All the new Chevrolets from A(veo) to Z(afira)

After several years of establishing the Chevrolet brand in the Philippines as primarily middle and upper class market with the Suburban, Tahoe, Silverado and Venture vehicles, General Motors Philippines finally has a car to butt bumpers with the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis, Mitsubishi Lancer and Nissan Sentra.

With a body by Italian designer Pininfarina, the Chevrolet Optra cuts a distinctively angular figure that belies its mainstream "family car" orientation. Strong style elements include the 3-part grille, the bulging wheel arches, and a sweeping roofline that integrates the quarter panel windows into the C-pillar instead of into the rear doors as with most other sedans.

Produced in the US $700 million GM plant in the Rayong Province of Thailand, the Optra is propelled by the 1.6-liter, 16 valve E-TEC II engine with double overhead camshafts and electronic fuel injection. Developing 110 PS at 5,800 rpm and 150 Newton-meters of torque at 4,000 rpm, it can be paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic with "Adaptive Shift Control Logic".

A comprehensive noise reduction system has been designed to give the Optra a very quiet ride. To reduce engine noise and vibration, the alternator, power steering pump, and air-conditioning compressor are all connected with a single auto-tensioned drive belt. Hydraulic mounts for the engine and transmission are utilized, as are an insulated engine cover and a filter foam sealing process for the body.

The Optra sports a British-tuned suspension composed of front McPherson struts and a rear dual link system riding on 15" wheels. Stopping power is assured with 10" ventilated disks and solid rear disks, and is further supplemented with a 4-channel, 4-sensor Antilock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

The Optra’s cabin seems to be as spacious as any other sedan in its class, and the cockpit has a European feel to it courtesy of silver accents on the 4-spoke steering wheel, speedometer bezel, and center console, and by the combination of curves and sharp edges on the dashboard.

Fabric upholstery is used, there is no leather option. The driver’s seat is adjustable for height, and the rear bench includes three adjustable headrests and features a 60:40 split folding design to accommodate long cargo from the trunk.

While the Optra doesn’t have too many gee-whiz comfort and convenience features, it does have several key features that owners may want to brag about. These include the Blaupunkt audio system with a 5-disc in dash CD changer, 6 speakers, and steering wheel integrated controls. The Optra also features power folding side mirrors, a cooled glove box, an additional shelf under the glove compartment, and an under-seat tray. Other standard features include power steering, mirrors, windows, and trunk lid opener; tilt adjustable steering wheel; foglamps; auxiliary power outlets and keyless entry with engine immobilizer.

Additional safety features include a driver’s side SRS airbag and seatbelt pretensioner, ISO-FIX child seat anchors, and a reinforced cabin structure tested by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. High-tension steel sheet is used for the body and its interior hexagonal structure, creating a "survival zone" designed for optimum absorption of collision shock and deflection of crash energy away from the passengers.

Priced at just P675,000 with the manual transmission and P715,000 with the automatic, the Optra looks set to make some really serious inroads into the highly competitive passenger car market. Color options include Black Sapphire, Star Silver, Thai Gold Metallic, Shanghai Red and Denim Blue.

Exclusively distributed in the country by GM Autoworld retailers, the Optra and the Aveo hatchback (see accompanying story on C-3) are also backed up a three-year or 100,000 kilometer warranty period. GM Philippines will shoulder repairs to correct any vehicle defect related to materials or workmanship during this warranty period. In addition, GM Philippines also includes free Periodic Maintenance Service for two years or 30,000 kilometers. It is the only car company currently offering this service, which includes free replacement of oil and pollen filters, spark plugs, and brake pads.

Besides launching the Optra and Aveo last August 13 at Glorietta Mall, Chevrolet also took the opportunity to re-launch their innovative Zafira family wagon. Featuring the "FLEX-7" seating system, the Zafira’s 2-3-2 seat layout can be configured up to 39 ways to maximize its 1,700-liter cargo space. The Zafira’s 1.8-liter 16-valve ECOTEC engine is rated at 125 horsepower (DIN) at 5,600 rpm and 170 Newton-meters of torque at 3,800 rpm. Safety features include dual airbags, GM’s patented Pedal Release System, seatbelt pretensioners, ABS, and adjustable head restraints on all seven seats. The Zafira is being offered at an introductory price of P1,090,00.00. — Andy Leuterio