Archive for September, 2009

Report – Skoda Fabia bookings in India only via internet

skoda-fabia-booking-online

A move that in first of its kind, the Czech auto maker Skoda has initiated to sell Fabia entirely online. Come next week and you can buy your Fabia online.

The Car will be available through dealers only it’s just the paper work and buying experience made easy. The visit to the dealership will just be limited to test drives and delivery and even if a buyer goes to a dealership to book the car, the actual booking process will be paperless.

The move is done to lure customers for the festive season and make buying easy. To work on this embryonic ploy Skoda Auto India has partnered with a popular online portal.

We think this is the great move to gratify the buying experience by the Skoda Auto India who doesn’t have a big reputation in customer satisfaction, may be this could prove a shot in right direction and give them extra brownie points.

See what Thomas Kuehl, Director of Sales and Marketing – Skoda Auto India has to share on this:-

You will get the car through the dealership, but it will be available (for booking) only online. We are working on something completely new for the first time for the Fabia.

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Entry posted on September 30th, 2009 and filed under Skoda

Mitsubishi Montero Special Edition Platinum launched in Australia

Pajero_Platinum_Australia

The Australians adore their Monteros (Pajero, as they call it) and they are going to love it even more with the launch of the special upgraded model.

Reverse camera and front fog lamps are the additions on the safety front on the Pajero Platinum. They will help inexperienced drivers find their way through congestion and ill lit areas. Other safety features adopted from the top of the line model include ABS, EBD, airbags etc.

The style quotient of the new model is nothing short of A class. With body colored door mirrors, integrated side steps with front mudguards, rear deflector, and Platinum Edition signature badging and carpet mats, this is what one calls a “fully loaded Pajero/Montero.”

The special edition Pajero Platinum has useful devices like Mitsubishi’s Multi Communication System (MMCS) incorporating satellite navigation, and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity facility.

The Pajero Platinum comes with a choice of a 3.8L petrol engine with manual or automatic transmission, or a 3.2L diesel with manual or automatic transmission.

click past the break to read the press release

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Entry posted on September 30th, 2009 and filed under Mitsubishi

Korean Chevrolet Spark awarded Grade 1 in frontal offset crash tests

GM Daewoo Matiz Creative

The Chevrolet Matiz Creative was given Grade 1 in frontal offset crash tests conducted by Korea Insurance Development Institute (KIDI). The test implies the car is safest in its category.

The Chevrolet-Daewoo Matiz Creative tested was equipped with a wide array of safety features like airbags, ABS, EBD, Rear Parking Sensors, Pre-tensioners for seat belts, door locks with shock sensors etc.

The KIDI crash test is as demanding as ANCAP (Australia) or NHSTA (U.S.A).

Dongyoun Sohn, GM Daewoo Chief Engineer for Mini-Vehicles -

Safety and the protection of our customers were priorities in the development of our new global mini-vehicle from day one. The test results confirm we are on the right track. With its segment-transcending safety, we’re confident that our global mini will achieve high scores in other mature markets such as the U.S. and Europe.

click through to read the press release that explains the feat in detail.

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Entry posted on September 30th, 2009 and filed under Chevrolet

Image of the Day – Honda Civic AMG

Honda_Civic_AMG

If you wanted to buy a Honda Civic, you’d go to a dealer and book one. If you wanted to buy a Mercedes Benz AMG model, you should go to a Mercedes Benz showroom in your city which thankfully these days, imports many vehicles in the AMG range for you and provides full service backup.

But what if you wanted a car that looked like an AMG and went like a Civic?

Tricky situation then.

One such person in Chennai has apparently found the answer.

Dr.Albur, AMG body kits and accessories could be offered to cars that don’t belong to the Mercedes range in India. We feel there is a lot of scope for such a venture in our country.

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Entry posted on September 30th, 2009 and filed under Funny

Flash – New Nissan Micra debuts at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

Autotelegraaf is reporting the next generation Nissan Micra which will roll out of the Chennai facility next year debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. The Geneva Motor Show this year served as the stage to cars like the Indica Vista EV and Nano Europa and next year’s show should prove as interesting.

Meanwhile Nikkei newspaper reports the Micra will be launched in India in May 2010

Nissan will use the Micra’s platform to introduce a sedan in the later stages of 2010 or 2011.

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under New Nissan Micra/March

Spied – Hyundai i20 MPV

HYundai_i20_MPV_auto_back.jpg

I do not know if the camouflaged test mule pictured here is the production model of the ix-metro concept shown at the Frankfurt Show but it certainly looks like it.

The plans for producing the MPV variant of the i20 hatchback was brought to our notice in June earlier this year. After the shifting of a major chunk of the i20’s production to Turkey, one really wonders if Hyundai will manufacture the MPV variant here in its Chennai plant since the demand for this type of vehicle is more in Europe. Might as well make it in Turkey and distribute it faster to European countries.

The i20 MPV will be 4.10 meters long and has a width and height of 1.75 and 1.65 meters respectively. Room Inside will be allocated for five people and it will compete with models like the Opel Meriva, Renault Grand Modus and Nissan Note.

One must also not forget Mahindra’s future MPV that will be less than 4 metres long and with a 1.5-liter diesel engine, it will be suitable for excise benefits in India. That means, the Mahindra mini MPV will be offered to shoppers who want maximum space for their money. It will be a spacious vehicle competing with hatchbacks in i20 and Ritz range.

Buying an i20 is a costly affair in India and I’m sure the i20 MPV will be priced higher. Perhaps with more localization over time, a locally sourced diesel engine and slightly tinkered body, the i20 MPV could leave the Chennai plant to greet the new breed of Indian customers – the mini MPV buyers!

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Hyundai, Spy pictures

Rendering – Fiat Punto Evo Cabriolet

Fiat_Punto_EVO_convertible - 3

Fiat we are told, will not limit the Grande Punto to just a hatchback. The Punto with a wide variety of engines, makes for a perfect buy. From the 1.2-liter 8 valve economy version to the 1.4-liter T-Jet 180 PS monster, the Punto is pitched at every kind of hatchback buyer.

With the introduction of the new Punto Evo at the Frankfurt show, Fiat is not limiting it to just a hatchback. Sources tell us Fiat could look at different body styles including a convertible version shown here.

Although the day when such a model rolls out is some distance away, we thought it would be a nice idea to send Fiat lovers into their imaginary worlds. After all, the smaller Fiat 500 has its convertible version, while a SUV is also being tested.

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Fiat, Renderings

Shaun Malambo – My impressions on the Chevrolet Cruze

chevrolet_cruze_paris_1

Our regular reader Shaun Malambo, who lives in Cape Town, South Africa, had a chance to experience the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. As you know, IAB has been keenly following the Cruze making this our 27th post on the car.

The Cruze was launched in South Africa on the 24th of this month and due to personal reasons, Shaun could not attend the launch and cover it for us. As a result he had gone a Chevy dealership close to his house and came away impressed.

Shaun Malambo -

The Chevrolet Cruze was launched on the 24 September 2009 in South Africa and has visual appeal. I couldn’t attend the launch but went over to my local dealership to have a look at what all the buzz was about since I’m following Indian Autos blog and being a Chevrolet Aveo & Spark fan.

The car oozes sophistication and grandness which is quite uncommon for a ‘budget priced’ car. The Cruze is a compact and sleek car, it looks solid and the linear lines on the exterior makes the Cruze sexy without being over the top – it is indeed a thing of beauty in the eyes of the beholder. It is well built, of a high quality and in a league of its own. It can’t really be compared to any other luxury car I encountered. You need to see it to believe it!

click through to read more

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under chevrolet cruze

Spied – VW Polo and new Skoda Fabia in India

polo-spied_Indiapolo-fabia_spied_India

Hardly 24 hours ago, Indian Autos Blog brought spy pictures of the new Fabia. Now, we have photographs of what we think is the new Fabia, testing on the roads of India.

The chaps at Carwale have photographed the Fabia and Polo (both share the same architecture) testing in Mumbai. Both the cars were wearing European plates indicating they are not part of the pre-production run from the Pune facility.

The Fabia caught was a lovely yellow color with low-profile tyres that are not offered in India.

The VW Polo debuts at the Delhi Auto Expo next year.

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Skoda, Spy pictures, Volkswagen

Scoop – Yamaha testing 50-135cc scooters in India

Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer Yamaha, who is riding the success wave with the FZ series and R15 motorcycle, has put three scooters (50 cc Neo, 115 cc Fino and 135 cc Spark) on test in India. Yamaha has also put these models on display across select dealerships in India.

This is nothing new considering they have been they have already spoken about it before and in a Pune dealership, some scooters have found fans already.

Scoop -

Our sources close to Yamaha tell us a scooter with a capacity of close to 125cc (either Fino or Spark) will be positioned as the market leader Honda Activa alternative. It will be about Rs 2,000 cheaper than the Activa with three or four extra features. The scooter could be launched during the time of Diwali.

The Honda Activa enjoys a 55 percent market share and it would take more than just price undercutting to displace it from the top.

The Indian scooter market is vastly populated with gearless scooters in the 100-125 cc range. Close to 12 lakh units of these easy-operation vehicles were sold in our country last year.

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Yamaha

Random Thoughts – Could Fiat have missed the plot again?

Fiat_steering_wheel

After the futile primo stint of the Italian giant in our country, it was the group of die hard Fiat aficionado’s (includes us here in Indian Autos Blog) who had the belief in the company to defy all odds and kick back. These die hard fans never gave up prating about Palio S10 (1.6) & Palio Adventure, be it clubs or forums or bars.

Every time one talks about these offerings, one goes into seeing himself behind the steering of these machines and revving them hard. It was the pure sound of the engine and exhaust which made the youths go crazy about it.

It was such models Fiat was known for and not the Palio 1.1. The major chunk of the brand’ followers are youngsters, when Fiat announced its comeback, they were the one who flooded blogs and forums and followed magazines to see them again revving the new Linea and Punto.

Fiat launched the Linea, it stirred everyone by it Italian design; all the young maniacs queued up to lay their hands on its steering.

click through to read the entire post

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Fiat

Rendering – Maruti Suzuki small car (Code: YP8)

maruti yp8_small_car_1

Its been several decades of Maruti Suzuki dominance in Indian market. Till today, they’ve only marketed cars that were developed by parent company Suzuki in various segments for international markets. While that’s been the case with every overseas car maker in India, most of them including the likes of Honda and Toyota are currently working on a small car that is specifically for the Indian market, developed by Indian engineers.

The Maruti Suzuki YP8 belongs to that category of cars. Modeled for the harsh Indian conditions and requirements, the prototype of the desi YP8 is taking shape at the company’s facility in Gurgaon. It will utilize the Suzuki Swift’s platform and the Ritz’s K-Series engine that displaces 1,200 cc.

click through to continue reading and view a higher resolution image

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Maruti Suzuki, Renderings

VW Beetle arrives in India in the following months

vw-beetle_india

VW’s iconic Beetle will be sold in India by the end of this year. The company will deploy the Beetle as a premium hatchback that rivals the Fiat 500. Though prices will only be announced during the launch, it is estimated to be around the 15 lakh mark.

VW is not expecting the Beetle to sell in large numbers. The company knows this vehicle is more of a brand building tool which should help the Polo, that debuts at the Auto Expo 2010, in its initial stages.

The VW Beetle was shown to the visitors at the Mumbai International Motor Show in January this year. The market study had begun at that point and so has the wait.

The Beetle is manufactured in Mexico and it will be brought into India as a CBU. With the 1.9-liter TDI engine and a 5-speed transmission, the Beetle makes a style statement than anything else for VW and its buyers.

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Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Volkswagen
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