Maruti Suzuki Compact SUV Teaser Up

Maruti Suzuki has already confirmed its Auto Expo 2012 plans. The automaker will showcase small cars along with the production version of the Ertiga. Maruti Suzuki will also showcase a compact SUV concept, which will replace the Jimy and Gypsy in the near future. Looking at how Maruti Suzuki has launched cars, we can expect the compact SUV to go on sale in 2014. This compact SUV could be priced around Rs. 8 lakhs and would be positioned against the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster. Maruti could use the SX4 platform for this compact SUV and also utilize powertrains from the SX4.

Maruti Suzuki has made an Auto Expo specific website here, which has teaser images of the upcoming SUV Concept. The teaser pictures showcase a bold grille, big wheels, unique fog lamps and L-shaped tail lights. After looking at the transition of the RIII Concept to Ertiga MPV, this compact SUV concept has very little significance on how the production version of Maruti’s Gypsy replacement will look. Any which way, Maruti Suzuki has the expertise of pricing its vehicles very competitively and we can expect the compact SUV too follow the same pricing strategy.

Maruti Gypsy 4x4

Maruti Suzuki To Setup A Diesel Plant

According to some media reports, the country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki might come up with another diesel plant in the this year. The company’s chairman, Mr. R. C. Bhargava said that the new diesel engine plant might come up this year in-case the government doesn’t impose any new extra taxes on diesel cars in the upcoming budget. He also added that the recent deal that was done with Fiat India for the supply of diesel engines was a time-gap arrangement until the company comes up with something concrete to meet the continuously growing demand for diesel engines on its own.

Currently, the diesel engines for the Maruti Suzuki cars are manufactured at Suzuki Powertrain India Limited in Manesar. The recent labour strikes at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant trickled down to Suzuki Powertrain India Limited also creating huge bottlenecks in terms of supplying diesel engines. Maruti Suzuki taking notice of this incident is considering now in regard to setting up a new plant in order to meet the market demand and de-risk its independence on Suzuki’s powertrain facility. According to the reports, this matter is likely to be taken up at the company’s up-coming board meeting in January 2012.

Renault DeZir Concept Headed To Auto Expo

At the 2010 Auto Expo, Renault had got the Formula 1 car for display. At the upcoming Auto Expo, the French automaker plans to exhibit the DeZir Concept, which showcases the styling directions for future Renault vehicles. The Renault DeZir Concept first made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and is an all electric vehicle. It features is a 2-seater coupe which features gull-wing doors. Both doors open in opposite directions. Featuring 21-inch wheels, the Z in the DeZir name has direct reference to Z.E, which is Renault’s electric signature. There are no plans to put this vehicle into production, so pricing can not be spoken about at this moment.

Powered the Renault DeZir is is an electric synchronous motor which produces 150 hp of power and 226 Nm of torque. The Lithium-ion battery has a range of 160 kms and power comes through the rear wheel. Weighing just 830 kgs, the DeZir will hit 0 – 100 kmph in just 5 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 kmph. The chassis is made of tubular steel frame and Renault has used Kevlar to keep the weight down of this concept. Don’t even think of driving this on Indian roads as the Renault DeZir has a ground clearance of 110 mm!

 

 

Tata Manza Hybrid Showcase At The Expo

Tata Motors has no plans to launch the Indigo Manza Hybrid in India anytime soon. Every automobile event has to showcase green technology and companies either get electric or hybrid models to show their bit of care for the environment. Tata Motors has been developing hybrid buses so a hybrid car is no big deal for them. The hybrid Manza will be a mild hybrid and will not feature pre electric driving mode. It could be quite similar to what Mahindra has done with the Scorpio Micro-Hybrid. If Tata Motors can make a diesel hybrid which would reduce fuel consumption by 10%, they can continue to claim their expertise in producing the most fuel efficient cars in India. Expect the styling changes on the hybrid Manza to make it to the regular Manza in due course of time.

 

 

Peugeot Officially Enters India On 5th January

Peugeot will officially enter India on the 5th of January, 2012 at the Auto Expo. The French automaker will unveil the Peugeot brand in India by showcasing its range of cars at the biennial event. Mr. Frederic Fabre, Managing Director of PSA Peugeot Citroen, along with Mr. Thierry Poirat, Vice President, Peugeot India, will be present on the occasion and will address the press conference to the media. Just a last month the company broke the founding stone at it’s India facility, which is located at Gujarat and will start churning out cars in 2014. Till then, Peugeot will have to do its ground work to set up an dealership network.

Those living in and around Pune must have spotted Peugeot vehicles sporting MH46 plates on multiple occasion. Peugeot has given the 207 hatchback and 508 sedan to an independent agency to conduct various tests. These tests are being done to know the road worthiness of Peugeot cars on Indian soil. Peugeot will showcase the 508 sedan at the Auto Expo but we hope that the company showcases the 208 hatchback and not the 207 hatchback. The French automaker could launch the 508 in India next year, bringing it in as a CBU and following a top down approach. We will have to wait and watch to see how successful Peugeot India is in it’s second innings.

 

 

Renault To Launch Pulse On 6th January

Renault will be entering into the volume segment with the launch of the Pulse hatchback. The French automaker will launch the Renault Pulse on the 6th of January at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Renault Pulse is nothing but a re-badged Micra. Nissan realized that many buyers were put off by the feminine looks of the Micra and thus Renault has tried to make the Pulse look like a male Micra. The sporty front and alloy wheels are the distinctive changes on the Pulse, which will help it differentiate itself from its sibling. However, the overall resemblance to the Micra is very evident and the siblings are not as different as say the Volkswagen Vento – Skoda Rapid.

The Renault Pulse will not only look like the Micra but drive like one too. Underneath the skin lie the same two engines which power the Micra. The 1.2-liter petrol and 1.5-liter diesel engines are decent for the job and are quite frugal. Don’t expect tarmac burning performance as the petrol motor produces produces 75 BHP of power ar 6000 RPM and 104 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM. The diesel on the other hand produces a modest 64 BHP of power at 4000 RPM and 160 Nm of torque at 2000 RPM. Looking at how Renault has prices its vehicles in India, we expect the Pulse to be positioned above the Micra. This is certainly not good news as the Micra itself is struggling to sell amidst established rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai i20.

If Renault wanted to position the Pulse as a premium version of the Micra, the company could have easily offered more power. Remember, the 1.5-liter dCi K9K motor’s power can be configured upto 110 BHP on step 4. More so, Nissan is a more established brand in India and for Renault to command a premium, the company should offer something more. Renault dealers have already started taking bookings for the Pulse and test drive cars are expected to arrive at showroom early next week. A wide range of accessories will be offered for the Pulse at the dealership level to help customers customize their vehicles as per their liking.

 

 

Complete Details Of The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga MPV

The country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki is all set to make its debut of its MPV, the Ertiga at the 2012 Auto Expo to be held in New Delhi. Maruti Suzuki is going to enter into the all new MPV segment with this vehicle, a segment which till now has been dominated by its Japanese competitor, Toyota Innova. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is based on the Ritz platform and carries over the front styling of the Ritz to the Eritga also. The head lights peeled all the way back show sportiness and it seems to be a carry-over from its premium hatchback, the Swift. The front bumper styling is also quite aggressive with its large air intakes and fog lamp enclosures. The rear section with relatively smaller swept back tail lamps seems to be lacking somewhat in the styling department.

The Maruti Ertiga is going to be offered both in petrol and diesel powertain options. The petrol variant is going to be powered by a 1.4-liter K-series engine that produces 95 BHP of power and 13 kgm of torque. The diesel variant employs the same Fiat sourced 1.3-liter producing 89 BHP of power and 20.39 kgm of torque. The Ertiga, a 7-seater vehicle is directly going to take on the Toyota Innova, the Tata Aria and the Mahindra Xylo. The Ertiga has a wheelbase of 2740 mm and measures 4265 mm in length and 1685 mm in height. Though, not expected to be as spacious as the Innova, the second and third row seats is likely to be sufficiently comfortable with roof mounted AC vents for better cooling. However, option of climate control is not going to be available even in the top-end variant. The dashboard is more of a carry-over from Swift with the application of lighter materials for improved fuel economy. Expect an aggressive pricing between Rs. 6 to 9 lakhs.