Paul Gibson, former chief designer Ford APA (Asia Pacific) breaks down the design of the new Ford Endeavour (‘Everest’ in select markets) which was launched in India last year. The Endeavour is based on the Ranger pickup truck, which will soon be replaced by a new stronger, and more capable load carrier.
Archive for June, 2010
Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) India’s new hatchback Etios would be launched by the end of this year and Toyota would begin deliveries of the car by Jan 2011. Toyota India is touring the country with the Etios twins (hatchback and sedan), creating awareness about the Etios concept cars and also gauging the public’s response.
There have been speculations about the Etios sedan coming before the hatchback, but this not true. Toyota could even look at launching the Etios twins simultaneously. The Etios hatchback would compete with the Nissan Micra, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Chevrolet Beat, next generation 2011 Maruti Swift and Honda’s upcoming small car.
The Toyota Etios sedan would have to battle it out with fewer but very potent rivals like the Volkswagen Vento (Polo sedan), Honda City, Hyundai Verna Transform, Fiat Linea, Nissan’s sedan based on the V-platform (on which the Micra is built), Chevrolet Sail and the European Ford Fiesta sedan.
Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, TKM -
We will develop it further on the basis of feedback we receive and hope to begin delivery by January next year. With our compact concept car Etios, we hope to attain a sizeable market share in India in the shortest possible time.
Toyota is betting big on the Etios hatchback which would be driving Toyota’s sales in India. Toyota India recently invested 3200 crore Rupees to set up a new facility with an annual capacity of 80,000 units at Bidadi, Kanataka.
Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), TKM -
To ensure maximum accessibility to customers, we will expand our sales and service network to nearly 150 dealers by the end of the current year.
Toyota’s dealer expansion drive would also see a number of Toyota outlets coming up in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Toyota is looking to capture a sizeable chunk of the Indian small car segment and feels its small car would do brisk business in non-metro cities and towns also.
The BMW X1 has been successful internationally, being the brand’s cheapest crossover-SUV. BMW was the first of the big three luxury German manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi) to enter the mini-SUV segment and is cashing on the lack of competition from Audi and Mercedes Benz.
Mercedes Benz and Audi are planning to take on the BMW X1 in a big way with their ‘GLC’ and Q3 mini-SUVs respectively. While the Audi Q3 would be launched internationally by 2011, the mini-SUV from Mercedes’ stable could come only by 2014.
The reason is Mercedes Benz is developing a new front wheel drive platform for its A-Class and B-Class and the Mercedes Benz GLC would be based on this front wheel drive platform. The front wheel drive for the GLC would help in Mercedes Benz competently pricing the GLC and making it fuel efficient.
The Mercedes Benz GLC (BMW X1 rival) could get a 2.1 liter diesel engine producing 170 hp (220 CDI) and a 1.8 liter petrol engine producing 204 hp (250 CGI) when it comes to India in 2014. Four wheel drive could be optional.
The BMW X1 which has already been spotted at a Chennai dealership, would be launched in India in January 2011 and assembly of the BMW X1 at BMW’s Chennai plant would begin by December 2010. The BMW X1 would be BMW’s cheapest offering in India and could be priced between 23-28 lakh Rupees.
Skoda Auto recently produced its 100,000th 1.2 liter TSI petrol engine at its engine and transmission manufacturing plant in Mladá Boleslav in Czechoslovakia. The 1.2 TSI (Turbocharged Stratified Injection) engine is used on the Fabia, Octavia, Yeti and the Roomster. The engine is also used in other Volkswagen models and various Seat small cars.
This turbocharged petrol engine comes in two different states of tune, a 84 hp version and a 103 hp version. This Fabia with a 1.2 TSI engine mated to a 7-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox, is capable of delivering 19 kmpl.
Reinhard Jung, Chairman , Škoda Auto -
This is another milestone in the 110-year history of engine production in Mladá Boleslav. The massive demand for the 1.2 TSI shows that our engines with optimized consumption are the right direction.
Sadly the Indian market does not get this turbocharged 1.2 liter 4-cylinder motor, we only get a 1.2 liter HTP 3-cylinder unit on the Fabia.
Skoda could be introducing the 1.2 liter TSI petrol engine on the Indian Fabia when it launches the updated version of the Fabia in October 2010.
Also the 1.2 TSI engine could be powering a lot of other Skoda and VW models in India. The upcoming Octavia replacement, Skoda Felicia could be powered by the 1.2 TSI engine.
Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL) is developing a new small car that would be positioned under the Santro and we had brought you spyshots and renderings of the Hyundai H800 small car. We learn that Hyundai’ small car is being designed by engineers at Hyundai’s Engineering and Development Center in Hyderabad.
According to Hyundai, engineers in Hyderabad are working on over 180 parts for the small car and most of the designing has been carried out by Computer aided design (CAD) and Computer aided engineering (CAE).
Y.S. Roh, Managing Director, HMIL -
Over 400 engineers are engaged in the project. It will take about a year to complete the task.
Hyundai’s Engineering and Development Center was established in 2009 and does a great deal of R & D work for Hyundai India. With localization of work for the development of its cars, Hyundai would be able to price its products very competitively.
The Hyundai H800 small car, which would come with a small 800cc engine, could be pitted against the Maruti Alto and would be priced between 2 – 2.5 lakh Rupees. Hyundai could be launching the new small car H800 at the 2012 Auto Expo at New Delhi.
Hyundai should be looking to produce 60,000 to 80,000 units of the new small car initially and then ramp up production if required.
Click here for Indian Autos Blog’s exclusive rendering of the Hyundai H800 small car.
Tata Motors is bracing to launch a new variant on the Ace’s platform for inter-city transport – the fascinating Magic Iris.
The vehicle, showcased at the Auto Expo this year, was launched in Jaipur to test the response of the operators/auto rickshaw owners to this low-speed, unique vehicle that runs on diesel fuel. As per reports, the national launch will be conducted in September-October 2010.
The Magic Iris can be expected in both BS3 and BS4 variants. From the spyshots, we infer the pod-like people carrier would be sold in bright colors that will create a lively atmosphere around it.
Built on the Ace platform, the Magic Iris can seat three passengers in the rear and one in the front. It has car-like interiors and quality is light years ahead of an autorickshaw’s. The same platform will also be used to bring out the Penguin, a light load carrier.
The Magic Iris is put together at the company’s Pantnagar, Uttrakhand facility where the Ace is also manufactured.
Features of Tata magic Iris
611cc, single cylinder water-cooled BS 3 (emission norms compatible), 11hp diesel engine
Cable shift gearbox – 4 forward, 1 reverse
Steering – mechanical, rack and pinion
12-inch radial tires
Seating capacity – driver+ 4 passengers
Hard steel roof and dashboard
Honda Siel India would be giving a facelift to its flagship model in India, the Honda Accord. But before your expectations soar high, let us clarify that this is just a mild facelift. The only visible changes are at the car’s front grille, everything else is untouched. The bumper has been modified slightly, but it can’t be noticed in the first ten glances.
This facelift reminds us of the treatment the Camry received last year. The company is trying to keep the excitement level up after Skoda introduced the best selling Superb spoiling Honda’s party.
Erik Berkman, VP (Corporate Planning and Logistics), Honda Motor Co. -
For 2011, the Honda Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features. The Honda Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers.
The facelifted Honda Accord would go on sale in the USA in August 2010 and the facelift for India would follow soon. Though the visual changes have been reserved to a cosmetics, there are a few minuscule modifications to the car’s interiors, and engine to improve fuel economy.
There are some very small changes to the car’s interiors that can go unnoticed, like the new layout for the climate control’s buttons which position the most used buttons towards the driver and new clock adjust buttons. The instrument panels have also been given a slight upgrade.
Apart from the small car segment, only the sedan segment was considered lucrative by manufacturers in India. But now with the increasing popularity of the people movers (MPV, mini-MPVs, utility vehicles) in India, suddenly every car company in India is wanting to put one on the market.
Maruti Suzuki India showcased its R3 concept car at the 2010 Auto Expo, New Delhi. The MPV concept car received good response from the public and soon news came out that Maruti would make a 7-seat production version of the R3 concept MPV. Maruti would be looking to launch the new MPV in the first half of 2011.
I.V. Rao, Managing Executive Officer (Engineering), Maruti Suzuki -
A team of 20 engineers worked on it (Maruti R3 MPV) with feedback from consumers.
Maruti’s R3 MPV would be based on a extended and heavier SX4 platform and could come with the Swift’s 1.2 liter K-Series engine or the SX4′s 1.6 liter VVT engine.
Also the Maruti MPV could get diesel engines from Volkswagen, thanks to the latter’s 19.9% stake in Suzuki. Or Maruti could use the 1.3 liter DDiS diesel engine probably with a VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger).
The car could be priced between 6-8 lakh Rupees and would directly compete with the Toyota Innova, the Mahindra Xylos (7-seater and 5-seater), the upcoming Nissan MPV based on the V-Platform (on which the Nissan Micra is built), Ford’s B-Max MPV based on the Figo’s platform and the probable Chevrolet Orlando.
Click here for Indian Autos Blog’s exclusive rendering of the Maruti R3 MPV.
