The next Renault Clio could also come in 3-door form. Expect fuel-efficient engines
We’ve shown you Clio renderings and Clio clay models in the past. The Renault Clio we’re referring to here is the one that’ll be manufactured in Renault-Nissan’s Oragadam facility in Chennai using Nissan’s V-Platform in the next few years.
At this point we can only talk about the car’s looks as no details on powertrains have surfaced. We can speculate the possibility of the same 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine from the Nissan Micra under the Clio’s bonnet. We can also speculate that it will be slightly smaller than the Micra.
Renault’s “small entry level car” is expected to bring volumes to the company. Renault will sell the Clio through its own distribution network. It will also price the car competitively. It will also come with dedicated doors for rear passengers.
The base variant Nissan Micra should be priced around 4.25 lakh rupees in India
We don’t know if the prices of the all-new Nissan Micra in Thailand holds any relevance to the Indian scene, but we can take a clue from the announcement – Nissan isn’t going for the Figo territory with its new hatch.
We have learnt that the Thai Micra has airbags, ABS, EBD and Brake Assist as standard features. This indicates the pricing would begin somewhere close to 4.25 lakh rupees at most in India with all these features chopped off in the base variant.
Nissan has also made it clear that it isn’t willing to get into a price war with the Micra in India. Anyways coming back to the Micra launch.
With a 4.5m turning radius, the Micra’s is just 0.5m short of the legendary Tata Nano. That is quite a remarkable achievement for a car that is 3.72m long.
The Micra comes in a choice of 6 colours – Brilliant Silver, Black Star, Crystal Lilac, Spring green, Sunlight orange and White pearl in Thailand. At launch 4 variants with 2 option packs are offered.
You can buy the Micra in both manual and automatic transmission forms. Only the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine is offered at launch which makes 79ps, while torque output is 108Nm.
Click through for the press release and Image Slideshow
The 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander RX is butch and ready to pounce
Mitsubishi launched a limited edition Outlander RX last year same time in Australia based on the outgoing Outlander. Today Mitsubishi has introduced the RX edition based on the current generation Outlander.
Styling features include redesigned front bumper and fog lights, 18-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels and unique side and rear air dams. Door handles are painted silver, chrome exhaust tip and privacy glass finish the exterior modifications list.
Inside the Outlander RX you get leather and sports mesh seat trim, silver painted floor console panels and chrome interior door handles. Bluetooth connectivity and ‘smart key’ keyless operation are part of the package.
The Outlander RX is powered by the same 2.4L MIVEC engine, coupled with a CVT automatic transmission. Mitsubishi’s All Wheel Control 4wd System, Dual SRS airbags, ABS Brakes with EBD, Active Stability Control, Active Traction Control and Hill Start Control are all standard on the new Outlander RX.
Mitsubishi have just launched the Evo-nosed Outlander in India so this might not be on the Indian operation’s list of things to do at the moment. Maybe a few months down the line when the BMW X1 and new Chevrolet Captiva is out, this could fit the bill.
click through to view the image gallery
The Maruti EECO is serving as a great alternative to the Omni buyer
Things are going as per plan in camp Maruti.
The Maruti Eeco seems to have done what the Versa failed to do trying years for Maruti Suzuki. Maruti Eeco customers have to deal with 3-4 months waiting to drive home their EECO as per reports in the media.
The EECO has a vast amount of cabin space and good amount of power. Though being a re-engineered Versa, the customer isn’t bothered about its underpinnings or origin. In fact most of the customers are Omni owners, the company reveals.
Maruti Suzuki spokesperson -
The product has received overwhelming customer response for its attractive power, good air-conditioning, looks and high utility value All these features along with attractive prices have got us many more buyers than what we had planned. This has resulted in a shortfall in supply as compared to the huge demand and we are now trying to increase production so as to match the demand scenario.
In some cases customers have to wait almost 6 months to get their car.
Maruti is reacting to the situation by increasing production as quickly as possible. They forecast about 3,000 units sale in these first few months.
Definitely won’t give you the time of life. With or without roses
If you want to arrive or leave your wedding in style, then you would do it along with a good looking bride flashy ride that oozes attitude and makes the statement. Like say an Aston Martin or a Lamborghini Gallardo or Bentley Continental.
Whether it is a stretched Toyota Innova, Renault Logan or a Ford Endeavour you can’t recreate such an effect. Would the fat man living next door win the Olympics if you put track suits on him? It’s that simple.
If you can’t lease an exotic, then better walk, take the bus or rent a cab or drive your own car. A stretched Mahindra Xylo shouldn’t be an option. Even if the registration plate has 007.
Audi begins its mission numero uno with local assembly of Q5 this year
German luxury auto maker Audi is drawing up severe plans to pip BMW and Mercedes Benz to be number one by 2015. The company wants to see sales triple in India by then.
AUDI AG board member Peter Schwarzenbauer -
By 2015, we aim to become number 1 in India. We have told our team in India to work towards that aim. Our efforts, for brand building and developing dealerships for deeper market penetration, are geared towards that
Audi finished third last year in sales (1,685 units) behind BMW and Mercedes Benz. It plans to capture the flag by not only expanding its model range but also dealerships, from 12 at present to 18 by end of next year. It is looking to start operations in Jaipur, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Nagpur, Lucknow and Coimbatore
Seeing the level of demand for premium SUVs in the country, Audi will begin assembling the Q5 in the Aurangabad plant by the middle of this year. At present only A4 and A6 are being put together in the country
Thanks to our friends at Alvolante, a leading online portal in Italy, we’re able to bring you the first look of the 2010 Suzuki Swift‘s interiors.
Upon elaborate inspection, I figured the new Suzuki Swift‘s dashboard is slightly more ordered. The centre stack is clearly visible and the steering wheel is more Chevrolet.
The AC vents have a different shape, the gear knob is the same and a compact twin dial layout replaces three dials. The new Swift’s dashboard lacks a digital clock but a LCD screen is the new addition.
The new Suzuki Swift based on a new platform, according to media reports debuts at the Paris Motor Show later in the year. It could come to India in the first quarter of 2011, but how Maruti will position this hatch remains a mystery. Chinese publications have also hinted the sedan version of the new Swift by the end of this year for international markets.
From limited vision this is all I can figure out. Existing Swift owners, why don’t you give me a hand in completing this comparison.
