Tsingtho has illustrated the Toyota Fortuner facelift, likely to premiere at the IIMS (Indonesia International Motor Show) next month alongside the Toyota Innova facelift. This is the Fortuner’ second major cosmetic overhaul since its introduction back in 2005.
The Fortuner and Innova sit on the IMV platform, and both vehicles are segment leaders in India. The reason or objective behind the Fortuner facelift isn’t a chapter in rocket science. It has to be brought in line with the other two SUVs – LC Prado and LC200, two vehicles that have gone under the surgeon’ knife recently. Both these vehicles have done well for Toyota and the success of these aspirational products is what the Fortuner will try leveraging on.
TKM has no plans to introduce a Fortuner facelift at the moment in India but as this is a CKD model, the company will be have no choice but to assemble the facelift after it is introduced in Thailand. As the vehicle is clocking good numbers, TKM has no plans for an AT variant in 2011.
Last year top official from Fiat India was quoted by a newspaper talking about the next generation Fiat Linea. The Punto-based C-Segment sedan will sit on the same platform and likely to hold Multi-air technology.
Now Chinese blogosphere is abuzz with updates on the Guangzhou-Fiat joint venture which will start manufacturing cars next year. The first vehicle from the combine is said to be the next generation Linea. Dealership network strength will be boosted from 34 to 100 next year to cope with the change in strategy. Fiat will also put the 500 on sale this year (CBU route) and introduce a special ’500 by Gucci’ next year in China. At the moment, the Italian car maker operates through the CBU route.
Mahindra has uploaded three small clips of the Verito on its Youtube channel. If you live in India, you will see them being played during commercial breaks on various TV channels. Mahindra has tried showing the Logan with a new look and different feel.
There are not many angles from which the Logan looks elegant but the director has tried playing with lights and special effects to enhance the car’s appeal. The Verito is Mahindra’ baby and the company had down-segmented it last year leading to a steady growth in sales. Will this growth persist after the similarly-priced mini Xylo is set afloat on the value-seeking Indian marketplace?
WardsAuto reports that Toyota will debut the next generation Camry in North America by the time Autumn kicks in. The current generation Camry (after a mild cosmetic facelift two years ago) has been finding life hard in the Superb-dominated segment for five years now. It’s time Toyota did something different with the Camry that will revive interest in the product.
During the launch of the facelifted Camry back in 2009, TKM officials said 70% of Camry buyers in India have used it before overseas. The company played down possibilities of a diesel engine, but with the next generation model merely months away, Toyota should have asked the HQ to look into how Volkswagen and Skoda have tapped the potential of this segment with diesel models. TKM officials added there was no pressure from their Japanese counterparts to push more Camrys into the market. They said the call on local assembly is for TMC (Toyota Motor Corporation) to take and not theirs.
Camry sales have been poor overseas. In 2010, Toyota managed to sell 327,084 Camrys, the lowest in that segment since 1994.
To stay on the same page as competitors here in India, TKM must look at assembling the Camry in India and fitting it with a diesel engine.
Moving forward for the auto industry is launching new products, making announcements, inking agreements, developing new technologies, etc. Toyota’ global operations was impacted by Tsunami and earthquake in Japan. The production line in India suffered severely from components shortage. Toyota postponed the Altis facelift launch and production of other models was reduced to alarmingly low levels.
It’s not like Toyota needs to catch up in the utility vehicles segment. The Innova is the Indian family’ most preferred MPV. The Toyota Fortuner is ahead of all other SUVs in town with the BMW X1 being the only real threat to its supremacy.
Yesterday we brought you spy pics of the Innova facelift. Today we have images of the Fortuner facelift expected to make an appearance at the IIMS in Indonesia next month. The cosmetic overhaul puts the Fortuner in line with the Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200, the other two SUVs in its portfolio.
Changes are not expected under the Fortuner’s bonnet. Will Toyota introduce the Fortuner facelift in India at the Auto Expo next year?
These images were sent in by IAB reader and Toyota fan Rahul Rajeev.
The new mantra for Indian Automobile companies seems to be – ‘Small is Money’. After the huge surge in the hatchback market, Mahindra&Mahindra wants to take the fight on an entirely new level. M&M has been testing a compact version of its successful MPV – Xylo for a year or more now.
Sure, we have spied it countless number of times on the Indian streets. But the big news is that the little MPV is now entering the trial production phase. EconomicTimes is also reporting that the Mini Xylo will be launched in the next 2 months. The price range expected for this baby MPV is around 5-7 lakh rupees. It is expected to have a very fuel efficient diesel motor under the bonnet.
It would be certainly interesting to see whether this unique product from M&M is able to make a considerable dent on hatchback and compact sedan sales in India.
Back in day we asked you a simple question: Should Fiesta Classic replace the Stone age Ikon? We got a few very interesting responses and most of them were affirmative. Ford India was also thinking on the similar lines and out-of-the-blue we heard the news that the Ikon will be discontinued and then another news that Fiesta Classic is indeed the new entry level sedan from Ford’s stable.
Ford India somehow managed to reduce the price and launched the Fiesta Classic with a base price of Rs 5,49,000, an announcement which IAB brought you first along with plenty of images.
Clearly, our job was not done yet. We had to test drive the car to know what changes Ford has made to reduce the price. So grab a cup of coffee and read on!
Skoda India seems to be on a roll when it comes to making announcements of new products. Recently, the company officially went on the wires to confirm the sub-Fabia hatchback by 2013. Now, the company has also made it official that they are in the process of analyzing feasibility for a sub 10 lakh SUV.
Thomas Kuehl, Head of Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto India -
The SUV segment is not growing as fast as was expected. We have to go down and are looking at a product priced below Rs 10 lakh. We are working to increase our presence in the SUV category
The Skoda Scout was recently caught testing near Chakan. Sure, it not really an SUV but more of a faux off roader. But still all hints point at the Scout because the only other options available to Skoda is Yeti which is already present in the market. Expecting the Skoda Yeti to shed more than 5 lakhs is utterly unreasonable.
The third and a very realistic possibility is AutoExpress’ report back in March on a smaller Yeti possibly on the Polo platform for a 2012 debut. If this is the true story, then expect an all- new product on the Polo or Fabia platform.
At the price below 10 lakhs, this mysterious Skoda SUV is expected to rival the Renault Duster and the Mahindra Scorpio. It will be interesting to see a new segment of baby SUVs perform.
