Chevrolet Celta

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Chevrolet Celta <tr><th>Also called:<td>Chevrolet Prisma Suzuki Fun</tr>
Manufacturer:	Chevrolet<tr><th>Parent company:<td>General Motors Corporation</tr><tr><th>Production:<td>2000—present</tr><tr><th>Body style:<td>3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan</tr><tr><th>Layout:<td>FF layout</tr><tr><th>Platform:<td>GM4200 platform</tr><tr><th>Wheelbase:<td>2445 mm</tr><tr><th>Length:<td>3750 mm (hatchback) 4125 mm (sedan)</tr><tr><th>Width:<td>1610 mm</tr><tr><th>Height:<td>1430 mm</tr><tr><th>Related:<td>Chevrolet Corsa B Chevy C2</tr><tr><th>Similar:<td>Fiat Uno Fiat Palio Ford Ka Volkswagen Gol</tr>

The Chevrolet Celta (Suzuki Fun in Argentina) is a low cost supermini produced by Chevrolet in Brazil for the Latin American market since 2000. 600,000 Celtas have been built in Gravataí, more than one hundred thousand per year. It is the second cheapest car sold in Brazil, losing only to the Fiat Mille.

[edit] Evolution

It was released in 2000 in Brazil as a 3-door hatchback with a 60 hp 1.0 L gasoline engine, based on the Corsa B and with design features similar to those of the Vectra. In 2002 a 5-door version was made available, and the engine power was increased to 70 hp at 6400 rpm, the same VHC (Very High Compression) technology used in the Latin American Corsa C. A80 hp 1.4 L gasoline engine was added in 2003.

An "Off-Road" accessories kit was for sale for both old and new Celtas in 2005, and the 1.0 L was converted into a gasoline-ethanol flexible fuel engine (gasoline versions are still available, especially outside Brazil).

In 2006 the Celta undergoes a facelift, which makes the car look more modern and increases building quality. The new front makes it closer to new Chevrolet models, specially the new Brazilian Vectra.

A sedan version will be released in 2007 with the name Chevrolet Prisma. [1] It will not replace the Classic (a low cost sedan version of the Corsa B) neither the Corsa Sedan (C), but it will fill the gap between them. [2] The only available engine will be a new 1.4 L Econo.Flex gasoline/ethanol flexible fuel engine. Its high compression rate gives as a result a maximum output of 97 hp when running on ethanol and 89 hp when running on gasoline [3].

[edit] Car details

The 1.0 L gasoline engine has a high power to displacement ratio (70 hp/l). However, this power is only available at 6400 rpm, not very useful in city traffic. The maximum torque is 8.6 kgfm (88 Nm) at 3000 rpm. Some people tell about detonation problems which can be related to the high compression ratio (12.7:1).

The total weight is approximatedely 850 kg (2000 lb).