Also called Suzuki Fun | ||
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Manufacturer Chevrolet (General Motors) Production 2000–2015 (Celta)
2006–2012 (Prisma) Assembly Gravataí, Brazil (GM Brazil) Body style 3-door hatchback (Celta)
5-door hatchback (Celta)
4-door sedan (Prisma) Layout Transverse Front-engine, front-wheel-drive | ||
The Chevrolet Celta, also known as Suzuki Fun in Argentina, was a low cost supermini car produced by Chevrolet for the Latin American market since 2000 until 2015. A sedan version is marketed as the Chevrolet Prisma. 600,000 Celtas have been built in Gravataí, more than one hundred thousand per year.
Contents
Evolution
It was released in 2000 in Brazil as a three-door hatchback with a 60 PS (44 kW) 1.0 L (61 cu in) gasoline engine, based on the Corsa B and with design features similar to those of the Vectra. In 2002 a five-door version was made available, and the engine power was increased to 70 metric horsepower (51 kW) at 6,400 rpm, the same VHC (Very High Compression) technology used in the Latin American Corsa C. A 85 PS (63 kW) 1.4 L (0.31 imp gal; 0.37 US gal) 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 PS when running on ethanol and 95 hp when running on gasoline.
In early 2009 was released Prisma 1.0 liter and the new engine VHC-E (77 hp or 57 kW gasoline and 78 hp or 58 kW ethanol) for Prisma and Celta. In early 2012; 1.5 million Celtas have been built in Gravataí.
Safety
The Chevrolet Celta has been rated as highly unsafe by Latin NCAP, scoring only one star for adult occupants and two stars for children.
Technical details
The 1.0 L gasoline engine has a high power to displacement ratio (51 kW/L, 70 PS/L or 1.1 hp/cu in). However, this power is only available at 6400 rpm, and the maximum torque is 8.6 kgf·m (88 N·m) at 3000 rpm. Today, the Celta is sold only with the 1.0 FlexPower (the 1.4 MPFI stopping production in 2007). In 2002 GM changed the 1.0 MPFI (60 PS or 44 kW) engine to a 1.0 VHC (70 PS or 51 kW), in 2005 to VHC FlexPower (70 PS with Petrol or alcohol), and in 2009 to VHCE FlexPower (77 PS with Petrol and 78 PS with alcohol). The total weight is approximately 850 kg (1,872 lb). In Uruguay, Celta 1.4 MPFI are available since 2009 as the 'new' Celta with the new front lights and all facelift add-ons. This model continues on sell in 2012 and manufacturing dates of the units are from 2011 (1.4 MPFI engines didn't stop production in 2007).
Though it was made only as a left-hand drive, the Celta was also available in Jamaica where right-hand drive cars are prevalent.
Replacement
In 2012, General Motors announced the new Chevrolet Onix to succeed part of versions of Celta.