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Chevrolet showcased the Essentia compact sedan at its stall during the 2016 Auto Expo. It is based on the Beat hatchback and will be launched in India in 2017.
It is expected to measure 3.99 metres and have a segment standard boot capacity of around 330 litres.
The Essentia gets the same façade as the hatchback but with a slightly lowered stance. The side profile reveals flared wheel arches while the rear has wrap around tail lamps.
The cabin of the Essentia is similar to that of the Beat but has been trimmed out in a combination of light brown and silver as compared to the hatch’s black shade.
Standard features on the LTZ variant that we saw at the unveiling included AC, power windows and Chevy’s MYLINK touchscreen infotainment system.
We believe that the Essentia will be offered with the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.0-litre diesel mill. A five-speed manual is expected to be offered as standard across both models.
Given the sudden spurt in volumes in the compact sedan segment, it seems almost obvious that Chevrolet is looking at high volumes for this model from the domestic market.
The car will be produced at GM’s Halol plant and will also be exported to many LHD and RHD countries globally.
When launched, the Essentia will compete with the Tata Kite 5 compact sedan the lower sections of the B-segment compact sedan market.
Photos: Sanchit Arora
