Last week IndianAutosBlog.com caught the new Captiva testing near Mumbai. We posted pictures talking about the updates to its exterior and the introduction of a high-power diesel engine . In addition to this, IAB readers learned months ago that the replacement is ruled out in 2011.
Last evening our reader Vishal Bharath from Mumbai sent us a video clipping of the same mules waiting in line at a toll booth. For 20-25 lakh rupees, customers will be spoiled for choice next year as competing models are gearing up war.
There are 3 major sales duds in Chevrolet India’s portfolio. The Aveo U-VA, Aveo sedan and the Chevrolet Optra Magnum. All three are aging work horses that have been neglected by the market simply because they are too old and there are many worthy contenders for the customer’s money. The first two are not even offered with a diesel engine, the oxygen tank for cars in the B segment.
Sure, the Tavera is also slacking but GM is already working on a BS4 compliant engine for the with ICML which should revive its sales.
When Mark Webber and Karun Chandhok drove in the Renault Pulse at Noida the previous week, a few disappointed faces popped up in the crowd. The reason was they were shown a cosmetically changed Micra with Renault diamonds.
That changed as Renault displayed a Pulse wearing fancy alloys on the same stage. What is that thing? Is it a hot hatchback? Will it have a stiff suspension with a performance exhaust? A Pulse RenaultSport with the GT-R’s face!
Soon after Renault played down those ideas, there was cheer in the automotive press about the Pulse RenaultSport. The idea of a car that looks fast is better that a fast car that returns less mileage and costs more to buy and maintain.
Like Swift or Figo, the Renault Pulse is aimed at the Indian middle class. It has to drive the father to work, the kids to school, sail through the city traffic after the mother has finished her shopping. The grandparents are hosted on the weekends at the backseat that has to be welcoming.
Doing all this at the cost of a few pennies is on Pulse’s task sheet and not driving through the bus stop chicane on Spa-Francorchamps faster than a WTCC Cruze.
The Toyota Camry is a long forgotten child of Toyota India that was abandoned in the middle of nowhere as the company shifted focus to products such as the Innova, Fortuner and the Etios twins.
Once a very strong contender in the D segment, the CBU-route Camry suffered because of its pricing. Now, when the competitors such as Honda Accord and Skoda Superb easily ship 100+ units in a month, the Camry is still lingering between 10 to 40 units at most.
Finally, Toyota India has started testing its new Camry in India and the spyshots are right in front of us. From the spyshots, it is quite clear we are NOT getting the US version of the Camry. We will be getting the global Camry which on sale in European and JD market.
The global Camry is the obvious choice for India because unlike the American Camry buyer, most Camry buyers in India will have a chauffeur at hand. The American Camry is designed to be driven whereas the global one is more a executive sedan for the backseat passenger.
Toyota has started tests on the 2012 Camry in India with taped mules doing rounds close to the Bidadi plant. IAB readers, like Shruchet Jayatheerth who mailed us these images, are aware that Toyota will not assemble the replacement model that’s on view at dealers not later than August 2012.
Toyota has decided against assembling the new Camry next year as seeing the Etios brand to a respectable position remains the top and perhaps only priority for the company. The Japanese company will not do two things at once. 7/10 cars sold in our market are like Etios and Toyota is aware of how important the Etios is to their presence in the world’s leading growth market.
Coming back to the new Camry, the model spotted provides new details. India gets the global version, which compared to the US-spec model has model has a bigger grille with a coat of chrome, a unique front fascia and circular fog lights. Out back, changes are restricted to a revised bumper and new taillights .
Our Bangalore based reader Niketh sent us this image showing the Toyota Innova facelift, unveiled in Indonesia back in July, testing with thread sealing tape on the bodywork.
The appreciable change to the rear profile is the stop light cluster with a revised layout. The current Innova’s stop light is split into two parts (red and transparent) compared to the three part tail lamp on the facelift. The chrome embellishment above the number plate is redesigned. The bumper and windshield are retained.
The makeover to the front fascia is markedly different including sharp headlights, squared grille and a fresh bumper. On the mechanical front it is the familiar 2.5-liter diesel engine married to the 5 speed manual gearbox continuing service.
Toyota has its work cut out after floods in Thailand disrupted production and forced vendors to shut down factories. Toyota imports critical components from Thailand for the Innova and Fortuner which share the same platform.
No doubt that the impact of the floods will be felt at the Bidadi assembly line. Whether the floods have played spoilsport with the launch plans needs to be seen.
This year hasn’t been kind particularly to the Japanese manufacturers. First came the Japanese tsunami which wreaked havoc on the factories disrupting the production schedules causing shortage of supplies all across the globe. Taking advantage of the situation, Volkswagen and GM hopped over Toyota to be the leaders for this year.
Now, Thailand floods are taking a toll on the supplies for Toyota and Honda to the Asian region. Both manufacturers have huge factories set up in Thailand which supply components to places as far as assembly lines in USA. Toyota brought parts of US production to a halt last weekend due to parts shortages, and the company has fully idled production at three facilities in Thailand itself.
Honda has suffered a hit not only in terms of production but also in terms of launch of their latest and much expected SUV – the 2012 CR-V. Honda has shuttered all of its factories in Thailand, and company representatives say that those plants may not open again for six months. Production at Honda’s six facilities across the U.S. and Canada will be rolled back to 50% of normal output.
The BMW F30 is all set to take over the game of the entry level executive sedans. The F30 is a promising design from BMW after a long time. The radical headlamps, the new kidney grill and aggressive design language are few of the many likables of the new F30. But the former 3 Series (E90) is not dead yet.
As one last hurrah, BMW has unveiled Carbon Sport edition of the E90 before it finally rests in peace. The Carbon Sport edition will be offered only in a six cylinder version with an M sport package.
Sapphire and Azurite Black Metallic are the 2 color option that will be available. 19-inch lightweight alloy rims, Harman Kardon audio system, a special leather finish seats will be the premium goodies on this special edition. One can avail of the top of the line petrol Carbon edition at a price tag of $85,380 (or 42 lakhs INR).
Back home, the current 3 Series isn’t dead yet. Although, BMW has confirmed that it will bring the new 3 Series to India next year, there are still not dwelling any details as to when the current 3 Series will go out of production. In fact, there are plans to bring the 330D convertible to India early next year in form of a CBU.
