Chevrolet Optra Magnum (Petrol)
August 9, 2007
As much as I am impressed with the Optra Magnum Diesel, I am equally depressed with the petrol variant. And just when I was beginning to think that General Motors has done a great job by discarding the Opel brand in India and bringing up the Chevy range and by completely revamping their models, they come up with a face lift for the Optra Petrol in the form of Optra Magnum Petrol with just the unenthusiastic 1.6 L engine and no 1.8 L option. The changes are merely cosmetic with the SRV kind of looks to the front and enhanced interiors. There is absolutely no change to the engine over its predecessor. It is the same 1.6 L, 104 bhp engine. You have the option of choosing between a 1.6 LS and 1.6 LT which cost 8 and 9 Lakhs respectively [ex-showroom, add another lakh for the on road price]
What is GM expecting to do with this model? On one hand they have the Diesel Magnum which can give the Skoda Octavia a run for its money and on the other they have the petrol variant which can’t even measure up to the cars in the lower segment - the Verna’s and the City’s and the Fiesta’s.
Had GM considered sprucing up the petrol magnum to make it as peppy as it’s diesel sibling, would they not have had a winner in their stable which could have created a dent in the Civic and Corolla segment?
An advertisement from the local dealer here in Bangalore tells me that they are already offering a 60,000 discount on the Petrol Magnum. I would be really surprised if this discount tempts any.
My previous posts on the Optra Magnum are here and here and all my posts on automobiles can be accessed here
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1.
Rohan | August 30, 2007 at 11:07 am
Have they done away with the 1.8 version altogether?
Other than the models that they still have in stock, will they not launch the new 1.8?
By doing this, it seems that from a car that was in the same segment as the Civic,Skoda etc has come down to the segment which has competitors such as the Verna,SX4.
This is a ghastly mistake by Chevrolet.
2.
Arjun Narayan | August 30, 2007 at 11:35 am
Hi Rohan,
Yeah, they do not have the 1.8 L variant as part of the magnum petrol. They just have the 1.6 L variant.
When I spoke to the local dealer here in Bangalore, they say that the 1.8 L never worked with the Optra. People are happy with 1.6. Yeah, they could be right .. Afterall, for about 9 Lakhs, I think people get a really plush car, maximum volume for the money they’ve paid. Not many are concerned about performance. Size, looks and the feel good factor matter more.
But, the fact that they are trying to compete in two different segments with the petrol and diesel siblings somehow doesn’t look fine to me.