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.