IT will be D-Day' for Chevrolet at this year's Bologna Motor Show, which opened yesterday and runs until December 17, as the company takes the wraps off its first ever diesel engined car for the UK.

Set to go on sale in the first half of 2007 and distinguished by a new, chrome finished radiator grille, the new Lacetti TCDi comes with an all-new two litre common-rail turbo diesel engine, developing 121PS at 3,800rpm and 280Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

The new engine features the latest Bosch-developed common-rail injection system, which injects fuel directly into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 1,600 bar, while a lightweight alloy cylinder head and a balancer shaft help aid refinement and responsiveness.

Delivering impressive performance and fuel economy, the lively TCDi engine allows the car to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 9.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 117mph, returning a combined fuel economy figure of 58.8mpg in the Lacetti five-door hatchback and 52.3mpg in the Lacetti Station Wagon.

The Euro IV compliant unit also offers impressively low carbon dioxide emissions, with a CO2 figure of just 149g/km for the five-door hatch and 158g/km for the Wagon. This means the newcomer will appeal as much to fleets as it will to cost-conscious private buyers.

Prices and trim levels will be announced nearer to the new models' on sale date in 2007.

But one thing's for sure - the diesel variants will add even more appeal to the great value Lacetti line-up.

The success of the Lacetti has already seen more than 160,000 being sold across Europe since its introduction in 2003.