IndianAutosBlog.com reader Prakash Ramesh Chugh while scaling the Nandi Hills in Bangalore with other cyclists in the “Infinera cycling team” spotted the Modus on test. The Modus is not Renault’s small car and is in India as part of the validation program across eight countries. The validation, we hear, is for the next generation Modus that may or may not land in India in the future.
IAB can confirm that the Clio or the Modus (essentially a taller Clio) though having dimensions and powertrains that qualify for excise benefits, are not heading to India in the near future. Renault India has five products (Fluence, Koleos, Micra-based hatchback, Duster and an affordable sedan) lined up till the end of 2012. Their focus is now to introduce these products and build up a strong dealer base.
Renault unveils the concept version of its small car during the last week of October and showcase the actual vehicle at the Delhi Auto Expo in January 2012. To be positioned in the B+ segment, the Renault hatch is likely to share powertrains with Micra.
Do you how many variations has Tata Motors tried out on the Indica platform? 2, 3?
Ans – We’ve stopped counting. These are some of the variants we’re aware of
- Indica
- Indigo
- Indigo Marina
- Indigo XL
- Indigo CS
- DICOR engines on Indica, Indigo and Indigo XL
- XETA petrol engine (1.2 and 1.4) on the Indica prior to which a 75PS petrol engine was used
- CR4 engines across the lineup and the XL model has a 100PS petrol engine on introduction
- CNG and LPG models on various cars at different timelines
- EV version that made it to many international shows and formed the basis for the Vista EV
- Indica Silhouette concept having a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 330PS
With all those variants, Tata’s still not giving up on its first passenger car project. There’s a new one under works and understandably dedicated to the cab market. It’s the Indica XL (Indigo XL missing a boot).
click through to see more images
No, this is not a special edition to celebrate 5,000 years of Indian jewellery.
Tata Motors’ next target is to revive sales of the Sumo brand which has come under intense heat of the Bolero. The Bolero has managed to eat into the Sumo’s marketshare and to fight back, Tata plans to refresh the original Indian SUV by giving it a new name, cosmetic upgrades and a new engine.
A few weeks ago, Tata dropped the Sumo nameplate from the Grande while highlighting the DICOR suffix. By doing this, Tata hopes the Safari imagery will be recalled on seeing the new Grande. To differentiate it from the Safari, the Grande lacks the kit and safety features offered on the Safari.
The Sumo ‘Victa’ brand will be partially or fully replaced by the ‘Gold’ brand and under the hood, a new 3-liter CR4 engine meeting BS4 norms will be shoehorned. The new Sumo is expected to get minor cosmetic touches and a clever marketing campaign to woo customers back into their dealerships. Tata will be looking to use the spending spirits of the festive season to gain the required traction.
Skoda has commenced the production of the VW Vento-based sedan christened as the Rapid. IAB was the first to post the completely undisguised picture of the upcoming Skoda Rapid.
The sedan is manufactured at the Volkswagen plant in Chakan, Pune where its cousin Vento, Skoda Fabia and VW Polo are currently being made. The first production cars are rolling out of the plant already and the market launch is scheduled in mid-November.
The Rapid uses the Vento’s mechanicals (1.6-liter petrol/diesel engines paired to 5-speed MT/4-speed AT) but will be priced just below the Vento. Apart from that as the pictures depict the Rapid shares its front fascia with the Fabia and the rear almost resembles the Vento but with Skoda elements in the tail-lamps and trunk lid.
If priced between the 7-9.5 lakh rupees mark, many Fabia owners would love to upgrade to the Rapid.
The roll out was conducted in the presence of Chairman of the Board of Management, Skoda Auto, Prof. Dr, Winfried Vahland. The Rapid is exclusively manufactured in India. As expected, passenger space is the USP of this Skoda product. It plays a strategic role in the company’s ambition to reach an annual output of 1.8 million units globally by the year 2018.
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When we talk about ‘Special Edition’ models immediately Maruti Suzuki springs to our mind. The kingpin of the small hatchback segment launches more special edition models than all the car launches in Indian put together. But many other manufacturers have also caught the bug.
Just yesterday, we brought you some live images of the Tata Manza Celebration Edition. Tata Motors wanted to add some zing in the sales of the Tata Manza and hence for a nominal price of 15K, you can get a Manza with extra features.
Another Indian manufacturer has also caught the bug of special edition models.
To spice up the sales of the Verito this festive season, M&M has launched a special edition Verito in the Indian market. Priced at Rs 6.94-7.09L (Diesel), Rs 5.95-5.99 L (Petrol) ex showroom Delhi, the Mahindra Verito Executive Edition features:
- Genuine leather seats
- Blue vision headlamps
- An aftermarket stereo with USB and Bluetooth
- Roof rails
- Alloy wheels
- Body decals (a must for every special edition)
Oh wait and a badge that says ‘Executive Edition’ to prove that you haven’t fitted all the other malarkey aftermarket.
click through for brochure and images
The very eloquent Siddharth Vinayak Patankar has finally managed to expose the much awaited Skoda Fabia sedan to the masses. On the landmark 400th episode of The Car and Bike Show on the NDTV network, SVP took the wraps off the Skoda Rapid. International Exclusive? Oh yes! It’s called the Rapid and not the rumored Lauret or Lauretta. A quick recap on the Skoda Rapid – Last year Skoda decided [ Read More ]
The Audi Q7 has established itself in the Indian market and month after month it outsells the Mercedes ML Class, cousin Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5. Bringing about a similar condition in overseas markets rests heavily on the replacement for the Q7 expected in 2014. The predictable design direction of Audi led Shoeb R Kalania to magnify the Q3 (and rightly so) to reach the next generation Q7.
[See our illustration of the Q7 successor on SteeringNews.com]
After seeing the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera serve the supercar experience to four people with generosity, Bugatti is upping the ante in the way it knows best – A four seater producing about 1000hp. The hypercar project is taking more time than initially predicted and the launch date (tentative) has been pushed back to 2015.
[Read about the Bugatti Galibier over at Steering News]
If you thought the Hyundai i10′s only relative is the Kia Picanto then you’re wrong. Kia’s working secretly on another sibling internally named Tam. This car is like the Nissan Cube (a box with melted edges mounted on four wheels) and is driven by an electric powertrain.
[Read details on the Kia Tam on SteeringNews.com]
Back in September, we brought you a story that Tata Motors is planning to launch the Tata Manza Celebration Edition during the festive season. It seems Tata Motors decided to not make a hue and cry about the launch and has silently taken the wraps of the Celebration Edition.
The Tata Manza Celebration edition will sit above the Elan with a small price hike of Rs 15K. So what do you get for your money? Well you get:
- Reverse Parking sensors
- Leather ‘feel’ seats
- Rich ebony black interior color scheme
Apart from that, all the features of Elan will be carried over to the Celebration Edition. No mechanical changes are being made to the engine, gearbox or the suspension. The Celebration edition will be offered in 1.4 liter petrol and the 1.3 liter Fiat diesel engine. Here are some live images for your viewing pleasure.
click through for images
