Test Drive Chevrolet Alero (GM P90) since 1999 -

Euro American

In North American Novoya, African American means black, and the Vagino-American female individual. Autopilot offers another Euro-American, or Chevrolet Alero.
He is born and produced in America in order to strengthen her position behind the ocean. In the states of the car such a brand does not exist. There is oldsmobile aleo, who has changed the Achieva model in 1999. It can be assumed that renaming should emphasize the orientation of this model exclusively to the European market, where the name of Chevrolet is known to people more than OldSmobile. Anyway, Chevrolet Alero is really there, and it is already in our country.
American fight. Evro-American looks, how to say, ambiguously. And at first glance, it is not a special average car for wide medium-class layers. According to the creators, he must find his buyer in a very wide age range from 25 to 50 years. His appearance must satisfy the most different tastes. With this task Alero fully copes. He has a nonsense, calm appearance, not devoid at the same time.
This car does not hit the eyes at once, but the longer you look at him, the stronger it appears the features of individuality and the more he begins to like it. The very characteristic dome shape of the roof in combination with thin racks and the large area of \u200b\u200bglazing the cabin gives ease and resembles a sports compartment. This feeling reinforces a wedge-shaped profile with embossed bulbs of niches over the front and rear wheels. Under the apparent slouching and mixing styles in it, it is impossible not to see the characteristic American beginning.
But in addition to the aesthetic load, the body of any modern car must meet both practical requirements: aerodynamics, safety and durability. At these positions, Alero is very firmly. And the aerodynamics possesses one of the best indicators in the class CX \u003d 0.32.
 
A high degree of passive safety provides a hard frame of durable steel, forming a safety cell in the cabin, with special destruction zones in the hood area and trunk. It is complemented by protective beams and shock absorbing buffers from foamed polymer in the door. Massive bumpers withstand a blow at speeds of up to 8 km / h.
This complex is complemented by the most modern activity system where two second-generation airbags are included in the standard configuration, ABS and anti-slip system. Alero is also equipped with a unique option that can be easily attributed to the security system This is perhaps the only car in its class, which automatically turn on the headlights at twilight or in the fog.
Parade Alla. Inside Alero, hospital and cosmopolitan. The interior does not cut the eye with unnecessary delights like pseudo-shaped inserts and, although it is made of fabric and plastic, very friendly and uyugen. This is achieved through use on the torpedo and in the upholstery of materials of various shades. The instruments and controls are located quite logically where you expect to see them. Very good, large and intelligible dashboard with large and swallowing numbers and pictograms. It is an ordinary set of devices with one funny part: on the fuel level pointer depicts a small arrow, showing which side is located the gas tank hatch. Trifle, but nice.
And yet the limit of rooted cosmopolitis is, which is definitely pleased. First, about the fact that you are in the American car, it is unequivocally allowed to understand large, partly rude buttons and handles of the auxiliary equipment. Secondly, a typical American audio system with a radio tape recorder and a player of CDs in one bottle, large green numbers on a huge display and six speakers. And thirdly, a set of standard options that meets American ideas about the vital equipment of the middle class car. Cruise and climate control, electric drives of all glasses and mirrors, the central lock on all doors, as well as the remote opening of the trunk, built into the rear window of the antenna and the indispensable cup holders in the amount of 4 pieces.
On the other hand, harsh, quite European bucket seats with distinct side support ribs, three adjustments and lumbar support. They, alas, not fully thought out, and have to spend a lot of time to pick up the optimal position. The rear seat is also atypically for American sedans with a folding back. The trunk, however, leaves much to be desired: its volume is only 433 liters.
     
Alla, Alero! To start the motor, it is necessary to overcome the simple, but the original anti-theft system: before turning on the starter, it is necessary to press the button on the key chain by opening the door before turning on the starter.
The engine is almost silently launched, and attention immediately draws attention to the complete absence of vibrations: two balancing shaft and the special design of the engine mounts perfectly copble with their task. The gauge lever in position D, easy pressing on the pedal, and unexpectedly Alero literally jumps forward. In such behavior, he puts the final and fatty point on a suede stereotype of sluggish and thoughtful Americans. Accelerations are powerful and dynamic, speed increases adequately growth of revolutions, switching soft and timely.
No lethargy and delays, and the car chase for some time in the mode of sharp accelerations and accelerations, notice how the behavior of the PPC is changing. The adaptive system with microprocessor control is very quickly adjusted to a specific manner. Rectively markedly braking the engine.
The well-loaded steering wheel draws attention to itself, the force on which increases with increasing speed. The sharp, only 2.7 turns between the extreme positions, and in general, quite informative, he, alas, suffers with one disadvantage: in zero and extreme positions, the feeling of the road weakens almost to its full loss. And although Alero with his independent and very tough suspension perfectly holds the road and maneuver, in very steep turns such a feet of the steering wheel makes it takes. To some extent in such situations, the Traction Control helps. In the first fractions of a second, the system allows the wheels to go to the skid, but immediately connects, slows down the wheel and slightly stifles the engine, stabilizing the position of the machine.
Suspension, and rigid and energy-intensive at the same time, perfectly holds the car on the road and isolates irregularities. And finally destroys the emerging stereotype of the American land cruiser. If you drive along the comb, then the seals from the teeth will deteriorate unequivocally, but the traditional tram test Alero withstands with honor, saying that it was under the wheels, only fractional rubber bed.
Alero in Russia is a lot of real American car for extremely moderate money. Once again, the fact is confirmed that in the US, cars could be done and know how. And in the sum of all of their qualities ALERO should not only like many, as provided by his creators, but also to make a serious competition of those Europeans, who have long been not new to our country.
 
Text Andrei Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
 

Source: "Autopilot"