Review on Chevrolet Beat Diesel...

Released in the Right time:

With the increasing fuel prices, the attitude of Indian drivers towards buying diesel cars is increasing at a very high rate. As a result, many diesel models are being released by various automobile companies. Chevrolet has released the diesel version of Beat in order to provide a better mileage car and to give relief to the car buyers looking for diesel car. As promised earlier, Chevrolet has released its diesel version of beat on 25th of july 2011. Chevrolet Beat Diesel will surely be able to bring a change in the hatchback segment as the petrol version of this car is already running successfully in the Indian roads.

Beat Diesel

Variants:

             Chevrolet Beat Diesel is available in 4 variants. Beat Diesel PS is the Low end model. Beat Diesel LS is a middle version. Beat Diesel LT is a high end model. Beat Diesel LT option pack comes with safety and other features like ABS and front Air Bags. Air Conditioner, Front Power Windows, and Power Steering are part of the standard equipment of the car.

Car Specifications	Chevrolet Beat PS Diesel	Chevrolet Beat LS Diesel	Chevrolet Beat LT Diesel	Chevrolet Beat LT Option Diesel
Safety
ABS	No	No	No	Yes
Airbags (no.)	No	No	No	2
Traction control	No	No	No	No
Features
AC / Climate control	Yes / Yes	Yes / No	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Power steering	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Steering wheel adjust (rake / reach)	Yes / No	No / No	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Central / Remote locking	No / No	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Power windows (front / rear)	No / No	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Wheels (steel / with hubcaps / alloy)	Yes / Yes / No	Yes / Yes / No	No / No / Yes	No / No / Yes
Leather seats	No	No	No	No
Tinted glass	No	No	Yes	Yes
Driver seat adjust (length / height / rake)	Manual/ No /Manual	Manual/ No /Manual	Manual/ No /Manual	Manual/ No /Manual
Front passenger seat adjust (length / height / rake)	Manual/ No /Manual	Manual/ No /Manual	Manual/ No /Manual	Manual/ No /Manual
Rear Seat belts (no.)	0	0	0	0
Split / folding rear seats	50:50/ No	50:50/ No	No / No	No / Yes
tachometer / trip meter	No /1	No /1	No /1	No /1
Door mirror  (passenger / adjust / electric retract)	Yes / No / No	Yes / No / No	Yes /Manual/ No	Yes /Manual/ No
Rear center armrest	No	Yes	No	No
Cassette / CD / MP3 player	No / No / No	No / No / No	No /1/ Yes	No /1/ Yes
Fog lamps	No	No	Yes	Yes
Body-colored bumpers	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rear AC vents	No	No	Yes	Yes
Boot release	No	in	No	in
Rear defogger	No	No	Yes	Yes
Rear wash wipe	No	No	Yes	Yes

Specifications:

Engine Specification
Description	1.2 L, 80 BHP, S-TEC II Engine
No. of Cylinders	3
Power	80.5 PS @ 6200 rpm
Torque	108 Nm 4400 rpm
Fuel and Mileage Details
Fuel Type	Diesel
Fuel System	MPFI
Fuel Tank Capacity	35
Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual
Gear Box	5 Speed
Suspension
Front Suspension	Mc Pherson strur- Type with Anti- Roll Bar
Rear Suspension	Compound Link Type
Other Details
Segment	Small Car
Body Style	Hatch Back
Seating Capacity	5
No. of Doors	5

Performance:

With a 936 cc engine, Chevrolet Beat Diesel, gives a good comfort and very quiet. It runs with TCDi engine. 1.0 liter 3 cylinder engine got its birth from 1.3 liter 4 cylinder engine that was used in the petrol versions of the car. This MultiJet engine was developed by the engineers of FIAT and GM with great calculations and considerations. The engine vibrations and dynamics were thoroughly studied. Accordingly the damping systems were designed which was proved in the running of the car. This is the ultimate result of the noiseless and smooth running of the car. Truly there was zero noise inside the car when the windows are up.

SMARTEC engine used in BEAT DIESEL

With the car running in its third gear, it reaches 20 – 80 kmph in 14.6 s. While it reaches 40- 100 kmph in 16.2 s while in fourth gear. This is much better with a 936 cc, 3 cylinder 1.0 liter engines. Hats off for GM in achieving the engine's power, performance and mainly the fuel Economy. This engine is capable of producing 80.5 PS and a torque of about 108 Nm.

View under Bonnet

GM has also done various enhancements, such as switching to gas- charged shock absorbers in addition with Goodyear tyres. This has resulted in great ride quality.

Ground clearance has been increased to 175mm due to heavy 1027 kg engine. Beat is equipped with ventilated disc brake for better and efficient braking.

The Beat has greater stability, maneuverability and good cornering with its electrically assisted hydraulic power steering. The set of gas charged dampers has increased the overall ride quality of the car. The electronic power steering comes for assistance in slow speed driving and in parking.

Exteriors:

            There is no big difference between Beat Diesel and its previous versions. The only change is the increase in its ground clearance to 175mm. But this is not a big change for the looks of Beat. Beat has already scored a lot in its exterior part.

            Main features are Tubeless Tyres, Integraated Rear Spoiler, Body coloured Bumpers, Stylized Wheels. The main look scoring feature is Chrome Radiator Grille.

Interiors:

            As far as the Interiors are considered, GM has managed to provide quality interiors with high quality plastics, well designed luxurious interiors, AC with automatic climate control function, Power Windows, remotely accessible central locking, bottle holders, rear defogger and folding rear seats.

Interior of Beat Diesel

            When the windows are up, there is absolute silence inside the cabin. There is a zero vibration condition in nominal engine conditions.

            The only lacking is the beige option. Beat Diesel also comes only with black trim. The seats are same as the petrol versions of Beat. A six foot man can accommodate in the rear seats comfortably. Hardly three members can accommodate in the rear seats, but only for a small drive.

Pricing:

           Prices of various versions of Beat Diesel are,

Price of Beat Diesel (ex-showroom Delhi)
Chevrolet Beat Diesel PS	Rs. 4,29,000
Chevrolet Beat Diesel LS	Rs. 4,59,000
Chevrolet Beat Diesel LT	Rs. 4,99,000
Chevrolet Beat Diesel LT Option	Rs. 5,45,000

Verdict:

            The overall performances of Beat Diesel are quite amazing. The SMARTEC engine gives Beat, a great power with zero vibration inside the driver cabin. Further the dynamic balancing of engine avoids most of the vibrations when the car is in move. Even though GM claims the mileage of Beat to be 24 kmpl, many users are getting it from 19 to 21 which is a good one from a 936 cc engine. GM's SMARTEC design has proved to be a successful one.

            So, Beat diesel is the best choice for a small family to run through the cities. Chevrolet Beat Diesel is expected as a great competitor for other cars like Maruthi Ritz, Maruthi Swift, Ford Figo, etc.