In the build up to the Delhi Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki announced that it will showcase a concept SUV, along the lines of the EcoSport or Duster at the Auto show. To heighten the anticipation, tightly cropped pictures of the Concept’s design features are displayed on the Expo section of the Maruti website.
Up front, the Concept sports individual rectangular grilles stacked together along with robot-eyed lamps. Teaser images of its Star-shaped alloys and L-Shaped tail lights are also part of the flash slideshow.
The SUV could act as the successor to the famous Jimny/Gypsy as the grille is reminiscent of the current model. Besides Gypsy/Jimny, there are no compact SUVs in its range. Leveraging on the Gypsy’s reliability and cult status is the best possible move Maruti can make with the production version. We guess the product will be ready by Auto Expo 2014.
Maruti could use Swift parts to manufacture the vehicle. The Ertiga MPV on view at the Expo follows the same route. The cost benefits and shortened development time through component sharing is the most competent trick in the book. For instance Volkswagen group will save billions of dollars in development cost by using a common parts bin for almost 40 of its models in the next seven years.
Reports of the Suzuki A-Star’s local foray is flowing thick and fast on media channels in Indonesia. The A-Segment hatchback, manufactured in Manesar, is expected to give company to the Estilo Karimun next year. It will be fitted with the same 1L, 3cyl K Series petrol mill. Two variants, ZXi and VXi, supposedly compose the Indonesian range of what the rest of the world knows as “Alto.”
India is the sole manufacturing location for the Suzuki A-Star. It is exported to countries in Asia, Europe and UK.
Mahindra is silently working on upgrading the Xylo for an early 2012 launch. We have presented a picture of the car’s rear and suggested changes to make the Xylo a better long-distance vehicle. From the platform perspective, Mahindra is not missing even one opportunity.
It has three versions of the Genio (two for domestic market with cost-down body, and an export variant), two engine options and a handful of variants on the passenger model, and a mini Xylo in the pipeline.
See more spyshots of the Mahindra Xylo 4WD version
If you thought all possibilities were exhausted, check this out – A 4WD Xylo powered by the mHawk engine (2.2-liter familiar to Scorpio fans) spied in Pune. Is Mahindra testing the vehicle for a 2012 launch? Or is this like the deluxe edition of the Xylo pickup exclusive to foreign markets? We don’t know yet but we’ll pose these questions to Mahindra at the Auto Expo next week.
Sure the Ford EcoSport bows in next week but the auto enthusiast won’t sit there and wait until Ford reveals it. Renderings of the mini SUV based on Fiesta platform, generated by impatient fans and artists, have been circulating on the interweb since early 2010 and here’s the latest and perhaps the last one by Brazilian friends at Carros IG.
See official image of the 2012 EcoSport’s front-end
Ford is holding a press conference on the 4th of January to make a global announcement and unveils the EcoSport at the Auto Expo the following day. Powered by a 1L (Ecoboost petrol) or a 1.5L (Fiesta diesel) engine, the EcoSport is under four meters long and is the first serious attempt to capture the mini SUV market.
A lion’s share of the EcoSport construction is using Fiesta parts. It bears uncanny resemblances to the Fiesta as it sports a subtle variation of the same “Kinetic” design language. Technology like the Voice-activated controls, EcoBoost, Powershift and Duratorq are sure-shot additions to the Ford’s second of the eight products for India by mid-decade.
Renault India will launch the Pulse, the identical twin of Nissan Micra, in the morning hours of the 6th of January at its exhibition stall in the Delhi Auto Expo. The Pulse is a Micra with a different front donning the Renault diamond. Dealers in several parts of India are accepting bookings for this B+ segment contender. Demo cars will reach them during this week.
See a comprehensive image gallery of the Renault Pulse
Like the Micra, the Pulse will be sold in petrol (1.2L) and diesel (1.5L) variants. Similarly equipped each variant supposedly sets back customers by an extra 30-40k rupees.
Renault will reveal prices on the morning of the 6th, and IAB will bring you the entire story. Stay tuned!
Fiat India has confirmed the inauguration of the first brand store in India in New Delhi on the 6th of January. Fiat launches the 2012 edition Linea and Punto on the Jan 3. Indian Autos Blog readers were the first to be updated on these two developments weeks ago!
Situated in Janpath, the heart of New Delhi, the Caffe plays a dual role – a hangout spot that serves coffee and snacks, and as a brand center that teaches India a little about the unknown Fiat.
Images from the construction site was mailed by IAB reader Prashant Singh
Nissan has discussed an updated X-Trail, dubbed 4X4 Platinum edition for its customers in the UK. It bases itself on the Tekna trim distinguished by new front bumpers and side steps plated with chrome. Rearview camera, heated front seats, leather upholstery, satellite navigation with Bluetooth/iPod connectivity and touchscreen infotainment system are new features on the special edition.
The 2.0-liter CRDI diesel engine mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox producing 173PS form the powertrain choices. Only 200 units of the Platinum edition model will be ever see light of day and prices start at 24 lakh rupees.
For those of you in the dark, Maruti Suzuki is planning to launch a sedan version of the new Swift to battle it out in the new ‘Compact Sedan’ segment that will emerge in 2012.
Essentially, these sedans will be under 4 meters to take advantage of tax breaks, at the same time provide more boot space than a conventional hatchback. Currently, the only sedan sold in this format is the Indigo eCS. The Verito (Logan for rest of the world) and the Manza are likely to join this race next year.
Read more about the Tata Manza CS
Coming back to Maruti Suzuki, the company plans to design a compact sedan under four meters based on the current Swift which may be called ‘Swift 3.99’. Vicky claims to have gained access to the specifications of the Swift 3.99. Here are the details:
- It would be 3.9m in length, 1.6m wide and 1.5m tall
- The wheelbase will be 2.43m only
- The base variant of Swift 3.99 would run on 165/80 R14 tyres and more expensive variants would use 185/65 R15 rubber.
- It will weigh around a ton
- The petrol variant will be powered by 1.2L K series engine developing 87PS of max power at 6,000rpm and 114Nm of peak torque at 4,000rpm.
- It will only be offered in 5 speed manual
- Expected mileage is 18.5kmpl
How will the Mahindra Verito CS look?
We don’t know whether the Swift 3.99 will completely replace the Swift Dzire or will sell alongside it. However do you think the Swift 3.99 can compete against Verito CS and Manza CS?
