Entry posted on April 28, 2011 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Tata
The Tata Indica eV2 test drive report on BSMotoring.com contains surprising details and insights into the vehicle. One would assume the eV2 is just an Indica delivering more mileage. Let me tell you that’s not completely right.
BSMotoring has listed out technical changes on the Indica eV2 such as
1) The front-end of the car has been reworked. The nose is now aerodynamically favorable. The air flow around front end is notably smoother.
2) The brake calipers have been redesigned for smoother and more efficient air passage. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software was used to design the caliper and the actual car was put through wind tunnel tests to get it right.
3) The vehicle’s tires have changed as well. Tata’ switch to low-rolling resistance rubber delivers better fuel economy as rolling friction is less. The wheel and tire weigh less thereby reducing unsprung mass of the vehicle.
4) The bearings on the suspension have also been changed to work with the new tyre-wheel configuration.
Sources tell Indian Autos Blog that General Motors India has deferred the launch of its next generation Aveo siblings (renamed Chevrolet Sonic recently) to 2012-13. The initial plan was to launch the Sonic sedan in the market in the beginning of 2011, which hasn’t happened. What India will get instead is the Sail twins from GM India’ Chinese stake holder SAIC. A greyish silver Sail sedan in LHD configuration (like the accompanying image) has been spotted around Pune recently with Chinese lettering and Sail badge.
Expect the Sail twins with petrol and diesel engines. Powertrains will be manufactured in Talegaon. A high level of localization on these cars will lead to aggressive prices, our source adds.
The people behind this wacky idea are Shiv Shakti Automotives from Rohru, a municipal committee in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
An excellent example of innovation on a budget, Maruti Suzuki might be tempted to offer it as an inexpensive alternative to the Gypsy. Where journey from home to work, in remote locations of India is an off-roading experience, a Maruti 800 with fat tires and increased ride height is perfect solution to the average Indian.
If you thought Auto Expo 2010 was a mad rush with 25 launches, what would you make of the 2012 edition which will see 35 new launches, according to Economic Times?
Everyone who attended the show last year would agree that the event was a disaster. Even on the so called “media days” general public were let in and launches were held minutes away from each other on locations that would take 20 minutes or more to reach by foot inside the Pragati Maidan complex.
And distribution of media passes gave us a feeling of being left out. We registered online with many weeks left for the deadline, but we failed to get our passes. We had to rush to the entry stall on the morning of the show to procure one, and that wasn’t a smooth affair either. They weren’t entirely sure if we deserved one.
Accommodating 35 launches within a span of two days under one roof will be the recipe for yet another disaster. The show organizers have to think this one out properly. They are toying with the idea of having parallel venues, and that’s a start.
They also have to alter or correct their understanding of “media days” and study up about the progress of online media and internet in India.
Entry posted on April 28, 2011 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Audi
Our friends at Motorbeam report Audi India will launch the A7 four-door coupe on the 11th of May. This comes as no surprise as Indian Autos Blog caught the 16-feet long A7 during a round of city tests in Mahim, Mumbai in January.
Motorbeam adds that Audi will introduce both petrol and diesel variants. The 3.0 TFSI petrol engine producing 300 PS power and 440 Nm of torque between 2900-4500 RPM along with the 3.0 TDI diesel engine capable of pushing out 245 PS power and 500 Nm torque will be sold in India.
Audi will not assemble the A7 in India. It will be brought through the CBU unit and prices hence are not going to be under 70 lakh rupees.
Entry posted on April 27, 2011 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Ford
Starting with the new Fiesta, Ford will introduce 8 different products in India by the end of 2015 with varying levels of localization. Ford invested heavily in putting up an engine manufacturing facility at the Maraimalainagar complex and one will not find it hard to believe that different kinds of engines will be made there.
One type of engine that Ford admits will make a lot of sense for India is EcoBoost. Ford officials have discussed, not in depth, about EcoBoost engines, for their future products.
Diesel fuel is increasingly making sense in every segment, but petrol engines haven’t reached a point of extinction yet. There’s also plenty of export opportunities Ford will pursue with its future products. Petrol, then, is equally important for Ford India.
At a recent function, Ford officials told Indian Autos Blog that they don’t know which side the Indian market will tilt towards. Two years ago, the scene was very different with equal, if not more petrol cars sold compared to diesel. How the market unfolds in the next couple of years is a tough one to predict. It will be too early to write off petrol engines, one Ford official remarked.
More shots showing Ford’s next generation EcoSport testing in Sao Paulo have emerged on the net, this time on Marlos Nay Vidal’ AutosSegredos (Auto Secrets) weblog. The new EcoSport is testing outfitted with the Fiesta hatchback body. What lies beneath the bodywork are mechanicals of the compact SUV expected in India in mid 2013.
The new EcoSport (codename – B515) will be another global model with production possibilities in Brazil, India and China. The vehicle could be under four meters in length with fuel efficient petrol and diesel engines displacing under 1.5-liters. Ford India has told Indian Autos Blog that it will experiment with different top-hats on global platforms. Cost wise, the B-Platform is the most suitable for MPV and SUV spin-offs.
For South America, Ford could offer it with a dual-clutch automatic transmission and more powerful EcoBoost engines. In India, we believe Ford will keep it simple offering a 5-speed manual transmission.
The Tata Indica eV2 test drive report on BSMotoring.com contains surprising details and insights into the vehicle. One would assume the eV2 is just an Indica delivering more mileage. Let me tell you that’s not completely right.
