Beat Diesel expected launch on 15th July: All the details

We were the first to bring out the official specifications of the Chevrolet Beat diesel to you. Now there is some more unofficial info that we are taking credit to be the first to bring to you. After having a chat with people closely associated with Chevrolet, we have come to know that the fuel efficiency of the car may actually surpass the ARAI figure of 24kmpl.

Sources close to Chevrolet tell us that the test drivers who drove the cars for thousands of kilometers managed fuel efficiency figure of 30kmpl + on certain stretches on the highways. According to them the car�s engine is capable of consistently delivering 20+ kmpl in the city if driven sensibly. Now that�s some claim, as if those figure turn out to be true in the real world, the Beat Diesel may become a rage overnight. Especially so because Chevrolet is planning to price the car very aggressively, making it the cheapest, and the most fuel efficient diesel hatch among its contemporaries.

Unlike most other diesel-petrol duos, where the price difference between the two versions is about a lakh of rupees, the diesel variant of the Beat will sell only for about Rs. 60,000 more over the respective petrol variant. Going by this logic the Beat LS petrol variant which retails for around 3.85 lakh ex showroom, should have its diesel counterpart priced at Rs. 4.45 lakh, making the Beat diesel LS variant a sub-5 lakh car OTR. The top end variant with ABS, twin airbags, climate control, and an interior to die for (yes, the Beat has the best interiors in its class) for less than Rs. 6 lakh rupees. Now that�s one heck of a deal for a modern car, with frugal diesel engine.

Here is a list of a few other things about the Beat diesel if you are looking to buy a car in that segment:

• Powered by a 936 cc, three cylinder turbocharged Smartech SDE diesel engine
• Peak power 57.3PS @ 4000 rom
• Peak torque 150Nm @ 1750 rpm
• New Electric Power Steering replaces the hydraulic unit, to be introduced on petrol Beat later
• ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 24 kmpl
• Excellent NVH deadening, silent operation
• Very less turbo lag, linear acceleration
• Zippy engine, doesn�t feel lethargic
• New 5 speed manual gearbox
• No changes made to the interior
• Prices not announced, but expect Rs. 50-60K premium over every petrol variant
• India first market in the world where a diesel variant of the Beat is being launched
• Car to be officially launched in the first week of July

Expect us to bring you a detailed road test review very soon. In the meantime, do let us know if you would seriously consider this car as your first car? What according to you are the negatives of this car?

Beat diesel spy pictures and details

These are the first pictures ever of the Chevrolet Beat diesel, to be launched in India by June 2011. The new car will be powered by a 3 cylinder version of the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine from Fiat which is also employed by Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki for the Indica Vista and the Swift respectively. The scaled down version, which would be manufactured under license from Fiat, will however be more fuel efficient than the 1.3 version. Christened TCDi in typical Chevrolet fashion, the new car will deliver decent power and torque for a city car.

The estimated figures for the power and torque output from the new engine are 56PS of power and 150Nm of torque. While the power output may sound to be slightly low, but the Beat is not a heavy car. Also, with its healthy torque, it should pull nicely in city traffic in low revs. The USP of the new engine will be its fuel efficiency, which can safely be expected to be the highest among the small cars in India. Expect a 20+ kmpl figure in the real world.

GM�s India head Karl Slym had said earlier, that he feels that a diesel engine can do wonders to the sales of the Beat. We would like to concur with him here. The Beat is the best value hatchback in the Indian market at this point, and a diesel engine will definitely boost its appeal enormously. If GM India manages to price the new Beat aggressively, which we are sure it will, there is ample reason for the likes of the Figo and the Swift to worry about.

Good going GM India, keep up the good work!