REVA NXR To Be Launched In First Quarter Of 2012

With crude oil prices globally on the rise making driving a petrol\diesel car more and more difficult, the world is increasingly turning its attention towards electric vehicle technology. In India, however, there aren’t many options in the battery powered car market. The only car we know which uses batteries to run on is the REVA. The Beat EV which was showcased recently is not going on sale because of lack of infrastructure in the country.

The REVAi runs on lead acid batteries and is very economical to run and maintain. A few months back we showed you the spy picture of the next gen REVA which is the REVA NXR. However, the Revai doesn’t look too good and has a limited range of about 80km. REVA NXR however, overcomes those flaws. The new car is totally revamped and introduced as a new model which has a seating capacity of four and the maximum distance covered in a charge goes double which is 160 kms. The most exciting part about the REVA NXR is the top speed which is 104 km\hr.

To sum it up the REVA NXR is indeed a perfect city package with new age styling, convenience and comfort. If priced at 3.5 to 4.5 lakhs this car will attract a lot of city crowd who intend to have a small car with a very low cost of running. REVA NXR can totally change the equation in the hatchback segment and will be seen at next year’s Auto Show at Delhi which is due January.

Tell us will you buy the REVA NXR over your normal petrol city hatch ?

Indica Facelift Spied Ahead Of Its Launch

We have got you the images of the refreshed new Indica Vista which is due launch 22^nd August. The new refreshed model flaunts a new front fascia which is directly taken from its elder sedan sibling Manza. There is a new redone bumper and new headlamps too. At the rear end, you will now spot a new tail lamp design, new tailgate and a black plate with Tata emblem over it.



Tata is also starting new variants (and a new nomeclature) as the one on the spy image has VX badge on the rear. There will also be a top model which will be the ZX which will sport steering mounted audio controls, power mirrors and a few more premium features. The insides are expected to be similar to the Manza. The engines under the hood are expected to remain the same for the petrol and diesel which is the 1.2 lit petrol producing 64bhp and the 90hp petrol which is a 1.4 lit. The diesel engine will be the trusted 1.3 lit producing 74bhp of power.



With Tata gearing up for the face lift Vista on one side, Tata is giving away discounts on all cars except the Safari, Ventura, Winger & Aria. These benefits are not only limited to individual buyers but also for corporate and Taxi customers. The discounts go up to 50,000 which are on the petrol versions of the Indica Vista. Check the image for more details on the discounts.

Etios Diesel Spied Expected Launch Festive Season

Toyota is banking on the success of its mid size entry level sedan – Etios. The long waits for the sedan has forced many buyers to switch to other cars. Many buyers also complained the lack of diesel engine for the Etios. Finally after all listening to the market demand, Toyota is developing a diesel version of the well appreciated car.

Toyota has actually started testing the diesel version of the Etios Liva. The car was spotted by an ACI reader. Looking at the image it is clear that Diesel Etios is slated for the festive season launch where the demand is high. Talking about what engine will the Etios use, it will be the same engine which does duty on the Corolla diesel but to keep the costs low this diesel Etios will be given a Fixed Geometry Turbo(FGT) rather than the expensive Variable Geometry Turbo(VGT) which the Corolla has. The absence of a VGT will translate in lesser power than the engine in Corolla. Well that sounds okay because an entry level sedan is also expected to give good mileage figures.

With its light weight and a diesel engine the Etios Diesel is expected to return amazing fuel efficiency and the performance will also be well rounded. Expect the prices to be a lakh more than the petrol version which is currently pegged at Rs. 6 – 8 lakhs. With the diesel Etios, Toyota seem to have another winner at hand. Looking at its portfolio apart from the Camry the company is doing real good business in India. Expect the Liva too to come in diesel sooner or later.

Will you be interested in the diesel Etios for a price of 6 – 8 lakh?

Toyota teases with another 2012 Camry image

After teasing us with two teaser images of the headlamps, and managing to let leak some clear pictures of the Hybrid Camry, Toyota have now released a third teaser images. This time Toyota have released the images of the tail lamps. The image which was released via Twitter reveals the sharp, boomerang shaped tail-lamp unit of the car.

The Camry is the top selling sedan in the USA, and with the new version of the car, Toyota plans to consolidate this position as well as give some spurt to its sales which have dwindled after the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

While no official word is out yet, the 2012 Toyota Camry is expected to use a 2.5 liter petrol engine with power output in the region of 180bhp. Then there will be a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 with an output of about 270bhp. Both engines will come mated with 6 speed manual and auto transmissions. Yopu can click here and here to have a look at the earlier teaser pic and the totally undisguised spy pictures of the car

Toyota Launches ‘Crysta’ Innova Limited Edition

Toyota Innova is so well established in the market that there is no competitor who can stop its advances. Innova has consistently been performing amazingly in terms of sales figures for Toyota. Though Toyota will launch the facelifted Innova sometime soon, for now, the Japanese carmaker is offering the Innova in a limited edition avatar called ‘Crysta’.



The Innova Crysta is nothing too radical but the stock Innova introduced in a special white colour named as ‘Super White’ which is the major visual change you will spot. Also there are new graphics on the car, there are new smoked alloy wheels, a roof spoiler at the rear & muffler with chrome tip which comprises of external changes.



On the inside of the Innova Crysta gets dual tone leather seat covers, new panels on the dash board and new Toyota branded floor mats. Under the hood remains the same engine which is the 2.5lit diesel engine with intercooler producing 102bhp. Toyota is offering only 1000 such Innova Crysta’s and only till October.

Recently even the M&M Xylo came up with a limited edition. Maybe if Toyota could introduce some more relevant changes. The upcoming Maruti R III might be a right answer to the Innova’s monopoly in the market.

Government Not To Introduce Differential Diesel Pricing for Passenger Cars

In current times the ownership of diesel cars has grown by leaps and bounds which is justified as the petrol rates do not wish to see the south direction. Even car manufacturers are introducing diesel engines in cars as small as the Beat and the upcoming diesel Nano which means that now diesel is being used by the mass market and the share of consumption of diesel by car owners has considerably gone high.

Recently Pranab Mukherjee, the Union Finance Minister hinted at introducing a differential pricing for passenger cars and commercial vehicles for diesel. The rates for diesel would have gone up by 6 – 7 rupees if this came into force.

Today all these speculations have come to an end as the minister of state for petroleum & natural gas RPN Singh has told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that there was “no proposal under consideration before the government regarding dual pricing of diesel, at present”. If ever this dual pricing is introduced it will pave path for more corruption and black money which is one side, on the other side it will generate anger among diesel car owners as the Government is making it more and more difficult to drive a car.

VW Jetta Offering 75k Discount & VW UP! On Its Way

VW in India is doing well with its small car Polo and entry level sedan Vento. Recently the company announced the mother of all discounts on their most expensive offering the VW Phaeton. With the launch date of the new Jetta coming closer the company is now offering discounts to clear the stock of the current Jetta.

VW dealers are offering discounts of upto 75,000 ruppees and in some cases even suggesting potential buyers not to wait for the new Jetta. Looking at the competition the Jetta goes head to head with the Chevy Cruze, Skoda Laura and Toyota Corolla Altis. Among these cars the most out dated car on looks is the Jetta so even if the discount is of a healthy sum it does not sound as a great deal. Toyota Corolla Altis facelift which was introduced recently among the four is the most underpowered but is the most fuel efficient plus it carries the Toyota badge, and is thus doing reasonably well.

The new Jetta which is slated to be launched on 17th August is a much more promising car and can change the whole equation as it is a totally revamped product. The Jetta will be powered by a 2.0 liter TDI diesel with 140 hp, 30 more horses than the current diesel unit.

VW is also planning to unveil its highly anticipated small car ‘UP!’ in the next 11 days. The new VW car which will be the smallest model in company’s international lineup is expected to hit the Indian shores as well. The VW UP! will be positioned below the Polo and will be a smaller in size too. The VW UP! is expected to be launched in India in the price bracket of Rs. 3.5 – 4 lakhs and will be giving a tough time to the well established Wagon R, i 10 and Beat.