHS [3].

The Cavalier retired in 2005 as an affordable compact comparable to, but usually sold for less than, the Honda Civic.

Production

Most Cavaliers were built at Lordstown Assembly, although they have also been produced in Hollywood, California (1982 model year only), Lansing Car Assembly (1996-1998 coupes), Lansing Craft Centre (1996-2000 convertibles), Janesville Assembly, Ramos Arizpe, and Leeds Assembly.

United States sales figures

  • 58,904 - 1982
  • 268,587 - 1983
  • 462,611 - 1984 (Best-seller)
  • 383,752 - 1985 (Best-seller)
  • 432,101 - 1986
  • 346,254 - 1987
  • 322,939 - 1988
  • 376,626 - 1989
  • 310,501 - 1990
  • 326,847 - 1991
  • 225,633 - 1992
  • 251,590 - 1993
  • 254,426 - 1994
  • 151,669 - 1995
  • 261,686 - 1996
  • 315,136 - 1997
  • 238,861 - 1998
  • 272,000 (est) - 1999
  • 5,210,123 ~ total known to 1999

Sources: Edmunds.com (1992-98), Autoworld.com (1999 estimate)[4]

First generation
1985-1987 Chevrolet Cavalier sedan
Overview
Production1982–1987
AssemblyLordstown, Ohio
Lansing, Michigan
Janesville, Wisconsin
Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Africa
South Gate, California (1982 only)
Kansas City, Missouri
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door coupe
3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
RelatedBuick Skyhawk
Cadillac Cimarron
Oldsmobile Firenza
Pontiac Sunbird
Vauxhall Cavalier
Powertrain
Engine1.8 L I4
2.0 L I4
2.8 L V6
Transmission4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Dimensions
WheelbaseTemplate:Auto in
LengthSedan: Template:Auto in
Coupe: Template:Auto in
Wagon: Template:Auto in
WidthSedan & Coupe: Template:Auto in
Wagon: Template:Auto in
HeightSedan & Coupe: Template:Auto in
Wagon: Template:Auto in

Generations

  • First generation (1982-1987)

First models were a straightforward but modern front wheel drive design with the usual American styling attributes like faux-wire wheels, chrome striping and whitewall style tyres available.

The Cavalier made do with pushrod engines, unlike foreign produced J-cars which used the GM Family II engine , an SOHC engine. Engines were 1.8L and 2.0L fours, with EFI being offered on all models for the 1983 model year. A 2.8 L V6 was offered to buyers in 1985. Transmission options were initially a 4 speed manual or 3 speed automatic, with a 5 speed offered in the second year.

Models and trim levels

  • Cadet - coupe, sedan or wagon
  • Base - coupe, sedan, or wagon
  • VL (Value Leader) - a as coupe, sedan or wagon
  • Type-10 - coupe, convertible and hatchback
  • RS (Rally Sport) - coupe, sedan, convertible, and wagon
  • Z24 - hatchback (1986-1987), coupe, convertible, and sedan (2002)
  • LS - coupe, sedan and convertible
  • LS Sport - coupe or sedan
Second generation
1988 Chevrolet Cavalier sedan
Overview
Production1988-1994
AssemblyLordstown, Ohio
Lansing, Michigan
Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
RelatedBuick Skyhawk
Cadillac Cimarron
Oldsmobile Firenza
Pontiac Sunbird
Vauxhall Cavalier
Powertrain
Engine2.2 L I4
2.8 L V6
3.1 L V6
Transmission5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase1988-89: Template:Auto in
1990-94: Template:Auto in
Length1988-89: Template:Auto in
1988-89 Wagon: Template:Auto in
1990-94: Template:Auto in
1990-94 Wagon: Template:Auto in
WidthTemplate:Auto in
1988-89 Sedan/Coupe/Wagon: Template:Auto in
Height1988-1991 Coupe & 1990-91 Convertible: Template:Auto in
1988-1991 Sedan: Template:Auto in
1988-89 & 1992-94 Convertible: Template:Auto in
1988-89 Wagon: Template:Auto in
1990-91 Wagon: Template:Auto in
1992-94 Wagon: Template:Auto in
1992-94 Coupe: Template:Auto in
1992-94 Sedan: Template:Auto in
Curb weightTemplate:Auto lb (coupe)
Template:Auto lb (sedan)
Template:Auto lb (RS coupe)
Template:Auto lb (RS sedan)
Template:Auto lb (Z24 coupe)
Template:Auto lb (Z24 convertible)
  • Second generation (1988-1994)
    • Phase 1 (1988-1990)
    • Phase 2 (1991-1994)
Third generation
1995-1999 Chevrolet Cavalier sedan
Overview
Also calledToyota Cavalier
Production1995–2005
AssemblyLordstown, Ohio
Lansing, Michigan
Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
RelatedPontiac Sunfire
Powertrain
Engine2.2 L I4
2.3 L I4
2.4 L I4
Transmission5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
Dimensions
WheelbaseTemplate:Auto in
Length1995-97: Template:Auto in
1998-2002: Template:Auto in
2003-05: Template:Auto in
Width2-Door: Template:Auto in
4-Door: Template:Auto in
Height1995-97 Coupe: Template:Auto in
1995-97 Sedan: Template:Auto in
1995-97 Convertible: Template:Auto in
1998-2005 Coupe: Template:Auto in
1998-99 Convertible: Template:Auto in
1998-2005 Sedan: Template:Auto in
2000-02 Convertible: Template:Auto in
Curb weightTemplate:Auto lb - Template:Auto lb
  • Third generation (1995-2005)
    • Phase 1 (1995-1999)
    • Phase 2 (2000-2002)
    • Phase 3 (2003-2005)

Engines used

  • 1.8 L inline-4 OHV
  • 2.0 L inline-4 OHV
  • 2.2 L inline-4 OHV
  • 2.2 L inline-4 OHV "2200 SFI"
  • 2.2 L inline-4 DOHC "Ecotec"
  • 2.3 L inline-4 DOHC (1995 Z24 only)
  • 2.4 L inline-4 DOHC (Z24)
  • 2.8 L MPFI (available in American Z24 models from 1986 to 1989, and in Mexican models until 1994)
  • 3.1 L V6 MPFI (Available in Z24, RS(Rally Sport) and Wagon models from 1990 to 1994)

Years used

  • 1990-1994 3.1 L MPFI (191 in³) V6
  • 1992-1997 GM inline-4 OHV 2.2 L (134 in³) I4 120 hp (89 kW) LN2
  • 1995 Quad-4 2.3 L (138 in³) I4 145 hp (108 kW) LD2
  • 1998-2002 2.2 L GM inline-4 OHV "2200 SFI" 115 hp (86 kW) LN2
  • 1996-2002 LD9 2.4 L (146 in³) I4 150 hp (112 kW)
  • 2002-2005 Ecotec L61 2.2 L (134 in³) I4 140 hp (104 kW)
  • 2002 (LS Sport Model only) 2.2 Ecotec (152in) Inline 4 140 hp (104 kW)

Concepts

General Motors has produced a handful of concept cars based on the J platform which were first seen at the 2001 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) auto show. These include the Cavalier 220 Sport Turbo Coupe, the Cavalier 263 Super Sport, the Cavalier Z24R, the Cavalier Maui 155, the Cavalier 425 A/FX drag car, the Cavalier Technic Z24 and the Pontiac Sunfire HO (High Output) 2.4. These concept cars were produced by GM to show off the flexibility and performance of the J platform and to show that Cavaliers and Sunfires have greater potential than just hauling groceries. The concept cars at the 2001 SEMA show boasted supercharged engines, customized interiors, aggressive exterior styling, and high end audio/video systems.


Toyota Cavalier

1996 Toyota Cavalier coupé (Japanese export model with amber rear turn signals)

As part of a wider effort to avoid additional restrictions on exports to the US, the third generation model was briefly sold in Japan by Toyota under an agreement with GM, badged as the Toyota Cavalier. Aside from the fact that it was right hand drive, the Toyota Cavalier also featured a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel, wider front fenders, amber turn signals for Japanese regulations, power folding rear mirrors, side turn signal repeater lights on the front fenders, and carpeting on the inside of the trunk lid. Interior seats were often flecked with color. The rear seat was folding. The Toyota Cavalier was entirely produced by GM in the USA and sold from 1995 - 2000.

A fair number of these vehicles are re-exported as Japanese used cars, most notably to New Zealand.

See also

References

External links