The Hindu Business Line : GM plans to offer variants of SRV

According to senior officials, the company could be introducing the sports model with a two-litre TCDi diesel engine and is also launching a special limited edition model of the current 1.6-litre petrol SRV variant.

Introduction of the diesel model would be on the lines of the recent global launch of the model (known as the Daewoo Lacetti 5-door TCDi in UK) at the Bologna Motor Show 2006.

According to a release, it is the company's (Chevrolet) first-ever diesel engine car for the UK market and will be launched simultaneously with the Optra (Daewoo Lacetti station wagon in the UK) station wagon model having the same diesel engine.

GM India has plans to introduce the Optra (Daewoo Lacetti sedan) diesel variant this year.

They all share the same two-litre TCDi diesel engine.

In addition to the diesel model, the company is set to launch a special limited edition of the SRV in March 2007.

GM India would introduce 150 units of this model, said senior officials.

Designers were asked to come up with their editions of the SRV. Some of the entries at the Lakme Fashion Show held November last year included James Ferriera, Nandita Mahtani, Sabyasachi and Wendel Rodrigues.

Nandita Mahtani's design won the competition.

It was a sporty design with yellow racing stripes on a black-coloured SRV, side skirts and fairings coupled up with black leather seats touched with yellow piping.

The company had also displayed a special version of the SRV at the recent Autocar Performance Show held in Mumbai.

It was packaged with a supercharger kit imported by the company and received rave reviews.

Officials said that they would like to introduce the add-on kit as an accessory in the local market, but according to market feedback prospective customers would not like to pay an additional Rs 1 lakh plus for the kit.

GM has sold close to 700 units of the SRV ever since its introduction in June 2006, said senior officials.

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