Indian Autos blog

UPDATE – Images and Press release added after the jump

Moments ago, Tata Motors in a Delhi event announced the prices for the Aria 4X2 variants. Here are the prices (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

Tata Aria 4×2 Pure – 11.61 lakh
Tata Aria 4×2 Pleasure – 12.61 lakh
Tata Aria 4×2 Prestige – 14.26 lakh

Target customer for Aria remains the same as the 4X4.

click through to read the Press Release

Our friends at OnCars.in have snapped the Tata Safari Merlin on test. This comes days after IndianAutosBlog.com posted an undisguised image of the Merlin followed by a camouflaged shot with fresh details. OnCars.in have added a bunch of pointers which we will use on our version of the story -

The Safari Merlin has projector headlamps
The reason for delay, OnCars.in writes, is because of JLR’s role on the vehicle
Front end will be boxier with U-shape headlights
Like the current gen Safari ORVMs will have indicator lights
Footrest for the 3rd row passengers is foldable
Twin exhausts like the Aria lend the rear visual thump
Tail lamps have been redesigned and the spare wheel is sent under the car
A host of airbags, ABS, EBD and traction control will be borrowed from the Aria.
158mm disc brakes will be installed all around

The Merlin will come into the market during Diwali this year.

On the Car and Bike show Facebook page, Parag Raheja has posted the pics of the 2012 Captiva doing its testing rounds in India. The test mule’s front facia is covered in heavy camouflage. However as the product has been launched in the international markets, we have a fair picture of what it looks like. So let’s take you through all the changes that are expected.

Let’s start with the new design. There is a reason why the front fascia is covered in heavy camouflage because major changes have happened at the front. The new Captiva bears a bigger grill than the older one.

The headlights have become thinner which gives it a very butch look. You also have a few concave and sculptured lines in the front to make it look more aggressive. Adding to that, you get skid plates and fog lamps to make it look more off-roadish.

click through to read more

Rejoice petrolheads! Peugeot has started testing its products in India. On a popular forum – Team-bhp, pics have emerged of Peugeot test mules doing rounds on the expressway. Peugeot Citroen was in the news recently for planning an India foray. They also announced that they will be setting up a plant Chennai. But little did we know that they have started testing their cars in India. A new brand entering India is quite a momentous occasion so without wasting much time lets get down to analyzing what’s what?

We start of with the pic of the Peugeot 207 – a supermini from the Peugeot stable. This car was launched in 2006 in Europe and is a successor to the 206. It built on the same platform as the C3. Once can avail of 207 in petrol and diesel versions. The range of engine options available are:

Petrol
• 1.4 vti with 95 bhp
• 1.6 vti with 120 bhp
• Two turbocharged and intercooled engines with 150 bhp and 175 bhp

Diesel
• 1.4 litre 70 hp
• 1.6 litre HDi with intercooler with 90 or 110 hp

We really don’t know whether this is the petrol or a diesel. Let’s hope that Peugeot is testing both

click through to learn more

Our pals over at IndianCarsBikes.in have snapped the Peugeot 207 and 508 on test. Both these cars are testing in Indian conditions to see if any changes have to be done to their suspension, air conditioner and other mechanicals. Companies usually jack up the suspension, program the ECU to cope with low fuel quality and tinker the AC settings to cope with Indian summers.

Will Peugeot introduce the 508 (left) in India as a CBU? Bringing the hatchback through the CBU route is suicidal. With dazzling interiors and a french design, the 508 feels like it can take on the Skoda Superb and Honda Accord without hard work.

Sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com that Ford India is working on two platforms – BV2 and BV3. These are spin-offs from the B-Platform which underpin the Fiesta siblings. One of these two derivatives will form the foundation for the Ford Fiesta SUV, a successor to the EcoSport sold in South America. The interesting part is Ford India will be interested in selling this product.

Codenamed B515, similarities between the hatch and the SUV are easy to spot, but expect a “coupeish SUV” outline on this trendy fellow. Ford could keep the length under four meters to lower the price point. Under the hood, the new Fiesta’s 1.5 turbocharged CRDI could feature along with the 1.0-liter 3cyl EcoBoost that Ford announced recently.

If the EcoSport can be positioned say between the Classic and the Fiesta, Ford will have another killer product in its lineup.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has registered a monumental 99% growth in sales last month, but we’re not sure if they will be happy about the Liva’s lukewarm response. With just 4,000 orders to work with, the Fortuner and Altis are not very far away from where the Liva is now.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor July 2011 sales chart

Etios – 4,095
Liva – 2,551
Altis – 1,030
Innova – 4,816
Fortuner – 1,060

The refreshed Altis has grown 30% compared to July 2010 while the Fortuner is sitting pretty clocking four figure sales. The Etios, with a petrol engine, has put up a respectable show while the Innova is the king of its mountain.

Will Toyota work on fitting a diesel engine to the Liva as it needs it more than the Etios?

As another month in 2011 flies by, auto manufacturers are excited about the spur in sales the festive season brings with it. Still worries are plenty as interest rates and fuel prices have seen upward revisions dampening buying spirit among customers. A diesel variant appears to be the superior option offering far superior fuel economy and lighter fuel bills.

There are equations showing that petrol is the better option for vehicles used largely for short commutes, but customers predict repeated hikes in petrol prices over the next three years will play into the advantage of diesel.

General Motors India launched the much-awaited diesel powered Chevrolet Beat last week and the response has been brisk. As the vehicle continues to be launched in many parts of India, GM predicts the Beat brand will have 7,500 takers every month.

GM has to bring in the Sail twins and fit them with Fiat Multi-jet engines. Though the Sails will not arrive in the next five months, an Auto Expo unveiling is a good possibility. These cars along with vans and mini trucks from a new commercial vehicle division will accelerate numbers for GM which plans to reach 300,000 units annually from 100,000 presently in the next few years.