New Tata Indica V2 Turbomax with more power and mileage soon

     Tata Motors will soon launch the Indica V2 hatchback with a more powerful and economical diesel engine. Named as Indica V2 Turbomax, the car will comply to the BS4 emission norms.  The new 1045cc CR4 diesel engine produces power of 70 Ps and 13.7 Kg of torque. The company claims it to be the most fuel efficient car in India with mileage of 24 Kmpl. Currently Tata Nano other than Toyota Prius(which is a hybrid) is the most fuel efficient car in India with 23.6 Kmpl.

     Apart from engine change, there are host of other changes and added features as well. The V2 Turbomax will get some changes in the exterior and interiors. The car sports a larger and sporty 14 inch wheels. Pricing will be little higher than the present model. Get to see the car in your nearest showrooms by first week of March.  

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Chinese truck manufacturers eye India

     With the growing demand of trucks in India, Chinese truck manufacturers want to have their share in Indian truck market. One of the largest truck manufacturer of China 'Sinotruk' is planning to establish a assembling plant in India. Also Beiqi Foton Motorwhich manufactures trucks in India is finalising locations for its Indian subsidary. Shandong Shifeng, a manufacturer of agricultural light trucks is already making light commercial trucks in India with Hindustan Motors.

     "We are hoping for an India partner to introduce our products into local market. Our India strategy is to establish a local assembly facility, which invites lower taxes in order to tap the buoyant local market that is ideal for our range of big trucks," said Shen Xiangke, Sinotruk's international spokesperson.

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Audi A3 saloon concept sketches revealed

     Audi has released the sketches of its A3 saloon concept for the Geneva Motor Show. The A3 saloon will be powered by a 2.5 liter, five cylinder engine with 408 Bhp of power. The A3 measures 4440 mm in length and will be positioned below the A4 saloon.

      Audi A3 saloon is developed on the VW MQB platform and is the first vehicle to roll of the platform. Audi A3 features a pair of LED head lamps and a new trapezoidal front grill. A three door hatchback will make it to the Geneva Motors who and a five door Sportback and two door cabriolet may join later on. A3 will hit markets by mid 2012.

      Audi A3 saloon have been developed on VW MQB platform. Audi A3 will be the first product which will roll out from MQB platform. Like any other Audi, A3 also comes with a pair of  LED studded head lamps and a new trapezoidal front grille. Audi A3 sedan variant will be previewed in Geneva while a three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback and two-door cabriolet may join later on. A3 Sedan is scheduled to hit markets by mid 2012.

“We’ve looked at the situation very carefully and come to the conclusion that a small sedan (saloon) positioned below the A4 has the potential to significantly increase sales penetration in a number of markets,” an Audi official said.

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Volkswagen to sell A-Star under its brand globally

     First of all let us remind that last year VW bought a substantial 20% stake in Suzuki Motor Company. The deal was seen as a mutual understanding to benifit both the companies. Though no future plans were revealed by the two companies, lots of speculations about technology transfer were anticipated.

One such thing is the sale of Suzuki small cars under Volkswagen brand. According to latest reports Volkswagen will sell Suzuki A Star which is popular grobally already under its own brand name. That is A Star will be sold as Volkswagen A Star worldwide. Currently A Star is manufactured in Maruti Suzuki's plant in India and exported to other parts of the world. Maruti Suzuki also manufacture A Star for Nissan which is sold globally as Nissan Pixo.

Volkswagen will be benifit with low cost small car manufacturing expertise of Suzuki. Volkswagen's sister company Skoda Auto is also likely to use its brand on some of the Suzuki smalls. With these development it looks obvious that VW is determined to dethrone Totoya as world's No. 1 automobile manufacturer by 2018.

Though this is not official, Suzuki might get access to VW's technologically advanced diesel engines. Currently Suzuki has only 1.3L multijet engine sourced from Fiat for its small cars and the company is finding difficult to fit the same engine is the mid-sized sedan as well. With the access to VW's diesel engines Suzuki will have an option to power its mid-sized saloons with a diesel mill, the main segment which it is lacking in. Though SX4 diesel has been launched, the company feels insecured as the cometititors are offereing a bigger and powerful diesel engine. The latest entry from Maruti Suzuki 'Kizashi' might as well get a VW diesel engine in future.

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Nissan Micra DIG-S with powerful gasoline engine

     Nissan has come up with a new powerful petrol engine for its small car Micra. Christened Micra DIG-S, the car gets a supercharged gasoline 1.2L engine that develops power equivalent to that of a 1.5L engine. Apart from extra power the supercharged engine is easier on the environment as wel, the engine will emit only 95g/Km of CO2. Nissan claims the DIG-S (Direct Injection Gasoline-Supercharger) engine gives fuel efficiency of 24.39 Kmpl with power delivery as high as 97 Bhp.

Nissan Micra DIG-S Engine Features

• Innovative technology for low emissions, excellent economy and strong performance
• Advanced all-new ‘Pure Drive’ low friction three-cylinder engine
• 1.2-litres, 72kW (98PS), 12 valves, Direct Injection Gasoline-Supercharger (DIG-S)
• Miller cycle and supercharged for ultimate efficiency and performance
• Ultra-low CO₂ emissions: just 95g/km
• Start/Stop system
• Diesel-like economy with petrol engine power and refinement and no diesel cost surcharge
• Low cost of ownership

Press Release:

Nissan is just as committed to reducing emissions from cars powered by the internal combustion engine as it is to developing new zero emission electric vehicles. The Micra DIG-S showcases how far our engineers have come.

“It is clear that our new Direct Injection Gasoline-Supercharger engine offers the best solution for small cars like Micra. With instant throttle response, its performance and strong economy are a more than a match for any diesel engine with similar power outputs, but its emissions performance is much better.”

We have been able to achieve this ultra low CO2 figure in a cost effective package and without the complication of particulate filters needed to clean up diesel engine emissions and which are not entirely compatible with a car that spends much of its life in the city said Pierre Loing, Vice President Product Strategy and Planning, Nissan International SA.

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Official: New Ford Fiesta to be launched in India this year

     Ford India has officially confirmed that it will launch the New Fiesta sedan in India this year. The exact time line has not been revealed but it could happen some where in June July this year. Few days ago Ford India had announced that it will rechristen the present Fiesta as Fiesta Classic once the New Fiesta sedan is launched. Details of powertrains has not been out but it is expected that a pair of 1.6L engines might find its place under the hood.

 

Press Release:

Ford India to bring its All-new, Global Award-winning Fiesta in India in 2011

New DELHI, India, 22 Feb, 2011 – Ford’s all-new, award-winning Fiesta is coming to India this year. This marks the first in a series of eight new global products that Ford plans to introduce in India by the middle of this decade.

Announcing the new Fiesta’s eagerly awaited arrival, Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India said, “We are delighted the new Fiesta is coming to India. It will provide Indian customers a premium sedan that reflects their personality in terms of style, technology and performance, and will add a new level of diversity and dynamism to our showrooms.”

The new Ford Fiesta will be built at Ford’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Chennai and the Indian consumers can look forward to a hi-end sedan that will provide sporty design, great ride, dynamic performance and array of smart technologies.

“The new Fiesta will augment the current range of Fiesta vehicles in India, which remain an integral part of our product line-up,” Boneham added. “Our stepped-up launch plan builds on the incredible consumer response to the Ford Figo, which in 12 months has transformed our presence in India and attracted many new customers to the Ford brand.”

The new, global Fiesta, which is available in more than 100 markets throughout the world, has sold more than one million units worldwide.

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A new kid on the block - SX4 diesel, watchout

     The SX4 diesel might be a late entry into the Indian mid-size diesel segemet, but the car promises to ruin the party of Ventos, Manzas, Lineas and ofcouse the Vernas. The Fiat sourced 1.3L multijet diesel engine with Turbo, which the Suzuki calls it as DDiS seams to give better performance than the Linea. Fiat might be kicking itself for transfering the technology of 1.3L multijet diesel engine to Suzuki. This is not the first time Suzuki has bullied the Fiat, even the engine in Swift which is same as that of the Punto, delivers better performance and mileage than the later, thanks to light weight and value engineering from the Japanese.

     The sales of SX4 had sky-dived in the recent past, that was manily due to the lack of diesel option. The SX4 which the company calls as 'Men are Back' indeed lives upto the proverb with is ruggedness and high ground clearance. The large wheels and high ground clearance gobbles the potholes like a devil.

      

     With the launch of SX4, not only the diesel rivals such as Vento, Linea, Manza and Verna are concerned, the bench marker in the segment, Honda City will also face the heat because of the pricing. With the price of Rs. 7.74 lakh for the base variant which goes up to Rs. 8.60 lakh for the top end one (All prices ex-showroom New Delhi), a great chunk of Indian customers will opt for SX4 and since being a Maruti is an advantage.

      The other car which the SX4 will closely compete is the Etios, but by the time Toyota would launch the Etios the SX4 diesel would have dominated the segment. What you say???

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