General Motors India Private Limited (GMIPL), the country's fifth largest passenger car maker, could thrill domestic audience with its new Chevrolet Sail sedan in the next few days. Industry experts have pegged the upcoming Chevy sedan as a promising new rival against the present market leader- Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire in the entry-level sedan segment. The American auto giant is expected to pitch its new model with a base price tag close to Rs. 6 to 7 lakhs in the Indian passenger car market. Expected launch date is February 1, 2013.
The yet-to-be launched Chevrolet Sail model is an extended sedan version of the company's Sail U-VA premium hatchback, which was launched in the country last year. General Motors India has also unveiled a sleek preview of the Sail sedan on its official website and the new model has sparked off competition in the entry-level sedan segment. The Chevy Sail will be pitched in an intense face off against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Tata Manza Club Class, Toyota Etios and Mahindra Verito, amongst others in the Indian passenger car market, upon its launch. Accordingly, the upcoming sedan has been generating immense gossip and speculations in the automobile industry and press media.
Speaking of under-the-hood specifications of the upcoming Chevrolet Sail, the sedan will be introduced in both petrol and diesel options in the passenger car market. The Sail sedan is expected to come assimilated with a 1,248 cc, 1.3 litre, 4-cylinder, SMARTECH diesel engine, which could roll out a maximum power output around 77 bhp and a peak torque delivery of 205 Nm. The petrol model will come fitted with a 1.2 litre, 1,199 cc, 4-cylinder, SMARTECH engine, which will churn out a peak power and torque outputs close to 85 bhp and 115 Nm, respectively.
Currently, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the country's largest passenger car maker, offers its best selling Swift DZire entry-level sedan in the price range of Rs. 5 to 7.5 lakhs to the domestic audience. The Tata Manza saloon carries retail values between Rs. 5.7 to 8.8 lakhs, whereas Mahindra Verito is available with a base price tag starting from Rs. 5.2 lakhs, which goes on till Rs. 7.5 lakhs. Further, the Toyota Etios comes in price bracket of Rs. 5.4 to Rs. 8.4 lakhs in the country. Hence, if launched with a base price close to Rs. 6 lakhs, the Chevy Sail sedan could definitely stir-up the competition in the entry-level sedan segment of Indian auto market.
