Chevrolet HHR Under Consideration for Europe

ZURICH, Switzerland — General Motors' European operation has announced it will show the Chevrolet HHR (Heritage High Roof) next month at the Geneva auto show in a bid to gauge European interest in the retro-styled hatchback/wagon.

On sale in the United States since 2005, the HHR was initially ruled out for European sale due to the reorganization of the Chevrolet brand following GM's takeover of Korean carmaker Daewoo, which now supplies the majority of Chevrolet models in Europe.

However, high-ranking GM officials say there is now a very good likelihood of it being placed on sale in selected European markets. "We've already weighed the financial aspects of bringing the HHR to Europe. Now we want to see how the car-buying public reacts to the car," a source told Inside Line.

One drawback to the plan could be the HHR's lack of a diesel engine. Currently sold with a choice of two four-cylinder gasoline engines, a 146-horsepower 2.2-liter and a 174-hp 2.4-liter, its appeal would be limited in a market driven by sales of compact diesel-powered hatchbacks. Another obstacle is the lack of a right-hand-drive version for the U.K. market.