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 The
Chevrolet SRV goes as good as it looks. Almost
Of
the gazillions of different vehicles General Motors
makes, very few really make the demon of acquisitive-ness
dance on my head. The Corvette does and so does the
Saab 9-2X, but surprisingly, for a short while last
month, the Chevrolet SRV made my brain's EMI calculator
go whirr. The SRV might look like it's been designed
by a poorly paid Italdesign designer, especially the
front-end, but it still looks particularly fetching.
Like all those rubber-necking drivers I encountered
on the first night out with Chevrolet's big, low-slung
hatchback, I too liked those tapering tail-lights, muscular
wheel arches, and the snazzy alloys-without doubt, nothing
this good-looking has come out of GM India's stables.
And the fact that the SRV, which is nothing but a biggish
hatch version of the Optra, and yet manages to look
so different fetches it extra points in my book.
The fastback has a bad case of multiple identities,
thanks to the schizophrenic world of badge-engineering
cars nowadays inhabit. Like the Optra, it's actually
a Daewoo Nubira, which is sold as the Lacetti in Europe,
and available in various versions, I think, as a Buick,
Holden and Suzuki in different markets worldwide. But
such is life for cars these days and the SRV is among
those better off.
In spite of being 200 mm shorter than the Optra, it's
got loads of space inside and I sat low but snug in
my driver's seat, the throne offering good overall support.
The steering wheel's a little too big and the surroundings,
though enlivened by faux aluminium accents and the like,
are not as sporty as the car's aspirations. But there's
space all around and I can see advertising's famous
'happy family' sitting comfortably inside, their luggage
handled by the SRV's versatile split seats.
This Chevy gets the same 101 bhp engine found in Aveo
and the Optra-an E-TEC-II motor featuring VGIS technology
(variable geometric intake system), with four valves
per cylinder and other components with intimidating
names. What does all this do for the SRV's driver? The
101 bhp motor's characteristics-it generates around
14 kgm of torque at 4500 rpm-are similar to the fuel-efficiency-oriented
Optra and Aveo motors. People encouraged by the car's
racy looks and born with a twitchy right foot will be
slightly disappointed.
 The
SRV gets you from point A to B pretty quick, but what's
missing is the involvement promised by its exterior-it's
like watching 100 thundering hooves with the mute button
on. Boy racers might not appreciate that, but saner
car buyers will like the engine's linear acceleration
and its bullet-proof feel. However, we don't know whether
they will forgive the slack gearbox, which is the fly
in the otherwise nice-smelling ointment along with the
vague steering feel. Though its peak torque comes in
at around 4500 rpm, the SRV is driveable and surprisingly
adept at playing Tetris in traffic. The car's ride,
like most GM products, is fantastic and in a higher
league and the all-independent suspension and stiff
chassis blunts the worst attacks from Indian roads.
While the Rs 8-lakh SRV has a long equipment list-height
adjustable driver's seat, electrically operated mirrors,
MP3 player are among the standard goodies, while options
include 15-inch alloys and driver side airbag-for a
car that aims to be racy, it lacks ABS and tilt steering
even as options. And so, strangely enough, the Chevrolet
SRV could end up as a nice family car-it certainly has
most of the attributes and even the luggage space isn't
bad. But if you're the guy in that souped-up Maruti
Zen who blasted past me yesterday, wait for GM to bung
in the 1.8 engine.
 SPARKING
SPACE
The SRV is part of GM's rather pompously named Chevrolet
Indian Revolution and follows the Aveo saloon. Out next
will be a hatch called the Aveo UVA, powered by a 1400
cc 94 bhp VGIS motor and expected to be slotted against
the Hyundai Getz and the Maruti Swift. Also on GM's
launch-list for early next year is the Chevrolet Spark
- the erstwhile Daewoo Matiz - that features updated
design but hopefully, will be as spunky as it was around
five years ago. The Spark is expected to be powered
by a 1000 cc motor and looks set to repeat its reasonably
successful run over six years ago.
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