Chevrolet Beat is another major launch by GM India after the recent launch of Cruze which has been received very well by Indian Customers. The Chevrolet Beat debuted as a concept car at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. General Motors is bringing this car to India before other markets in the world as this car is very important for the company for make a mark in the small car segment.
General Motors has unleashed the Beat to beat the heat of the Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Fiat Grande Punto and Hyundai i10.

Engine:
Chevrolet Beat is powered by a 1.2 litre 4 cylinder engine which generates 79 bhp of maximum power at 6200 rpm with 108 Nm of maximum torque at 4400 rpm. The S-TEC II engine employs PDA (Port De-Activation) system which “ensures high exhaust gas recirculation, resulting in combustion stability at low speeds and optimal performance at high speeds together with improved fuel efficiency.” The PDA system also reduces emissions.
An automatic temperature controller inside the engine is another unique feature and the application of four resonators reduces engine noise. It is mated with the efficient S-TEC-II engine is a 5-speed manual transmission.

Exteriors:
Chevrolet Beat is a car that is ideal for those with an urban lifestyle. With the styling of a sporty hatchback, it showcases the new direction of GM design and a new trend in the design of mini-cars. Chevrolet Beat''s dramatically sized headlamps that literally stretch from the front fascia to the back of the hood, with clear polycarbonate lenses and chrome-coated bezels, resemble diamonds, adding an upscale appearance and glamour. Secret vertical rear door handles located in the C-pillar are another unusual feature. They give Beat a unique, sporty three-door coupe appearance without sacrificing five-door utility.
Round tail lamps of Chevrolet Beat with clear polycarbonate lenses add to the Beat’s strong rear impression. A chrome-coated radiator grille and fog lamps, outside mirrors with two-tone color, and a refined-looking roof rack are other design cues that transport the Beat’s styling beyond that of a mini car.

Interiors:
The interior of Chevrolet Beat has a sharp-edged design and the neat centre console. An exterior-color matched instrument panel and door trim are offered either in red, blue or silver which enhances the unified design of the interior and exterior. The cabin looks good and feels solid. The pattern-printed semi-bucket seats are cosy. With high-quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship, they also enhance the luxurious interior atmosphere. The instrument cluster with ice blue lighting looks cool.
Overall, the interiors are neat and look much better than that of its competitors.

Ride and Handling:
Adopting the body-frame integral (BFI) system, the upper body structure and frame are engineered as a single unit, resulting in better feel of the road along with a heightened sense of firmness and stability.  A McPherson strut front suspension of Chevrolet Beat combined with a four-point mounted long engine cradle and a width power reduction spring enhances the solidity of the entire chassis, for improved crash safety and driving performance.
Chevrolet Beat features first-in-segment triple acoustic absorbent structure and special under body structure prevent noise inflow from outside, for optimal quietness. Wind noise is minimized through the Beat’s aerodynamic body line.

Safety:
The Beat is equipped with most of the important safety features like dual-frontal airbags, ABS and Front and Rear Crumple Zone. The beat has got 4-Star NCAP Safety Rating and the Safety Cage is reinforced with welded tubular section members that frame door openings and support the roof and steel members in the door.

Fuel Economy:
The Beat gives a mileage of 17 kmpl in City and about 20 kmpl on highway which is really good.
Variants, Price and colors
The Beat comes in 4 variants with all powered with the 1.2L Engine.
The 3 variants are 1.2 PS, 1.2 LS, 1.2 LT and 1.2 LT Option Pack.

Price List

The Beat comes in 7 exciting colors- Linen Beige, Green Cocktail, Super Red, Caviar Black, Misty Lake, Moroccan Blue and Olympic White.

Our Verdict:
Riding high on the success of the popular Chevrolet brand, GM India has registered a record growth of 101% in sales in December 2009, compared to the corresponding period last year. It sold 8,258 units in December 2009 against 4,041 units in December last year, making this the highest-ever monthly sales figure achieved by GM India since its inception.
This clearly shows how fast GM India is improving and the Beat is truly a value for money with all excellent features in it.