These fresh undisguised pictures show the new Chevrolet Beat diesel being tested which will be launched sometime later this year. The car was spotted testing by our reader Abhinavgiri Goswami near Fatehgunj, Vadodara.
The Beat diesel will be powered by the much-anticipated 936cc three-cylinder common-rail diesel engine which is basically Fiat’s 1.3 Multijet unit minus one cylinder. This means it has a good crack at being really impressive. It is expected to produce 57bhp and an impressive 14.52kgm of torque.
If GM can give the car good driveability and reasonable performance, it will split the market wide open. Fantastic fuel economy and very low running costs can be expected, a significant advantage in this segment, if you take into account the Beat’s chic styling and fantastic interiors.
Earlier this month, GM had launched the LPG version of the Beat and will soon introduce the hatch with a new 1.2-litre SMARTECH petrol engine as well. With the new 1-litre TCDi motor, Beat will be the first in its segment to sport a diesel motor and this can further boost its sales – the hatch is selling around 3000 units per month.
Expect the Beat diesel to be priced at around Rs 4 – 4.60 lakh (estimated ex-showroom prices).