Indian Autos blog

Yesterday we brought you information for the first time on the 2012 Honda CR-V. Today, we bring you more on its engines and future plans.

The compact crossover, believe it or not, sold 560 units per day last month in the U.S. Honda initially predicted a monthly volume of about 2,000 cars in the recession-hit country.

So how do you make such a strong performer ever popular? One way would be by not changing much in it.

The earlier rendering of the Fiat Topolino showed its strong connection to the Fiat 500. The new rendering of the Fiat’s low cost city car for Europe and Asia brings small cars like the Toyota iQ and Ford Fiesta into the equation.

Measuring 3.15 metres in length, it will be slightly longer than the Toyota iQ. To start with, a 900cc engine would be employed which would produce a more than enough 65 hp.

Doesn’t this car look exactly the same as the face-lifted Chevrolet Aveo sedan we brought you earlier? It’s a no-frills version, and get this, the Chevrolet Sail would come to India in the future.

For GM, things have turned out to be more exciting for its overseas operations after it filed for bankruptcy in its home country. Especially emerging markets, as GM ordered them all to develop their future models and bring in the cash. More importantly, GM does not want to develop cars that are region specific, but can be sold all over the world.

Before GM filed for bankruptcy, the company was dealing with several projects all around the world. One of them was Project Viva, a small car that would, at first, be sold only in South America. This sort of move is becoming increasingly common.

Apparently, European cars are always too expensive to be sold as they are in emerging countries, hence the Fiat Palio, Volkswagen Gol, Chevrolet Celta and Vectra (in Brazil, also known in other countries as Astra Sedan), among others were developed specifically as low cost cars for emerging markets.

With the bankruptcy situation, GM has to seize all its resources and Project Viva may be sold not only in South America, but all over the world, including other emerging countries, such as India, and USA, where it will be built and is supposed to face the new Ford Fiesta.

click through to learn the full story

This may sound funny but it’s true. The German cops are assigned a new vehicle. Before you assume its a Pagani or a Caparo, let me tell you this one has only three wheels and no superchargers. I doubt even if it has a steering wheel.

Italian CV manufacturer Piaggio has granted the Mettmann police department with a Piaggio APE. Piaggio say it has a 9.5 hp powerful engine and is capable of running at 60 km/hr.

In India this vehicle is often seen in the rural areas loaded with 10 to 12 people running at 20 km/hr or in cities it’s often seen more as an obstruction.

click through for startling figures and image gallery

Maruti Suzuki is trying again to revive the almost dead Zen Estilo. The old Zen which was known for its rev-happy nature and wonderful handling, has not yet rested it seems. Its soul is roaming about with rage, the name Zen had lost its charm immediately after the new one was launched.

The new Zen Estilo didn’t hold much promise for Mauti as it had to resort to discounts and stickers for keeping it alive. Now again Maruti out of compulsion, has to change the heart of dying Zen courtesy – Bharat IV norms.

Many of us were slightly convinced after hearing Honda Jazz’s game plan (works on paper, might only be a paper tiger). Weeks, even months prior to the launch, we felt Honda were on a weak wicket if they priced the Jazz above all hatchbacks in India.

Preceding the launch of the Suzuki Ritz, we ran a comparo that got many of you talking, some of you said the Ritz was unnecessary while others felt the Swift had to be replaced with something bigger and better to clearly differentiate it from its new relative.

But you know what? We are all wrong! at least for now.

In the last part we discuss on its engine, gearbox, ride among the other things. We also list out the things that the new E-Class hopefully leaves behind.

If you have not read the earlier parts, you can here – Part 1, Part 2