Peugeot Citroen has identified Gujarat as a conducive atmosphere for their India chapter. The vehicle that will introduce Peugeot in India or re-introduce Peugeot in India is the 508 sedan. Since production facilities are work in progress, the initial pool of products like the 508 will be fully imported.
Once the plant is up and running affordable hatchbacks and sedans will be manufactured. The story is very similar to Nissan or Volkswagen who started their journey in India with CBUs and filtered down to lower segments.
Seen testing here is the Peugeot 207 in Pune by our reader Chaitanya in Pune. Peugeot could be testing the 207′s performance in Indian conditions and learn about their car’s compatibility levels on Indian pot holes, dust and heat. There is no confirmation on the 207′s introduction in India.
Peugeot is not good at keeping secrets inferred through the unmasked cars running around India. The 207 is sold with 1.4-liter petrol engine overseas with the most powerful 1.6 churning out 175hp. The India spec 207 needs to have sub-1.5 liter diesel to make inroads.
The next most important launch after the Fluidic Verna is going to be the EON – an entry level hatchback to take on the likes of Alto and Spark. But before we get to the EON, Hyundai India launched an automatic variant of their flagship SUV Santa FE to show their commitments towards the growing consumer interest in automatic gearboxes.
Hyundai is betting big on automatic gearboxes and almost all their cars, right from the i10, have an automatic variant on the brochure. The Santa Fe will now be offered in a 6 speed automatic gearbox. The AT is the most convenient variant which trades fuel efficiency for extra driving comfort.
The automatic Santa FE (just like the manual one) is priced at 24.36 lakhs (ex Delhi) which is ninety thousand higher than the equivalent manual variant. Of course, for that money you also get push start button, smart key with one-touch operation and supervision instrument cluster. Apart from these valuable add ons, the rest of the stuff on the Santa Fe pretty much remains standard.
This automatic variant was long coming because its competitors, such as Ford Endeavour and Chevy Captiva, are already offered in automatic variant. Oddly, the leader of that segment – Toyota Fortuner is not offered in an automatic variant. But that may be about to change because Toyota Kirloskar Motor is already testing the new Fortuner in an automatic avatar.
It’s been a silent morning at IAB as I’ve come to Pune for the Mahindra XUV500 launch and our Mumbai representative was at the Brio launch. We will soon have the “First Look” entry providing you with a thorough perspective on the Brio’s interior.
It was the first time that a Honda model was developed with Indian engineers in the team.
Honda has not spoken about a diesel engine for Brio. It is unrealistic to expect one before late 2013. Honda has started working on a new diesel engine in Japan and the first compact model to sport one could be the next generation Jazz expected around the same time.
With a fuel economy of 18.4kmpl, the Brio is nonetheless an extremely frugal Honda. It has been positioned between the Hyundai i10 and the Maruti Swift expecting customers from both segments to opt for Brio.
Honda Brio price (ex-showroom Mumbai)
- E – 4.19
- S – 4.62
- S(O) – 5.21
- V – 5.42
The Honda Brio was launched yesterday in New Delhi at a starting price of 3.95 lakh rupees. It is manufactured at the Greater Noida facility with localization to the tune of 80%.
The 1.2-liter i-VTEC petrol engine borrowed from the Jazz produces 88PS/109Nm. The Brio is available in six colors with the top-end model loaded with many useful features and functions.
Honda’s Brio adopts a double triangle design form. It features an all-glass hatch that maximizes visibility during reversing while shaving off a few kilograms of weight. It has man maximum, machine minimum as one of its engineering pillars. Its door pockets have been designed to liberate extra leg room. The windows have been lowered to provide better visibility of low lying obstacles like guard rails.
We can go on explaining what Honda used to entertain us at the launch to fill up the rest of this blog post. Instead we’ll let the images do the talking.
Don’t forget to leave your comments on the Honda Brio in the comments box below.
Honda has finally entered the B segment with its much awaited small car, the Brio. We have already posted about the variants, colors and technical specifications of the car and now let us take you through the launch event point by point
- Honda says that the Brio has been designed for India and Indian consumers; Indian engineers were involved for the first time in developing a Honda car. They assisted in designing and developing many parts according to Indian preferences
- Occupants were given equal priority as drivers while developing the Brio as Indians most likely travel with passengers on board
- Honda says people have high expectations from the company in form of design, performance, fuel economy, space, comfort and safety and Honda has been successful every time in providing the consumers back with what they demand.
- Honda cars are constantly winning JD Power Asia Pacific awards for best quality and Honda expects that to continue with the Brio
click through for details and images of the slideshow played at the event
Honda has launched the Brio this morning at mouth watering prices and discussions on how the 1.2-liter i-VTEC is a gem under the Brio’s bonnet. Honda dealerships better be prepared for the unseen rush during the festive season now that Hyundai i10, Chevy Beat and Wagon R buyers have another option.
People expected Honda to target the mass audience with the Brio and the price of the Jazz was brought down. The question is about the service infrastructure as Honda is yet to ramp it up. The timing is also questionable as the petrol prices are not showing signs of moving south. This is a factor that auto manufacturers have no control over.
The Brio will test if Honda’s infrastructure in India is ready for inexpensive products as the Jazz until the recent price slash in the premium hatchback segment. If Honda has to reach for a segment that has the Alto and upcoming Eon, the Brio will give them plenty of experience and know-how.
The initial lot of customers are going to be Honda car owners as they need no convincing about the product or the brand. Since the Brio is built to a price, we have to wait and see if it matches to the lofty expectations of the Civic or the City owners.
click through to read more
Moments ago Honda SIEL launched the hotly anticipated entry-level Brio hatchback in New Delhi. This is the first Honda product for the masses since the company’s foray into the Indian market. The commercial clip is our pick of automotive ads in 2011 which is constructed around the slogan “It loves you back.” Following are the prices of the Brio (ex-showroom New Delhi)
Honda Brio price (ex-showroom New Delhi)
E – 3.95 lakhs
S – 4.35 lakhs
S(O) – 4.9 lakhs
V – 5.1 lakhs
Honda Brio quick facts
- The Brio uses the same 1.2-liter i-VTEC 4cyl petrol engine on the Jazz producing peak power of 88PS @ 6,000 RPM and peak torque of 109Nm @ 4,600 RPM
- The ARAI certified fuel efficiency is 18.4 kmpl
- Honda terms the Brio’s design as double triangle (Dynamic Triangle and Sporty Triangle) exterior form – express energy and vigor
- Lightweight rear hatch aids visibility and improves mileage according to Honda
- Man maximum machine minimum ideology used on the Brio as well
- Dual SRS front airbags on top 2 variants
- Electric power steering with 4.5m turning radius
- Pedestrian injury mitigation technology is standard
- Four variants – EMT, SMT, S(O)MT and VMT
- Six colors – Blue, red, titanium, silver, white, black
click through to see the brochure
Two cars that are likely to make it to India on the long term are points of interest on this International Wrap article.
The 2012 Nissan Juke has come out on to the UK market with higher fuel economy. It isn’t just Indian car makers harping on the high fuel economy of its products. The 1.5-liter diesel engine (found under the Micra’s bonnet) now takes the Juke to 100km on less than 5 liters of fuel.
The remarkable improvement in fuel economy is due to optimized gear ratios and tweaking of the electronics. The manual transmission Juke is a fabulous C-Segment car whose rear inspired Suzuki while designing the new Swift! Nissan should consider the Juke for the Indian market.
[Read more about the high fuel efficiency Juke at ]
The next generation Clio has been rendered by a German Auto publication. Renault will not bring down the Clio to India in the near future but when they decide the time is right, the model you see rendered here will make it. Renault could bring the Clio facelift to India (3-4 years down the line) where a matured Indian market will accept every kind of product.
With a turbocharged 900cc petrol engine and a four-cylinder 1.4 liter petrol, the Clio is for both economy and power seekers. Renault has the option of using the 1.5-liter diesel discussed above for economy-conscious markets.
[Read more about the new Clio at SteeringNews.com]
Peugeot Citroen has identified Gujarat as a conducive atmosphere for their India chapter. The vehicle that will introduce Peugeot in India or re-introduce Peugeot in India is the 508 sedan. Since production facilities are work in progress, the initial pool of products like the 508 will be fully imported.
