Auto India 2012: Chevrolet Sail premium hatchback, MPV concept launched

General Motors India today unveiled the first two products from its joint venture with China's SAIC, the Chevrolet Sail premium hatchback and the Chevrolet MPV Concept, at the 11th Auto Expo in New Delhi.

''The introduction of the Sail hatchback and MPV Concept demonstrates our commitment to take advantage of the global resources of GM and our partners in India for India,'' said Lowell Paddock, president and managing director, General Motors India. ''The two products have been tailored for local market conditions and the need of local consumers for economical, user-friendly personal transportation.''

Chevrolet Sail hatchback
Paddock said, ''The Chevrolet Sail hatchback will be a strong addition to GM's mini-car portfolio in India. It will bring a new sense of vitality to the biggest, fastest-growing and most competitive segment in the domestic passenger car market.''

The Sail hatchback, which will go on sale later this year, is built for the world's emerging markets. Engineers at the GM Technical Center in Bangalore spent the past year and a half engineering the platform for India to ensure that the Sail hatchback and other vehicles built on the platform would meet the requirements of the Indian market and Indian car buyers.

The Sail hatchback's exterior and interior design exudes Chevrolet's sporty styling. The front view features Chevrolet's signature styling cues, including a dual-port grille adorned with a gold bowtie. The hood features muscular cut-lines that provide a three-dimensional look. From the side, the unique waistline gives the Sail hatchback a dynamic stance. Its body proportions offer a perfect ratio of a long front and short rear, with a lower stance in front that moves upward to a higher stance in back.

The interior of the Sail hatchback is spacious, airy and bright, with Chevrolet's dual-cockpit design. The sporty instrument panel with chrome-plated accents contains a radio, CD player and music Aux-in interface.