General Motors today launched the much awaited Beat Diesel in addition to the currently selling gasoline model at a starting price of Rs.4.29 lakhs.This 1 litre diesel engine is the company’s smallest dieselengine globally.
Karl Slym,President and Managing Director of General Motors India reported that this is the smallest diesel engine-powered passenger car for GM globally.He said that they do not have any plan to manufacture this engine anywhere in the world.
Slym said that they have taken the expertise from Europe, the hub of diesel technology, but at the same time engaged their engineers in India to make sure that they don’t give a completely European engine.He also said GM India plans to export the diesel engine to Europe as well after meeting the demand here.
He added that the company currently sells 2,700-3,000 units of Beat every month and expects to sell 4,000-5,000 units of its diesel variant henceforth.He further said that it (the car market) used to be 30 per cent diesel and 70 per cent petrol. Of course, that has changed, all thanks to the pricing of fuel.
The base model of this car will cost around Rs.4.29 lakhs and the top-end model will cost Rs.5.45 lakhs in the ex-showroom,New Delhi.The Beat Diesel is expected to give an ARAI mileage of 24kmpl.The company also plans to launch a diesel version of its another small car Spark with the same engine holding some modifications.