General Motors India Private Limited (GMIPL), the country's fifth largest passenger car maker, is just days away from the launch of its Chevrolet Sail sedan in the domestic market. Industry sources have suggested that the Sail model could see the Indian daylight on February 1, 2013.
Top industry experts are of the opinion that Chevy Sail could pose some stiff competition against the likes of Maruti Suzuki's best selling Swift DZire compact sedan in the country. Hence, the upcoming Sail sedan is generating some intense hype and speculations in the automobile industry. Many Indian car enthusiasts are excited and keeping their fingers crossed for the new Sail sedan, which was seen being tested a number of times on local streets, in the last few months.
General Motors India has also uploaded a stunning preview of its Chevrolet Sail sedan on its official website. The yet-to-be launched model is based on the recently launched Chevy Sail U-VA premium hatchback, much on the similar lines of Maruti Suzuki's Swift and Swift DZire. At present, Swift DZire records the maximum sales and is the undisputed leader in the compact sedan segment of Indian passenger car market. Hence, the American car maker has pinned great many expectations from its Sail model, in terms of driving its sales in the country.
Coming to under-the-hood specifications of 2013 Chevrolet Sail, the car will be launched in both petrol and diesel guises, in the domestic car market. The upcoming Sail Sedan is anticipated to come fitted with a 1,248 cc, 1.3 litre, 4 cylinder, SMARTECH diesel powertrain, which churns out a peak power output around 77 bhp and a maximum torque delivery of 205 Nm. Further, the petrol variant will be powered with a 1.2 litre, 1,199 cc, 4 cylinder, SMARTECH power-mill, capable of belting out a maximum power and torque output equation around 85 bhp and 115 Nm, respectively.
Top industry boffins believe that General Motors will introduce the Chevy Sail with introductory price tags between Rs. 6 and 7 lakhs in the country. At present, Maruti Suzuki offers its Swift DZire compact sedan to domestic audience within a price range of Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 7.4 lakhs. The competitive pricing of Sail sedan seems like an another interesting proposition for Indian car enthusiasts, who aspire to own a stylish compact sedan in their garage. Upon its launch on Indian turf, the Chevy Sail sedan will compete against the likes of Swift DZire, Toyota Etios, Tata Manza and Mahindra Verito.
