Premier, which launched the Compact Diesel SUV “RiO” last year in an unveiling at Mumbai and registered over 2,000 bookings, is busy taking the vehicle to different parts of India. Earlier this week, Premier launched the RiO in Bangalore. The Premier RiO is a sub-4 meter SUV, sourced from China and fitted with Peugeot’s diesel engine in Premier’s Pune plant. Its 1489cc turbo diesel engine delivers a maximum of 65 bhp.
Avniesh Goel, general manager, Marketing, Premier Limited -
We have re-entered the Indian market with India’s first ever Compact Diesel SUV. With the luxurious comfort in Rio along with its unbeatable pricing strategy, we are optimistic of redefining Indian customer’s perception about an SUV. The Company currently has 60 dealers, and will expand to 200 in the next 12 months. We will be offering a 3-year warranty for the RiO.
Priced at 5.6 lakh ex-showroom Bangalore, the RiO is available in 5 colors (red, white, silver, black and blue) and can be bought with or without air conditioning. The top-end model comes with mp3 player, power windows, ABS and alloy wheels.
Our reader Prakash from Bangalore has officially turned into our spy photographer. He first gave us a video of the upcoming Spark’s test mule, then a couple of pics of the Fortuner and now a cool video and set of images of the same vehicle in traffic, this time a lot clearer.
The Toyota Fortuner, which looks like a miniature Land Cruiser, will be launched on the 24th of this month. We’ll be there to bring you live feeds, images and video, so you don’t have to go anywhere else on that day.
The largest electric car plant in the world with an annual capacity of 30,000 cars is to be set up in India by Reva Electric Car Company.
The Bangalore based company after investing U.S $6.1 million for the new facility starting in the first quarter of the next year, expects the idea of green energy will gain rapid popularity in India too.
The Reva can accommodate 4 and is powered by a 3 phase AC induction motor which produces quick acceleration. But that’s about it.
In India, the Reva costs around Rs 350,000 and in the UK around $12,200, which is cheaper as compared to the rivals in this category. It targets 2,000 cars this year, it did a quarter of that number the previous year.
The model loaded with a lead acid battery can travel upto 80 km in single charge and the the one with a Li-Ion battery pack can travel upto 120km and charges faster.
Regular Indian Autos Blog reader Sulakshan has emailed us what he claims is the Skoda Superb Hybrid test mule. These pictures were captured in Bangalore city, a locality where Skoda extensively evaluated the regular Superb.
Sulakshan informs us there was a green block letter “hybrid vehicle” badge on the front left fender and as the driver sensed he was being followed, he stepped on the pedal and sped away. Sulak claims when he rolled down the window to confirm from its silent operation, the busy road proved noisy and his ears could pick up nothing, or rather could not pickup ‘nothing.’
A little probing on google verifies Skoda has no hybrid technology at the moment. Maybe this is their first attempt? Could Porsche’s hybrid technology be under the skin of this Superb? It could be anything.
If you were an eco-car manufacturer, what would you do on a day that’s set aside for the environment? Release a special edition with stickers and tints that pollutes no less, use it as an advertising occasion and pose with models in a green outfit, speak about renewable sources of energy and waste everyone’s time?
Doing none of that is the World’s biggest maker of electric cars, REVA Electric Car Company, who has come out with a novel idea to raise awareness among public.
REVA has commenced a three day ‘Spot the Green Car’ contest on its place of origin, Bangalore yesterday April 21 and will end on the World Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota is showcasing the Prius at the 18th International Engineering and Technology Fair (IETF) held at Bangalore. Speaking to the media, the senior representative from Toyota confirmed the launch date of their all-new small car, which will roll out in both petrol and diesel variants, during the course of next year.
