It’s celebration time for Maruti Suzuki because the Estilo has achieved 2 lakh units in India and the Wagon R has already sold 10 lakh units since the original’s launch over ten years ago. This clearly calls for some champagne and some stickered special edition models. And that is exactly what Maruti Suzuki has done.
Maruti Suzuki has launched special edition models of the Wagon R and Estilo to commemorate this special occasion. So what do you get in these ‘Special Editions’?
In the Wagon R special edition, called as the Millennium Edition, you get:
• Reverse Parking Sensor PS-1
• Leather Seat Covers and leather wrapped Steering Wheel
• Rear Spoiler
• Body Graphics (of course)
• Bluetooth
• Body Cover
In the Estilo special edition, called as the Vogue Edition, you get:
• Vogue labeled seat covers
• Vogue labeled Floor mats
Since all of these accessories can also be fitted after market, we are also contemplating on an IAB edition Maruti Alto. Any takers?
Audi has officially confirmed that the production their baby crossover – Audi Q3 has started in SEAT factory in Martorell, Spain. The Audi Q3 is the smallest crossover built by Audi till date and will be the first rival to the BMW X1.
In order to accumulate the production of the Q3, Audi has increased the factory size by 323,000-square-foot, added 700 new robots and created 700 new jobs. All staff members have been put through a 180 hour training program on the Q3.
Audi board chairman Rupert Stadler -
We are counting on this Spanish site’s efficiency, the excellent quality of the Production department, and its highly trained staff. We will use the Group’s synergies to sharpen our competitive edge and help protect around 1,200 jobs.
The Audi Q3 has been of keen interest to IAB because this baby crossover will soon enter the Indian market. Audi India has plans to assemble the Q3 at Aurangabad to make it cost efficient like BMW X1.
We can safely expect Audi to showcase the Q3 during the Auto Expo next year and put it on the market in the first half of 2012.
The covers are off the 2012 Mercedes M Class and as we reported earlier it is hardly revolutionary. But Mercedes’s designers have done a very good scalpel job of making the SUV look subtle and stylish. It is definitely a progressive design from where they left. The front fascia get a major uplift to make the SUV look like a gentle giant. The daytime LED (now becoming a standard on [ Read More ]
Ford is organizing a technology deep dive program on the new Fiesta including a long drive for media through this week. IAB is in the second batch of journalists in the program that’s kicked off today evening. Details have been shown to the first batch of journos during the briefing including technical specifications.
Image Credit – Gaurav Chauhan
We believed all along that the Fiesta will get a pair of 1.6-liter engines, but that’s not the truth. Both engines will displace 1.5 liters. The Fiesta TDCi (diesel) will produce 90bhp power and 204Nm torque and return 23.5 kmpl. The Duratec Ti-VCT engine produces 108bhp power and 140Nm of torque returning 17kmpl. Fuel economy figures are ARAI approved.
Ford was right, the Fiesta does boast of a class leading fuel economy!
IAB will drive the car day after tomorrow so stay tuned for more details.
Tata Motors has sold 4 lakh sedans in India since the launch of the Indigo back in the early 2000′s. We’ve seen all kinds of variants over the years. The Indigo with turbocharger and intercooler, Indigo DICOR with the CRDI engine, Indigo CS with TDI engine, Indigo CS with DICOR engine, Indigo XL with DICOR engine, Indigo XL with a really responsive 100bhp petrol engine and all other Indigos except for XL with smaller petrol engines.
Two years ago the Indigo range expanded with the addition of Manza that comes with 1.3-liter diesel and 1.4-liter petrol engine. IAB was first to report on the Manza CS which should accelerate sales past 5 lakh units.
Our reader Sarun Selvanesan caught the Hyundai i45 and HA mini car testing near Chennai. The continuous testing over the past few months give rise to many questions. Where is the diesel engine going to come from for i45? This mule had the GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) badge. Hyundai should not miss out on the diesel-frenzy situation in higher segments. The sensational i45 looks production-ready. We can see it either during the festive season or the Auto Expo in January. If the response of the new Verna is any indication, India is going to go gaga over the fluidic design treatment of the i45. Passat, Superb and Accord – watch out!
Spotted testing on the NH4 near Sriperumbudur, another mule Sarun and his friends got a good look at was the HA. The driver wasn’t very happy with Sarun taking images. How can that stop Sarun from clicking and IAB from posting them online?
On close observation, Sarun says the 800cc HA mini car’s design mixes design nuggets of i10 and Santro. The stance is similar to i10′s and the headlights were “vaguely similar.” Due to the clever camouflaging he was unable to get any more information but it is bound to be spied with thinner camouflage in the following months. Stay put for more information on HA.
Now that the Volkswagen Passat has everyone talking, its time Skoda did something to remind them the Superb is still on sale and it’s a worthy contender for a 25 lakh rupee car. Based on the Skoda Superb Combi Laurin & Klement presented at Autosalon Brno 2011, Shoeb illustrates the sedan.
The L&K variant oozes premiumness and is the Superb brand’ most luxurious variant. India’ seen and liked the L&K Octavia so there’s no reason why a Superb L&K will not be liked.
The cabin is appointed elegantly. There are chrome exterior accents, classy alloys wheels, high quality leather upholstery, piano black trim, steel door sills and gold-coated badges. This can be the best way to grab the attention of the Passat lover and level the playing field. Powertrain options stay the same and the L&K costs a bit more than the top-end variant.
Skoda should think about offering a manual transmission for the diesel. The power bump from 140bhp to 170bhp will keep the Superb in tip-top condition.
Will Skoda India cook up a L&K for Superb customers in India?
After a reasonable silence from the Tata Nano camp, we are back to square one. DNA is reporting that another Tata Nano caught fire in Subanpura locality of Vadodara district on June 1. The Fire Officials on site – The engine of a Nano car caught fire near the Samta police outpost in Subanpura locality gutting down the front seat. The vehicle belonged to Mr Mayank Doshi. This is not [ Read More ]
It’s celebration time for Maruti Suzuki because the Estilo has achieved 2 lakh units in India and the Wagon R has already sold 10 lakh units since the original’s launch over ten years ago. This clearly calls for some champagne and some stickered special edition models. And that is exactly what Maruti Suzuki has done.
