Indian Autos blog

As you know, we have set our eyes firm on the 2012 A Class, which Mercedes India promised that it will bring it to India. Earlier this year, at the New York Motor Show, Mercedes showcased a concept version of the A Class, the idea being to study the feasibility of the design. However, our good friends at WorldcarFans have scooped some fresh spy pics of the A class (codenamed  [ Read More ]

Sources close to Mercedes Benz India have told IAB that the Stuttgart star is looking at Q3 2011 (July, August, September) to put the new C-Class on the market. The RHD version took Mercedes about six months to develop and the product is almost ready for launch.

Existing BlueEfficiency petrol and diesel engines (1.8- and 2.2-liter producing 170-204 hp) will be carried over as updating happened just last year. The facelifted C-Class has to ward of the enemies until the all-new C-Class is ready in 2013. Mercedes haven’t tried to outdo the outgoing car in every aspect. Instead they’ve chosen to focus on improving certain areas of the car like the interiors for example which will feature improved materials, tighter fit and smoother finish.

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By the end of September, Hyundai could bring out the LPG version of the i10, sources have told Indian Autos Blog. Hyundai is an environment-conscious car manufacturer with immense interest in alternate fuel variants. It brought out LPG variants of the Santro and Accent, and the upcoming HA is another candidate for this technology. Hyundai has also showcased the i10 EV at the Auto Expo which it plans to produce in Korea in limited numbers.

What has prompted the i10 LPG? The answer is in the blog posts of 2011 – the two main rivals Maruti Wagon R and Chevrolet Beat have received them and with looming petrol prices, market for LPG begins to open up. Hyundai does not have a diesel engine for the i10, it will take them at least till 2013 before one is eligible for market introduction. Fuel efficiency of the i10 can thus only be boosted with LPG.

The i10 LPG will meet BS4 emission norms. The tank size could be between 22-26 liters. Kia offers the Morning (based on the i10) with a Bi-Fuel variant. It uses a different ideology. The fuel tank is about 10 liters, while the underbody-mounted LPG tank can hold 37 liters of LPG. The primary fuel there is LPG while one switches over to petrol when he is range anxious.

This layout will not work in India as LPG availability is still in the developing stage. The chief fuel has to be petrol, while LPG kicks in when the tank is dry.

We’ll have to wait for a little while before technical specifications of the i10 LPG is released.

Our reader Saahil Kapoor has spotted the RHD edition of the Ssangyong Korando C in a housing complex near Kandivali, Mumbai. Mahindra has not been tight lipped about the Ssangyong models slated for India – the Korando C you see here will join forces with the Rexton (spied in India too) to form the line-up to start with. They have ruled out the Chairman sedan citing positioning reasons.

The Rexton will play the butch 7 seat SUV for large families while the Korando C is a crossover vehicle aimed at buyers who opt in for vehicles like Tata Aria, Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Captiva. Our hunch is that the W201 will sit right above the Scorpio followed by the Korando and topped off by the Rexton. Both Ssangyong cars will be assembled in Maharashtra (Nashik or Pune) from kits shipped from South Korea.

The branding for India is another debate as these are not Mahindras by any stretch of the imagination. Mahindra is likely to leave the Ssangyong badges alone. They could add Mahindra lettering above the Ssangyong on the tailgate like they did with Logan. Saahil says he saw the Mahindra logo above the audio system, which is strange as manufacturers don’t use brands or nameplates apart from having one on the steering wheel. We’ve designed a Korando C with the Mahindra saw-tooth, which seems unlikely at this point.

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Last time I drove the Tata Nano, it wasn’t really a pleasant experience. The lack of power steering made sure I had a bicep workout whenever I planned to park the car. Adding to that, the drum brakes coupled with no ABS meant as much as I would just look at the brakes, they would lock up. But then again, I really couldn’t complain much considering the price of the car is so low.

A little relief for people like me is that Bosch, the world’s leading auto equipments manufacturer, is testing various variants of the Tata Nano with added features. Targeted at emerging economies such as Asia and South America, Bosch wants to develop low cost components for the Tata Nano that would provide better fuel consumption, components and drivability.

First in line is the Power steering. Even the top variant of the Tata Nano doesn’t come with a power steering. So people who are willing to pay a little bit more than the basic model do not get the luxury of Power steering. Coupled with the left OVRM, the power steering should be able to improve the drivability of the Nano.

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Last month BMW released photographs of the new 1 Series. We gave our perspective of the over at SteeringNews.com. However, as BMW is not sure whether it would bring the new 1 Series or for that matter any hatchback in India, we left the topic willy nilly. But when we saw a sedan rendering of the BMW 1 Series by TheOphilusChin, a strange thought struck our mind.

Earlier this year at Geneva Motor Show, Audi showcased a concept version of the A3 sedan. It was basically an entry level sedan that will be placed below the A4. Powered by a five-cylinder pot and mated to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, the A3 sedan hopes to be the new entry point for the brand. Rumor has it that Audi India is working to bring the A3 to India by the end of 2014 at a price point of 20-25 lakh rupees. Like the other two VW group cars in that segment (Skoda Superb and VW Passat), the A3 is expected to add an interesting choice. Clearly, Audi India is bullish on this segment and has some major plans to use it to develop its presence in India.

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Honda restarts Brio bookings in Thailand

Honda has resumed taking orders for the Brio in Thailand after it shut down bookings due to the twin disaster in Japan. The Honda Brio was launched in Thailand six days after the Tsumani and earthquake struck parts of Japan. It recorded 5,000 bookings in the first month but bookings had to be halted in April due to crippled parts supply from Japan. 75% of these bookings were for the top-end model. The bookings have resumed and interested people can test drive cars at showrooms. Honda Thailand will ramp up production to 80% in July and resume normal production from September.

Dacia prepares new engine for next gen Logan in Romania

Romanian Dacia fans have reasons to cheer as the homegrown brand introduces two new engines displacing 900cc and 1,200cc next year. These turbocharged engines will replace two versions of the 1.6-liter engine used on Logan platform vehicles presently (codenamed K7M and K4M). Dacia will use the 1.2-liter turbo petrol on the next generation Logan tuned to produce 115hp. The 900cc will be a three-cylinder while the 1,200cc engine is a four pot. Turbocharging promises to enhance performance while keeping dioxide emissions in check.

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Launched earlier this year, the VW Passat has made quite a mark in the land dominated by cousin Superb. With its refined quality and clever gizmos, it is expected to sell about 200 units per month.

However, come 2014, there will be a drastic change in the VW Passat as it will move from transverse engines (B3/B6) platform to Volkswagen’s brand new MQB platform. CAR Magazine point out that the shift will allow greater dimensional flexibility as well as a much more space-efficient packaging. As discussed earlier , the MQB platform will be a common base for all future VWs from Polo to Passat.

Codenamed B8, the 2014 Passat will be 75 kilograms lighter than the current Passat. Adding to that, the MQB platform provides greater flexibility so the Passat can spawn into various body styles such as saloon, station wagon, three door coupe and even a cabriolet that will play the grown up Eos for convertible-friendly markets.

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