Indian Autos blog

Yes, we remember that there’s something called Indian Autos Blog and everybody flocks it to learn the latest developments on their favorite cars, and we as a group, are responsible in keeping it updated all the time.

If we take a small vacation, the Indian auto industry erupts with news and announcements. Other blogs covering this sector have a shedload of spyshots and renderings to show. We weren’t there to report on it or report them first.

But rather than feeling sorry or bad for what we’ve missed, today we’ll get down to business and do what we do best – Keeping you posted on your favorite cars!

You’ll get to see new renderings, our take on the Etios, spyshots, quotes and more.

And don’t forget to check out the above video that teases SRK’s next creation.

So stay tuned to IAB all the time!

If you thought Maruti has gone over board with special edition launches, wait till you see what the parent company has done. They launched a special edition of the Wagon R in Japan!

The reason for the celebration is because the company clocked 3.5 million domestic sales of the same car.

Sadly, these cars are for JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) only. We’re unable to point out any major differences and the description is also absent. We assume special paint schemes and accessories will be part of the new model’s list of features.

click through for additional image

The 1.5-liter Toyota Etios sedan has won the good design award in Japan. The pillars of the Etios is price, mileage, space and style.

Etios was developed from ground up to be a sedan. Instead of developing a hatchback and slapping a boot on it, Toyota’s approach has been the opposite.

5 years have been spent on developing the Etios. Testing has been carried out for 200,000 km.

Features on the Etios sedan -

7 one liter bottle holders
13L glovebox

Energy absorbing body shell
ABS and EBD
Driver and Passenger airbag

Anti corrosion steel body parts at highly prone areas
chipping resistant paint
underbody protection

Etios sedan is available in 4 grades and 6 colors. J (4.96 lakh), G (5.46 lakh), G* (5.96 lakh) V (6.41 lakh) and VX (6.86 lakh) are the variants.

All prices are ex-showroom Delhi

Harmony Beige, Vermillion Red, Serene Bluish Silver, Symphony Silver, White and Black are the available colors.

Toyota Etios sedan target customer

- 30-45 years
- 5-6 member family
- 6-9 lakh rupee annual income
- Employed at manager level
- Purchase reasons are premium/status, roominess and high performance level.

Etios hatchback will be presented in the market April 2011.

click through to read more

Remember the Fiat Siena (a.k.a Petra), the car that won Car of the Year award in India and didn’t really sell much? If you don’t remember it, I will not blame you.

It has been ages since that sedan was pulled out of the Indian market. And since it didn’t sell much in the first place, spotting one on the streets is more difficult than spotting a leprechaun.

Enough of the past; Fiat is certainly looking forward to the future. They are testing the next generation Fiat Siena (more popularly known as The Palio Sedan) and we have some spyshots for you.

Codenamed ‘Project 326’, it is based on the 3V platform which premiered on the New Uno, however, with a much larger wheelbase.

The new generation Siena will not be identical to the Palio and will have some minor changes. The spy shots show of a front influenced by the Linea and the rear by an Alfa 159..quite the recipe in’ it?

The new car will have three types of engines namely 1.4 EVO, 1.4 EVO Tetrafuel, 1.6 16V E.torQ. But you will have to wait for a few years before Fiat even considers it for the Indian market.