Earlier today Mitsubishi released the first image with limited details on the 2013 Outlander, the world debut of which will be staged at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
It will have two engine choices for either 2WD or 4WD. The 2.0-liter MIVEC petrol engine may not be the practical option for diesel-driven markets which is why Mitsu is offering the 2.2-liter MIVEC Clean Diesel engine married to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Mitsubishi is working on a plug-in hybrid variant for a 2013 launch that has an astonishing 800km range with CO2 emissions of 50g/km.
Our sources tell us Mitsubishi is unlikely to launch the new Outlander in India this year.
We’ll get more information on the new Outlander as we near the Geneva Motor Show. Stay tuned!
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Fiat has started testing the rebadged Dodge Dart in China. Many in India falsely believe the rebadged Dart is the new or successor to the Linea. This is incorrect as with a facelift in the pipeline, the current Linea has some more time before hanging up its boots. Fiat’s version of the Dart may use the Linea badge. It’s bigger than the Linea, uses a 1.4-liter turbo petrol engine (like the Linea’s 1.4 T-Jet) and is a C-Segment car.
Fiat’s 500 may be the most stylish small car ever made in Italy, but the wave of new competition could sideline the little champion. Introduced back in 2007, Fiat should be mulling a facelift operation, and the launch the 500L gave plenty of clues on the makeover, if one is to happen soon.
The headlights may be pulled back into the bonnet and the the bumpers could be heavily designed.
Volvo is said to have to change its mind on developing a competitor for the S-Class and 7 Series. Its new owner Geely could have influenced the decision to build a range-topping S100, based around the Concept Universe shown at last year’s Beijing Auto Show. A revised concept car moving closer towards production is expected to be on view at this year Beijing Show that’s opens its doors in April.
Mahindra has just unveiled the facelift of the Xylo at its Kandivali manufacturing plant in Maharashtra and announced prices for the same. There are a total of 5 variants -
- D2 and D4 for commercial segment
- E4 and E8 for family
- E9 positioned as the luxury variant
Mahindra Xylo facelift variant and price (in lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi)
- E9 – 10.25
- E8 (ABS and Airbags) – 9.47
- E8 ABS – 9.10
- E4 ABS – 8.34
- E4 – 8.11
- D4 – 7.77
- D2 – 7.37
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Speculation is rife about Tata Motors investing in Jucu, near the Cluj-Napoca area of Romania after a report emerged on news service MediaFax. The county’s council chief Alin Tise said meetings were held with Tata officials but declined to elaborate on the matters discussed between the two parties. The investment value or the number of jobs stipulated is not yet known, it could run into millions of dollars.
What we do know is Tata’s trying to spread its wings with the Nano project. We’ve told readers how Bangladesh and Indonesia could get assembly lines for the Nano soon after the performance of the imported models is gauged.
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The passionate folks at Cousins On Cars have photographed the basic version of the Xylo facelift with black bumpers and plain looks. The side profile is the same, the tail lights have subtle revisions (note the clear lens portion) and all variants get a new steering wheel.
Mahindra sells two versions of the Xylo, one for the personal segment and another for the commercial segment. The facelift has improved the car’s looks as it has cleared the clutter. The front-end looks orderly and some guidance has come from the commercial vehicle twin, Genio.
The launch of the new series is conducted tomorrow in Mumbai and as usual IAB, from ground zero, will bring you the prices and changes.
No this isn’t a Maruti 800 driven over a center median by a drunk driver.
In China a company named Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Corporation produced the three-wheeled version of the Alto (800 in India) briefly in the 90′s. The ‘Qingqi Alto Trycicle’ was manufactured with a 125cc, 12KW motorbike engine, CarNewsChina says, is “powerful enough to outrun a goat.” The central front wheel could not have grabbed more eyeballs than its 75-80k rupees starting price.
Three-wheeled cars are very popular in rural China and many car companies, despite stability issues at high speeds that pose serious safety concerns, continue to manufacture them. They serve as economical workhorses for traders in the week and double up as a family car on the weekends.
Sadly rural Chinese customers will have look in other places, as Jinan Qingi has moved on from the Qingqi Alto Trycicle to make handsome looking motorcycles.
The Volkswagen Up’s Indian foray with the XL1 concept’s uber-frugal diesel engine maybe a heated boardroom discussion topic in Chakan and Wolfsburg at this moment, but there are countries the Up’s reached where Volkswagen’s marketing team is busy coining the term “creative absurdity.”
They first covered cars on the streets with VW Up! car covers. They then mounted an example scaling a building in France. This campaign shows the compactness of the vehicle in a manner never seen before.
If they had used the rugged-looking Cross Up!, customers may have believed its gradability is 90%, thankfully the marketeers were quick to sense that possibility and used a three-door model.
Aren’t these Germans are ready to go to any heights to get your attention?
What’s with the Mahindra XUV500 that so many Indians can’t seem to get enough of? After attracting an impressive 8,000 bookings in a few days after the launch in 5 cities, the XUV500 yet again exposes the treasure chest hidden in the 10-15 lakh rupee SUV segment in its second round of bookings – the fever is still in high pitch!
The XUV500 bookings reopened on the 25th of January and was shuttered on the 3rd of February, 10 days later. The only difference was this time its availability was extended to 19 cities. Mahindra said a lottery system will pick out 7,200 customers out of all the registrants and vehicles are going to be delivered in a timely manner. Mahindra said this would ensure transparency and fairness to customers.
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Earlier today Mitsubishi released the first image with limited details on the 2013 Outlander, the world debut of which will be staged at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
