Chevrolet is eyeing the seven-seater MPV/crossover market with its Orlando.

Based on the recently announced all-new Cruze compact sedan, the Orlando show car carries Chevrolet's signature design language into a new vehicle segment for the company — part SUV, family van and wagon.

The front features the brand's signature twin-port grille and the large, sweeping headlamp housings seen on the Cruze. It also incorporates a concave shoulder line that extends along the body into the wraparound tail lights, another design feature from the Cruze that will distinguish future-generation Chevrolet products.

This distinctive look is complemented by the flared fender lines, defining a 'wheels-out/body-in' stance that visually lowers the higher roof line and gives it the appearance of a sport utility vehicle, although the car-based architecture offers sedan levels of ride, handling and fuel efficiency.

Inside, Orlando features Chevrolet's 'dual cockpit' design theme, with grained, dark grey accents extending outwards either side of the centre stack.

The cabin is designed to meet the demands of families and those who need seating capacity with infotainment options and navigation. Overhead, a storage compartment extends along the centre of the roof, providing stowage space for rear passengers. Design details include a centre stack recess to hold a personal device/MP3 player when it is connected to the USB or Aux ports. Further storage space is provided inside the floor console, the second row centre arm-rest and under the floor in the rear.

The five-door Orlando is clearly intended for families or groups with adaptable, theatre-style seating in three rows that accommodate up to seven occupants, with second and third row legroom of 950mm and 753mm, respectively.

The reverse faces of these seat backs are covered in a metal finish and can be folded completely flat for easy loading. A range of occupant and load-carrying configurations is provided by 60/40 second-row and 50/50 third-row split folding seating.

This space is thanks to the 2760mm wheelbase, 75mm longer than that of the Cruze, and front and rear tracks 40mm and 30mm wider.

Chevrolet's latest-generation, 2.0-litre turbo diesel, developing 110kW and 320Nm of torque, provides the powertrain.

"We focused on giving Orlando a strong, robust appearance," says Designer Seungwoo Kim. "It draws on Chevrolet's tradition for honest, simple design, while at the same time extending our new design language into the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment."