Chevrolet Beretta

Chevrolet Beretta
1989 Chevrolet Beretta GT
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production	1987–1996
Assembly	Wilmington, Delaware, United States Linden, New Jersey, United States
Designer	Jerry Palmer[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	L-body
Related	Chevrolet Corsica Pontiac Tempest Buick Skylark Oldsmobile Achieva Pontiac Grand Am Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunbird
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L LL8 I4 (gasoline) 2.2 L LM3 I4 (gasoline) 2.2 L LN2 I4 (gasoline) 2.3 L LG0 I4 (gasoline) 2.8 L LB6 V6 (gasoline) 3.1 L LH0 V6 (gasoline) 3.1L L82 V6 (gasoline)
Transmission	3-speed 3T40 automatic 4-speed 4T60-E automatic 5-speed Getrag 282 manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	103.4 in (2,626 mm)
Length	187.2 in (4,755 mm)
Width	1988–1990: 68.2 in (1,732 mm) 1991–96: 67.9 in (1,725 mm)
Height	1988–1990: 55.3 in (1,405 mm) 1991–96: 53.2 in (1,351 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Chevrolet Citation coupe Chevrolet Celebrity coupe
Successor	Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Beretta is a rare front-wheel-drive coupé produced by Chevrolet from 1987 to 1996. The Beretta was designed in the same design studio as the Camaro and the Corvette, Chevrolet Exterior Studio 3, and was built at the Wilmington, Delaware and Linden, New Jersey assembly plants with other GM L platform models, the Chevrolet Corsica which came shortly after the Beretta, and the Canada-only Pontiac Tempest four-door sedans. The Beretta was produced in base, CL, GT, GTU, Indy, GTZ and Z26 models. A convertible was the pace car for the 1990 Indianapolis 500, and GM initially announced a production convertible replica, but a coupe version was offered instead.

Models and changes

1989 Chevrolet Beretta GT

Base model Berettas were equipped with the same powertrain as the Chevrolet Cavalier, the 2.2L OHV four-cylinder engine and the three-speed automatic transmission by default, or the 60-degree V6. A five-speed manual was available only by special order if paired with the 2.2L OHV, however very few special orders ever took place, and the three-speed automatic was the default option.

The GT included a 125 hp 2.8-liter V6,^[2] which grew to a 3.1L in 1991, and the Z51 suspension package with 15-inch styled steel wheels and Goodyear Eagle GT tires. Also included was a sport cloth interior and sport steering wheel. The GTU was available from 1988–1990. Beretta GTUs (with the FE7 suspension package) were shipped to Cars and Concepts where they were equipped with 16x7-inch aluminum alloy wheels, custom body kits, a rear spoiler, mirrors, custom trim, and decals. With the FE7 suspension the GTU was capable of 0.92 G on the skidpad, well above most cars in its class. GTUs were only available in black, red and white.

The GTZ, which replaced the GTU, was the high-performance version of the Beretta. It was produced from 1990 to 1993. It came standard with Oldsmobile's 2.3 L high output Quad 4 I4, which produced 180 hp (134 kW) and 160 lb·ft (217 N·m) of torque. Also standard was a Getrag five-speed manual transmission and GM's FE7 performance suspension.

The car posted a 0-to-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds and one of the fastest slalom speeds of any front wheel drive car tested. Motor Trend's only complaint was the Quad 4's NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and noted it was one of the most raucous engines of its time. Beginning in 1991, the 3.1 L V6 could be had as an option on the GTZ, but it was only available with a three-speed automatic transmission that increased the 0-to-60 mph time to around 9.0 seconds. The 3.1 L V6 was standard on 1990–1992 GT models and optional for all base models and GTs in 1992. Starting in the 1994 model year the 3.1 L V6 could only be ordered with an automatic transmission.

The 1991 model year saw major interior updates, including a new dashboard and center console and the addition of a driver's side airbag.

1994 Chevrolet Beretta Z26

In 1994, the GT and GTZ were replaced by the Beretta Z26, which put it squarely between the Cavalier Z24 and Camaro Z28 in Chevrolet's lineup. The 3.1 L V6 was redesigned and became the 3100 V6 and gained 20 hp at 160. The new 3100 V6 was only available with a new four-speed automatic transmission. The Quad 4 HO lost a total of 10 hp (7 kW) in 1994, its last year of production. The 2.3 L Quad 4 was only available with a five-speed manual transmission. In 1995 the 3100 V6 lost 5 hp at 155, which also carried on to the 1996 model.

Beretta sales steadily declined every year of production as the market turned away from two-door models. Additionally, GM wanted to prevent the Beretta Z26 from competing against the V6 powered versions of the Chevy Camaro, and the Cavalier Z24 in terms of sales, therefore it became necessary to remove the Beretta from their lineup. In 1996, Chevrolet ended production of both the Beretta and Corsica after 10 model years. The Corsica was replaced by the Chevrolet Malibu in 1997. The last Beretta rolled off the assembly line on July 30, 1996.

Modern Day

The Chevrolet Beretta is a rare and desired car among Beretta Enthusiasts. The Chevrolet Beretta Owners Group is a group dedicated to collecting, modifying, and preserving the Chevrolet Beretta. A small but dwindling handful of Chevrolet Beretta's can be found listed for sale. The most expensive and desired Beretta model's are the GTU, GTZ, and Indy. However a clean base model Beretta is quite valuable if it is equipped with the rarer 5 speed Getrag 282 manual transmission.

Models

• 1987–1996 base/CL
• 1988–1993 GT
• 1988–1989 GTU
• 1990 Indy
• 1990–1993 GTZ had a 0–60 time of 7.6 seconds
• 1994–1996 Z26 had a 0–60 time of 8.3 seconds

Gallery

1990 Chevrolet Beretta Indianapolis 500 pace car replica  1990 Chevrolet Beretta Indianapolis 500 pace car replica  Chevrolet Beretta  1996 Chevrolet Beretta Z26  1996 Chevrolet Beretta Z26

Trademark issue

General Motors was sued by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta for trademark infringement involving their use of the Beretta name for a car.^[3][4] The suit was settled out of court in 1989; GM and Beretta exchanged symbolic gifts: a Beretta GTU coupe and a pair of Beretta shotguns. General Motors donated US$500,000 to a Beretta-sponsored charity^[5][6] which was also affiliated with the GM Cancer Research Foundation.

Motorsport

The Beretta, using a splayed valve 4.5 liter 90 degree V6 engine, won the Trans Am Series championship in 1990.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chevrolet Beretta.

• Beretta Net
• Beretta Speed
• Chevrolet Beretta Club Europe