Indian Autos blog

The Mahindra World SUV (Codename: W201) has been spotted yet again tripping across Tamil Nadu. We have been regularly bringing you updates on the World SUV and by now you might know that the SUV is being tested heavily for quite sometime now.

The proportions of the car are gigantic and the test vehicle sported 17 inch wheels that looked small for the SUV! The interiors also looked upmarket with bits and pieces shared with the Mahindra line up but clearly they are a class above. With the striking dual pod instrument cluster and the design flair of the interior.

The car as you know is built on a brand new platform and has a monocoque construction. The car is expected to sport a 2.2 liter Mhawk engine, similar to the Scorpio and there is a possibility of a V6 petrol for overseas markets.

The side mirrors also sported turn indicators. Mahindra wants to leave no stone unturned with this car and it could be just like the Aria for Tata, the most sophisticated Mahindra ever built. It is expected to hit Indian roads in mid 2011 and Mahindra will be selling this vehicle in the USA too.

In the quest to add to their image of ‘the most fuel efficient auto manufacturer’, India’s largest auto manufacturer, Maruti-Suzuki has developed two hybrid vehicles – ‘EECO Charge’ & ‘SX4 Hybrid’

The EEECO Charge is a fully electric MPV with a 50kW motor (that’s 67.98 bhp for the petrolheads) and a 24kWh Lithium-ion battery that promises a driving range of around 100km on one full charge. The car also has a ‘sport mode’ in which the top speed goes right up to 100km/hr (Tesla, you can take a sigh of relief now)

The SX4 Hybrid combines Suzuki’s 1.2l K-series engine with 50kW motor mated to a 5-speed Automated Manual Transmission to provide low emission and high fuel economy. The braking power of the car is converted to electricity and stored in the lithium-ion batteries which the electric motors can then use to propel the car. It is based on the same KERS concept introduced last year in Formula 1

Both the cars are a part of National Hybrid Propulsion Program (NHPP) and the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) program and will be used as transport vehicles for CWG games. The company recently handed over 2 Maruti Suzuki SX4 Hybrid cars and 1 Eeco Charge to Arvinder Singh Lovely, Hon’ble Minister of Transport for NCT Delhi. The remaining 14 cars will be delivered shortly.

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News comes in from South Korea that the new Aveo, which was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, will be produced by GM’s Daewoo unit at their manufacturing plant in Incheon.

On the occasion, GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone said -

GM Daewoo is proud to be the first member of the GM family to produce and sell GM’s next-generation global small car. With demand for small cars on the rise worldwide, this is great news not only for GM Daewoo and our suppliers, but for Korean consumers as well.

The new Aveo takes a lot of its design cues from the Beat (a.k.a the Chevy Spark) and the Chevy Cruze. It comes with 5 engine options:

* 1.2-liter Petrol with 70HP
* 1.2-liter Petrol with 86HP
* 1.4-liter Petrol with 100HP
* 1.6-liter Petrol with 115HP
* And a 1.3-liter turbo diesel engine with either 75HP or 90HP with a start stop technology

GM also has plans to unveil a four-door sedan version of the same Aveo at the LA motor show this November or in the Detroit motor show in early January 2011.

GM will also bring this Aveo (both sedan and hatchback) to India by early next year. Chances are that they will co-exist with the current models with added features and diesel powertrains.

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As you’re reading this post, Fiat is unveiling the Linea T-Jet in Mumbai. There are two variants to choose from – T-Jet (8.55 lakh rupees) and T-Jet plus (8.99 lakh rupees). Prices listed are ex-showroom Delhi.

If you’re in Mumbai then the T-Jet is priced at 8.84 lakh rupees and the T-Jet plus will set you back by 9.29 lakh rupees (ex-showroom prices)

The base model is well equipped. For example it has disc brakes on all four wheels and a chrome exhaust tip to differentiate it from the regular Linea. The T-Jet plus comes with additional kit like leather seats. The new shade is sunbeam beige which is stunning!

Specifications in brief – 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 114PS @ 5k RPM and 207Nm @ 2200 RPM. The T-Jet rides on 16 inch alloys. 14.6 kmpl – ARAI fuel economy figure. 0-100 kmph in just 11.14 seconds.

The T-Jet for now will be launched only in Mumbai, NCR Delhi and Pune, as we reported earlier. It’s trying to cash in on the interest of buyers on new things this festive season. Fiat gives you 50 months warranty, 15k kilometer service interval and 106 service stations in India.

Fiat has worked on the spare parts availability and has got its own warehouse. It has also worked on the air-conditioner to make it better. The ground clearance has been increased to 170mm.

Another first on Indian Autos Blog! Stay tuned!

click through to view image gallery and press release

If you’re in Mumbai then the T-Jet is priced at 8.84 lakh rupees and the T-Jet plus will set you back by 9.29 lakh rupees (ex-showroom prices)

The base model is well equipped. For example it has disc brakes on all four wheels and a chrome exhaust tip to differentiate it from the regular Linea. The T-Jet plus comes with additional kit like leather seats. The new shade is sunbeam beige which is stunning!

Specifications in brief – 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 114PS @ 5k RPM and 207Nm @ 2200 RPM. The T-Jet rides on 16 inch alloys. 14.6 kmpl – ARAI fuel economy figure. 0-100 kmph in just 11.14 seconds.

The T-Jet for now will be launched only in Mumbai, NCR Delhi and Pune, as we reported earlier. It’s trying to cash in on the interest of buyers on new things this festive season. Fiat gives you 50 months warranty, 15k kilometer service interval and 106 service stations in India.

Fiat has worked on the spare parts availability and has got its own warehouse. It has also worked on the air-conditioner to make it better. The ground clearance has been increased to 170mm.

Another first on Indian Autos Blog! Stay tuned!

As you’re reading this, Mercedes Benz India is unveiling the R-Class in Mumbai. The vehicle sold in India is the R350 4MATIC Long wheelbase variant that has a 3498cc V6 petrol engine. The vehicle costs 58.79 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Mumbai)

We’re the first to break this news. Stay tuned to Indian Autos Blog for a report from the launch.

click through to read the press release

This SUV could be sold in India next year or by the beginning of 2012 as the Mahindra Korando. The vehicle is expected to be manufactured at one of the currently operating Mahindra car plants and will be positioned just above the Scorpio.

First BMW, then Volvo and now Ford is trying to bring in a SUV based on a hatchback platform, the Fiesta platform to be precise. The spy pics released earlier reveal a European Fiesta with a jacked up suspension for higher ground clearance.

The car also has chunky alloy wheels with flared wheel arches to give it a full SUV look. The overall design is not that far from a bog standard Fiesta apart from a few changes to the front and rear bumper to give it a bit masculine look.

It is expected to be powered by a turbocharged Eco boost engine mated to a 6 speed automatic gearbox and will be available in 2 and 4 wheeled drive. The list of cars that it will be competing against includes the Volkswagen CrossPolo and the Nissan Juke.

We’re still unsure if Ford will bring this model to India or the EcoSport that this model replaces.

Mahindra’s styling department is not best in the world. The cars (be it the old, now extinct, Armada or Bolero or even Xylo) are more utilitarian rather than head turners. No doubt, they are good cars but they are just not good looking cars. And when their customization team steps in, that’s when things get a bit over the top!

Shown at the Speed Autocar Performance Show 2009, the Bolero Attitude is one such result of car customization taken to the limits and then some more. It is like the person who was in charge just couldn’t stop customizing it!

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