AutoinCar reports Nissan’ next generation Teana will be launched by the end of 2013. Codenamed W42L, the Honda Accord rivaling Teana was rendered recently by a Japanese magazine. It carried design idioms from the 370Z and other smaller cars in the Nissan portfolio.
The new Teana will serve as the Altima in certain markets with minor changes to body panels and interior trim. The front fascia will be different but realistically, both models will be one and the same. Right now both these are independent D-Segment cars and blending them is similar to the Nissan Sunny-Nissan Versa plan (one model serves with two nameplates)
We haven’t heard anything from Nissan India on CKD plans for the Teana. We heard that the company is interested in assembling both CBU models X-Trail and Teana now that they have the provision in Oragadam. Will Nissan continue using the CBU channel and switch over to CKD when the next gen models are available?
Posted on the unofficial Mahindra W201 Facebook fan page, we’re seeing something for the first time. The W201 has what seems like daytime running LED lamps on the headlamp cluster. The W201 is expected during the festive season for about 15-17 lakh rupees making it the flagship Mahindra. Two Ssangyong SUVs will also join the bandwagon this year – Rexton and Korando C.
Primarily a FWD vehicle, the W201 will be the next generation Mahindra SUV and naturally that will serve as guidance for the next Scorpio and Bolero. Notice the brushed aluminium finish on the radiator grille that appear like stalactites. Unlike the Scorpio, the W201 hasn’t yet been to the health center and it reflects on the excess flab, especially around the front-end.
Shoeb R Kalania tried reproducing the car using some spy shots and that will provide a fair idea about the production model. The W201 will have the 2.2L diesel engine belonging to the Scorpio mated to a manual transmission. Mahindra has been testing the W201 in actual conditions for more than two years now.
This might look like a refrigerator left behind by a careless delivery van, but believe me this is the next generation CR-V testing in China. We’ve aired one clear image of the new CR-V’s side profile before with the Volvo XC60esque tail lamps and these images give some idea about the bulk of the front end.
In China, the CR-V is one of the best selling models wrestling many internationally acclaimed SUVs to the ground. In India, no one talks about the CR-V anymore due to its high price and lack of diesel engine. That segment is beginning to speak German after BMW’s X1 was launched last year. Next year we will see the new Fortuner and Audi Q3 taking more customers away from the CR-V followed by the MFA-based Mercedes BLK somewhere in 2013.
The replacement model will be marginally shorter (4,535mm x 1,820mm x 1,685mm as opposed to the current model’s 4,575mm x 1,820mm x 1,680mm (L*W*H respectively) ) and chances are it will be slightly more fuel economical. Honda could offer 3rd row seating on the 2012 CR-V.
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It seems like Toyota has silently launched the Corolla Altis facelift today. The facelift is applicable to petrol and diesel variants and is priced between Rs. 10.53 – 14.77 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The petrol engine displaces 1,798cc producing 140 PS @ 6400 rpm and 173 Nm @ 4,000 rpm. The petrol engine is fitted with 16 valves and has dual VVTi (variable valve timing for inlet and exhaust valves).
The petrol engine is also mated to a new CVT with 7-speed Sequential Shiftmatic technology. The entry-level Altis comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. The technical specifications of the diesel variants have not changed. Equipment on board has been beefed up.
The new Altis gets smart entry, engine start stop button, 8-way power driver seat, cruise control, 6.1 touchscreen DVD audio system, electro-chromatic rear view mirror, HID lights, reverse sensors, headlight washers and disc brakes on all four wheels
Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Toyota Corolla Altis Petrol
J- 10.53 lakh
G- 12.39 lakh
GL- 13.86 lakh
VL- 14.77 lakh
Toyota Corolla Altis Diesel
J- 11.46 lakh
G- 13.41 lakh
GL- 14.55 lakh
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Nissan has rolled out the 100,000th Micra from the Renault Nissan Alliance plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The milestone has been reached in just over a year.
Nissan India exports Micra to European countries. Ultimately the Made In India Micra will be shipped to over 100 countries including Africa and Middle East. Nissan manufactures RHD and LHD variants in diesel, “Pure Drive” petrol and petrol avatars.
Nissan has not been able to match its contemporary Volkswagen but will hope things will fall in place with the introduction of the V-Platform sedan this year and the NV200 MPV in 2012. It has sold about 15k Micras in India.
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Indian Autos Blog/Indian Motos Blog is looking for one talented automotive writer/representative in Delhi to join our team. This is a part-time opening and we are interested only in applications from Delhi.
Requirements applicants must satisfy -
1) You must have equal passion for cars and motorcycles. An idea of the Indian automotive industry is important and an idea of overseas markets is a bonus.
2) This job is for the post of a writer, so your writing skills have to be very good. You must have the ability to send us well written articles that are informative and entertaining.
3) You need to have a good idea about the bike scene in India and hold a valid 2- and 4-wheeler driving license.
4) You need to have a good camera, a DSLR is a bonus.
Ideally we are looking at a writer who can mail us about three-four short news articles per day Monday-Saturday and represent our blogs at various launches and conferences in and around Delhi. You might have to take off from work for a few hours on launch/event days. Delhi events are usually conducted before lunch time. If you will not be able to take off from work, this position is not for you.
Are you interested or know someone who will be? Then do us a favor by sending a link of this page to them.
To apply you have to send an email with the subject line “Indian Autos Blog Delhi representative” to notjustshrawan(at)gmail.com with prior examples of your work. If you don’t have ready examples, write two 250 word articles related to any car or motorcycle plus a few lines about yourself, the blogs you read everyday, your educational background and work experience if any.
If you are the lucky one, we’ll contact you shortly with more information on the details of the position.
We will read through every application, but we may not be able to respond to each email individually.
Chevrolet India has bagged won three top awards in the India Automotive Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) 2010 from one of the most prestigious automotive survey company – J D Power.
On the occasion, Chevrolet, P Balendran, Vice-President, General Motors India said
“These prestigious wins from J D Power clearly reiterate that Chevrolet has become the preferred automobile brand in terms of quality, dependability and customer delight. We will continue to leverage the momentum gained thus far and build on the inherent strengths of our products in the future also.”
Chevy Spark took home the awards for the Most Dependable Compact Car and the Best Compact Car in Initial Quality. This is the fourth time the Spark has won award for quality. On the other hand, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA wrapped the awards for the Most Dependable Car in the Premium Compact Car segment.
Volkswagen’s plan to dominate the world automotive market by 2018 seems to be materializing slowly and steadily. The company’s passenger car brand sold 2.09 million units in the first five months globally. That’s a 12.2 percent increase over the previous year in which VW managed to sell 1.86 million units.
Majority of the growth was fueled by China which is the largest market for VW. Over one-third of the total vehicles were sold in China alone. VW sold 714,200 cars in the country, recording a 15.3 percent increase.
Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group said,
“Our positive trend continued in May and we have posted yet another delivery record,”
Back home, VW India is at a very nascent stage. The company entered the Indian market in 2007 with the Passat and steadily started building up its might. Last year was a record year for VW India as it showed one of the highest growth rates by any automotive company. It even managed to send jitters down the spine of Honda Siel India which is more established in the market as compared to VW.
The next car to hit the Indian Market from VW will be Jetta. The company will be targeting the D segment sedan market in a big way. Market rumors are that the VW Jetta will be launched in the next two months. Volkswagen is yet to bring the Passat CC, new Touareg and new Beetle to India.
Stay tuned as the story unfolds.
