We’ve already heard of the Mercedes B-Class that will be launched in November this year. Read more on the B-Class here. Then there’s the brand new A-Class which is likely to be launched early next year.  This 2013 A-Class is a car that will bring in the volumes for Mercedes if it hits a price point of Rs. 15 lakh. It will also bring in a new class of vehicles to the Indian market – that of a large luxury hatch. Also read: Merc A Class photos leaked

However, at the recent launch of the Mercedes M-Class, Peter Honegg, CEO and MD, Mercedes Benz India, said Mercedes is also planning on bringing in a compact SUV on the A-Class platform. So far the vehicle is still in the concept stage.

Honegg did not elaborate on the SUV based on the A-Class, but said it’s definitely the kind of vehicle that the Indian market needs. Looking at the new A-Class pictures, it looks like an SUV built on the same platform will fill the need for a compact premium SUV – a space that the BMW X1 currently is doing pretty well in. The Audi Q3 will also soon get into this space and so Mercedes too isn’t looking to be left out from this promising market segment.

If the A-Class SUV makes it to production, it will be priced at about Rs. 25 lakh, and will compete with the BMW X1. Mercedes has enough engine choices to power the SUV – all of which are likely to come from the A-Class that will be launched next year.

The A-Class is expected to come with a host of engine options which includes five petrol engines and five diesel engines. Among the petrol engines, expect the A-Class to be made available in a 1.8-litre 120 bhp motor, 2-litre 154 bhp motor, 2-litre 170 bhp motor, 2.5-litre 209 bhp motor and a 2.5-litre 348 bhp motor. Among the diesel engines, expect the A-Class to be powered by a 1.6-litre 89 bhp engine, a 1.8-litre 107 bhp engine, a 2-litre 134 bhp engine, a 2.2-litre 168 bhp engine and a 2.5-litre 203 bhp engine.

The A-Class based compact SUV looks like it has a lot of potential for India. But till it’s fully developed, it’s going to be a bit of a wait.

Photo credit: Joostloos (external link)

The new Rexton has contemporary and sporty looks unlike the Rexton showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The headlamps with LED surrounds give the SUV, a sharp look. The radiator grille with horizontal chrome slats and large Ssangyong logo at the centre, gives the SUV a bold stance.

Photo: The face-lifted Rexton is much more futuristic and sporty looking than to older version

The chunky alloy wheels and turn indicators on the ORVMs, give the new Rexton, a sporty appeal.  The ‘Z’ shaped C pillar of the old Rexton is retained in the new model. However, the rear styling is radical with a new taillamp cluster and large bumper with integrated reflectors.

The stylish exterior upgrade suggest that Ssangyong may have thoroughly revamped the interiors with new central console, instrument cluster and more comfortable features than offered in the present model.

Photo: From the rear the face lifted Rexton looks like a huge SUV but there isn't anything dramatic or unqie

With regard to performance, the new Rexton is expected to be powered by the same engine that powers the pre-facelift model. The older Rexton is powered by a 2.7 litre turbo diesel engine that churns out 183 hp of maximum power and 402 Nm of maximum torque. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual gear box or a 5-speed automatic. Rexton will accelerate from 0 – 100 kmph in 11.6 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 181 kmph as per the company. Read more about the India Bound Rexton here.

Mahindra has scheduled the launch of the Rexton in September 2012 and with just months away from the launch it may not be feasible for the company to launch the facelift version. Hence, expect the pre-facelift model to hit showrooms first.

Photo: The Punto Sports will be a sportier version of the regular Punto hatch presently being sold

The Punto 90 HP Sport version is expected to come with cosmetic changes like chrome accented interiors, chrome exhaust tip, specially stitched gear knob,  gear lever cover, color coded ORVMs, door sills with ‘Punto’ letters embossed and ‘Sport’ branded body decals. The 90 HP Sports version will likely be made available in three colors namely, bossa nova white, exotica red and hip hop black.  Also read: Hyundai i-Gen i20 vs. Fiat Grande Punto

Punto Sports at Auto Expo 2012; image courtesy mapsofindia.com

Image courtesy: Mapsofindia

The Punto 90 HP Sports version will be powered by a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel motor that puts out 91.7 Bhp (93 PS) of power and 209 Nm of torque unlike the ordinary Punto which is powered by a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel motor that puts out 74.9 Bhp (76 PS) of power and 197 Nm of torque.

Performance wise, the Punto 90 HP offers more power on tap but still exhibits a turbo lag below 2,000 rpm and hence to keep the engine in the power band, frequent gear shifts are needed in city driving conditions.

Out on the highway, the Punto 90 HP performs better than the Punto (75 Bhp) as it accelerates faster to reach three digit speeds and it also has a better power-to-weight ratio, improving the mileage a little. The claimed mileage of the Punto 90 HP is 20.5 Kmpl which is slightly better than the claimed mileage of Punto which is 20.3 Kmpl.

Fiat launched the Punto 90 HP in the year 2010 and the car attracted a few enthusiasts who wanted more power and torque on the Punto diesel to fully exploit its handling characteristics.  In 2012, Fiat gave a minor cosmetic facelift and launched the 2012 Punto. And now, Fiat is gearing up to launch the Punto 90 HP Sports edition on May 18^th with cosmetic upgrades, targeting enthusiasts who are looking for powerful diesel hatchbacks.

Photo: The Sylphy looks elegant yet aggressive from the front with its wide grille and sharp headlamps

Looks, space and comfort

The Sylphy concept was showcased at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show last month. The Sylphy concept has a front grille similar to that of the Sunny and the Teana sedans. The headlamp too has a conventional design yet the day-time running LED lights give it a premium feel. The fog lamps housing has a radical styling. Also read: Nissan Sunny XL vs. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZDi: Buy the sedan, or the mini-MPV?

The strong crease line that begins at the top edge of the side swept headlamp cluster and continues to run through the length of the car, adds a tone of muscle. At the rear, the bumper looks conventional with a large side swept tail lamp cluster with LED brake lights and a thick horizontal chrome slat above the number plate.

The interior of the Sylphy concept has a conventional instrument cluster and central console layout. The three spoke steering wheel has V-shaped silver accents with integrated audio and Bluetooth controls. The seats are well sculpted and should offer good overall support. The boot space can also be expected to be at par with its rivals.

Photo: Inside the Sylphy will be plush and we can expect good quality plastics and inserts

Expected Performance

The Sylphy is expected to be powered by a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor mated to next-generation, XTRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). As per Nissan, the XTRONIC CVT will deliver better fuel efficiency than the regular CVT. Power and torque specifications are not known at the moment.

Photo: The Sylphy sedan looks typically Nissan from the rear and remind you of its siblings

Competition

The Sylphy sedan will compete with cars such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis, Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Laura and the Renault Fluence. Buyers look for diesel powered vehicles in the D segment and that is why petrol-only cars like the Honda Civic suffers when it comes to overall sales. Hence, a diesel engine is crucial for the Sylphy to sell in significant numbers.

Do you like the looks of Sylphy? Do you think the Nissan taste success by launching the Sylphy in India? Please comment below.

(Photo Courtesy: Top Speed)

Photo: The Alto has been around for a long time and it was in dire need of a contemporary replacement

Maruti Suzuki vendors have allegedly said that the upcoming model uses the same Alto platform but will still be a ‘completely a new car’. The new car is expected to reignite sales of the Alto.

Introduction of new car models is usually a good strategy to improve sales. In case of Maruti Suzuki which has witnessed an 11% decline in small car sales in the last fiscal, the new model may be the key product to recapture the lost market share.

As per earlier reports, Maruti Suzuki was to replace the M800, with a new model but, new reports suggest that it may the Alto that will be replaced.

It is still uncertain as to which of the two models (800, Alto) this new car will replace. Also, the company may launch the new model during the festive season to capitalize on buyer sentiments.

Overall, the new car will target the volume segment and will surely create a lot of demand among buyers as it comes from Maruti Suzuki. So if you are planning to buy a small car under Rs. 3 lakh, its worth waiting for the upcoming small car for MSI.

(Source: Wall Street Journal)

Let’s see the differences between the looks of the present Linea and the upcoming Linea.

Photo: Compared to the old Linea the 2013 model looks more sporty and aggressive

New Front

The facelifted Linea gets a new radiator grille with two prominent horizontal slats with the Fiat logo on top of the slats. In the new Linea, a thick chrome strip separates the fog lamp housings and the lower air dam. The parabolic headlamps of the outgoing model is retained in the new model, however, there are subtle changes in the detailing.

Photo: At the rear too the new Linea looks young and fresh with loads of chrome

Refreshed Rear

The Linea facelift features a redesigned boot door. The number plate which has been integrated to the rear bumper in the present model, has now been moved to the boot door. In the new Linea, there are two thick horizontal chrome straps, one above the number plate and the other integrated to the rear bumper. The shape of the tail lamp cluster remains the same in both the versions, but Fiat has given a mild clear lens treatment in the facelift version.  Note that the side profile of both the cars remains the same.

Photo: On the interiors the new Linea will get more of black and the dashboard too has a different appearance

Revamped dashboard

The Linea facelift gets dual tone dashboard with clever use of beige tone in the middle of the dashboard breaking the monotony of the grey shades. The shapes of steering wheel and middle AC vents remain unchanged, but the AC vents on the edges are round in shape.

The scoops for the instrument cluster have been carved out seamlessly while the 3D dials should be easier to read at a glance. The central console also gets a new layout which is aesthetically better than the retro theme of the present model. Expect the plastic quality, fit and finish to improve in the new Linea.

Engines

In Turkey, the facelifted Linea gets the 1.4-litre Multi-air petrol engine and the second generation 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine. But there is less possibility for Fiat to offer the 1.4-litre Multi-air engine in Indian market as the new technology would incur more production cost that may drastically increase the price of Linea which is already selling in very low numbers. Hence, expect the facelift version to carry over the same engines of the present model: a 1.4-liter FIRE motor that puts out 88 bhp of power, a 1.4 litre turbocharged T-Jet petrol engine puts out 113 bhp and a 1.3-litre MULTIJET diesel motor churns out 92 bhp of power.

Summary

Overall, the Linea facelift looks better on the inside than the outside. Fiat will likely keep the launch of Linea facelift on the back burner, as the company currently focuses on opening exclusive dealerships in the coming months. Hence, potential buyers may have to wait at least till 2013 to drive home the new Linea.

Photo: We believe the Nano will be the first car from Tata with compressed air technology

Yesterday, Tata Motors announced that their air car programme has entered the second phase of testing. In January 2007, Tata Motors signed a licence agreement with MDI to produce and sell compressed air cars using MDI technology in India. The first phase of the programme, where the technology needed to prove that it was practical has already been covered. Now Tata Motors enters the next phase which is to complete the technology development and develop a product that’s ready for the market in the next few years.

Yesterday, Tata Motors announced that their air car programme has entered the second phase of testing.

MDI’s air car that was first showcased in 1998, was invented by Guy Negre who developed the engine in 1991. In 2007, he signed an agreement with Tata to develop a product called the Tata OneCAT. This was a five seater vehicle built entirely of fibre-glass and aluminium which made it very light. This was supposed to be ready by 2008, but hasn’t seen the light of day yet. However, this sudden release of information from Tata about the progress of the air car shows that the project isn’t dead and is in fact on its way to full-fledged product development.

Photo: MDI has developed a working prototype of a compressed air 3-seater city car

MDI plans to develop 5 air cars

MDI and Tata have at least five different air-powered vehicles in the pipeline. Some of them run on only compressed air. This requires the vehicle to have a large carbon-fibre air tank that can store compressed air and gives it an operational range of 200 km. The engine is a light-weight aluminium two-cylinder or four-cylinder engine that uses air to drive the pistons instead of petrol.

Photo: The OneFlow Air is a basic two-seater convertible compressed air car from MDI

Other hybrid applications of the compressed air technology also include using compressed air and petrol in the same engine, thereby extending the range of the vehicle to up to 1,400 km on a tank of air and a tank of petrol. The emissions with such an engine are much lower than a conventional petrol engine. And this car can be driven on “pure air mode” in the city.

The cars that is developing include the OneFlowAir – a small convertible, MiniFlowAir – which is almost like the Tata Nano, the AirPod – which is like the Magic Iris and the CityFlowAir and Mutli-FlowAir which are slightly larger passenger and goods carrying applications.

Tata is the official partner in developing the air car with MDI. Tata has tested the technology in two of its existing products, which are most likely the Nano and Magic Iris. However, a commercial launch in India is not likely before 2015, as air-filling infrastructure, homologation and safety checks need to be completed before the car can run on Indian roads.

According to MDI, the basic cost of the a car like the OneFlowAir will be about 3,500 euros, which is about Rs. 2.42 lakh – that’s just a tad more than the regular Tata Nano costs right now.

What are your thoughts on a car that runs on compressed air? Will you buy one? Let us know.

Force One 4×4 – May 2012

Photo: The Force One 4x4 will be a traditional but affordable four wheel drive SUV

Looks: The Force One 4×4 will likely have 4×4 badges at the rear while the rest of the exteriors will be same as the regular model. The Force One looks large and imposing, although the design is a little dated.

Performance: The Force One 4×4 can be expected to offer better acceleration and performance than the 4×2 version. The Force One 4×4 will be powered by the same by 2.2 litre common rail diesel engine that puts out 139 Bhp of power and 321 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to 5-speed manual transmission.

Mileage: The mileage for the Force One 4×4 could be around 11 kmpl. The mileage is assumed to be slightly less than the 4×2 version (12 kmpl). See our Auto Expo photo gallery of the Force One here.

Safety features: The Force One 4×4 will have ABS along with other safety features such as remote key entry, driver Seatbelt warning, door open warning and display, rear windscreen wiper with washer, front demister, central locking and over speed warning.

Variants and prices: The Force One 4×4 will be offered in only one variant and is expected to be priced at Rs. 12.5 lakh.

2012 Chevrolet Captiva – May 2012

Photo: The new Captiva was shown at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and will likely be launched this month

Looks: Chevrolet unveiled the 2012 Captiva at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The Captiva has Chevrolet’s signature bowtie grille. The overall design gives it a more aggressive stance. It has a dual cockpit and the design is similar to what was featured in the Beat and Cruze.

Performance: With regard to engine options, there are chances that the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva will get a spruced up, better performing 2.2 litre CRDI diesel motor that produces 184 Bhp of maximum power which is up from the 2.0-litre 148 Bhp motor that powers the current model. The performance of the 2012 Captiva will be significantly better than the outgoing model.

Mileage: Expect the 2012 Captiva to have a fuel economy of around 13 kmpl.

Variants and prices: The 2012 Captiva will likely be priced roughly Rs. 1 lakh above the present model which has a price range of 17.9 – 19.7 lakh.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze – June 2012

Photo: The new Cruze will take design cues from this Cruze Station wagon sold abroad!

Looks: The new Cruze will have a redesigned grille and refreshed fog lamps. The headlamps of the outgoing model make the Cruze look aggressive and hence, the designers have not altered the overall shape of the headlamp on the facelift version. A new alloy wheel pattern will also be seen on the upcoming Cruze facelift. Inside, expect improved headroom for rear passengers.

Performance: The upcoming Cruze will be powered by GM’s Z series, 2.0 litre, DOHC, common-rail diesel motor that produces 163 Bhp (presently it is 148 Bhp) of power. The new Cruze will have an edge of a wholesome 23 Bhp over the Jetta that belts out 140 Bhp of power and is one of its key competitors. Read more about the new Cruze here.

Mileage: The new Cruze may have a slightly lower mileage than the present model which has an ARAI-certified mileage of 17.30 kmpl for the manual variant and 14.39 kmpl for the automatic variant.

Variant and price details: Expect the 2012 Cruze to be offered in three variants namely the 2.0 LT, 2.0 LTZ MT and the 20. LTZ AT. The price of the new Cruze may be slightly more than the present model which is priced in the range of Rs. 12 – 14.44 lakh.

Toyota Camry – June 2012

Photo: The new Toyota Camry with its clean lines and improved performance may become a popular car

Looks: Toyota unveiled the new Camry at the Delhi Auto Expo in January 2012. The facelift Toyota Camry has design cues of the Toyota’s premium brand, the Lexus. The front grille has six horizontal chrome slats giving the car a bolder road presence. The sharp angles and sporty rear profile give the new Camry, a youthful appeal.

Performance: The new Camry is expected to be powered by a new 2.5-litre petrol (replacing the 2.4-litre petrol) engine. This motor will put out 167 Bhp of power and will perform slightly better than its predecessor. See more photos of the Toyota Camry here.

Mileage: Expect the upcoming Camry to have a mileage in the range of 8 – 13 kmpl.

Variants and prices: There are expectations that Toyota may assemble the car locally via the CKD (Completely knocked down) route. Hence, the price of the Camry could go down by a couple of lakhs and may start at as low as Rs. 20 lakh.

Premier Rio 1.3 – June 2012

Photo: The Rio is a compact SUV which will make sense for small families but lacks in terms of space

Looks: Premier unveiled a face-lifted version of its compact SUV Rio at the Auto Expo 2012. The company began the trial productions of the Rio 1.3 diesel in March 2012 and we expect the launch to happen in June 2012. The upgraded Rio gets an integrated grille and a somewhat curvy headlamp on the front while the rear gets a spoiler—all combine to give the Rio, a sporty feel. On the inside, the Rio gets beige upholstery that makes the cabin look spacious. See our Auto Expo walk around video of the Rio here.

Performance: The Rio will get a new Fiat Multijet diesel engine that powers the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Fiat Punto. The new 1.3 liter engine makes about 74 Bhp of power and 190 Nm of torque. The engine, which is BS-IV compliant, will help Rio target bigger metro markets. Expect the car to return a mileage of 14-15 kmpl.

Mileage: The fuel economy of the Rio diesel powered by Multijet engine is expected to be in the range of 14 – 16 kmpl.

Variants and prices: The Rio multijet diesel will likely be offered in two trim levels as the Rio petrol and could be priced at around Rs. 6 lakh.

Mahindra Verito facelift – June 2012

Photo: The Verito face lift is only a minor cosmetic upgrade and may not do much for the cars sales and image

Looks: The Verito facelift will have a redesigned front and rear bumper, a new radiator grille and roof rails. Minor changes include ORVMs with new mount, blacked-out B-pillars and a redesigned boot door. There is no information about whether the Verito facelift version will have revamped interiors.

Performance: The Verito facelift will likely retain the same engines as the outgoing model. At present, the Verito diesel is powered by a 65 Bhp, 1.5-litre dCI motor while the Verito petrol is powered by a 75 Bhp, 1.4-litre motor.

Mileage: Expect the Verito facelift to have the same mileage of the present model which is 21.04 kmpl for the diesel version and 13.87 kmpl for the petrol version.

Variants and prices: The upcoming Verito facelift will likely be offered in the same trim levels as the current model which includes G2 G4 petrol variants and D2, D4, D6 diesel variants.

The Swift Sport develops 136 bhp of power and 160 Nm of torque from its 1.6 litre petrol engine, and comes with a 5-speed manual transmission in those markets.

Photo: The aggressive Swift Sport might actually come to India!

Maruti has so far not divulged any details if this car will be coming into the Indian market, but has said they will consider limited editions as and when the time comes.

Maruti has many options to boost power for the Swift. Both the 1.4 litre Ertiga 94 bhp petrol engine and the 1.6 SX4 petrol engine are bolt-on fits in the Swift’s engine bay. If Maruti plans on using the SX4′s 1.6 petrol engine, it would be sufficient to take on the other “hot hatches” in the Indian market such as the Polo and the Fabia 1.6. Also see: Performance hatchbacks in India!

Of course, if they get adventurous, they can actually import this engine and plonk it into the Swift, which will make it a hot hatch in the true sense of the word. However, the expenses related to homologation of such a car may not be worth the limited volumes it may generate.

Source: BSMotoring

The new Scorpio will have major changes in the mechanical department such as redesigned chassis with longer wheelbase than the current chassis. The modified chassis will allow Mahindra to improve the second row passenger legroom in order to accommodate tall passengers.

Photo: The Scorpio’s new avatar will likley equip it to face its modern day competitors better

With regard to engine, the new Scorpio could be powered by a 140 Bhp M-Hawk engine that powers the XUV500. At present, the Scorpio is powered by the M-Hawk engine that puts out 120 Bhp of power. The additional power will likely help the Scorpio perform better than the current model. Also read: Mahindra Scorpio sells over 50,000 units in a year!

There are speculations that the upcoming Scorpio may weigh lesser than the present Scorpio so as to help achieve better fuel efficiency. Currently, the Scorpio returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 12 Kmpl.

The Scorpio has been a turning point for Mahindra as it marked the company’s entry into modern SUV market. Though the Scorpio sells in strong numbers and also achieved a milestone of crossing 1 million sales during 2011-12 fiscal year the model has to be updated in order to sustain in the market. Hence reviving the Scorpio is the right move by Mahindra.