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GM India Launches Much-Awaited Chevrolet Tavera

Premium MUV offers car-like comfort, seating for up to 10 people and six variants
 

Mumbai : Continuing its aggressive product offensive, General Motors India today launched the much-anticipated Chevrolet Tavera, its new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) that comfortably seats up to 10 people. The Tavera is the latest vehicle from GM India bearing the Chevrolet nameplate, which is celebrating its first anniversary in India.

The Tavera offers a fresh new choice in India's fast-growing MUV segment. It is the ideal vehicle for those looking for a spacious, yet stylish and comfortable ride. A number of special features including larger reinforced tires and rims, a recalibrated suspension and brakes, and seats and steering wheel adjusted for local users have been incorporated in the Tavera to make it a pleasure to drive on India's roads. The 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine that powers the Tavera was specifically chosen for its excellent fuel economy and healthy delivery of low-end torque. The engine is known internationally for its high levels of reliability and to reinforce this in the Indian market, an Industry First, Introductory Warranty offer on the Engine for 5 years or 150,000 kms which ever is earlier from date of sale is being offered to the customers.

"GM's investment in manufacturing the Tavera in India is a demonstration of our sustained commitment to making Chevrolet the most admired and preferred vehicle brand in this country, just like it is in market after market around the globe," said GM India President and Managing Director Aditya Vij, who presided over today's launch. "We believe this vehicle is the right product for India because of the many engineering changes and fine tuning that were carried out to meet local customer requirements. As a result, we expect the Tavera to be as popular in India as it is in other parts of the world, said Mr. Vij.

GM India achieved 85 percent localization on job one for the Tavera, an industry first for a global vehicle manufactured in India. GM India's goal is 93 percent localization by the end of 2004. "This is significant not only for the local economy," but also benefits the Indian consumer to enjoy a lower cost of ownership through lower part prices and the ready availability of parts, said Mr. Vij.

In preparation for the launch of the Tavera, GM India has upgraded and expanded its dealer network. Most facilities are adopting the state-of-the-art "3S" integrated facility norms.

Mr. Vij expressed confidence that the Tavera will not only capture the imagination of India as a great family car, but also will go on to win laurels like the two other Chevrolet products sold in India.

The Chevrolet Optra midsize sedan and Chevrolet Forester SUV have won seven major automobile awards between them over the past year. The Optra was named BBC World "Wheels" Car of the Year, BBC World "Wheels" Viewers Choice, and Best Car in its Segment.

The Forester was named CNBC Autocar - Viewers Choice and Best Value for Money, CNBC Autocar - Best Drivers Car, and BS Motoring - Import Car of the Year.

The Chevrolet Optra has quickly emerged as the sales leader in its segment, having captured a 31 percent share in the first quarter of this year.

GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera and Optra, GM India manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra in addition to the Chevrolet Forester.


Chevrolet Tavera: Tailored for India

The Chevrolet Tavera has been reengineered and tailored for India. Contemporary styling with clear lens headlamps and tail lamps give the Tavera a stylish look to match its versatility and performance, thereby adding to its great appeal as a family MUV. Its smooth exterior design with recessed wipers generates less wind noise at high speeds. A sloped windscreen offers a wider view from the driver's seat.

The Tavera has an electronic instrument panel, which eliminates the speedometer cable and offers accurate instrument readings and long-lasting durability. LED backlighting provides a soft, even glow. A three-piece bumper is easy on maintenance and repair costs. A long-lasting maintenance-free battery features a convenient charge level indicator.

The premium model is available in a two-tone colour scheme. The luxury and deluxe models have a walkthrough capability in the aisle, offering more legroom for middle row passengers. With a range of 48 accessories, customers have the option to personalize their Tavera.

Turbo Diesel Engine

The Tavera's powertrain was selected based on Indian customer requirements and usage patterns in the MUV segment. The excellent fuel efficiency of the 2,500 cc four-cylinder diesel engine gives it a clear advantage over competing products. Although its numerical output of 80 horsepower/3,900 rpm and 18.9 KGM/1,800 rpm may seem modest, its ample low-end torque provides exceptional driveability with less gear shifting required. The engine is known internationally for its high levels of reliability and to reinforce this in the Indian market, an Industry First, Introductory Warranty offer on the Engine for 5 years or 150,000 kms which ever is earlier from date of sale is being offered to the customers.

The direct injection turbo diesel engine was designed and engineered by Isuzu, GM's Japanese partner and a global leader in diesel engine technology, and is manufactured in India. The engine has a proven track record in other Asian markets with similar climates and has been tested extensively in Indian operating conditions.

The Tavera's engine incorporates a new generation of turbocharger technology that eliminates the bothersome idle time required for traditional turbocharged engines during cold starts and hot shutdowns. It also features a belt-less cam drive for high reliability and low maintenance costs.

To ensure low emissions, the engine employs direct fuel injection supplemented by low-compression turbocharging. This potent induction combination produces not just cleaner exhaust, but also excellent fuel economy and healthy low-end torque for good driveability. Direct injection technology also ensures ease of starting in cold conditions. In extremely low temperatures, glow plugs operate automatically through input from the water temperature sensor. The engine has been calibrated to meet Bharat Stage II emission norms, surpassing current emission regulations.

Engineered for Local Conditions

The Tavera has been extensively tested in Indian operating conditions, logging over 600,000 kilometers on and off Indian roads and on GM India's severe torture track at its plant at Halol. The Tavera's systems, powertrain and components were tested separately for durability. Vehicles were tested in extreme cold conditions of -10 degrees Celsius and severely hot conditions of up to 48 degrees Celsius. In addition, vehicle systems, sub-systems and safety systems were evaluated in abuse tests to satisfy the most severe driving conditions. The Tavera comfortably passed all tests that it was put through.

The cooling system has been augmented to handle India's extreme temperatures. In addition to a larger aluminum radiator, an oil cooler also comes standard. Protection of the high-precision fuel system is ensured through the use of heavy-duty fuel filters and an additional sensor connected to a warning lamp on the dash that monitors diesel fuel for water contamination.

Other modifications carried out for India include equipping the Tavera with larger reinforced rims and tyres (15-inch rims and 205 mm tyres) to better negotiate local roads. Likewise, the suspension and brakes have been calibrated to meet local usage patterns and road conditions. Extensive research and customer clinics enabled engineers to tailor the height of the seats and angle of the steering wheel to ergonomically suit Indian drivers. Additional trim details such as a large leather-wrapped steering wheel on medium and premium variants offer further comfort and luxury.

The Tavera is spacious on the inside, with seating for up to 10 people. Its low floor height, wide doors and large openings in the body shell ensure easy entry and exit for young and old alike. With loads of head, leg and shoulder room, and adequate room between the driver's seat and steering wheel, stout drivers (even with turbans) will be comfortable.

Numerous Safety Features

The Tavera incorporates numerous safety features. These include side impact beams built into the doors and crumple zones designed into the body shell. Child safety locks are standard on rear doors. The Tavera's large reinforced steel wheels and wide tires provide excellent grip and good water channeling for added stability. A load-sensing device in the brake system ensures rear wheels do not lock up prematurely during hard braking, causing loss of grip.

The Tavera's body-on-frame construction is rugged and built to last. The chassis has fuel tank and engine guards for added protection from the road. The high engine air intake design allows for better water fording.

Rugged Yet Comfortable

To ensure maximum passenger comfort during the summer heat, the Tavera's air conditioning system optimizes airflow via a large 170 cc compressor and big condenser. For all-around uniform cooling, there are side defroster vents in the dashboard, an evaporator for rear vents, and individual rear vents for second and third-row seats. Optional dual air conditioning features a unique three-row air conditioning system (TRAC system).

A long wheelbase (2,685 mm versus 2,500 mm for the Toyota Qualis) gives the Tavera excellent legroom and a more compliant ride. The Tavera has car-like driving comfort with a low centre of gravity that ensures balance and roll control during cornering. The Tavera has wishbone arms with a torsion bar and hydraulic strut front suspension. A semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension in the rear guarantees good load-carrying capacity and a high level of comfort for all passengers. Steering is via a rugged recirculating ball set up.
 
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