Chevrolet Nomad - the taste of apple pie, the flair of capuccino

Corvette owners know all about the wave. It's the acknowledgement to fellow Corvette drivers that you're both members of the fraternity, sharing and participating in the dream.

There are other vehicles like that: cars, SUVs and even motorcycles with a charisma that speaks to the young and young at heart - an instantly recognizable character that rolls with you like an extension of your personality. The Chevy Nomad is like that.

The Nomad is a concept car built by GM and introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. It's not a sedan, wagon, SUV or any other categorizable vehicle, but it simultaneously conveys presence and practicality.

'The Nomad is the type of vehicle that creates an instant bond with certain personalities,' said Simon Cox, design director, GM Advanced Design, United Kingdom. 'It's a personal vehicle that carries the expressions and emotions of the driver, causing them to seek out enthusiasts of the same mindset.'

Based on GM's new Kappa architecture, which also serves as the foundation for the Pontiac Solstice production model and Saturn Curve concept, the Nomad represents another line of thought when it comes to leveraging a new sports car platform. Its off-the-hook styling is readily identifiable as a Chevrolet, but with a contemporary flair.

And since it's Kappa-based, the Nomad is rear-wheel drive, boasting independent front and rear suspensions attached to a rigid chassis that uses a pair of full-length hydroformed frame rails as its foundation. To make room for rear-seat riders in its 2+2 configuration, the Nomad rides on a 107-inch wheelbase - 2 inches longer than other Kappa architecture-based concepts.

A turbocharged Ecotec 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Nomad, which also features a new Hydra-Matic 5L40-E electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission with finger-operated tap shifting. Through the use of variable engine valve timing, valve lift and duration can be adjusted throughout the rpm range to improve fuel economy, emissions and performance. The turbocharged Ecotec is good for 250 horses - 87 horses more, for example, than a certain 'miniscule' chap from across the pond.

All about character

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