Indian Autos blog

It is no secret that GM India is mulling the launch of the SAIC-developed Sail sedan in India to settle scores with the Tata Indigo Manza, Toyota Etios and Maruti Dzire. Chevrolet has been outpaced by the competition in the B+ segment as the Aveo twins, with outdated styling and petrol engines, are no match to the fuel efficient and updated diesel sedans.

Even with the class-leading 3-year maintenance pack, the Aveo has not contributed significantly to GM India’s sales composition. The blame is completely on the absence of a diesel engine and GM India is apprehensive about tweaking an old platform to provide the diesel option to customers.

GM has not provided cosmetic upgrades to the Aveo either. About three years back, GM gave the Aveo twins an edgier styling makeover globally which has not made an appearance in India.

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IndianAutosBlog.com is told by sources that four variants are under discussion for India for the next generation BMW 3 Series.

Codenamed F30, the next generation 3 Series is bigger than the outgoing model and will debut at Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Shown on the left is a snap uploaded by a BMW aficionado taken while the car was filming for advertisement campaigns.

Assembly of the new 3 Series at the Chennai facility should begin by late Q1 for a Q3 launch.

These variants will form the next generation 3 Series troop -

Petrol – 320i (2.0-liter – 152hp) , 328i (3 liter straight six producing between 200-230 hp)
Diesel – (same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two outputs) – 320d (175hp), 318d (146hp)

The range topping 328i will brim with gadgets like HUD (Heads Up Display), Reverse guide camera, electrically operated sunroof, iPhone/Smart phone compatible audio unit, etc.

Considering the rage for diesels, the 318d will be the new starting point/volume mopper of the 3 Series range offering customers with higher fuel economy. Likewise the 320i, tuned for economy, will offer petrol customers with a basic car with a powerful BMW badge.

Corporate edition models, like on the current 3 Series plan, will come at a later date.

The X series has been a huge success for BMW. Many X vehicles are actually the genesis of that specific segment.

The X6 started a whole new coupe crossover segment and the competitors like Audi and Mercedes are developing their own rivals.

Then is the even more successful X1 which created an entry level crossover segment and is giving many new customers for BMW India. Case in point – In July 2011, BMW sold 484 X1’s in India which greater than the combined figures of all the other BMW vehicles sold in that month.

Despite of being the leading luxury manufacturer in India, BMW India has always struggled to sell the X3. Part of the reason was because the old X3 was a bit of a minger and part of the reason is because the competition came with products that had a high aspirational value offering something that segment did not have.

Relevant or illustrative examples are vehicles Freelander 2, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60.

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Mitsubishi has priced the Outlander Chrome Edition at 20.55 lakh rupees (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and is available in colors such as Haute Red, Vogue White, Shimmering Ash and Runway Grey.

Features of Mitsubishi Outlander Chrome Edition

• Large rear spoiler gives it sporty looks
• Chrome-plated outside rear view mirror improves aesthetics
• Body-coloured side protection molding lends a muscular look while protecting the body from scratches
• Side skirts with chrome inlays add flair
• Roof-mounted DVD player provides 9 inch wide TFT screen with swivel action and full function remote. The system is complete with a Rockford Fosgate Music System
• LED floor illumination lamps for front passengers in nine different floor illumination combinations

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While IndianAutosBlog.com was sleeping Earlier this week, Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the 2012 Camry. It did not send shock waves through the corridors of competition given the vehicle was unveiled unofficially through a combination of leaked images and tightly cropped teaser pictures.

The styling of the new Camry is where there is a radical departure with sharp lines and angular headlamps. Inside the new Camry, the dashboard, door trims, seats and steering wheel have been redesigned. Features like Bluetooth/USB connectivity, 6.1 inch infotainment system, reverse guide camera, GPS Navigation and a powerful JBL audio system are present.

Two out of the three engines are of interest to Indians – The entry-level 2.5-liter four pot motor produces 180 PS/230 Nm while the 3.5-liter V6 rewards drivers with 272 PS/336 Nm. There is no diesel engine for the new Camry at launch, but could Toyota use the 3.0 D4D or the Innova’s 2.5 D4D on the Camry for diesel-loving markets? Diesel is an absolute must if Toyota wants to improve its sales in India.

IndianAutosBlog.com readers will know that Toyota Kirloskar Motor will begin selling the new Camry in July-August 2012. It will remain as a CBU model and hence prices are not expected to come down.

Audi is testing the next generation A3 hatchback in Argentina and it is likely to be launched either in late 2012 or during the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013. Audi India will be interested in the sedan model as it brings hope of increasing its presence in India.

The other two Germans aren’t going to wait and watch Audi flood the market with the D segment car. While BMW India is learned to be studying the 1 Series for our market, Mercedes’ baby CLS based on the low-cost MFA kit architecture is a fantastic option to rival these two.

The miniature CLS could win hearts, not only with low price and Mercedes badge, but also with its flowing lines and eye-catching design based on the tip-top, niche segment CLS four-door coupe.

Shoeb R Kalania picked up an image of the A3 sedan concept brought to the Geneva Motor Show this year and based on what he saw on the Argentinian spy pics, he resumed on the concept’s journey into a showroom model. There will be plenty of chrome, a powerful set of headlamps, the signature Audi grille and a boot plastered to the rear.

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BMW India added the new X3 to its lineup this afternoon in Pune and IAB was at hand to provide you the prices and preliminary details first. IndianAutosBlog.com readers were informed months in advance about the engines planned for India and in a later post brought the launch date, features and other speculative details.

In the latest installment, we post the press release, spec sheet and live images.

The new BMW X3 launched in India.

Visually Stunning, Bigger and More Comfortable, the new generation Sports Activity Vehicle redefines Sheer Driving Pleasure.

Production of the new BMW X3 commences at the BMW Plant Chennai.

Pune. The new BMW X3 was launched in two diesel variants: BMW X3 xDrive20d and BMW X3 xDrive30d.

The new BMW X3 will be CKD produced (Completely Knocked Down) at the BMW Plant Chennai.

The new BMW X3 can now be ordered at BMW dealerships across the country. The deliveries of the new BMW X3 xDrive20d will start in September and of the new BMW X3 xDrive30d in October.

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Is the Indica Vista a segment breaker?

Tata Motors is in its 13th year of manufacturing passenger cars and the Vista is their second generation hatchback. World class cars like the Polo, Fabia and Micra have joined the bandwagon and Japanese manufacturers are also occupying this space by tailoring a car for the needs of India. Segment king Swift is now one generation ahead, the Liva diesel and the Brio are about to reside in the same zip code as the Indica Vista.

With limited experience and a sudden rush of international products, it is difficult for Tata Motors to bring the Vista on par with the competition overnight.

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