Indian Autos blog

Rendering – One more elegant India-bound Renault Clio representation

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:58:47 +0000

The next Renault Clio could also come in 3-door form. Expect fuel-efficient engines

We've shown you Clio renderings and Clio clay models in the past. The Renault Clio we're referring to here is the one that'll be manufactured in Renault-Nissan's Oragadam facility in Chennai using Nissan's V-Platform in the next few years. At this point we can only talk about the car's looks as no details on powertrains have surfaced. We can speculate the possibility of the same 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine from the Nissan Micra under the Clio's bonnet. We can also speculate that it will be slightly smaller than the Micra. Renault's "small entry level car" is expected to bring volumes to the company. Renault will sell the Clio through its own distribution network. It will also price the car competitively. It will also come with dedicated doors for rear passengers.

Nissan Micra priced at 5.23 lakh rupees in Thailand

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:37:40 +0000

The base variant Nissan Micra should be priced around 4.25 lakh rupees in India

We don't know if the prices of the all-new Nissan Micra in Thailand holds any relevance to the Indian scene, but we can take a clue from the announcement - Nissan isn't going for the Figo territory with its new hatch. We have learnt that the Thai Micra has airbags, ABS, EBD and Brake Assist as standard features. This indicates the pricing would begin somewhere close to 4.25 lakh rupees at most in India with all these features chopped off in the base variant. Nissan has also made it clear that it isn't willing to get into a price war with the Micra in India. Anyways coming back to the Micra launch. With a 4.5m turning radius, the Micra's is just 0.5m short of the legendary Tata Nano. That is quite a remarkable achievement for a car that is 3.72m long. The Micra comes in a choice of 6 colours – Brilliant Silver, Black Star, Crystal Lilac, Spring green, Sunlight orange and White pearl in Thailand. At launch 4 variants with 2 option packs are offered. You can buy the Micra in both manual and automatic transmission forms. Only the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine is offered at launch which makes 79ps, while torque output is 108Nm. Click through for the press release and Image Slideshow

2010 Mitsubishi Outlander RX limited to 500 units in Oz

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:01:27 +0000

The 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander RX is butch and ready to pounce

Mitsubishi launched a limited edition Outlander RX last year same time in Australia based on the outgoing Outlander. Today Mitsubishi has introduced the RX edition based on the current generation Outlander. Styling features include redesigned front bumper and fog lights, 18-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels and unique side and rear air dams. Door handles are painted silver, chrome exhaust tip and privacy glass finish the exterior modifications list. Inside the Outlander RX you get leather and sports mesh seat trim, silver painted floor console panels and chrome interior door handles. Bluetooth connectivity and 'smart key' keyless operation are part of the package. The Outlander RX is powered by the same 2.4L MIVEC engine, coupled with a CVT automatic transmission. Mitsubishi’s All Wheel Control 4wd System, Dual SRS airbags, ABS Brakes with EBD, Active Stability Control, Active Traction Control and Hill Start Control are all standard on the new Outlander RX. Mitsubishi have just launched the Evo-nosed Outlander in India so this might not be on the Indian operation's list of things to do at the moment. Maybe a few months down the line when the BMW X1 and new Chevrolet Captiva is out, this could fit the bill. click through to view the image gallery

Waiting period balloons for the super-hit Maruti EECO

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:33:56 +0000

The Maruti EECO is serving as a great alternative to the Omni buyer

Things are going as per plan in camp Maruti. The Maruti Eeco seems to have done what the Versa failed to do trying years for Maruti Suzuki. Maruti Eeco customers have to deal with 3-4 months waiting to drive home their EECO as per reports in the media. The EECO has a vast amount of cabin space and good amount of power. Though being a re-engineered Versa, the customer isn't bothered about its underpinnings or origin. In fact most of the customers are Omni owners, the company reveals. Maruti Suzuki spokesperson -

The product has received overwhelming customer response for its attractive power, good air-conditioning, looks and high utility value All these features along with attractive prices have got us many more buyers than what we had planned. This has resulted in a shortfall in supply as compared to the huge demand and we are now trying to increase production so as to match the demand scenario.

In some cases customers have to wait almost 6 months to get their car. Maruti is reacting to the situation by increasing production as quickly as possible. They forecast about 3,000 units sale in these first few months.

Mahindra Xylo limousine decorated with roses

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:11:46 +0000

Definitely won't give you the time of life. With or without roses

If you want to arrive or leave your wedding in style, then you would do it along with a good looking bride flashy ride that oozes attitude and makes the statement. Like say an Aston Martin or a Lamborghini Gallardo or Bentley Continental. Whether it is a stretched Toyota Innova, Renault Logan or a Ford Endeavour you can't recreate such an effect. Would the fat man living next door win the Olympics if you put track suits on him? It's that simple. If you can't lease an exotic, then better walk, take the bus or rent a cab or drive your own car. A stretched Mahindra Xylo shouldn't be an option. Even if the registration plate has 007.

Audi eyes no.1 position by 2015 in India

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:15:31 +0000

Audi begins its mission numero uno with local assembly of Q5 this year

German luxury auto maker Audi is drawing up severe plans to pip BMW and Mercedes Benz to be number one by 2015. The company wants to see sales triple in India by then. AUDI AG board member Peter Schwarzenbauer -

By 2015, we aim to become number 1 in India. We have told our team in India to work towards that aim. Our efforts, for brand building and developing dealerships for deeper market penetration, are geared towards that

Audi finished third last year in sales (1,685 units) behind BMW and Mercedes Benz. It plans to capture the flag by not only expanding its model range but also dealerships, from 12 at present to 18 by end of next year. It is looking to start operations in Jaipur, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Nagpur, Lucknow and Coimbatore Seeing the level of demand for premium SUVs in the country, Audi will begin assembling the Q5 in the Aurangabad plant by the middle of this year. At present only A4 and A6 are being put together in the country

Video – Chevrolet Spark (Beat) commercial in Europe

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:02:28 +0000

All I can say is it all starts with a Spark!

Spied – First look of 2010 Suzuki Swift interiors

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:39:21 +0000

Thanks to our friends at Alvolante, a leading online portal in Italy, we're able to bring you the first look of the 2010 Suzuki Swift's interiors. Upon elaborate inspection, I figured the new Suzuki Swift's dashboard is slightly more ordered. The centre stack is clearly visible and the steering wheel is more Chevrolet. The AC vents have a different shape, the gear knob is the same and a compact twin dial layout replaces three dials. The new Swift's dashboard lacks a digital clock but a LCD screen is the new addition. The new Suzuki Swift based on a new platform, according to media reports debuts at the Paris Motor Show later in the year. It could come to India in the first quarter of 2011, but how Maruti will position this hatch remains a mystery. Chinese publications have also hinted the sedan version of the new Swift by the end of this year for international markets. From limited vision this is all I can figure out. Existing Swift owners, why don't you give me a hand in completing this comparison.

Honda launches Accord V6 with sun roof and foot lights

Jaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:09:05 +0000

The Honda Accord now comes with sun roof, keyless entry and bluetooth facility

After listening to their customers, Honda SIEL have decided to bump up features on the 3.5 liter V6 Honda Accord. The revamped Honda Accord has electric sunroof, Ambient Light and Footlight which make things easier at night. In addition, the new Honda Accord is equipped with two sets of Keyless entry and mobile phone with bluetooth interface facility.The footlight and 2 sets of Keyless entry are also available in the Honda Accord 2.4L MT and AT variants. The new Honda Accord range comes with a price tag of Rs.18,52,000 for 2.4L MT, Rs.19,27,000 for 2.4L AT and Rs 26,15,000 for 3.5L V6. (ex- showroom, Delhi.)

Video – Ford Figo TV Commercials

Jaz — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:52:25 +0000

Three TV commercials of the Ford Figo explaining neatly the key features of the car with Indian flavor. Two commercials after the break.

Spotted – Nissan Ad campaign in Thailand for Micra

Jaz — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:08:05 +0000

Nissan has begun going public about its upcoming March/Micra compact car

In Thailand, Nissan is gone up a gear for promoting the new Micra/March compact car. Ads featuring the car is becoming a regular sight in Thailand with the "Coming soon" text in the local language. Seen here is a wall poster with what possibly could be car's brand ambassador. Would Nissan do a Hyundai by roping in someone from Bollywood to promote the car? Nissan's all-new Micra will be manufactured at the company's Chennai facility. In the first phase, a 3-cylinder petrol engine displacing 1.2 liters is expected. It will be mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Diesel variants are expected in the future. Nissan has not revealed the dimensions of the Micra, but we expect it to be in the size range of the Hyundai i10. Production will start in May and the car will be in Indian dealer showrooms by the end of July.

Man paints Chevrolet Beat on canvas. So what’s special?

Jaz — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:41:03 +0000

26-year old artist Ian Cook painted a Chevrolet Spark (Beat). He painted it using many colors. He painted in on canvas. His painting is close to the real thing. What's the catch? He had to do it without using a brush! Ian Cook, a highly talented artist from West Midlands is a car buff himself. He used remote-controlled cars and old tyres to draw the Spark on a blank piece of canvas. It's not the first time he's done it. This is his 41st painting and 6th Chevrolet. Ian Cook -

I’ve done several commissions for Chevrolet before, so when the opportunity to be the first person ever to create an image of the Spark came along, I couldn’t turn it down. It looks quite simple but the logo is actually very intricate. The angles have to be exactly right, and the criss-cross detail of the gold inside the bow-tie was difficult to replicate.

His first three – of the Camaro Convertible Concept, Beat Concept (which evolved into Spark) and Rob Huff’s 2008 Lacetti WTCC car were created in front of thousands of awe-struck on-lookers at the 2008 edition of the British Motor Show. Cook's next task is to judge the Young? Creative? Chevrolet! art competition which begins shortly.

Embrace life – A really good safety advert

Jaz — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:10:57 +0000

We've stressed many times on our blog to our readers to wear seatbelts regardless of the vehicle speed or the type of road or seating location. By doing this, we've understood the only possible method of getting everyone to wear their seatbelts is by running thought provoking campaigns in the media. Here's one such which is very unique and will help lower the message deep inside our heads.