CHEVROLET TEASES BRAZIL-BOUND PRISMA SEDAN

Chevrolet's Brazilian arm has released two dark teaser images that preview the upcoming Prisma sedan ahead of its debut next March.  

Closely related to the Onix hatchback that was introduced last October, the Prisma will slot in towards the bottom of the Chevrolet lineup and compete against well-established sedans like the Volkswagen Voyage and the Toyota Etios.

Precisely what the car will look is not currently known but Chevrolet claims that it will blend economy sedan and sports car styling cues.

"It's what we call a sports sedan," affirmed Carlos Barba, the design director for General Motors of South America.

Like the Onix, the Prisma will be offered with a 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is rated at 80 horsepower and a 1.4-liter four-banger that makes 106 ponies.  Both engines will send power to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, but the bigger unit will be available with an optoinal six-speed automatic transmission.  As is the norm in Brazil, both engines will be able to burn either ethanol or gasoline.

The Prisma is scheduled to be fully unveiled on February 26th, 2013.  After landing in showrooms across Brazil, it will be sold in a variety of neighboring countries but it will not make its way to Europe or to the United States.