Indian Autos blog

Our friend who is a South East Asian car industry expert (authors a sound blog – autoindustrie) was kind enough to help with this series of translations.

Yesterday night one of our readers from Indonesia sent us a few links. When we opened it, we could not understand a thing. We knew this was something big, so we used google translator, and that did not help in any which way.

So we got our good friend to help us out since he knows Indonesian, and here’s Tata Motors’ plans for Indonesia -

http://oto.detik.com/read/2009/08/10/162952/1180663/648/tata-punya-kans-besar-di-ri

Well this is saying that Tata has high potential for expansion in Indonesia if they get the product positioning correct. It says Tata is a conservative company that is reluctant to expand overseas unless it is fully confident of its product quality. Tata is honest to admit that there are still many short falls in its product. The author likens Tata today facing the same challenges faced Hyundai did in North America just a few decades ago.

The earliest Tata entry into the Indonesian market is expected by 2010 – with the Xenon Double Cab pick-up truck, Sumo Grande SUV. There is also a possibility for the Nano to be introduced.

click through for the full story

Fully covered test mules of the next generation Tucson have been spotted testing numerous times in the past, and it was known back then that a 2009 Frankfurt Show appearance was on the cards.

Recently in Australia, an eagle eyed viewer was quick to pull out his phone and have a go at a Hyundai SUV that was similar to none other in the existing line-up. What he caught was a fully undisguised shot of the next generation Hyundai Tucson on its commercial filming in Sydney.

To me, the Hyundai ix35/Tucson is faithful to its concept. The boomerang LED indicator lamps have not made it to the production car, but overall, it is way better than many of the other cars of today, which have cheated the concept in every possible corner.

Hyundai’s new hexagonal grille treatment might not amuse those Germans who spent years actualizing it on the next generation A8 and future Q3.

Hyundai marked its presence earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show with the release of the ix-onic concept, which this car is based upon. In several countries, it will roll out of production lines with the “ix35″ badge. At this point we’re not sure if the Tucson badge would be used after all.

The ix35 could be the first car from Hyundai to feature their new double clutch six speed transmission. The ix35 represents a charismatic departure with technology and breakthroughs adorning the outside and under-hood.

We think only after its debut at the Frankfurt show can Indians expect any kind of an announcement. For now, you’ve got to do only with a blurry image.

Autocar U.K claims Tata Motors will perhaps purchase 50.7% stake in the Italian design house that’s designed every Ferrari till date.

Pininfarina concluded on the decision to sell 50.7% stake (major) at a board meeting held last week and has tied up with a bank to assist with transactions.

Whether Tata Motors is among the bidders is still not confirmed.

Every model except the Tata Prima have been designed by I.D.E.A or Tata’s in-house design. The fascinating Tata Prima concept shown at the Geneva show in March this year, is a product of Pininfarina.

Only this morning we posted information on the Rapide’s official Frankfurt launch. Hours later, one of our readers brought this to our notice – Leaked official images of the Rapide.

One thing we missed reminding our new readers is about its future engine – a V12 engine developed by Mercedes Benz for its future S-Class.

Earlier in the year, we informed you on the Chevrolet Cruze‘s arrival at Port Elizabeth. It arrived there for testing and homologation purposes.

As these tests happen, a couple of days back, Chevrolet decided to let out a few snaps of its shiny new car and gauge feedback.

This platform will be put to maximum use across the globe. It will give birth to the next generation Opel Meriva and Astra models. In India, whether plans to offer other vehicles utilizing the Cruze’s resources remains a question.

So in S.A, these photos of the Cruze you see above has brought out a lot of positive feedback. No confirmations on their engine line-up is available at this moment, but reports say two petrols (1,6 or 1,8-litre VVT petrol engines) and a 2.0-litre common-rail diesel is to follow.

The 1.6 litre engine produces 83 kW and 153 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm, while the 1.8-litre produces roughly 104 kW and 176 Nm of torque at 6,200 rpm. The 2.0-liter CRDI engine brings out 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque from around 2,000 rpm.

The Cruze will be available in South Africa in three levels – L, LS and LT. The L and LS are equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and 16-inch alloy wheels, while the LT model gets 17-inch alloys and a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Would GM carry over the same line-up to India. It is anybody’s guess.

A company official from Hyundai got in touch with us a while back and made it clear that the Hyundai Avante is shelved and the Hyundai has no plans of introducing it in the Indian market as of now.

Hyundai also tells us the Sante Fe, which like the Avante was displayed at the Auto Expo in 2008, is not arriving in India any time soon.

Mahindra is on a role in the Indian market, its Xylo is finding buyers at a pace equal to Renault losing them.

The Xylo’s feature-rich cabin is fascinating Verna, Fiesta or even the Honda City buyer. During our test, we found the car comfortable, the interior space was enough to serve as a makeshift home during the floods.

Over to Australia and things are not so smooth for Mahindra

Mahindra is hoping to grow “slowly but steadily” in Australia. The company which increased its dealer count from ten to twenty in two years, is finding it hard to reach targets. To give itself more hope, a revamped Pik-Up, designed for better safety, was launched a few days back.

The original Pik-Up scored a “poor” two-star crash safety rating by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The pickup earned just 16.49 points out of a possible 37. The outcome of this crash test was nothing less than a catastrophe. In the test, “the driver’s head hit the hub of the steering wheel,” and that the “steering column and dash components were a potential source of injury”.

Mahindra has not announced its sales figures. It says only the media is interested in the figures. Brand building is its top priority now.

Mahindra says it will launch the Xylo and the Scorpio in Australia in about twelve month’s time.

click through to read the U.S story

Inside Line is reporting Toyota’s working on a hybrid version of the current generation Corolla.

The 1.8-liter four cylinder engine is getting married to a motor and battery pack. The operation is being performed in Thailand where recently a Camry hybrid was also unveiled. The Thai government encourages hybrid vehicles and their development, offering financial boosts.

According to Autocar UK, in ten years time, every major Toyota would be hybridized in the interest of fuel economy and qualifying for benefits in developed countries with lower emission values. This applies to even the Hilux, which shares its architecture with the Innova and the soon to be launched Fortuner.

A Innova hybrid would not be a bad idea at all.

Light cars like the Aygo would forgo their advantage if they had a battery pack mounted. Such cars could go the fully-electric route.

Coming back to the Corolla hybrid, it will be interesting to see if they launch it in India, and it along with the Prius could make Toyota the first brand to take a major step in the hybrid front in India.