Toyota Etios Liva Price, features, specs – complete lowdown

Toyota Kirloskar has officially launched the Etios Liva in India, at a staggering base price of Rs. 3.99 ex-Delhi. The car, as we told you earlier, is available in five variants. The variants, and their respective pricing is listed below.

• J: 3.99 lakh
• G: 4.59 lakh
• G SE: 5.05 lakh
• V: 5.49 lakh
• VX: 5.99 lakh

The base variant, although priced very aggressively is devoid of features.

• Engine: 1197cc naturally aspirated, inline four engine
• Power: 80PS @ 5600 rpm
• Torque: 10.6 kgm @ 3100 rpm
• 3 years 100,000 kilometers conditional warranty
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Best in class ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 18.31kmpl
• Best in class head, knee and leg room
• Audio system with Aux-in and USB jacks
• Engine tuned for city driving, and better efficiency than outright performance
• Twin front airbags and ABS available in the top variants
• Liva meant for primarily the young, who want to achieve
• Tagline for the Liva – Live tomorrow, Today! (in SMS slang – something that best represents today’s youth)
• Rust protection, anti-chip paint and protection under the belly
  Etios Liva available in 7 colours
• Large glove box with 13.0 liter capacity, can hold upto nine 500 ml water bottles and is a/c cooled.
• 7 one-liter water bottle holders in the cabin
• Plenty of other cubbyholes for knick-knacks
• Variants : J, G, V , VX – just like the Etios sedan, with VX being the top of the line variant and J being the lowest spec
• Kerb weight of 920kg makes it one of the lightest cars around. Class leading 85.8bhp/tonne power to weight ratio. Base variant only 890 kg.
• Engine a derivative of the 1.5-liter Etios sedan power plant. Essentially employs a shorter stroke. As a characteristic property of short stroke engines, the low end driveability shouldn’t be too great
• Top variants get some really neat visual add-ons such as chin spoiler, side skirts and roof spoiler
• Styling remains true to its sedan sibling to the tee
• Liberal shoulder and leg space at the back seat
• 251 liters of boot space
• Rear seat foldable, but not split
• Steering mounted audio controls on the top of the line VX variant
• Good ground clearance of 170mm
• Fuel Tank : 45 liters
• The ride quality of the car is said to be acceptable
• Official launch on the 27th of July, along with disclosure of prices

Check out the brochure image below for more details on variants and their respective features. Click Twice to see the image in full

Etios Liva Colours, Trims and Dimensions

Official Toyota Etios Liva Press Release

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Launches its first ever hatchback in India for India – Etios Liva

Youthful and sporty design, best-in-class cabin space & fuel efficiency, superior ride comfort and the legendary Toyota QDR standard

· Hiroji Onishi , President TMAP launches the Etios Liva

· Toyota forays into the popular hatchback segment

· Price starts at 3.99 Lakhs ex showroom Delhi

· Booking and deliveries start today

June 27, 2011, Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced its entry into the popular hatchback segment in India, with the launch of Etios Liva. Etios sedan and the hatchback Etios Liva – built on the same platform – have been specifically developed for the Indian customers. Etios Liva inherits its name from its sedan, Etios. The word Liva has been coined from the dynamic and positive terms – Lively and Live life to the fullest – which reflect the spirit and image of the car. It is targeted at today’s youth whose spirit and belief is translated into the advertising line for Etios Liva -“LIV TMRRW 2DAY”.

Tagged – ‘Q Class Hatch’ – Etios Liva is stylishly designed and portrays a youthful and sporty image. Etios Liva will carry forward the ‘Q’ Class experience from Etios and will offer Toyota’s legendary QDR standard – Quality, Durability and Reliability at an affordable price.

Etios Liva will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, competitively priced between 3.99 Lakhs and 5.99 Lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. The product highlights include youthful and sporty design, best-in-class cabin space, superior ride comfort and best-in-class fuel efficiency.

Etios Liva was launched by Mr. Hiroji Onishi, (President, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, Marketing and Sales) in the presence of Mr. Vikram Kirloskar (Vice Chairman, TKM), Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa (Managing Director, TKM), Mr. Sandeep Singh (Deputy Managing Director-Marketing, TKM) and Mr. Yoshinori Noritake, (Chief Engineer of the Etios and Etios Liva, Toyota Motor Corporation).

Commenting on the launch of the Etios Liva, Mr. Hiroji Onishi, President, TMAP, Marketing and Sales said: “India is an integral part of our global growth strategy. The Etios project is a milestone not only for Toyota in India but for Toyota globally. The Etios Liva has been designed focusing on the Indian customer’s aspirations, tastes and preferences that were gathered, studied and understood through extensive research. We are delighted by the overwhelming response received by the Etios customers. The Etios has been well accepted by our customers. We hope the Etios Liva will further reinforce the Toyota brand in India, making Toyota a household name.”

Mr. Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, TKM, said “The Etios project is the first of its kind not for TKM alone, but also for Toyota across the globe. The key to this project, is to make TKM self sufficient by increasing the level of localization. As announced earlier, we plan to locally produce engines and transmissions at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, in the third quarter of 2012. This will help us increase the local parts content in the Etios and further contribute to the social and economic growth, by enhancing self sufficiency, generating employment and expanding operations in India. Localization will further help us develop our suppliers and facilitate them to meet global standards of production. It will also generate employment and provide opportunity for expansion and growth, further strengthening our supplier base in India.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, TKM, said “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Etios customers. After the good response received by the Etios, we further expanded our production in order to cater to the huge demand. The annual production capacity will be increased to 2,10,000 units by the second quarter of 2012.

In line with our ‘customer first philosophy’, we wish to keep our customers happy and satisfied by understanding the customer’s preferences and enhancing the product by incorporating their feedback. With the Etios Liva we have now entered the mass volume segment. Toyota vehicles are now available to all aspirational buyers in the middle income group.

At Toyota, we truly believe in growing with the society. We wish to sell many more vehicles and contribute to the growth of the Indian automobile industry. Entering into the mass volume segment will help us realize this aim.”

Mr. Yoshinori Noritake, Chief Engineer of Etios and Etios Liva said “With the Etios Liva, we aspire to offer the best suited car for the Indian customer at an affordable price, while providing a vehicle that is “one class above”. After interviewing and studying the customer preferences in India, we found, the need for affordably priced, quality cars was constantly growing. We first observed various aspects that were sought after by the customer and then enhanced the features and performance aspects that were truly needed while doing away with the excessive design elements.

The stylish, sporty and trendy Etios Liva has been designed to appeal to today’s youth. We have also added style by offering aero kits with front, rear and side skirt that is sure to make heads turn. The sporty steering wheel, instrument panel -designed to give a aircraft cockpit image, a premium audio system, audio system with Aux in, USB and a wireless remote adds on to the fun, youthful and sporty image of the car.”

Talking about the Etios Sales and Marketing strategy in India, Sandeep Singh, DMD-Marketing, TKM, said “ The marketing campaign for the Etios Liva is exciting, innovative and abreast with the latest marketing tools, digital initiatives and promotions. Promotional activities targeting the youth have been planned in the popular youth hangouts like malls, pubs and also in colleges. Music maestro A R Rahman, the Brand Ambassador for Etios and Etios Liva has composed a special tune for Etios Liva ad campaign. He will also feature in a trendy music video. The music composed by Rahman, captures the spirit of today’s youth and the sporty image of Etios Liva – “Bari Hamari Hai” (Its our turn now). Watch out for Rahman’s Etios Liva tune in the TV commercial and the music video on your television screens starting today. It is also available on our website www.toyotaetiosliva.in and www.toyotabharat.com.

We have more than 20,000 happy Etios customers across the nation. Etios has been received well and appreciated by our customers. The sale for Etios was overwhelming, as we sold more than we actually planned. We have brought down the waiting period to less than a month by increasing the production. We look forward to serving more and more customers with Etios Liva and hope that we continue to delight our customers with the Q Class experience. Etios Liva will go on sale and is on display at all our dealerships starting today. We currently have 158 dealerships and will expand our dealer network to 175 by the end of this year. We aim to come closer to our customers and help them avail the best of Toyota’s “Q” Class Service. ”

Vehicle Outline

Exterior

Etios Liva is designed around the concept of ‘Bold Simplicity’. A cutting-edge and leading design that aims for a body frame and stance that stands out in a crowd. A distinctive front grille with a smile line, sculpted surface and dynamic character-line in the front and rear, enhance the presence of the Etios

Liva. The aero kit – with front and rear bumper skirt, side skirt and roof spoiler. The roof has a unique design for better aerodynamics and clean appearance.

Interior

The two toned ergonomically designed interiors are comfortable and sporty. The area surrounding the driver’s seat is given the image of a cockpit by separating the operating zone from the display zone. Large centre meter panel, that provides excellent visibility and easy to read dials. The interiors are simple yet functional, giving a high sense of quality.

The Etios Liva has best-in-class cabin space, large boot space with 251L capacity, a spacious 13L cooled glove box, seven one litre bottle holders, mobile holder and many more such useful storage spaces inside the car.

Performance and Comfort

A newly developed 1.2L, 16V DOHC engine coupled with a 5-Speed manual transmission that produces high output for superior driving performance. The torque is available at low rpm for less gear shifting and stress-free city driving.

The Etios has a best-in-class mileage of 18.31kmpl as certified by testing agency.

Electric power steering for excellent maneuverability and tilt steering ensures a good ergonomic driving experience. The steering comes with audio controls for comfort at the driver’s fingertips.

The flat type rear floor design offers ease of movement for rear seat passengers. With its rigid body structure and world class Mac Pherson Strut, the Etios has superior dampening performance providing superior ride comfort.

A class-first ‘clean air filter’ which is standard across all grades for purified air in the cabin.

Safety

The Etios has various active and passive safety features like (i) Energy absorbing body shell (ii) Driver & Passenger Air bags and (iii) ABS with EBD and (iv) Seatbelts

It’s centrally located combimeter reduces eye movement and hence the driver can concentrate on the road.

Special Treatment

· To adopt to the various diverse climate and usage conditions in India, special treatment and countermeasures have been implemented:

· Good ground clearance of 170mm

· Under body protection to prevent damage to fuel and brake lines

· Anti-corrosion steel sheets at areas prone to rusting and stone hits

· Chipping resistant paint on rocker mould & fender

Design Character of Saab 91 expert cars twitters

Saan 91 car concept is developed based on design study of the B-segment variant. This Saab 91 model blends a development that takes inspiration from the Open Source mobement and trademark styling. This new car design is finished in a dimension 1,700 mm wide, 1,420mm tall and 3,870 mm long. The design language of Saab 91 car version takes inspiration from the Aero X and BioHybrid car design. As the Fabio Ferrante described, the Saab 91 project is designed with pure front end design that symbolizes aggresivity with no avoiding thr design cues of the Saab. Fabio Ferrante is one of the designer in this Saab 91 development.

The main design character that is found on the exterior design of this car is that the headlight and the grille are united in one elements, where the buttom air intakes make a contarst to these design elements. The side preview of Saab 91 is characterized by muscular wheelarches and shoulder plus sclupted panels. The inspiration of BioHybrid car concept is shown by the DLO (Day Light Opening) feature. Below are the Saab 91’s images which is presented by Fabio Ferrante.

Toyota launches new 2012 Corolla Altis in India

A few weeks back we brought to you the details and specs on the new 2012 Corolla Altis. Now, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the new version of the car in India.

The petrol variant of the new car comes with an all new powerful 2ZR Dual VVT-I engine. The 1798 CC petrol engine now produces an increased output of 140 PS @ 6400 rpm and an improved torque of 173 Nm @ 4000 rpm.

The petrol variant is available in both automatic and manual transmission options. There is a seven speed CVT auto and a six-speed manual gearbox on offer with the new Corolls Altis. The new auto transmission is a 7 speed CVT with sequential shifts. The manual 6-speed transmission replaces the earlier 5-speed transmission. Toyota Kirloskar is claiming a better driveability, smoother shifts, better mid range torque, lower emissions and greater acceleration on the highways with the new engine-tranny combo.

The Diesel variant retains its 1ND D-4D Diesel Engine with Variable Nozzle Turbo & Intercooler with 6 speed manual transmission. It continues to provide impressive fuel efficiency of of 21.45 kmpl (ARAI).

Apart from the engines, the interior of the Corolla Altis has also witnessed a makeover. New plush leather perforated seats, darker grey upper interior colour and the dark wood finish inserts are some of the alterations made to make the cabin look plusher. More new features include push start/stop button, smart entry, new DVD touch screen audio with bluetooth, new design optitron meter with eco diving indicator, remote boot opener and reverse sensor parking sensors.

Exterior has also undergone minor upgrades. Headlamps, grille, and the boot have been modified to keep the Altis fresh. The diesel variant gets new design grill with bar and mesh. The New Corolla Altis is available in array of 7 colours.

The new Corolla Altis has been priced at Rs. 10,53,300 and Rs. 14,77,400 for the petrol variant. Diesel variant for the car has been pegged at Rs. 11,46,500 and Rs. 14,55,000. Both prices are ex-showroom Delhi.

Here’s a detailed list of features on the new Corolla Altis

Exterior features:

• Distinctive front grille for a dynamic new look (also available in diesel)
• Pronounced rear bumper, sleek rear combination LED tail lamps and rear chrome garnish for a sporty appearance
• Front angular headlamps for a sharp and refined look

Luxury features:

• Push Start/Stop button
• Smart Entry
• Thoughtfully designed backlit Optitron meter with eco driving indicator (also available in diesel)
• 6.1” DVD Touchscreen Audio with bluetooth (also available in diesel)
• Reverse sensor
• Remote boot opener
• Darker wood finish (also available in diesel)
• Perforated leather seats (also available in diesel)
• Rear arm rest with wood finish and lid for cup holder (also available in diesel)

Performance:

• The genius new Dual VVT- i petrol engine, provides the perfect blend of power, fuel efficiency and low emissions
• New generation super CVT- i with 7 speed sequential shiftmatic or the 6-speed manual transmission

Present at the launch Mr. Michihiko Sato, Chief Engineer – Corolla Altis , Toyota Motor Corporation said “Following half a century of continuous evolution, responding to the needs of the times, the New Corolla Altis design and driving performance has been further refined to continue being a leader in its class. The contemporary styling and intelligent performance takes the experience of owning a Corolla Altis to an all new high. The New Corolla Altis represents the best of global motoring experience and also further strengthens Toyota’s commitment to the Indian market”

New Ford Fiesta 1.5 Ti-VCT / TDCi road test review

New Ford Fiesta road test / review

The new Fiesta, as all of you would reckon has a humongous task at hand. The Fiesta Classic or the previous generation Fiesta used to be the gold standard in handling and driving dynamics for cars this side of Rs. 10 lakh. Does the new car have the goods to take forward the sporty legacy of its predecessor? Also, with the competition heating up in the C segment with new entrants like the Vento and Verna, does the new Fiesta has the stuff to make a mark for itself? We took the car for a drive around Bangalore for a day, and tried to unravel the virtues, wonders and vices of this smart looking new car from Ford stable. Here’s what we experienced

New Ford Fiesta – Genesis

The Fiesta has made a good name for itself internationally for being a solid built car offering great ride and handling with a generous list of features thrown in. After the humongous success of the Figo, to introduce a new crusader in the fast growing C-segment had to be the natural next link in the chain of progression for Ford India. The Fiesta, even after being a natural choice wasn’t a tailor made product for the Indian market. It had to be tweaked on several aspects such as ride quality, which is quite firm on the European version. Ground clearance had to be increased and there had to be a new choice of powertrains suiting Indian conditions better. Continuing with the currently available engines was an option, but offering the same old engines would have, to an extent subdued the excitement surrounding the new car.

A team of designers, engineers and vehicle dynamics specialists was deputed to get the Fiesta altered for the Indian conditions, and after more than two years of research, development and testing, and India specific version of the car was ready.

Design and styling

The new Fiesta comes across as a dynamic, sporty and ready-for-action car on the first look, especially from the front. The sharply styled headlamps make no bones about the athletic overtures of this car. The three multi focal barrels housed within the external elongated and swept back assembly go a long way in underlining the dynamic character of this car. The huge central air-dam, generously flared wheel arches and chiselled flanks of the bonnet further augment the feeling of athleticism.
The front forward, toned, muscular theme is carried forward in profile as well. There is an extremely pronounced crease running across the waistline of the car, emanating from the front wheel arches and merging into the rear fender. The waist line crease is accompanied by a parallel running line on the lower portion of the doors. Together the two lines create what would be an automotive equivalent of a horse’s tendons. Unlike a few other cars in its segment, this one is not out here to exude elegance or subtlety. It’s bred for a dash, and that’s what its exteriors convey – at least from the front and the sides.

However, the design seems to lose its way slightly as you approach the rear. The wraparound roundish tail-lamps don’t quite talk the same language as the sharply styled, elongated front headlamps. When looked at from the rear three quarters, the Fiesta looks relatively bulky. There are some elements which try to lend some muscle to the rear such as the extended lip on the top of the boot and the chiselled bumpers, but the effect isn’t quite as dynamic as the front. More horizontally positioned and sharply styled tail-lamps matching the headlamps in would have helped.

Engine and gearbox

The new Fiesta is offered with two engine options – a 1.5-liter TiVCT petrol with variable valve timing, and a 1.5-liter TDCi turbo diesel with intercooler. As goes with most modern similar capacity petrol-diesel engine variants on most new car models, the diesel mill is the pick of the two. Both engines are mated with a five-speed manual transmission, more on which later.

The 1.5-liter TDCi engine, as some of you would have assumed by now, is a development over the 1.4-liter TDCi unit which powers the Fiesta Classic and once used to propel the Ikon as well. In its latest version, the powerplant not only gets to displace more cubic centimetres, but also gets an intercooler. Peak power and torque outputs from the newly developed engine are rated at 91 BHP @ 3750 rpm and 204 NM @ 2000 – 2750 rpm respectively. The highlight of the engine is its smooth power and torque delivery, along with class leading fuel efficiency. ARAI has rated the new Fiesta’s 1.5-liter diesel mill with a fuel efficiency figure of 23.5 kmpl.

Driveability was always one of the older generation diesel Fiesta’s best known virtues. Thankfully, the new Fiesta is no different. The power delivery is progressive, and bucketloads of torque is available from lower down the rev range. Although the engine comes into its element only after you have taken it past the 1800-2000 rpm, the build-up begins way before the mark. The pull from the 1.5-liter mill is sufficient to keep you rolling without any splutter from as low as 1200-1300 rpm onwards in city traffic. Talking of the stop start city traffic, we found the clutch of the diesel Fiesta on the heavier side. On driving in bumper to bumper traffic situations, operating the clutch pedal over a long period turns out to be a fatiguing affair, as we realised on our way out from the congested Bangalore streets.

Once on the highway, and given a chance to extend its legs, the diesel Fiesta is a much better car to drive. In-gear acceleration is great, the response from the engine is quick and overtaking happens without having to play around much with the clutch or the gearstick. Redlined at 4500 rpm and marked all the way up to 6000rpm, the engine remains responsive and shows keenness to move forward over a wide range of revs. The Fiesta diesel is no scorcher, but with its linear power delivery, great driveability, and reasonable punch, it should be able to delight a discerning enthusiastic driver when needed.

Gearshift quality is good, but we have experienced better, more precise shifts on Ford cars. I am not complaining, but I really have experienced better shift quality on Ford cars in the past. There is a certain degree of notchiness to the shifts and you can feel the gates if you are slightly rough with the shift action.
All in all, the new 1.5-liter engine impresses as a practical, fuel efficient and driveable unit, which can deliver some excitement too, when required.

The surging price of petrol has forced carmakers shift their focus from outright performance to good driveability and optimum fuel efficiency. The Fiesta’s 1.5-liter Ti-VCT petrol engine too is tuned more towards being worldly wise than exuding flamboyance. While the driveability factor of the new engine did impress us, it isn’t quite a hooligan. The power and torque output figures from the new engine are 110 Nm @ 6045 rpm and 140 Nm @ 4500 rpm. While the 0-100 sprint time for the petrol variant (at around 11s against the diesel variant’s 14) is quicker than its diesel counterpart, in the real driving conditions, the diesel feels more potent and eager to thrust forward. There is a throaty tone to the exhaust which sounds sporty and gets even more sonorous when the engine sound joins in after 4000 rpm. However, the petrol version of the car doesn’t quite go as well as it sounds. It’s smooth, responsive and very linear in terms of the power delivery though. To best it all, just like its diesel counterpart, the petrol variant too delivers astounding fuel efficiency, rated at 17kmpl by ARAI. The clutch on the petrol variant is lighter than the diesel variant, making shifts less of a hassle in stop start traffic conditions.

Cabin quality, space and comfort

We can state in no equivocal terms that the Fiesta boasts of the sportiest driver and front passenger seat on any car in, or below its segment. Extremely well bolstered, the front seats hold you tight and provide superior lateral support along with great back and thigh support. There is a problem though. If you are more than hundred kgs and have a fat behind, it’s going to spill over the bolstering, and you won’t be very comfortable. Basically you need to be in reasonable shape to enjoy the sporty and comfortable front seats of the new Fiesta to the fullest.

The space at the backseats isn’t best in class. Headroom and knee-room is just about sufficient and those who like spending their time on the back bench won’t be too pleased. There is a central armrest with cup holders on the top end variant though. Ford India’s top management, during an interaction with Motoroids during the unveiling of the Fiesta in Delhi clarified that the company’s isn’t exactly focusing on the family guy with this one. The focus in on the enthusiast who likes driving himself, with the family coming into picture only once in a while. New Fiesta, like its predecessor has driving dynamics, handling, and steering feedback as its biggest virtues, and while back seat space is reasonable, it’s not impressive by any measure.

Ford India has worked extensively on making sure that the in-cabin noise is reduced to a bare minimum. NVH levels in the Fiesta, as represented by Ford India via a presentation to the journalists are substantially lower than its rivals. We’ll have to agree with their claims as the noise insulation within the cabin was actually impressive. There is hardly any wind and road noise filtering into the cabin, making the interior of the Fiesta quite a tranquil space on smooth surfaces.
There aren’t many storage spaces within the Fiesta’s cabin though. Apart from a recess ahead of the gear shifter and bottle holder behind it, there aren’t any other cubby holes for the front passenger to store knick-knacks. The doors have map pockets, and there is a small glove box too, but that’s about it. If you are used to having many storage spaces in your car’s cabin to pop stuff into, you won’t be too happy.

The quality of the material used on the dashboard is absolutely top notch. The same, however, cannot be said about the quality of the plastics on the door panels. For a car in this segment, the expectations of the customer are soaring high with every passing day. With new entrants like the Verna having raised the bar quite a bit in terms of quality and finish of the materials, the plastic quality on the new Fiesta’s door panels, and a few other parts doesn’t excite us too much. The centre console has been designed well, and is quite intuitive to use too with reasonably sized buttons expressing their functions very clearly. The contoured steering wheel is nice to hold, though a bit more chunkiness would have felt better for this kind of a sporty car. The red coloured display on the centre console and the instrument cluster delivers information in a very readable and functional way, but somewhat lacks in terms of modernity and jazz factor. Car information displays have gotten better over a period of time, and even small cars these days are offering cooler looking displays. While full marks go to Ford for the functional aspect of the switchgear and display, we really think it could have done with looking a bit more contemporary and cool. Chevrolet Beat’s display can be a good example to demonstrate what the modern versions of such displays look like.

Features and details

The Fiesta is quite a feature rich car and introduces a few firsts in its segment, with Cruise Control being the most prominent amenity in the list. Voice activated A/C, stereo and phone controls may not be an absolute first in the segment, but come across as a great and rare feature nonetheless. You can select tracks from your CD/USB, make calls, increase or decrease cabin temperature and do a lot of other stuff with the voice activated controls. We tried the voice activated controls on our way to Mysore and back, with around 70% success rate. The system works well most of the times, except sometimes when it either doesn’t understand your command or takes it as some other command. USB and Aux-in feature, with sockets placed behind the gear shifter, is integrated in the music system which sounds reasonably well at low to medium volume, but tends to lose quality as you turn the volume towards full blast.

Stereo controls are located on the left hand side of the steering wheels, while the Cruise Control buttons rest on the right hand side. You can increase or decrease cruising speed, cancel it when not needed, and resume it once you find an open stretch ahead. The voice controls gets activated once you press the ‘speak’ button placed behind the steering wheel on the lights stalk. The tip of the very same lever acts as the toggle button various displays on the instrument cluster, switching between average speed, average consumption, instantaneous consumption, distance to dry and a sea of other useful information. Interestingly, the wiper and headlight control stalks are on the ‘wrong’ side from the Indian point of view, as they have been lifted straight from the international variant.

ABS and twin front airbags are features that we expect on a car in this segment, and Ford India duly obliges. There is another feature christened Pull Drift Compensation by Ford, and introduced in the new Fiesta. What it does is, calculate the steering inputs on a constant basis while you are on the move, especially on the highway, and adjusts steering inputs required to compensate for unwanted disturbances such as undulations on the road and crosswinds. It tried to feel it working, but didn’t quite manage to.

Automatic climate control, auto retracting electric mirrors, electric ORVMs, driver side auto up and down window, child lock, remote locking for doors from the front and rear parking sensors are a few other features that need a mention.

In terms of looks and aesthetics, the interior of the Fiesta makes for a nice place to be in. The instrument binnacle, along with the contoured height adjustable steering wheel makes for a sporty look. A/C vents at the edge of the dashboard adopt the trusted round design. The vents flanking the center console look good with their vertical trapezoidal shape.

Overall, the Fiesta comes across as a reasonably feature packed car which scores highly in terms of functionality but lags a bit when compared with its rivals in terms of the premium feel, backseat space and lavishness within the cabin.

Ride quality, handling and driving dynamics

Good driving dynamics form an essential part of any Ford vehicle’s DNA. The Fiesta is known to be an excellent handler, but the ride quality on the European version is slightly on the firmer side. For the Indian version, Ford engineers have managed to make the ride softer by increasing the tyre profile and tweaking the suspension a little bit. The exercise has also raised the ground clearance by 15mm to make the new Fiesta even more suitable for the Indian roads.

The Indian Fiesta offers a ride quality which is slightly on the firm side, even with the higher profile tyres. However, there are no issues with ride comfort as the suspension is adequately absorbent and well damped. The real virtues of the set-up come to the fore when you push the Fiesta to its limits, especially around corners. Unfortunately the drive from Bangalore to Mysore via NICE road didn’t comprise of many twisties, so we weren’t really able to appraise the handling prowess of the new Fiesta completely. It was a shame, really, as handling and driving pleasure are supposed to be THE biggest virtues of the new Fiesta, and we would really have loved to take the car to its limit on that parameter. We did, however manage to do some handling tests with some high speed double lane change manoeuvres and pushing it hard around some long sweepers. And the Fiesta did deliver the goods. The car responded to directional inputs at speed without any drama. Body roll is minimal and you don’t need to dial in additional steering inputs to compensate for weight transfer after a hard steering manoeuvre at speed.

There is plenty of feedback from the steering wheels, which keeps getting progressively heavier with speed. The Fiesta feels like a solid, sure-footed and planted car at high speeds, with the steering getting lighter to aid manoeuvrability at low speeds within the city.

Overall

The Fiesta continues to stay true to its legacy in its newest avatar – at least in the handling department. The diesel engine is a good combination of power and driveability and is definitely the pick of the two powertrains. We think the petrol engine could have done with a bit more poke.
Ford is making no bones about the fact that the new Fiesta is a driver’s car. They are trying to target the family guy with this one, and that’s one reason why we didn’t mind the lack of backseat space much. The company is targeting a niche, and with its great handling, sporty styling and driver centric features, the Fiesta manages to hit the bull’s eye.

Loaded with great features, the Fiesta is an amazing car if you love driving yourself. For most such people, things like the quality of fabric, or feel of the plastics doesn’t matter much. And if you are one of them, you’re going to have a lot of fun in this new baby from Ford.

Nissan produces 100,000 Micra cars in India

Nissan has produced 100,000 Micra cars in India. The employees of the company celebrated the occasion at the Renault Nissan Alliance plant in Chennai. The first Micra compact hatchback rolled off the production line in May 2010. Since then the workforce has expanded to nearly 4,000 (from an original 1,500) to meet demand from within India and across the world.

The 45-billion Rupee (990 Mn USD) facility is the first dedicated Renault-Nissan Alliance vehicle manufacturing plant, and the 4th generation of the Micra is the first model to be produced there. It will be joined later this year by the new Sunny sedan, and in 2012 a commercial vehicle will be added to the line-up as part of a joint venture with Ashok Leyland Ltd.

Since its launch in India last July the Nissan Micra has driven a sales boost within the market, with over 15,000 units sold to date. The Micra is also produced at plants in Thailand, Mexico and China.

Chennai, which will have an overall plant capacity of 400,000 units at full ramp up, will ultimately supply Micra to over 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. To date nearly 70,000 units have been shipped from the nearby Ennore deep water port.

Gilles Normand, Nissan Corporate Vice President for Africa, the Middle East and India, commented: “I would like to congratulate everyone associated with the Chennai plant on reaching what will be the first of many production milestones.

“The plant, which provides us with a skilled and localised production base, is a key part of our strategy for profitable and sustainable growth within India, and Micra’s success is only the first step in realising our potential within this market.

“Chennai is also crucial in terms of manufacturing high-volume, high-quality products for export to many world markets. With the continued strong support of the Tamil Nadu government, I hope that the facility will develop into one of Nissan’s most important production hubs.”

Mahindra World SUV Spied Again On Pune Expressway

Mahindra and Mahindra is entering a new segment of SUV market which is majorly dominated by giants like Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva and Ford Endeavour with their own new product which is code-named was W201 or the World SUV. This car has been repeatedly spied and this time it was spied on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway with some camouflage.

The SUV looks beefy and fits in the league of the road presence dominated SUV’s. Being a Mahindra it will ensure that the buyer gets a great product at a reasonable price. Other SUVs like the Fortuner, Captiva and Endeavour fall under the Rs. 20 lakh plus segment. The new SUV is expected to be a big leap for Mahindra in terms of vehicle dynamics, interior quality, features and engineering prowess. Knowing Mahindra’s reputation for building reliable vehicles, we are sure the new SUV is priced properly, it will take the segment by storm.

The World SUV will be powered by the 2.2 lit MHawk Engine which does duty in the Scorpio, the engine will be more refined and will pack more power and torque to suit the SUV image. Pricing mayl range from Rs. 13 – 15 lakh.

Expect a launch in the next couple of months.

Volvo gets its biggest order yet of 60 hybrid buses

Volvo Buses has received its largest hybrid bus order to date. The city of Curitiba in Brazil has ordered 60 buses that generate up to 35% less fuel consumption.

Decision-makers around the world are recognizing the considerable benefits of hybrid technology in city buses. In recent years, Volvo Buses has sold hundreds of hybrid buses through its Volvo brand in Europe, Nova Bus in North America and Sunwin Bus in China.

The company has now also received its first hybrid order in South America. The city of Curitiba has ordered 60 hybrid buses for delivery from 2012.

“Several of the largest cities in Brazil and the rest of South America tested a Volvo 7700 Hybrid in 2010 and at the beginning of this year,” says Luis Carlos Pimenta, President of Volvo Buses in Latin America. “The tests were very successful and contributed to this first order, which we believe will be followed by additional orders from other cities.”

Consequently, Volvo Buses has decided to commence manufacturing hybrid buses in Curitiba. It will involve the same hybrid technology used in Volvo’s hybrid buses and trucks in Europe and which is currently the world’s most efficient for heavy vehicles.

The buses are equipped with a small diesel engine and an electric motor, which can be used independently or jointly. The electric motor is driven by energy from a battery that is charged when the bus brakes. At bus stops, the diesel engine switches off completely and the bus restarts using only the electric motor, which creates a silent and exhaust-free environment at bus stops.

“Volvo’s hybrid bus reduces fuel consumption by up to 35% and emissions of carbon dioxide by a corresponding amount,” says Luis Pimenta. “Other exhaust emissions decline by 80-90% compared with current levels in South America.”

Tata – Fiat JV Under Scrutiny again : trouble in the making?

Confessing that the joint venture between Tata Motors and Fiat has not been as dynamic as scheduled, Tata Group Chief Ratan Tata has said the relationship needs to be critically examined to optimize its potential.

In an interview in market research firm JD Power’s report on the Indian automobile industry, Tata said his good personal bond with Fiat Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has not been transformed at the working level of the two firms.

“… I have to admit that so far, the venture with Fiat has not been as active as we had thought,” Tata said at ‘India Automotive 2020: The Next Giant from Asia’. With Fiat yet to make its mark in the Indian car market, Tata said the Italian company urgently needed to bring in more new models to India. ”… I think that Fiat has to launch more models into the market to keep dealers interested. It also has to look at its cost structure in terms of parts and components. So the joint venture needs to be looked at quite critically and until that happens, it’s not going to be optimised,” he said.

As part of a 50:50 joint venture agreement signed in 2007, the two companies had agreed to a joint distribution network and back-end support, besides co-manufacturing of products at the Ranjangaon facility near Pune. Afterward, Fiat cars are being sold at Tata Fiat branded showrooms, but it has not been able to clock volumes.

Recently, the associates decided to redraw distribution plans, with Fiat wishing for having its own independent brand showroom, although it will continue to sell cars through Tata outlets. In 2010-11, Fiat sold 21,066 units, as against 24,727 units in the previous fiscal, down 14.81%. Tata also pointed out the need to have close coordination at the working level of the two companies to take forward the partnership.

“As far as what else we can do with Fiat, I think Sergio Marchionne and I can really talk to each other. However, at the working level, it hasn’t quite been that way. We have looked at Latin America to do something together, but things haven’t moved as they should have” he said. He, however, ruled out giving up on the partnership, saying “… I think there’s nothing wrong with the concept of the deal — it is a very healthy concept.”

Workers Strike Affects Delivery Of Maruti Diesel Cars By Extra Month

Petrol prices won’t stop their journey northwards, and many car buyers have switched to CNG\LPG with a substantial number of buyers going for diesel cars.

With the demand for diesel cars going up especially the hot favourite diesel budget cars being the Maruti Swift, Swift Dzire, Ritz their waiting period is a ranging from one month to four months. This waiting period is further extended by a month or more thanks to the workers’ strike happening at Maruti’s Gurgaon plant for over ten days now. Maruti has incurred losses to the tune of Rs. 500 crore owing to the stalled production.

Being helpless without the man power in the manufacturing plant, Maruti has extended the waiting periods by a month or more. The strike has also affected the delivery period of the SX4 Diesel which was two months earlier has become three months or more.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Managing Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) Mayank Pareek said: “Of course, strike has increased the waiting period of the diesel versions of the three cars. We usually do not produce more cars than the market demand. So, whatever loss in production we are witnessing, that will be the impact on sales in this month.” He, however, said the waiting period has gone up by only one to one-and-a-half week.

These waiting periods range from place to place depending on the stock they get but this strike has surely managed to put Maruti in deep waters. If these waiting periods do not end, the buyers are surely going to cancel their booking and opt for other manufacturers. Recently VW India has come up with ads in the leading Daily which says minimum waiting period. Finally one man’s loss is other man’s profit.

Tata Nano Catches Fire Yet Again

India’s cheapest car to own is in news yet again and for reasons which Tata Motors absolutely detest. Yes, another Nano caught fire recently. This time the incident took place at Vadodara’s Subanpura locality. The car belonged to Mr Mayank Doshi and according to the Fire Officials the engine of the Nano caught fire near the Samta police outpost in Subnapura locality gutting down the front seat.

We have reported to you in the past such incidents where the Nano was engulfed in fire. Till date there are 7 such cases and it is surely not a small number. Tata should look forward and work towards what really goes wrong as these cases are increasingly becoming common with the Nano. What’s more, even Motoroids have been exclusively reported about a car catching fire by its owner. We will bring you more news on this, once we have some concrete evidence.

We’re still not able to figure whether the car that caught fire was ‘mended’ by Tata Motors for additional safety. It would be prudent to recall that Tata Motors had asked all its customers to bring the Nano back to the service stations so that the company could make some changes to the vehicle for additional safety against fire. If the car that caught fire rolled out after the recall exercise, or if it was already treated for better safety, then it should be a serious concern among current and prospective Nano buyers.

We’ll try to get in touch with the owner, and bring you more information. Stay tuned.

Estilo crosses 2 lakh sales mark, new Vogue special edition introduced

Now that’s testimony to the power of MSIL in India. The Estilo isn’t one of the more successful products from the MSIL stable, yet the car is all set to cross the 200,000 mark in the domestic market this month. The Estilo, which had a shaky beginning in the Maruti Suzuki Portfolio, has emerged as has managed to emerge as a strong brand after all. The car model has posted a growth of 25.4 percent in the last financial year.

MSIl is also exporting the Estilo to South Asian markets as well markets. Estilo is known as the `Karimun’ in the Indonesian market and over 16,900 units were shipped to the country last calendar year. The car won the ‘Favorite City Car’ award by Autocar Magazine (Indonesia Edition) for three consecutive years 2008-09-10. It was also rated `Small car of the year’, 2009 by Topgear Magazine (Indonesia Edition).

Interestingly, the Estilo is among the top five selling cars in the South Asian Markets. The exports have grown 41% over previous year. In recent years, Maruti Suzuki has continued to expand its international presence in several ASEAN markets such as Taiwan, Laos in addition to Indonesia and Malaysia

To commemorate the milestone of 200,000 sales in India, Maruti Suzuki has introduced a limited edition “Estilo Vogue” in the Indian market. The limited edition Estilo has accessories labeled with “Vogue” branding on Seat cover, floor mat etc. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki offers a CNG variant in addition to the K series powered petrol engine on the Estilo

2012 Mercedes Benz M-Class Leaked Snaps

The 2012 Mercedes Benz M-Class images have been leaked, and that’s exactly what you see here. And the first word that comes to the mind when glanced at is – ‘Bland’. Though Mercedes seems to have solved the space issue which made the previous M-Class a hassle to sit in. There is a visible change in the size of the car and looks like the 2012 M-Class will come with an extended wheelbase taken from its elder sibling the GL-Class.

The 2012 M-Class also features a huge panoramic sun-roof which will make the cabin come alive with fresh incident light. There is also the wrap around rear windscreen which makes the M-Class stand out of the crowd.

The insides are typical Mercedes top notch standard quality with a lot of wood used to give that upmarket feel. No news about the engines though, we can expect the 2012 M-Class to debut later this year and will make its Indian debut next year sometime after its International debut.

New Ford Fiesta Engines Unveiled

Ford has finally put an end to speculation and unveiled the engine options for their kinetic design wrapped – New Ford Fiesta at Bangalore.Unlike what was expected, both petrol and diesel engines for the new Fiesta have a cubic capacity of 1.5-liters.

The new engines offered are the 1.5 lit Diesel and the 1.5 lit Petrol engine. The 1.5 lit diesel is actually the upsize of the 1.4 Duratorq engine and now features an inter-cooler. Power figures for the Diesel are 89.72bhp which is quite respectable and a healthy 20.81kgm of torque. The diesel engine reasonably powerful, but its real virtue is fuel efficiency. The engine returns a best in class 23.5kpl fuel efficiency according to the ARAI test cycle.

The 1.5 lit petrol engine is the downsized version of the 1.6 lit petrol engine which did duty on the previous Fiesta which is now the Fiesta Classic. Power produced on the petrol engine is an impressive 108.46bhp and comes with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT). The 1.5 petrol engines also boast best in class fuel efficiency of 17kpl.

Both the engines are mated to the 5 speed manual gearbox and we can expect a twin clutch auto-box later some time. As a total package the Ford Fiesta has a host of new features which are new to the Indian industry like the Voice control features whose videos we have showcased earlier. New Fiesta also features Cruise control which is a great inclusion for its class. Then there are other goodies like USB\AUX, rear parking sensor, Electric Power Steering which has a pull drift compensation which helps in the stability of the car.

With best in class fuel efficiency and a smart package new Ford Fiesta seems to have got the equation right. It will be interesting to see how the new Ford Fiesta is priced. What should be the right price of the car according to you?

Mercedes-Benz’s X1 basher, BLK-Class Rendered

The moment any auto company introduces a new and successful product the rivals come up with their own version of the same product. Auto Biggies like the Audi, BMW & Mercedes Benz are constantly in a race to introduce similar platform vehicles to give the buyer a broader spectrum of choice. BMW made the first mark in the mini-SUV segment by introducing the X1. Many disapproved the car, but more people loved it. And the car is doing exceptionally well in the Indian, as well as the International market. In no time the Audi camp was ready with their double downsized Q7 which was their version of the mini-SUV – the Q3. The Audi Q3 which will make its Indian debut late 2011 or early 2012.

Now finally Mercedes Benz is planning their own mini-SUV which will be named BLK-Class. We have some image rendering done and the car looks like it has drawn some serious inspiration from the recently introduced A-Class Concept right from the headlight, the front grille, coupe like roof line, the creases on the flanks and the hatchback rear end. The mini-SUV BLK Class is based on the Mercedes Front-wheel drive architecture (MFA) which will also be seen on the A & B Class.

Engine options for this one are many, the ones speculated are the 1.8 lit petrol which makes 168bhp to 200bhp. Then there is the 1.6lit Renault diesel engine which comes from the Daimler-Renault partnership making 120bhp. Finally the Mercedes might put in the 2.1 liter diesel which makes power ranging from 170bhp to 204bhp. Whichever engine Mercedes decides to plonk will be mated to the six speed manual and the six speed dual clutch auto box.

Expect this car by late 2012 or early 2013. A package good enough for you in the first look?

Audi Q3 Production Starts In Spain

Audi has started production of their much awaited mini-SUV, the double downsized version of their flagship SUV Q7 – The ‘Q3’. The Q7 has been a real star for Audi in the international as well as Indian market. The Q3 will boost the company’s presence in the SUV market by offering a genuine alternative to the BMW X1. It’s good to see Audi with so many SUVs in its line-up, as there was a time when they were without a SUV in their line up apart from the A6 Allroad Quattaro which essentially was a sedan with all wheel drive.

The Q3 will be produced in Spain at the plant in Martorell. Audi which has a sister company named Seat will assist Audi in making the Q3 at their plant in Spain. Within a years’ time we will have 100,000 Audi Q3’s down the road and the numbers will keep on rolling.

Audi Q3 is expected to make its debut by late 2011 or early 2012. If you wish to know more about the Audi Q3 hit this link.

PRESS RELEASE

Audi Q3 starts volume production

- Compact premium SUV from Audi begins to roll off assembly line today
- Board Member for Production Frank Dreves: “Martorell factory has first-class quality and Audi seal of approval.”
- Annual production of 100,000 vehicles planned

Martorell/Ingolstadt, June 7, 2011 – The official start of production for the Audi Q3 has begun. Starting today, the compact SUV with the four rings will be built at the SEAT factory in Martorell, located in Spain’s Catalonia region. Approximately 100,000 Q3 units are slated to leave the three-shift assembly line each year. Audi and SEAT together have invested around €330 million in infrastructure and ultra-modern production facilities.

“The Audi Q3 production is an example of how we are making use of synergies within the Group,” stresses Frank Dreves, Board Member for Production at AUDI AG. “The Martorell factory is an extremely productive facility with a highly skilled workforce, and one that meets the exacting quality standards of our brand. The Q3 definitely gets the Audi seal of approval.”

The decision to build the Audi Q3 in Spain signals the Ingolstadt-based carmaker’s intention to continue its dynamic course of growth while also pursuing a strategy of internationalization. In choosing Martorell as the new production site, Audi is also taking on an important social responsibility, for both the region and the workforce. The Company provides approximately 1,500 jobs at the plant, including 700 newly created positions. Special emphasis was placed on training the workforce. All staff have completed a nearly 180-hour program designed specifically for the Q3 to prepare them for the challenges they will be faced with on the production line.

The Company has created the optimum conditions for the latest offspring in its broad product line-up: A new body shop featuring 450 state-of-the-art robots was erected especially for the Q3 on a site measuring 30,000 square meters (322,917 sq. ft). In use for the first time at the body shop is the so-called “roof bell,” an innovative development from the Audi Toolmaking Shop in Ingolstadt. A robot grabs the roof and aligns it precisely while a second robot has the roof bell ready for the following roof of the next body.

Thanks to its systematic lightweight design, the basic version of the Audi Q3 weighs less than 1,500 kilograms (3,306.93 lb). Its engine hood and the wrap-around hatchback with integrated tail lights are made of aluminum. A number of ultra-high-strength steels are employed in the rigid, safe passenger cell.

“A big thank you to all the employees who have been involved in the Q3 project over the past years,” says SEAT Board Member for Production Wolfram Thomas. “The new model is another example of the trust that the Volkswagen Group and AUDI AG in particular have placed in SEAT. The Q3 represents the excellent preparation and premium-carmaking skills of SEAT employees,” Thomas stresses.

A small, sporty SUV, the Audi Q3 will join the other members of the Q family, the Audi Q5 and the Audi Q7. The five-door Q3 with its dynamic, coupe-like styling offers genuine SUV traits in terms of seating position, wheel size and ground clearance, and stands out on account of the extremely sporty driving experience it provides. The Q3 combines the design and dynamics of a compact car with the roominess and versatility of an SUV. The range of driver assistance systems brings a new dimension to the compact SUV category. The Audi Q3 will launch with three four-cylinder powerplants: one TDI unit and two TFSI engines. Developing between 103 kW (140 hp) and 155 kW (211 hp), they are as powerful as they are efficient.

With the Audi Q3, the brand with the four rings is entering into a new segment. Advance sales for Europe will begin in June. Market launch is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of this year. Around 100,000 units are expected to make their way to customers in 2012, the first full production year. In Germany, sales of the Q3 will begin at a base price of €29,900. Plans are in place to build the sporty compact in China, specifically for the local market, in a second phase.

The SEAT factory in Martorell was built in 1993. It employs over 10,000 staff. The Audi Q3 is the first model built in Martorell by the Ingolstadt-based company.

2011 BMW Z4 by 3D Design

You can’t say that the Japanese don’t know how to handle German machinery. Not when a Japanese aftermarket company can turn an already sporty BMW Z4 into a piece of tuning awesomeness.

Gnarly, aggressive, and sexy all at the same time, 3D Design’s new race-inspired body kit for the Z4 speaks volumes on the level of skill the Japanese have for giving cars a fantastic styling makeover. Check out the new duds on this Z4, including a new front splitter, side skirt extensions, a new carbon fiber rear diffuser, a trunk-mounted spoiler, a set of 19" forged wheels, and stainless steel sport exhaust system with valves that provide the added thunder to the entire makeover. Meanwhile, the interior also received a full gauge package that you can find just above the car’s gear lever.

It’s an awesome package even if BMW’s sports roadster was left with its 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and top speed of 155 mph. It now has the look to justify its powerful, workhorse of an engine.

2012 Mini Coupe

Only one day after BMW announced the official details on the new generation 1-Series, Mini has also joined in on the party by releasing details of their own for their much anticipated Mini Coupe . Last seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 as a mere concept, the first two-seater in the company’s lineup will make its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show with sales to begin shortly after. Prices will be announced at a later date.

The new Mini Coupe will come sporting an entire lineup of four cylinder engines ranging from the base Coupe with 121 HP up to the John Cooper Works Coupe with 208 HP. It will also be the fastest-accelerating MINI ever with the highest top speed. The JCW Coupe, for example, will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and will be capable of a top speed of 149 mph.

Volkswagen preparing a 1.4 petrol Vento

In our earlier post, we reported Volkswagen testing the new Jetta around Pune. Amar Paithankar, the guy who took the pictures, is also reporting that VW was testing a few other cars too along with the new Jetta. The most intriguing of these cars was a 1.4-liter petrol version of the Vento. Now, we cannot expect VW to be testing an entirely new variant of a car just for fun, can we?

The new 1.4-liter petrol variant of the Vento seems to be prepared to fend off the fresh challenge thrown by the Hyundai Verna. Also, petrol prices are soaring through the roof and people are increasingly putting their money on diesel variants of various models unless there is an extremely substantial price difference between the petrol and diesel variants.

The cheapest Vento currently retails for about Rs. 7.1 lakh ex-showroom. It’s the 1.6-liter petrol Trendline version. With the Vento 1.4 liter petrol Trendline variant, VW may be able to offer a further discount of Rs. 50K, which would give the prospective customers an even bigger incentive to go in for the car.

The specifications of the new engine are not disclosed yet, but we can expect peak output of around 85PS, with 130Nm or thereabouts of peak torque. While those figures may not sound enough to haul the heavy weight of the Vento reassuringly enough, the lure of being able to own a premium sedan like the Vento at a small price, may just rope some more customers in for VW.

Apart from the new Vento, Amar also reports having spotted a Skoda Yeti and a Skoda Superb with concealed badges on test. While the Yeti on test may be an AT ver

sion, we cannot fathom what changes the superb may incorporate.

Skoda Plans To Introduce Laura RS

Back in 2005 when Skoda introduced the Octavia R S version, it was considered a poor man’s race car. The Octavia R S added a whole new dimension to the Indian Auto Scene back then by giving power hungry enthusiasts a rocket under the 15 lakh price bracket. The introduction of petrol turbo cars was also one of the important jobs the R S did. Even today there are enthusiast buyers who are ready to pick a well-kept R S at a respectable price.

Skoda India is now planning to relive those glory R S moments by introducing the Skoda Laura Rs. The Internationally available Laura (or the Ocatavia) R S is the real deal, which comes with a 2.0-liter TSI (petrol turbo) engine that churns out an amazing 200bhp. The question really is, does introducing a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine in these times when the petrol prices are skyrocketing, make much sense? Would there be many takers for it?

Skoda India understands that the 2.0-liter turbo petrol will guzzle too much of the expensive fuel to stay viable. Hence they are going to keep the engine of current Laura untouched for the Rs. version also. So what exactly is different you would ask. Well, when the Skoda Laura R S is introduced this September, it will wear new, aggressive looking clothes, replete with bigger wheels, a body kit, a rear spoiler, new steering wheel and other cosmetic changes, but without any alterations made to the powertrain.

The new Laura with V R S badging will come at a premium over the usual Laura.

New VW Jetta caught testing in India

VW has been readying its new Jetta for India for some time. The current gen model, although well equipped and well engineered, doesn’t quite look premium enough to compete with the rivals in its segment. Skoda Laura, which is VW Group’s own product, looks like a better deal for the price. All that, however, is soon going to change with VW introducing the new Jetta. The new version of the car looks much better than the current one, and will probably be better equipped too.

Team-bhp member Amar Paithankar has managed to spot the new Jetta testing in India, at the picturesque twisties of Lavasa near Pune. The car was powered by a 2.0-liter TDI engine, the same unit that propels the Skoda Laura / Superb, and produces 142PS @4200rpm, and peak torque of 320Nm @1750rpm. We are sure this is not the same unit as the Passat Bluemotion TDI producing 170 horses, as putting the more advanced unit in this baby would escalate the cost for no understandable reason.

shares its face and flanks with most other VW cars like the Polo, Vento and Jetta. While having a family design philosophy is a good thing, VW seems to have taken it way too seriously. Cars need to have a personality, some character, unfortunately, VW new family design philosophy is making all the cars from the stable look alike from the front. The only differentiating factor is proportions, for most models. The Jetta too resembles the Vento, Passat and Polo from the front, and only a keen observation would reveal the differences.

The Jetta is larger in proportions than the Jetta. Then there are the stylish 10-spoke alloy wheels which are unique for this particular version. Finally, you have the biggest giveaway at the rear, the tail-lamps, which are unlike any other VW model in India, and are reminiscent of the Audi A4’s tail units. The twin-pipe exhaust is another detail you should look out for, for differentiating the Jetta from its blood brothers.

Features include parking sensors, which were clearly visible on the test mule. There is no question that the car will come equipped with dual-clutch DSG gearbox, and will retail at a higher price than its Skoda cousin when launched. Expect a pre-Diwali launch by VW.

VW Vento diesel’s price to be increased, petrol variant left untouched

VW India is increasing the price of its highly successful Vento diesel. The price will be increased by 2.2 percent. The price hike will be effective from July 1st 2011. The company has cited increased input costs as the reason for the hike. At the same time, the company has left the petrol variants untouched, and they will continue to be sold at the current prices. The company seems to have taken the decision to leave the petrol prices unaltered keeping in view the high price of petrol which is already acting as a deterrent to petrol cars’ sales.

The customers who book the Vento Diesel till June 30, 2011 will be able buy the car without the price increase. Also, those who opt for selected variants of the Vento Petrol Variant will be able to get a reduced interest rate of 6.99 percent starting June 2011.

Commenting on this, Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board & Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said “The Vento diesel has been well accepted in the market since its launch in September 2010. Its quality, build and drivability have won the Vento many accolades. We want to continue maintaining the same standard and quality for our customers; however we have seen no relent in the input costs over several months now which has forced us to increase the cost of the Vento.”

He added “On the other hand we are fully aware that customers who prefer the petrol variants are already faced with the burden of increased fuel costs and therefore we have decided to continue absorbing the additional costs for our petrol variants.”

Toyota Liva launch expected on 27 June

Toyota has been doing extremely well with its Etios sedan in India. The Innova and the Corolla too have been going strong. The Corolla, in particular has responded very well to the competition. The demand is more than the supply for Toyota, and production constraints are creating long waiting periods for the Etios customers. However, Toyota is planning to go ahead with the launch of its much awaited hatchback, the Liva on 27th June. The Liva will be the first Toyota product in the segment, and is expected to affect the sales of its rivals right from the outset.

Just like the Etios sedan, the Etios Liva hatchback too will have aggressive pricing as one of its biggest USPs. Toyota’s reliability, generous cabin space, and expected frugality of the new car’s engine will be some other incentives for the customers to go for the new car. The Liva will be powered by a 1.2-liter petrol engine at the time of the launch, a diesel variant will follow later. With a peak power output figure of around 80PS, the new engine may not be the segment topper in terms of specific output, but it is expected to be very fuel efficient and linear in terms of power delivery. It would be very drivable, refined and frugal – the characteristics that really matter in this segment.

Toyota will introduce a diesel variant of the Liva later in the year, sometime around Diwali. The diesel variant will be powered by the same 1.4-liter diesel engine which currently propels the Corolla diesel. Strange, but that’s the thing with diesel engines, the crazy amount of torque they produce deems them fit to put vehicles across segments in motion. Expect the diesel Liva to be one of the most fuel efficient car too, apart from being one of the most torquey.

The Etios Liva is expected to be priced at par with the Suzuki Swift, which itself will witness itself being reincarnated possibly by the end of June. The new Swift is expected to be priced about 5% more than the current version, as it is bigger and better equipped than the outgoing version. At that price point, which of the two would you prefer?