By Arjun Singh Rajput
Audi India, the really hungry German car manufacturer, today announced the entry of the 7th generation A6 here in New Delhi. The car’s features, variants and powertrain choices have already been discussed in two separate posts (complete information and prices,brochure post) so be sure to read them if you need to know every detail about the car.
The launch event was unusual keeping in mind the category this car falls under. The A6 will be used a rear seat cruiser in India, but Audi’s not worried about that.
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As we are near the Frankfurt Motor Show that will be held between September 15 to 25, more and more automakers are coming to the public domain to talk about their exhibits. Ford has let the cat out of the bag saying it’ll have no less than four models at its stall including one that hints at the future direction of its design department.
Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe -
We’re excited to be showing customers our best-ever vehicle line-up and a special glimpse of the future.
Ever since the announcement of the One Ford strategy, every reveal has some relevance to the Indian market. We’ve been toiling since the middle of 2011 with the Fiesta based SUV we call the 2012 EcoSport. There are good chances of a SUV concept shown at this year’s show that will form the thematic inspiration for this model.
Ford Fiesta rear tail lamp image clicked by IAB fan Akhil Gopal.
Ssangyong Motors has recorded the highest monthly sales in its 25 year history. This comes on the back of the best H1 sales since 2007.
The Ssangyong Business Group acquired an automotive business called Dong-A Motor in 1986 and changed its name to Ssangyong Motors. For about 23 years, the company maintained a low key image, till things got nasty after a series of labor strikes and bankruptcy crumpled the company. The tainted image outposed some of the oddball designs it has cooked up over the last few years.
In 2010, Mahindra acquired 70% stake in the company and things started falling in place.
Last month Ssangyong sold 10,763 cars of which 3,506 cars were sold in Korea while the remaining 7,257 cars were exported. The figure represents a growth of 46% over the same period in 2010.
The Korando C is a hot cake and demand from Russia and Latin America have catapulted overseas shipment by 57% compared to last year. A 28% growth in the domestic market is credited to a stronger dealer network.
Ssangyong plans to provide potential customers with a first-hand experience of its products signifying the high confidence level it has on them. It also plans to expand its portfolio with more utility vehicles and variants of its existing range.
WorldCarFans.com has posted new spyshots of the Audi A4 facelift that could debut during the year end for European markets. Shortly after its introduction, the model will travel in India (2012 Delhi Auto Expo maybe?). Since this is a cosmetic job, there’s nothing serious Audi India needs to do to its production line. The delay in introduction will be minimal for the A4.
Audi is not willing to make it obvious so they’ve dressed up the mules with heavy psychedelic camouflage. The list of changes are short – new lamps, new grille, restyled lamps and minor revisions to the interior are expected. The model will be styled to resemble its bigger brothers A5 and A6. If you want an idea of how the new A4 will look, see the new A6 that was launched in India this morning.
Audi is also applying the same changes to the station wagon variant (left) which won’t make it to India.
Engine choices will be carried over except for the 3.2-liter FSI that will likely be replaced by the 3-liter supercharged engine (3.0 TFSI) outputting 268hp. The A4 facelift will be to counter the draft kicked up by the launch of the new C-Class (spied in India recently) and the all new BMW 3 Series (code – F30) expected in India shortly.
Will Audi bring the new A4 to the Frankfurt Motor Show next month? Guess we’ll have to wait and see!
Audi has presented a 36 page document consisting of every possible detail on the new Audi A6. It will take us all night to absorb the information and present it in an article, so we chose to publish the document for you to select what you want to read.
Audi has also released 22 high quality images to show different facets of this business saloon that treats the BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class as prime enemies.
Variants and prices of new Audi A6
All prices are ex-showroom New Delhi -
- 2.0 TDI – Rs 37.7 lakh
- 2.8 FSI – Rs 38.9 lakh
- 3.0 TFSI – Rs 47 lakh
- 3.0 TDI Quattro – Rs 46.95 lakh
click Continue for a truck load of images and a cosmos of information
Now that Logan is Verito and the future of the product is looking secure in India, Renault will look forward to selling the next generation model in 2013. Renault’s first priority will be to get the first five models out on time and then move on the others, which may include the new Logan and the Popster MPV.
Now reports are coming from across the sea that the new Logan is close to completion. Codenamed X52, the bigger and richly appointed vehicle will not take on the role of a bare-bones car. It will move up the ladder and offer more for less in a higher segment. The X52 will replace the current Logan next year after more than 1.25 million units reached customers around the world.
Catalin Tischer, manager of Mahle, a component supplier to Renault -
We have new projects with VW and Renault. The future Dacia model (X52) has basically the same engine, with small changes. The engine is more efficient, it has carbon emissions and lower fuel consumption.
Where will Renault India position the next gen Logan?
Our friends at MotorBeam.com have caught the Audi Q3 on test in Mumbai. Audi India has confirmed that it will launch the junior crossover during in early 2012 and could bring it to the Auto Expo as well. Yesterday we showed you one set of spy shots, thanks to an alert OnCars reader and today we have the same car spied by Motorbeam.
Sitting on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform, the Q3 us Audi’s version of the Volkswagen Tiguan. Motorbeam writes initially it will be offered in front wheel drive followed by a 4WD version. The two-liter TDI diesel engine that tugs many vehicles in the VW Group will be present on the Q3 as well.
Can Audi price the Q3 from 25 lakh rupees?
Nissan India has unveiled the Sunny sedan in Mumbai, but the bigger announcement is the 1.5-liter petrol engine it will be strapped with. Nissan isn’t using the 1.6 from the American market model. This echoes Ford’s actions when they decided to go with a more fuel efficient 1.5 for the Fiesta instead of the 1.6.
Nissan does not state a specific time frame for the launch in the press release and says it will come “in the next few months.” Nissan also doesn’t mention a price band or number of variants. All variants will be manufactured at the Renault Nissan alliance plant in Oragadam, Chennai.
IAB predicts Nissan will introduce at least three petrol variants starting from a price point of 6.8 lakh rupees. The diesel variant could come in 2012, and we would be surprised to see anything other than the 1.5 K9K engine from the Micra.
click Continue to see more images and the press release
