The Outlander and Montero could use Concept PX-MiEV’s technology in few years
Car Advice Australia have revealed that Mitsubishi will introduce the next generation Montero with plug-in hybrid technology. The Mitsubishi Montero is offered in India with a 3.2-liter diesel engine that can be purchased with either manual or automatic transmission.
CA Australia also reports the Outlander, which just received a facelift in India, could also come with a similar hybrid powertrain.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited president and CEO, Robert McEniry -
The next generation will be plug-in hybrid and will do more and have more capabilities than current models.
Mitsubishi exhibited a hybrid SUV named Concept PX-MiEV which was a plug-in hybrid type at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.
Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid system displayed in the PX-MiEV concept is driven by all four wheels by two permanent magnet synchronous motors in combination with a 1.6L DOHC MIVEC petrol engine which powers the front-wheels and acts as a generator. The car can also be used as a generator to run household appliances!
I know of a handful of the Indian billionaires, some of which own car companies and a lot of which own steel companies. And there’s also an emerging market in the film industry as well.
- Regional director – middle east, Africa and India, Bentley Motors Chris Buxton when asked about potential customers of the insanely high priced Bentley Mulsanne.
The new Maybach would be revealed next month. This could be the final facelift.
Remember the Maybach? It’s what Rolls Royce is to BMW. Maybach belongs to Daimler AG and there has not been much news about them recently. RR has sold the entire consignment of its latest model Ghost for India and when we asked Peter Kronschnabl, CEO BMW India his reactions, he stated it was due to the constant hard work and how beautifully the brand was revived.
Maybach on the other hand sells less than one-third of what RR manages worldwide. Both their cars are engineered on the S-Class giving rise to doubts of the next generation S-Class moving upmarket with truck loads of technology and avant-garde styling. The new S-Classes in the process would replace the Maybach models.
Before that happens, Maybach will look to put its torrid past behind with the introduction of mildly facelifted 57 and long wheelbase 62 next month. The slightly tweaked grille, new headlights and a more aggressive lower air intake area don’t lend it a fresh lease of life, but it keeps it away from looking boring.
click through for more images
Could the Nissan Murano be assembled in India?
Has anyone wondered why Nissan hasn’t launched the Murano in India yet? Could it be possible that Nissan is looking at the CBU route for this stylish one-off SUV which has all the credentials to take on cars like the BMW X1 and Toyota Fortuner?
The new engine on the European Murano is a 2.5 dCi which benefits from a new direct injection system operates at 2,000 bar, up from 1,800 bar, a redesigned cylinder head with parallel port and a new variable nozzle turbo (VNT) with electric control replacing the hydraulic system.
The upgrades help generate 190 horsepower and 450Nm of peak torque. This four cylinder engine is offered only with a six-speed automatic transmission and 4×4 system.
Performance and economy statistics will come close to the car’s launch date in September.
click through for Nissan Murano Image Slideshow
Thanks to our regular reader Rohin Sureka, we’re able to bring you these pictures of the next generation Mitsubishi Lancer testing in Kolkata. Rohin’s snapped these pics at night so a few things are unclear.
1) Has Rohin caught the Lancer Evolution?
After a brief search on google images, I understood that many of the Evos don’t have badges on three locations at the rear. It is the regular Lancer which has the logo in the centre, Mitsubishi on the bottom left, and Evo on the bottom right. We haven’t tracked the car closely or driven them, we could be wrong. We’d like to know from our well-versed readers whether this is the Evo or in fact the Lancer.
2) When is it coming to India?
This test mule was spotted in one of the markets in Kolkata. As we all know, Mitsubishi has a production line in West Bengal Chennai and Rohin’s clicked when the Lancer mule was running about clocking data and miles. This doesn’t give us an idea of the launch date or whether Mitsubishi is considering it for the Indian market this year. We can assume that Mitsubishi will launch this car by the end of 2011.
3) What if this is the Evo?
Great then! The Mitsubishi Evo according to our sources will be in India in the next few months. Mitsubishi could assemble kits shipped from Japan at the West Bengal plant. Prices would start somewhere around 35 lakhs approximately.
4) Is there a market for Lancer still in India?
Absolutely. The Mitsubishi Lancer is the company’s best product not only in India but also overseas. I think the Lancer is why people walk into Mitsubishi dealerships, and in India they were having a great run with the first Lancer. The Cedia hasn’t worked as many of us were expecting it to be a mini Evo. It was neither fast nor fuel efficient. With this all-new Lancer, Mitsubishi could get back into the ring and fight the battle which it doesn’t seem interested in now.
The MPV off the V-Platform will be Nissan Note replacement sometime in 2012
Speaking to a news channel from the Geneva Auto Show floor earlier this month, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Nissan stated there is a high likelihood of the MPV variant from the Nissan V-Platform which underpins the Micra, rolling out of the company’s Chennai facility in the next few years.
Now Autoten has posted a scan of the MPV (possible Note replacement) rendering from a Japanese magazine. The report says the Nissan Note replacement will hit the market in the middle of 2012. Know internally as W02C, the dimensions are listed 4050mm * 1495mm * 1535mm. A 4 cylinder 1.5 liter engine is said to be on the engine choice list. Isn’t Nissan considering this engine for the diesel Micra as well?
The Tata Penguin could be priced at around 1.8 lakh rupees
We have shown you two batches of spyshots of the Tata Penguin pickup truck that will sit below the hugely successful Ace. What we didn’t know while we posted those images is the passenger version of this little truck would be unveiled at the Auto Expo as the Magic Iris.
The Magic Iris gets a 611cc diesel engine which was developed by Tata in partnership with Greaves. With an H-pattern gear shift layout, well designed dashboard and two individual seats up front, the Iris is very close to a passenger car.
It isn’t only the cabin that’s car like. MacPherson struts with an anti-roll bar at the front and trailing arm layout with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers are what you’d find on smaller cars sold world over. 145 R12 radial tires and hydraulically actuated drum brakes help Iris retard.
The direct injection 611cc water-cooled diesel engine develops 11bhp at 3000rpm and 31Nm between 1600-1800rpm.
We expect the technical specifications to remain same on the Tata Penguin. The vehicle should be unveiled this year and priced to take down the Mahindra Gio.
click through for high resolution image
Two variants of the Punto with new features and BS4 compliant engine set free
Fiat today expanded its Grande Punto range by adding two new BS4 compliant variants – Fiat 1.2 FIRE Dynamic and Fiat 1.2 FIRE Emotion, both petrol engined premium hatchbacks.
Apart from Tilt Steering, Front Power windows, Fire Prevention System, and Programmed Service Reminder, the 1.2 Dynamic variant will also offer rear power windows and central locking system. As a special introductory offer, the 1.2 Dynamic will also come fitted with CD/MP3 player, for limited period of one month.
Meanwhile, the 1.2 Emotion variant will have all of the above along with integrated audio system with 4 speakers, electric mirrors, fog lamps, dual tone dashboard and split seats.
The 1.2 FIRE Grande Punto Dynamic is priced at Rs. 4.57 lakhs and the 1.2 FIRE Grande Punto Emotion is priced at Rs. 4.87 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
click through for press release and images
