Chevrolet’s comeback in the Indian market will be through two major products in the pipeline, Chevrolet Spin MPV and Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV, both of which are spied testing with minimal camouflage.
Indian version of both Chevrolet Spin and Trailblazer seem to be retaining the exterior characteristics and features as in their global models.
Chevrolet Spin is an MPV that will fall in the same segment as Renault Lodgy, Honda Mobilio, Maruti Ertiga, and the like, possibly replacing the Enjoy MPV. By the time Spin launches, even Hyundai Hexa Space based MPV would also be launched.
Chevrolet Spin MPV, which could be named Chevrolet Essentia, is slated for launch in later part of 2016, likely in the price range of Rs. 9-10 lakhs.
Chevy Spin would be powered by 1.3 litre MultiJet diesel engine sourced from Fiat, and two petrol engines, of 1.2 litre and 1.5 litre displacements. It is unclear if only one or both petrol motors will be offered in Indian market. The MPV would have taken till 2018 to launch, but the process has sped up due to the closing down of GM’s Bekasi plant outside Jakarta, Indonesia. The tools and dies from there are said to be in the process of shifting to India, as a result of which production and exports are moved up in the time table.
Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV will be launched by the end of this year, probably in the price bracket of Rs. 18-22 lakhs.
Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV is most likely to be launched as a replacement to the dull selling Chevrolet Captiva SUV, waiting to share the space with Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Hyundai Santa Fe. It would be powered by a 2.8 litre diesel engine dishing out 200 hp max power @ 3,600 rpm and 500 Nm peak torque @ 2,000 rpm, linked to 6 speed automatic transmission.
Chevrolet Trailblazer looks as imposing as Toyota Fortuner, which is certainly a crowd puller.
There is also a lower power model, with a 2.5 litre diesel motor under the hood, capable of churning out 163 hp and 380 Nm, selling in Thailand. It is unclear if both engines will be offered in India. The 7-seater will be imported in India via CKD route.
Spy shots – Motorbeam