GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., introduced Wednesday its new seven-seat, multi-purpose vehicle, the Chevrolet Orlando, in South Korea.
"We are carving out a new segment in the market with the Orlando," said Mike Arcamone, president and CEO of GM Daewoo, defining the vehicle as South Korea's first Active Life Vehicle (ALV).
"The Orlando offers the ideal combination of comfort of a sedan and the versatility and space of a multi-purpose vehicle," he said at a ceremony, marking the launch of the new vehicle in Seoul.
"The Orlando not only brings great value for money to modern families on the move, but also brings something fresh to the domestic market, a certain function with attitude, as we put it."
The Chevrolet Orlando comes with a 16-valve, 2.0-liter DOHC diesel engine that generates maximum horsepower of 163 and maximum torque of 36.7 kilogram-meters, enabling it to meet most driving needs of urban families from city cruises to outdoor activities.
"The low-end torque of our engine is better than that of our competitors to give driving pleasures in city conditions and great pleasures in heavy traffic conditions," said Ankush Arora, vice president of GM Daewoo for vehicle sales, aftersales and marketing.
The vehicle has an average fuel efficiency of 17.4 kilometers per liter for manual transmission and 14.0 km/l for automatic transmission.
The three rows of seats in the Orlando are leveled in what the GM Daewoo president called a "theater-like style" to allow maximum front and side views of all occupants.
"One of the most important characteristics of this vehicle is how the seats are arranged. The rear seats do not slide, but the backrest of the second and third row seats can be completely folded to make a flat bed," said Kim Tae-wan, GM Daewoo vice president for design.
For added stability and protection, the Chevrolet Orlando is built with 71 percent of its body constructed of high-strength steel.
"There is something else our ALV offers, exceptional safety. The Orlando's platform and expansive active safety features make it one of the safest vehicles," Arcamone said.
Still, the vehicle's most attractive characteristic comes from its "outstanding value," he added.
The vehicle comes in three different trims with a price range of 19 million won to 24 million won ($17,200 to $21,700).
"The new Orlando ALV will draw people to the Chevrolet brand," Arcamone said.
Arcamone said the vehicle produced in South Korea will be sold in 100 different countries throughout the world.
"Gunsan or any of our plants have flexibility in terms of production capability. As we begin exporting, we will monitor positive reactions not only from the domestic market but also export markets," he said.
GM Daewoo, currently in the process of changing its name to GM Korea Co., is set to launch eight new vehicles this year, starting with the Orlando and a compact sedan, the Chevrolet Aveo, next month.
The company is also replacing all its existing products with the Chevrolet brand. (Yonhap)