Next-generation 2015 Chevrolet Beat spotted cold weather testing

Snapshot: General Motors (GM) has begun development of the next-generation Chevrolet Beat. The hatchback has been spotted cold weather testing in Europe and is due for a launch early next year. Given the fact that the Chevrolet Beat (first introduced in 2009) is about 5 years old, the new model is likely to come with extensive design and mechanical changes. The Beat is sold as the Chevrolet Spark in most international markets including GM’s home market of the United States. 

The Chevrolet Beat spotted on test by WorldCarFans shows off heavy camouflaged. However, the overall profile of the car is similar to the version that’s on sale currently. The tall-boy design is retained and so is the rising window line. However, the rear door of the car features a conventional door handle, which is different from the vertically situated door handle on the current version of the Beat hatchback. Also, the rear window seems bigger, in what seems to be move from GM to make the next-generation Beat’s interiors more airy.

The tyres seem to get wider. Apart from these changes, not much can be discerned from the heavily camouflaged test mule of the next-gen Beat. Currently, the Chevrolet Beat is sold with a 1.2 liter-4 cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 936 cc-3 cylinder turbo diesel engine. Transmission options include a 5 speed manual gearbox and a CVT automatic unit from JATCO. The next-generation version of the Beat is likely to add a turbo petrol engine and retain the other engine-transmission options from the current version of the car.

Facelifted Chevrolet Beat coming to the 2014 Indian Auto Expo

General Motors’ major unveil at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo will be the facelifted version of the Chevrolet Beat hatchback. The facelifted version of the Beat is likely to feature the design changes seen on the South Africa-spec Beat, along with new features added to the interiors. The car will continue with its 1.2 liter petrol, petrol-LPG and 0.9 liter turbo diesel engines. While the 5 speed manual gearbox is standard, it will remain to be seen if GM India considers the CVT automatic gearbox for the petrol engined Beat Facelift. Click here to know more about the 2014 Chevrolet Beat.