Shortly before the new Chevrolet Captiva reaches European showrooms in the autumn, it will celebrate its French premiere at the Paris Motor Show. With its compact dimensions (length/width/height: 4,635/1,850/1,720 mm), strong, sporty design and comprehensive range of equipment even in the entry-level version, the new crossover model is perfectly tailored to European customers. Buyers have a choice between front-wheel and four-wheel drive, five and seven seats and a total of three engines, ranging from 136 to 230 hp.

The crossover model combines the ruggedness of an SUV with the stylishness of a mid-class sedan. The lean side profile is dominated by the bold wheel cutouts, the large wheels (up to 18 inches) and a powerful shoulder line. It has a number of sophisticated features such as jewelled, three-dimensional headlamps, the turn signals integrated into its exterior mirrors, air intake ports in the front fenders and the grab-type door handles.

Typical SUV elements like the bold wheel arches and protective exterior mouldings and the skid plates in the front and rear round off the eye-catching appearance. This interplay of "rugged/sporty" with "stylish/elegant" continues in the interior. The friendly decor displays a modern ambience, good ergonomic characteristics and plenty of comfort features.

The new Captiva brings a diesel engine to Chevrolet Europe''''s model range for the first time. The modern four-cylinder unit generates 150 hp from a capacity of 1,991 cm³. In the combined MVEG consumption, the diesel engine requires just 7.4 litres diesel/100 km. A maintenance-free diesel particulate filter is standard. The entry-level gasoline engine is a 2.4-litre straight four with two overhead camshafts. It generates 136 hp and has a maximum torque of 220 Nm. The top-of-the-range unit is a 3.2-litre V6 with 230 hp and maximum torque of 297 Nm.

The Captiva''''s optional four-wheel-drive system brings the rear wheels into play in a flash when optimum traction is required. The vehicle''''s full power is transferred to the road even in tight curves, during hill starts or on slippery ground. The torque distribution between the front and rear wheels can be varied continuously up to a ratio of 50:50.

The chassis has a McPherson suspension in the front and a four-wheel link axle in the rear. All four wheels are equipped with internally ventilated disc brakes and a modern ABS system. An ESP system is included as a standard feature to ensure that the Captiva always goes where the driver wants it to go.

Depending on the country and equipment, the modern system features a number of additional functions such as HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), DCS (Descent Control System) and ARP (Active Rollover Protection).

Like active safety, passive safety was also a key development goal with the Captiva. With the new Chevrolet SUV, there are three-point belts on all seats as well as belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the front seats. Within a few milliseconds, up to six airbags inflate in the event of an accident, depending on the direction of the collision: The driver and passenger airbags, curtain-shaped roof airbags for the driver, front-seat passenger and outer rear passengers, and thorax side airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger.

The Captiva''''s generous interior dimensions make it the logical choice for travelling. The shoulder room in the first and second rows of seats is 1,455 mm, projecting this newcomer to the SUV discipline to among the best in class. It is also very much at the top in terms of leg room, with 1,035 mm in the front and 940 mm in the rear.

Even in the basic LS model, the range of standard equipment is very generous. Standard features include power windows, central locking with remote control, speed-dependent intermittent windscreen wipers, a rear window that opens separately, a roof rack and a high-grade audio unit with six speakers, RDS radio and a CD player with MP3 function.

The luxury equipment package, the LT, is available in combination with four-wheel drive. It includes a leather steering wheel, 17 or even 18-inch light alloy wheels, a length-adjustable steering column, an armrest on the console and the centre tunnel, a drawer under the passenger seat, eight speakers, fog lamps, an automatically dipping interior mirror and a net on the floor of the luggage compartment.