Chevrolet Beat

Chevrolet is all set to expand its line-up in India during 2009 by launching new cars in various segments. The company recently introduced the Captiva automatic and the Chevrolet Beat is One of the new cars expected from the GM stable soon. Designed completely in South Korea , it is likely that the Beat will be built in India , most probably at GM’s Talegaon plant where the Spark is currently being manufactured. The sporty looking Beat concept was first unveiled way back in 2007 at the New York Auto Show. We expect the production version showcased at the Detroit Motor Show to come to India. The Beat will definitely be one of the most aggressive cars in its own segment. This Chevy will most probably be powered by a 1.2-litre 76PS , 110Nm petrol engine found in the current U-VA hatch. The Beat will act as a bridge between GM’s Spark and Aveo. We reckon that the new car will later get an option of a 1.0-litre engine – the same motor that powers the Spark. Priced around Rs 4-5 lakh , the new Chevy will enter the segment of the the Hyundai i10 and the Maruti Suzuki A-Star.

Price: Rs. 4.5 -5 lakh (Approx , OTR , Pune)

Engine: 1.2 & 1.0-Petrol

Expected: Q3 2009

NEW Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

To cope with increasing competition from cars like the i10 and Indica Vista , GM will launch the comprehensively facelifted U-VA in India along with company fitted LPG/CNG kits. The car gets a thorough cosmetic upgrade with a huge , two-piece mesh grille and wraparound headlamps giving it an aggressive look. It also gets new tail lamps which look rather overdone and the interiors from the current Aveo sedan including the steering wheel which looks a bit out of place for a small hatch. Though the price of the car is expected to increase marginally , it will still be a very good value for money deal.

Price: Rs. 4.5 to 6 lakh (Approx , OTR , Pune)

Engine: 1.2-Petrol , 1.3-Diesel

Expected: Q3 2009

Chevrolet Cruze

GM unveiled the Chevrolet Cruze in South Korea recently. The car is currently being tested for a launch in India and our sources say that the Cruze saloon will be ready to debut by mid-2009. It will be one of the most important launches for Chevrolet in India. With this car , the American manufacturer is hoping to change its image and fortunes in the Indian market. The Cruze is expected to come with three engine options: a 1.6-litre and a 1.8-litre petrol plus a 2.0-litre diesel engine. The 2.0-litre diesel mill will provide maximum fuel efficiency of the three variants in an economy conscious market. The car is expected to cost about Rs 12 lakh for the base model going up to Rs 14 lakh for the top end diesel. The car’s main competitor will be the VW Jetta. With its aggressive design and performance , the Cruze will definitely be a worthy competitor in its segment when launched.

Price:Rs. 12 to 14 lakh (Approx , OTR , Pune)

Engine: 1.6 &1.8-Petrol & 2.0-Diesel

Expected: Mid-2009

Mitsubishi Colt

Everyone wants a share of the small car segment , and so does Mitsubishi. The Colt might very well be its ticket to the volume segment. It gets the Evo X’s nose which makes it look like an aggressive hot hatch. However , that is where its hot hatch pretensions end. The engine that is most probable to find its way here is the 74bhp 1.1-litre petrol. There is also an option of a 95bhp 1.5-litre Di-D diesel developed by Mercedes which is extremely torquey and frugal , though not in the same league as FIAT’s 1.3 Multijet or Ford’s 1.4 TDCi in terms of refinement. There is not enough space in the rear for adults and the size of the boot is small compared to its rivals. It will be a tough task for Mitsubishi to break into this highly competitive market especially considering all the talented rivals that are about to make their debut in this segment.

Price: Rs. 4.5 to 6 lakh (Approx , OTR , Pune)

Engine: 1.1-Petrol , 1.5-Diesel

Expected: Late 2009/Early 2010

Toyota Yaris hatch

Toyota is planning to enter the new premium hatch segment in the country that seems to be doing pretty well since the launch of the Fabia. The Yaris hatch features a very funky oddball styling and will stand out distinctively amongst other hatches. It will go head on against existing players like the Fabia and the i20 as well as incoming competition like the Honda Jazz , the Fiat Grande Punto and the Ford Fiesta hatch. The car has enough knee , shoulder and headroom at the rear along with clever seats which slide 150mm fore and aft to toggle between rear legroom and luggage space. Engine options include 67bhp 1-litre and 86bhp 1.3-litre VVTi petrol mills as well as an 89bhp 1.4-litre D4-D diesel motor which will probably be the biggest seller in India. The Toyota badge is highly sought after in the domestic market and the Yaris hatch will make it more accessible to buyers.

Price: Rs. 5.5 to 7 lakh (Approx , OTR , Pune)

Engine: 1.0 & 1.3-Petrol , 1.4-Diesel

Expected: Late 2009

VW Scirocco

Volkswagen has a few hatches lined up for an Indian launch in 2009 including the Scirocco. It will probably be one of the most interesting and exciting cars to come to India. The latest Scirocco was launched globally last year and we can expect this sports coupe to arrive in India sometime in mid-2009. This German car will come equipped with a 2-litre turbo petrol engine producing a peak power of 200PS and a peak torque of 280Nm. Sporty and low-slung , like its Golf GTI sibling , the Scirocco is a great performer. On the practical side , the hatch can comfortably accommodate four adults. Though sporty , the car will prove to be a good option for daily use. However , with a price tag of Rs 30-35 lakh (thanks to the CBU route) , the Scirocco will be accessible only to the super rich.

Price: Rs. 30 to 35 lakh (Approx , OTR , Pune)

Engine: 1.4 & 2.0-Turbo Petrol , 2.0-Diesel

Expected: Mid-2009