Indian Autos blog

The Toyota SAI is based on the Lexus HS250h. It is meant only for Japan.

167bhp engine for Fiat Punto

For a minute you must have related the 167bhp to the higher spec Punto which Fiat is developing for India. Sadly, I’m not talking about the Indian Punto or customer. This totally pertains to the Abarth version of the Punto Evo which was shown at the Frankfurt show last month. The Abarth version of the Punto Evo will receive a 167bhp version of the Multiair engine, which is only applicable to the petrol unit. Abarth is the tuning arm of Fiat, for those in the dark.

Toyota Sai

Toyota has unveiled a new hybrid sedan christened “Sai” for the Japanese market. Toyota intends to sell 3,000 Sais monthly. It uses a 2.4-liter petrol engine producing just below 150 horsepower and 187 Nm of torque. Mated to an electric motor, powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery, an additional 140 hp and up to 270 Nm of torque is available to the wheels.

AuSTARlia – A-Star going to Africa, i20 to Australia

With the curtains coming down on the scrappage scheme in European countries, production levels in Indian manufacturing plants are not where they were before. To keep the plants operating in full swing, Suzuki is looking at exporting the A-Star to Africa, while Hyundai is looking to push the i20 down under. The companies hope both these markets will create enough demand and the production levels will be maintained higher.

A house full Geneva Motor Show 2010

Authorities charges with managing next year’s Geneva Motor Show have issued a statement that all auto manufacturers will take part in the 2010 edition of the show. This year’s shows saw a lot of absentees, and even the Japanese Motor Show that’s happening as you read this, has only two foreign brands participating. Let’s not forget Geneva is where Nissan will show the all-important next generation Micra.

Skoda’s 178bhp Fabia vRS is coming early next year

In early 2010, Skoda could introduce a 178bhp Skoda Fabia in UK. Wearing the vRS badge, this Skoda will boast of a maximum speed of 140mph. It will go from a standstill to 60mph in less than 7 seconds! Powered by a 1.4-liter ‘Twincharger’ unit, this Skoda will take its position as one of the insane variants, second only to the rally-bred Fabia S2000.

Hyundai Motors India Limited is planning to introduce its recently launched i20 in diesel version by end of this year. Hyundai i20 currently comes in only petrol version, a 1.2 litre kappa engine, same as the one seen under the hood of its smaller sibling, being the sole powerhouse.

In an attempt to foster Hyundai’s brand image and to take the i20 sales success to the next level in Europe, the company will launch the versatile i20 three-door in the second quarter of 2009. The 3-door i20 will be the entry level hatchback for the i20 lineup, promising ayouthful and a sporty appeal. It will be made in India (at Hyundai’s Chennai Plant) and exported to the European market, the question is.. Will India get the 3-door i20? Will a 3-door Hatchback do any sales in the Indian Automotive sector ? Share your thoughts!

Hyundai has expressed its plans to export its small cars to Philippines in 2009 in a bid to expand its export market. Hyundai managing director Heung Soo Lheem told visiting ASEAN journalists here his company will export 2,000 units this year to the Philippines.

The success of its two hatchbacks – the Aveo U-VA and the Spark and new releases from other automakers – has spurred GM India to think of bringing the Chevrolet Mini sooner than ever!

GM is now working out all odds to bring in the ‘Mini’ and heat up the premium hatchback space. The Chevrolet Mini which is based on the Beat concept (showcased two years back in New York Auto Show) will come with frugal Petrol and Diesel engine options; expected to be positioned above the Chevrolet U-VA and priced around that range.

The Chevy Mini as it appears (in pictures), would be a large hatchback- possibly the largest hatchback India has seen (we’ll leave out the SRV for now)! But this is just a speculation (a visual perception), as no dimensions have been revealed yet.

Korean carmaker Hyundai has made grand plans to rival Japanese car major Toyota’s iQ. The iQ is among the smallest cars you can buy off a showroom, whose concept was introduced back in 2007 at a glitzy Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007.

Sources in Hyundai have revealed the car will look simpler but will be more functional. This gives rise to doubts whether this is the small car which Hyundai will position under the Santro in India in 2011.

“It would be sort of modular and minimalist in a Citroën 2CV kind of way,” he added. That’s a big indication that yes, something simple is coming from Hyundai’s house and after knowing how Indians have received the i10, this may be another blockbuster. Chances are this car will be produced only in India, just like the i10, but that’s just a calculated guess from us here at Indian Autos Blog.

It has not been even a month since Hyundai launched its i20 hatch in India and now the company plans to launch its i30 and Avante (new Elantra) soon in Indian in what we call a launching spree!

The i30 which was first launched at the Tokyo Motor Show for the Japanese market, is now being considered for an Indian debut because of the tremendous response towards the recently launched i20.

Hyundai, which recently rolled out the second car from its ‘i’ series in India – the i20, has started claiming records already!

When the i10 was launched in late 2007, it quickly grabbed a spot in the the Top 10 sales chart, and now, same is the case with the Hyundai i20 after its late 2008 launch.