50 New car launches in 2012

The countdown for the biggest auto extravaganza has begun with just nine days remaining for the 11th Auto Expo which will be host to 50 new launches including cars, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, and with special focus on green technologies and environment as well. In this annual special feature we bring you sneak preview of the upcoming year’s hottest car launches.

The Auto expo will have over 1,500 participants from 24 countries. This year Delhi Auto Expo will be held from January 7 to January 11 and is the biggest ever with regard to the number of participants. From the 50 new launches - 32 will be just cars – with 24 domestic launches and 8 global. The rest will be in the commercial vehicles and the ‘others’ category.

Here’s the first list of cars:

Tata Merlin - Tata Safari face-lift: The 140bhp 2.2 DiCOR diesel engine will power the new model but will be substantially worked on to improve refinement. Expect the updated Safari to bear a price tag of around Rs 11 lakh.
Toyota Fortuner face-lift: The trusty 3-litre D-4D diesel will continue but there is a possibility of an automatic transmission being added with a price tag of 22 lakh.

Toyota Innova face-lift: The changes are largely intended to make the Toyota Innova more attractive to private car buyer with some minor tweaks to the exterior and interior looks. You can expect a small upward revision in price around the range of Rs 10-15 lakh.

New Volkswagen Beetle: India should get the 158bhp, 1.4-litre petrol engine and VW could import the Beetle with the 138bhp, 2-litre diesel too. This little beauty is expected to come with a price tag of Rs 25 lakh.
Tata Manza CS: The CS could use the Vista’s 1.2 petrol and 1.3 diesel engines. Like the Indigo CS, pricing should be competitive around the range of Rs 5 lakh.

Skoda Fabia Scout: A rugged, go-anywhere hatchback sounds ideal for India and that’s exactly what the Fabia Scout is. It is expected to come with a price range of 6-7 lakh.

Tata Nano Recalls 1.4 Lakh Cars

This led to a huge dent in the further prospects of the car as over 70,000 cars were recalled to install a fuse in the electric wiring system. This was done to prevent short circuiting that had been traced as the cause of the fires. According to figures compiled by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, Tata Motors has sold 1, 40,428 units of the Tata Nano since the car's launch in 2009 till November this year.

The process has been undertaken to replace the starter motor which would result in a deficit of Rs.115 crore to the company. This move surely rubs in the salt into the already beleaguered reputation of the Tata Nano.

The cars that will get the nod for the recall will include the entire lot of Nanos that were out of the factory since the launch of the mini car in 2009 and sold till November 21 this year. However the recall escapes the Nano 2012 model that was launched during the same period of November 21 earlier this year.

The company clarifies that the move is not at all a recall and is merely changing the old starter motor free of cost with a better one. The company has not received any sort of complaints from the customers for such a recall and it is just a part of improving the performance of the Nano with the inclusion of a better motor. As of now the company has already done the damage control to over 50,000 cars. Last week Japanese auto giant Toyota recalled 41,000 units of the Toyota Etios and Toyota Etios Liva models to replace a hose leading to the fuel tank.

Honda too followed suit with the recall of 57,853 units of its midsized sedan Honda City earlier this year to replace a faulty engine part. Maruti too joined the race with the recall of 13,157 units of its diesel engine cars to replace what was suspected to be a faulty engine part in April this year. The recall ran across its three top selling models - the Swift Dzire, the Maruti Swift and the Maruti Ritz.

Maruti Ertiga Secrets before the 2012 Auto Expo

Maruti Suzuki is all set to reveal its first MPV in the name of Ertiga, at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The Ertiga will be born out of the same Ritz platform which will be the first attempt from Maruti at the MPV segment. The car suits the needs of the family audience with the front resembling the Ritz hatchback.

The Ertiga will seat seven people which are substantiated by the 4.2-metre length and 2740mm wheelbase. The roof has been corrugated to add that extra strength. The company has left no stone unturned to make its new mini-MPV as car-like as possible and in fact the dashboard and steering wheel have been carried over from the Swift.
Lighter materials do their part in giving the interiors a more premium look. The head lamps extend up to the huge wheel arches which are peeled-back reminding you of the new Swift. The style factor also flows to the front bumper which is quite sporty with a large air inlet and enclosures for the fog lights. The tail though seems to have been forgotten which looks typical of most run of the mill SUVs.

The Ertiga in no way will look to take on the Innova in terms of the space but the middle and last row occupants will get roof-mounted AC vents for improved cooling. Unfortunately the Ertiga will be bereft of climate control even on the top-end ZXi and ZDi variants.

In matters of engine, the Maruti Ertiga will have another addition to its popular K-series family - the K14. As the name suggests, the K14 is a 1.4-litre petrol motor that is equipped with variable-valve timing (VVT). It will displace 1372cc and deliver a decent 95bhp. The Ertiga will also be powered by the popular 1.3-litre Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) diesel from the SX4.

When launched at the Expo, we expect the Ertiga to be competitively priced in the Rs 6-9 lakh range. The Ertiga will look to unsettle the likes of Mahindra Bolero, Tata Sumo, Mahindra Mini Xylo and the new Toyota Innova.

Hyundai Eon Gets Up Close To Don2

Hyundai Eon is aimed at those people who are looking to buy a car for the first time. If you remove comparisons to any other vehicle except for the Alto and the Chevrolet Spark, which is available in the same price bracket, the EON is notches higher. It shares the same wheelbase as the Santro but legroom is tight for the four adults that can fit in. The offered Hyundai Eon variants are D- Lite, D- Lite (O), Era, Magna, Magna (O), and Sportz.

The base variant of Hyundai Eon is priced at 2.69 lakh and top variant is priced at 3.71 lakh. The Hyundai Eon is the arch enemy of Maruti’s bestselling car ‘Maruti Alto’ and sits over the Tata Nano. The Eon is the latest recipient of Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design language and comes with a level of styling flair not seen before. The Hyundai Eon makes for a highly practical and value for money car. It sports a modern look, delivers both on ride and handling, and claims a best in class mileage of 21.1 kmpl

The provision for the storage space on the dashboard in front of the co-passenger is very useful. The fuel tank of the car has a capacity of 32 litres. Maximum power generated is 55 hp at 5500 rpm and torque is 74.5 Nm at 4000 rpm. It delivers an amazing mileage of 21.2 kmpl. The overall dimension of the car is 3495 mm length, 1550 mm width and 1500 mm height. The ground clearance of the car is around 170 mm making this a car that will appeal to a broad cross-section of people.

The Eon is meant to behave like a small car with a tall-boy design. The thrilling little two-box, Eon exposes intelligently designed dynamics that resembles with Hyundai Santro Xing and Hyundai i10. The Eon also has a very nice stance, contrary to Hyundai's tall boy designs in the past the Eon looks short and wide. The Alternator Management System in the top-end Hyundai Eon trim reduces fuel-consumption considerably.

Nissan NV200 to come Indian Market in 2012

Nissan NV200 will be looking to start the New Year with a bang against the likes of the new Toyota Innova, Tata Aria, Mahindra Xylo and the Maruti Ertiga. The Nissan NV200 is a light commercial vehicle produced by Nissan. It was first shown as the NV200 Concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The NV200 is very versatile offering superior load capacity for a compact van, flexible passenger configurations and is equipped with the low emission 1.5cCi K9K engine.

Based on the same platform as the Micra, NV200 is, however, a very different prospect to its predecessor. Nissan NV200 is also environmentally friendly. It is 'Best in Class' in terms of its carbon footprint with low CO2 emissions and low fuel consumption, making it as easy on our pocket as it is to drive. The NV200 features intelligent design with the 55 litre fuel tank and seats set far forward allowing for extra carrying space. It also features a load length of 2.040 mm with 1,200 mm between the wheel boxes, along with a load height of 1,358 mm. The weight bearing load is 2000 kg with an additional tow capacity of 1,1000kg.

However, the NV200 will produce more power than the Logan. There will be two variants of the NV200 for the Indian market. The variants will be a passenger edition and the commercial application catering to both the individual consumer and commercial audience. On the road the van proves lively, although on the minus side, the power steering is a tad light for the liking and has a rather notchy gear change. It might be price between Rs.10 to Rs.12 lacs in India.

Though the car is a significantly large vehicle, it still boasts of quite a high mileage. In city traffic, the car is expected to deliver 20km/liter which is going to peak to 23km/liter once the vehicle is on highways.

New Toyota Innova2012 Fully Reviewed

The New Toyota Innova will make its appearance at Auto Expo that is happening on the 7th January of 2012. The major changes come in the form of styling which is instantly noticeable with the slightly wider and more upright grille. It is expected to come at a estimated price tag of Rs 13 lakhs.

The changes are also visible at the new central ridge just above the Toyota logo and also a more prominent ‘V’ in the bonnet’s line. The head lamps have also got some nice angles that extend just above the front fenders adding to the new look. The overall facelift is well complemented by the front bumper that features a bigger air-dam and neatly settled in fog lights.

In terms of the side look, the new Toyota Innova is not much alien from the older one. The rearview mirrors with indicators mounted on it, the slightly different design of the alloy wheels and skirting on the sides are part of the redesign. The tail too has some subtle changes with a new profile taillights and a wider chrome bar above the number plate.

On the inside, the Innova is as usual spacious with the usual beige This time around the interiors have plastic finish. The faux wood trimmings are also darker than before. The seats are encapsulated with a new dual-tone colour altogether making for a richer feel.

The centre console has also not been spared. It now comes finished in faux silver trim. The top notch VX trim model gets a six-inch touch screen for audio, DVD and Bluetooth telephony functions. You also have option of controlling them from the new four-spoke steering wheel. A reverse camera is another useful addition to the VX variant.

The changes clearly increase the value of the car in terms of the style to the already existing reliability and practicality of the Innova. The new Innova has gotten more premium with its feel and this could also reflect in a higher cost as well, which could probably be the only cause of concern. It directly competes with the models like Mahindra XUV500 and Tata Aria in Indian market.

Renault Fluence Diesel Upgraded At No Extra Cost

Renault Fluence diesel range is now being offered as a new, up-market trim called the E4. All diesel-engine versions return CO2 emissions of 119g/km and qualify for the Renault eco² environmental hallmark. Now, there are quite a few exciting new features in the diesel variant that the consumers can look forward to.

From overseeing Renault's pricing strategy, it seems Renault is trying to boost the sale of its diesel variant by keeping a lower price tag of the diesel version. Although, the pricing strategy was sound, consumers fled to rivals because they were offering more features. Rectifying the error, Renault India has launched a ‘loaded’ variant of the Fluence diesel called the E4.

Renault Fluence Diesel is powered by 1.5 Litre dCi CRDI Diesel engine which produces 105 Bhp of power and 240 of torque. Fluence Diesel can accelerate from 0 to 100 KPMH in 14.6 sec and it features a 6 speed manual transmission. Renault Fluence Diesel gives an impressive mileage of 21.84 KMPL.

With all these new features, a price hike is inevitable. Fluence Diesel E4 price has gone up by Rs 1.4 lakhs. The Fluence diesel E4 sales have already commenced and its priced at Rs 15.12 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), which is Rs 1.5 lakh dearer than the base E2 variant which costs Rs 13.63 lakh for the Manual transmission. The Fluence Petrol E4 Automatic costs around Rs 15.12 lakh.

However the Hyundai has wide after sales service and due to mass production, service costs will be low. Renault is still new entrant and they are yet to appoint service centres. The Hyundai Verna top end diesel is loaded with all the goodies and it’s the cheapest diesel automatic car in India. So best of the two is the Hyundai Verna Fluidic. One can also look at other options like the Maruti SX4, Honda City and the Fiat Linea.

Volvo S60 Is Now Full Size Sedan of the Year

Volvo S60 is a fabulous sedan which has recently won the “Full Size Sedan of the Year” award in NDTV Car and Bike awards 2012. Earlier it has won the prestigious Plus X award in 2010. Innovation prize for pedestrian detection with full auto brake, Mid-range sport limo "Best Product 2010" and Safety feature unique in the world. Volvo S60 comes with two engine options, turbocharged and 6 cylinders. The luxury sedan has 304bhp @ 5600rpm and has torque of 440Nm between 2100-4200 rpm. The diesel engine of the car with 5 cylinders will offer 205bhp@4000 and 420Nm of torque between 1500-3250 rpm.

Overall the Volvo family is happy to receive such a prestigious award in Indian market. Speaking on the occasion the Managing director of Volvo India Mr. Tomas Ernberg said “With head-turning design, envious technology, and a fascinating array of innovative safety features – Volvo S60 has redefined choice for the discerning customers in its segment. He also added “We look forward to winning many more hearts with the Volvo S60 and are proud of the recognition bestowed upon us by NDTV.”

The price tag of Volvo S60 starts from 27 lakhs and goes up to 34 lakhs. The basic model of Volvo S60 i.e. S60 D5 Kinetic is priced at 27 lakh and the top end model Volvo S60 T6 Petrol is priced at 34 lakhs whereas the Volvo S60 D5 Summun is priced at 32 lakhs(ex-showroom Delhi). It directly competes with Maruti Suzuki Kizashi and upcoming Volkswagen Golf in Indian market.

Volkswagen Jetta Returns with Gas

The Volkswagen Jetta now features both petrol and diesel engine options. A few months ago, Volkswagen had taken us by surprise when they launched only the diesel variant of the Jetta. As it turns out, the lukewarm response to the sedan got them to rethink their marketing strategy. The Volkswagen Jetta is expected to be launched with a petrol motor at the 2012 Auto Expo and will use the same engine as the Skoda Laura.

The 1.8L engine generates a supreme power of 160 bhp along with supreme torque of 250 Nm. The New VW Jetta 2012 model is Volkswagen’s sister car for the Volkswagen Golf. It is a higher model with very nice interiors and little bit highly priced then its original variant Volkswagen Golf. Volkswagen will bring Jetta in India at a higher price to Honda Civic. In the USA, this car is positioned next to the Civic. Hopefully, the company knows what they are doing this time around. The Jetta was first introduced in the mid-1980s as a slightly upscale version of the Rabbit hatchback and became Volkswagen's bestseller in the U.S.

The Jetta and Laura are brothers, after a fashion, since they have the same parent company, and you will see some parts-sharing in the two cars. So, Volkswagen is starting to pave the way by unveiling a new Jetta. More than just a new car, its position at the heart of the Volkswagen line marks a new beginning. Manual transmissions are standard on all, but automatics will be available, including the double-clutch six-speed DSG gearbox, which the company says is one of the most efficient automatics in the world. The Volkswagen Jetta is unusual for sporting a 5-cylinder engine, but it delivers good fuel economy for a car this size, impressive performance and, when pushed, a throaty growl that is to die for. However, on average it is slightly more sluggish and is slightly less powerful and has significantly less space.

Toyota Fortuner New Variant To Be Launched

The New Fortuner will look to change its fortunes with a range of features that guarantee passenger comfort. The car is bolstered with ABS brakes, interior chrome finish, dual zone A/C (front and rear), folding electric mirrors, parking sensors, remote power door locks, audio steering controls, and Ipod AUX. The safety is further enhanced with two airbags for driver and passenger, as well as many other advanced features.
According to Ifeanyi Oscar of Tripple Consortium, Apapa, I am of the opinion that Toyota has produced a thoroughly luxurious automobile of the highest elegance calibre. The prestigious tail lamps are without a doubt the centerpiece of the modern styling revisions. The translucent lights with red overtones evoke the sporting prowess that encapsulates the Lexus RX 350 and its environmentally friendly twin, the superlative RX 450h. One could only assume that such an automobile would sell very well considering the majesty displayed.
The company says the face lift is a constant endeavour of the company to strike the right chord between comfortable drive and dynamic handling while facing the difficulties of coming up with a car that is also comfortable and safe – something which Toyota has achieved with remarkable success with its newly launched Fortuner.
The Fortuner range is surely in for a plastic surgery but they will not go in for a complete over haul. The car is already a block buster in the foreign markets like Nigeria. The renewed model range will roughly come at a price N7.4million, which is surprisingly cheaper than the previous model.

In terms of the looks, the new Toyota Fortuner up holds the fresh three-tier chrome grille layout as well as a revised bumper bar design including new spotlights. The Toyota Fortuner is also tweaked with a newly designed rear end, wheels and nicely polished interior with higher quality materials. The likeable factor is further enhanced by the new instrument cluster and up rated equipment options. The grille has also not been spared and has been tweaked with touches of chrome and the new clear headlight clusters are slightly more prominent. The bonnet line has been sharpened and given a tad more bulge spotting new, centrally mounted air intakes. The bumper has been squared off and is kitted with a new fog light design. The New Fortuner will compete with likes of Chevrolet Tavera and Mahindra XUV500.

New Honda City For The Cities

Honda City will come in a new avatar on 14th of December. In fact the new model had already shown itself at the recent show at Thailand. The company had plans to launch the new Honda after the New Year celebrations but now they want to make it a part of the celebrations by launching it on the 14th of this month. The Honda City facelift gets new front grille, front bumper, rear bumper and new tail lamps. The interiors of the car are likely to remain the same.Honda had lately reduced the prices of the City but the company did fall short on production due to floods in Thailand. The Honda City since its launch in India in 1998 has been the best-seller in its segment and continues to do so.

The New Honda City is equipped with a well refined 1.5L, 1497cc, 4 cylinder i-VTEC petrol engine with the 5-speed manual transmission gearbox and produces a power of 118 PS at 6600rpm. On the other hand it delivers a torque of 146 Nm at the rate of 4800 rpm. The i-VTEC engine provides superior efficiency to the car. The engine noise can hardly be heard when the motor runs which once again shows the class of Honda engines.

The price tag of the New Honda City starts from Rs. 7, 99,000 and ends up with Rs. 10, 53,520 in domestic market. The New Honda City is available in 6 models with the basic model, the Honda New City 1.5 E MT is priced at Rs. 7,99,000 whereas the top end model is priced at Rs. 10,53,520.

The maintenance cost of the New Honda City is inexpensive. You may need to pay out some extra bucks for the odd general services, Oil change, etc. The Company guarantees you the quality of the car. You need not be bothered about the spare parts of the New Honda City because the Company supplies spare parts all around the country. You need to spend less than 10 thousand per year for general services. The Honda New City competes with the likes of the Volkswagen Vento, Hyundai Verna and the Nissan Sunny.

Tata Merlin Is the New Born Safari

Tata Merlin will be reborn this New Year leaving behind its Safari avatar. It will be one of most the eagerly awaited launches in the SUV segment since 1998 from the house of Tata Motors. The Merlin is born out of the same X2 platform of the Tata Aria but has improvised in terms of the looks and interiors. The Merlin still holds the same power factor of 140bhp run by a 2.2-litre Dicor engine which is a lot healthier with more refinement.

Tata Merlin will crash in on the early part of the New Year giving auto fans an extended New Year hangover. The new projector headlights, a squarish grille that looks more imposing than before, and a pronounced chin with a lip under the bonnet are the major front-end revisions. The rear gets two chrome-tipped exhausts and an oversized chrome bar over the number plate. As seen from the spy pictures, the new Safari gets up-market looking interiors with an all-new dash and fascia. There's plenty of plastic 'wood' all over the dash.

The dials are minimalist with white numbers on a black background and the circular air-con dials look attractive too. However the tall gear-lever looks like it is carried over. The typically Tata four-spoke steering wheel however doesn’t get steering-mounted audio controls.

The biggest change, however, will be adopting the new X2 platform from the Aria. Shortened to the Safari’s 2650mm wheelbase, it will massively improve the SUV’s ride and handling characteristics. It also gets twin exhausts like the ones on the Aria. Power will come from the same 140bhp, 2.2-litre DiCOR motor, but it will be more refined. Expect a price-tag of Rs 11 lakh. Tata Merlin will be eagerly awaited by its arch rivals like the Mahindra XUV500, Hyundai Santa Fe and the market leader Toyota Innova.

Fiat Linea Celebrates Early Christmas

Fiat Linea has started early with the Christmas celebrations which is just a few days away with a bumper discounts up to 1.75 lakhs. The Fiat Grande Punto also follows suit with a massive cut of 1.4 lakhs on its price. The move is looked upon to make way for the new 2012 Linea and the Grande Punto which is all set to debut on the 3rd January, 2012. So, to clear off the stock, Fiat is offering benefits of up to 1.75 lakh on the Linea and 1.4lakh on the Fiat Grande Punto.

The Fiat Linea is great performance car and our test drives prove that despite it having done over 50,000km till date, the engine feels strong and at the same time continues to be fuel efficient. Bad roads aren’t really a problem for the Linea and in fact it seems like this car has one of the most sorted suspension setups for India.The offers are only for the petrol versions and not for the diesel versions. The offer also includes an exchange bonus as a part of the 1.75L and 1.4L amount as suggested.

That said, the car went through some really bad shakes and the suspension seems like it needs a little bit of tightening in terms of its mounting bolts. On the ghat sections it delighted with its handling while the 1.3 litre diesel engine made inclines seem flat enough. The luggage space has been a boon as well and so has the legroom throughout the car. The integrated Bluetooth feature is rather impressive and in today’s day and age seems like it should become a standard option in every car sold.To sum it up in a nutshell, the Fiat Linea is a spacious family car that rewards you with its space and fuel efficiency, while maintaining decent levels of performance as well.

The Fiat Linea has great looks, good space and is comfortable. The fuel efficiency is average and has an average maintenance cost after a couple of years. However, the service backup provided by Fiat is bad. If you are thinking of buying one, now is the right time. Meanwhile we will have to wait and see if the rivals like Honda City, Nissan Sunny and the Volkswagen Vento will look to crash the party.

Tata Aria at Throwaway Prices

Tata Aria is going all out with a whopping discount of up to 2 lakhs rupees. The move is looked upon as a desperate measure to catch its rivals like the highly successful Mahindra XUV500 and the upcoming Maruti Ertiga as well. The best thing about the discount offer is that the deal is a cool Rs 1.6 lakhs cash discount with no strings attached to it. The remaining balance amount of 40 thousand can also be vouched if you have an old model that can be exchanged. In short this means that the new entry level Tata Aria 4x2 drive vehicle now comes with a price tag of Rs 9.9 lakhs compared to the price of Rs 11.61. The company hopes to lessen its woes as the Tata Aria 4x2 launch did not create the much needed impact in the markets.

The Tata Aria has never really managed to take off right from its inception. The bulky body structure is a big turn off for many consumers which looks massive and is quite imposing as compared to its other rivals in the segment. Initially launched as four-wheel drive car, the two-wheel drive variant has been offered as an afterthought. In spite of a spirited performance the sales of Tata Aria hit rock bottom with dismal sales figures of 140 units last month.

The consumers nevertheless feel that the 4x2 variant should have been priced economically to offer a good competition. Hopefully, the discounts will turn around the Tata Aria sales what the 4x2 variant couldn’t. Moreover, an automatic version of the SUV is also next on the cards. Tata Motors has seen a lot of ups and downs and finally seem to reach some stability where sales are concerned. The 2012 Tata Nano sales have picked up with 6,509 units in November. A diesel version of Tata Nano is also expected during next year.

Maruti Alto Is Now Less Thirsty

Maruti Alto Eco with an impressive mileage of 32 kmpl will soon makes it way to India. The Japanese auto maker Suzuki will look to put yet another feather in its cap with the launch of it’s highly fuel efficient version of the Maruti Alto. The Alto has already debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new Suzuki Alto Eco is speculated to deliver a considerably high mileage of 32 km per liter.

This is looked upon as an opportunistic move from the company considering the ever mounting petrol prices in India. The move is also encouraging considering the fact that the Indian buyer is one of most mileage conscious when purchasing a car. This move should also keep the enemies at bay like the Hyundai Eon.The big surprise is the fact that the Suzuki Alto is the same car which is known as Maruti A-Star in India and called as Suzuki Celerio in Middle East. The car will be equipped with a 660 cc petrol engine under the hood. The car delivers a peak power of 52 BHP at 6000 RPM along with a peak torque of 63 Nm at 4000 RPM.

The Alto Eco model is available in both the manual and automatic transmission versions in the Japanese market. The car easily holds up to four occupants and is available in both the two-wheel and four wheel drive variants. The car comes in two variants of S and L tags. The car carries a price tag of 12,800 dollars which roughly translates to 655 737.705 Indian rupees and 14,800 dollars which is around 758 196.721 Indian rupees respectively. Apart from the engine, the outer looks of the car are also completely refreshing from the current line of Maruti Alto in the market. The Alto will look to unsettle the likes of other entry level cars like the Honda Brio and the Ford Figo.

Mitsubishi Mirage Rises from the Ashes

Mitsubishi Mirage is back again like the phoenix rising from ashes. The Mitsubishi Colt has been rebadged as the Mirage and made its appearance at the Tokyo Auto Show. The car showcased its official production avatar that will be launched in 2012. On the worldwide market the car will go on the floor at Thailand in March 2012 and other developing markets like India will follow soon. The Mirage will be looking to ruffle a few feathers with the likes of Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Ford Figo.

The Mitsubishi Mirage will come equipped with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and could also make it to the roads with the addition of a 1.2-litre three-cylinder variant. The car will also come with a start/stop engine management system and is coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which distributes the power to the front two wheels. The company says that the car has a road run of 30km for per litre of fuel for the Japanese-spec model. If the figures are not a mirage then the Mirage could well go on to become the most efficient non-electric car in Japan. The Mitsubishi Mirage specifications measures 1490mm in height, 3710mm long and 1665mm wide. In lay man language it means that car is a little smaller than the Nissan Micra and slightly bigger than the Honda Brio.

If the car does make it to India, then this would be the first time Mitsubishi would be setting its foot in the highly intense and fiercely fought small car hatchback segment. The car in spite of its boring and rank plain looks both in terms of the interiors and exteriors could well be the winner in the small car segment in India if the company manages to price the car rightly. As of now if you are still wondering what is the actual name of the car? Then the latest we have is that the Colt will be renamed back to Mirage in 2012.

Tata Nano Gets Company

Tata Nano will very soon have to share its market with the upcoming Maruti Suzuki ‘K’ cars which will for the first time make its appearance at the Auto Expo starting next year. The cars that will hog the limelight will be a 660cc and another ‘K’ car with a 1.2 litre engine.

Speaking about the 660 cc ‘K’ series Suzuki cars, chairman R C Bhargava said, “These are not like the Nano. They are more sophisticated cars, with an aluminum engine...and they don’t come cheap either.” The only reason they are cheaper in Japan is because of the cost savings. Maruti strongly denies that the car is a threat to the Nano as these cars are not cheap in terms of its making. However if the cars do manage to make it to the Indian shores then the entry level segment could well be in for a game changer.

Official sources from the company also confirmed that the ‘K’ cars are more fuel-efficient than the Alto and offer better performance. Mayank Pareek, managing officer (sales & marketing), said, “We will showcase these at the Expo, where at least a million people will get to see them. We want to gauge customers’ response to the car and also find out their price expectations.”

‘K’ cars are not manufactured outside Japan as of now and Pareek said there was no decision yet on whether they will be imported or built locally. The company will also showcase its first SUV. The Maruti Ertiga will be looking forward to set its foot in the Indian SUV car market that was left untouched by the company. The Maruti Suzuki ‘K’ cars will give a run for the money to the likes of Hyundai Eon and its own Maruti Alto as well.

Renault Duster to come with a gang

Renault Duster is confirmed to make its appearance in India in not just one avatar but a total of five avatars. The company will bring the Duster in five models in both the fuel variants. The petrol variant will come with 1.6 litre engine priced around Rs 7 lakh while the diesel variant will come in 1.5 litre diesel variant which is the same that runs under the hood of the Renault Fluence.

The diesel engine will come in two power options. The base model will be an 85 bhp engine while the higher end robust engine will power up to 100 bhp. The powerful 110bhp engine will be the ‘Step 4’ version of the K9K engine.

The Duster shares its platform with the Logan and the insides are inspired from its European quarter that matches the luxury interiors of a saloon. Renault understands the need for ‘looks’ in the present day market and not just letting out a factory output. The car will in fact be a crossover SUV of sorts and is looking to set a completely new definition of SUVs. For instance unlike most of its other competitors the power window switches for the rear passengers will be moved from the front dash to the more conventional location on the door pads.

The car will also not qualify for the excise cuts unlike the Ford EcoSport as it stretches more than four metres. The car is being positioned as an entry level model and therefore you can still expect the Renault Duster price to be within your reach in the range of Rs 7-11 lakh. The car will make its debut at the Auto Expo next month followed by a launch by mid-2012. The Renault Duster is looking to tread a path of its own with some unique specifications and therefore it has no direct rivals to match it. However to beat the likes of Honda CRV, Toyota Fortuner, Tata Safari and others who have already become the toast of the audience will take some doing.

Chevrolet Sail makes it to India

Chevrolet Sail is speculated to be the successor of the Chevrolet Aveo. The Chevrolet Sail goes highly aggressive with the sharp front. If not for the logo of the company on the front grille the car would have been as bare as a desert. The newly awaited Sail is not much of an alien in terms of looks compared to the outgoing model. However one cannot expect the same treatment for the interiors which is expected to be quite different from the current version.

The car is speculated to come with a 1.2 L petrol engine or it can also come with a higher 1.4 L engine capacity. The car is also expected to come in the diesel variant as well going by the current fuel prices for gasoline. However the diesel engine will not be the robust diesel powertrain type.

The car is expected to hook the 1.3 L Fiat diesel engine for the Sail. All the details including the price of the car and the specification all have been kept under tight wraps for a big surprise. The car will look to be a little different in terms of its approach to the market and will not follow the herd by going for the volumes. Instead the car will look to attract or satisfy a particular set of target audience. This is clearly evident from the bold and flat front of the car which wants to make a statement that it’s different from the rest of the folks.

The Chevrolet Aveo could not match up to the market expectations and had Luke warm responses. The company has wasted no time and energy worrying about the past and has come up with an ideal reply to its previous folly. The company very well realizes the intense heat in the up the car market and is playing the game to its strength.

The company is looking to firmly establish an image for itself in the market. It is in fact working towards the long term goal of boosting the sales and increases their market share. The car will compete with the likes of the upcoming Maruti Swift Dzire and Tata Manza. The Chevrolet Sail is specifically being developed for the domestic car market and if rumors are to be believed the car is already available in the China in both the sedan and hatchback versions.

Hyundai I10 Needs No Petrol

Hyundai i10 has taken stock of the rising fuel prices and has wasted no time in coming up with an LPG variant to the already popular and best selling hatchback from Hyundai India. The non petrol variant of the Hyundai i10 BlueDrive will come with a 1.1 Liter IRDE2 engine. The car will lack the same muscle power and also be smaller in size compared to the 1.2 Liter Kappa VTVT engine. All this drawbacks do trickle down to a more fuel efficient car compared to its predecessors. Seizing the opportunity the Hyundai i10 BlueDrive will look to capitalize on the high fuel efficiency quotient.

The LPG car comes is available in two variants of Era and Magna. The Era comes at a cost of 4.16 Lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi while the Magna is priced at INR 4.3 Lakhs. The car has a fuel tank capacity of 34 liters which comes with a factory fitted LPG tank. The car is already open to bookings and you can expect the deliveries to happen within the next few weeks. This is also looked upon as Hyundai’s answer to its competitors who have diesel variants as well.

The bad news on the other hand is that the new Hyundai i10 BlueDrive LPG variant comes at a price that is expensive by Rs. 27,000. However in the long run it is a reasonable amount of money to pay for the cheaper LPG fuel option. As a fuel option, the Hyundai i10 BlueDrive still retains the petrol tank as a standard. You can easily switch from one mode to another with the dashboard mounted switch.

The boot space has managed to keep its space with a toroidal fuel tank design thereby occupying the least space for the LPG tank. The other notable feature worth a mention is the alternator management system (AMS) which essentially regulates charging of the battery during acceleration and deceleration.
Do not expect the alternator system to boost power supplies though one must commend Hyundai for packing such an advanced for entry level hatchback car. Looks like times are changing and Hyundai has already begun the change.The Hyundai i10 BlueDrive is expected to compete with the likes of Chevrolet Beat and the Maruti WagonR who also have a LPG variant.

New Skoda Yeti Unveiled In India

Skoda Yeti finally showed its colours in India although we might have to wait a bit longer for the official launch. The Czech auto maker unveiled its 4X2 off-roader. The previous launch of the Skoda Yeti did not do much to ring in the cash registers due its high pricing as compared to its opponents in the same segment. Initially the car did manage to start off on a high with a decent sale of around 200 vehicles per month but over the long run and in the current period the car barely manages 50 units per month.

The newly launched version of the Skoda Yeti is quite cheaper compared to the earlier 4X4 car and is sure looking to make amends for the previous loss in the sales numbers. The current 4X2 car is a front wheel drive which is run by a less robust engine.The 2.0L TDI power-train garners up to 110 bhp at 4200 rpm of maximum power along with a maximum torque of 250Nm at 1500 to 2500 rpm. The engine is equipped with a five speed manual gear box. The new variant is also lighter in weight in comparison to the previously heavier Skoda Yeti. The car is quite off beat and bold and is offered in a single variant only that is named as Active compared to the earlier cars which were also offered in Elegance and Ambition variants as well.

We have to wait some more time for the official launch. There has been no announcement by the company and the exact price is also being kept under the wraps by Skoda’s dealerships. The car will still be expected to be cheaper by INR 2-2.5 Lakhs in the new 4X2 variant. The car has not changed much in terms of the outer looks and matches the former 4X4 variant in most aspects. The changes though are expected to make their way in the interiors of Skoda Yeti 4X2.

In India Skoda sells the high end sedan variants like the Skoda Laura and Skoda Superb. Recently the company launched its entry level sedan the Skoda Rapid and the Skoda Fabia hatchback.

Renault Duster Is Open To Sharing

Renault Duster has fallen prey to the re-badging concept. Nissan has entered a partnership with Renault like most of the car makers who make a partnership with another company to build a car which the company does not hold by itself. This means that Nissan will come up with a car built on the same platform like the Renault Duster.

This move is looked upon as highly cost efficient process and also leads to larger options for the consumers to look for. All the company has to do is enter a tie up and have some meetings over the dinner and then you have a car that you wanted.This is in fact a first time in the re-badging era where by an upcoming car is sharing its platform with another upcoming car. Nissan and Renault are already sharing the platform of Nissan Micra and Renault Pulse. This time around though Nissan will be returning the favour by sharing the platform of the upcoming Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Renault Duster. This is will be a Nissan badged five-seater SUV. Renault Duster is a compact SUV and will be hitting the Indian shores in the early 2012.

Renault is a Paris-France based automaker while Nissan comes from Yokohama-Japan and both these allies have been in the sharing business from the year 1999.Others that have also followed suit to the rebadging of vehicles among the current crop of companies are the Volkswagen Vento and the Skoda Rapid. In the hatchback segment Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia followed by the current Nissan Micra and Renault Pulse.

The sharing of platform and rebadging works for companies only if they are willing to deliver some value to each other in terms of sales and after sales services. There have also been instances of some ugly fights like the Renault and Mahindra partnership which turned to be quite a soar experience for the both the companies.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR Votes for Diesel

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R could very be available in diesel version as well. The current trend is looked upon as result of the booming fuel prices and the poor automobile sales in the recent past. The company would like to retain its sales figures by comforting the audience with the launch of a diesel variant for its car models.

In this direction the first car likely to get the nod for the diesel variant is the WagonR hatchback which would be powered by a diesel power-train. The move augurs well for the company because currently over ninety percent of the car sales are gobbled up by the hatchback segment and going by the diminishing sales of these giant killers, it looks like a step in the right direction.Even other competitors are following suit with the likes of the Chevrolet which recently unveiled the diesel version of the Chevrolet Beat and the future trend could very well be going the diesel way.

The car is speculated to be powered by diesel engine with a 1.3 Litre and four cylinder engine which will have the maximum power of 58PS and deliver a maximum torque of 150Nm. The expected mileage of the vehicle is expected to be around 25 km.

If all goes well with the diesel version of the Wagon R the company could very well dole out the diesel versions of its other models as well. The future market surely looks well for the diesel cousins. The company already offers the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Maruti Dzire and the Maruti Suzuki SX4 in the diesel version.

The diesel variant will however come with some strings attached to it in the form of a price hike of up to Rs 80,000 or higher. Currently, the Maruti Wagon R price stands around Rs 4.20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for top-end petrol variant. Meanwhile if you are feeling the pinch of the fuel prices you can have some solace by going in for the Maruti Suzuki WagonR DUO which is a LPG variant of the hatchback and comes at modes price of 3.35 lakh onwards.

Skoda Rapid Launched

Skoda Rapid comes as a no exception and is the latest to join the bandwagon of cars sharing the same platform. This is the norm with most auto makers who have many other cars under them. Some even go to the extent of selling the same cars with a different name. The Volkswagen family is one of the biggest in the auto segment and has many big whigs like the VW itself, Skoda, and Audi. Even in the past most of the models from Volkswagen have borne out of the same platform but they had managed to keep a unique identity for themselves.

The first looks will surely fool you into thinking that the car is nothing more than a Vento. The front end of the car gets the Fabia touch. The bonnet is the usual run of the mill with sporty looking lines and ridges for the Skoda Rapid. The grille is given a nice side profile with the big badam shaped head lights. From the front, the Rapid is like the Fabia cousin, but if you manage to look a bit steeply you will find that the extended hood rises and flows into the compact cabin making for a well dressed boot.
The back end of the car is a straightforward Vento with some tweaks to the tail lights. The space between the number plate and the tail lamps shows the presence of a ridge hitting the roof line. The Skoda also shows off its quality with the crystal cut at the boot. The Skoda Rapid has neatly integrated all the tweaks into the existing Vento style and the car surely looks to have that charm with its soft and subtle features.

On the exteriors the Rapid is more of a Skoda and it is at the insides of the car does one feel betrayed. The interiors of the Rapid are a direct rip off the Vento in terms of the same old principles of simplicity, novelty, usefulness and extremely ergonomic.
The drive wheels are a Skoda trademark with superior quality but minus the mounted controls. The trim and the shades for the dashboard have gone the effeminate way from the usual masculine black and vivacious beige of the Vento. All in all, the Rapid seems to capitalize on what the previous VW models have already proven without much fuss. The Skoda Rapid will compete with the likes of Honda City, Hyundai Verna and its own Volkswagen Vento.

Tata Nano gets a Makeover

Tata Nano has realized its drawbacks and has come up with a series of changes since its inception in March 2009. The car has taken serious note of its past mistakes and has under gone some quality renovations and the face-lifted model has a host of cosmetic changes including new seats and fabric, new front seat headrests, a beige-coloured dashboard to brighten up the interiors, passenger-side outside rear-view mirror, new wheel-cap design and floor mats and will also be available in attractive new colours.

With regard to the mechanics, the car has undergone some serious improvements. The drive wheel is the first one to get the changes and the castor-angle has been improved to reduce the steering effort which was one of the biggest complaints in the current car. The beta version also gets the tweaked suspension setup and an anti-roll bar to set right all the previous flaws in its ride and handling. The chassis has also been made stiffer by making changes to the structure with better bonding of the body panels. This will invariably ensures that the car is also improved in terms of the refinement levels.

The power factor for the new renewed Tata has also been boosted by nearly 10 percent, from 35bhp to 38bhp. This might however not reflect in the performance gain as the step-up in power has been offset by taller gearing in a bid to achieve the magical 25kpl figure which was until now a forte of the other Tata cars like the eV2 and eCS.

The engines come in a two-cylinder engine and a more powerful three-cylinder 900cc motor. These might not suit the modern standards and are a far cry from its present rivals. The new car will also come in shades of pearl-white and striking colours such as orange and green along with the current sunshine yellow. The best part is the car is not expected to come with any price revisions, which is expected to be launched later this month. The Tata Nano will look to regain some lost ground with the likes of Hyundai Eon and the Maruti Alto.

Nissan Leaf And Renault Fluence Is The Future Electric Car

Renault Fluence, Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt have already made their mark on the western markets. Now with the rising fuel prices and inflation, the Indian auto market might also go the electric way. The petrol price has shot up by over 53% in the last couple of years and the diesel prices have also been increasing by 25% not wanting to be left behind. In fact even the future trend indicates that there seems to be just no stopping. Now that India is facing the heat, the induction for electric cars in the market has become a necessity, especially due to the fuel prices that seems to be pinching even the richest of pockets.

Currently the electric version of the Renault Fluence ZE is available at a price of 13 lakhs including the subsidy provided by the government which amounts close to 1 lakh rupees. The electric versions of Nissan Leaf and Hyundai i30 also come at a price range that is somewhat similar to the Renault Fluence ZE.The government has also put the icing on the cake with the removal of import duties. This means the actual cost of the Fluence ZE or Nissan Leaf would be available with a price tag of around Rs. 17 lakhs. This means that for every kilometer you travel in the car it will cost around Rs. 0.5 per km, almost cheaper than the local calls you make from your mobile phone.

Majority of the electric cars are powered by lithium ion batteries, which gives a road run of 180 km on a full charge. This will surely augur well for the city drives. The cars will also be a huge plus with absolute silence and being offered only on automatic transmission. The drive becomes hassle-free and the linear power distribution is more than satisfactory.

One of the main hindrances in purchasing an electric car is the monthly charge that one has to pay for the battery. The cost ranges between Rs. 4500 and Rs. 6500 depending on the usage of the car. The battery may be replaced by the company at the end of 3 years and can even be swapped for another set for no additional cost.

Mitsubishi Colt Ready To Jolt

Mitsubishi Colt sketches were already released at the start of year but the car will finally see the light of the day at the Tokyo Motor Show next month. Mitsubishi will look to fill yet another gap in its business with the launch of a hatchback named the Colt. The car is speculated to be launched in the name of Mitsubishi Mirage in India.

The car will be produced in Japan and is expected to be available in Australia in the mid 2012. The car like most of its contemporaries will come with dual toned beige interiors and in a combo of black as well. The interiors of the car reveal that this dual tone style will surely go down well with the likes of the Indian audience.

The car will be good in terms of the fuel mileage due to the engine start-stop mechanism and the Alternator technology. The engine will also be sleeker which will be yet another feather in the cap to improve the fuel efficiency. On the other hand the Alternator technology will help distribute the load equally and once again invariably result in better mileage. The company is planning to come up with an electric version of the car if all goes down well with the current version.

Mitsubishi has a car for every other segment in the desi market except the entry level hatchback which is currently selling like hotcakes in India. The Mitsubishi colt specifications currently in the market comes in a 1.5 litre, four cylinder engine which generates a maximum power of up to 70 bhp and 210 Nm of torque. For India we could have a smaller engine and probably come at a lesser cost as well. The Colt boasts some of the high tech Japanese features like style, central locking, rain sensing wiper and remote fuel filler cap. The Car is priced at 400,000 baht as per the Thailand currency which roughly translates into 638 496.55 Indian rupees in the Indian market. The Mitsubishi Colt is expected to compete with the likes of the upcoming Renault Pulse, Volkswagen Up and Chevrolet Spark in Indian market.

Tata Sumo in a Gold Avatar

Tata Sumo is now more stylish and trendy with its new gold look. The new Tata Sumo has been revamped to the suit the needs of the youth and people looking for a posh vehicle. The car is still the same old powerful SUV and tames even the toughest of terrains with ease.

On the Occasion of the launch, Mr. R. Ramakrishnan, Vice President, Commercial - PCBU, Tata Motors said, "The Tata Sumo Gold is a result of extensive consumer studies and field tests. The product has been designed to fulfill various requirements, long-awaited by the new generation customer."
The Tata Sumo Gold still has the robust engine at its core and packs quiet a punch. The Tata Sumo completely surrenders to the rider’s command and let itself loose with two powerhouses. The car claims to be the best in pick up, raw power and a mind boggling torque.

The CR4 Turbo - BS4 clearly is a state of the art technology and infuses a new era of off road experience with the powerful engines. The car comes with power horse of 2956cc which delivers an output of 85Ps at 3000rpm and a torque of 250Nm at 1000 to 2000rpm. The car is also excellent with a mileage of 14.7 kmpl.

The other Di Turbo BS3 is a Di Turbo engine made up of 2956cc engine which is a complete maniac and throws out 70PS @ 3000rpm and a torque of 225Nm at 1600 to 2000rpm. The size of the engine itself leaves the rest of the competitors behind. This engine delivers an impressive mileage of 14.3kmpl. It directly competes with Mahindra Bolero and Mahindra Scorpio in Indian market.

The Tata Sumo Gold is a car to be reckoned with its daring stance, sexy graphics and a neat pose to carry the attitude. The front grille, wide rear, spare tyres below the body, large 15'/ 16' wheels with wide 215 mm / 185 mm radial tires and a high ground clearance of 190 mm completes the renewed avatar of the Sumo Gold.

Ford Figo Now in a New Avatar

Ford Figo reminds us that why Ford still is a force to be reckoned with in India. In fact the Ford Figo is the only the car from the house of Ford Motors that generates about seventy percent of the entire cars sold in the country. Recent reports suggest that Ford Motors will now make the Figo even more saleable with the addition of some more features. The renewed Ford Figo will come in both the fuel variants.

The Ford Figo will start off with changes to the interiors for the ZXi and Titanium variants. The renewed hatchback car will also be bolstered with a tilt able steering wheel, a USB port for double DIN stereo and with shiny alloy wheels for the high end Titanium top variants.

The option of tilt able steering wheel for the ZXi version now means that the car will no longer have the adjustable seats. The next generation Ford Figo with all these cozy features will come at an additional price of approximately INR 20,000 above the current price of the high end Titanium edition model inclusive for both the petrol and diesel variants.

The Ford Figo has the distinction of being the front runner in the company’s fortune due its perfect sync with Indian driving conditions. The car is damn good and stable on Indian conditions easily making it one of the most successful small cars from the house of Ford in India. Apart from the ride quality the Figo also offers an equally fuel efficient mileage in its segment and in its price range making the car a truly value for money purchase. The gasoline engines are of 1.2L capacity and the diesel cousin with run power-train comes with a 1.4L TDCI engine.

Ford Endeavour in the SUV segment and Ford Fiesta in the sedan class are the other fellow brethrens of the Ford Figo that are retailed by the company in India.

Volkswagen Polo Is Just a Contest Away

Volkswagen Polo is now just contest away from your hands. The Indian subsidy of the car maker has started a contest to attract the customers in an innovative way. The people who take part in the competition will secure a chance to get a brand new Volkswagen Polo model.

Everyone seems to have to learnt their lessons on how to promote their car after the hugely successful promotion of the Mahindra XUV500 from the Indian SUV giant, Mahindra & Mahindra, who created a huge fan following and craze for the car among the Indian buyers with a unique online contest – Guess the Price. The statistics in fact say that the online contest from Mahindra achieved mega success with over 1.15 lakh visitors participating in the contest. The overall figures stood at over 6.5 lakh visitors at its website.

To take get your hands on the Volkswagen Polo you need to register for the Volkswagen’s Text Drive contest at the “textdrive” website. You will have to login to the Text Drive account. Once you have done with the initial formalities you will be asked to choose a Volkswagen India portfolio model, which in turn will let you win fuel points. The fuel figures will then help you in earning kilometers.

The chance of you getting close to your Volkswagen merchandize will depend on the kilometers you gain during the contest. The person who wins the highest kilometers will get the chance to be the owner of a brand new Volkswagen Polo model. In order to get the required kilometers, the participants will have to participate in various tasks including sharing of posts on their Face book and Twitter accounts, and giving out answers to quiz questions. The Volkswagen Polo will compete with the likes of Ford Figo, Nissan Micra and Honda Jazz etc.

Maruti Suzuki Alto Rules This Diwali

Maruti Alto, once again won the car of the month with a staggering sales of 15,197 unit sales. The festival season in India is usually one of the best times for car makers and the dealers who look to capitalize on the good times. It is during this time that most Indian consumers make their purchasing decisions as they consider it quite auspicious and off course most of them would have got their festival bonus as well. Like every year car makers were hoping to get a boost in sales for the month of October. However the story turned out to be rather luke warm due to rising fuel prices and interest rates in the country. Still most car manufacturers posted an increase in sales; it was hardly what they were expecting.

Alto led the way followed by Hyundai i10 which sold around 11,557 units. Tata Motors Indica/Vista with sales of 10,812 units settled for the third position. Clearly the top three car makers know the moods and the sentiment of the Indian auto buyers. The Indian auto segment has a huge appetite for the small cars. Mahindra Bolero stole the first place among the SUVs and had to settle for the fourth place in the overall car rankings with the sales figures of 8,082 units. The Maruti WagonR, Maruti Swift, and Hyundai i20 with sales figures of 7,934 units, 7,845 units, and 6,834 units respectively got the remaining three rankings.

Festive season usually brings in a lot of new entrants as well and some of them did manage to break in the sales charts. At the eighth position the new Hyundai Eon with figures of 6,315 units also made it to the charts with the likes of some experienced campaigners. The Hyundai Eon has really taken on India with its exciting new design, features, price and a good marketing strategy. The car was launched on the 13th October and has already picked up quite some fan following. The 9th and 10th position were driven by the Tata Indigo/Manza and the Ford Figo with sales of 6,268 units and 5,689 units respectively.

Nissan X Trail Re Launched

Nissan X Trail is all set clear its poor trail of sales in the past which failed miserably due to its hefty price. The car had a huge price tag mainly because it was directly delivered from Japan through the CBU route. However the company seems to have learnt its lessons from the past and this time around, Nissan has a strong strategy in mind. Nissan has released a special edition of the Nissan X-Trail along with ten new features in the country at the price of Rs. 22.78 lakh.

The company this time is pretty confident of making a successful mark as it believes the right mix of marketing and the recent success of Mahindra XUV500 shows that there is enough demand for the SUV market in India. As a part of the marketing strategy the Nissan X-Trail will be the official vehicle for an adventure reality show on the National Geographic channel. The show will be called as “X-treme Trail”. In the show the participants will have to trail across tough terrains like the sandy and hot deserts of the Thar to the cold and cracky hills of the Himalayas including a host of other tricky and tough terrains. The competition will have eight people who will have to successfully complete the off road drives. The Nissan X-Trail vehicle will be looking to showcase its mettle through all these terrains.

The car in fact is also doled with numerous additional features including the rear scuff plate, rear spoiler, X-Treme Trail decal, and X-Treme Trail door visor set, kicking plate with LED, cargo drawer, floor mats, side moulding and rear bumper protector. Apart from this the basic build and quality of the vehicle has been retained. The off roader is run by a 2 litre of M9R common rail turbo diesel motor that delivers a maximum power of 150 BHP along with 320 Nm of torque. The transmission comes in 2 gearbox options. There is a manual six speed gearbox and the other one being the automatic six speed gearbox. Let’s just hope this time around Nissan X-Trail has got it right and can make a successful trail on the Indian roads.

The TV show will be of 6 part series starting on November 5 and will be telecasted simultaneously on National Geographic Channel, Fox Traveller, Star World and Channel V. The show X-treme Trail will start off on Saturday, 5th November at 8 pm. The car is priced at INR 2,278,928 LE-Grade (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The SUV will dash against the likes of Honda CRV, Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Innova, Mahindra Scorpio, and Tata Safari.

Fiat Bravo Not For The Meek Hearted

Fiat Bravo is the upcoming premium hatchback from the house of Fiat India. The premium car will look to prove its mettle in the small car segment of India. The car will positioned in the ‘B’ segment and will run the race against the likes of Hyundai i10, Maruti Alto K10, Chevroelt Beat.The Fiat Bravo will be launched in both the fuel variants. The petrol version will be equipped with a 1910 cc, 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The gasoline engine would generate a maximum power of 150 bhp at 4000 rpm and a peak torque of 305 Nm at 2000 rpm. The diesel cousin is expected to deliver the same results as well.

The safety features of the car is governed by power windows, central remote locking and the comfort department is taken care by the climate controlled AC, remote fuel filler, rear wiper, rear defogger, folding rear seats etc making it a car for all the circumstances.The Fiat Bravo offers a smooth riding experience, giving full credit to the efficient and effective suspension that is specifically tailor made to suit the desi terrain. The car has already proved its mettle with a host of accolades at the global level namely, Car of the Year award in 1996, 5-star EuroNCAP rating and Most Beautiful Small/Medium car in the World for 2007.

Speaking about all occasions, the car is also a complete entertainment package with accessories like AM/FM/CD audio system, 6 speakers, 6 upgraded speakers and Rockford Fosgate 8 subwoofer. In addition, MP3/WMA CD playback capability, auxiliary audio input jack, interface system for iPod, USB connection port for iPod interface and other compatible devices, speed-sensitive volume control with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls making sure that you will not leave the car that easily.'The upcoming Fiat Bravo will come in three colourful shades of Maranello red, fascinating black and Maserati blue for the Indian market. The car reportedly delivers a road run of 18 km for every litre of fuel and is speculated to be priced around the range of Rs. 17 lacs to Rs. 22 lacs.