Indian Autos blog

Skoda’s thrown in a bunch of eye catchy studio shots of the Rapid in the press kit distributed to the media. We’re sharing these images on this blog post in case you are in love with the car and can’t get enough of it!

To know more on the Rapid, do refer to our earlier post containing details on variants and pricing along with the brochure.

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Dealerships will shortly begin taking bookings for the Renault Pulse launching during the first week of January at the Auto Expo in New Delhi for a deposit of not more than 30k rupees.

Essentially a modified version of the Nissan Micra, the Renault Pulse is expected to cost 30-40k above the equivalent Micra variant. There will be subtle changes to the cabin with the Pulse wearing a more upmarket look with chrome inserts.

Among other colors dealers expect the car to be launched in red, white and yellow. Stay tuned to IAB to learn more on the Pulse.

It is no secret that Volkswagen fills the deep void below the Polo using the Up! unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show two months ago. The VW Up! needs a diesel engine before it can flood Indian roads.

Another imperative requirement is four fully functional doors that allow access to the cabin. The production models showcased had two (plus one for the boot). The Cross Up! concept had five doors but no one had seen a production-ready version with extra doors, until now!

Volkswagen is featuring the five door variant on commercials and promotions. The video provides a glimpse of the model in question, expected in India in the next couple of years.

JokeForBlog is carrying an image of the SX4 crossover facelift with reworked front fascia using chrome inserts, plastic cladding and smoked headlamps. Changes are not expected under the skin with the top of the line model utilizing the services of the 2.0 litre DDiS engine with 135 PS/320 Nm transmitting drive to all wheels.

MSIL brought down an example of the pre-facelift model to the Auto Expo last year to listen to customer gossip. MSIL does not have any imminent launch plan for the crossover. The crossover model sits between the Swift and the SX4 sedan in the overseas lineup.

IndianAutosBlog.com comes to you first with the details!

Moments ago Skoda Auto launched the Rapid sedan at a price of 6.75 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). Three variants – Active , Ambition, Elegance.

Image Sourced from Skoda India website

Skoda Rapid prices (ex-showroom Delhi)

Active petrol – 6.75 lakhs

Ambition petrol – 7.09 lakhs

Elegance – 7.99 lakhs

Ambition Auto – 8.09 lakhs

Elegance Auto – 8.99 lakhs

Skoda Rapid Diesel prices

Active diesel – 7.95 lakhs

Ambition diesel – 8.29 lakhs

Elegance diesel – 9.19 lakhs

Skoda Rapid Variants

Active variant – Anti glare rear view mirrors, rear defogger, rough road package, engine immobilizer, central locking, front center armrest, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, and anti pinch system.

Ambition – Active+ Steel wheels, Body colored mirrors and door handles, ABS, driver airbag, remote control with foldable key, driver seat height adjuster and rear center armrest.

Elegance – Ambition+ Alloy wheels, front passenger airbag, security code for audio player, AUX ports for media player and memory card, automatic climate control, electrically adjustable mirrors, MID.

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While most S-Classes in India are driven by chauffeurs who can tackle anything from bumper-to-bumper traffic to miles and miles of motorways, in abroad that’s not case. Internationally many owners prefer to drive their S-Class themselves. So Mercedes invented radar guided cruise control in which the car can drive itself in cruise control without the owner’s intervention.

Radars basically detect traffic in front of the car and match the car’s speed accordingly. The S-Class also features rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps, collision mitigation system and other such technologies which are meant to make your daily commute less arduous.

2013 S-Class, seen testing will be a luxury limousine that very nearly treats the driver as an optional extra

But the S-Class is always perceived as a benchmark in the flagship sedan segment. Often referred to as a ‘time machine’, the S-Class is a glimpse into what future cars will be all about. To continue the legacy, the 2013 S-Class will feature an autonomous driving system which according to Mercedes engineer Dr. Stefan Schweher “allows the driver to concentrate on other things in traffic”

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Tata Motors without any hue and cry has upgraded the Nano series by adding Orange, Metallic White, Lime Green, Emerald Green and Silver shades according to these photographs sent in by IAB fan Nitish Sharma. Mirrors on both sides of the car is noticeable on first glance. Notice the mirrors are a touch bigger and reportedly fold with more friction. However they are still not adjustable from inside the cabin.

Nitish notes that plastic quality and fabric quality levels have gone up and the sound of the shutting door is a thump from the thud that it was before.

The top-end LX model receives beige interiors and the CX model shifts to using fabric seats after customers complained that the vinyl covers absorb too much heat. Full wheel covers have been redesigned but the top-hinged rear windshield spotted earlier this year on a mule is nowhere to be seen.

We’re also told that the mileage of the Nano may have jumped to 25kmpl after a revision was made to the electronics and a visit was made to ARAI. This claim is yet to be verified but we know it has been a constant endeavor at Tata Motors to maximize mileage of its product lines and thus far diesel variants of the Indica eV2 and the Indigo e-CS boast of an unbeatable fuel efficiency of 25kmpl.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com as we bring you much more on the Nano upgrade.

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Shortly after HMIL introduced the i10 in India, it began working on its next project – the i20. The Sriperembdur facility would manufacture the i20 for global markets and Hyundai will allocate a tiny portion of the production to India.

Meeting the demands in Europe was the biggest challenge for the Chennai factory. Both 3- and 5-door styles were produced in a wide range of trims and colors.

The hype around the i20 picked up as spy shots of mules began circulating on the internet. The i20′s predecessor Getz was a damp squib and HMIL may have been apprehensive while planning for the Indian market.

The launch was done and Hyundai was taken aback by the demand levels in the initial months. The demand continued to be strong in the following months and many saw the i20 as the best alternative to the Swift, India’s most loved hatchback. Pleasantly surprised with the demand for the 7-8 lakh rupee diesel variants, Hyundai upgraded equipment and added a 6-speed transmission that delivered more mileage.

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