Chevrolet LACETTI SPORT
fonte:yahoo
Chevrolets Lacetti Sport Offers A Good Looking and Practical Alternative To The Usual Crowd Of Sporty Hatches. Andy Enright Reports
Right from the outset, Chevrolet are at pains to stress that this Lacetti Sport most certainly isnt a hot hatch, so dont bother comparing it to cars like Peugeots 206 GTi or Renaultsports Clio 182. It doesnt really campaign in the less powerful warm hatch class either, populated mainly by younger unattached drivers unable to afford the insurance on powerful sporting hatchbacks. This Lacetti is a five-door for a start, with room for the whole family, and has the looks if not the power to carve its own, more practical niche in the shopping rocket market.
So while we wave goodbye at this point to those who would really rather red mist it in a Citroen C2 VTS or a Proton Satria GTi, lets look at what this particular Chevrolet actually offers. Well, it looks good, which always helps. The Sport has a purposeful stance with
lowered suspension and the
16-inch alloy wheels fill the wheelarches nicely. The front grille has a mesh intake and theres also a
rear spoiler that further differentiates this model.
T
he cabin is a good deal more upmarket than you may be expecting at this price point with two tone leather/Alcantara upholstery fitted as standard. Theres also
leather trim for the steering wheel and gearknob plus
metal door sill finishers and floor mats with the Sport logo. Chevrolet claim the Lacetti Sport will appeal to both young singles and families. Its certainly not shy of standard equipment.
Many cars several thousand pounds dearer dont feature half the kit the Lacetti packs for around
£12,500. As well as
anti lock brakes and front and side airbags theres air conditioning, a Blaupunkt CD stereo, audio controls on the steering wheel, heated door mirrors, remote central locking and electric windows all round. Hide the Chevrolet badge on the front and most would reckon this to be the thick end of £16,000 worth of car. The interior styling is crisp and modern, the dash finished in silver set off by a drilled sports pedal set.
"Hide the Chevrolet badge on the front and most would reckon this to be the thick end of £16,000 worth of car"There are
no real engine mods in evidence but the Sport features the marques most powerful petrol engine,
a 121bhp 1.8-litre unit. This offers performance that is crisp rather than searing,
the car breaking 60mph from a standing start in 9.2 seconds and registering a top speed of 120mph. The engine thrives on revs, with max
imum power registering when the rev counter is nudging 6,000rpm but its not overly harsh on the ear. Drive the car a little more sensibly and youll easily match Chevrolets combined
fuel economy figure of 37.6mpg. The ride and handling have been optimised for European driving conditions, Chevrolet
doing most of their chassis tuning at MIRA near Nuneaton. Twin front and side airbags, four-channel anti lock braking and five three-point seat belts are offered as standard on every model, the front belts featuring load limiters. Like any Chevrolet, the Lacetti comes with a comprehensive after-sales package that comprises a 3
year/60,000 mile warranty and
free servicing arrangement and a three year AA Total Recovery package is also part of the deal.. Whats more, all of these benefits are transferable to the subsequent owner which should help plump up short term resale values.
Styled by Italdesign, the Lacetti certainly doesnt smack of something bargain basement. Chevrolet have forged quite a relationship with this design house, having been extremely happy with the styling work performed on the Matiz citycar and the Kalos supermini. This models shape is certainly well resolved; a purposeful wedge with strong shoulders and a very pert rump. The wheel at each corner look not only gives a dynamic stance but also maximises internal space.
Break out the tape measure and youll find that the
Lacettis wheelbase is a full 2600mm long, longer than cars like the Alfa 156 and the Audi A3.
Given that most cars in the Mondeo class campaign with a wheelbase of around 2670mm, youll appreciate that this Chevrolet offers a
surprising amount of room for a compact car.
With 932mm of rear legroom and 275 litres of boot volume, youll not feel claustrophobic in the back of a Lacetti. Fold the rear bench down, keep a keen eye open for animal welfare types and youll be able to swing a generously sized cat in the 1,045 litres of fresh air at your disposal.
Theres also the intriguing option of an estate model should you need extra carrying capacity. The
rear light clusters are an interesting design feature, bisected as they are by the shutline of the hatchback, and the stub tail and roofline of the car look very much like a Vauxhall Astra -which may be something less than a coincidence. The
almond-shaped clear glass headlamps and well-defined wheel arches are signature post millennial design features and the Lacetti looks the part in five-door or Sport Wagon estate guise. A three-door Lacetti Sport would have been a real cracker.
Although
the Sport is without doubt the most enjoyable car in the Lacetti line up, its not clear if there will really be enough sporty-minded but sensibly-orientated family motorists queing up to buy it. It certainly offers very good value for money and is attractively styled. Moreover, give it a chance and youll find a very accomplished car with a whole host of standard features. Whether this is enough remains to be seen.
FACTS AT A GLANCECAR: Chevrolet Lacetti 1.8 Sport
PRICE: £12,495 on the road
CO2 EMISSIONS: 183g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.2s / Max Speed 120mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 37.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Heightmm 1925/1452/1180mm
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Bella bella ma non capisco perche non abbiano messo il 172cv turbo elaborato dalla DELTA MOTOR....Mahhh