Chevrolet Enjoy India launch by end 2012 (Upcoming Cars)

WHEN: Last quarter 2012

HOW MUCH: Rs 6 – 8 lakh

ENGINES: 1.4-litre petrol, 90 PS; 1.3-litre diesel, 75 PS

COMPETITION: Nissan Evalia, Ashok Leyland Stile, Mahindra Xylo

Chevrolet displayed its concept MPV to the Indian public for the first time at the 2012 Auto Expo in January. Developed in collaboration with GM’s Chinese partner Wuling, the Chevrolet MPV is based on the Wuling CN 100 minivan. In India, it will likely be called the Chevrolet Enjoy, and is due for launch by the end of this calendar year.

According to Chevrolet India MD Lowell Paddock, “The Chevrolet MPV Concept is designed for those who want a spacious, comfortable and well-styled vehicle to enjoy life with their loved ones.”

The Chevrolet Enjoy will be available in two interior configurations, capable of seating either 7 or 8 passengers. The interior pictures you see here are of the Wuling CN 100, but it is likely that General Motors will spruce up the insides before putting up this MPV for sale in India. Creature comforts like a dual AC and music system are expected to be part of the standard package.

The Chevrolet Enjoy is constructed out of high-strength steels. According to Chevrolet, it will be among the most rigidly built MPVs in its class. Higher variants will also get ABS and two airbags, to ensure a decent standard of safety.

General Motor’s Technical Centre in Bangalore, India, has spent more than a year fine-tuning the suspension of the Enjoy MPV. This development was done with  inputs from chassis specialists Lotus. Although we haven’t driven it, Chevrolet assures us that the Enjoy MPV will be a revelation in the ride and handling departments.

The Chevrolet Enjoy will have the choice of both petrol and diesel power. The diesel is the same Fiat-sourced Multijet, called SDE in Chevrolet India parlance, which will also be found in the Sail hatchback and sedan. The petrol engine option is expected to be a 1.4-litre unit, derived from one of GM’s Chinese partner SAIC designs. It is expected to produce somewhere in the region of 90 PS. Chevrolet will likely price the petrol substantially cheaper than the diesel, but the logic of introducing a petrol version in the market isn’t convincing in our opinion.

The Chevrolet enjoy will have its work cut out against the likes of Nissan’s Evalia, and the Ashok Leyland Stile, which should be in the market before it. Price and positioning are also critical for GM, because it’s possible that the Enjoy could steal some market share from Chevrolet’s workhorse Tavera as well. GM India is confident that the Enjoy MPV will set a new benchmark when it comes to value for money in the Indian context. That’s a bold statement to make. For Lowell Paddock, who has just taken over from Karl Slymm as head of Indian operations, the success of the Enjoy is something he will be counting on.