Cashless Carnival

GM has launched the Chevrolet Optra Magnum, the diesel variant of the Optra, that boasts of a 2L TCDi (a.k.a CRDi) engine that can deliver up to 120 bhp of power. The specifications of the car sound great and it looks like GM has done a brilliant job in packaging the 3 variants of the Magnum - MAX, LS and LT. The models are priced in the range of Rs. 8.74 - 9.99 Lakhs [I presume that’s the ex-showroom price, add a lakh more for the on road price]. The LS variant has all the features that the high-end LT has to offer minus the leather interiors and the safety equipments - ABS and Airbags.

The Optra Magnum is all set to take on the Skoda Octavia TDi [Diesel], and why not, it is after all a big car that was always planned to be in that segment and it has everything that the Skoda has to offer via the Octavia. If you were thinking that the Octavia is probably longer and bigger than the Optra, well, that’s not true either. Well, GM can definitely eye the Octavia for the time being until there are other additions to the segment which will again change the odds against Optra’s success. Who knows, tomorrow a  more powerful Safari and a more refined Scorpio could change the dynamics of this segment. Yeah, I know I am comparing apples with oranges, but why not? And yeah, not to forget another forthcoming addition to the segment, the new Hyundai Elantra.

Nowhere on GM’s site, could I see the rear view of the Magnum. So, I am assuming that there have been no alterations to the rear, but there are quite a lot of changes in the front. The Optra and the SRV both look quite identical from the front except for the bolder grille on the Optra. The interiors also look unchanged except for the dashboard which seems to have been derived from the SRV. And with all the other accessories [on LS and LT] like alloy wheels and indicators on the outside rear view mirrors, Optra Magnum looks like a piece of cake.

By the bye, I am tempted to reason out aloud why Optra Magnum makes more sense to buy, against the Octavia.

• Better value for money
• More powerful car [both in terms of power and torque. Atleast, theory says that]
• The Optra is more comfortable than the Octavia when it comes to long drives
• Fresher design - All said and done, the Octavia has started looking old now
• I think Skoda will eventually phase out the Ocatvia. Once they have the Fabia  on the roads, a lot of Fabia parts can be used in the Laura as well, and this will help them in bringing down the prices of the Laura. Already, Skoda seems to have made this move by introducing the Laura Elegance which bridges the gap between the Octavia and the Laura.

 Agree with me?

 My other posts on the Chevy Optra are here and here