Chevrolet Beat Diesel to Debut in June

Chevrolet and its parent manufacturer General Motors will launch a diesel engine for the Beat series as soon as this summer, as the company intends to expand the lineup with new fuel-efficient versions. A report by Rush Lane claims the diesel Beat will actually be the most efficient in its class, which makes General Motors wonder if launching the car in Europe as well would be a profitable business.

And as far as the Americans are concerned, the new diesel Beat could reach the Old Continent by year end, although details regarding the European lineup are yet to be decided upon.

The Beat went on sale in India in January 2010 and came with a 1.2-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve engine that could achieve a fuel consumption rating of 5.3 l/100km (44.3 mpg) and was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Considered as a pretty affordable solution, the Beat was offered with a choice of three trim levels, with features such as automatic climate control, integrated center stack audio with USB and aux-in port, tilt steering and satin silver roof rails.

Ever since its debut, Chevrolet advertised the car as a very efficient model, emphasizing that the car is incredibly reliable.

“With its best-in-segment design, performance and safety, the Beat is destined to become an industry benchmark and a winner among consumers in India. Aimed at meeting the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets in a competitive environment, the global vehicle was put through over 1 million kilometers of intensive durability tests in extreme weather conditions and crash tests both in India and abroad," President & Managing Director, Karl Slym, said during the launch event back in January 2010.