Last month Fiat India’s CEO Rajeev Kapoor told IAB that they will work on the facelift, without getting into the details. For 2012 however cosmetic changes have been ruled out on the Linea or Punto.

In markets where the Linea is crunching big numbers, a facelift can rejuvenate the looks and make people take notice. The Linea was introduced in 2007 and has stayed the same since the debut. According to our friends at Auto Segredos, the cabin of the Linea facelift could be more luxurious.

Changes to the exterior were cited in earlier articles, a rendering by Shoeb was also presented for viewers to diagram the model’s front fascia. Likewise a new bumper and chrome garnish will be added to the car’s rear.

[Source - AutosSegredos.com.br]

There are a few compact MPV options in India, cars like the Tata Venture, Maruti Eeco and Maruti Omni sell in sizable volumes. For families the problem is they tag along a commercial vehicle stigma. However hard they try with their parking sensors or family-filled TV commercials, they look and feel utilitarian.

The mini Xylo need not explain or hard-sell as it has no connections to the commercial vehicle market (the Genios are very distant relatives). Mahindra has waged price wars with every launch in the recent past. A starting price of under 5 lakh rupees, maybe 4.5 lakhs that puts it bang in the middle of the Swift’s territory is not unfathomable.

Mahindra has a new engine under the bonnet. A 3cyl diesel engine displacing under 1.5 liters supposedly produces 70bhp and 160Nm on the test mules. This will be tuned to return not less than 20 kmpl, a lower limit for premium hatchbacks in 2012.

Some test mules have been spotted with an additional row of seats. Its a bit of a squeeze, but for accommodating children there won’t be any problems. Mahindra may not offer the third row on all the variants.

Designers have dropped the idea of reskinning as its an expensive affair. Mounting the spare wheel on thoroughly redesigned rear and adding an aircraft-styled quarter glass at the C-Pillar give it a new personality. This also provides them the chance of marketing it as a mini SUV.

By Diwali this year, the mini Xylo will be out on the market and we can hardly wait to see its effect on the market and the competition.

The new Linea is reportedly gearing up for a premiere at one of the big auto shows in Europe (Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt) this year and by the year-end to grace showrooms.

Fiat has disguised the 2013 Linea to keep the auto aficionados guessing about the final look. They’re not ready to give it away yet, but help from our good friend Shoeb R Kalania, we’re able to bring you closer to the unmasked car. The front-end is entirely new except for the headlamps. The new Linea gets a different rear bumper and stoplights. There might be changes under the bonnet with the inclusion of a 1.4-liter MultiAir petrol engine.

[Spyshot sourced from WorldCarFans.com]

The Bavarian giant is again tripping on creativity and plans to introduce a smaller X6. BMW plans to bring the X4 in the market which will challenge the Range Rover Evoque, Porche Cajun et al. AutoExpress gives us a glimpse of what this future model would look like:

The design of the X4 is clearly a cross between the X3 and the new 1 Series. It has a much sharper coupe-like roofline than the big brother X6. It is expected to be powered by the same engine options as the X3 mated to six-speed manual or eight-speed auto gearboxes.

Expect the BMW X4 to enter production by 2014.

[Source: Autoexpress.co.uk]

On closely inspecting the spyshots and reading accounts of spy photographers, we’re convinced that Ford is turning to the Fiesta ST concept for inspiration rather than the brand new Evos concept that previewed the Mondeo. With our findings, we rang in Shoeb R Kalania to show us and the readers the how things will pan out.

Shoeb left us a message that he used the EcoSport’s front grille as another design feature while making this renderings. Ford’s latest cars EcoSport and Mondeo, hint that future models will have gaping radiator grilles etched using chrome.

We’re certain that the sedan and hatchback will end up using the same front. During this cosmetic operation, Ford is likely to add the 1L EcoBoost engine to powertrain choices and replace the aging 1.4- and 1.6-liter engines with the 1.5-liter petrol that was first sold to Indian customers last year.

If Ford is very particular of the facelift arriving in time for its fourth birthday, there’s no better place to premiere it than at Geneva in March and taking it to the marketplace in August. Otherwise, Ford can look either at Paris or Frankfurt as possible options to pull the dust sheets of the new Fiesta.

IAB was told last year that designers have completed the mock-up of the Fiesta facelift in one of the global design studios last year. Very soon it will begin testing for a market launch.

The Fiesta facelift will also mark the entry of the 1L “Fox” Ecoboost engine on a Ford hatchback. This engine debuts on the new EcoSport. We were told by sources that minor tweaks to the background lighting, layout and options on the instrument cluster and infotainment system were being considered.

We have a sneaking suspicion that Ford is also working on an electric powertrain for the Fiesta.

The Fiesta platform will also give rise to a lengthened B-Max that can accommodate 7-8 passengers. We don’t know if Ford is thinking about a 7 seat EcoSport as it can open doors for Ford leading to the Scorpio and Safari’s marketshare.

[Source - Autossegredos.com.br]

The ix45 breaks cover at the New York Motor Show about three months from now replacing the model running since April 2006.

The Santa Fe has gained a strong fan following in the US. Hyundai manufactures this three-row SUV in Alabama alongside the Sonata.

Shortly after its launch in India back in 2010, Hyundai began assembly of the Santa Fe at its Chennai plant. Once the new model breaks cover, it is only a matter of time before the ix45 takes over at Sriperumbdur. The same 2.2-liter CRDI engine could be carried forward to the replacement. Even Hyundai will admit that the restyled ix45 has a better chance of invading the Fortuner’s fort.

Hyundai has used the Santa Fe platform to display hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. These were purely experimental and were not introduced in any of the markets. Hyundai could get serious about commercializing a hybrid variant on the ix45 platform in the coming years.

The current demand for the X1 is very good and there is no immediate need for changes either to its appearance or its mechanicals. The X1 is not expected to be launched in a 4WD avatar (xDrive variant) leaving that assignment for the X3 and its elder  brothers to handle.

In the next 2-3 years the competitor models from the other two Germans Mercedes (crossover on the MFA platform) and Audi (Q3 previewed at the Delhi Auto Expo) would have settled down in the Indian market and to keep the X1 fresh the company will consider the mild cosmetic makeover option seriously. BMW can also use the facelift’s entry to market a more powerful diesel variant carrying a higher level of equipment.