The next generation Honda Civic according to emerging reports will drop Honda fans into a frenzy in 2011.
Similar to the present car, the 2011 Honda Civic will use a 150 hp 1.5-liter petrol engine, about 20 more than the current one. A diesel version and an improved hybrid model will form the lineup.
The concept-like Civic introduced in India in 2005 and became a successful premium car. Another feat it achieved was it showed Toyota how to design the Corolla to match its sales and keep the charm from slipping away. The Corolla Altis‘ design engineers had to go back to the design table and redesign the car. It was the Civic’s design that forced them to.
The Honda Civic might be a new kid on the Indian block but three decades of service overseas. Some even say this car gave Honda the identity which new car manufacturers are dying to attain.
More information on 2011 Honda Civic
- 2011 Honda Civic uses OSM Concept’s skin
- 2011 Honda Civic – Expect the unexpected
We’ve done two articles on the 2011 Honda Civic before. You can catch them here and here.
BMW has launched the Z4 convertible in Australia. The Australians get the choice of three straight-6 engines displacing 3.0 or 2.5 litres: 225 kW in the BMW Z4 sDrive35i, 190 kW in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i, and 150 kW in the BMW Z4 sDrive23i. The Z4 is expected in India by the year end with probably the least powerful engine.
Honestly, we’re sick of writing about Toyota’s Fortuner. We’ve been writing from it since the inception of Indian Autos Blog and other have been writing for years. I think the Fortuner has parks in a space in all our minds marked as a “future car.” I think people won’t believe that the car can be bought even after it has been released. Such is the perception it has created.
However news on the Land Cruiser diesel is new. All of the Land Cruisers in India have been imported via agents and its formal introduction will help source spares faster and easier.
A 4 litre, V8 diesel engine pumping out 286PS of peak power at 3600rpm and 650Nm of torque at 1600rpm will employ a 6-speed automatic transmission and 4WD system. The diesel Toyota Land Cruiser will be a CBU so don’t expect it to cost lesser than the Merc, Volvo and BMW SUVs.
As India awaits the arrival of the Porsche Panamera, rumors are doing rounds in the international automobile arena on a possible Porsche Panamera convertible.
The Porsche Panamera convertible is very much possible since Porsche’s spent a lot of money building the car. The Panamera’s also rumored to shed two doors to take the form of a coupe variant. It’s not possible to suggest any more details at this time, so we’ll keep you updated if we hear more.
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Bookings for the world’s cheapest car Tata Nano, failed to live up to hype. Tata recorded 2.03 Lakh (203,000) bookings till date, which equates to one-third of the total number of forms issued and is way less than the company’s expectation of half a million bookings. Nevertheless, Tata Motors has managed to get richer by Rs.2500 Crores ($0.5 Billion) in a very short span of time.
With these bookings and especially the money, the company hopes to refinance a few debts and keep the Nano production line engaged till mid 2011. Tata’s Pantnagar plant in UP will produce around 50,000 units/yr while the new plant at Sanand in Gujarat, will boast a production capacity of 2.5 lakh units/yr, when it goes online in 2010.
Unusual pattern in bookings
According to Tata Motors, the top-end variant LX has been the customers’ favorite. The base version accounted for 20% of the bookings, the mid-level CX variant at 30% while the remaining 50% was swept by the top-end LX variant.
Prospective owners to be selected by lot
100,000 persons would be chosen from among the applicants through a computerised random selection procedure, and the announcement of their names will be made by June 2009. Deliveries will start in July 2009 and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2010.
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An official statement from Hyundai’s headquarters reads two new Hyundai cars will be launched during the next couple of years. Hyundai has also confirmed the diesel i20 for launch this year; Santa Fe, Tucson, i30, Accent LPG and new Sonata are among the many in the Indian pipeline.
Toyota has expressed interest in selling Lexus cars in India through its existing dealer network. The luxury cars are expected to compete with brands like BMW and Mercedes Benz and will be imported into India as CBUs (Completely Built Units)
Maruti Suzuki India Limited earlier today confirmed their next small car Ritz (globally known as the Splash) will be launched in India on the 15th of this month. The Ritz will be equipped with a KB-Series 1.2-liter 4 cylinder petrol engine producing 85bhp and a 1.3L 16 valve diesel engine that produces 75bhp. Prices and variants will be announced in the launch ceremony.
