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S. Muralidhar

DECADES after it left Indian shores, the Chevrolet brand and the internationally acclaimed bow-tie logo returned to the country riding on the Isuzu Impreza, re-engineered and re-christened the Chevrolet Forester. Now, GM India has given the Forester a sibling in the C-segment with the launch of the Chevrolet Optra.

The Chevrolet Optra is GM India's second step towards extending the brand's sweep in the segmented Indian passenger car market and is also a furtherance of the company's plans to offer more affordable vehicles. This will also ensure that the Opel brand can be given an even more premium positioning in future. That done, hopefully we will also be able to see some of the more recent, upmarket Opel models on Indian roads soon.

The new C2 or C+ segment (as the company would like to call it) Chevrolet Optra has been developed by GM on a combined GM-Daewoo platform, according to company officials. Visually, the car's close resemblance to the Daewoo Nubira is partly explained by the new platform's lineage. The frontal view of the car gives away the Korean influence.

But the side and rear profile are clearly GM. The strong, gradually rising shoulder lines and the angular, wrap around, attention grabbing tail-lamp cluster are easily the most striking Chevy traits of the car. When GM India decided to launch the next Chevy after the Forester, which is as yet to be rolled out in the Western markets, the Optra would have looked like a good choice, especially as the company was losing market share in the C/ D segments to new entrants. The Optra is being positioned as a luxurious, upmarket option in the C segment, while it also more than caters to the stiffer demands of the entry-level D-segment car buyer. The European styling of the car, the crystal lens head and tail lamps and the small luxury imprints, such as the radio antenna, being printed onto the rear windscreen are all meant to attract this kind of a customer. The Optra's aerodynamic body is complemented by such stylish embellishments as contemporary chrome radiator grille and five-pointed alloy wheels, the "jewel effect" dual bulb headlamps and sparkling rear lamps and an electronically controlled tilt and slide sunroof.

To establish the Optra's luxury positioning, GM has come up with a richly appointed, spacious, wood-finished cabin.

The interior of the car features plush seats, fully upholstered in leather and an extremely silent cabin thanks to GM's TNRS (Total Noise Reduction System) technology. To play your favourite music the Optra sports an in-dash five-CD changer with six speakers.

The car's audio controls are conveniently mounted right on the steering for ease of use even if the Optra is owner driven (which may be a rarity in India). The glove compartment is cooled and could double as a refrigerator especially useful on those long drives. Cup holders on the armrests add to the convenience of storing and handling drinks on the move. More storage space has also been provided in the form of a tray under the co-driver's seat. Offering the C+ or the entry level D segment car buyer more power and refinement in the Optra, GM has brought in a 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder powerhouse.

The six-valve, D-TEC, DOHC high-compression engine responds by pumping out 115 PS of power.

The other driver friendly features on the Optra include the tilt and height adjustable power steering system, a driver's seat that can be adjusted vertically and horizontally, according to convenience and the all-wheel independent suspension which is specifically designed for the Indian roads.

The safety features that the Optra comes with include a high-tension steel safety frame, strategically located steel crash bars, front and rear crumple zones, collapsible steering and height adjustable three-point safety belts for all passengers, including a driver seatbelt warning chime. The company also offers a driver's side airbag on the top-end variant of the Optra.

The Optra could be the precursor to more models to come under the Chevrolet marquee. It may as yet be wishful thinking, but who knows may be the Chevy Cruze (a small car) is headed here too.

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