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Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts

Looking for the Next Generation Ford Ecosport? You have to wait for a while

New pictures of the facelifted Ford Ecosport on the test run have been seen on the net suggesting that the Next Generation Ecosport will be on hold for some time now.

The facelifted Ecosport which is undergoing test runs with camouflage features cosmetic changes in the front with a big bold grill and fog lamp housing upgrades. However there is no change in the shape of the headlamps and in the rear you cannot say the vehicle is an upgraded one. The inverted L shaped fog lamp housing with turn indicator looks modern but the changes will not glamour the aging design of the car.


Keeping the cost in mind there might not be any change in the mechanicals but you can expect more features in the facelifted one. Of course the upgraded model will come with a higher price tag.

What made Ford think about another facelift?

Ford cars in India have gone through facelifts, be it Ikon, Fiesta, Endeavour or Figo. But all these vehicles have similarities which is they have undergone facelift once in their life cycle. This makes us think what made Ford to bring a second facelifted Ecosport into the Indian market?

Ford Ecosport along with the Figo has been the product of fortune in India. Though the design seems to be aged, Ecosport is still fun to drive and well built mini SUV in India. No wonder it still sells in good numbers. The breakup with Mahindra would have left Ford with no option to continue its existing product line up as bringing a new product would take sufficient time and we know Ford always brings the fully developed product unlike half baked products from other manufacturers. This is the legacy of a company which has a century in history.

Ford knows it cannot afford to lose the highly competitive mini SUV segment and is keenly developing a world class product for India. The next generation Ecosport might come sometime next year and till then enjoy the butch looking facelifted one.

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Skoda to launch its mini SUV Kushaq in India on June 28th

 Skoda Auto India will launch its maiden mini SUV christened Kushaq on the 28th of June 2021. The price announcement of the SUV will also be done on the same day.

Skoda Kushaq will be offered in two petrol engines, both being turbo. The 1.0 L TSI petrol produces 115 BHP of power whereas the bigger 1.5 L TSI petrol produces 150 BHP of power. Both these engines will be offered with manual as well as automatic transmission.


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Next generation Safari launch soon, basically it is Gravitas/Buzzard

    Tata Motors has decided to launch the next generation Safari SUV in the form of 7 seater version of Harrier. The 7 seater version of Harrier was showcased at Geneva Motors Show in 2019 as Buzzard but when showed at Auto Expo 2020 the name was changed to Gravitas. Now it’s official that the 7 seater Harrier based SUV: Buzzard/Gravitas will the next generation Tata Safari.

 



    Tata Safari was Tata’s first indigenously developed SUV launched way back in 1998. The SUV was launched alongside the iconic Indica car and two went on to create milestones for the company. Though both the vehicles: Safari and Indica has initial niggles, the company worked on the shortcomings which made them go long way. Perhaps the two models were in the market for over 15 years which is indeed an achievement in the evolving Indian Automotive Market.

Next generation Tata Safari spied in Orange Colour



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2020 Hyundai Verna facelift images out




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Honda to launch refreshed WR-V


Honda India is all geared up to launch a facelifted WR-V very soon. Booking of the new car has already been started and you can book one for Rs. 21000 at any of the nearest Honda dealer. However the price of the vehicle has not been anounched, which will be done by the end of March.

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Next gen VW Polo teased, to be unveiled on 16th June 2017

Couple of images of the much awaited next generation Volkswagen Polo 2017 has been teased before its launch on 16th of June 2017. The images show the new designed headlamps and taillamps which sync with the company’s design philosophy of kink at the edges.


Being in the market for eight long years, the VW baby was badly in due for a change. Built on VW’s new MQB platform, the new Polo is bigger and bolder than the current model. This gives the car to offer improved cabin space, especially at the rear passenger compartment.

The new polo is expected to feature 1.0L petrol and diesel engines with improved performance and fuel efficiency.

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Peugeot starts testing its cars in India

Before we begin we like to remind that this is not the first time Peugeot has started testing in cars in India. As all car manufacturers do, Peugeot also tested its cars in India with the intention of launching its products for the first time in India. This time being the third, Peugeot is serious about its business in India and guess what Peugeot plans to launch its latest products in our country.

Couple of cars was seen testing, the new generation 208 hatch being one of them. Being a B segment hatch the 308 offers style and substance which the French maker is always know for. Remember the 309 notch which was launched in India way back in late 90s. Peugeot produces world class engines which will be a strong point for Peugeot’s Indian business story.





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Mahindra KUV 100 facelift to have cleaner design

The quirky mini SUV from Mahindra, the KUV will get a facelift soon and now with a cleaner design. It is not clear what clean design means but we believe plastic cladding on the bumper will give way for body coloured full bumper. But just with these changes the KUV might not look fresh as the side profile of the car remains the same, and to mention it is from the side the car/SUV looks like a cartoon character.

Though KUV could not make an impact in the market as its elder brother XUV, it has managed to attract its niche customers, thanks to its comfortable seating, both in the front and the rear. The new 1.2L diesel from Mahindra is very refined than many of the global competitors. Hope to see a good looking car from Mahindra soon.
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The Most Popular and Prominent Auto Shows in Las Vegas

High-profile casinos and classic cars have become somewhat synonymous with each other. On one hand, you have timeless establishments that highlight the glitz and glamor of modern pastimes. On the other, you have engineering marvels fit for the rich and famous. Las Vegas owns a distinctive appeal that lures an array of people, personalities, and interests through its gates. This is just one of the many reasons why the city is popularly described as “The Entertainment Capital of the World.”



Whether its land-based establishments or its online counterparts, casinos – just like automobiles – will always be associated with Sin City. These days, the Internet has become a viable option for gaming aficionados that want to get a quick fix. Companies, in the same mold as UK-based casino platform Pocketfruity, even offer a 100 percent first deposit bonus upon joining, which is why they have impacted the industry so successfully of late. However, Las Vegas staples such as Caesars Palace and the Orleans Arena have seen how integrating cars and casinos, to come up with popular events that welcome enthusiasts from across America and all over the world, have proved to be money-spinners in their own right.

With that, here are two of the most popular, prominent auto shows in Las Vegas:

The Exotic Car Show


Caesars Palace has been dubbed the “Home of Champions” because of sporting events such as The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Annual Induction Dinner and Ceremony. But for genuine automobile lovers, the establishment is known as the site of The Exotic Car Show. The occasion showcases the power and the style of luxury car brands including Lamborghini, Bentley, and Ferrari. Wide-eyed fans gather inside a two-story, 26,000-square-foot showroom looking on in awe at the best of the best, while the affluent actually go in there to buy them.

The Viva Las Vegas Car Show


The Viva Las Vegas Car Show isn’t proclaimed “the best car show of its type anywhere” for nothing, as it features immortal masterpieces from the golden age of automobiles. This three-day affair in April takes in more than 20,000 aficionados from around the country at a massive fenced parking lot adjacent to The Orleans Arena. Over 800 registered cars from the pre-1963 era are presented throughout the program, including nostalgic Hot Rods, old-school racecars, and even period-correct motorcycles. Furthermore, the Viva Las Vegas Car Show has music performances from rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll bands, as well as from celebrated DJs.

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Tata Motors to have a vehicle in each segment in India

          TELCO (presently known as Tata Motors) is no longer perceived as a truck manufacturer in India, thanks to the huge success of India’s first indigenously developed car “Indica”. The year 1998 was a transformation for Tata Motors and all the credit goes to the then Chairman of the company Mr. Ratan Tata. Tata Motors ruled the B segment with Indica selling like hot cakes. The aerodynamic design & class leading fuel efficiency put the Indica into a different league, which the company will always cherish.

          Nearly two decades after entering the passenger car segment, Tata Motors seems to have come to a place where it started. None of its cars are selling well, be it Nano or the Bolt or the much hyped Zest compact sedan. However Tiago which was recently launched has kept the hopes alive for the company. Tata Motors has put in its heart and soul in Tiago to deliver more car per car, the slogan Indica carried. An astonishing price tag of Rs. 3.20 lakh for base petrol variant makes Tiago stand out of the segment. The neat design, good fuel efficiency and quality interiors are the USP of Tiago.

          Tata Motors might have saved money in developing Bolt and Zest, as they are built or rather redesigned on the Vista but the overall image of Tata Motors stands questionable. A company which was once ruling the segment now is trying to bring in cars with just cosmetic changes and selling it with a different name. Indian car market is more matured now and Tata cars have to compete with some quality products from International players. The upcoming Hexa is also basically the old aria with cosmetic changes and new name. Though Tata Motors is bullish on the Hexa success, it might not compete against the market leaders just like the Bold and Zest did. An old wine in new bottle will certainly not bring success and Tata Motors has to understand this first.

          The newly appointed CEO Mr. Guenter Butschek also thinks as we do. He intends to have a vehicle in each segment for the company to bounce back and to have a new product delivered rather than making changes to the current models and sell with different names. So Tata Motors will bring in new products in the coming years and try to reclaim the lost glory. Hope to see some exiting products from Tata Motors. 
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Datsun debuts Redi-go - The Urban Cross

            Nissan owned Datsun today unveiled yet another entry level hatchback in India. Earlier Datsun had launched GO hatchback in India which could not make an impression amid lots of expectations from the company.  The Redi-go is built on Renault-Nissan alliance’s low cost CMF-A platform, also shared by Renault Kwid. Datsun has not revealed the price of Redi-go but has committed to price it very attractive. Books start from May 1st and deliveries will begin by 1st week of June.


            The Redi-go retains almost all the design features of its concept which was shown during the Auto Expo 2016 earlier this year. The tall stance and high ground clearance give a car an urban cross over look. The two sharp character lines running on the sides gives an aesthetic appeal to the car. The front looks similar to its other siblings GO and GO+ and rear gets a high mount tail lamps which merge with sweeping character line.

            The interior of the car has been well designed with importance of practicality kept in mind. There are number of storage spaces in the dash as well as the console. The steering has been designed will too. The space seams to be good, well almost equal to the Nano. The rear door without cladding shows the cost cutting measures by the company.

            Powering the Datsun Redi-go will be the same Kwid power train which is 3 cylinder petrol engine with 57 Bhp of power. Expect to get the fuel efficiency of over 25 Kmpl in this car. The engine is mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. A bigger engine and AMT version is expected to be introduced some time after. As far as other mechanicals are concerned, there is nothing new which can make the car stand apart.

            Now where does the Redi-go stand in the product portfolio of Renault-Nissan-Datsun in India. Renault has Kwid and the Redi-go is being planned to be positioned below the Kwid. Then what about GO hatchback? We guess Datsun will slowly discontinue the product, remember the GO hatchback has scored poor ratings in the crash test and also is not selling in good numbers. The Redi-go will get personalised customisation as revealed at the launch which means you get lot of options to make your car stay to your taste.
            With Tata Tiago being launched at Rs. 3.20  lakh for base petrol variant it will be hard for Datsun or Renault to compete in the market given that the Tiago offers far more features than the Kwid and Redi-go. We at AutomobilePlanet.com believe tha, just by launched a new car in a segment with no extra features will not help any company. If the company wants a product to be a game changer, it should offer more features than its competitors. A 1.0L petrol with AMT and small diesel engine with AMT with minimal price hike could create wonders. We hope Renault-Nissan is listening.

“If you want to make a mark, be the first in the show” – a classic example by Maruti Suzuki.




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Bookings open for Mahindra TUV300

        The dealers of Mahindra vehicles have started accepting bookings for soon to be launched Mahindra TUV300. The TUV300 mini SUV will be launched on September 10th 2015. You can book your TUV300 for as little as Rs. 20,000.

        Mahindra is betting big on TUV300 mini SUV. The company has extensively tested the vehicle and aims to position the vehicle in the rugged SUV segment like it did with the Bolero. The TUV300’s design, as revealed by the company is inspired by a war tank which is evident from the angular windshield. TUV300 features a boxy look giving it a tough and go anywhere appearance.


        The TUV300 will be powered by a 3 cylinder 100 Ps diesel engine with twin turbo. It is the same engine of the Quanto but tweaked for optimum performance and fuel efficiency. The TUV300 is said to be a low cost product from Mahindra, which means the vehicle will be priced around Rs. 5 lakh. 



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Ford Figo Classic Fiesta discontinued from Indian market

        Ford India has discontinued Figo hatch, Fiesta sedan and Fiesta Classic from Indian market. The Figo will be replace by the next generation model, the Figo Aspire will take up the Fiesta Classic position and the Fiesta sedan’s discontinuation is a surprise.

        The Figo has been a trump card for Ford as it bought back the Ford Motor Company into the Indian automotive map. Figo was a no nonsense car and was an able competitor to the Swift. The lack of rear power windows was a letdown, but in other aspects the Figo gave a run for its money for Swift. Though it had dated looks, the practicality and road manners won lots of hearts of young Indians who liked the performance of the vehicle and also the competitive pricing.
        The Fiesta Classic which was earlier named as Fiesta was a good product from Ford. The fuel efficiency of the car got laurels to it and so do the practicality. However with the launch of new cars in the segment pushed this Ford’s beauty into the dark.

      
  As for as the new Fiesta is concerned, Ford could never gain success from this product. The car was perceived as a ture driver’s car, thanks to the latest technology from Ford. However the lack of rear seat comfort and high price let down the product and now Ford has finally decided to self the plans of its continuation. The replacement model is yet to be finalised, and we feel for might bring in the stretched version of Figo Aspire to fulfil its position. 


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Next Generation 2016 Honda Civic to be unveiled on September 16th

        Honda will unveil the 10th generation 2016 Honda Civic in Detroit  and Los Angeles on September 16th 2015. The new Civic features a very dynamic styling as always, and a first time seen cabin backward design in the Civic.

10th Generation Honda Civic 2016 rendering. Picture courtesy: Carpalace3D

        The 10th generation Civic is inspired by Honda Civic Concept unveiled at 2015 New York Auto Show. The car gets Honda’s new Flying H front end with bold chrome grill, sleek LED headlamps and sporty bumpers. The most attractive part is the rear with boomerang taillights extending on to the boot.

        The new Civic will be powered by an all new 1.5L Tubro V-TEC engine. The same engine in Honda Jade RS produces 150 Ps of power and 203 Nm of torque. It is paired with a CVT unit with 7 stepped ratios.


        Honda might think of launching the car in India as well in second quarter of next year probably with an addition of diesel engine, which could be the 1.6L i-DTec currently powering the Civics of this day worldwide. 





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Renault Kwid bookings started

                Renault’s promising entry level hatchback is soon to be launched and booking for the car has already started with booking amount being Rs. 25,000. Most of the dealers have confirmed the delivery of the car by the end of September 2015.

        Renault unveiled the Kwid hatch in May 2015 by the company’s top brass Mr. Carlos Ghosn. Mr. Ghosn known for this ability to turn around the profits of the company positively is very ambitious about this small car. Kwid concept was showed last year and it was impossible to expect a small car with the profile the concept car had.

        Renault has developed a 3 cylinder 800cc petrol engine to Kwid. Kwid is built on versatile common modular platform which will be shared with Renault’s sister concerned companies Nissan and Datsun. After working hard for over 6 months Renault engineers from India as well as France could design a small car will the looks of an SUV. It is reported that the engineers from both the countries shared their views, Indians with frugal engineering thought and French with the quality and style.

        Renault Kwid, as mentioned by Mr. Ghosn will be priced between Rs. 3-4 lakh. It will be the base model with black coloured front and rear bumpers and non internal adjustable outside rear view mirrors. Also the base model will lack the power windows option but what’s interesting is the entire model range will get a touchscreen dashboard display which is the first in its class. Being roomier than its competitors, namely Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon, Kwid stands ahead of the competition yet being priced equal to them.

        A car of Kwid’s stature will definitely need a diesel option. But according to Mr. Ghosn Renault has no plans to launch a diesel engine powered Kwid in the near future. A bigger 1.0L petrol engine might find its place after a while. But rumours are there that Renault is working on a 2 cylinder K9K engine along with Bosch, which means Kwid’s diesel dream could be a possible some time later.
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Ferrari to re-enter Indian market

        Italian iconic sports car manufacturer Ferrari is relaunching itself in India on 26th of August 2015. Ferrari will reveal its least priced model California T priced at Rs. 3.3 lakh Ex-showroom, Mumbai. Complete range of Ferrari cars will be available in India as well. Booking for California T is currently underway.


        Ferrari California T gets its name from Ferrari 250 California manufactured between 1953 and 1964. It was one of the highly successful model from Ferrari stable. The current California T is a convertible powered by a 3.9 Litre bi-turbo V8 engine with output figures of staggering 552 Bhp. It also gets a new feature called variable boost management which delivers varying torque levels in different gears. This new technology gives a sense of continuous rising acceleration and eliminates turbo lag to a great extent.

        Ferrari will have one dealership each in Mumbai and Delhi. Except for LaFerrari hypercar all the models of Ferrari will be sold by this dealership. Ferrai’s earlier stint with India ended because of rift between the distributor Shreyans Group.

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Mahindra TUV300 steering wheel teased

            Mahindra has released a teaser image of the it’s soon to be launched TUV300. This is the second teaser after the front wing was released couple of weeks ago.


            The teaser image shows the steering wheel having sliver finish on the lower spokes and features controls for the audio and Bluetooth connectivity. The instrument cluster is also seen with chrome surroundings on speedo and tachometer. There are large numbers of indicator lights between the dials supposedly giving lot of information to the driver. Also seen are the headlamp levelling and fuel tank cap release buttons the right bottom of the dashboard as seen in other Mahindra vehicles. 



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Next generation Honda Brio by 2017, to get diesel power

        Honda has not got the success it expected with Brio in India. Honda Brio is an excellent car with dynamic and futuristic looks coupled with brilliant engineering in interior space management. However the car did not gel well with the Indian customers due to it sophisticated looks and the high price it commanded.

        Honda has announced it will bring in the next generation Brio in the year 2017. The new Brio is expected to sport a new name and will have radical styling to please the Indian customers. The new Brio will also likely to get a diesel engine, probably a scaled down 3 cylinder unit version of Honda’s 1.5L i-DTech diesel mill.


        Honda was some time ago testing the diesel engine in the Brio in India. But the plans to fit it in current Brio have been shelved due to high NVH levels which was unacceptable by Honda standards. The new Brio will be designed according to the small diesel engine and NVH levels will be kept low to match the company’s standards. We expect the next generation Brio to be more spacious and attractive as well like Honda’s other cars in India. 
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Does Fiat replace Linea with Aegea in India?

        Fiat has never been in driver’s seat in India. Good cars like Punto and Linea could not turn the fortunes for Fiat here. But Fiat has not lost the hope. It is focused to be a car manufacture with style and substance. The recent launch of Fiat Punto Evo Abrath is a good example.


        Fiat with the facelift Punto Evo and Avventura has somehow stayed alive in the market and as we said above it has customer base of its own. The Punto Evo and Avventura has been favourite cars for young adventurers youngsters who are ready to shell out extra buck for the brand and the style it creates.

        It’s all about the hatchbacks, but what about the sedan. The Linea with the facelift has not appealed to much of the customers. Recent unveiling of Aegea concept gives hope for Fiat fans in India, but does Fiat launch it in India. Aegea concept has not gone into production and has been designed for only left hand drive versions. To bring it to India it has to invest lots of money on tools for right hand drive versions.


        The Linea is selling around 150 cars a month which is not a good figure for the company like Fiat. We feel Fiat should stop thinking and bring the stylish Aegea concept sedan to India as soon as possible. Does anyone think as we do?

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Honda BR-V SUV makes its international debut

        Honda has unveiled its new SUV BR-V at GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2015. The BR-V SUV is built on Brio platform and will be launched in India early next year. But the speculation of BR-V being less than 4 meters length has gone into winds. BR-V is more than 4 meters in length and seats 7 persons, which means it will compete with Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Hyundai Creta in India.


            The design of Honda BR-V was released last month and the artist’s impression looked fabulous, as always with any Honda car sketches. However BR-V in flesh is not as dynamic as in the design sketch but certainly have good appeal, with both SUV and Car features mixed together.

            From the side profile it is evident that BR-V is built on the Brio platform. But from any other angle it is impossible to relate to Brio and its siblings, thanks to sharp SUV design in the front and rear. BR-V features a more squarish profile and the angled window line reminds us of the Mobilio. As usual the BR-V like any recent Hondas has lot of creases which give character to the vehicle.

            The dashboard of BR-V looks to be borrowed from the City and the steering wheel has been lifted from Brio family of vehicles. Honda BR-V has an advantage of 7 seat options which lacks in its competitors in the segment. Powering BR-V will be Honda’s 1.5L i-VTech petrol and i-Dtech diesel engines which are both tried and tested engines. Expect it to cost around Rs. 12 lakh when launched in India.




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