General Motors has taken the wraps off its latest small car creation, the Chevrolet Sail. Developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, the Sail will be sold in China and other developing world markets.
Competing in China’s under-RMB 70,000 small car segment, the Sail will list from just $8,400. Chevy plans to offer five trim levels of the Sail, with the range-topper just cracking the $10,000 mark. Despite its small footprint, the Sail offers seating for five.
“Our mission has always been to enable more individuals and families to realize their dream of owning a car,†said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “With the New Sail, we are setting a new standard for the lower-end small car segment while fully living up to the global standards of Chevrolet, one of the world’s leading vehicle brands. The fact that the New Sail will be exported is a testament to the capabilities of our product development organization in China.â€
The Sail will come standard with an 85 horsepower 1.2L engine. Although the jog from 0-60 takes a leisurely 13 seconds, the tiny powerplant makes up for its performance shortcomings with an average fuel economy of 41mpg. For those wanting a bit more power, a 1.4L will also be on offer, generating 102 horsepower. The bigger engine drops the Sail’s 0-60 time to 12 seconds and fuel economy to 40mpg.
The Sail is currently available for order at all of Chevrolet’s Chinese dealerships.
