Chevrolet Celta

Chevrolet Celta
Manufacturer	Chevrolet
Parent company	General Motors
Also called	Suzuki Fun
Production	2000—present
Body style(s)	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	GM4200 platform
Wheelbase	2445 mm (96.3 in)
Length	3750 mm (147.6 in) (hatchback) 4125 mm (162.4 in) (sedan)
Width	1610 mm (63.4 in)
Height	1430 mm (56.3 in)
Related	Chevrolet Corsa B Chevy C2 Chevrolet Prisma

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 (actually a rebranded Fiat Uno).

Evolution

It was released in 2000 in Brazil as a 3-door hatchback with a 60 hp (45 kW) 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 (52 kW) at 6400 rpm, the same VHC (Very High Compression) technology used in the Latin American Corsa C. A 80 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 underwent a facelift, which provided for a more modern look and an enhancement of build quality. The new front makes it closer to new Chevrolet models, specially the new Brazilian Vectra.

A sedan version, named Chevrolet Prisma was released in early 2007. It wasn't meant to replace Classic (a low cost sedan version of the Corsa B) neither the Corsa Sedan (C), but to fill a market gap between them instead. The only available engine option is a 1.4 L Econo.Flex gasoline/ethanol flexible fuel engine. Its high compression rate gives as a result a maximum output of 97 hp (72 kW) when running on ethanol and 89 hp (66 kW) when running on gasoline .

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, and the maximum torque is 8.6 kgfm (88 Nm) at 3000 rpm. Today, the Celta is sold with two engine options (1.0 FlexPower and 1.4 mpfi). Somewhere by 2002 the GM changed the 1.0 mpfi (60cv) engine to a 1.0 VHC (70cv), and in 2005 the VHC FlexPower (70cv with Petrol or alcohol becoming the most powerful 1.0 liter engine in the world). The total weight is approximately 850 kg (2000 lb).