GM India had the most numbers of show stoppers in their pavilion. No, we are not talking about the ladies (we are silly petrolheads remember) we are talking about the cool cars on display. There was a Volt, Stingray Concept, WTCC Cruze and the EN-V. No shortage of flashy new wheels as the MPV, Sail, Captiva 2.2 and Tavera Neo3 were unveiled in two separate press conferences.
But a few of them REALLY caught our attention.
First up is the Beat music edition which features:
Custom Orange color with white graphics
White alloy wheels
A chrome tip muffler
White OVRMS
And as the name suggest, a custom Music System
GM said it was testing the response of the public to the orange color for the showroom models.
If you recall General Motors tested the Beat EV in India back in June to understand electric car’s ability to acclimatize to our conditions. It was part of the global testing program which GM India, through the showcase, used to pump up the Beat’s brand equity.
Later GM India said the infrastructure to commercialize electric cars in India isn’t ready and a release was not planned anytime soon.
GM then showed a production model in America, redesigning parts of the car to meet safety standards for a 2013 release. General Motors could adopt a similar design direction on the petroleum-fueled Beat facelift that usually arrives 3-4 years into the model’s life.
Recently GM furnished information on the motive force of this urban runabout GM bets big on, not only in America but globally. It will be assembled using kits flown in from Korea at their facility situated in the state of Maryland.
The Beat EV generates 116PS, compared to the measly 60hp produced by the test mule that visited India. The Indian mule used the Volt’s battery pack that produced 20 kWH providing the Beat a range of 130 km under normal driving conditions. It takes about 8 hours to reach full charge from a 240V power socket. GM has not provided details on the range after this massive power increase.
American customers use powerful cars, giving performance precedence over fuel economy, viewed as the reason behind the power bump.
The little autobot from Transformers has taken the Indian market with a storm. Its radical design coupled with Chevy’s unbeatable 3 year warranty means oodles of value for money for the prospective buyer. However, Chevy is celebrating its 100 birthday and on that occasion the company has decided to show a new Beat and announce ambitious plans for an EV variant as well.
As one can see, there are not many startling changes. The front fascia now features a polygon with a wide grill. This design trait we saw on the first on the Chevy Sonic and then on the new Captiva. Two chrome ducts on each side of the front bumper to integrate foglamps add a sporty touch to the front. The alloy wheel design is the most eye catching facet of the facelift. A rear spoiler along with some LED tail lamps also make it to the facelift.
The interiors have also received tiny touches. A new LCD screen and optional cruise control makes it to the new model. The overall interior quality has also been worked upon. New 1.2L ecotec engines will power this Beat. On the occasion, Chevy also confirmed that it will be launching the Beat EV, which was designed and developed by their Bengaluru research center, in the States.
Of course, this event was held in the US and thus was more US centric than India centric. The redesigned front-end could well be to meet pedestrian safety standards that are less stringent or absent in APAC region.
Considering Chevy USA plans to launch the new Beat in the US by 2013, there is a strong possibility that Chevy India will also the update the Beat in 2013.
GM has been developing some kickass innovative products in its research center at Bangalore. The recently launched Beat Diesel (the smallest CRDI diesel engine for passenger car in mass production globally) was one such staggering achievement. Another interesting product was the Beat EV unveiled in June. We have thoroughly covered the car’s development since the time it was conceptualized.
Codenamed as the (BEV), the Beat EV adopts a battery pack from the Chevy Volt. It is a 300 cell lithium-ion battery weighing 270kg and possesses an energy capacity of approximately 20 kWh.
The actual drive to the wheels is delivered by a single speed drive unit and an electric motor producing about 45kW of power.
It has a range of 130 kms under normal driving conditions. However, it takes 8 hours to be charged from a 240V outlet. But the good news is that the Beat’s battery pack is liquid cooled so it can operate smoothly between temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to 45 degrees.
Overall, it was a supreme effort from Chevy to give Indian families a practical EV, but sadly it will not be commercialized.
GM India is finally opening up to the reasons for not launching a fully functioning product and the main cause – the infrastructural bottlenecks in India, specifically power.
As another month in 2011 flies by, auto manufacturers are excited about the spur in sales the festive season brings with it. Still worries are plenty as interest rates and fuel prices have seen upward revisions dampening buying spirit among customers. A diesel variant appears to be the superior option offering far superior fuel economy and lighter fuel bills.
There are equations showing that petrol is the better option for vehicles used largely for short commutes, but customers predict repeated hikes in petrol prices over the next three years will play into the advantage of diesel.
General Motors India launched the much-awaited diesel powered Chevrolet Beat last week and the response has been brisk. As the vehicle continues to be launched in many parts of India, GM predicts the Beat brand will have 7,500 takers every month.
GM has to bring in the Sail twins and fit them with Fiat Multi-jet engines. Though the Sails will not arrive in the next five months, an Auto Expo unveiling is a good possibility. These cars along with vans and mini trucks from a new commercial vehicle division will accelerate numbers for GM which plans to reach 300,000 units annually from 100,000 presently in the next few years.
Here are some pointers from the Beat diesel press conference, a powerpoint presentation discussing technical aspects of the new engine along with official photographs released by General Motors. The Beat diesel in four trims was launched yesterday between 4.29-5.45 lakh rupees (ex-showroom, New Delhi).
Beat Diesel, GM claims, is the biggest step for the company
Knowledge gained from European diesel cars applied on the Beat diesel as Europe is the home of diesel cars
Beat D is PERFECT; P- Performance – class leading power per litre and torque; E- EPS; R- Refinement – Suspension etc; F & E – Fuel Economy; C – Cost of ownership; T – Technology
Jingle used on the advertisement – DRIVE KHULKE
3 year/1 lac kilometer warranty
Chevy promise to refund money if cost of ownership goes beyond Chevy’s predicted maintenance cost
PS TDCI – 4.29 Lac Ex Delhi only power steering and AC; LS – 4.59L; LT – 4.99 L; LT with optional pack (ABS EBD) – 5.45 L
Chevy did not de-spec the diesel model like the competition does
Bookings started a week back and deliveries commenced yesterday
click Continue for unseen images and powerpoint slide
The Chevrolet Beat diesel is powered by a 1-liter XSDE SMARTECH diesel engine equipped with a fixed geometry turbocharger, vacuum operated wastegate and insta torque boost technology. This is the smallest diesel engine in the world in mass production with a service interval of 15k kilometers. It produces 62.5PS/liter of power, 160.26Nm/liter of torque and returns a mileage of 24kmpl (iCAT approved).
Other features of the Beat diesel include Pro-Vario Assist Featherlite Electronic Power Steering which provides variable assistance above 40kmph. The Beat diesel is further equipped with a gas charged, rebound tuned suspension specially for Indian driving conditions, Intelligent launch support system which helps in launching in inclined surfaces, SMART engine and clutch protection mode which increases fuel efficiency and clutch wear.
The diesel Beat is offered in three variants PS, LS and LT. The LT trim is fully loaded but ABS, Airbags and Alloy wheels are optional.
In an official video, General Motors explains some facets of the XSDE SMARTECH diesel engine that debuts on the Beat diesel. The 24kmpl Chevrolet Beat diesel will be launched day after tomorrow simultaneously in Mumbai and Delhi. We’ve brought you details on the model in previous posts but for the benefit of our new readers, here are some details from General Motors in the words of their marketing team -
• Advanced engine design, engineering & packaging.
• Combination of features and engine components package that provides improved performance.
• Significant improvement in NVH characteristics of the engine leading to more comfortable driving experience.
• Smart engine design and technology that provides optimum fuel efficiency in varied driving conditions.
• Higher low end torque delivery for improved driving experience in stop and go traffic conditions.
• Rigorously tested & proven in extreme Indian road and climatic conditions.
India is the first and perhaps the only market where the Beat (known as Spark in Europe and the UK) will be sold with a diesel engine. The turbocharged CRDI 3cyl 1.0L (936 cc to be precise) engine produces produces 57 bhp of power and 150Nm of torque.
