General Motors to show Chevrolet Compact SUV concept at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo

Snapshot: Apart from the Corvettes and Camaros of this world, the star of the show for American automaker General Motors (GM) at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo is likely to be an all-new concept model. The car maker is likely to showcase a compact SUV concept at the motor show. The compact SUV will be a sub-4 meter model based on General Motors’ Gamma II platform. 

Notably, the Gamma II platform underpins a wide range of small cars from General Motors’ stable. Notable examples include the Beat, Sail, Spin and Trax. Interestingly, the new compact SUV concept from GM could use the 1.3 liter turbo diesel engine that the car maker acquired the rights to after its failed merger with Italian automaker Fiat.

The 1.3 lite Fiat Multijet, also known as the Jet Turbo Diesel (JTD) motor is used by a range of Chevrolet cars such as the Sail hatchback, Sail sedan, the Beat (in downsized form) and the Enjoy MPV. This engine’s arrival into the Compact SUV concept isn’t surprising at all, considering the few options that GM enjoys when it comes to small capacity diesels.

While General Motors sells the Trax compact SUV as a rival to the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster in developed markets of the world, the new compact SUV model’s production version is likely to be GM’s offering for the markets of the developing world including India.

With the new compact SUV, GM will foray into the fast growing compact SUV market in India, one that it doesn’t have a solid presence in. With the showcasing of the new compact SUV concept, the Chevrolet Trax seems to be ruled out for the Indian car market.

The other major unveil from General Motors at the 2014 Auto Expo will be that of the facelifted Beat. The Beat Facelift will be launched soon in India and the car will feature stylistic and feature changes, taking inspiration from the South Africa-spec model. Click here to know more.

Source AutocarIndia