The Chevrolet Essentia was unveiled as a concept at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo. The sub four-metre sedan has been caught testing on the streets of Pune. The compact sedan is based on the new Beat hatchback, and the car is expected to be launched in India next year.
Though heavily cladded, the test mule seems to retain the shape of the car that was presented at the expo. The side profile and small rear window with a tall boot height are prominent, also the front grille and body creases from the concept car are recognisable under all the wrap. The front and rear of the concept car were the interesting bits. Now it remains to be seen how much is carried forward from the concept car.
The interior of the concept Essentia was a beige affair completed with leather upholstery and it might make to the final version. The prototype car had a blue backlit floating instrument cluster integrating the digital speedometer and tachometer and a touchscreen music system in the centre console.
Powering the Essentia might be the same 936cc three-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine from the Beat, putting out 57bhp of power. The 1.2-litre petrol engine will also be available. Both the engines will send power to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.
Chevrolet will make its way into the compact sedan segment with the Essentia as it will be a further affordable proposition than the Sail. What’s challenging for the manufacturer is that this is a highly competitive segment which already has well-established players. In order to make any impact with the Essentia, Chevrolet will need to be very strategic with the pricing, as it is already lagging behind in terms of market share. Therefore we could expect the car to cost between Rs 4-7 lakh when it arrives here next year.