Just like the Chinese fire crackers that have flooded the Indian market, GM plans to flood the auto market with Chinese cars with the help of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). These will consist of hatchbacks, sedans, multi-utility vehicles and passenger vans and even mini trucks!
GM India’s Vice-President (Marketing, Sales and After Sales) Sumit Sawhney -
We have some aggressive plans for the lined-up models. We aim to launch at least six new vehicles with multiple fuel options over the next 24 months.
When he says multiple fuel options, he means Petrol, Diesel, LPG, CNG and even a fully electric car.
So here is list of probable cars that we can expect:
If Nissan are to slot into top gear, they need a dense dealer network and more importantly a diesel hatchback priced aggressively. Proof – Suzuki Swift and the Ford Figo are clocking astronomical numbers with the help of an oil burner.
We got in touch with Nissan corporate communications team through email and requested them to address our query -
We have recently stated that the Micra Diesel will launched before Christmas this year
Nissan is expected to transplant the Renault Logan’s 1.5-liter CRDI engine into the Micra. The engine should produce power in the region of 65-70bhp and torque of 150-160 Nm greatly improving the car’s driveability.
ARAI fuel economy figures will be in the 20-25 kmpl bracket though the exact figures we will come to know only in the following weeks. Much of the equipment on the petrol Micra like keyless entry and start-stop button should transferred to the diesel sibling as well.
Mahindra REVA informs us that its electric vehicle REVAi will be available at 5 Mahindra dealerships in Hyderabad.
Mr. R. Chandramouli, Chief of Operations, Mahindra REVA -
We are delighted to launch the REVAi in Hyderabad where there is already a great deal of interest in our vehicles. With issues such as climate change and carbon footprint taking centre stage globally, eco-friendly transportation has become the need of the hour. The electric vehicle market is hence, poised to grow rapidly. Mahindra’s extensive distribution network, coupled with our unique finance plan will help us make significant inroads into the local market
Mahindra REVA will launch NXG in 2011 and the NXR perhaps in 2012. The NXR and NXG were shown at Frankfurt 2008.
Motorbeam is reporting BMW will sell Mini Countryman and Cooper models in India next year. BMW has been studying India for its Mini brand for the last couple of years and has been postponing it due to unfavorable market conditions.
Mini will retail these two-door products through exclusive showrooms and isn’t interested in sharing space with BMW cars. The cars will be assembled at the company’s factory in Chennai. The expected starting price for a Mini is expected to touch 15 lakh rupees. For that money, a 180bhp 1.6-liter engine will be offered. Not so bad, then.
For a start – A 2.2-liter common rail diesel engine from Daimler will power this SUV. The engine will present no less than 220bhp to the 5-speed manual transmission which is expected to support the highly refined oil burner.
Listen to this – Lotus Engineering, which was accountable for the Scorpio’s suspension has been partnered with to better the handling of the Force Motors SUV. Force Motors is hoping the modern utilitarian vehicle will do what Scorpio did to Mahindra.
Not to mention – Force Motors has brought in overseas NVH specialist to keep this vehicle from sounding like an agricultural equipment. The chassis has been done in-house and the company is banking on this vehicle to enter metros.
Force Motors is expecting the modern utilitarian vehicle will do what Scorpio did to Mahindra.
not to mention Force Motors has brought in overseas NVH specialist to keep this vehicle from sounding like an agricultural equipment. The chassis has been done in-house and the company is banking on this vehicle to enter cities.
Toyota has confirmed its small car Etios will be launched in Bangalore on the 1st of December. It isn’t clear whether the sedan will come before the hatchback, but word has it that Toyota will introduce the hatch only next year.
Toyota will introduce the Etios twins in India only with petrol engines. Within a couple of years, we expect the Etios diesel to appear on the market.
Bookings should open during December and the first cars will roll into showrooms in January.
Business Standard is reporting that Tata Motors dealers will give you a brand new Nano in exchange for your motorcycle. The vehicle is available without bookings in certain parts of the country for low EMI.
For the bike-car exchange offer, Tata Motors has tied up with State Bank of India (SBI) to which is offering EMIs as low as 1960 rupees.
The Nano is available in three trims. The company has made the petrol model available with diesel and CNG to follow at a later stage.
As Skoda continues to explore opportunities for the vRS in India, we’re going to show you a sixty second commercial of this really fast car aired overseas. The Fabia vRS is not made in the way Skoda’s ad portrays. But there is sting with venom in the 1.4-liter petrol engine that makes no less than 179PS power and 250Nm torque.
