General Motors India exhibited a total of 15 production and concept vehicles on the first day of the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo. The company has showcased its range at its stall at the Expo under three themes, Chevrolet Next, Chevrolet Technology & Innovation and Chevrolet Performance.
Lowell Paddock, President and Managing Director of General Motors India, said, "We are proud to be introducing our latest products, which offer industry-leading technology, performance and designs, as well as our environmentally friendly transport solutions in India for India." He also commented, "Our leading position at India's foremost auto show reinforces our company's commitment to this important market."
Chevrolet Next
The Chevrolet Next section consists of the vehicles that GM will be launching in the Indian market in 2012.
Chevrolet Tavera Neo3
The company has revised its popular Chevrolet Tavera according to the feedback it received from buyers. Therefore, the new edition of this popular Multi Utility Vehicle (MUV), called Tavera Neo3, offers better handling, comfort and performance to the passengers. The notable exterior features of this rugged vehicle include Chevrolet's twin-port grille, bigger Chevrolet bowtie emblem at the front and rear and wide shimmering crystal-effect clear lens headlamps with integrated indicator lamps.
The top-end variant of the new Chevrolet Tavera has dual-tone body colour combination. Contrasting gold colour bumpers and side trims render a unique appearance to the selective exterior colour finishes of the vehicle. The company has added extra chrome finish to the grille and fog lamp housings in order to enhance the look of the car. The 'advancing diamond' pattern of the manufacturer brings the side surfaces and bumpers together to give an appealing to the car.
The interiors of the Tavera Neo3 have been draped with beige and dark grey combination that imparts a look of opulence to the vehicle. The 'advancing diamond' design theme is also seen in the soft-feel cashmere upholstery with design inserts. The interiors of the car include quality perforated leather upholstery, seven captain seats and Ice Blue illumination in the instrument cluster. The interiors give a wrap-around effect to the car as the manufacturer has included dark grey elements that emerge at the top of the instrument panel and end at the top of the door trim.
The new Tavera Neo3 has been assimilated with a 2.5 L direct injection insta-torque turbocharged engine that complies with BS3 standards and a new 2.0 L Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) diesel engine that adheres to BS4 norms. The most notable features of these two engines are the noiseless operation, excellent pick-up and low-end torque, making these engines ideal for heavy traffic conditions.
The next-generation Tavera boasts of low maintenance and operational costs, extremely durable components and a maintenance-free battery. The commendable engineering done by GM ensures that the car will boast of long service intervals. As the manufacturer has used a large amount of localised components while developing Tavera Neo3, its spare and change parts will be easily available at the company's distribution network in country at affordable prices.
Chevrolet Captiva 2.2 AT
Since its launch at the 2008 Auto Expo in India, Chevrolet Captiva has made a distinct place for itself in the premium SUV segment of the country. The company has showcased the new edition of the model, called Captiva 2.2 AT, at the 2012 Auto Expo. This next-generation Captiva has been equipped with a 2.2 L engine that is complemented by a six speed automatic transmission mechanism. The American manufacturer has refreshed the look of the car and given it a new sporty and muscular design, which is complemented quite well by its jet-black interiors. The car maker has included cruise control, dual-row heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, electric parking brake, rain-sensing wipers and a stylish sunroof in the vehicle.
GM has exhibited the Chevrolet Cruze special show car and Chevrolet Beat at the event, which was adjudged as the winner in the Adventure Category of the Raid de Himalaya 2011. These two cars are joined by Camaro Convertible, Corvette Stingray Concept, Cruze racing car and Captiva 2.2 AT. The company is also showcasing the new Chevrolet Sail hatchback and the Chevrolet MPV, which will be put on display on 6th January 2012. Chevrolet Next is also home to two new versions of Beat, namely Chevrolet Beat Diesel, India's most fuel-efficient car, and Chevrolet Beat Music Edition.
Chevrolet Technology & Innovation
Chevrolet Technology & Innovation platform is being used by GM to bring its new global and local technological achievements into the limelight.
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt is an electric car that is assimilated with technologies which set it apart from other EVs that have various limitations. It has earned the distinction of being the first mass-produced electric vehicle in the world due to its feasibility and practicality. Electricity is the main power source of the car; it is equipped with a 16 kWh, T-shaped Li-ion battery pack that can fuel it in only-electric mode for a distance of 64 km. The in-built engine-generator that runs on petrol or E85 ethanol can increase the range of the car for hundreds of extra kilometres. Some of the highlights of E-REV are energy diversification, lower oil consumption and lesser emissions rate.
Chevrolet Beat BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)
GM India has begun its 'tailored for India' campaign with its Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) technology that has been used in the Chevrolet Beat BEV that was unveiled in June 2011. The Beat BEV is equipped with a 300-cell Li-Ion battery that is capable of producing up to 16 kWh energy. The battery, weighing 270 kg, ensures that the car can easily travel up to 98 km under normal driving conditions.
This liquid-cooled battery can work in a temperature range of around -20 and 45 degrees and boasts of charge time of less than 4 hours via a 240 V outlet or close to 8 hours through a 120 V outlet.
A single-speed drive unit and an electric motor are used for transferring 111 kW of power from the battery to the wheels. The company is using this campaign to exhibit the feasibility of the new technology to the target audience. With this endeavour, the company will be able to improve its core vehicle electrification capabilities, namely batteries, electric motors and power electronics and controls, and charging.
Chevrolet EN-V
GM has envisioned the future of urban travel, called the Chevrolet EN-V, which stands for Electric Networked-Vehicle. This unique vehicle provides freedom of mobility to commuters while eliminating the automobile quotient from the environmental perspective and completely changing the concept of design leadership.
The new E-NV is a two-seater that is approximately 1.5 m long, with the weight of the car being less than 500 kg. The small size of the car offers excellent manoeuvrability to the drivers, making parking easier. Moreover, drivers can park five E-NVs in the space usually occupied by a conventional automobile.
The company has used material like carbon fibre, custom-tinted Lexan and acrylic to manufacture the body and canopy of this car. These material are used in race cars, military airplanes and spacecraft as these impart extra strength to the vehicle and lower their weight. While using such material, the designers of GM got a new learning experience as they were able to explore the practicality of future traditional automotive applications.
Chevrolet Spark LPG
GM also introduced the LPG variant of its Chevrolet Spark, a wildly popular entry-level hatchback. The company has used the innovative sequential injection technology in the car in order to render a prolific driving experience, while lowering the running cost of the car as LPG costs lesser than petrol. The car offers unmatched value-for-money due to factors like modern styling, excellent fuel economy and best-in-class comfort and convenience features. The company has set a benchmark in the mini-car segment of the Indian auto industry by providing a three-year / 1,00,000 km standard warranty.
Chevrolet Performance
At the Chevrolet Performance section, GM has exhibited its world renowned performance vehicles.
Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
The new Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is the perfect combination of attractive looks, unmatched performance and latest technologies. The company has developed the car keeping speed and efficiency in mind. GM has exhibited the 2SS model of the car at the 2012 Auto Expo, which is assimilated with a 6.2 L V-8 engine. This motor is capable of producing 426 hp power at 5900 rpm and 420 Nm torque at 4600 rpm.
Regarding the safety of the vehicle, the company has used high-strength and ultra-high strength steel while developing crucial parts of the exterior. The company has included 6 airbags, safety belt load limiters and front passenger airbag deployment suppression detection system to enhance occupant safety in the car.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept
The 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept reflects GM's vision of futuristic technology and design. It was created as an in-house design challenge to include sophisticated technical features, new-age material and a new look in the classic Corvette. The concept version of the car has a clamshell hood, scissor-style doors, ergonomic seats, rearview camera with night-vision capabilities and a hybrid powertrain that renders excellent performance. The car includes interactive touch controls that enable drivers to customise the power and efficiency of their vehicles and tell their friends through an in-car car camera system and modern telemetrics.
Chevrolet Cruze Racing Car
GM's portfolio for the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo also includes the Chevrolet Cruze racing car, which has been the winner of the Manufacturer's Championship at the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) for the last two years. WTCC is among the three prestigious FIA world championships, with Formula One and World Rally Championship being the other two. This event includes cars that are quite similar to the final manufacturing versions. The racing iteration of the Cruze has a wide track, close-to-the-ground stance; stiff body structure; and excellent aerodynamic shape.
Chevrolet was established in the year 1911 in Detroit and has already completed 100 years as a world renowned automotive company. In 2011, the company sold close to 4.26 million vehicles in more than 140 nations at the incredible rate of one unit per 6.65 seconds.
In India, the company forayed in the year 2003 and has become a prominent name in the Indian auto sector within a short period of time. It offers economical, safe and reliable cars that reflect quality, distinct design themes, excellent performance, and value to the core. Chevrolet's line-up in India comprises Captiva, Optra, Cruze, Aveo, Aveo U-VA, Spark, Beat and Tavera. For more information, please visit www.chevrolet.co.in
