Chevrolet launches new Cavalier compact sedan in China

Chevrolet today launched the Cavalier, an all-new compact midsize family sedan at the Chengdu Motor Show. Available in five variants, it will be priced between RMB 79,900-RMB 109,900 (Rs 8.13 lakh – Rs 11.18 lakh) and will be available at dealers across China.

“The Cavalier is an exciting new nameplate for China,” said SAIC-GM President Wang Yongqing. “It features advances in design, quality, technology and fuel efficiency to meet the demands of mainstream Chinese families.”

Adopting Chevrolet's new global design language, the Cavalier features a modern exterior with a distinct profile enhanced by refined details and flowing lines. It incorporates the brand's first-ever dual L-shaped LED daytime running lights, which echo the segment-only dual L-shaped LED dual-element taillights.

The company says, “The Cavalier’s short front and rear overhangs, and segment-leading width provide a spacious and practical interior. The Cavalier has the most front headroom and the widest rear seats in its class. It includes 20 flexible storage units and offers combined storage capacity of 430 litres to meet the needs of families.

Powered by 1.5-litre engine

The Cavalier is powered by a 1.5-litre DVVT inline four-cylinder engine that strikes a balance between performance and efficiency. It delivers maximum output of 80 kW and peak torque of 141 Nm along with segment-leading fuel economy of 5.4L/100 km. Fuel economy is bolstered by the start/stop system and a reduced drag coefficient of only 0.308.

Customers have a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic DSS intelligent transmission with smooth gear shifting and agile response.

Connected car

To cater to the needs of modern Chinese consumers, the Cavalier comes with an integrated iPad-like floating 7-inch HD touchscreen that is thin and refined, for an easy-to-use interactive experience. It also comes with Chevrolet's new-generation MyLink infotainment system, which includes Natural Speech Recognition, music play via USB or Bluetooth, and Bluetooth phone capability. The Cavalier is the only vehicle in its class that allows users to connect their smartphones to their infotainment system and supports Baidu CarLife.

The Cavalier comes standard with a PM2.5 fine particulate matter air filter that traps and filters out more than 99 percent of pollutants ranging in size from 0.3mm to 10.0mm. The surround-sound audio system with six speakers can switch modes in accordance with the number of passengers to bring a home theater-like surround sound experience. It also has GM's state-of-the-art noise insulation technologies, lowering engine, road and wind noise by means of isolation, absorption and reduction.

Chevrolet says the Cavalier is equipped with safety features often found in premium models. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system includes 14 electronic subsystems for a high level of occupant safety. The Cavalier is the first member of its segment with the advanced intelligent tire pressure monitoring system, which displays tire pressure and sends an alert to the driver when tire pressure is low.

The Cavalier has a body-frame-integral (BFI) structure that uses the class-leading laser welding technique and B-pillars with patented Tailor Rolled Blanks (TRB) technology. About two-thirds of the BFI structure consists of high-strength steel. In addition, up to 26 meters of high-strength adhesive is applied to the car body and key parts, significantly enhancing the stability of the frame.

The Cavalier is manufactured at SAIC-GM's green facility in Wuhan. The plant has a 100 percent intelligent production system with a high level of automation – including 3-D automated gluing and high-precision chassis assembly technology – to ensure precision and quality.

The Cavalier, according to Chevrolet, was put through extensive testing, including 870,000km of conventional durability tests, 860,000km of summer durability tests, 306,000km of powertrain durability tests, 160,000km of emissions tests, 53,000km of structural durability tests and 48,000km of winter durability tests.