We’ve pulled this off the shelf, just as it appeared. Business Standard reports that GM’s third hatchback in the country will be the Chevrolet Mini, better known as the Chevrolet Beat. The Chevrolet Mini will be positioned in the luxury hatch segment with cars like the Hyundai i20 and the Skoda Fabia (5-7 lakh rupees) proving tough classmates.
IAB readers will be aware that the Mini is taking longer to come as GM India postponed the small car’s launch to December due to the economic meltdown.
The Chevrolet Mini was originally intended to be assembled in India, with CKDs imported from overseas, but that plan has been dropped in favor of making it here. GM is rushing to equip it’s Talegoan facility in Maharashtra
Here are some cool final images of the Chevy Lacetti/Chevrolet Optra caught on the streets. You can catch all our previous articles on the Chevrolet Cruze/Lacetti/Optra here. The car looks brilliant in white and is expected to arrive in India in early 2009 by when the Optra will be sold alongside as the new Lacetti is much bigger and is a segment apart. Expect 2.0 Tdi with 150bhp and a [ Read More ]
With aggressive design cues from the Cadillac division, the Cruze seems to be a great leap forward from the aging Optra. Three engine configurations are offered. 112 HP 1.6L and 140 HP 1.8L petrol engines and a new 2.0L turbo diesel, developing 150 HP and 320 Nm of torque.
The next gen Optra is to make its International debut in October this year at the Paris motor show. It is expected to arrive in India in 2009. In the Indian market, the new car will be rebadged Cruze and will sell alongside the present Optra.
