The small car, bigger than the Fiat 500, is likely have four doors and lots of space
At the Auto Expo last week, Fiat India CEO Rajeev Kapoor told IAB that Fiat will unveil a compact car in India in the next few years. The small car Fiat is developing for India will be smaller than the Palio and targets buyers who are on the hunt for something cheaper than the existing entry-level model.
Kapoor said the new small car will have nothing to do with the Topolino brand of small cars developed for Europe. He added the design of the car will be finalized and takes shape in Italy. Kapoor insisted the design has not yet been frozen.
The Ranjangoan plant capacity utilization is expected to reach 80 percent by 2012 and the only way to get there is produce a high-volume vehicle like the new small car which could give Fiat a fighting chance to regain market share.
Tata Nano diesel will be easier to drive, but costs more
After completing the task of designing one of India’s most fuel efficient petrol engines, Bosch now has the diesel sipper ready for transplant into the Tata Nano.
Bosch calls the diesel engine “CRS 1.1″ where CRS stands for Common Rail System. Sources close to the engine’s development say it displaces 650-750cc making it the world’s smallest CRDI engine. The petrol engine on the presently running model displaced 623cc.
Another report in the media reads the Nano’s diesel engine will have a single cylinder and produce 25-30 hp but much more of torque making it easier to drive in the crowded Indian metros.
Bosch supplies front and rear drum brakes, the starter motor, alternator and the fuel injection system for Nano.
According to the company’s press release issued at the start of the Auto Expo -
India is witnessing a strong increase in demand for diesel engines. There are several reason for this rise in popularity. The diesel consumes 30 percent less fuel than gasoline engine, while common rail technology reduces the pollutant emissions of diesel engines, thus making it possible to meet strict emission standards.
Production of the diesel variant, according to a source, begins in the third or final quarter of the following financial year.
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The EECO was not designed to be a looker. Its space and price make it versatile
‘Happiness Family Size’ is the punchline for Maruti Suzuki’s newest offering to the Indian family – the EECO launched at the Auto Expo last week, was unveiled in Mumbai today evening.
Based on the Versa’s platform, the EECO doesn’t look very good. But for its price, you don’t get cars which offer more interior volume. The BS4 complaint 1.2-liter K-Series petrol engine produces 73bhp and 101Nm of torque at 3,000RPM.
Available in three variants 5 seater base, 5 seater AC and 7 seater, the only thing we can’t understand is why Maruti doesn’t offer Air-conditioning on the 7 seater variant. It does offer crumple zones and side impact beam which improves its safety ratings.
Looking beyond all that, the EECO has comfortable seats and ample leg/head room. What Suzuki calls as the Diagonal Shift Assistance (DSA) makes gear shifting easier. The EECO comes in seven colors.
The highest scoring area of the EECO is its price tag (Ex Showroom Mumbai) – Rs. 2,73,934 for the base model, Rs. 3,03,934 for the 5 Seater AC and Rs. 290021 for the 7 seater Eeco gives it a golden chance to regain some lost ground and achieve what the Versa couldn’t.
click through for images and press release
New Fiat Uno arrives in Brazil this March; Follows in other countries afterward
We’ve been following the new Fiat Uno all along with leaked images of its components, renderings and spyshots. But here’s the real deal for the Uno fan – a head-on spy shot of an undisguised Fiat Uno which could make it to India in the future.
Fiat’s line-up of small cars in India ends with the Palio and the company is in the process of designing a completely new small car from scratch in its Italian HQ. To fill the gap and to make the positioning easier, the new Uno could emerge as a likely candidate, but no one in the Indian camp is talking about it yet.
The new Uno looks plain but solid. There are three passages provided on the right of the fascia, which is never seen before on a Fiat. The bumpers are big and the headlamps extending backwards resembles the Doblo.
The rear view mirrors are similar to the ones used on the Fiat Punto. We expect plenty of components from existing Fiat cars to play crucial roles on the Uno. The absence of chrome or sophisticated styling reminds us of the car’s low price tag. Most likely, this Fiat will likely form the entry point in many new markets.
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Students and teachers at Judson Univ check out the Tata Nano inside-out
The world’s cheapest car, Tata Nano, made a two-hour stop at Judson University, Elgin, Chicago yesterday on its way to the ongoing Detroit Motor Show in North America.
The Champagne Gold Nano LX with licence plate number MH04 ED 7015, borrowed from Tata Technologies’ Centre for Advanced Engineering and Design in Pune was showcased to roughly 200 people who are associated to the University, community and the US government.
Almost each of them after getting a taste of the 2-cylinder 624cc city car asked when it would be available in the US. Many of them questioned accompanying officials on the safety and emission aspects of the vehicle.
The crowd was surprised by the interior room and some of them were heard saying airbags would make it to the US-spec version.
As Ratan Tata, Group Chairman holds a degree in architecture, the Nano was showcased in the architecture block of the university.
The Nano now travels to its final destination – Cobo Center in Detroit where it will remain on display till the 24th
Suzuki Alto with fish scales and fin will be shown at the Berlin Show this month
At the Berlin International Green Week this year, Suzuki will show a one-off concept based on the Indian-made Suzuki A-Star (referred as Alto in Europe). Covered in vinyl wrap spread with paintings of fish scales, the Alto will be the weirdest exhibit at the world’s largest fair for food, agriculture and horticulture. The event kicks off in Jan 15th and till the 24th, it’ll make you wonder why Suzuki didn’t choose a tree, food grains or grass to spread over the car.
click through to view the image slideshow
Autoincar, a blog publishing worthy information time and again on Nissan, has carried a post revealing details of the upcoming 1.2-liter engine on the Nissan Micra. The Nissan Micra’s production begins in the third week of May this year at Oragadam, Chennai. The Micra will also be produced in other countries including China as a variant of the V-Platform.
Details -
Engine name – HR12DE
No.of.Cylinders – 3 Cylinders
Displacement – 1,198 cc
Power Output – 74 HP (54 KW)
Torque – 104 Nm
Fuel Consumption (claim) – 26 km/litre
If Autoincar has nailed it, then the Micra isn’t the most powerful hatch around here in India. The 26kmpl figure is what sends us into a frenzy. We will wait for official confirmation to comment further.
The new Maruti Suzuki Alto would come with a K-Series engine and reduced asking price
We are aware of the toned down Alto and spruced up Wagon R, but what we would like to see Suzuki unveil this year is the all-new Suzuki Swift which Suzuki has been conducting test runs in Europe.
Reports in the print media state the company is working hard to retain maximum market share by introducing a cheaper variant of the Alto. The reigned down Alto will have much of its features and comfort subtracted. It could be priced in close proximity to some of the Tata Nano variants, adds the report.
The new Alto will come with the K-Series engine. The displacement is not clear.
The new Wagon R is expected to come with either the 1.0-liter or the 1.2-liter engine and a cosmetic alteration.
All the above variants will conform to BS 4 emission norms.
