Chevrolet Beat LPG. EDIT : New pics on Pg.3

vikrantj · 21st April 2010, 18:52

While returning today from the office , spotted this camouflaged Beat . Is this a diesel version ?

1. Beat is already released so why bother camouflage it.
2. The registration was GJ-17. So it must be Halol plant where all diesels are manufactured.

sorry for the bad pic quality. was in my cab in a traffic situation.

--Vikrant

sidindica · 21st April 2010, 18:58

Did you see a black LPG cap on the right side? If yes, then the beat LPG is under test. Another website Indian autos blog also carried a spy shot of the beat LPG on its website a couple of days ago.

CoolFire · 21st April 2010, 19:37

They could have merely camouflaged just the markings or even if LPG, the fuel tank cap. There could be some minor exterior changes here.

Finject · 21st April 2010, 19:41

This blog entry says:
"The company will offer the Chevrolet Beat with a locally made diesel engine, but that is going to take almost an year. [b]Expect the diesel Beat by end-2010.[b] Those in India who were waiting for the diesel Beat are going to disappointed, sadly. But they can take solace from the fact that at least in New Delhi, diesel is soon going to be all ULSD – Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel – and prices are expected to go up a bit when that happens."

mTorque · 21st April 2010, 19:41

May be an ex-test mule which is yet to be repainted! I cant think of a reason why they would camouflage it for a Diesel engine! anyways, good catch!

nkrishnap · 21st April 2010, 21:14

Seems to be the CNG/LPG version on test. Makes sense to have a CNG/LPG version for the metros to rake in a few more numbers for the Beat.

Mpower · 21st April 2010, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikrantj

1. Beat is already released so why bother camouflage it.

I agree. Its a lame idea by GM India. Best way to stay un-noticed is to not do anything.

Driving around with all that cammo will only encourage people to snoop around and soon figure out whats going on.

rjalihal · 22nd April 2010, 01:46

1.2L 3 cylinder engine with 80bhp - sounds pretty good. Its a viable option as diesels sell like hot cakes.

Amartya · 22nd April 2010, 06:31

^^That's the specification for the petrol engine.

vikrantj · 22nd April 2010, 09:23

Saw the same car again being tested in the morning near my building. There was no noticle marking on the fuel lid to give away the type of fuel.

A ex-test mule not repainted may not seem possible since I don't think it is legal to drive a non-test (now that Beat was released couple of months ago) with a temp registration that too of Gujrat in Maharashtra.

--Vikrant

phoenix_rising · 22nd April 2010, 11:26

GM is working on 3 cyl. (936 cc) multijet DSL engine for Beat which will be available only by end 2010 from Talegaon plant, Maharashtra.

CARDEEP · 22nd April 2010, 12:08

I had read in the past that GM too has licensed the Fiat's multijet diesel when they were partners with Fiat. So they can also try the (de-facto) national engine in their small cars.

Or could be a variant of the above as someone has suggested a new engine with different specs. This could be boost to the GM sales, especially when almost all of their competitors have diesel engines in their portfolio.

ACM · 22nd April 2010, 16:37

Saw a Beat LPG about a month back on Thane Ghodbunder Road, with GJ registration, it was late evening and felt that a good snap would not come with the mobile phone camera so did not bother clicking it. It sure is coming.

Mpower · 22nd April 2010, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix_rising

GM is working on 3 cyl. (936 cc) multijet DSL engine for Beat which will be available only by end 2010 from Talegaon plant, Maharashtra.

Nice! Shall we say 57 bhp and 142.5 Nm ?

sukiwa · 3rd May 2010, 10:23

Had a close look at same/similar Beat with similar 'test mule' decals on friday afternoon on paud road in pune. Didn't find any hanging wires or test instruments on/near dashboard (typically seen in test vehicles) unless it's hidden somewhere in glove box or elsewhere.

21st April 2010, 18:52	#1
vikrantj BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 628 Thanked: 568 Times	Chevrolet Beat LPG. EDIT : New pics on Pg.3 While returning today from the office , spotted this camouflaged Beat . Is this a diesel version ? 1. Beat is already released so why bother camouflage it. 2. The registration was GJ-17. So it must be Halol plant where all diesels are manufactured. sorry for the bad pic quality. was in my cab in a traffic situation. --Vikrant Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

21st April 2010, 18:58	#2
sidindica Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 4,892 Thanked: 8,106 Times	Did you see a black LPG cap on the right side? If yes, then the beat LPG is under test. Another website Indian autos blog also carried a spy shot of the beat LPG on its website a couple of days ago.
	() Thanks

21st April 2010, 19:37	#3
CoolFire BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tsr, Kerala Posts: 386 Thanked: 575 Times	They could have merely camouflaged just the markings or even if LPG, the fuel tank cap. There could be some minor exterior changes here.
	() Thanks

21st April 2010, 19:41	#4
Finject BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 99 Thanked: Once	This blog entry says: "The company will offer the Chevrolet Beat with a locally made diesel engine, but that is going to take almost an year. [b]Expect the diesel Beat by end-2010.[b] Those in India who were waiting for the diesel Beat are going to disappointed, sadly. But they can take solace from the fact that at least in New Delhi, diesel is soon going to be all ULSD – Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel – and prices are expected to go up a bit when that happens."
	() Thanks

21st April 2010, 19:41	#5
mTorque BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chennai Posts: 160 Thanked: 34 Times	May be an ex-test mule which is yet to be repainted! I cant think of a reason why they would camouflage it for a Diesel engine! anyways, good catch!
	() Thanks

21st April 2010, 21:14	#6
nkrishnap Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,983 Thanked: 7,407 Times View My Garage	Seems to be the CNG/LPG version on test. Makes sense to have a CNG/LPG version for the metros to rake in a few more numbers for the Beat.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 01:46	#8
rjalihal BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 713 Thanked: 100 Times	1.2L 3 cylinder engine with 80bhp - sounds pretty good. Its a viable option as diesels sell like hot cakes.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 06:31	#9
Amartya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Evanston Posts: 1,748 Thanked: 736 Times	^^That's the specification for the petrol engine.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 09:23	#10
vikrantj BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 628 Thanked: 568 Times	Saw the same car again being tested in the morning near my building. There was no noticle marking on the fuel lid to give away the type of fuel. A ex-test mule not repainted may not seem possible since I don't think it is legal to drive a non-test (now that Beat was released couple of months ago) with a temp registration that too of Gujrat in Maharashtra. --Vikrant
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 11:26	#11
phoenix_rising BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Delhi Posts: 48 Thanked: 27 Times	GM is working on 3 cyl. (936 cc) multijet DSL engine for Beat which will be available only by end 2010 from Talegaon plant, Maharashtra.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 12:08	#12
CARDEEP Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NCR Posts: 3,248 Thanked: 2,522 Times	I had read in the past that GM too has licensed the Fiat's multijet diesel when they were partners with Fiat. So they can also try the (de-facto) national engine in their small cars. Or could be a variant of the above as someone has suggested a new engine with different specs. This could be boost to the GM sales, especially when almost all of their competitors have diesel engines in their portfolio.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 16:37	#13
ACM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,745 Thanked: 4,361 Times View My Garage	Saw a Beat LPG about a month back on Thane Ghodbunder Road, with GJ registration, it was late evening and felt that a good snap would not come with the mobile phone camera so did not bother clicking it. It sure is coming.
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 10:23	#15
sukiwa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: pune Posts: 2,378 Thanked: 2,562 Times	Had a close look at same/similar Beat with similar 'test mule' decals on friday afternoon on paud road in pune. Didn't find any hanging wires or test instruments on/near dashboard (typically seen in test vehicles) unless it's hidden somewhere in glove box or elsewhere.
	() Thanks