Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze will be rolled out from the company’s Halol plant.

The Chevrolet Cruze is expected to compete with the likes of Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla in the D segment, in the Indian market.

The Chevrolet Cruze will sport 15-inch wheels and a 2.0-liter diesel engine. However, the petrol variant will sport a 1.8 liter variable valve timing unit, and produce 130 HP. (The UK version of the Cruze offers 138 bhp – maybe the Indian one would too. Not sure right now.) The 2.0 liter diesel engine is likely going to be a 147 bhp beast. Even the Chevrolet Cruze’s 138 bhp petrol one would be a good match for the 138 bhp Civic in India. Chevrolet Cruze automatic to be launched soon

The car is said to be roomy and spacious with a large glovebox, big door bins, and excellent centre console storage. In the photos of the Cruze, the car looks like a more solid sibling of the Chevrolet Optra Magnum diesel we have in India.

Like the Opel Insignia, the switchgear, steering wheel, stalks and headlamps of the Chevrolet Cruze give it a stylish look. The audio and climate control layout is also impressive. Considering that the Chevrolet Cruze is positioned against the popular Honda Civic and Corolla Altis in India, I will go out on a limb here and say that the driver’s cockpit is actually better than the Civic’s! That should be something. The car comes with a unique one-of-its-kind dual cockpit treatment – exactly what it is, I haven’t figured out yet!

My opinion, based on the photos that we have seen so far, is that the exterior of the car is not as remarkable.

A multinational team at GM DAT in Korea is responsible for the Chevrolet Cruze’s exteriors and interiors of the car. The Chevrolet Cruze is the first car from GM to be based on its new, global Delta platform.

Mr.Karl Slym, President and Managing Director of General Motors India Private Limited, also mentioned that the company has already set up three service stations and is intending to expand to 10-15 more by the end of 2009.

This has been possible because of the company’s collaboration with state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL). The plan is to set up Chevrolet service stations across the PSU’s petrol and diesel retail outlets.

Talking about the tie-up, Karl Slym said,”Reason for tieing up is the high-end customer service offered through its ‘V-Care’ initiative and the need to set up quick service stations, which do not require customers to leave their vehicles at the stations.”

GM is soon to set up a new powertrain facility at Talegaon and will be investing US$210 million for the same. Initially, the annual capacity of the plant will be 1,60,000 units. The plant will manufacture 1-1.5 litre petrol and diesel engines at the plant.

Price : Expected 13lacsINR

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