General Motors China and SAIC have taken the criticism for the bland interiors of the Sail sedan very seriously and the 2014 facelift will see a revised interior and exterior design. The interiors of the 2014 Chevrolet Sail facelift was revealed in these spy images ahead of its public unveil at the Beijing Auto Show scheduled to open on the 20th April in China. As the images showcase, the changes are rather comprehensive with restyled interiors that lend a more premium appeal to the cabin.
The cheap looking steering wheel is now replaced with a smarter 3-spoke steering unit with silver accents. The instrument cluster too has been restyled and gets chrome bezels for a premium appeal. The centre console has been completely refreshed with a larger LCD display unit, while the air-con controls look far better than in the current model. Along with the changes to the dashboard, a new upholstery option is also expected to be offered on the facelifted model. The interior also sports a dual-tone shade with beige tones with a mix of black. Overall, the interiors look far more polished and refined than the current version.
On the exteriors though, the Chevrolet Sail will see a new and larger grille with significant changes to the bumper and subtle changes to the headlight design. The side profile also gets revisions inclusive of restyled ORVMs and a revised C-pillar quarter glass. The rear on the other hand, though not visible is expected to get revised tail lights and subtle upgrades to the bumper and boot-lid, which will help keep the car fresh for another couple of years.
The Chevrolet Sail has been a sales dud for GM India. The entry-level sedan is scraping numbers and needs a strong comeback in the market to build volumes. Chevrolet had earlier confirmed that the company is looking forward to adding new features to the existing models and make them an attractive proposition in the market. The company is most likely to get the Sail facelift to India in 2015, after the car is launched in China.
The Chevrolet Sail is manufactured in joint venture between GM and Chinese auto manufacturer SAIC. The Sail is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine producing 85 BHP of power and 113 Nm of torque, while a 1.3-litre unit completes diesel duties, producing 77 BHP and 205 Nm of torque in India. The Sail facelift when launched will be updated with a new 1.5-litre petrol engine tuned to produce 111 BHP of power and 141 Nm of torque in China. GM should also consider getting the AMT gearbox from the Chinese version that will certainly help the sedan build volumes in the segment.
Source – Auto 163
