Auto India, Car India

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General Motors India (GM), have made it official that the new Beat from Chevrolet will have a new variant in terms of a diesel engine sooner than later. In a formal announcement the company made it official, that a new diesel engine variant of a capacity of 1.0L/1000CC would hit the market in coming days. This 1.0L diesel engine would be known to have a better fuel efficiency due to the enhanced engine design.

Contemporary cars of brands like Ford, Tata, Fiat, GM, Maruti in this segment have been aggressive with respect to prices and have been offering enhanced fuel economy, which is leading to a rise in their overall sales in the country. The latest example being the Ford Figo, is at a slightly higher price, yet it holds its position in the market mainly due to its diesel version and it being innovatively more fuel efficient than the rest in its segment. The Talegoan plant of Chevrolet near Pune will manufacture these diesel engines. The engines are expected early next year may be in the first quarter of 2011. Both its plants at Halol and Talegaon will be in full capacity of its work which will be in August- September , this year. Ankoosh Arora, VP
(sales and marketing) for GM was pretty confident when he was heard answering about the Chevrolet beat diesel version getting showcased in showrooms early next year. “We are planning to increase the production of Cruze to 900 units from the current 600 units and intend to raise production of Beat units to 4,000 from the present 3,300 units,” is what he had to say on the CRUZE that Chevrolet has recently launched

It is also being said that the new 1.0L Beat would be on similar lines with respect to the engine compared to the 1.3 Multi-jet engine developed by FIAT. 1.0L engine would be more fuel efficient, robust and more performance oriented. Stats and specifications about the engine would be:

• Engine capacity: 1.0L/1000cc
• Power: approx. between 55-60 PS
• Torque: 140Nm

It is being said that the GM would really try and experiment this diesel engine to its other segments and to other models as well. It would also likely try it for its competition with the Nano type in the USA. So let us hope that the Chevy would make a wave with its diesel version in Indian markets.