Chinese Invade India, GM-SAIC Launch Sail

Chinese products have dominated almost every industry – except of course the automobile industry. But this could easily change. Chinese made cars are improving at a rapid pace and could soon challenge more established car makers. The Chinese invasion will soon start in India, with General Motors launching the Sail hatchback. The Sail is the brainchild of SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), which ranks in the top 4 Chinese car makers in China, and GM's joint venture partner for India. Now the Chevrolet Sail is one of the top selling cars in China, grossing in excess of 25,000 units per month. When I saw the car at the Indian Auto Expo earlier this year, I was disappointed. The styling is conservative and the interiors look outdated. GM's Indian engineers have tweaked the car thoroughly to adapt it to Indian road conditions, and a diesel powertrain is part of the package. The 1.3-litre Multijet (Fiat-GM co-developed) produces 78 PS and 151 lb-ft. A 1.2-litre Gasoline engine is on offer too (86 PS, 83 lb-ft). So how does this car drive? I was pleasantly surprised by the Sail. It doesn't drive bad at all. Performance is good for city driving and interior space is easily the best in its class. There is ample amount of front and rear room. Handling is good but the steering is very vague, lacking feedback. Ride quality is amazing and the Sail eats away bad roads. Trunk capacity is good too. The Sail is a very practical vehicle which is certain to do well in India. A sedan version of the Sail and the Enjoy (CN-100) MPV, both SAIC products, will follow. Do you think Chinese car makers will make a formidable challenge to European and Japanese car makers in the future? Faisal Ali Khan is the owner/operator of MotorBeam.com, a website covering the auto industry of India. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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