Chevrolet Optra5 To fill vacuum in Hot Hatch Market
New Chevrolet Optra5 –At Last, a Hot Hatch for Sporty Drivers
The new Chevrolet Optra5, a hot hatch that is an extension of the Optra model line-up, is a car that will be create some excitement in the market. Already, drivers are lamenting the lack of a suitable replacement for the Putra and the Satria Gti, that there is no worthy upgrade now that their cars are close to 5 years old or more. Not that the Putra or Satria Gti is no good; it’s just that the shape is getting a little dated, and the market is ready for something fresh. The introduction of the Chevrolet Optra5 may be a timely one because of this pent-up demand.
In terms of hot hatches, the hierarchy goes thus; the BMW 1-series is of higher performance, and many would like to have one. However, its price makes it remain only a dream for many. Next in line would be the Alfa 147, but we don’t see any in the showrooms, as the franchise is in limbo at the moment, with no clear indication as to who is taking over. At RM105, 988.00 (price-on-the-road without insurance), the Optra5 sits in an affordable price bracket all by itself. As a fully imported car from General Motors’ Korean stables, the Optra5 by itself is a bargain of sorts, considering the goodies that come with it.
The Chevrolet Optra5 is contemporary in looks, and its lines are attractively sporty; it has a two-box outline, but the front and rear taper very nicely to diffuse any notion of a box. The gold Chevrolet bow sits in the center of the front grill, flanked by two slant-eyed combination headlights. The colour-coded front bumper is moulded to give some aerodynamic assistance, and has two built-in fog lights that give the front an aggressive demeanor. At night, the four bright lights coming at you can be intimidating. A large air intake under the front bumper helps to make it sportier.
The bonnet rakes smoothly upwards towards the windscreen, and the lines then go up and over the roofline to merge at the rear with the curved glass of the tailgate, down to the waistline that extends along the Optra’s sides to the rear. A ‘stepped’ drop at the rear to the flush rear bumpers give the car a ‘continental look, and breaks up what would otherwise be a very boring rear end. It won’t be long before we see some rear ‘spoilers’ being fitted to these cars.
Under the bonnet resides a 4-cylinder, transversely mounted DOHC 16-valve D-Tec fuel injected engine with an output of 90 kW (122 hp) at 5800 rpm, and 165Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. Absolute engine power is not exactly the best in class, but it will allow some measure of spirited driving. A small turbocharger would do wonders. Standard transmission is a ZF 4-speed automatic with a ‘gate’ shift. Gear ratios are spread to give a compromise between fuel economy and reasonable pulling power. 4th gear ratio of 0.717 promises good long-legged fuel economy, and top speed is pegged at 184 kilometres per hour.
Suspension remains the same as the Optra Sedan, with MacPherson struts in the front, a multi-link arrangement at the rear, coil springs all round, and a stabilizer bar both at the front and rear. The 4-door Optra sedan is by itself a good handler, and the Optra5, with a shorter rear overhang, should be more agile. Steering is power assisted, and is speed sensitive to provide lighter steering at low and parking speeds, gradually getting heavier as speed builds up for more stable handling at speed.
Speaking at the launch of the new Optra5, Group Chairman of DRB-Hicom Berhad, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr.) Mohd Saleh Sulong, said the launch of this new Chevrolet model marks yet another auspicious and significant milestone for the company and signals the next exciting phase of the company’s journey with General Motors. At the press conference following the launch, he said that Chevrolet sales topped the 6700 mark in 2004, and this year’s sales target of 9000 units would be achieved, with 150 to 200 units per month expected to be contributed the Optra5. “I have no doubt that the stylish design, excellent driving dynamics, and meticulously designed interior endow the driver with unmatched panache, but the new model is more than just a great looking car. It is also extremely functional, sporty and fun to drive,” he added.
His comments were echoed by Norzahid Mohd Zahudi, Chief Executive Officer of Hicomobil Sdn Bhd- a wholly owned subsidiary of DRB-Hicom Berhad, and the sole distributor of Chevrolet cars in Malaysia, who said, “The Optra5 offers 5-door convenience, high comfort levels, a powerful 1.8 DOHC engine, (and) automatic (transmission) and exclusive features such as speed sensitive steering. It has optimal space with outstanding safety, a quiet ride which is usually associated with continental cars and a generous level of standard equipment.” Stressing that the Optra5 is not merely an extension of the current Optra model variants, he added, “We strive to offer unparalled services and products and continuously work towards exceeding the expectations of our customers.”
We will give you more when we get the car for a test drive and evaluation.
