Indian Autos blog

The soon-to-launched 90 bhp Fiat Punto wouldn’t be called the ‘Punto Sport’ a company official clarified when Indian Autos Blog inquired them about the car earlier this month.

The ‘powerful’ Fiat Punto, which would get VGT (Variable geometry turbocharger) version of the 1.3 Multijet engine from the Linea, is expected to be launched in the first week of July, 2010. This would boost the diesel Punto’s power from 76 bhp to 90 bhp.

Recently, Fiat launched new variant of the Fiat Punto in the Brazillian market. The new Fiat Punto ‘Attractive’ has joined the ‘Active’, ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Emotion’ variants.

Could Fiat use the same variant name for the new powerful diesel Punto?

Fiat could also use this variant name for its ‘powerful’ models, like the T-Jet Linea with a turbocharged 1.4l petrol engine developing 120 bhp. The powerful Linea T-jet would be launched by August, 2010.

The next generation Suzuki Swift has recently been unveiled in Hungary and it doesn’t drastically look different from its predecessor though the interiors, mechanicals and the bodyshell have been thoroughly revised.

The new Swift is longer by 90mm and the wheelbase has been stretched by 50mm. Suzuki has also worked on making the rear more comfortable than the current Swift. The new Swift would retain the 1.2l KB series engine.

Maruti Suzuki would soon bring the 2011 Suzuki Swift to India. But would the new Swift replace or sell alongside the current Swift? Maruti has hinted that the next gen Swift might replace its predecessor.

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After Bolero, Scorpio, Xylo, Gio and Maxximo, why would Mahindra not add a “o” to the re-engineered Renault Logan which it plans to sell in India next year under its name?

If you ask me to rename the Logan, I would call it the Mahindra Wrestler simply because the Logan has gone through such a turbulent and testing phase with a brave heart in the last couple of years despite being a product with winning credentials.

When I first saw the Logan in a Mahindra dealership in Chennai three years back, I was bowled over by the amount of rear leg room and comfort. I was also impressed equally with the diesel engine’s refinement and fuel economy claims.

Sure, the refinement never was in the league of Mercs and BMWs, but back then, its main competitor, the slightly better looking Tata Indigo, which lagging behind in almost every department, made the Logan look the obvious choice.

The Logan on the other hand was boxy, perhaps the design inspiration was an 8 year old’s pencil box. It also had the same practicality as a pencil box mind you- you could put sharp and harmful articles inside it and carry it around safely. The Logan had good ride and excellent fuel economy. The large boot (perhaps the best in class even today) and easy ingress-egress made it the ultimate choice for the first time sedan buyer.

Somehow the product never received constant upgrades. Drivetrain options were never re-looked, and the sub 4-meter debate began too late.

The Logan is a big, spacious car and will gain acceptance into the Mahindra family without any stares. In these three years, Mahindra should have learnt how not to sell the Logan. Will these lessons help them give another chance for the extremely capable Logan in Indian market?

VW India’s spokesperson spilled the beans while speaking to journalists recently on its compact car that sits under the Polo. He said VW hasn’t yet finalized plans for this small or should I say smaller car, which we believe is the production avatar of the VW Up! concept.

Volkswagen Group’s India Communication Head Kurt Rippholz -

Believe me, we will have something smaller than the Polo. We are working on it. First you have to conceptualise and then assess the market potential.

There has been no official word, but this proposed small car is being worked on by the German engineers. Recently, spy shooters have captured what they claim is the Up’s platform being tested using a dummy body (pictured).

The VW Up! will have multiple powertrains. Also on the menu is a Skoda and a Seat based on the Up!

In a media report printed last year, VW had delayed the launch date of the Up! to late 2011 citing the lack of clarity on the branding front as a reason.

Speculated to start at 3 lakh rupees, the VW Up! according to Autocar India will internationally be sold with three engines – a tiny three-cylinder 1-litre TDI engine, 1.2-liter TDI (found in the Polo), the entry-point 800cc petrol unit, and the high-performance 1.2 TSI motor which is unlikely to make it on not only Up! but any affordable VW product in India.

VW has chucked the rear-engine, rear wheel drive layout on the concept car in favor of the front-engine, front-wheel drive layout.

Volkswagen India has aired a new advertisement termed ‘curves’ in the Indian television space. The Ad’s name reflects what the VW Beetle always was and is famous for – it’s retro and chic design.

The VW Beetle was launched in India last year and was also showcased at the Auto Expo.

GM China recently launched the Chevrolet Sail sedan and hatchback in China recently. GM developed this car specifically for the developing markets like the China, Brazil and India. We had already brought you spy shots of the Sail being tested in China. And rumor has it that this car is heading to India in both its sedan and hatchback avatars probably in the next couple of years.

The Chevrolet Sail sedan could be GM’s entry-level sedan in India. The car though conservatively styled, looks smart with its clean, fuss-free lines.

The front has a tinge of Chevrolet family look, but the execution appears like desperation crept in to resemble the nose of the Cruze and Beat. The rear of the car looks extremely pleasing (its got a hint of the Fiat Linea).

The hatchback could be placed above the Chevrolet Beat, possibly between the Beat and the next gen Aveo. GM India would keep the length of the hatchback under 4,000mm to enjoy small car excise benefits.

The interiors of the car almost look sporty mainly because several components and styling elements look like afterthoughts than a pre-set design goal. But then, the interiors are good enough for its competition, and if GM are to lure cab operators, this is a perfect vehicle.

The Indian version of the cars, if they intend to sell it to families, would have loads of beige and chrome as GM knows the Indian car buyer lover beige.

The car could get a 1.2 liter petrol engine from the Beat tuned to produce 87hp. A small frugal diesel engine should be offered, only then can GM get this car to sell in large numbers.

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Mahindra and Mahindra is planning to launch a face lifted version of its Xylo MPV, by the end of this year reports the July 1st issue of Auto Bild Magazine. The facelifted Xylo should be in the market somewhere close to December 2010.

Mahindra has mainly concentrated on improving the looks of the Xylo, which has drawn major criticism and flak. The Xylo will be embellished with a new radiator grille, with the trademark centre walrus tooth, a bonnet with smoother lines and headlamps with black surrounds.

The interiors will be given a splash of freshness and will have slightly better quality and feel to it.

The Xylo face lift could also receive updates to the technical aspects of the vehicle such as the improved brakes and the suspension. We certainly hope that Mahindra does something to fix the Xylo’s scary bodyroll, in order to lend the vehicle with a sense of stability.

With the Xylo facelift, Mahindra definitely has a chance to sort out the issues that have been plaguing the Xylo and make it a better engineered product. But my question is, are they willing to make use of this chance or should we wait for the next gen model to see major improvement?

GM India has been introducing alternative fuel versions for a number of its car models, as these boost sales considerably. The Chevrolet Spark LPG was launched last year and this boosted the sales of the Spark considerably. Also the Chevrolet Aveo CNG has been launched recently.

The next in line to get a LPG version is GM India’s bestseller, Chevrolet Beat which would be launched by December, 2010. We had posted the news and spy pictures of the Chevrolet Beat LPG test vehicle in April itself, now the LPG Beat’s arrival is official.

Ankush Arora, VP (Sales & Marketing), General Motors India -

We will have the LPG-run Beat ready in a few months and plan to launch it by November-December.

The company’s latest model Beat has been doing good business since its launch and now with the upcoming LPG version, we can expect the Beat’s sales to increase.

The Chevrolet Beat diesel is also being developed and is expected to be launched by the first quarter of 2011.