Indian Autos blog

While it might be wishful thinking, Skoda’s isn’t against trying a thing or two in India. It has sold cars like the Octavia vRS, Octavia Combi in India, and later this year, it will launch the Fabia Combi and the crossover Yeti next year which many others in India will only dream of doing.

Will the Superb Combi waft shores of India?

click on the title to know the answer and view some shots

This rendering is not very convincing but it does its job of reminding us of a new and stylish SUV, which is heading our way. The ix35/Tucson is looking good from all the spy shots so far, Indians unfazed by the Japanese SUVs will find this Korean high spirited with its trademark “i” looks and flair.

The Frankfurt Motor Show will host the production version of the Hyundai ix35/Tucson. We’ve spoken about it in detail in previous occasions.

The “muscular” Scorpio looks does not pertain only to the Scorpio anymore. Mahindra has launched the 2009 edition of the Pik-Up (Scorpio Getaway) in Australia with the saw tooth and essential safety features.

The cosmetic changes see a new front bumper design, headlight and foglamp housings, bonnet scoop and pull-type door handles from the new Scorpio.

In the cabin, better suited seats, longer seatbelts, new electrically-adjustable rear-view mirrors and stereo which is MP3-compatible with USB and SD card inputs debut. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls are now a standard feature on the Pik-Up.

The much awaited Skoda Yeti will soon be out in the open (17th September) in the U.K. The adventurous-looking Yeti’s pricing starts at £13,750 (basic model). Six airbags and air conditioning is standard throughout the range. The Yeti will be sold in India next year, and it does seem like the base model would be priced close to 10 lakh rupees.

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The concept of offering models via partners who are better equipped handling situations in a foreign land is an age old practice. Speaking to the La Stampa newspaper (a local daily in Italy) Ratan Tata divulged important details regarding the Fiat-Nano relationship.

Ratan Tata -

“We have various projects, to take the Nano to Latin America together, to share platforms for new cars, we have projects for Iveco and also for us to sell Ferrari and Maserati”

This announcement comes days after Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn expressed interest in manufacturing the ULC in Brazil, which is Fiat’s second largest market after Italy.

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WhatCar magazine reports an updated Hyundai i10 will be launched by the end of next year. The Hyundai i10 debuted in 2007, and a face-lift is a general procedure to keep it looking at best health.

The details are nothing too big at this point, one naturally assumes a diesel version will also be launched on this occasion. The bumpers, lights and wheels would also change, the i10 already offers beige interiors so maybe they would not experiment with the interiors.

Let’s wait and see whether Hyundai comments on this model.

Tata is miffed with the U.K government over the treatment extended to them in the Vista EV deal, which is still brewing. The U.K government has clearly ruffled their feathers and Tata, it seems, is contemplating the idea of manufacturing the fuel-efficient Land Rover LRX in India.

Tata is yet to take the £27 million that the Government lends to them as a loan; in exchange, Tata would produce the eco-friendly LRX in its existing facility.

Nothing has been confirmed on the switch, only in September will the company take a stand – whether to build it at the Halewood factory in Merseyside or in one of its plant here in India.

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The Fiat Linea review series will continue from tomorrow

We spoke about the exteriors of the Ford Ikon TDCi in the initial report – The overall dimensions and shape remain same except for the excellent front-end touch up which is the cute grill-less design and headlamps which we carried over to our desktops.

On the Inside things have changed for the better, the instrument cluster is now bolder and more readable, and the cluster backlight fades out softly when the lights are turned off making it a unique feature.

click on the title to read the full review