GM India launches Chevrolet Captiva

By Our Corporate Bureau | 09 Jan 2008

New Delhi: General Motors India today launched its Chevrolet Captiva premium sport utility vehicle at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi's Pragati Maidan.
 
Chevrolet Captiva at the New Delhi Auto Show "The Captiva has been warmly welcomed in markets around the world due to its combination of distinctive styling, refinement, best-in-class safety, comfort and versatility, and powerful, yet frugal, diesel powertrain," said Karl Slym, President and Managing Director, General Motors India, in a statement. "The Captiva is everything our customers across India have come to associate with the Chevrolet nameplate."
  
With its boldly contoured hood, aggressive clear-lens projection headlamps and eye-catching grille featuring a prominent Chevrolet bowtie, the striking Captiva is sure to turn heads wherever it is driven - it comes across as both rugged and sophisticated.

Bold wheel arches, wide tyres mounted on alloy wheels and a sharp feature line across the length of the Captiva add to the masculinity of its stance, while subtle chrome highlights and a bold coupe-style rear window treatment add feline grace to the overall visual package.
 
Its rear design is dominated by a large tailgate and substantial vertical tail lamps with indicators and reversing lamps contained in circular elements. Below, twin chrome exhaust pipes complement the Captiva's sporty looks.
 
The Captiva is powered by a state-of-the-art, 2.0 litre in-line four-cylinder, single overhead cam 16-valve diesel engine. Combined with a common-rail direct injection system and a variable geometry turbo (VGT) system, the engine produces 150 PS of peak power at 4,000 rpm and 320 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. Torque is produced through a very flat curve, ensuring ample reserves to make frequent downshifting redundant, whether on the highway or in city traffic.
 
The SUV has a five-speed all-synchromesh manual gearbox.

The Captiva has been constructed to maximise space. It accommodates seven adults comfortably and can be transformed into a versatile and adaptable luggage carrier with its fold-flat seating arrangement that provides up to 1,565 litres of cargo volume.
 
The Captiva incorporates convenience features such as a remote-operated tailgate glass for quick access and thoughtful storage solutions, including a large wet / dry area beneath the load compartment floor, a glove box cooler, a deep centre console bin, a rear centre console storage area and handy door bins.
 
Other convenience features include bottle holders, small item / coin and cup holders, a parking ticket holder, an overhead sunglasses compartment, seatback pockets and a dual-compartment sliding driver's armrest. The Captiva also features three 12-volt power outlets that are accessible to all passengers.
                                         
The Captiva features an all-leather beige interior and matching cabin, an integrated 2-DIN CD / MP3 player with six speakers. Tinted automatic windows, power mirrors, an eight-way power adjustable driver seat and an electronic climate control system with particle filter are all standard.
 
The vehicle is pre-fitted with driver and front passenger airbags. Front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, and height-adjustable front seatbelts come standard. The Captiva's four-channel ABS with brake assist-equipped discs intelligently assists with pedal pressure when it detects an emergency braking situation. The rigid high-strength body shell has been optimised to distribute crash forces over defined load paths to help protect the integrity of the passenger safety cell.
 
Balanced chassis 
Chevrolet Captiva at the New Delhi Auto Show Despite its SUV pedigree, the Captiva is ideal for urban commuting. Its trim exterior proportions ensure class-leading manoeuvrability in everyday driving conditions. The power steering system has been tuned for quick response, precise road feel and optimum driver feedback. The Captiva features a four-link independent rear suspension system and MacPherson struts up front. Suspension settings have been carefully calibrated to deliver a car-like ride and handling even on imperfect road surfaces.
 
A unique feature of the Captiva is a level ride suspension system, which automatically maintains nominal ride height under differing load conditions - a feature that offers assured road clearance as well as optimal ride quality for passengers.
 
"The Captiva is all about economical, refined and power-packed diesel performance, combined with spacious luxury and fantastic road presence," said Ankush Arora, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, General Motors India. "When you add it all up, the Chevrolet Captiva offers everything any discerning Indian car buyer could want in the premium SUV space - and most importantly, at a price point that represents incontestable value for money. This is a vehicle that we expect to be an instant hit."