| Model years | 1988–1994 |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Lordstown, Ohio, United States Lansing, Michigan, United States Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Engine | 2.0 L 122 I4 2.2 L 122 I4 2.8 L 60-degree V6 3.1 L 60-degree V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 1988–89: 101.2 in (2,570 mm) 1990–94: 101.3 in (2,573 mm) |
| Length | 1988–89: 178.6 in (4,536 mm) 1988–89 Wagon: 178.8 in (4,542 mm) 1990–94: 182.3 in (4,630 mm) 1990–94 Wagon: 181.1 in (4,600 mm) |
| Width | 66.3 in (1,684 mm) 1988–89 Sedan/Coupe/Wagon: 66.0 in (1,676 mm) |
| Height | 1988–1991 Coupe & 1990–91 Convertible: 52.0 in (1,321 mm) 1988–1991 Sedan: 53.6 in (1,361 mm) 1988–89 & 1992–94 Convertible: 52.2 in (1,326 mm) 1988–89 Wagon: 54.3 in (1,379 mm) 1990–91 Wagon: 54.1 in (1,374 mm) 1992–94 Wagon: 53.8 in (1,367 mm) 1992–94 Coupe: 51.9 in (1,318 mm) 1992–94 Sedan: 53.5 in (1,359 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,359 lb (1,070 kg) (coupe) 2,363 lb (1,072 kg) (sedan) 2,271 lb (1,030 kg) (RS coupe) 2,414 lb (1,095 kg) (RS sedan) 2,558 lb (1,160 kg) (Z24 coupe) 2,665 lb (1,209 kg) (Z24 convertible) |
| Related | Buick Skyhawk Cadillac Cimarron Oldsmobile Firenza Pontiac Sunbird Vauxhall Cavalier |
The Cavalier was restyled in 1988. The two door hatchback was dropped, while the coupe, sedan, wagon and convertible carried over. The sedan and wagon were unchanged from the doors back, while the coupe's exterior was completely redesigned. This resulted in different trunk designs for the coupe and sedan. Three trim levels were available in 1988: VL, RS, and Z24. The convertible was only available as a Z24. The VL and RS came standard with the 2.0 L L4 engine producing 90 hp (67 kW), while the 2.8 L V6 producing 125 hp (93 kW) was optional on the RS and standard on the Z24. With all trims, 5-speed manual transmission was standard, and a 3-speed automatic was optional, however the vast majority of sedans and wagons had a 3-speed automatic. An electronic dashboard was available with the RS and Z24 trims.
In 1989, the steering column was redesigned to be adjustable, as well as the addition of 3-point seat belts for the rear outboard seats. The optional V6 was retooled to 130 hp.
In 1990, the base engine was enlarged to a 2.2 L OHV L4, and power increased to 95 horsepower (71 kW). The optional V6 engine was also upgraded to the 3.1 L V6 and 140 horsepower. The convertible was dropped from availability to prevent internal competition with a planned Beretta convertible. However, the Beretta convertible was shelved at the eleventh hour, before a 1990 Cavalier convertible could be prepared.
The Cavalier got a more extensive restyling in 1991 that involved a new hood, bumpers, headlights, taillights, wheel covers and a redesigned interior. Most notably, the cooling system was redesigned to draw air from the bumper, giving it a Ford Taurus-style bumper and grille-less nose. The new bumpers were unpainted, with the option to have them colored grey, black or white; the latter only available on white-colored models. The Z24 eschewed this for a color keyed body kit. Z24 models also gained the options for a height adjustable driver's seat and a CD player. The platform and trim lines were carried over, while the convertible was brought back mid-year in the RS trim only with the V6 standard.
In 1992, the 2.2 L standard engine adopted multi-point fuel injection to improve output to 110 horsepower (82 kW), however unlike the SFI version of the 2.2L in the Corsica. The convertible was now available in both RS and Z24 trims, with the V6 standard in the Z24 and optional with the RS. Antilock brakes were added as a standard feature, as Delco Moraine had managed to develop a low-cost system. Power locks were also standard, and were designed to automatically lock when the car is shifted out of park, or if the car is traveling at least 8 miles per hour in manual transmission equipped models.
1993 brought minimal changes to the Cavalier line. The convertibles receive a glass rear window, allowing rear window defrost as an option. Also, General Motors received a new grille for the final time in this Chevrolet Cavalier's generation.
1994 models were also carryovers, as a new model of Cavalier was in development. The VL trim was dropped on the wagon, while the 2.2 L OHV L4's fuel delivery was improved to sequential fuel injection, increasing its output to 120 horsepower. Additional changes included a slightly redesigned climate control interface and the power locking system being again redesigned: the doors would still lock automatically when put into gear, but they would also unlock automatically when the ignition was switched off.
Read more about this topic: Chevrolet Cavalier
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