With most companies running around to find the next big thing in internal combustion, Toyota and BMW have decided that they should collaborate to collectively work towards a greener future. Both companies have announced a new partnership in which the companies will jointly develop lithium-ion batteries and BMW will also supply diesel engines to Toyota in Europe.
The MOU was signed at the on-going Tokyo motor show to collectively work towards the next-generation environmental-technology projects.
So what does each company gets out of the deal?
- Toyota gets access to the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines from BMW. These engines will be plonked in specific Toyota-produced vehicles planned for sale in the European market. Will it be suitable for the Corolla and Camry?
- BMW will gain access to Toyota’s hybrid technology as it expands its offerings of low-emission vehicles. The companies will work on the next generation hybrid and EV technologies which will feature in the BMW ‘i’ and ‘Activehybrid’ range of vehicles.
The partnership will not affect BMW’s current collaboration with PSA/Peugeot-Citroen to develop hybrid systems for compact cars.
Let’s hope this German-Japanese collaboration is successful and does not head the Suzuki-VW way.
Have you heard about a company called Novel Sport? Even we didn’t, until this morning. Novel Sport is a tuning brand run by a local Ford dealer in South Africa which specializes in tuning Ford Cars. Now, they have presented a limited edition Figo which is very tastefully souped up.
The car features 1.4L engine with a Power flow exhaust, spotlights, boot spoiler, 17’inch alloys and lowered suspension and tinted windows. Being a Figo, it already comes with Radio, CD and iPod connection, aircon, dual airbags, power steering, ABS with EBD.
If you are also thinking – “God, those alloys are hot!” then let me tell you 17″ Racing Hart Boro mags with 205/40 tyres. The dealer is also ready to offer a 4 year/60,000km Service Plan after the customization.
What’s the Indian connection? The donor car is manufactured at Ford’s Chennai plant!
Unless you have been stuck in a cave, you would know that the three stooges from TopGear UK were filming the Christmas special right here in India. IndianAutosBlog.com managed to snag a couple of shots of the cars that they were travelling in.
Now be prepared to marvel at the fruit of their hard work on 28th of December.
What’s more, the trio isn’t here to do some sightseeing or have some spicy Indian food. They are here on a mission – to help the struggling economy of Britain by encouraging British exports in India.
Oh yes, the three middle aged men are here to make sure that UK must become a favored trading partner of India.
It’s a typical TopGear challenge that revolves around a small budget to buy a car and then complete a series of tasks. Producer Any Wilman commented “our plan was to drive across India, drumming up interest in British goods, advertising the peerless standards of British skills, British nous, British Britishness. We would make the Indians think: ‘No, we shall not buy mayonnaise from Belgium, but Angel Delight and Kendal Mint Cake from the British.”
One Kendal Mint cake for me please! (whatever that is).
Here’s art work of the next generation Logan posted from Auto Bild by AutoBlog.rs. The new Logan, codenamed X52, is expected to be Dacia’s next project following the J92, a minivan European media is branding ‘Lodgy.’
The Logan successor is expected to move upmarket with revamped interiors, an aerodynamic design and more features. Its drastic makeover should be complete next year for a mid-to-late 2013 launch.
Will Renault drive the next generation Logan into India in 2014?
Tata Motors maybe planning a grand premiere for the next generation Safari at next month’s Auto Expo but that isn’t stopping them from testing the wheels off it. Codenamed Merlin, the new Safari on first glance is not a complete redo despite not sharing any body panels with the outgoing model.
Image sent in by Chaitanya Pise from Pune
Images show the new Safari taking a more upright stance, drawn back headlamps and spare wheel moved to the vehicle underbelly. Faux wood finish, chrome inserts and parts lifted off the Aria’s inventory are details that interior photographs of the pre-production models revealed.
The 2.2-liter DICOR engine carries on under the bonnet with additions to reduce NVH. Paired to a G76 MkII gearbox, it could produce slightly higher power and torque.
Honda’s released a special edition CR-V with 4WD, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and Alcantara seats priced at 22,500 Euro.
The next generation CR-V reaches Japanese dealerships today and two weeks from now heads to dealers in USA. This could be the outgoing CR-V’s last hurrah in Serbia and many parts of Europe.
If you have been following automotive news lately, you are aware of TRD’s (Toyota Racing Development) interest in launching a motorsports series in India. The Polo Cup has helped Volkswagen stand out of the crowd in India which has caught the fancy of every mass market car manufacturer in the world. It has also provided budding drivers a platform to hone their skills and see where they stand amidst the best talent in the country.
The launch of the i1 Racing Series is another example to prove that motorsport is seen as having a promising future in India. The i1 Series could be what IPL is to cricket involving big names from Bollywood. Joining the bandwagon soon is TRD with a similar kind of racing league that could be called Etios Motor Racing series. The Indian middle-class family car is going to be joined by its cousin who calls the Stig its best friend!
Back at the Auto Expo 2010, Volkswagen unveiled the Polo Cup car and in the 2012 installment it could be Toyota’s turn. If you are a motorsport fan, you must stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com as we dig deeper into TRD’s Indian foray.
I am sure you must have participated in our discussion on whether the Mitsubishi Mirage is suitable for the Indian Market. At the Tokyo Motorshow, Mitsubishi Motors have finally taken the wraps of their new little wonder. Mitsubishi has showcased a production version of the new Mirage which the company claims ‘will satisfy the needs of people all over the world’
Unlike the Toyota Etios which is developed specifically for India, Mitsubishi Motors has developed this sub-compact hatchback for global markets (like the Nissan Micra/Sunny). Thus, the styling is kept simple and clean to be accepted by people across the globe.
The Mirage is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with variable valve timing and a start/stop system to combat the rising fuel prices. The company claims that the Mirage gives an astonishing 30 km/l.
The Mirage will be on sale in Thailand from March 2012. No plans of bringing it to India have been revealed by Mitsubishi India. However, the parent company has confirmed that it will be sold globally in both in emerging markets and developed nations.
