Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Monday, August 4, 2014

HONDA MOBILIO FIRST MPV FROM HONDA IN INDIA



  Honda’s first MPV for India. It’s based on an extended Brio platform and the familial connection is visible – the same Pokemon-like face and multiple slashes on the doors. It has got a quirky lightning-bolt shaped shoulder-line that allows room enough for a large glasshouse The money shot however is the Civic Tourer Concept-inspired floating C-pillar and the BMW X-Series inspired T-shaped taillights that primarily contribute towards making the Mobilio look stylish and upmarket. It isn’t the prettiest car around though, but breaks away from the breadbox-shape stereotype of the other MPVs.
 Exterior

Unlike its competition in the premium MPV segment, the Mobilio is designed to appeal to a younger audience who look for distinctive looks along with the practicality of an MPV. The Mobilio, as a result, looks more appealing and lively than all its rivals. The front-end, although based on the Brio hatchback, looks stylish enough and it’s the side profile and rear-end where the Mobilio is really distinctive.
The styling is particularly quirky once past the B-pillar: the combination of a large glasshouse, long overhang and the sporty looking taillights and the bumper set the Mobilio apart from the competition. Additionally, the Mobilio is also available in a sporty RS variant which has sportier exterior design details than the standard model. The Mobilio RS gets projector headlamps with LED lamps, unique alloy wheel design, sporty chrome grille, tailgate spoiler, side sill garnish, retractable wing mirrors with turn indicators and chrome exterior door handles.
Interior

Developed using Honda’s design philosophy of “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum”, the Mobilio promises optimum utilisation of space and practicality with its cleverly designed interiors. While the design and the layout of the interior is very similar to that of the Brio and the Amaze, the Mobilio’s cabin seats seven occupants.
While the second row seat offers a 60:40 split function with slide and recline option, the third row seat is a 50:50 spilt folding type which can be reclined for extra comfort. Once folded flat, it can be tumbled forward to maximise the cargo space. Honda says the raised roof lining provides impressive headroom for second-row and third-row passengers while creating enough space to include a rear air-conditioner panel.
The basic boot space for the Mobilio is rated at 223 litres which can be enhanced to 521 litres with the third row folded flat. Honda is offering electric mirrors, steering mounted audio controls, touch screen infotainment system with navigation, airbags and ABS as standard.
Engine and Gearbox
The Mobilio is offered with both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol unit is the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine which delivers 119bhp of power and 145Nm of torque. Also used in the new City, this engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and promises best in class fuel economy of 17.3kmpl. The 1.5L-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, on the other hand, is based on Honda’s latest Earth Dreams Technology. It delivers 100bhp of power and 200Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Honda claims a fuel economy of 24.2 kmpl, making it the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class. The same diesel unit also powers the Amaze and the City.
Competition
The Mobilio is available in three variants – E, S and V. The sportier Mobilio RS, on the other hand, is available only with a diesel engine. Honda is offering seven different colour options and a two year or 40,000km warranty as standard.
The Mobilio competes in the mid-size MPV segment with cars like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Nissan Evalia and the Chevrolet Enjoy.

                                           Specifications Summary


Engines

1498 cc powerDiesel, 99 bhp, 3600 RPM @ 
1497 cc, Petrol, 118 bhp @ 6600 RPM power 
1498 cc, Diesel, 99 bhp @ 3600 RPM power 

Gearboxes

5-speed, Manual, FWD 

Seating Capacity

7 seater 

Steering

Power steering 

Sunday, July 13, 2014

TATA BOLT NEW HATCH BACK

 BOLT FROM TATA MOTORS
 


The Tata Bolt is the new hatchback from TATA MOTORS. Based on their X1 platform which underpins the Indica Vista hatchback, the Bolt features an all too familiar silhouette but is a whole new animal in terms of features and overall design philosophy. It will also be offered with the Indian automaker’s new 1.2-litre 140bhp Revtron mill as well as the all too familiar 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel engine.This next-generation global car from Tata Motors showcases the new DNA of the company and boasts of newness in terms of design (DesigNext), drivablilty (DriveNext) and connectivity (ConnectNext).
The company says that the name Bolt itself signifies speed and represents, according to the company, a winner’s attitude. It comes with several segment first features and employs a new design language for the interiors as well as the exteriors.At the front it gets an aggressive fascia, new grille and sleek shaped headlights that stretch from the middle of the bonnet to the grille. On the sides the window lines swoop down in curve towards the rear hatch which now seems to be devoid of the Christmas tree lamps. However, what rear does get are rounded edges and certain styling cues from slightly more premium cars.It features a white and black combination interior setup with seemingly premium plastics as well as gauges mounted behind the steering and a touch screen created by Harmann for the Tata Bolt and Zest CS. However, on the lower spec variants we expect that Tata will offer beige interiors.
Representing an attitude of winning, Bolt has raw power that is waiting to be unleashed. Behold, as technology amalgamates performance and evolutionary features, making sure you always stay connected.  

  • Revotron 1.2 L Turbocharged MPFi engine with first-in-class multi-drive mode
  • Harman touchscreen multimedia system
  • Voice recognition and SMS readouts
  • New Signature front grille
  • Projector headlamps
  • Speed dependent volume control
  • Rugby shoulder seats
    Tata will offer this hatchback with the 1.2-litre Revtron engine which is petrol powered and produces 84bhp/140Nm. The diesel engine on the other hand is the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel. Transmission options include the five-speed manual as well as an AMT which is a first for Tata especially in this segment.
    We expect that Tata will price the Bolt in the range of 4.6 lakh Rupees to 6.6 lakh Rupees and it will have four petrol and three diesel variants. It will compete with the Grand i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Sail and VW Polo.



    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
    ITEMS PETROL DIESEL

    DIMENSIONS
    Overall Length (mm) 3995 3995
    Overall Width (mm) 1695 1695
    Overall Height (mm) 1570 1570
    Wheelbase (mm) 2470 2470
    Front Track (mm) 1450 1450
    Rear Track (mm) 1440 1440
    Fuel Tank (ltr) 44 44
    Kerb Weight (Kg) 1106 1106

    ENGINE
    Engine Type Revotron 1.2T 1.3L Quadrajet
    Displacement (CC) 1200 1300
    Maximum Power (ps/rpm) 84 @ 5000 89 @ 4000
    Maximum Torque (nm/rpm) 140 @ 1750 200 @ 1750

    TRANSMISSION
    Type 5 - Speed MT 5 - Speed MT

    SUSPENSION
    Front Dual Path Independent McPherson strut with Antiroll Bar Dual Path Independent McPherson strut with Antiroll Bar
    Rear Semi Independent Twist beam with coil spring Semi Independent Twist beam with coil spring

    BRAKES
    Front Disc Disc
    Rear Drum Drum

    TYRE
    Tyre Size R16 R16

TATA ZEST A NEW SEDAN HIT INDIAN ROADS

                                                    
      

                                                        TATA  ZEST


   The Tata Zest compact sedan is the second car in TATA MOTORS  new generation of vehicles. First shown just ahead of the Auto Expo, the Zest is a CS version of the Bolt hatchback.
It features a very similar design to that of the hatchback but includes a noticeable but quite decent looking boot. It makes use of the same engine, underpinnings, interior design as well as feature list from the hatchback.



   The Tata Zest follows the same principle in terms with the Bolt hatchback in terms of design and overall appearance. The side profile remains the same up to the C-Pillar but thanks to the boot has a different appearance. At the back the lights have a similar design to that of the hatchback with a stubby boot lid.
Inside the interiors are exactly the same as the hatchback including the overall layout, features and upholstery. The list includes Harman touchscreen music system, gauges behind the steering wheel and white upholstery for the top spec variants and beige for the others in the range.

   Killer instinct meets elegance in the Zest. An avant-garde design philosophy makes it beautiful to look at, while also providing an incredible, connected driving experience - A true sports sedan!features

  • First-in-class F-tronic diesel AMT
  • Revotron 1.2 L Turbocharged MPFi engine with multi-drive mode
  • Daytime running lights (DRL)
  • LED tail lamps
  • New Signature front grille
  • Harman touchscreen multimedia system
  • Voice recognition and SMS readouts 
  •  
    In terms of engines, Tata will offer this compact sedan with the 1.2-litre Revtron engine which is petrol powered and produces 84bhp/140Nm. The diesel engine on the other hand is the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel. Transmission options include the five-speed manual as well as an AMT which is a first for Tata especially in this segment.
    We expect that Tata will price the Zest in the range of 5.5 lakh Rupees to 7.6 lakh Rupees and it will have four petrol and three diesel variants. It will compete with the Grand i10 based Xcent sedan, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Chevrolet Sail sedan, Honda Amaze and VW Vento.

                                                                Revotron family

    The new Revotron family of engines that will power all their future vehicles. The smallest 1.2-litre turbocharger four-cylinder engine was on display at the event, it is expected to power the new sub-four metre cars including the Falcon that will debut at the 2014 Auto Expo.The power specs of the 1.2-litre unit with a low inertia turbo and MPFI are decent at 85bhp for 5,000rpm and 140Nm between 1,750rpm and 3,500rpm. The numbers look a bit low considering the turbo, but it is probably to improve efficiency. The cast-iron pod is liquid cooled, has two valves per cylinder and is BSIV compliant.The Revoton engines have the option of selecting the ‘drive mode’; it means you can toggle between performance and efficiency as per needs. Tata is also working on a new transmission that will be mated to these engines. A CNG complaint variant of the engine will also be made available with the cars based on the Falcon 4 and the Falcon 5.

                                                    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
    ITEMS PETROL DIESEL

    DIMENSIONS
    Overall Length (mm) 3995 3995
    Overall Width (mm) 1695 1695
    Overall Height (mm) 1570 1570
    Wheelbase (mm) 2470 2470
    Front Track (mm) 1450 1450
    Rear Track (mm) 1440 1440
    Fuel Tank (ltr) 44 44
    Kerb Weight (Kg) 1106 1106

    ENGINE
    Engine Type Revotron 1.2T 1.3L Quadrajet
    Displacement (CC) 1200 1300
    Maximum Power (ps/rpm) 84 @ 5000 89 @ 4000
    Maximum Torque (nm/rpm) 140 @ 1750 200 @ 1750

    TRANSMISSION
    Type 5 - Speed MT 5 - Speed MT

    SUSPENSION
    Front Dual Path Independent McPherson strut with Antiroll Bar Dual Path Independent McPherson strut with Antiroll Bar
    Rear Semi Independent Twist beam with coil spring Semi Independent Twist beam with coil spring

    BRAKES
    Front Disc Disc
    Rear Drum Drum

    TYRE
    Tyre Size R16 R16     

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

TATA NANO TWIST with Power Steering




Uniquely cute & cool styling. A car that will make you smile
• New Electric Power Steering makes driving and parking a breeze
• Innovative packaging results in spacious interiors for 4 adults. Generous legroom & headroom
• Peppy performance at speeds <80 kph. Engine offers good urban driveability too
• Powerful air-conditioner will chill you to the bone
• Small footprint & tiny turning radius make the Nano a great urban runabout

Tata Nano is the world’s cheapest car but for Tata it has not been faring very well. To boost the sales of the little hatchback Tata has launched the facelifted version of the same. It is not a major revamp but brings a few interesting changes that surely boosts its appeal and makes it a good value for money car than before.

The new Nano looks similar to the outgoing iteration but brings a few new additions to the exteriors. It brings chrome strips on the front and rear of the car on the top end variant. In India people love cars with bits of chrome as it adds to the appeal and this works well on the new Nano. It also brings new fog lamps which not only look good on the car but also enhances the looks of its exteriors. The rear gets air intakes below the rear chrome strips for better engine cooling which improves the reliability and durability of the engine.
Nano in its latest avatar looks similar to the outgoing version from the side. It remains compact and the overall dimensions remain the same. Nano was always known for its cabin area and the new car takes its legacy forward. Tata motors have cleverly engineered the cabin space inside the Nano. It will easily seat four people inside and comfortably so thanks to the amount of leg room and head room available. Tata has done well to improve the quality of the interiors in the new version and it does feel noticeably better. The CX and LX variants bring ample storage areas in the form of twin glove boxes on the dashboard.

The AC remains a chiller and easily cools the car during hot summer climate. The interiors bring a small 12V power socket and cubby holes. The interiors are also quite airy and the visibility is just fantastic. The steering is easy to hold and turn although there is no option to adjust the steering. The top variant also gets front power windows. 
Tata Nano has very good performance from its 624cc petrol engine and it produces 38PS of power and 51 NM of torque. It has a light clutch and driving through the traffic is easy owing to the ample low end torque from the engine. It weighs only 650 kgs resulting in excellent power to weight ratio which gives it excellent acceleration. It picks up speed easily and will manage to stick to highway speeds if necessary. It brings a 4 speed manual gearbox and an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 25.4 kmpl.

Nano is easy to drive and has a very small turning radius of just 4 meters. It manages to go over potholes and speed breakers easily owing to its high ground clearance. The steering does take some effort to turn at low speeds but as the speeds go up it is easy to use. The rear view mirrors do their job very nicely as they provide ample view of the road behind the car.
The new Nano brings ample features in the latest version and despite the minor upgrades it is still good value for money. It is cheap to run and offers excellent fuel efficiency which makes it easy to own keeping the maintenance costs very low. Tata has revised the price on the new Nano but the increase in price is just marginal compared to the older version.

Other Tata Nano Versions

Tata Nano STD 
624cc Petrol , 25 kmpl
Rs. 1,41,200 | Check on road price
Tata Nano CX 
624cc Petrol , 25 kmpl
Rs. 1,94,409 | Check on road price
Tata Nano LX 
624cc Petrol , 25 kmpl
Rs. 2,18,909 | Check on road price
Tata Nano CNG emax CX 
624cc CNG , 0 km/kg
Rs. 2,33,275 | Check on road price
Tata Nano CNG emax LX 
624cc CNG , 0 km/kg
Rs. 2,58,106 | Check on road price

Fiat New Face Lift LINEA 2014

  The Fiat Linea has always been a fun to drive car and the current model gets upmarket interiors and a healthy equipment list that makes it quite a good value for money offering. The interiors get a dual tone theme with a Fiat 500 like contrast mid section that houses circular chrome ringed air vents, the piano black housing for the middle air vents also look nice while the shiny black stereo compliments the air vent housing above. The Emotion variant also gets leather upholstery to give the car a premium appeal.
The Fiat Linea comes loaded with a stereo, power windows all around, tilt adjustable power steering, electrically adjustable ORVMs, automatic headlamps with programmable follow-me-home function, rain sensing wipers, central locking, mileage computer, rear defogger, disc brakes all around and anti-lock brakes as standard. Top end models also get, rear a/c vents, a rear arm rest with cupholders, front airbags, a rear sun blind, cruise control, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, climate control, Bluetooth compatible stereo with steering mounted controls and a height adjustable driver’s seat.
Under the hood, the new Fiat Linea will continue to be powered by a turbocharged 1.4 litre petrol engine developing 116PS of power @ 6,000 rpm and 207Nm of torque @ 4,500 rpm, a naturally aspirated version of the 1.4 litre petrol engine developing 90PS of power @ 6,000 rpm and 115Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm while the 1.3 litre turbo diesel engine develops 93PS of power @ 4,000 rpm and 209Nm of torque @ 2,000 rpm.
Overall Length4596mm
Overall Width1730mm
Overall Height1487mm
Wheel Base2603mm
Ground Clearance185mm
Boot Space500Liters
Kerb Weight1220Kg

Ashok Leyland New Partner Join With Nissan


India’s second largest truck maker, Ashok Leyland today launched two new products, the Partner truck and Mitr bus, expanding its LCV range and plugging the gap in the 3.5-7 tonne LCV segment that sits above the Dost LCV. The Partner is priced at Rs 8.89 lakh and the Mitr is costs Rs 12.49 lakh, all prices ex-showroom Chennai. These new products will be showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo next month. ALL has a fresh line-up for this year’s Expo. It includes the Boss and Captain truck range that was recently unveiled and also a luxury variant of the Stile.

Commenting on the new products ALL will be displaying at the Auto Expo, Dr V Sumantran, Vice Chairman ALL said, “I think with this Expo we will complete our trilogy. We had the Dost, the Stile and now we will show the Partner and its twin product, the Mitr Bus. Three platforms that will fill up our LCV range.”  

After the Dost and the Stile, the Partner and Mitr are the latest additions to the Ashok Leyland range from the ALL-Nissan joint venture in India. With these new products, ALL is also bringing the ZD30 diesel engine used in LCVs by Nissan. The engine produces 120PS of power and 320Nm of torque. ALL says that over 97 percent of the vehicle is built by sourcing components locally and that includes the engine parts. 

The Partner is based on Nissan Atlas LCV. The Atlas platform is manufactured by three manufacturers – Nissan, UD Nissan Diesel (owned by Volvo) and the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The Partner LCV at launch comes in a 6-tyre version with a choice of two wheelbases – 2850mm and 3350mm. A 4-tyre 2760mm wheelbase variant will follow soon. The larger Partner has a rated payload of 4 tonne and a GVW of 6.6 tonne. Power steering is standard and air-conditioning is optional.

The Mitr bus has been launched in 27 seater configuration in the six-tyre version. A 16 seater four-tyre Mitr will follow soon which will also get air conditioning. The Mitr will be available as a school bus and staff bus. Both products will go on sale as BS3 and BS4 versions.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Tata Motors launched ten low-priced truck models under its 'Prima' brand

 


Tata Motors  launched ten low-priced truck models under its 'Prima' brand — Prima LX. The new series is about 20 per cent cheaper than the Prima range of trucks.
"This range (Prima LX) will take us to high volume multi-axle truck segment which constitute nearly 65% of the total trucks sold in the country," Tata Motors Executive Director-Commercial Vehicles Ravi Pisharody said here.
The new range, includes six heavy trucks for haulage segment and four for the construction purposes, and is priced between Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 32.5 lakh.
The company sells Prima range of trucks between Rs 23 lakh and Rs 65 lakh.

"The range has been priced just about 5% more than than our conventional trucks. With its advanced features, it is a great value for money to customers," Pisharody said.
The conventional trucks of the company are priced between Rs 22-35 lakh.
The company expects the LX range to contribute 10-15% of the company's truck business in the next three years,


Tata  Motors has introduced a 25 tonne and a 31 tonne multi-axle truck in the Prima LX range that increases the customer base of the range. Tata Motors says that multi-axle trucks contribute to 65-70 percent of total M&HCV sales so with these new products, there will be a lot more Primas plying on Indian roads soon. Both trucks will be powered by the 5.9-litre Cummins CRDI engine producing 233PS.

The four new tippers that go on sale in the Prima range will be available in two engine options and have 25 and 31 tonne GVWs. The same 233PS block powering the multi-axle trucks will be available in the tippers but considering some of the applications these tippers could be used for like mining, it also gets a 284PS engine option that’s also sourced from Cummins.

Finally, four new tractor trailers round up the LX range. Like the tippers, the tractors will sport the same engines but will have a higher haulage capacity of 40 and 49 tonnes.

The Prima range of commercial vehicles was introduced in 2009 by Tata Motors. It was a premium product compared to the rest of the range and gave operators the option of contemporary trucking and comfortable driving conditions, but the new range came at a higher cost. Thus the reach was limited but with these new midrange LX series products, the Prima platform will have a higher reach.

During the launch, TATA motors also announced its warranty extension to trucks with lower GVWs in the Tata  stable. Until now, Tata motors was offering a 4 year/4 lakh km warranty on 25 tonne and higher trucks but from the beginning of March, this warranty has been extended to their medium duty range that includes 16 tonne GVW and higher.

Tata Motors launches low-priced trucks under Prima range

launched ten low-priced truck models under the 'Prima' brand, as the company looks to tap the high volume multiaxle segment in the country. The new range, Prima LX, is around 20 percent cheaper than the Prima range of trucks, which were launched by Tata Motors in 2009.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/tata-motors-launches-low-priced-trucks-under-prima-range_1051273.html?utm_source=ref_article
launched ten low-priced truck models under the 'Prima' brand, as the company looks to tap the high volume multiaxle segment in the country. The new range, Prima LX, is around 20 percent cheaper than the Prima range of trucks, which were launched by Tata Motors in 2009.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/tata-motors-launches-low-priced-trucks-under-prima-range_1051273.html?utm_source=ref_article

Tata Motors launches low-priced trucks under Prima range

"This range (Prima LX) will take us to high volume multiaxle truck segment which constitute nearly 65 percent of the total trucks sold in the country," Tata Motors executive director-Commercial Vehicles Ravi Pisharody told reporters here. The new range, which includes six heavy trucks for haulage segment and four for the construction purposes, is around 20 per cheaper than the existing Prima range, he added. In 2011-12, the market for multiaxle trucks in India stood at around 2 lakh units, Pisharody said. The Prima LX range is priced between Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 32.5 lakh. The company sells Prima range of trucks between Rs 23 lakh and Rs 65 lakh. "The range has been priced just about 5 percent more than than our conventional trucks. With its advanced features, it is a great value for money to customers," Pisharody said. The conventional trucks of the company are priced between Rs 22-35 lakh, depending on the application. The company has introduced the range at a time when the commercial vehicle sector is going through a prolonged slump. Total sales of commercial vehicles were down by 25.53 percent to 46,757 units in 2013 from 62,786 units in 2012. "The Prima LX trucks are geared to help customers meet a challenging market environment, allowing transporters to upgrade to a more modern trucking system," Pisharody said. Tata Motors expects new models to increase its market share, which is around 65 percent in the medium and heavy truck segment. "We have been maintaining a steady market share of around 64-67 percent in the medium and heavy duty trucks. With the addition of this range we believe our share will improve further," Pisharody said. In the next three years, the LX range will contribute 10-15 percent of the company's truck business, he added. With the addition of ten models, the Prima range now consists of 40 models. Tata Motors rolls out the range from its Jamshedpur plant.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/tata-motors-launches-low-priced-trucks-under-prima-range_1051273.html?utm_source=ref_article
"This range (Prima LX) will take us to high volume multiaxle truck segment which constitute nearly 65 percent of the total trucks sold in the country," Tata Motors executive director-Commercial Vehicles Ravi Pisharody told reporters here. The new range, which includes six heavy trucks for haulage segment and four for the construction purposes, is around 20 per cheaper than the existing Prima range, he added. In 2011-12, the market for multiaxle trucks in India stood at around 2 lakh units, Pisharody said. The Prima LX range is priced between Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 32.5 lakh. The company sells Prima range of trucks between Rs 23 lakh and Rs 65 lakh. "The range has been priced just about 5 percent more than than our conventional trucks. With its advanced features, it is a great value for money to customers," Pisharody said. The conventional trucks of the company are priced between Rs 22-35 lakh, depending on the application. The company has introduced the range at a time when the commercial vehicle sector is going through a prolonged slump. Total sales of commercial vehicles were down by 25.53 percent to 46,757 units in 2013 from 62,786 units in 2012. "The Prima LX trucks are geared to help customers meet a challenging market environment, allowing transporters to upgrade to a more modern trucking system," Pisharody said. Tata Motors expects new models to increase its market share, which is around 65 percent in the medium and heavy truck segment. "We have been maintaining a steady market share of around 64-67 percent in the medium and heavy duty trucks. With the addition of this range we believe our share will improve further," Pisharody said. In the next three years, the LX range will contribute 10-15 percent of the company's truck business, he added. With the addition of ten models, the Prima range now consists of 40 models. Tata Motors rolls out the range from its Jamshedpur plant.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/tata-motors-launches-low-priced-trucks-under-prima-range_1051273.html?utm_source=ref_article
Auto major Tata Motors Thursday launched ten low-priced truck models under the 'Prima' brand, as the company looks to tap the high volume multiaxle segment in the country. The new range, Prima LX, is around 20 percent cheaper than the Prima range of trucks, which were launched by Tata Motors in 2009.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/tata-motors-launches-low-priced-trucks-under-prima-range_1051273.html?utm_source=ref_article

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

HYUNDAI NEW COMPACT SEDAN XCENT HIT INDIAN ROADS

   


   The world of C-segment compact sedans was taken by storm this year when Honda launched the Amaze. It finally looked like there would be a worthy competitor for the mighty Swift Dzire. However, it has been more than six months since the CS was launched but has not been able to make any inroads into the Dzire’s sales number. Now, it looks like Hyundai wants to try its hand at this competition and will bring a new Grand i10 based compact sedan to the Indian market next year. Reports have already emerged that the prototypes arte ready for testing and are likely to soon be seen on the roads in obviously camouflaged guise.
  
    The car is expected to follow the standard compact sedan formula as has been the case with its rivals and will be a Grandi10 with a boot slapped on after the C-Pillar. While the Dzire cannot hide the fact that it Swift with a boot on, the Amaze has been able to do a better job thanks to the fact that Honda has designed the car from the ground up to be a compact sedan.
    The Hyundai Grand i10 based sedan is expected to share much of its external appearance with the hatchback which means that there will be a similar fascia but with minor alterations like a larger grille or different design for the bumpers to separate both vehicles. On the side profile, we expect that Hyundai will continue to retain the same overall shape but will have the roofline flow into the boot section rather sharply rake into the back. While such a move will make the car look graceful and complete it is likely that it will reduce the available amount of headroom for the passengers in the back seats. The Grand i10 stands at 3.76 meters, so it looks like the Korean automaker has another 24 centimeters to add boot space at the back without losing out on the requirements to fit into the sub four metre vehicle category. In standard practice, they are expected to push the back seats into the current boot area of the hatchback and then add on the boot. We expect full foldable rear seats in a bid to boost the storage capacity for the upcoming sedan.
The back is expected to be a little high up and will have a slightly high loading lip in a bid to give the car a slightly higher stance. The rear end is expected to have the same design for the tail lamps and indicators. The number plate holder will move the bumper to the lid of the boot.The Hyundai Grand i10 based sedan is expected to have exactly the same interiors as the hatchback and will also have the same feature list. This means beige and black interior trim and what seem to be high quality plastics for the stalks, switches and buttons. Features such as the rear AC vents, internal hard drive, rear parking sensors and height adjustment for the driver’s seat are all likely to be offered for the Grand i10 based sedan. The top spec petrol and diesel variants are likely to get heated rear glass, arm rest for the rear passengers.
The Grand i10 based sedan will get the 1.4-litre diesel unit from the i20 premium hatchback that produces 89bhp and 219Nm of torque while the petrol unit is expected to be the 1.2-litre Kappa ngine that produces 81bhp and 114Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed AT (petrol only). It is expected to be available in all five variants that the Grand i10 is currently available in. There is also a possibility that if the Grand i10 hatchback gets a diesel AT variant, the sedan too will be offered with this option.

Price, competition and when can we expect to see it on the road
We expect that Hyundai will price the Grand i10 based sedan in the range of Rs 5.1 lakh to Rs 7.7 lakh. In this price range, it competes with the Honda Amaze, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Chevrolet Sail, Fiat Linea Classic, Ford Classic and the Toyota Etios. It is expected to bridge the gap between the Verna and the i20. The Grand i10 based sedan is likely to be unveiled at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo and will be launched for the Indian market a few months later.


   Hyundai is all set to launch the Xcent compact sedan in India on the 12th of March 2014. The Xcent is based on the Grand i10 hatchback platform and has an identical front profile as that of the hatchback’s with the same headlights, grille and front bumper. The side profile is similar to that of the Grand i10 as well, right up to the C-pillar which then gives way to a boot. Around the back, the Hyundai Xcent compact sedan has a very sharply contoured rear end that gets large tail lamps that look ungainly at best. The rear bumper has straight lines and curves that lend a visual break along with a faux air diffuser and reflectors.
Inside,
     The Hyundai Xcent compact sedan will be well equipped like its hatchback sibling by sporting features such as climate control, rear parking sensors, rear view camera, cooled glovebox, keyless start/stop, rear air vents, rear centre armrest, electric folding mirrors, lots of cubby holes and storage spaces, dual tone interiors and a double-din stereo with Bluetooth connectivity, 1GB of internal storage space and steering mounted controls.
These features will no doubt make the Hyundai Xcent the most well equipped compact sedan in the country and knowing Hyundai, the car will come with a range of variants to choose from that will be placed at various price points.
Engine options for the Hyundai Xcent will include the 1.2 litre Kappa2 four cylinder petrol engine from the i20 and Grand i10 developing 84PS of power @ 6,000 rpm and 114Nm of torque 4,000 rpm. The diesel engine is the 1.1 litre three cylinder engine from the Grand 10 developing 71PS of power @ 4,000 rpm and 160Nm of torque between 1,500 rpm and 2,750 rpm.
   The Hyundai Xcent will take on the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire and Honda Amaze. The Amaze being a compact sedan and having the option of a diesel engine is the highest selling Honda in the country while the Swift DZire is currently the third highest selling car in India. As you can now understand, the Xcent has tremendous potential in the market and can do wonders for Hyundai. Its all down to pricing then for Hyundai, we expect Hyundai to price the new Xcent in the range of Rs. 5.10 lakh to Rs. 7.7 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)