The reason we are suddenly seeing so many spyshots of the Skoda Rapid is because the car is going to be unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show this September. The Czech Automaker has confirmed that the preparations are in full swing on the completing formalities with the Rapid and the product will rival the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and the soon to come Ford Fiesta. It will go into production by the end of 2011.
Thomas Kuehl, board member, sales and marketing, Skoda Auto India -
India is also one of the first markets to get the car. Our new entry-level limousine would offer the best value for money in the segment and we are looking at topping the category in sales and leaving everybody behind. In every premium segment where we are present, the Laura and Superb give better quality, design, driveability and equipment over competitors and our new car would do the same in its segment
He also insisted that this is an ‘all new’ car and not an Octavia replacement. The Octavia brand, we suppose, will now be a part of the history books.
The thing that is puzzling us is the pricing. Clearly, if Skoda is targeting the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna, we are talking about the 7-11 lakh price bracket. If Skoda is planning to undercut its rivals, it also will undercut its sibling VW Vento.
What do you think should be the price band to launch the Skoda Rapid?
click through to participate
We saw Ferrari, we saw Aston Martin, we saw Koenigsegg, We even saw the mighty Veyron. Now, we might just be able to see Pagani.
According to AutoEvolution and RushLane, the Italian Supercar manufacturer Pagani is scouting for an importer who would help them set up a shop in India. Is Shreyans group and Mr Chordia reading this?
The company’s first product is expected to be the Zonda replacement – Huayra. Named after a South American wind god – Huayra Tata, this mighty beast has a bespoke heart made by AMG. It is a 6.0-litre V12 twin-turbo producing 730bhp and 811lb ft of torque. The whole car is made from carbotanium which is a mix of carbon fiber and titanium and the resulting kerb weight is only 1,350kg.
click through to read more
Smaller and more fuel efficient Land Rovers are on the anvil for India starting with the Range Rover Evoque in the beginning of 2012 (Auto Expo premiere?) CAR India reports. The Evoque’ global debut will unfold in mid 2011 following which work will get underway for the India unveil. At this point, It isn’t understood if Tata Motors is planning to assemble the Evoque at its newly inaugurated assembly line near Pune.
It is common sense to assume that the 3-door model will not make an appearance here leaving market-capturing duties to the more practical and back-seat friendly 5-door version. If sold in the CBU form, it will compete with the LC Prado, BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Mercedes Benz ML-Class.
If Tata Motors wants this muscular SUV to be taken seriously by India and not just play the role of a brand shaper, assembling it in India will garner better response. CKDing permits them to take it a segment lower putting it the line of the Audi Q5′s fire.
A popular Japanese publication has written about Honda’s interest in reviving the HR-V, a compact Sports Utility Vehicle that sits under the CR-V in the international lineup. It was discontinued in 2006 following poor sales leaving the CR-V as the sole crossover model in the company’s current portfolio. Once voted as the best SUV money buys, the CR-V is near as dead in India with languishing sales thanks to discouraging trends in exchange rates. The CR-V is a fully imported car, the replacement model of which is expected in late 2011.
After having noticed the increased appetite for small crossovers in Europe and America, Honda is apparently planning to release one themselves. Crossovers usually combine the strengths of a sedan and SUV with an intermediate seating position, luggage volume comparable to a SUV, maneuverability of a sedan while somewhat being able to traverse rough terrain. The revival will be a larger product competing with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and the Mitsubishi ASX. Mag-X has put some numbers on the table – 4350 mm long, 1745 mm wide and 1640 mm high.
As it is Honda we’re talking about, the word delay is inevitable in most sentences. Tentative launch date stands at August 2014.
Under the hood a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder petrol (presumably from the CR-V) and a 2.2 liter diesel is expected. It is said that a compact 1.5-liter diesel engine is being worked on for the entire range of compact Hondas which the future HR-V is part of.
Talking to IndianAutosBlog last month, Force Motors MD Prasan Firodia sounded very optimistic about the chances of his company’s new SUV in the affordable SUV-deprived Indian market. When quizzed about the striking resemblance this 12 lakh rupee SUV bears with the Foday Explorer of China he responded that there are imported parts coming in from both Thailand and China.
He pointed out that these were soft components which make up the vehicle’ interior to keep tooling cost from sky-rocketing. Key mechanical components have been developed by leading suppliers or by Force in-house.
Firodia confirmed that his SUV will have the same powertrain found on the Mercedes Benz C220 CDI (displacing 2,143cc). The power and torque ratings will vary as the application differs. Force is not worried about a delay in the launch considering the product quality was a top priority. IAB expects the product to be launched by the end of July. The company sells Traveller, Trax, Trump and its passenger application Trump Trip is expected shortly. Can we see a ‘T’ name on this product as well?
Force is yet to put the much-anticipated, Daimler-powered SUV on the market, and news about the second “personalized vehicle” is already out on the public domain. The company is planning a family MPV, the USP of which will be interior space. Smaller than the Traveller van (pictured), the eight- or nine-seater MPV will target large families and customers in the hospitality sector.
One similar van that comes to mind is the Tata Winger which hasn’t been directly marketed as a large family vehicle. It is retailed through the commercial vehicle dealer network, the route the Force MPV will avoid taking as by then the passenger vehicle network will be in place. Would Force depend on the Mercedes-sourced driveline for the MPV as well? That sounds like a good idea.
Plenty of details on the next generation Dacia/Renault Logan has emerged on the internet. As the reliability aspect is in place, it is reported that Dacia wants to take the Logan upmarket. Logan 2 will have German car traits and a global radar.
The first edition wasn’t designed to interest customers beyond Romania and some neighboring countries. It was a mechanically rugged vehicle designed to operate in the crowded Romanian roads and carry vegetables and meat from the market. India was the first RHD market for Logan where impressive volumes were shifted in the initial months.
Codenamed X52, the product will have common aspects with Ford Focus, Renault Fluence and Chevrolet Cruze. This might be a costly move, but as one old adage goes – higher the risk, higher the reward.
click through to read further
As India patiently waits for word from Maruti Suzuki on the new Swift, European countries are receiving one special edition after another. Today we show you a special edition exclusive to the the Hungarian market.
Dubbed Swift Sky, and as the name prompts, the limited edition model will have a factory-fitted sunroof to let sunlight and gentle breeze seep through to the cabin on a beautiful summer’ day as you drive along the Balaton lake with your girlfriend.
The Sky variant is available only on the 5-door variant. Fitted with the K12B petrol engine, it is a feature-rich hatchback with six airbags, ESP and automatic climate control. Bluetooth compatibility, radio and CD player with MP3 and USB connectors makes the Swift Sky a youngster’ fantasy. Along with these, cruise control, keyless entry, push-button start and rear parking sensors are present.
India is one of the Swift’s biggest market and we’re not sure why it has taken so long for them to introduce the new model. We cannot think of another reason other than RHD (Right Hand Drive) conversion that takes not more than six months to complete. Is Maruti playing the waiting game?
