Indian Autos blog

The official video shows catalog shots of the upcoming Honda Brio. Though this isn’t completely how the final product will turn out to look like, it’s very close to the production model.

The Brio will be equipped with a 1.2-liter petrol engine from the Jazz. It is expected during Diwali 2011. A diesel variant could also make an appearance following the petrol motor’s launch.

Suzuki is the Official Car Partner of Clothes Show Live at Birmingham’s NEC from 3th – 8th December 2010. They are also running a contest wherein one lucky winner will walk away with a one-off 2011 Suzuki Swift.

All you have to do is visit the Suzuki stand and enter your details into the daily draw to become one of the lucky finalists. If you are the lucky one then you shall be invited on the final day to receive your prize.

That sounds awesome..it really does. I am all game for sweepstakes. But there is a small glitch in this one.

When I think of the Swift, I think of a hot hatch that can really do everything for you – right from grocery shopping to a track day blast.

I really like that image of Swift. But this marketing activity is the exact opposite of the same definition. It is making the Swift look like a fashion accessory from Barbie world which it is certainly NOT!

If I was the lucky one, I would take the delivery and immediately send it a body shop and get it de-decaled.

The Force SUV has been on our radar for quite some time now. The project is very important from the perspective of this Abhay Firodia-led company as it marks its entry into the lucrative SUV segment. Earlier this company was known as Bajaj tempo and was famous for making tractors, three-wheelers, light and heavy trucks.

But the company is in the process of making an indigenously developed SUV since about a year now. When we say ‘indigenous’ we mean the engine is from Daimler and the parts are sourced from China and Korea. So it is not really indigenous in its true essence. Nonetheless, the company has major ambitions with this project and has invested 600-800 crores in the project.

The new SUV would be produced at the company’s Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh and will go head to head with a formidable competitor – Skoda’s Yeti. The price bracket also puts it in the firing range of the newly launched – Tata Aria and the tried-and-tested Ford Endeavour.

A 2.2-liter common rail diesel engine sourced from Daimler will be married to a 5-speed manual transmission and send 220bhp of power to the rear wheels, according to information published on Autocar India.

The company has certainly got its work cut out. When you are taking on giants like Tata and Skoda, you cannot afford be a slouch.

Do you think this foray will be a successful one?

click through for more spyshots

The most important C segment car in the world – Honda Civic (only second to the Toyota Corolla) is a car the world has its eyes on. The 2012 model (codenamed – 2HC) will be the 9th successful generation.

Rumors are rife that the 2012 Honda Civic will get a 1.5-liter gasoline-powered engine from Honda CR-Z mated to either an automatic CVT transmission or six-speed manual. The new car will come in a hybrid model and Honda is working on a compact diesel engine for the Civic.

Looking at history, we believe that the different markets in Japan, Europe, and America, will get their own variant of the Civic. The spyshots, till date, reveal a new grille and bumper appear up front, while out back we have all-new taillamps. The new Civic has been spotted testing all around the world and we expect a formal launch early next year and follow to India by the beginning of 2012.

Honda has unveiled a prototype of the Brio small car which will be launched in India next year. Sources tell us that Honda is likely to put this car in showrooms next year during Diwali time.

The vehicle arriving in India will be very close to the prototype showcased in Thailand today. We expect the Brio to be priced at around 5 lakh rupees with a 1.2-liter petrol engine lifted from the Honda Jazz.

The Brio could have additional engines and transmission in the future. Perhaps two years down the line, the Brio could come equipped with a small diesel engine. Honda has said it is studying the possibility to bridge this need gap.

The prototype displayed has an automatic transmission, which too could make an appearance at a much later date.

click through to read the press release

And we’re assuming the Etios sedan, will be named Etios.

The Etios Liva will be available in the market by March 2011. The vehicle will be launched in India day after tomorrow in Bangalore. Toyota will equip the Etios Liva with a 1.2-liter petrol engine that can deliver around 70bhp.

The Etios Liva could also get a twist to its character with the introduction of the 1.5-liter petrol engine from the sedan at a much later stage. The vehicle will turn into a brisk and fun to drive hatch, but will also be considerably more expensive. Toyota might introduce the 1.4-liter turbocharged diesel engine on the Etios Liva in 2012.

The Etios hatch is said to be the most spacious car in its segment. We’ll reserve judgments till we see and experience the vehicle.

By Shoeb R Kalania

The Toyota Innova has been a very successful product and almost all customers are very satisfied with it. Even with growing competition, Innova is still a winner and preferred by people having large families.

With many new products emerging from competitors in this segment, Toyota, according to Autocar India, has felt a need to revamp the Innova and provide a better experience to the customer.

According to the feedback, the new Innova needn’t be bigger in size and will sport only minimal changes. The following is our take on what the Innova needs to sustain in the crowding competition.

click through to read more

Latest news to hit the tabloids from Maruti is its overly optimistic expectation of 20 per cent of the four million car market will be CNG by 2015-16.

This definitely explains the manufacturer’s slew of the CNG launches in the recent history. Currently, only about 2.3% of the entire car market drives on CNG. This is blamed on low supply, lack of infrastructure and high prices of CNG compatible cars. Currently, Maruti sells Alto, Wagon R, Eeco, Estilo and SX4 in CNG versions and is working towards adding more models to the range.

Further, Mr Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director of Maruti -

If the volume of natural gas supply improves, we would like to reduce imports of CNG parts which will reduce the cost of vehicles.

Here is why we think it’s overly optimistic:

* Maruti has kind of discounted any improved technology that harnesses renewable sources of energy in the near future.
* Electric cars like the Nissan Leaf are going to catch up with conventional cars; Every auto manufacturer has prototypes of electric vehicles ready in their R&D facility. Electricity is cheaper than CNG fuel.
* Maruti has assumed that the cost of procuring CNG will remain constant or decrease in the future which may not be the case.

Do you think this assumption is correct? What are your views?