During the second week of January the Xylo celebrates its third birthday. The launch of the Xylo was the first time IndianAutosBlog.com witnessed a product launch. We got to see the car before the rest of the world and that memory will remain with us for years to come.
The Xylo was launched at a shocking price of 6.24 lakh rupees but didn’t create a revolution in the way people traveled. Mahindra offered similar features of a top-end Innova for the price of a base Innova. Mahindra’s efforts were not rewarded as the Toyota continued to impress showing no signs of slowing down.
In 2012, General Motors and Maruti Suzuki are ready to launch their missiles in the Xylo land. The MPV segment is on the brink of a model shower and the existing players are giving their vehicles a makeover to stay in the race. GM will launch the refreshed BS4 Tavera, the Innova facelift breaks cover and Auto Expo and the Xylo we see here, has gone under the scalpel too.
The Etios sedan was developed by Toyota specifically for the Indian market. Selected engineers from Toyota were brought to India to analyze the requirement of an average Indian consumer so that they could incorporate their research findings in the Etios product.
The Etios was presented in its concept version to the Indian consumer at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo and was launched later in the year. When the sedan was launched, it was so overbooked that it lead to waiting periods of over a year.
The Etios is one of the most sensible products for the Indian market. Sure the interior quality is a bit shoddy and its not going to a beauty pageant. But when it comes to features, mileage, space and comfort wrapped into a single package, there is really no match for the Etios (Tata Manza may be).
Now, Toyota is planning a single make racing series around the Etios just like the Polo R cup from VW. TRD or Toyota Racing Development has confirmed that it will launch a one make racing series in mid 2012 that will spawn over three tracks Buddh International Circuit, Coimbatore and Chennai race track.
The racing cars will be stripped down and re-built by the customers/teams before being readied for the series.
However, unlike the Polo R cup, this racing series will be entirely funded by Toyota and will have about 25 to 30 cars. The company is busy getting all the FIA approvals for this racing series.
Expect an official announcement at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.
Audi has recently given the A4 a comprehensive facelift to bring it at par with the rest of the family. Considering Mercedes already facelifted the C class and BMW was set to drive in a new 3 Series, the old A4 would have lost to the competition in terms of freshness. Also, the A4 represented the old design language which had to killed very soon. Hence, a face-lifted A4 was presented to the audience in October 2011.
Unlike the new 3 Series or the new C-Class, the new A4 has not grown in length. The exterior of the new A4 is somewhat similar to the A5 with a new grill and new headlamps. The most significant changes can be observed inside the car which now comes with new steering wheels and trimming options. The Audi MMI has also now been upgraded.
The 1.8-liter TFSI and the 2.0-liter TDI diesel are further refined to be more environmentally friendly. Other mechanical changes include a revised suspension and a new electromechanical power steering.
Hopefully, we will get a closer glimpse of the new A4 at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.
Keeping a close eye on luxury brands, we are fully aware of the rage in the market for a Range Rover Evoque. Being a CBU, the doubled up price of the Evoque didn’t put a speed breaker on the bookings. At the launch of the car, the company announced that it will take up to six months for delivery of a new vehicle.
The baby Range Rover is a preferred topic of discussion and drool over a glass of beer at the local pub. Its a crowd magnet in JLR showrooms. It even makes some of the people I know work harder in the hope that enough money is saved very soon to own one!
Bigwigs in the fashion industry such as Victoria Beckham were responsible for the Evoque’s voluptuous design. At the New Delhi launch, it made the saucy newcomer Nargis Fakhri posing beside look like an ordinary woman dressed in expensive clothes. With such reputation, upbringing and background, the Evoque is evoking emotions that make people look silly.
Entry posted on November 28, 2011 by
Shrawan Raja;
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After we speculated on two dates that were floating around the internet posing as the D-Day of the City facelift, sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com that Honda may not launch the facelifted model in December.
Considering that Honda has drastically cut down production at the Greater Noida facility due to the supply constraints the Thailand floods have caused we doubt if Honda is planning an updated model this year.
It is learned that despite being heavily localized, Honda depends on Thailand for certain important components.
The City facelift is purely a cosmetic update with no changes under the hood. Among other changes, the City gets a redesigned brake light, fog lamp housing, ECO meter and new wheels.
IndianAutosBlog.com Pune reader Satyajeet Bhaskare sent in a clear snap of a fleeing Tata Indica XL mule. The translucent camouflage does not hide the presence of the Indigo XL’s stretched rear door that or the special alloy wheels. The photograph shows a wildly stretched Indica but it is more an optical illusion created by the camouflage spread out over the rear.
The Chinese market is used to long wheelbase hatchbacks but the Indica XL is among the few of this rare and unique breed of vehicles. This also is the first long wheelbase hatchback in India.
The Indica XL is every cab operator’s ultimate dream; Click on the picture to enlarge it
So apart from the stretched wheelbase what is lurking beneath the excessive camouflage? A redesigned tail light cluster and tailgate unique to the lengthened Indica? Guess we’ll have to wait for a more revealing snap to turn up!
Tata Motors need not scout for a new engine as the 1.4-liter CR4 diesel engine that delivers a class-leading mileage of 25kmpl on the Indica and Indigo CS models is readily available. They have the option of using the Indica’s LPG kit if demand calls for one.
Cost wise it is effective to build the interior using the same components and the all-important rear AC vent cannot be overlooked on a chauffeur’s car.
At this year’s Geneva Motor Show we got to see the concept version of a budget Audi sedan. For approximately 20 lakh rupees, the A3 sedan could take the market by storm and leave the other German clueless as to what to do next. While BMW India is giving everything its got to see the MINI get maximum traction, Mercedes’s baby CLS is still testing and could take up to 12 months or more for the model to be ready.
AutoExpress has brought a new angle to this developing story. It reports that the sedan body style could follow the hatchback and adds two other body styles will join the lineup in 2013. AE has also inserted a few spyshots of the camouflaged hatchback. The 2012 Geneva Motor Show could witness the unveiling of the hatchback bodystyle followed by the release of the sedan.
Could we see Audi lift the wraps on the Audi A3 sedan during the same time next year or is Geneva 2013 a better stage?
No doubt, the Fiat Linea is the most gorgeous looking car in the Indian market on sale today. Its heart melting curves, beautiful stance and a sultry Italian design definitely means ‘admiration guaranteed’. However, the current Linea was launched in 2007 and is getting a bit old, thanks to the transformation of the environment.
The rumormill was set churning 2–3 days ago with a supposed rendering of the 2013 Fiat Linea from a European magazine. According to the rendering, the 2013 Fiat Linea will drop its swooping lines and vivacious curves and adopt a more aggressive design like the Jaguar XF. However, a close look at the rendering reveals that the same design was seen on Dodge’s brand new midsize sedan allegedly called ‘Hornet.’
During the second week of January the Xylo celebrates its third birthday. The launch of the Xylo was the first time IndianAutosBlog.com witnessed a product launch. We got to see the car before the rest of the world and that memory will remain with us for years to come.
