Nissan ties up with Ashok Leyland to introduce LCV's in India

Ashok Leyland and Japanese auto giant Nissan have announced a tie-up to make pickup trucks and other light commercial vehicles in India and are looking at partnerships in sales and distribution.

“Our LCV business and overall expansion into India represents two of the biggest growth opportunities for Nissan in the medium and long term,” Nissan President and Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said in a statement. “This latest investment will broaden our coverage of this market in addition to providing new LCV products for emerging markets.”

The companies will form three joint ventures for vehicles, powertrain manufacturing and technology development. They will produce about 100,000 vehicles annually in the medium term, including for export. The domestic light commercial vehicle market saw a compounded annual growth rate of about 12.5% over the past five years. Current production in the LCV segment across the board is estimated at 160,000 units

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So far only Tata has been the dominant player in the LCV market in India,will Nissan help Ashok Leyland break this trend time will tell.

Toyota India to enter used car business

Following Ford and Maruti in their used-car endeavours, Toyota too has decided to move into the used car space. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is planning its enter the used car business, ahead of new launches and more brand loyalty schemes.

The first outlets of Toyota's 'You Trust' are most likely to open in Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai, and would probably be owned and operated by the company's new car dealers in these cities.

The used-car outlets would offer services such as evaluation and trading-in of customer's existing cars, and would cater primarily to buyers looking for a certified pre-owned car that will serve as an upgrade.

The outlets are expected to be perform independent of the new car dealerships, but would be linked to them for after-sales support.

They are expected to employ company trained engineers who would follow a pre-programmed inspection and certification process designed to offer buyers improved reliability, while computing the price for the used car.

Similar to the programs of competing car companies, the dealership-cum-workshop would also probably offer the used-car buyer a post-purchase warranty[usually a year], and/or free services during a limited period.

Source:

Considering that toyota is not able to sell new cars in the first place this should make the toyota dealers happy because so far they have been carrying the used car business unofficially,now they will enjoy Toyota backing.

Volvo trucks hits a rough patch

Volvo trucks North america has seen a 64 percent decrease in deliveries of new trucks so far this year.

In all, 7,903 trucks had been delivered to dealers and customers through July, down from 21,734 trucks during the first seven months of 2006.

Volvo officials said in February they expected to see U.S. truck sales decline as much as 45 percent during the first half of the year. Dealers and trucking companies that bought an unusually high number of trucks last year to avoid vehicles with higher emissions standards that went into effect January 1. Trucks that meet the new standard are more expensive than trucks that do not.

Source:

Its not just the Indian markets where volvo is seeing a slump.

Environment friendly trucks from Volvo

Environment friendly and trucks don't quite go hand in hand but Volvo plans to change that with its new range of engines,

Sweden's Volvo, the world's second biggest truck maker, unveiled on Wednesday a line of truck engines adapted to run on renewable fuels and called for more efforts to make such fuels commercially available.

The engines are powered by seven types of fuel, ranging from synthetic diesel to a mix of hydrogen and biogas. These are made from renewable raw materials and do not add carbon dioxide to the ecosystem, the company said.

Rising emissions of carbon dioxide are widely thought to be a leading cause of climate change.

While none of the engines was being produced for the market, manufacturing could begin within a few years if the fuel was available, Volvo Chief Executive Leif Johansson said.

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BMW,Mercedes to sue Chinese copy-cats

DaimlerChrysler and BMW are threatening legal action over Chinese-made vehicles that they claim are copies of their own models, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

DaimlerChrysler said it would consider unspecified legal action if tiny Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan Automobile showed the Noble, which it says closely resembles DaimlerChrysler's Smart Fortwo minicar, at next month's Frankfurt motor show, the FT reported, quoting a spokesman from DaimlerChrysler.
BMW said it was considering legal action against the German importer of another Shuanghuan vehicle, the "CEO," which it claims closely resembles a previous version of its X5 sports utility vehicle that was discontinued in 2006, the paper said.

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All new Honda city in 2008 to have Civic like interiors

This is a scoop meaning a spy scan of a brochure of the 2008 honda jazz/fit which has a lot in common with the honda city except the boot[they are based on the same platform]

Firstly the honda jazz[I stick my neck out and include the new platform city as well] will have civic like interiors,as far as the exteriors go I don't find a radical difference so will not comment on that.
The major change is the vtec is going to be replaced by i-vtec,but now they have a 1.3L option as well which is supposed to be as frugal as the i-dsi engines and if cost is not a major concern then the i-dsi's may be on the way out.


posting one pic from paultan.org the rest are here:
2008 Honda Fit / Honda Jazz production spyshots

Just to avoid confusion,the city I am talking about here is the one expected next year[2008] or early 2009,and not the facelifted model planned to be launched this diwali.

Honda India to launch New Accord in 2008

Honda India certainly deserve respect unlike most other manufacturers,Honda refuse to sell cars in India that are past their shelf life even if they are selling quite well.

Once more honda is going to continue this trend with the all new accord,keeping in line with the global trend Honda is planning to launch the all new accord in India by mid of 2008 with about a 5% increase in prices from the accord's present retail price.

Toyota could learn a thing or two considering the overpriced camry,expect this accord to better sales of its predecessor considering it is able to match fuel-efficiency of a c-segment car.

Source

Volvo India announces pricing of its cars

Swedish car major Volvo Car Corporation(VCC), which will be launching the S80 sedan and sports utility vehicle XC90 SUV early next month, said both the vehicles will be available in petrol (3.2 ltr and 4.4 ltr) and diesel variants (2.5 ltr) at the three Volvo dealerships, one each in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

The company will be importing the products as completely built units (CBUs) from the Volvo Sweden plant.

While the S80 sedan petrol variant will be priced at Rs 39 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the diesel variant will be cheaper by Rs one lakh. Similarly, petrol version of SUV X90 can be had for Rs 46 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the diesel version will cost Rs 45 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Source:

Nice to have one of the safest car here in India but considering the way Indians treat safety and the fact that BMW and Mercedes are now well established would be interesting to see how Volvo does in India.Another thing against Volvo is the fact that people would tend to associate Volvo with being a bus manufacturer[although the two are unrelated actually]

BMW X3 and X5 to be assembled in India,to become upto 50% cheaper

BMW is planning to set up an assembly line for its sports utility vehicles (SUV) X3 and X5. The facility is likely to be ready by middle or end of next year, said sources.

Currently the 2.5 litre, 6-cylinder petrol engine X3 and the seven-seater X5 are imported through the CBU (completely built units) route and sold at Rs 60 lakh and above due to high import duty. With the new assembly line, the production of these SUVs in India could see a price drop by over 50%

However, when contacted, Peter Kronschnabl, president, BMW India said, "At the moment, we have no plans for any expansion as we're looking to stabilise on what we're doing."

Though initially the assembly line would roll out the X3s, the X5s will follow. "This will give the luxury marquee SUVs a competitive advantage in pricing over its competitors, the Mercedes M-class and Audi Quattro," said an industry observer.

Also in the pipeline are two new variants in the 3-series range. "We're evaluating the possibilities to launch a coupe and a convertible," said Kronschnabl, indicating that any launch would happen next year.
However, sources said that BMW would also expand its 5-series portfolio by introducing 5-series station wagon.

Source:

Mitsubishi to launch Outlander in India shortly

Mitsubishi is likely to launch the Outlander SUV in india within the next six months[by first quarter of 2008] to cater to the growing demand of Suv's in India.The car is expected to be priced within a price range of Rs.15-25 lakhs.It is expected to take on the Suzuki Grand Vitara,the Honda CRV and the soon to be launched Chevrolet Captiva.

Already the suv's from the mitsubishi stable are doing quite well here[the older generation pajero,and the newer montero].

Source:

Update 1:
Things have been delayed a bit but the wait may well be worth it since mitsubishi may actually be locally assembling the car bringing down costs to chevrolet captiva levels.Also a diesel engine is also expected.Most probable launch date is september 2008.Pricing around 18 lakhs.

Update 2:
Economictimes says that the starting price could be as low as Rs.15.5 lakhs.

India not smart enough

The 698 cc (799 cc for the diesel version) Smart car has been lapped up in most countries across Europe and is selling well in the US, Britain, Australia and Canada too, given its compact design and agility for city driving But the Smart car by German auto giant Daimler-Chrysler is unlikely to be launched in the Indian market any time soon.

'There are no plans now to introduce Smart in India,' Daimler-Chrysler managing director and CEO Wilfried Aulbur told IANS here.

'The cost of the car in European markets is around Euros 8,000 (approximately Rs.450,000) and that is expensive given the prices of small cars in India,' Aulbur said.

The advantage that Smart car gives is its compact design that makes it suitable for city driving in heavy traffic and congested roads. The car is also easy to park, as it is just eight-feet long and five-feet wide.

'If launched in India with a reasonable price tag, Smart can be a real hit here given the traffic volumes and congestion in metros and big cities. Since most people drive to work alone, and public transport is not preferred by executives, the Smart car could be a good option. I understand it is very easy to handle,' says automobile engineer Gurujot Singh.

The all-aluminium engine in the Smart car uses latest technology and has minimal CO2 emissions. It does not sport the famous Mercedes triangle logo on the front even though it is from the stable of Daimler-Chrysler.

Mercedes has sold nearly 1,400 units of its luxury sedans - the C, E and S class - till July this year. The company achieved 22 percent growth over last year.

Source:

Smart car... Saif had it, but India won't

Toyota India confirms new Corolla to be launched in March 2008

Finally Toyota India have revealed the launch date for the new toyota corolla,none other than Ryoichi Sasaki, Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motors, India, and Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan, while inaugurating a toyota showroom in Chennai.

A new version of the corolla will be unveiled by march 2008.what remains to be seen is whether the present corolla would be stripped down further[including a 1.6L petrol engine and perhaps a diesel engine as well] and be sold side by side with the newer generation corolla[something like their strategy in China]

More details about the car here:
New toyota corolla with diesel engine to head to India,Thailand

Maruti plans to introduce CNG & LPG variants for the Versa

The versa has been a blackmark for maruti,it is one of those cars maruti just could not sell even after its heavy ad-spending spree including getting Amitabh Bachan and Abhishek Bachan to endorse the car.The biggest problem was the versa had only a petrol otpion and in India anything that is an suv/muv does not sell with a petrol engine unless ofcourse it comes with a Honda badge.

Now a website[livemint]] says they plan to launch the versa this time with a cng as well as an lpg option,this will be the third time maruti would be launching this car,would this persistance with a model pay off only time will tell.

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A person close to the development who did not want to be identified said an engineering team at Maruti is in advanced stages of getting the vehicle running on options such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to bring down the cost of ownership and compete better with rival carriers that run on diesel.

Maruti has used cheaper fuel options to boost sales for models such as the Omni van, whose sales perked up when it came out with LPG and CNG versions.

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Mahindra's battery powered Ingenio may just Blow away the Toyota Innova

Toyota so far is the undisputed king of the MUV segment with its innova having majority of the marketshare mainly because other people carriers in india as their names suggest are only intended to what their names suggest,toyota does that in a degree of luxury.But things may just change Mahindra is planning to launch a similar vehicle called Ingenio for much lower prices in India.

That is only the beginning of the good part,mahindra are planning to launch a hybrid version of the ingenio[something like the prius] but at a much cheaper price,this may just end up as the world's cheapest hybrid[a blow for toyota worldwide] and considering the fact that mahindra plans to take the ingenio worldwide this means big trouble for the hybrid king toyota.

Mahindra are trying to ensure toyota quality by calling in engineers from abroad[especially USA] to ensure acceptable standards for the vehicle,also it helps when you have a collaboration with renault[remeber the espace]


Source

Related post:
Delphi to power Mahindra Ingenio Driver information systems

The new face of GM India

In Another sign of GM attaching importance to its Indian operations,General Motors Corp. has appointed Karl Slym as the new president and managing director of its Indian subsidiary

Slym replaces Rajeev Chaba who takes charge as the chairman and managing director of GM's unit in Egypt,Slym's appointment will take effect starting Oct. 1.

Mr. Slym is a Stanford University alumni, he is MSc. Management.,began his career with Toyota in England in 1990 as a supervisor, spending time training in Japan to learn its production system. He moved to GM and worked for it in Germany, then moved to Poland for three years at a new plant which made 175,000 Opel Astra cars a year. He's been at Oshawa as plant manager.

Mr. Slym was president at CAMI Automotive Inc. ,(CAMI) is an independently incorporated joint venture between Suzuki Motor Corporation and General Motors of Canada Ltd.Mr Slym was then in South Korea on a four year assignment as Vice President Quality for General Motors (G.M.) Daewoo and GM Asia Pacific from where he now moves to India.

Gm is at the point of transformation from being one of the market players to now trying to be one of the dominant ones and for this they have brought in somebody with global experience not that Mr.Rajeev Chaba was doing a bad job.,Mr. Slym sure will have a tough job trying to match the pace of growth his predecessor has set at Chevrolet India.

Time for GM to replace those chevrolet india promise ads with their new Bosses pics and his commitment for quality something he would be used to from his previous job.

Honda India to revamp the Honda city by diwali this year

A facelifted version of the Honda city has been launched in Malaysia and we may get this in India too by diwali,seems more like a maruti style facelift this time round though.For india expect Airbags+ABS+ integrated stereo as well.A new variant is also expected to be launched priced just below the NHC VTEC available presently.

On the exterior, the new Honda City facelift gets a new honeycomb grille, a glass antenna, side mirror turn signals, and body-coloured mud guards. On the interior, the Ultra Seats now feature a water repellent seat cover, and is now standard on both the i-DSI and VTEC versions. The Ultra Seat foldable rear seat feature was previously available on the i-DSI version only.

The new Honda City facelift is available in Sparkle Grey, Bluish Silver, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Nighthawk Black Pearl and Satellite Silver Metallic






Pictures have been taken from Paultan.org, some more pictures here + Source of article.
2007 Honda City i-DSI Facelift Launched

Toyota to train mechanics at colleges itself in India.

Another reason what makes Toyota the brand it is today,Toyota India is planning to create a resource pool of skilled mechanics at its dealerships by ensuring they are adequately trained,this can be done if they are taught right from college itself.

Toyota has embarked upon an effort to train young mechanics whose skills can be effectively harnessed by the company's dealerships.

The move is an attempt to fill the gap between the need and availability of trained manpower to service the fast expanding automobile population in the country.

K K Swamy, deputy managing director, said the company has decided to enter into tie-ups with Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in the country to offer training in automobile repair and maintenance as an additional module to the trainees undergoing training in different vocations. "Toyota Technical Education Programme (T-TEP) will support ITIs to develop highly skilled young technicians for the automotive industry," Swamy said.

Toyota Kirloskar has installed a Toyota car engine and a transmission system along with some supporting equipment on which to train the technicians. "We have 62 dealerships across the country, and as we want to capture a 10% share in the Indian car market, we will have to expand the network as we grow. This will necessitate an increasing number of mechanics who are qualified and trainied to handle Toyota vehicles," Swamy said. The company has targeted to develop 750 Toyota technicians by 2010, he said, making it clear that these technicians will have no compulsion to join Toyota dealerships. The company has so far signed up with six ITIs including one in Pimpri (Pune) and plans to take the number to 20 in the near future, Swamy informed. It will invest about Rs 60 lakh worth of equipment in each centre, he added.

Source:

Mercedes India have already implemented this successfully at the Government diploma college in Pune where it has donated two mercedes cars to the college

Skoda India tops JD power Sales Satisfaction Index

We have all been talking about the negatives of Skoda India but here's a pleasant suprise for Skoda customers,

Skoda has just topped the JD Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Sales Satisfaction Index StudySM released on Wednesday.

Sales satisfaction is generally based on six factors — delivery process, delivery timing, salesperson, dealer facility, paperwork and deal. Skoda performed particularly well in three categories, including delivery process, delivery timing and paperwork. Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra follow Skoda, respectively.

Tata is at the bottom,while suprisingly Honda is below the Industry average and is below chevrolet and ford even,Hyundai too has done badly.




Charts courtesy of JD Power

Here's the list:

Skoda -> 797
Maruti Suzuki -> 790
Mahindra-> 789
Toyota -> 781
Chevrolet-> 780
Ford-> 780
Industry average-> 773

Honda-> 766
Hyundai-> 759
Tata-> 730

Source:
2007 India Sales Satisfaction Index Study | J.D. Power and Associates

Ford Verve - The New small car for India in 2008

The Ford Verve which is the 2009 fiesta[hatch] is going to be launched in 2008 in India is what moneycontrol.com reports,Details not available only a mention has been made in the title.

The verve is said to share platforms with the Mazda2 and will also have the same Japanese engines.

The concept will debut in this years Frankfurt auto show

Heres the link:
Moneycontrol India :: News :: Ford's small car, Verve, to hit India by end 2008 :: :: Business :: Ford ,Verve,Mazda Motor Corp,GM ,Chrysler ,Ford Aspire,Honda Fit,Toyota Yaris,Kia Spectra ,Chevrolet Aveo



Picture taken from paultan.org.
More pictures here:Ford Verve Concept previews 2009 Ford Fiesta

I expect an Indian Launch by the end of 2008 or 2009 beginning

Troubled times ahead for Hyundai Motors

After the dream-run that Hyundai-Kia had for a while things aren't particularly bright right now nor does it look like they will improve in the near future,now its upto Hyundai to ensure we do not see the repeat of the Daewoo story.

Vice chairman of Hyundai Motors speaks:

The environment surrounding the South Korean auto industry is increasingly deteriorating," "There are big risk factors going forward such as a strong won, a weak yen, higher oil prices and a downturn in domestic consumption The firm's sustainable growth is being threatened by global competition and growing safety and environmental regulations. Hyundai also faces falling productivity and shrinking profits. Net profit plunged 34 percent to 1.53 trillion won (US$1.63 billion) last year because of strikes and the won's rise

Source:
Taipei Times - archives

Yet another strike has begun:
Strike by contract workers at Kia plant halts production - International Herald Tribune

A Toyota Vs Honda battle in the Robotic world

Toyota's robot, dubbed TPR-Robina, has a more feminine form than Asimo. It appears to be wearing a dress and plastic "hair." Toyota said it has "autonomous motion," which allows "the robot to move toward a destination while avoiding obstacles." The automaker said image recognition technology lets the robot recognize visitors' name tags and "direct its explanations to them directly." It also is capable of verbal communication and gestures.

The company said the robot, presumably a competitor to Honda's Asimo humanoid robot, will be used to show visitors around displays at a Toyota exhibition hall here starting next week.

The solid little robot is 47.2 inches tall and weighs 132 pounds. Toyota said it is a product of "Toyota Partner Robots" and is designed to "support people in their daily lives and to help create a healthy and comfortable society in the future." The automaker said its robot fleet will be used to help with household chores, nursing and medical care as well as "assistance with manufacturing and assistance with short-distance personal transport."

Honda's latest version of the Asimo has the ability to run at nearly 4 mph and can handle a cart

Source:


Interesting strategy to give a female form to the robot,after all Toyota know exactly what the customer needs,hopefully this too can last a decade in your service without complaining too much or demanding too much of your attention something which Toyota's are renowned for.

While America goes diesel,India to ban Diesel vehicles

Its an irony of sorts america with one of the strictist emission norms is planning to switch over to diesel to curtail pollution[plus save fuel bills],while the High court in India has asked the government to Ban diesel cars and instead use CNG as fuel.
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The Delhi High Court on Thursday gave the government two weeks’ time to file a status report on the feasibility of banning diesel cars and make compressed natural gas (CNG) mandatory for private vehicles.

HC has asked the Government to file a feasibility report in 2 weeks, it says CNG should be made mandatory for private vehicles as diesel cars are polluting Delhi.“What is the point of having CNG-run public transport if more and more diesel cars put on the roads every day continue to pollute Delhi,” a Bench comprising Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal observed.

Thirteen cars run on diesel cause pollution equal to one bus running on the same fuel, the report said.

“How can the city be rid of the evil of pollution if every sixth or seventh BMW and Mercedes is run on diesel,” Justice Mudgal observed.

Government counsel Mukta Gupta submitted that a ban on diesel cars or “private light motor vehicles” would only be viable after a legislative amendment in the Motor Vehicles Act.

Source

Nissan joins the small car bandwagon in India

With Toyota and Honda having aggressive plans with regards to their car strategy how can Nissan be far behind.

Nissan is likely to launch one small car and a mid-size sedan in the domestic market in the next few years. While General Motors has already launched its small car Chevy Spark, Ford, Honda and Skoda are expected to soon launch their offerings in the segment.

According to auto components industry sources, Nissan India’s small car model would compete in the A2 segment as defined by automobile body SIAM, basically the Zen, Alto, WagonR, Swift. The model will sport a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine and would be able to enjoy excise duty benefits. Nissan’s small car is code named W02A and is expected to cater to the Indian market initially.

Likely to hit markets by 2009-1010, the car would be manufactured at the Chennai plant, which is a facility being set up in collaboration with sibling company Renault and home-grown M&M. This car is expected to be priced in the Swift and Getz price band

However, sources add that the company may plan to bring in more than one offering in the small car segment. “It is likely that the product range in the Swift/Getz segment will have more that just one model,” a source said.

Sources also indicate that Nissan will launch a sedan for the Indian market. “With a 1.5-litre engine, Nissan’s sedan will also hit markets in the next three years,” source added. While the car is being designed in Japan, it would be based on feedback from India.

Source:

Hopefully manufacturers also realise the fact that overcrowding a particular segment is also not a good thing, Nissan have done well to think of a sedan as well[I have a feeling the Nissan Latio may just make its way here]

Maruti Suzuki to launch swift based sedan in India

Come 2008 and Suzuki along with its Indian Partner Maruti is going to launch a sedan version of the Swift.This car in all probability will replace the Maruti esteem sold here.Some details on the internet include that the car will be launched with a diesel option as well,though maruti strategy usually has been to launch a petrol variant first and then the diesel once the novelty of the new models fades away.

The car would most likely be launched in the first quarter of 2008 and have the same engine as that found in the swift hatchback right now including the 1.3 multijet.

Maruti however would know best that they would have to price it very aggressively in the competitive Indian Market.

Source

Audi's competitor for the Toyota Prius

Audi has launched a new, more efficient version of its A3, which is capable of over 62mpg.

Audi has improved the engine, transmission and aerodynamics of the 1.9 TDI model so that it can attain an average of 62.7mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 119g/km, putting it in VED tax band B.

The car's diesel engine has been modified, using friction-minimising components and redeveloped ancillary components, such as the alternator, while the gearbox's ratios are designed more for economy than for performance.

Additionally, an indicator in the cabin tells the driver the most efficient time to change gear, and the car's tyres have reduced rolling resistance.

Aerodynamics have also been improved to reduce the car's drag.

The modifications mean the A3 1.9 TDI can do the 0-62mph sprint in 11.4sec and reach a top speed of 120mph - that's down 0.1sec and 2mph on the standard 1.9 TDI, but fuel economy is better by 13.1mpg and 32g/km of carbon dioxide.

Source

25 years of the Honda accord in USA-The most powerful accord ever

Honda celebrates its 25th anniversary in the US by launching an all new accord,its bigger alright but must say the way new honda's where taking a radical look at things this is bit of a dissapointment guess this segment is for the sober kind of people.Anyways the new accord seems a lot inspired from you know whom,

The 2008 Accord goes on sale Sept. 12. Prices should be announced Sept. 11.

The new model's interior grows to 106 cubic feet, giving it more passenger room than the Ford Fusion, Nissan Maxima and Altima, Camry and Aura. At just 14 cubic feet, however, the Accord's trunk offers less luggage space than any of those models.

The Accord's new shape is a sharp departure from the short-hood look the car pioneered. Its new technology includes an innovative V6 engine to reduce fuel consumption. The powerplant shuts down cylinders when the engine does not need all its power to become either a four- or three-cylinder. Other automakers offer cylinder deactivation systems to boost mileage, but they offer only one fuel-saving mode.

The 3.5-liter V6 produces 268 horsepower, making it the most powerful Accord ever.

A 177-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is standard. The four-cylinder is available with either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The V6 sedan comes only with the five-speed automatic. A six-speed manual is available for the coupe.

Fuel economy ranges from 22 m.p.g. city and 31 m.p.g. highway for an Accord with the four-cylinder engine and manual transmission to 17m.p.g. and 25 m.p.g. for a V6 with the six-speed manual. Honda has dropped the slow-selling hybrid version.

The diesel will be launched in 2009 probably the 2.2L one.

Source

Mercedes India to launch all new Mercedes Benz C-class in 2008

Mercedes have reacted to the slowing sales of the C-class after the arrival of BMW in India with its full range of products.3 series sales have far exceeded BMW expectations.

Dr Wilfried Aulbur, company’s CEO and Managing Director said, “We are committed to bring in the latest products in the least possible time. In line with this strategy, we are looking forward to an early introduction of the recently launched new C-class and expect to offer the product in India by the first quarter of 2008.”

The car, which has got a complete makeover and also some additional features, will also see a mark-up in the price from the Rs 24-26.4 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) price range of the current models in the ‘C’ series. It will be the third – after the C 200 Kompressor and the C-220 CDI – to be manufactured at the company’s plant at Chikhali near Pune.

Source:

The new Prius Competitior - Volvo C30 Efficiency

The toyota prius may soon get a competitor and its not a hybrid,would you believe it its a diesel the same noisy polluting fuel which we have known it as so far.

The new C30 Efficiency is a version of the standard 1.6-litre turbodiesel C30 small hatchback tweaked to deliver better fuel economy and lower emissions of carbon dioxide. Putting in an impressive 62.8mpg on the combined cycle, it’ll go 60 miles further between fills than a standard C30 1.6D, and will also qualify for VED band B, which means it’ll be cheaper to tax, and exempt from London’s Congestion Charge as of next February.

Volvo has saved all that fuel and carbon by focussing on four areas in the C30 – aerodynamics, rolling resistance, gearing and engine efficiency.



So hopefully Toyota do realise its not only hybrids that save the planet.

Source

VW dreams big for india to take on SX4,NHC,Verna with VW Jetta

If skoda plan to launch the fabia for around 7-8 lakhs then they do not have to look anywhere else but within the family itself for a competitor.
VW plan to launch the Jetta here and a diesel sedan could do wonders here.What's interesting is they plan to launch the jetta with the same 1.9tdi which comes in the octavia,apart from a 1.6L petrol engine as well.Car expected in 2008.

Andreas Prinz, managing director, Volkswagen India, told Business Standard the mid-size car would be priced competitively, aligned with the likes of the Honda City. This places it in the Rs 7 lakh to Rs 9 lakh bracket, which has models like the Hyundai Verna, the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and the Ford Fiesta.The segment recorded sales of 200,000 cars last fiscal. Based on the A5 Golf platform (also the basis of the Skoda Laura), the Volkswagen Jetta is a Golf hatchback with a boot but with better quality interiors and trim. For diesel engines, the company might borrow the 1.9-litre TDI engine from Skoda, as found in its Octavia model in India. The Euro III ready engine will allow Volkswagen to price the car competitively and keep it on a par with the likes of the Hyundai Verna CRDi. The company is likely to opt for a 1.6-litre engine as part of its petrol line-up, using its patented FSI technology.The company might adopt different trim models with top-end versions of petrol and diesel featuring anti-lock braking system and airbags as standard

Source

The Fiat Grande Punto- one of the most advanced petrol engines on the planet today

Fiat’s mastery of cutting-edge auto engineering has been re-emphasised by the arrival of the new Grande Punto 1.4 16v T-jet 120. The newcomer produces brilliant performance and great driving enjoyment, hardly surprising from an engine putting out 120 bhp, delivering torque of 206 Nm (152 lb ft) @ 2000 rpm, a top speed of 195 km/h, and acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h in just 8.9 seconds.

But that’s only one side of the story: the same car can cover 100km on just 5.4 litres of petrol (that’s 52.3 mpg in ‘old money’) and the emission levels are noticeably lower than you would expect from such a high-performance car, at only 155 g/km.

The secret is the new T-jet 16 valve turbo engine using the very latest Fiat technology. This is the smallest turbo engine in this class, it’s the most powerful sub-1400 cc engine available, it develops highest torque at low revs for any engine up to 140hp, and it has the best acceleration for any engine up to 140hp.

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A black mark for lexus

Is this the first signs of things going wrong at lexus,

After receiving 40 complaints of unintended acceleration and reports of eight crashes — including one involving seven vehicles — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has elevated its investigation of 98,454 2007 Lexus ES 350 sedans to an engineering analysis.

The probe will look into whether improperly installed all-weather floor mats result in "interference with accelerator pedal movement," said NHTSA in a statement on its Web site. In five of the crash incidents, NHTSA said "the operators allege they experience unwanted acceleration and were unable to stop the vehicle to avoid collision. Four of the five crashes are multi-vehicle (one involving seven vehicles) and two resulted in total loss damages (one involving a fire)." The federal agency said one injury, which resulted from a rollover crash, "was significant" and that the person "continues to show symptoms."

NHTSA says in "some incidents drivers traveled significant distances (miles) at high vehicle speeds (greater than 90 mph) before the vehicle stopped."

NHTSA goes on to say: "Toyota believes the subject vehicles and the all-weather mat do not contain a safety-related defect and that the actio

You may want to double-check the floor-mat installation on your 2007 Lexus ES 350 as you wait for the feds to complete this probe.

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Tata to make car having lowest running cost

Tata Motors will start producing cars running on air fuel, sometime in 2008. These are expected to deliver the lowest running cost across all passenger car segments, and could be much lower than CNG, the cheapest on-road fuel (with a running cost of a rupee per kilometre) right now. The cost of a fuel refill would be about Rs 90, and each refill is expected to deliver a distance in the range of 150-200 km.

These cars are expected to be in the same price band as the current Indica range (approximately around Rs 3.50 lakh) and will probably mirror the European variant called MiniCAT, which runs on the same engine technology. These pollution free vehicles are expected to deliver a maximum speed of up to 220 km/hour and their debut may coincide with the launch of the Rs 1-lakh car, next year.

Earlier this year, Tata Motors signed an agreement with Moteur Development International (MDI) of France to source technology to develop engines powered by compressed air. These cars were developed by Guy Negre, a former Formula One engineer, and the engines are gasoline, fuel gas, bio-diesel, liquid gas, ecological fuel, alcohol and ethanol blend compatible.

Sources add that Tata Motors could launch a limited number of these cars in India under a pilot project, which are already available in select markets in Europe and South Africa. The licence to manufacture and distribute such air-powered cars have also been sold to companies in Great Britain, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and the US, apart from Tata Motors, which is the sole licensee of the technology in India.

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An electric car which can outrun a Ferrari

This emission free 130mph sports car - which has a hint of Jaguar, Aston Martin and TVR styling - can outpace a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari 575 - sprinting from rest to 60mph in under four seconds.

And though it will cost you a tingling £150,000, it is simply powered by 30 rechargeable batteries and doesn't use an ounce of fossil fuel.

The British-built two-seater 'Lightning' is fitted with four wheel-mounted motors that combine to power the car to 60 mph in under four seconds. It develops 700 brake-horse-power.

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Maruti suzuki Wagon R to take over from fiat as Mumbai's Taxi

Its time to say bye bye to the good old Premier Padminis used as Taxis on the road in Mumbai very soon its place is going to be taken up by the maruti wagon R.

“We are in talks with Maruti to replace the existing black-and-yellow cabs with the WagonR. We are working out an affordable deal,” said Anthony L Quadros, head of the Mumbai Taximen’s Union. The aim is to make the new WagonR taxis financially viable not only to the taximen and to Maruti, but also to the average Mumbaiite. “It will be quite possible to run an air-conditioned cab at the existing fare of Rs 13 and WagonR is the selected model. We are trying to work out a deal, though it would be premature to comment on it,” said Maruti dealer Sandeep Bafna.

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WagonR could be the new Mumbai taxi- Hindustan Times

Volvo to make entry level trucks in India

Volvo, the Swedish earth-moving and heavy vehicles manufacturer, is examining the feasibility of setting up a unit to make entry-level trucks in India, while scouting for other suitable locations in Asia.

To be a large volume player in the Indian market we may look at either a joint venture partner or an Indian automotive company to be a technology partner. We are holding talks with some companies and may even set up the new unit close to our plant near Bangalore,” said AB Volvo’s Executive Vice-President, Jorma Halonen.

India could also be the location Volvo is considering for an engine and transmission plant to serve the Asian market.

Even though it would be entry level don't expect it to cost the same as the tata or ashok leyland trucks here in India

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BMW worst in crash test ,Volvo tops

The Arlington (Va.) nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a crash test to see what would happen when the Kia Amanti squared off against five cars comparable in size, but all priced above $38,000: the Volvo S80, Acura RL, Mercedes E-Class,Cadillac STS, and BMW 5 Series.

And heres the suprise find first:
The Kia Amanti was one of the lowest priced sedans in the group, with a starting price of around $25,500, but it offered greater protection than more expensive entries."The Amanti shows that you don't have to buy an expensive car to get good protection in crashes with SUVs and pickups," Lund said.The Kia performed better than Mercedes,Cadillac and BMW.

The 2008 BMW 5 Series was the worst performer in new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the insurance industry

Now the not so suprising find:
The real winner of the test was the Volvo S80, which has now received a good rating in front-, side-, and rear-impact evaluations, earning it the IIHS Top Safety Pick award. And compared with the BMW ( Mercedes in the class—both at around $50,000 —the S80 will save customers more money while having a better chance at saving their life.

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Infiniti to hit european shores in 2008

Japanese carmaker Nissan plans to introduce its luxury model Infiniti to Europe at the end of 2008, the head of the brand's European operations said Sunday.
Jim Wright told the car magazine Autmobilwoche that Infiniti was in the process of building up a distribution network for the brand after successful sales in the United States and Russia.

Wright said he did not anticipate high sales initially in the European luxury car segment dominated by Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

In Germany, sales outlets were planned in 12 to 14 cities. By 2013 it was hoped that each Infiniti outlet in Western Europe would achieve a sales target of 500 vehicles per year.

In contrast, Wright said, Infiniti's three distributors in Russia had sold around 7,000 vehicles since 2006.

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Coming soon CNG Chevrolet aveo

Falling sales figure have forced Chevrolet india to take drastic steps,first they launched a cheaper variant and took some corrective steps from customer feed back now they want to go the CNG way as a stop-gap arrangement until the diesel's are here.

The cng variant of the aveo would be launched in the next two-three months,Chevrolet india says CNG because of the easy availability of CNG compared to LPG in India.

Chevrolet india say's that all models in their family will also get the cng option later in time.

January 10 2008, D-day for TATA motors

On january 10 2008,tata motors will reveal the one-lakh car to the whole world at the delhi auto expo.Said to have a 30 bhp engine and may just come with a diesel option as well.

The all new indica will come with the 1.3 fiat multijet[fiat to produce it at its ranjangaon plant for tata] would also be there on display so also will the all new indigo.Both to be launched in the first half of 2008.

So Tata surely have their hands full for the january 10 auto expo.

Toyota's way of learning from JD power

Toyota pay detailed attention to their customer needs,one of those things which keeps the japanese manufacturers different from the rest.

After consultation with JD Power,Toyota attributes most of the customer dissatisfaction to unwanted noise inside the car,now every car that rolls of the production line would have specially trained personnel to rigourously test for rattles and squeaks.

PR tactics to upstage the japanese car manufacturers

Now things are getting more and more suspect with regards to the The American Customer Satisfaction Index released by the University of Michigan,japanese car manufacturers seem to be at the recieving end while nothing really major has happened to change the relationship between the consumers and the japanese car manufacturers .How come only they are at the recieving end.
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Here's what they say:

Index analysts said the uptick in motorists' satisfaction comes from greater satisfaction in domestic and European vehicle lines, offsetting declines in Asian manufacturers.

The satisfaction rating for Honda Motor Co. Ltd. vehicles, however, slipped to 84 after receiving 86 ratings in 2005 and 2006.

The only companies that experienced greater one-year downward shifts in satisfaction were Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. ,which went from 82 to 80, and Toyota Motor Corp. which dipped to 87 to 84.

Nissan's rating was the lowest of the 12 measured companies and divisions.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index is based out of the National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan. The index conducts customer interviews that measure expectations and perceived quality and value.

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Brand Toyota falls-Toyota's customer satisfaction takes a hit

Firstly don't know if this is one of those PR tricks by the americans against the Japanese car manufacturer but here's what they say

Car buyers, in a surprising shift from a year ago, are more satisfied with their American-made Buicks and Lincolns than they are with their Toyotas these days, according to a University of Michigan study published Tuesday. But the turnabout isn't indicative of quality and reliability improvements up and down model lineups at both General Motorsand Ford .Instead, the study contends, it's a function of Toyota's brand, which has suffered from recalls and other uncharacteristic hiccups, dropping from first place and allowing offerings like Buick and Lincoln-Mercury to climb the list. "What goes up must come down, but it remains to be seen whether this is just a stumble for Toyota or a sign of something more serious," said Claes Fornell, who heads the study. "But Detroit automakers would be making a huge mistake if they think the Asians will keep falling back to them," he added. "They have to do it on their own." Last week, J.D. Power's closely watched dependability survey reported similar results, with Buick joining Lexus as the most reliable brand

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Toyota's customer satisfaction takes a hit - MarketWatch

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA facelifted model launched

The malaysian aveo hatch[u-va as we call it here] has undergone a facelift as well as a possible engine change 1.2L engine producing 84 bhp.Wonder when this vehicle will come to India,maybe they would do something like the optra magnum they will launch this as soon as they are able to bring in the diesel engines for the U-va.

For the past few months the old Chevrolet Aveo hatch was being sold along side the new Aveo sedan, but now Chevrolet has unveiled an updated hatch model, thus completing the Aveo line update

The new Aveo5 hatch will come with either a 84 horsepower 1.2 liter or the existing 1.4 liter 98 horsepower engine. The car will make it’s first public debut at the 2007 and sales will start in March 2008.

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paultan

BMW and NASA test hydrogen powered car

BMW has completed an eight-week test with help from NASA on the BMW Hydrogen 7, the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan.

NASA personnel had access to a fleet of the hydrogen-powered cars that are based on the BMW 760Li. The Hydrogen 7 runs on a liquid hydrogen system similar to one that NASA uses in its space shuttle program. So the drivers could fill up at the Kennedy Space Center's liquid hydrogen fueling station.

BMW said 100 Hydrogen 7s have been built, and 25 are in test programs in the United States. The cars have already covered more than 1.3 million miles in test programs around the globe.

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GM to source $1 bn spares from India

General Motors Corp, the largest US automaker, plans to quadruple autoparts purchases from India to $1 billion in three years, buying more from low-cost sources to combat competition from global rivals.

Purchases would be about $250 million in value this year and increase fourfold by 2010, Rajeev Chaba, president and managing director, GM India, GM India has as many as 100 suppliers, of which about 40 were being lined up for global sourcing, he said.Detroit-based GM, battling a drop in marketshare at home, is turning to low-cost locations such as India and China to buy autoparts as raw material costs rise and competition intensifies with Toyota Motor and other rivals. “India has got strengths in certain areas and we are trying to see whether in labour-intensive areas such as wire harnesses and forging, we can make the parts here,’’ Chaba said after the press conference. “We will source whatever and from wherever we get the best value for our money,’’ he added. Source

Mitsubishi Fuso trucks to come soon to India

Luxury car maker DaimlerChrysler India (DCIL) is planning an entry into the commercial vehicle (CV) segment through its subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso. The world’s largest truck manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler, would be rolling out medium range CVs - trucks and buses - in India from its Mitsubishi Fuso stable.

According to sources in the automobile industry, DCIL zeroed in on Mitsubishi Fuso with an eye on a possible technical alliance with a local Indian CV company. Mitsubishi had formed a technology tie-up with the Delhi-based Eicher Motors (EML) two decades ago for its commercial vehicle range and long-term synergies for DCIL are not ruled out. DCIL currently has a 3.56% stake in EML and is reportedly negotiating for a strategic partnership with it.

The e30 billion Mitsubishi Fuso has a wide range of 6 to 15-tonne trucks and 30 to 55-seater fully built buses which are ideal for the Indian market. DCIL is targeting the medium CV segment, which is currently dominated by home-grown players - Ashok Leyland, Force Motors, Swaraj Mazda, Tata Motors and EML. Mitsubishi Fuso’s foray is likely to revive the segment, where growth dropped by 14% to 7,334 units in the April-June quarter of this fiscal.

This debut is expected to change the medium range CV market in India just as a bevy of international players like MAN Motors, Scania, Navistar and Volvo are gradually changing the dynamics of the heavy CV market.

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Honda civic hybrid to hit indian shores in 2008

Honda is planning to launch a hybrid version of the Civic in India next year. Hybrid cars, which use both a petrol engine and an electric motor, are usually more fuel-efficient and produce lower levels of emissions, making them more environmentally-friendly than the regular petrol or diesel vehicles.

The Civic Hybrid will be priced at a substantial 60% premium to the conventional model, with a selling price of around Rs 20 lakh, compared to the Rs 12-13 lakh on road price for the petrol model. While Honda Siel Cars believes that there will be a demand for these cars due to their superior technology, low emissions and fuel efficiency, the volumes will be low, making local manufacture of this model unviable. High import duties (105%) on the completely-built-up units that Honda intends to import, at least initially, will push the price up.

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With such a significant premium on the hybrid would it really be effective,anyways honda have expressed their inability to get their diesel's here so there is no other option as well.

Wake up Honda which planet are you living on?

Leaving Honda India every other manufacturer in India is betting big on diesel in India and bringing in the latest generation diesel engines.
Ford india says 70%of its sales comes from diesels,analysts estimate 45% of market share to be captured by diesel


There’s a reason why Indian consumers are suddenly rooting for diesel. Diesel engines in passenger cars are about 40% more fuel efficient and the fuel is 30% cheaper than petrol. It is also much cleaner thanks to better technology that’s reducing emission drastically, and making it the preferred choice of customers. Gasoline heads say, the real breakthrough developments in auto engineering have all been in diesel technology in recent years.Petrol’s combustion technology has only been tweaked for better efficiency

Maruti Udyog Limited, after avoiding diesel for over two decades, mostly because its last experience with Peugeot diesel engines strapped onto Zen and Esteem models was not a particularly happy one, has not only ventured into the segment, but also started its own diesel powertrain manufacturing facility. It has rolled out its popular model Swift in diesel and plans to roll out more models in future.

With the market share of diesel cars growing at about 6% to 9% every year, it is expected to form 45% of the total market by 2010. In all the dual-powertrain cars launched recently, diesel variants have stolen a march over their petrol counterparts. That roster includes the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna and Mahindra Renault Logan.

Hyundai Motor India ‘s major success with its last launch Verna has been backed by its diesel variant, while Ford India has also shared similar success with its mid-size Fiesta

Currently the diesel market is dominated by Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M). But other companies plan to end their domination and a slew of recent launches -- like Chevy Aveo from General Motor's, Getz and probably the new small car from Hyundai and the under-development small car from Toyota and Volkswagen -- will also have diesel variants.


However Honda india is not following the same path,it seems incompetent to alter its engines for Indian fuel quality and does not feel the need for a diesel engine in India for the moment.Wake up Honda which planet are you living on?

With the diesel segments witnessing high growth at the expense of petrol, Honda which does not have diesel in its portfolio yet is hesitant on entering the segment. “The emission norms will get more strict in 2010 with the introduction of Euro IV emission norms and while we do have the technology we are not sure about the quality of diesel available in the country today. Hence we are waiting for the fuel quality to improve and once it happens we will be ready with our products,” Takedagawa said. First to come off the block would be the Honda CR-V diesel.

He, however believed that the situation is still not the same as Europe and Honda is not missing out on an opportunity. “An Indian consumer drives an average 18,000 kilometers per year while a European drives in excess of 40,000 kilometers. The huge gap is due to the difference in infrastructure and diesel is more attractive for those who travel more. The demand here will be much more once infrastructure improves,” he said.


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All new Honda jazz to hit Indian markets soon

After toyota confirmed its small plans in India honda has now revealed the fact that it would launch the all new jazz in India by 2009 when the construction of its second plant in India is over and it is up and ready to roll out new cars[by 2009].

Some details revelaed where that the all new jazz to be launched globally soon will be 3.8 meters in length,for India it will have a 1.2L petrol engine and would take on the segment leader the Maruti Suzuki swift here in India.It will however have no diesel option in India.

New D segmenter coming up from suzuki[possibly India bound]

There's been quite a transformation at suzuki cars,they have become a very aggressive manufacture now with very ambitious targets.From small now they want to target the money making segment first they started with the swift,sx4,new grand vitara and now they plan to launch a d-segmenter worldwide to take on the accords and the camry's

This new car will be called the Suzuki Kizashi and will debut at at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show.Suzuki plan to launch this as a hatch,station wagon as well as a sedan.

Mr. Jagadish Khattar did talk about a vehicle in this segment during an interview for India as well[but still early days to comment on that].Infact he had even specified a price target of about INR 10 lakhs.

Meanwhile paultan.org predicts it would be based on the Nissan Teana/Cefiro

Ford in India just as good as the rest of the world

Car maker Ford India on Monday said it has been accredited with an ISO certification for its world quality production techniques.

The ISO/TS 16949:2002 (with design) certification is equivalent to similar quality accreditatons in America, Germany, France, Italy and Asian Automotive Quality System Standards, Ford said in a statement

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Skoda India's reaction to the Chevrolet Optra Diesel

Luxury car maker Skoda Auto India on Monday said it will provide an extended warranty of three years or 60,000 kms on its sedan Octavia.

The company would provide free preventive maintanence for all its Octavia customers for a period three years or 60,000 kms from the date of purchase, Skoda said in a statement.

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Nice marketing strategy by Skoda India.

Toyota small car to use yaris platform-will have diesel option

While it is no suprise to most,finally some details seem to be out though in true Toyota fasion things still are not clear about their new product launch,nor the fact wheter Daihatsu will play a role in India,According to unconfirmed sources from toyota,this car will take on the Tata Indica and would be priced around 3 lakh INR

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Japanese car major Toyota’s small car plans for India will either involve a brand new car based on its Yaris platform or an India-specific model developed from scratch. When contacted, KK Swamy, deputy MD, TKM, “As part of our policy, we do not comment on our future projects or products.” Fellow Japanese carmaker Honda is using its Fit/Jazz platform to churn out a next-gen product for India. Auto industry sources say Toyota may follow the Innova model for its small car sourcing from specific low-cost centres and selling the model in Asia and the BRIC markets. The small car may also come with both petrol and diesel powertrains, say sources. Toyota’s Indian subsidiary, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, is likely to announce its small car project before the end of this year, say sources. The car is being built on a new platform in Toyota’s second plant. This plant is likely to come up in Bangalore with an investment of around Rs 2,000 crore. “We plan to make an announcement regarding the small car in the next two months,” sources said. Toyota’s global small car is being designed in Japan. “The new car is being built on a new platform and that is the reason we have taken more time than was expected,” said Toyota Kirloskar Motor MD Atsushi Toyoshima.

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