Chevrolet has unveiled an all-new compact sedan concept called Beat Essentia and announced that the production version will be launched in the Indian market in 2017. With this, the carmaker aims increase its presence on Indian roads and take on the competitive compact sedan segment here.
To be based on the next-gen Beat, the production sedan is expected to share many of its components with its hatchback sibling, along with a few components from the next-gen Spark, which was revealed internationally last year.
We can also expect this new model to borrow design elements like the company’s signature two-part grille with the Chevrolet ‘Bowtie’ badge, from the upcoming hatchback.
While the carmaker hasn’t revealed engine details yet, the production car is likely to get the same engine line-up as the hatchback — this means a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol motor derived from the company’s new 1.4-litre Ecotec engine and the current 1.0-litre India-specific three-cylinder diesel motor.
The carmaker also unveiled the Chevrolet's Beat Activ concept at the 2016 Auto Expo. Both cars get Chevy’s latest MyLink infotainment system.
General Motors India plans to increase its localisation levels to over 85 percent within five years while increasing exports from 21,000 units in 2015 to over 50,000 this year.