"We are looking at launching variants of the Opel Corsa and are considering a family launch here," president-and-managing director Richard C Swando said.

Swando said GMI, a 50:50 joint venture of the Birlas and General Motors, was contemplating introducing Corsas with different power plants and hatchback options, all in the same platform.

"Key decisions on the final models will be taken at a board meeting this month," Swando said.

Swando said the diesel version of the Astra was undergoing final tests at the manufacturing site in Halol, Gujarat and will definitely hit the roads within a few months.

"A few batches of pilot production of the diesel car have already been completed and the car will be powered by a 1.7-litre light turbo engine," Swando said.

The company had only last month introduced the automatic version to the Astra as well as its cheapereditions called the Metro models.

The Opel Astra is also being introduced in limited edition world cup soccer models. Vice president (marketing) Aditya Vij said Opel brand has established itself as a premium brand in the country and even the Corsa would remain that way.

"We had a positive response to our product and our analysis shows it has been established as a premium brand and even the Corsa would be a premium product," he said.

GMI has carried out customer studies and the "initial response has been excellent," he said.

Vij said the company would soon facilitate a few people to import the Corsa as well as the premium car Opel Vectra in a bid to obtain consumer response to the product in the country.

GMI was keen to bring a product between the premium segment Opel Astra and the super-luxury Mercedes Benz, and the Opel Vectra fits into that category.

"Over the years we will have a product mix but now we have to prioritise them. Our top priority still remains the small car," Swando said.

Onwhat investments need to be brought in for manufacturing the small car, Swando said the plant has been designed to take additional capacity. "New investments will not be of a high order," he said.

He said a lot would depend on the new budget as the auto industry expects it to revive the automobile industry.

"A good budget would signal a return to economic boom," Swando said.