Chevrolet Optra Magnum TCDi

The Optra Magnum is a combination of the Chevy SRV’s nose mated to square-shouldered Optra saloon which makes the car look familiar but yet quite different. This nose swapping is unique to the Indian market and is possible since both cars are basically the same Optra or Daewoo Nubira under the skin. The front looks sharper than previous Optras, thanks to the cat’s eye headlamps and tight-fitting bonnet and fenders which are borrowed from the SRV. The grille is now an extension of the bonnet V while an outsized bowtie sits at the centre with a lot of chrome surrounding it. Also new is a more aggressive but fussy chin. From the rear, the diesel looks like an ordinary Optra except for the tacky-looking Magnum badge which looks like it’s been stuck on. The TCDi also gets turn indicators in the wing mirrors and new 15-inch alloys.

Chevrolet has beefed up the Optra’s chassis so that it can take the extra weight of the diesel motor. The front MacPherson struts with its solidly-mounted lower control arm has been beefed up. The independent rear suspension uses variable rate coil springs and was originally validated by Lotus in the UK. For the diesel, the springs used are softer for a comfortable ride and a lot of work has gone into insulating the cabin from the clatter of the diesel. Most of the Magnum’s fine-tuning was done in India and these improvements will be carried over to Optra diesels in markets all over the world.