Chevrolet Europe has released the first official images of its Chevrolet Orlando MPV (read: family van). Even though the upcoming seven-seater will not be available in the United States and will instead be sold in Canada, Europe, and Asia, the GM Authority crew still believes this is an important vehicle for The General and the bow tie brand.
As you can see, the overall shape of the Orlando production vehicle remains similar to that of the Orlando concept, albeit without the attractive (yet ominous) blue illumination found on the concept car.
Platform
The Orlando, which will use GM’s global Delta II platform shared with such vehicles as the Chevrolet Cruze, Opel Astra, and Buick Excelle, has a wheelbase that spans 2,760 mm (108.7 inches) and is capable of accommodating three rows of seating.
Powertrain
Chevrolet will offer three engine choices in the Orlando: the Cruze-sourced 1.8 liter ECOTEC gasoline mill making 141 horsepower and two diesel engines. The two diesel powerplants will both have a displacement of 2.0 liters and will make 131 (low output) and 163 (high output) horsepower.
While this hasn’t been officially confirmed, expect all three engines to be mated to either automatic or manual six speed transmissions. It’s been rumored that the Orlando will be offered in either front- or all-wheel drive configurations, although AWD has not yet been confirmed. 16, 17, or 18 inch wheels will fill out the Orlando’s rather large wheel arches.
Interior, Features, Trim Levels
The interior layout and switchgear are expected to be very similar to that of the Cruze, with a waterfall center stack and a gauge cluster that’s subdivided into four distinct sections.
The Orlando will be offered in three trim levels and will feature electronic stability control, six air bags, air conditioning, and power mirrors as standard equipment.
Production
Chevrolet is gearing up to unveil the Orlando in production form to the public for the first time at the Paris Motors Show in late September. The vehicle will be Chevy’s first-ever MPV to be sold in Europe. It enters full production in October and will go on sale across Europe in early 2011.
The GM Authority Take
Nice to meet ya, Mr. Orlando. After months of restless speculation, we finally get to see what you will really look like…. and this particular auto journo likes what he sees. The Orlando looks great inside and out and I expect it to take the markets in which it will be sold by storm: Kia Rondo, Mazda 5, and Ford C-Max better watch their backs!
Speaking of backs… it seems that the backside of the Orlando is the weakest (most boring?) angle for this car – from a design and aesthetics perspective.
Would you agree? Is this how you expected the Orlando to look? Talk to me in he comments.
Comments
“The two diesel powerplants will both have a displacement of 2.0 liters and will make 131 (low output) and 163 (high output) horsepower.”.
very difficult to have news about this engines, for the moment i,n Europê GM sell the 2.0 engine in 125hp and 150 hp and it is a VMMOTORI engine made in Korea and it s EURO 4 emission standard .
From 1 january 2011 in Europe all diesel engine must be EURO 5 emission standard , so is why Gm change the 2.0 diesel . My question is, the new 2.0 Diesel engine (163hp and 131 hp) will be a VM MOTORI engine modified for the EURO 5 or will be a totally new engine?
Adriano – at this point, we know as much as you do about these engines.
They probably are VMMOTORI and – if it were my guess – they are updated to comply with EURO 5 standards. I can’t seem GM not being in compliance with such requirements.
I feel lucky i can actually see these things driving around i’ve looked at one at a dealership and thought it was pretty cool, though i wouldnt buy it i’m not the targeted consumer