The Hindu Business Line : Corsa Elite: Exclusive additions in the Special Edition

GENERAL Motors India has relaunched the special edition Opel Corsa 1.4 litre Elite version. GMI says that the fully loaded Corsa Elite is back on popular demand, and as with the previous special edition this too will be available in limited numbers only.

The new Special Edition Opel Corsa 1.4 Elite is targeted at the exclusivity-seeking customer in the entry-level sedan segment. Based on the Corsa 1.4 GSI, the new Elite redefines the value for money proposition in the segment and offers a number of incremental exclusive features including a unique triple information display (TID) system.

GMI's confidence in launching the new Corsa Elite seems to stem from a growing recognition of the fact that the car buyer even in the entry-level sedan segment is maturing and his expectations are increasing.

Priced at an ex-showroom (Delhi) price of Rs 5.39 lakh, the new Corsa Elite comes packed with additional exclusive features such as Italian leather upholstered seats, 14-inch alloy wheels, a leather wrapped steering wheel, a digital triple information display, deep burl wood finish trim on the TID dome, centre console and instrument panel, sporty aluminium foot pedals, a chrome exhaust pipe and a cigarette lighter and ashtray.

TID offers a pleasing easy-to-read format showing details such as the time, date, and so on, and is located conveniently on top of the centre console. The Corsa Elite's interiors sport a beige and black colour theme, with the exception being the deep burl wood trim inserts that cover most of the centre console panel and the instrument cluster hood. Trademark three-spoke steering wheel now comes wrapped in leather. The Special Edition Corsa Elite is being offered in two premium colour shades — Shimmering Black and Crystal Mica.

GMI says that there will only be 220 units of the Special Edition Corsa Elite that will be up for grabs. At its price, this special edition offers exclusivity and excellent value in the crowded entry-level segment. The previous Corsa Elite Edition received a good response from the market for exactly the same reasons.

The Corsa is an ideal sedan for city conditions with its unique `space share design' that provides compact external dimensions with excellent interior space. The compact exteriors provide for a low turning radius, thus ensuring easy manoeuvrability while its relatively powerful engine offers a responsive drive on the highway.

Despite its positives, the market response for the Corsa has suffered in comparison to its peers in the entry-level segment due to its relatively lower fuel efficiency.

Though the Corsa continues to suffer from this image of being a car that is comparatively more expensive to maintain and run, the new Elite does seem to represent a better value-for-money proposition for buyers who are looking for a premium entry-level sedan.

Market buzz

German luxury car manufacturer Audi plans to roll out the A4 in the Indian luxury car market. Audi's entry-level car would rival DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes Benz C-class in the Rs 22-24 lakhprice band. This would be the fifth Audi car available in India.

Environment conscious Honda plans to launch the Civic in India by next year.

The Civic, Honda's bread-and-butter car in the developed world, would compete with the Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Elantra in the Rs 9-10 lakh category.

Honda plans to treble its existing capacity at its plant in Greater Noida, near Delhi, to one lakh units per annum by investing another Rs 650 crore.

BMW is back in India after its unsuccessful 1997 joint venture with the Munjals of the Hero group.

According to available information, BMW will take the 100 per cent subsidiary route to set up a plant at Chengalpattu, near Chennai, with an initial investment of $40 milllion (about Rs 180 crore).

The facility will assemble imported kits of its popular cars.

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