Indian Autos blog

The first mini commercial vehicle from the Ashok Leyland-Nissan Motor Company JV dubbed “Dost” was unveiled today in Chennai. The 1.25-tonne LCV is not new to IAB readers as we have captured pictures while the mule was testing near Chennai. The LCV will be manufactured at the Hosur facility for a market launch during the second quarter of 2011-12. The vehicle will not bear Nissan logos. Powered using a 3-cylinder  [ Read More ]

Audi has introduced the Q5 2.0 TDI quattro in India which becomes the entry-level variant in the Q5 lineup. Priced at Rs. 39.05 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Maharashtra), deliveries of the econo-Audi will begin in April.

The 2.0 TDI engine produces 170 bhp and twist force of 350 Nm @ 1,750 rpm. It is mated to a 7–speed automatic S Tronic transmission.

So what’s gone missing on this sub-40 lakh rupee Audi?

1) Camera-assisted reverse guide

2) Sunroof

3) Screens on the rear seat

4) MMI (multimedia interface)

5) Paddle shifters

6) 2 cylinders – this is a 4-cylinder variant as opposed to the regular 3.0 V6 TDI

Woody’s car site has carried an interesting story on the 2012 Honda CR-V. The blurry image (believed to be a highly accurate impression) might not give you insight into the design language of the new CR-V that debuts this fall, but it certainly conveys the overall shape doesn’t differ by much. Here’s what we already know about the 2012 CR-V The next generation CR-V will have a good level of  [ Read More ]

Thanks to a teeny weeny tweet by Autocar India magazine editor Hormazd Sorabjee, the Blogosphere is abuzz with Ford’s 1.6-liter Figo variant. We pitched this question to Ford India officials last year in January during the media drive preceding the launch and they insisted that priority was selling the fuel-efficient 1.2-liter model. Keeping the Figo’s prices down meant they could not cross the 1.2-liter displacement mark set for small car benefits in India.

Now that the Figo has surpassed the company’s expectations and Ford is on cloud nine, it is time to show bhp aficionados the goods. The operation will not be time or cost consuming as Ford exports the 1.6-liter variant to the Middle East with an AT.

Since the customer opting for the 1.6-liter will not altogether forget the fuel economy factor, the manual transmission will be preferred choice. Also the driving enthusiast buying the 1.6 and will prefer the manual over the less responsive AT.

Understandably the 1.6-liter variant will be priced below its peers from Skoda, Volkswagen, Fiat and Tata Motors. With 101PS and 146Nm, all that the Figo needs is a special color, sporty alloys, tweaked suspension and a stripe or two on the bodywork. Is the Ford Figo Sport is ready to roll then?

IndianCarsBikes is speculating that Hyundai India will launch the new Avante (Elantra) during the festive season. The new Avante is a light year ahead of what Hyundai used to sell until recently in terms of design and performance. Hyundai officials have told the media before that the Avante will be assembled in India to keep the prices competitive. The Avante comes strapped with a 1.6 liter GDI petrol engine that  [ Read More ]

Like every other time, you read details and prices first here on IndianAutosBlog

VW India has taken the wraps off the new VW Passat in a glamorous Mumbai event. The 2.0-liter BlueMotion TDI (diesel) model is the only one on sale producing 170 bhp and 350 Nm torque with all sorts of fuel saving measures like reduced engine idle speed, longer gear ratios, Start-stop technology, Regenerative braking, etc.

The new Passat is available in 5 colors – white, pearl, black, silver and brown.

Bookings for the new Passat begin today and deliveries will start in April.

VW Passat price (ex-showroom Delhi) -

20.80 lakhs for the Trendline model
23.80 lakhs for the Comfortline model
25.65 lakhs for the Highline model

Stay tuned to Indian Autos Blog as we update you with more information.

Audi is certainly bullish on the Indian Supercar market. After bringing in the R8 with a V8 engine and then with a V10 engine, Audi India presented its latest offering the R8 V10 Spyder – the convertible version of the R8 V10. The Spyder debuted on 25th of March The R8 Spyder is powered by a 5.2L V10 engine that churns out 525 hp @ 8,000 rpm and 530 Nm  [ Read More ]

After Mitsubishi declared that it will neuter the EVO by dropping a hybrid engine in it, now the Germans are also picking up scalpels and heading towards the operation theater. First among the victim is the all new Mercedes C-Class which is expected to go on sale in 2013. Mercedes has decided that instead of having a hybrid variant in the C-Class lineup, the entire range should be hybridized to  [ Read More ]