The upcoming dealership expansion drive could have been planned keeping the launch of Ford’s upcoming 5-seater compact SUV, EcoSport in mind. At present, Ford India has more than 200 sales outlets and service centres across 110 cities in the country.

A wide dealership and service network is crucial for a manufacturer to reach out to potential buyers. Ford India, is thus moving in the right direction to rope in more buyers by expanding its dealer network.

This expansion will help strengthen the brand in India and will also gain the trust of customers and potential buyers alike. The Figo was an instant success and part of its popularity can be attributed to the expansion of dealerships. Ford it seems is trying to repeat Figo’s success with its upcoming EcoSport.

The EcoSport was showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and has all the ingredients of an SUV: bold looks, macho wheels, high ground clearance, roof rails and rear-mounted spare wheel. The EcoSport aims to set new standards in terms of fuel efficiency/power trade off. It will be powered by a 1-liter engine that belts out an impressive 119 bhp. The diesel variant is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre motor sourced from the new Fiesta sedan.

The EcoSport measures more than four meters and hence, will not qualify as a small car. The Ecosport is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 7 lakh – 10 lakh. The EcoSport will compete with the upcoming Renault Duster 5-seater SUV.

A few of days ago CarToq had reported that bookings for the existing i20 are being converted to new fluidic i20 bookings. Read more: Hyundai Fluidic i20 launch seems imminent!

Let’s take a brief look at what the fresh spy photos reveal about the new i20.

Test mules of the i20 had a pair of LED lights instead of regular fog lights on the front bumper. Whether the LED lights will act as daytime running lamps or fog lamps is not clear yet. The front will likely get the fluidic design language which includes the hexagonal grille, dynamic and smooth flowing lines as seen on the Hyundai Eon, i10 and the Verna.

The sides of the face lifted i20 will have the same design as the outgoing model and it is not easy to tell it apart from the old model.

The rear appears to be similar to the current i20 too. However the tail lamps will get a fresh design with clear lens treatment and large reverse parking lamps. The refreshed i20 will likely come with the i10′s 1.2-litre, VVT petrol motor that puts out 79 bhp of power and a slightly powerful 1.4-litre petrol that puts out 100 bhp for the automatic variant. The diesel version of the upcoming i20 will likely be powered by the same 1.4 litre CRDi engine that puts out 89 bhp and is mated to 5-speed manual transmission. Summing up, overall performance and mileage of the new i20 will likely be similar to the present model.

Currently, the i20 petrol is priced in the range of Rs. 4.59 lakh – 8.09 lakh while the i20 diesel is priced in the range of Rs. 5.70 lakh – 7.45 lakh. The new i20 will likely be priced a little more than the price of the outgoing model.

The i20 is the second largest selling premium hatchback, only next to the segment leader, Maruti Suzuki Swift. With its big list of features and upmarket interiors, the i20 has long been a preferred premium hatchback among buyers. The face lifted i20 when launched, may likely up its sales significantly. Buyers may face a waiting period if booking numbers are high.

(Photo courtesy: Indian Autos Blog)

The CarToq team test drove a royal burgundy Tata Indigo e-CS VX variant, powered by a much improved 1.4-litre common-rail diesel engine. Here’s our review of the car.

Looks, fit and finish

Exterior

The looks of the Tata Indica / Indigo range have become a really familiar sight of the Indian landscape thanks to the large numbers being sold to both private and commercial buyers. The Indigo eCS VX variant gets a few more styling details, such as the use of chrome strips on the grille, twin-barrel headlamps, integrated turn signals in the outside rear-view mirrors, chrome inserts on the rub strips along the side and the VX /ABS badge on the rear.

The notch-like boot on the Indigo e-CS though blends in better with the overall design than the new Swift Dzire. The Indigo e-CS measures 3998 mm in length, just 2 mm short of 4 metres to take advantage of the excise benefits doled out to small cars. It does have a fairly large boot, which can hold up to 380 litres of luggage.

Interior

The car has been given a refreshed interior with the use of beige upholstery and fake wood paneling along the centre console and door trims. Fit and finish, however, has plenty of room for improvement. Loose plastic bits can be found in many areas. Our test car had a gear lever rubber boot that kept coming off and missing plastic panels near the outside rearview mirrors. The edges of the door pads feel poorly finished and have a rough cut, while the dashboard has large panel gaps. This is an area where Tata really needs to improve the car further.

Comfort and features

The Indigo e-CS VX is fairly loaded with features, especially at its price point of Rs. 5.6 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. It’s got everything you can possibly want in a comfortable sedan and then some. Powered electric mirrors, power steering, power windows, remote central locking, integrated stereo system with Bluetooth phone control, tachometer and manual HVAC are part of the standard feature list on the VX variant. It has an ABS-assisted braking system and warning buzzers for the seat belt that tops off the safety features list, but no airbags.

In terms of driving position, the high-mounted steering wheel is not that ergonomic, but fairly comfortable once you get used to it. But seating comfort is probably best in class. It has decent levels of headroom and legroom and you get a feeling of space inside the car. The rear seat has a drop down armrest that adds to the comfort factor. The boot can hold a fair amount of luggage, and the rear seat can be flipped down to increase luggage space if you need it.

Performance and handling

Now, outright performance that can please an enthusiast is not something you expect from an Indigo e-CS. The car is powered by a 1,396 cc, common-rail diesel engine, that puts out 69 bhp of power at 4,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque @ 1,800-3,000 rpm mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. We were pleasantly surprised at the improved refinement levels and easy drivability of this engine in the Indigo e-CS.

The gear ratios are well-matched to the car and it pulls effectively in the lower gears, allowing you to easily drive through city traffic. However, the gear shifts feel a bit rubbery. The car can also creep forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic thanks to the “auto-drive assist” function found in most common-rail engines that prevent them from stalling by adjusting idle rpm according to the driving conditions. The car’s compact dimensions also helped in easily darting in and out of city traffic.

Engine noise is sufficiently damped, though you do hear the drone of the diesel engine as the rpms rise. Thankfully it’s not that intrusive. The steering feel is average. The car has a fairly comfortable and slightly soft suspension, which is great for passenger comfort. Handling is decent enough as long as you aren’t driving the car in a tearing hurry.

Mileage

The biggest improvement Tata claims with the CR4 common-rail engine in the Indigo e-CS is the mileage. The car can do a claimed 25 kmpl on diesel, which makes it a very frugal car, probably the best in this segment. We didn’t have the car long enough for a significant mileage test, but in the 140 kilometers that we drove the car, the fuel gauge barely moved.

What we think

The Tata Indigo e-CS VX is a comfortable and practical car if you want a sedan on a tight budget. Compared to the Mahindra Verito, Swift Dzire and Toyota Etios, this car is the most affordable of the lot when you consider the features you get. However, in terms of quality and refinement, the car still has significant ground to cover.

The new offer includes an exchange bonus of Rs. 25,000* for cars and Rs. 20,000* on motorcycles, in addition to the resale value of the exchanged vehicle. The exchange bonus offer is valid only till 29^th February, 2012.

For buyers who don’t exchange any vehicle for purchasing the new Nano, there is still a cash discount of Rs. 10,000 offered across all the three variants of the Nano. The Nano STD is priced at Rs. 1.40 lakh; the Nano CX costs Rs. 1.70 lakh while the Nano LX is priced at Rs. 1.96 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.

Down payment and EMI

The Nano also comes with a low down payment of Rs. 15,000 for the base variant, Rs. 22,000 for the Nano CX and Rs. 24,000 for the top-end Nano LX variant. However, the buyer has to pay a processing fee of Rs. 3,000 in addition to the down payment. The down payment offer too is valid only till 29^th February, 2012.

The EMI for the Nano standard is Rs. 3,500 for a loan period of five years. Similarly, for the Nano CX, the EMI is Rs. 4,200 and for the Nano LX, the EMI is Rs. 4,777.

Summary

The Nano is a smart choice for first car buyers who are on a tight budget but also wanting high mileage and low maintenance costs. Watch our 2012 Tata Nano video review

The sales of the Nano has increased in the last couple of months and averaged close to 7,500 units a month. In December, the sales stood at 7,466 units and in January the sales were at 7,723 units. To keep the sales momentum, Tata Motors is banking on offers such as exchange bonus, cash discount and low down payment.

*Prices mentioned are ex-showroom Delhi

The hike ranges between Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 12,000 across all models, variants and will be applicable to models such as the Indica eV2, Indigo CS, Vista, Manza, Sumo Gold, Grande and Safari. The price hike has been effective with effect from February 10^th, 2012.

“The high input costs have been impacting us for quite some time. We have decided to pass on some burden to our customers. The quantum of the hike will vary between Rs 7,000 and Rs 12,000 depending on the model,” Tata spokesperson was quoted as saying by a news agency.

CarToq spoke to a Chennai based Tata dealer who confirmed that the price hike was implemented last Friday. The dealer quickly added that a major price hike is expected in March which will make the price of cars go up by roughly Rs. 80,000 particularly for the diesel models.

Many car makers have hiked the prices of their models in January. Maruti Suzuki and General Motors (GM) India had hiked prices of their cars last month. Maruti Suzuki hiked the prices by 0.3 percent to 3.4 percent across all its models except for the Dzire.  Read more: Maruti Suzaki hikes prices across all models!

GM India hiked the prices by 0.5 percent to 1.75 percent for its models including Spark, Beat and Cruze while models such as Aveo, Aveo U-VA, Optra and Captiva prices were not hiked. Mahindra too, increased the prices of its cars such as Verito, Scorpio, Xylo, XUV500 and Bolero by up to three percent. Read more: Mahindra to increase prices of all cars by 2-3% in January 2012!

The auto industry is already witnessing a slight slump in car sales and such price hikes may further affect the sales. Besides, there is also a possibility of a tax hike on diesel cars post the Union Budget 2012.

Mahindra has also introduced a new 5-speed manual gearbox and tweaked the suspension. The new Xylo is packed with features such as voice command technology and cruise control. The price has been increased by roughly Rs. 15,000 when compared to the outgoing model. The face lifted Xylo is offered in the price range of Rs. 7.37 lakh – Rs. 10.25 lakh. Here, we take a look at the features and gadgets offered in the E9, top-end variant of the new Xylo.

Stylish front: The new Xylo gets redesigned front grille with blacked out vertical sliats. The detailed clearlens headlamps and fog lamps are attractive. It also has refreshed front and rear bumper, refreshed headlamps and taillamps, new wheel arches with plastic rims, rear spoiler and new footsteps.

Voice command: The voice command feature allows the driver to instruct the vehicle to perform functions like headlamp on/off, door lock/unlock, front and rear wiper on/off and indicator lights on/off.

Cruise control: The Xylo E9 has steering mounted controls on both sides. The left spoke of the steering wheel has phone controls while the right spoke has cruise control. The cruise control comes handy during highway drives.

Park assist: The inside rear view mirror also acts as reverse parking assist systems. With the help of reverse parking sensors, the driver can know the distance between the car and the obstacles at the rear.

Music System: The E9 gets 2-DIN music system that can play CD, MP3 and FM/AM radio. Aux-in port is also available. The orange lit switches are well laid out for easy use.

Multi-information Display: The Xylo E9 gets Digital Drive Assist system that offers information like outside & inside temperature, fuel consumption and has the digital clock too.

Airbags and ABS: The E9 variant gets dual SRS airbags at the front. The ABS with EBD is an added safety feature which improves the handling of the vehicle.

Refreshed interiors: The new Xylo comes with attractive two-tone dashboard and stylish new door trims. The genuine leather upholstery and glossy wood finsh on the central console gives an upmarket feel.

Comfort features: Individual AC vents helps in quick cooling of the spacious cabin. The folodable snack trays and convenient storage spaces will be quite useful during long journeys. Apart from the mobile charging point on the console, there is a second chargning point for middle row passengers.

Other features: The Xylo gets new 5-speed gearbox (5-MT 320) and the leather wrapped gear knob looks upmarket and plush.

The car has been improved with more creature comforts and a more refined diesel engine. Tata claims the car gives 25 kmpl on diesel, which should make it really economical when it comes to running costs.

Here’s a video review of a royal burgundy Tata Indigo e-CS VX that we tested.

In this weekly wrap up, we bring you a walkaround video of the refreshed Mahindra Xylo, a complete road test of the 2012 Fiat Linea and in our handy tips we tell you how you can change your wiper blades at home, besides a quick wrap of all the other useful stories on cars in India.

Mahindra Xylo E9 Walkaround

Mahindra this week launched a refreshed Xylo. Changes are welcome, as it makes the Xylo look more gentlemanly, with a refreshed grille, bonnet and headlamps. There are minor changes to the rear of the vehicle as well. The Xylo is now available in seven variants, priced between Rs. 7.37 lakh and Rs. 10.25 lakh. The top-end Xylo is now an E9 variant, loaded with safety features as well as other electronic wizardry that makes it quite a value for money vehicle. The E9 variant also gets the Scorpio’s M-Hawk engine making it a more powerful variant than the other Xylos.

Here’s a video walkaround of the Mahindra Xylo E9:

Talking cars this week

Maruti sales cross 10 million cars in India

Maruti has been going from strength to strength. This week the company marked another milestone, selling its 10 millionth (1 crore) vehicle in India, since it began operations in 1983, selling the ubiquitous Maruti 800. The 10 millionth vehicle to roll out of Maruti’s factory was a red Maruti Swift VXI that went to a customer in Tamil Nadu.

Chevrolet Tavera Neo launched

General Motors launched a fresher Tavera this week. The Tavera is now BSIV compliant and is offered in four variants priced between Rs. 8.25 lakh and Rs. 10.25 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. The BSIV variants get a more powerful 2-litre, 105 bhp diesel engine, while the BSIII variants with the 2.5-litre, 78 bhp diesel will continue to sell in non-metros. Read more about the Tavera Neo3

Hyundai Sonata to launch by March first week

Hyundai’s sonata will be launched in the first week of March. The car is expected to give Hyundai a leg up into the premium car segment in India, and will replace the current Sonata Embera that’s on sale. It is expected to be priced between Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 18 lakh. Here’s a video preview of the upcoming Hyundai Sonata.

Ford Fiesta automatic to also drive in early March

Another car that’s also going to be launched in the first week of March is the new Ford Fiesta automatic. The car features a six-speed twin-clutch gearbox and a claimed mileage of 16.97 kmpl. It is a great driver’s car and going by what we heard from Ford, it may just be priced quite reasonably. We have done a first drive impression of the Ford Fiesta automatic in December. Watch the complete video here

General Motors considers compact SUV

There was news this week that General Motors too is going to be jumping on the compact SUV bandwagon. It is planning to launch a compact SUV that will compete with the Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster. There is also speculation that GM India may launch the upcoming Opel Mokka (and rebadged it) to take on other compact SUVs in India. Read more

Mahindra Mini Xylo coming before Diwali

And more Mahindra news. The elusive Mini Xylo, a compact MPV that will be under 4 metres in length, but based on the present Xylo’s platform will be launched before Diwali, according to Mahindra officials that CarToq spoke to during the launch of the refreshed Xylo. The compact Xylo will be powered by a 1.5-litre diesel engine, but we hear there is still a long way to go in terms of refinement for this powertrain and that’s what has been delaying the vehicle that we’ve managed to get pictures of many times. Read more

ROAD TEST OF THE WEEK

This week we drove the new 2012 Fiat Linea 1.4 Dynamic. This car doesn’t look a lot different externally, but it has got some changes that make it a lot better than the previous car. For one, it has 185 mm of ground clearance, which makes it handle bad roads better, and the Dynamic variant now gets added features, comparable to the previous Emotion. Watch our video review of the 2012 Fiat Linea 1.4 Dynamic petrol:

Handy Tip of the Week

Windscreen wipers are oft ignored parts of the car. But they perform a crucial function of providing you with clear visibility. Wipers that are not changed often will not only hamper visibility, but they could cause more expensive damage by permanently scratching your windshield. Changing wipers is a simple two-minute operation, but a service station may charge you heavily for a task that you could easily carry out at home. We show you how, in this handy video:

Hyundai may launch the i20 facelift version by April 2012. A Chennai dealer told CarToq that bookings for the existing i20 are being converted to new fluidic i20 bookings. He quickly added that they have not seen the updated model yet and had no idea on the changes expected in the new model.

Earlier, the i20 facelift test mule was caught testing in Hyundai’s European test facility last year and a couple of times in Chennai last month, hinting a possible launch in the near future.

Looks, space and comfort

Expect the new upcoming i20 to get sharp character lines on the sides similar to the fluidic Verna. The test mules of fluidic i20 suggest that it will have fluidic design sculpture that includes a hexagonal radiator grille, Verna-like headlamps and stylish fog lamps. At the rear too, expect the i20 to have refreshed tail lamps and reflectors integrated to the bumper. Also read: preview photos of the Hyundai Fluidic i20, likely in india next year

The test mules had no camouflages on its sides, suggesting there is no change over there. The overall dimensions of the upcoming i20 will be same as the outgoing model. Hence, there will be minimal change in the car’s interior space and comfort as well. However, Hyundai may add new interior colours to refresh the i20′s cabin.

Engine and Performance

The refreshed i20 will likely come with the i10′s 1.2-litre, VVT petrol motor that puts out 79 bhp of power while the 1.4-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel motor of the outgoing model will be retained as such.

The 1.4 litre petrol engine develops a healthy 100 bhp of power but comes only with an automatic transmission. The diesel variant sports a 1.4 litre CRDi engine that puts out 89 bhp and is mated to 5-speed manual transmission. Summing up, overall performance and mileage of the new i20 will likely be similar to the present model.

Expected features

The present i20 is already loaded with features and hence, there is little room for Hyundai to offer more features in the new i20. Hence, the new i20 will likely come with all the features of the outgoing mode which includes tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, airbags, ABS, navigation system and an automatic climate control. It also has a digital odometer, music system with USB and aux-in ports, multi-information display and a cooled glove box. Also read:  9 reasons why i20 is a popular car for its gadgets and features

Expected price

Cosmetic upgrades may slightly hike the price of the new i20. At present, the i20 petrol is priced in the range of Rs. 4.59 lakh – 8.09 lakh while the i20 diesel is priced in the range of Rs. 5.70 lakh – 7.45 lakh.

Conclusion

With consistent sales of around 6,000 units every month, the i20 is one hot selling premium hatchback in India. The new i20 may have considerable waiting period especially when many buyers book them after the facelift launch. But, now that you know the launch is near; book the i20 in advance to avoid the waiting period!

Ford had unveiled the Fiesta ‘Powershift’ automatic variant to the media in November 2011. We at CarToq have driven the Fiesta automatic and you can watch the video review of the Fiesta automatic here.

Photo: This the Ford Fiesta Automatic with dual clutch!

The Fiesta automatic features a six-speed twin-clutch gearbox and a claimed mileage of 16.97 kmpl which is similar to the claimed fuel efficiency of the Fiesta manual variant (17 kmpl).

The introduction of the Ford Fiesta dual-clutch automatic brings buyers more choice among cars with automatic transmissions. In the sub-10 lakh sedan segment, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Honda City and Maruti Suzuki SX4 are offered with automatic transmissions. However, the Ford Fiesta is the only car among its rivals to sport a dual-clutch automatic.

Advantages of Dual-clutch transmission

A dual-clutch automatic transmission is mated to the engine using a combination of two electronic clutches (one within the other) that engage with the engine flywheel in turns. One of the clutches runs the odd gears in the gearbox (gears 1, 3 and 5), while the other turns the shaft which has the even gears (2, 4 and 6).

What this allows for, is much faster shifts between gears, because even before one clutch disengages, the other one engages for the next gear, making shifts even faster than a manual transmission, resulting in minimum power loss.

Therefore, the Fiesta automatic picks up much faster and does not compromise on mileage. On the downside, it’s much more expensive than a traditional automatic (torque convertor) gearbox. Read more about it here.

Expected Launch

A Ford India spokesperson told CarToq that there is no official date announced yet. However, he quickly added that the Fiesta automatic’s price announcement will take place very soon, probably by the first week of March.

Expected Price

We expect the Fiesta automatic will likely cost Rs. 80,000 more than the manual variant. At present the Fiesta   petrol (manual) is offered in the range of Rs. 8.24 lakh – 9.43 lakh. Ford, will likely offer the automatic variant only in the Fiesta petrol top-end trim. Adding Rs 80,000 to the top-end Titanium + will make the Fiesta automatic price to be around Rs. 10.23 lakh.

Conclusion

The Fiesta sales have gone high recently, thanks to the massive discounts. In January 2012, the sales of Fiesta rose to 1,411 units which is an 81% jump when compared to the sales in December 2011. To keep this momentum, Ford is adding the automatic transmission to the Fiesta.

However, in a diesel driven market, launch of automatic transmission in petrol version may disappoint a few buyers. Nevertheless, urban dwellers who wish to tackle the city traffic with automatic transmission and hence the Fiesta automatic makes sense for them.