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News of  February 21, 2001
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First-Ever Chevy Cavalier Z24 Sedan Debuts At San Diego Auto Show

Z24 Sedan completes the Cavalier lineup with a mix of sass, spirit and fun

Chevy Cavalier Z24 Sedan

Photo: GM

SAN DIEGO – Ask young automotive enthusiasts what they want in a new vehicle, and words such as sporty, street-smart, fun and powerful are likely to top the list.

Chevrolet is infusing new excitement in its best-selling Cavalier with the introduction of the first-ever Cavalier Z24 Sedan, which offers all the performance and appearance upgrades of the Z24 Coupe, and more. The Chevy Cavalier has long been GM’s best selling passenger car and one of the 10 best-selling cars in the United States.

Seen first at SEMA 1999, this variation on the Cavalier theme inspired tremendous customer feedback, persuading Chevrolet to build the four-door Z24 as a mid-year 2001 model. The vehicle debuts at the San Diego Auto Show, and will be available at Chevrolet dealers this summer.

"The small car segment is dominated by sedans," said Steve Wagg, Chevy Cavalier brand manager. "Industry-wide, sedans account for about 70 percent of this market. Our goal here was to create a vehicle that would appeal to younger customers – who already purchase cars like our Z24 Coupe – but with the functionality of four doors."

Visually, the Z24 Cavalier Sedan is distinguished from the rest of the Cavalier family with all-new chromed aluminum wheels (available on the 2002 model) specific body color door handles, body color exterior mirror housings, the trademark red Chevy bowtie on the hood and decklid, and Z24 badging throughout. Ground effects complete the look, with a special front air dam lower fascia extension, rocker moldings and rear spoiler.

"The idea behind the Z24 Cavalier Sedan is to offer looks and performance in a fun-to-drive package for the youth enthusiast market who appreciates the drive of a sporty vehicle," said Wagg. "With the growth in personalizing and accessorizing vehicles, this Z24 Sedan offers a lot of the features young customers may like to add, such as chrome wheels, as standard."

Specialty accessories and appearance products represent the largest growth segment of aftermarket products, with sales more than doubling from $1.8 billion to nearly $4 billion in the past decade, according to GM research.

Under the hood, the Z24 Sedan’s robust 2.4L twin cam L4 engine cranks out 150-hp and 155 lb.-ft. of torque, offering the spirited performance and commendable fuel economy that Cavalier drivers have come to depend on.

Improving the ride, handling and road feel is the Z24 FE2 sport suspension system, which provides flatter, more precise cornering, more driver feedback, and better communication between car and driver, according to Wagg. Front and rear sway bars stiffen the ride. The suspension system is mated to performance tires for better control and a five-speed Getrag manual transmission is standard. The stainless steel exhaust system, with a polished chrome exhaust outlet, offers high corrosion resistance.

The Cavalier lineup, including the Z24 Sedan, sets itself apart from the competition with an unmatched list of standard equipment, which are important to first-time new car buyers (accounting for 40 percent of Cavalier purchases). These features include air conditioning, cruise control, power door locks, power windows and mirrors, electric rear window defogger, a full-folding rear sear, intermittent windshield wipers, tilt-steering column, remote keyless entry, dual airbags and standard four-wheel antilock brakes. It also a premium AM/FM stereo system with CD player and premium amplified audio system. The only option on the sedan is automatic transmission.

(Feb. 15, 2001)

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