The 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week will host the world premiere of the Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept car handing us our first look at the next-generation Aveo that will be sold on both sides of the pond competing with superminis like the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris.

Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the five-door concept adopts several styling cues including the dual element grille, round tail lamps and fender flares from other Chevrolet models such as the Spark and Cruze.

Being an RS version, the concept model sports several unique features like the 19-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels that cover the large Boracay Blue brake calipers, a roof spoiler, a specific front bumper with large air vents, exposed motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps that feature tinted aluminum housings and a rear diffuser with a center-mounted exhaust and chrome exhaust tips.

Though virtually production ready, the concept model’s interior has been adorned in leather with contrasting blue stitching, special decorative trim and a pair of sport front seats.

Under the hood, the Aveo RS houses the same 138-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four Ecotec engine that will be available in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. Power is transfered to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Needless to say, the series production model will be far less aggressive in the details inside and out, though there is a chance that we might see a similarly styled and powered sporty RS model added in the Aveo’s range.

GM said that the production Aveo will be manufactured at its Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Michigan starting from 2011.

Boasting one of the longest names in the auto biz, the Renault Twingo Gordini RenaultSport marks the revival of the Gordini badge that will soon find its place on all RenaultSport products. Despite the sporty heritage of Gordini, these models will not carry any engine or chassis upgrades with improvements limited to the cars’ styling. Now, what’s the French word for ‘lame’?

The first Gordini product is based on the Renault’s pocket-rocket, the Twingo RenaultSport 133 that’s powered by a 1.6-liter four-pot with 133 horsepower.

On the outside, the upmarket Gordini is distinguished by the traditional blue metallic finish with two white racing stripes. A closer look reveals that the bumpers are enhanced by gloss black centre sections, while the fog lamp surrounds, exterior door mirror housings and rear tailgate spoiler are trimmed in a contrasting white finish.

A set of 17-inch alloy wheels with a polished face and a choice of the inner rim finished in either blue or black complete the exterior package.

Moving on into the cabin, Renault says that the sport seats are now trimmed in blue and black leather with the same colors making their appearance on the door panel inserts, leather steering wheel and instrument panel..

Furthermore, there’s a blue gearlever gaiter and Gordini-badged gearlever knob and a leather trimmed dashboard cowl.

Along with the styling additions, the Renault Twingo Gordini RenaultSport gains extra standard equipment including automatic climate-control, automatic headlamp activation, automatic wiper activation, cruise control, fully disconnectable ESP and an upgraded MP3 audio system.

The first Gordini model will make its physical debut on January 10 at the Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées, with sales set to begin across Europe in March.

200. That’s a mighty big number for such a tiny car, but it’s the horsepower figure that Renaultsport’s latest hot hatch packs beneath its bonnet. And while it may be only three measley horses more than the 197 version on which it’s based and replaces, Renault’s performance and motorsport division has worked to improve the aerodynamics and cut weight to make each one count more.

Complimenting the mid-cycle revised styling of the entire Clio range, the Clio RS 200 and 200 Cup benefit from Renault’s Formula One program, with which the French automaker attributes the aerodynamic expertise implemented on its latest hot hatch. Air passes over the front splitter to feed the the revised 200-hp, 2.0-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine, but it also goes underneath to the flat rear bottom and exits the fully functional rear diffuser. The design also pushes air around the wider front fenders, past the side vents and around the widened track to give the new Clio RS its performance edge. The aerodynamic enhancements gives the car an even meaner look, while customers can choose from a wider variety of look-at-me colors, contrasting with either black or anthracite-finish trim.

Inside it’s all business: the compact steering wheel has perforated leather trim with a yellow strip to show when it’s centered, and Recaro racing buckets are available along with leather upholstery. Unfortunately the car isn’t available Stateside, but across the pond the new Clio Renaultsport 200 starts selling next month at £16,570, while hardcore enthusiasts can save a bit and get the even more focused, stripped-down Cup version for £15,750.

After launching the facelifted Octavia sedan and estate at the Paris Auto Show late last year, Skoda has now updated its range topping Octavia RS (or vRS for the UK market) that’s available in both five-door liftback and station wagon variants. Changes on the vehicle that could be described as a more practical and spacious version of the previous generation Golf GTI as the two models share the same platform and 200HP 2.0 TSI gasoline (there’s also a 170HP 2.0 TDI diesel engine), concern the sheetmetal as well as the chassis..

On the outside, the 2009 Octavia RS models feature a redesigned front mask with an RS logo and reshaped headlamps that, for the first time in the RS version, can be fitted with xenon units combined with an adaptive front lighting module. The RS also gets restyled bumpers and tail lamps while Skoda also offers a new metallic paint (Anthracite) and 18-inch Neptune alloy wheels. In the interior, Skoda has revised the Octavia RS’s trim while the Climatronic air conditioning system gets new controls.

Under the sheetmetal, the Czech automaker has lowered the Octavia RS’s chassis road height to 127 mm while the car’s weight has been reduced by a significant 20kg or 44lbs in the petrol version and 15kg or 33lbs in the diesel one.

Skoda hasn’t announced performance figures but it did claim that the maximum speed is higher, and the car’s responsiveness and acceleration have also been improved due to these changes.

As with the Golf GTI and GTD, European buyers can opt between a 200HP 2.0-liter gasoline engine that goes by on an average of 7.5lt/100km (31.4mpg US or 37.7mpg UK) and a 170HP 2.0 TDI diesel with a combined consumption of 5.7lt/100km (41.3mpg US or 49.6mpg UK). Both engines are exclusively equipped with a six-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission.

We just received these new photos of the Megane RenaultSport (RS) 250 finished in gunmetal grey and white in our e-mail. We could have probably performed the color change on the initial pictures of the Megane RS 250 in canary yellow with a little help from photoshop, but why get into all that trouble. There’s nothing new to add about Renault’s Golf GTI adversary that is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-pot delivering a promising 250HP other than that we really dig its dramatic -for a hot hatch, that is- looks.