Chevrolet has issued this sneak preview of its forthcoming family hatch – disguised as a World Touring Car.
Disregard the pram handle wing, snowplough undertray and steroidal wheelarch extensions, and you have the car to replace the current Lacetti in around 2008. The production model should use GM’s next-generation Delta platform, which will also underpin the next Astra and a proposed Saab hot hatch. The WTCC concept will be unveiled at the Paris motor show in late September. It runs Chevrolet’s 2.0-litre common-rail turbodiesel, but uprated from 148bhp to 187bhp. Sources hint that this high power version may arrive in time. First up, however, is the 118bhp version in the current Lacetti, to fill the enormous diesel-sized hole in the petrol-only range. Expect the diesel Lacetti to filter through in March 2007, priced from just over £10,000.