Chevrolet unveiled the Beat-based Essentia compact sedan earlier this year at the Auto Expo 2016. This all-new sedan is will be Chevrolet’s contender to the popular compact sedan segment. The Chevrolet Essentia is based on the next-gen Chevrolet Beat hatchback which will be launched early next year. Company sources tell us that the launch of the Essnentia sedan will take place thereafter, sometime in March 2017.
The carmaker has begun testing the Essentia sedan on Indian roads. It is likely 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. The overall shape and design of the sedan will mimic the one shown in concept form at the Auto Expo.
While the carmaker hasn’t revealed engine details yet, the production sedan 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.
On the inside, the Essentia will share most of the interior bits from the new Beat. It will get Chevrolet’s latest MyLink infotainment system with a large touchscreen interface in most variants.
Chevrolet is currently working on increasing its presence in India. It will be bringing three new products based on the Beat platform, the standard Beat hatchback, the Beat Activ cross-hatch and the Essentia sedan. The Beat Essentia sedan will rival the likes of the “smaller” compact sedans like the Hyundai Xcent and the upcoming Tata Kite5 sedan which will be based on the popular Tiago hatchback.