The production version of the all-new Chevrolet Orlando MPV was unwrapped today ahead of its official debut at the at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris on September 30. The Detroit firm's first ever entrant in the European minivan segment, which will compete with vehicles such as the Opel Zafira and Mazda5, will enter production in October with European sales to start in early 2011. In a report earlier this year, a GM official said the company has no plans to sell the 7-seater car in the States, though it will be available in Canada.
We first saw the Orlando in concept form at the 2008 Paris show. While it keeps most of the prototype's details like the styling of the roof-line and the muscular wheelarches, GM's designers softened the car's lines, and well, let's just say the end result is far less impressive.
There are no images of the interior but the company said it features the latest design cues from Chevrolet such as "such as the Corvette inspired dual cockpit and ambient blue backlighting to the centre console".
According to GM, the new Orlando will be able to seat seven passengers in three rows of seats and offer a variety of seating configurations as well as a range of storage compartments including an area hidden behind the front fascia of the
The front-wheel drive Orlando is based on the GM's Delta platform, also used on the Chevrolet Cruze and the Opel Astra family. Powertrain options in Europe will include a 1.8-liter petrol unit delivering 141-horsepower and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel available in two flavors, with 131HP or 163HP.
"We're confident the Orlando not only brings great value for money to the MPV class but also something fresh - function with attitude if you like - and the opportunity for us to continue building our volume across Europe," said Wayne Brannon, president and managing director for Chevrolet Europe. "I believe it will also bring more new customers to the Chevrolet brand."
