Chevrolet Sail

On 12 December 2000, the first Chinese-made Buick rolled off the production line as part of trial production. Series production commenced in June 2001.[7] This car was the first compact car produced by the SAIC-GM joint-venture, and was aimed squarely at young families. The Buick Sail was based on Opel Corsa B, and the body design is shared with the Brazilian Chevrolet Corsa Classic and India's Opel Corsa Joy. This four-door saloon bodywork was never offered in Europe, instead being intended for developing markets. The only engine choice is a 1.6-litre, 92 PS (68 kW) inline-four engine, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission.[8] The price was under 100,000 RMB. The car went on sale in June 2001. The original Opel Corsa B had also been "assembled" in Guangdong province as the Jilin Jiangbei Meilu JJ7090 from 1993 to 1996. Around 2000 cars were imported nearly complete to fit certain legal loopholes which existed at the time and sold with Jilin Jiangbei badging.[9]

Shanghai Auto Saibao SAC6420

In December 2001, the wagon version, Buick Sail S-RV, was also introduced to the Chinese consumers. Basically this vehicle is also a body variation of the Opel Corsa B. The engine is the same as the Sail sedan. In June 2002, SAIC subsidiary SAIC-Yizheng introduced a locally built version of the Corsa-based Opel Combo glazed tallboy van as the "Shanghai Auto (Shangqi) Saibao SAC6420" (上汽赛宝).[7] Equipped with the same 1.6-litre engine and five-speed manual transmission as the Buick Sail (albeit only with 90 PS or 66 kW), it was produced in fairly small numbers (2,053 cars in 2004, for instance[7]) until 2005. "Saibao" has sometimes been anglicized as "Sabre". There was also a Saibao DeLuxe version available, with alloy wheels and other extras. The Saibao could reach 160 km/h (99 mph).[10]

Chevrolet Sail (China)

Chevrolet Sail wagon (China)

In February 2005, the Chevrolet brand was introduced to China, where it was described as a "younger" brand than Buick. As part of an endeavour to redefine the brand image of Buick, the Sail became the first Chinese-built Chevrolet passenger car.[11] The Chevrolet Sail (SGM7165) received a locally upgraded design. The interior was also refined. Both sedan and wagon (now the SGM7166) forms were kept, although production of the Saibao Van ended. While sharing the original's wheelbase, the new wagon version (at 4,097 mm) is 71 mm longer than the old one's 4,026 mm. The 90 PS (66 kW), 1.6-litre engine option remained unchanged, while the transmission options originally were limited to a five-speed manual but were later joined by a four-speed automatic. Claimed top speed for the manual versions is 177 km/h (110 mph).[12]

In the autumn of 2006, the Chevrolet Sail was exported to Chile as the Chevrolet Corsa Plus. The Corsa Plus includes dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, electric windows and central locking as standard equipment.

The production at Shanghai-GM ceased at the beginning of 2009, but at the same time the Chevrolet Classic and its wagon version Chevrolet Classic SW adopted the design of the Chevrolet Sail and were released in Latin America as the 2010 model year. The sedan version has been produced in Argentina until October 2016, but it was equipped with different engines. In Argentina, the Classic was powered by a 1.4 L 8V 69 kW (94 PS) engine. The model offered in Brazil had a 1.0-litre Flexpower engine, of which the output is 56.7 kW (77 PS) when fueled with gasoline, or 57.4 kW (78 PS) with alcohol.[13][14]

In India, the Chevrolet Sail U-VA hatchback was showcased for the first time at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 and launched nationwide on November 2, 2012. It features Chevrolet's signature dual port chrome grille, Hawk Wing styled headlamps and is available in 7 colors. Its 25+ storage spaces, along with ‘Flex Flat’ and 60:40 Folding Rear Row seats, making it one of the most spacious cars in the hatchback segment. The engineers at the GM Technical Center – India, in Bangalore, participated in localization of the vehicle to meet local requirements. The Chevrolet Sail U-VA is available in the 1.3 L Smartech turbocharged DOHC diesel and 1.2 L Smartech petrol engine variants. The 1.3 L diesel engine delivers 22.1 km/L while the 1.2 L petrol engine delivers a mileage of 18.2 km/L.

Chevrolet Sail is a recently launched sedan from one of the leading automobile manufacturers in the world – Chevrolet. The car, which shares its platform with the successful Chevrolet Sail Sedan was launched in India on February 1, 2013. Now its competes with Tata Zest. The car, even before its launch, was quite a buzz with experts and automobile enthusiasts because of its attractive looks that are based on the Dynamic Sculpture Design Philosophy. The Corvette inspired Dual-Cockpit interiors are also quite famous among those who understand car design philosophy. Various auto magazines and journals have also touted its ‘Safe Cage’ Design as one of the safest in the segment. The Chevrolet Sail is available in the 1.3 L Smartech turbocharged DOHC diesel and 1.2 L Smartech petrol engine variants. The 1.3 L diesel engine delivers 22.1 km/L, while the 1.2 L petrol engine delivers a mileage of 18.2 km/L.

General Motors launched the new Chevrolet Sail[18] in India in sedan and hatchback forms, with petrol and diesel versions, in four trim levels. The petrol version uses a 1.2 L S-Tec II engine which is also seen in the Indian market Chevrolet Beat. The 1.2 L petrol motor has power and torque figures of 86 PS (63 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm at 5,000 rpm. The 1.3 L diesel engine is GM's version of the Fiat 1248 cc MultiJet motor, with figures of 78 PS (57 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 205 Nm at 1,750 rpm. The MultiJet engine is an outcome of alliance between GM and Fiat. GM offers a 5-speed manual transmission for both the petrol and diesel variants. The various fuel trims in Chevrolet Sail are priced differently. The Petrol trims are priced between Rs. 5,79,864/- to Rs. 7,21,176/-. The Diesel trims of Chevrolet Sail start at Rs. 7,11,316/-.[19] In spite of being a best seller in India, General Motors withdrew from the Indian market in 2017.

The Sail is also marketed on the Pacific coast of South America, in Chile,[20] Colombia and Ecuador.[21] It is assembled from CKD-kits by General Motors of Ecuador,[22] and also manufactured at least of 90% in Colombia by GM Colmotores in its factory on the Free Zone of Bogotá.[23]

Chevrolet have decided to unleash their new compact sedan in at the upcoming 2016 Manila International Auto Show. This entry level car is the manufacturer's newest voyage to capitalize on the heavy demand for sedans in the Philippines.[24]

Springo EV

At the 2010 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, GM showed an EV version of the Sail Hatchback called the Springo EV.[25] Although this concept car does not wear a Chevrolet badge, it is still a part of Chevrolet's worldwide electric vehicle strategy.[26] According to GM's press release, this car has a 65 kW motor which has a maximum torque of 220 Nm. Top speed is about 130 km/h and the driving range with full battery is claimed as 150 km. It was also reported that this car had reached the electric vehicle safety requirements set by SAE and ISO.

Shanghai General Motors introduced the Sail Springo EV at the 2012 Auto Guangzhou. The electric car is scheduled to be sold in Shanghai in 2013 as part of a trial program, and initially only a limited number of cars will be available. The Springo EV has a range of 130 km (81 mi) and up to 200 km (120 mi) at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). The electric car will be sold for RMB 258,000 (US$41,460), before incentives of up to RMB 60,000 (US$9,642) from the central government and RMB 40,000 (US$6,428) from the Shanghai government. In addition, the car will qualify for a free local Shanghai license plate exclusively for electric vehicles.[27] The Sail Springo EV was developed as joint-venture between Shanghai General Motors and partner SAIC Motor.[28]