If Chevrolet's sleek new Beretta two-door coupe is regarded as a"poor man's Ferrari," where does that leave the Beretta's four-doorsister car, the Corsica?
The Corsica can't be thought of as a poor man's Ferrari becauseFerrari never built a four-door, although it came close in recentyears.
In any case, General Motors is breathing easier because Corsicaand Beretta sales finally are taking off after a slow start.
In fact, the front-wheel-drive Corsica and Beretta, introducedMarch 12, were GM's best-selling cars in July.
They share drivetrains and suspensions, which are provencomponents from other Chevy models.
The autos are the result of a $1.8 billion GM design anddevelopment program. They're supposed to show the company candevelop exciting cars that match imports in quality anddependability.
Reception of the autos is important to GM, struggling with lowersales and profits, because they're the first wave of new-style autosintended to put the corporation back on its feet as an industryleader.
The compact Corsica and Beretta will be followed by the new,high-style, mid-size "GM 10" autos, the first being introduced thisfall.
Not shared with other GM car divisions, the Corsica and Berettaremind me of lively Chevys of the 1950s and 1960s that deliveredfast, affordable fun.
I tested the Beretta earlier this year and found it generallygood, and recently drove the Corsica.
The Corsica's 2.8-liter V-6 develops 125 horsepower and hasmulti-port fuel injection. It's a jewel, providing smooth, instantresponse.
A $660 option, the V-6 feels like a strong little V-8 but isn'tvery sophisticated, compared with some small Japanese engines.
The car's standard 2-liter four-cylinder generates 90 horsepowerand is a yawn, delivering average acceleration, especially with theoptional three-speed automatic transmission.
Fortunately, the standard Muncie-Getrag five-speed manualtransmission works with wonderful precision, although I sometimes hadtrouble engaging first gear.
With the manual and V-6, fuel economy is an estimated 19 m.p.g.city, 29 highway. Figures with the manual and four-cylinder are 25and 35.
Some 70 percent of Corsica buyers are ordering the automatic;after all, the car is a four-door family sedan, and the V-6 hasenough power to work decently with the automatic.
Over the long haul, Chevy says the Corsica will appeal to"America's middle-class family." It expects typical household incomeof buyers to fall in the $20,000-$45,000 range, with most living insuburbs.
The car's base price is $8,995, which includes power steeringand power brakes. My test car stickered at $11,323 and was equippedmore for acceleration and handling than anything else.
For instance, it lacked power windows and seats, but had the"F-41" sport suspension ($49) and low-profile tires ($104).
I recommend both because they enhance handling and make the carmore enjoyable to drive, while giving it a more taut ride.
My test car had nice ride and handling, but excessive powerassist made the steering too light and a little vague.
The car's front bucket seats look attractive, but should offermore lateral and lumbar support. Controls for the lights and wipersare in flimsy plastic pods that flank the instruments.
The large glove box that slides out like a drawer is an attemptat engineering sophistication that's less than successful. Standardinstrumentation is minimal. Order the excellent $139 gauge package.
There is plenty of room for four tall adults, and trunk space isexceptional at 13.5 cubic feet.
The Corsica is attractive, with integrated composite headlights,semi-flush body glass and faired mirrors. It's the most aerodynamicsedan Chevy has built.
The car is nicely built, but lacks Honda's quality and attentionto detail. Still, value-conscious buyers who want a roomy compactwith flair should like the Corsica.
Monday: Exclusive test of Ford's new Festiva mini-car, aYuppie-grabber and entry level auto that goes on sale in earlyOctober.
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