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Sail On Sale

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BUSINESS STANDARD
Last Updated : Jun 09 2001 | 12:00 AM IST

Yesterday, the first China-built 'true modern family car' went on sale. Badged a Buick, the car is called the Sail. Looks familiar?

Yes, it's the Opel Corsa as we know it in our country. Built by Shanghai General Motors, the Sail is competitively priced in the Chinese market, ranging from approximately US $12,000 for the base version to $15,100 for the top end model.

Yes, it costs marginally less than what the Corsa retails for in India. But then, looking at what's on offer, the Sail offers much more value to young Chinese families in the market for a compact sedan.

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Unlike the Corsa, the Sail comes with only one engine option, the 1600 CC four cylinder version. Both the base model SL and the SLX feature a five-speed manual transmission, while the top-of-the-line AT comes equipped with a four-speed automatic, as well as leather seats.

What's more important is that the Sail boasts some standard safety features which is absent in GM India's small car. We're talking about dual front airbags and anti-lock brakes. Also, the Sail comes with a two-year warranty.

The Buick Sail has been through more that 100 engineering and design modifications to meet Chinese regulations and customer needs, while the indigenisation rate exceeds 40 per cent.

It is the third distinct model from Shanghai GM, the other two being a larger Buick sedan and the GL8 Wagon. With a US $1.52 billion investment, Shanghai GM is a 50:50 joint venture between GM and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Group. They have managed to sell over 30,000 vehicles last year in China.

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First Published: Jun 09 2001 | 12:00 AM IST

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