Sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com that Nissan is likely to introduce the Micra facelift late next year. We’re told that Nissan will not drastically change the car’s looks as the curvy shape has created a fan following. Making it a bit aggressive could lead to the creation of the Renault Pulse!
This operation is expected to be a mild mid-life facelift. Nissan may not lend the car a whole new look as it may mess up its personality. Manufacturers hold on to products for about 6-7 years before going to the next generation and the Micra turns three next year.
Our regular reader Kumaran has come to us with snaps of a new Kia Picanto (running under the name Kia Morning in Korea) test mule that had no camouflaging or masking of its badges.
A couple of examples of the Kia Picanto have been brought to India, according to our sources, to test out compact petrol engines expected to go into future mini cars like the next generation i10.
We recently filed a report stating that Hyundai is gunning for a pre-festive season launch for the Elantra. We have reason to believe the launch will be conducted a lot sooner as sources have told Indian Autos Blog that trial production of the Hyundai Elantra will soon be underway at the Chennai plant.
Hyundai has not issued a statement on this development as they never speak about an upcoming launch. In the Elantra’s case, Hyundai has sort of spilled the beans by bringing the model to the Delhi Auto Expo. The Elantra is a CKD import from Korea with nil level of localization.
Audi India is running an innovative online campaign as part of its efforts to the launch the S4 model. We can’t call it a launch as Audi is asking its Facebook fans if the S4 can be launched in the Indian market.
All you’ll have to do is tag yourself to the image and a pixel hiding the car is unlocked. Once all pixels are unlocked, a decision will be made by the company.
Terrified by the fuel price hike To avoid being snapped by auto aficionados (pun unintended) test mules of the Bajaj RE60 were spotted being transported on a truck.
Bajaj is likely to begin testing of the RE60 in Pune in the coming weeks. The RE60 is falsely conceived as a competitor to the Tata Nano and comparisons are flying about in the media that thrash the RE60′s inability to match up to the lofty standards set by the similarly-priced Nano.
Fiat Linea owner and our good friend Gokulraj GK (of ZapStore.com) received an envelope from Fiat India a few days ago.
Fiat India has issued a letter of assurance to its existing customers after it ended its relationship with Tata Motors on the retail and distribution departments, to establish stand-alone dealerships across India.
Our passionate reader from Coimbatore, Mr K Balaji, mailed pictures of the mini Xylo he captured while traveling from Ooty to Coimbatore. Mahindra has used the hills of Ooty to test components and systems for high altitude behavior.
Camouflaged Genios were tested in the same location about two years ago.
The mini Xylo version Balaji has captured is the model with the Xylo facelift’s front-end. The mini Xylo is codenamed U203 (also mentioned on the notice stuck on the car’s windshield).
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Here at IAB, we give a lot of importance to the design of the car. We believe that car design is a integral part of the product and needs to be as good as the mechanical components. Hence, most of our reviews are split into three parts – Design Review, Interior Review and Driving Review.
Toyota, known for its legendary reliability, doesn’t really make cars that have communicative design. Most Toyotas (well apart from 86 and the Yaris) are a bit bland to look at. Let’s just say, if one swishes past you, you won’t give it a second look. The Japanese automaker has identified the problem and promises more communicative designs in the future.
