The 2012 Palio is expected in India during the next edition of the Auto Expo and work is progressing quickly in Brazil where lot of its development is taking place. Seen here is a heavily masked test mule going through real world testing.
The new Palio’s branding in India is going to be crucial. The company has not upgraded the existing Palio to BS4 standards and many Palio customers feel neglected, a few even deserted due to the non availability of spare parts. The case will change with the new Palio as it has with Fiat’s recent products – Punto and Linea.
Fiat should perhaps run a buy back scheme for Palio owners when the new Palio hits showrooms. They could use Palio customers as a launchpad by offering the replacement model with attractive offers and schemes. This could help Fiat clear up the old and forgotten Palio from streets and perhaps give another reason for existing Fiat customers to buy another one. The Palio badge needs to be tossed out of the window, very importantly.
Could Tata use the Novo Palio’s platform to roll out a new car? As far as we know, there is no understanding between Tata and Fiat on platforms, but that could change with the new Palio.
Nothing says ‘India has arrived’ more than Bugatti launching a 16 Cr Veyron Grand Sport. Yes, you heard it right – 16 CR; that’s 16 followed by not five or six but 7 zeros. For a petrolhead, this car is Nirvana; for a rich business man, this car is the maddest way to get attention. This not a just a car, it is an engineering masterpiece made entirely from sheer improbable numbers.
Here are just a few
1000 bhp
A top speed of 407 km/hr
An 8 liter, 16 cylinder engine with 4 turbo chargers
0-60 km/hr in 2.6 seconds
A power to weight ratio of 440 bhp per ton.
10 radiators that require 55 liter of cooling water to keep it cool.
And all of these mind boggling numbers in a car that’s street legal. Honestly, this car can make a Maybach and a Rolls Royce look cheap!
Bugatti Automobiles has appointed Exclusive Motors as the company’s dealer in India. Mr Guy Caquelin, Sales Manager (Middle East, India and Europe), Bugatti, said, “Bugatti has been doing well in America, Europe and the Middle East. Now we see India as an emerging market for us, hence we have decided to bring the car to India.”
The company plans to sell 3-4 Veyrons every year in India and the deliveries would be made within eight months from booking.
Just to give you a small idea of how EXCLUSIVE this car is: Even if you win Kaun Banega Crorepati three times on the trot, you will still fall short of 1 cr to buy the car. So you need to win KBC thrice and then get lucky in a lottery immediately afterward to get one.
Looks like the Chevrolet Captiva is soon going to get a baby sister. Autocar UK is reporting that Chevy’s top brass has given a green light to an Aveo based 5 seater SUV.
The new SUV will be designed and engineered by GM’s Korean R&D centre the same division that was responsible for the Cruze and Beat.
The new SUV will feature a selectable front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive along with an option of 6 engines:
2 diesel engine of 1.3L capacity producing 75 and 95 hp each (this should be the Fiat Multi-jet engine without and with VGT)
A 1.2l petrol powerplant producing 70 hp and a 86 hp (Beat’s petrol engine with different levels of tune most likely India bound)
A 1.4l petrol engine that produces 100 hp
A 1.6l petrol engine that produces 115 hp
We expect Chevrolet’s new baby SUV to take on the Ford Ecosport by 2012 in India.
We might sound like the marketing website for Hyundai’s saloons but we can’t help ourselves while drooling like apes at their bigger cars.
OK the Santa Fe isn’t part of that list. The Sonata YF, new Avante and this Sonata-based, India-unlikely Azera are on that.
Click here to see revealing spyshots of the new Azera
Click here to see revealing spyshots of the new Azera
Click here to see revealing spyshots of the new Azera
Click here to see revealing spyshots of the new Azera
Toyota Motor Company showcased a rather unique one-off variant of its popular sedan- the Corolla at the Sao Paulo Motor Show. What was interesting about this variant is that it is entirely done up in chrome!
Some innovative brains at Toyota thought of this chrome finished Corolla and it sure was a star attraction of the Toyota stall. The Corolla is a segment leader in the Brazilian market and cars are driving out of showrooms at a quick pace and Toyota wanted to celebrate this occasion by showcasing this one-off model.
The configuration remains the same with the 2.0 liter engine sitting under the hood.
Now how about such an edition for Auto Expo in January 2012? Toyota has reasons to celebrate in India too! The Corolla Altis with the help of the diesel variant will ensure that it stays there. We also know how obsessed Indians are with chrome! Chrome is considered ‘high end’ and throw dollops of it in the car and the car becomes ‘premium’!
A fully chrome finished car will attract many eyeballs at a crowded expo! Are you listening Toyota?
Entry posted on October 29, 2010 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Skoda
Some of you by now should have seen the new Skoda Fabia Ad on television. But for the benefit of the audience who live overseas, here it from Skoda’s Youtube Channel. The Ad suggests this is the “all new” Fabia, which it isn’t. The word “Fab” as a description is also not our view of it exactly.
A YoY growth of 76% has fueled the GM dream to bring a fully electric car. As early as next year, this new battery operated car will be showcased in India. It will be easier on the wallet and kinder to the environment over its lifetime.
And for a cost conscious market like India, the company plans to bring three “value-package” cars in from its JV with Shanghai Auto Car SAIC.
The company is also busy ramping up its dealer network and manufacturing facility as it plans an output of 4 lakh in next couple of years.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice-President (Sales-marketing-after sales) Sumit Sawhney said
GM has invested over USD 1 billion (Rs 4,500 crore) in India till date, and is deeply committed to this market
The company also has plans to make GM’s first flexible engine plant operational in India which can produce both petrol and diesel engine on the same assembly line.
