Archive for February, 2008
February 28, 2008 at 5:28 pm
· Filed under Honda ·Tagged 2008, Civic, Honda, Hybrid, Toyota Prius
If there has to be a future, it has to be green. Honda seems to have taken this future-fad quite seriously and is here to make its concern for the environment felt with Honda Civic Hybrid. I read a very interesting comment somewhere that hybrids are anti-status status symbols. This could be quite true for India too considering celebs like Cameron Diaz and Leonardo Di Caprio drive hybrids, though they drive Toyota’s Prius, Civic Hybrid’s only arch rival.
Coming to which, in international markets, Prius might pass for an “ugle duckling” but offers the smoothest hybrid performance. This is because Prius’ gas motor and electric motor are fused with different points in transmission while Civic Hybrid’s gas and electric motors are twinned together and then hooked to transmission.
In India though, if you think Nature, think Civic Hybrid. But the reports don’t encourage one to go grab this one. Sure, this car is farthest from the mental image of hybrids that we generally have and is a stunner but the mileage-on-the-pages is way different from the mileage-on-the-streets. The bonnet is packed with an 8-valve, 4-cylinder SOHC, i-VTEC engine which produces 110-horsepower.
While the cause is celebrated and worthy of recognition, we are confused as to what would Civic Hybrid mean to its Indian customers! Will it be a practical choice? Or a utopian dream lost its thunder midway? Look out for this space…
Permalink
February 27, 2008 at 5:12 pm
· Filed under 1, Mitsubishi ·Tagged cars, Mitsubishi, Outlander, SUV
Outeverything Everything
Thought CR-V was the only one to give you the soft-roader ride with the kind of comfort and class that it did? Lo! Behold! Mitsubishi Outlander is on our horizons and a look at this SUV and you’ll think again. The Japanese major has invested all its technical know-how about the rally cars and adventure-sports vehicles in this one product to make it what it is now. Which is ravishing!
Mitsubishi has an off-roader Pajero on the roads already and its new launch Montero has been receiving good reviews too. Outlander brings competition to the likes of CR-V, Tucson, Endeavour, Grand Vitara, the newly-launched Captiva and soon-to-come Hyundai Santa Fe. Outlander is going to be available in a 2.4L MIVEC 168hp engine.
The SUV has an understated elegance going for it and the design is rugged & masculine without going over the top. The C-pillar looks very French and the Lexus-style LED chrome taillights along with the tailgate are the distinguishing face of the car. This SUV has quite a sleek silhouette and the front of the car, looked in unison with its bonnet, passes for a saloon.
The interiors are mature and very upscale, hence more inviting. Outlander provides enough space inside. You can gauge this by the fact that it is longer than CR-V. The cargo-lugging capacity is 882 litres with the third-row seats folded and 1690-whopping-litres with the second-row seats folded.
Eyeing that CR-V? Wait till middle of the year, won’t you? You might just regret it otherwise.
Permalink
February 26, 2008 at 5:44 pm
· Filed under Volkswagen ·Tagged 2008, Beetle, CBU, New Beetle, Volkswagen
Jaded is so overrated. Dare to be happy.
So true! The retro-futuristic New Beetle is here to drive you away from the conventional. This “happy car” from Volkswagen beckons nostalgia – the exteriors, the non-metallic colors and the iconic smiling front.
The New Beetle is available as a two-door coupe and two-door convertible worldwide. The engine option isn’t much of an option with just 2.5L 150bhp petrol on offer. Volkswagen will bring this cute, little wonder to India by April this year as a Completely Imported Unit and is supposed to be priced at a whopping Rs. 20 lakhs.
The New Beetle is different from its phased out twin in the respect that the engine is located not in the boot but in the front and the car is a front-wheel-drive now. The interiors are promised as being very stylish but a bit cramped for space in the rear. The space upfront seems to make up for it though.
The ride is smooth and the engine suspension on the less aggressive side of being sporty. Also, the New Beetle ensures the kind of safety and luxury as was unknown in the old Beetle.
Back to being the 70s’ flower child again with the “bug” Beetle. So excited!
Permalink
February 25, 2008 at 5:35 pm
· Filed under Maruti Suzuki ·Tagged Concept cars, Maruti Suzuki Splash, Opel Agila, Paris Auto Show
The spitter and the spatter of good news
Its genesis is from Swift and it spells nemesis for Wagon-R. Bad attempt at poetry? I know! But coming back to Maruti Splash…This 3720mm long, 1700mm wide and 1600mm tall boy was first shown off in Paris Motor show in 2006 and is supposed to be labeled Opel Agila for the European market.
The choice of engines on the platter seems to be huge. A 1.0L engine, 1.2 L engine and 1.3L petrol and diesel engines are currently fuelling the speculations. The front is sharp and no-nonsense like with a grille which gives it an aggressive look while the tail-gate has an inward angle which makes the car’s design very French!
Splash is going to be Maruti’s fifth launch after Swift, Grand Vitara, SX4 and (almost there) Swift sedan and redefines space, design, aerodynamics, performance and drive-quality in a new way. The safety features will be standard and the car will be placed in the price bracket of Wagon-R.
Splash. The name breathes freshness. Hope the car does that too.
Permalink
February 20, 2008 at 5:53 pm
· Filed under Toyota ·Tagged New Corolla 2008, sedan, Toyota
It’s the 10th generation Toyota that will come to India in August 2008. And the car is here with a vengeance to abort Mission Civic that has taken over Corolla’s forte of being the most desired premium sedan.
While some reports are saying that a 1.6 engine will also be available, 1.8L and 2.0L engines are surely going to rev it up for Toyota. The New Corolla is different from its brethren owing to its sportier and sleeker looks. The interiors retain the same old-Corolla charm.
The design of the new car has been developed in collaboration with styling studios in Turin, Italy. And don’t we just love the Italian designs! 2008 Corolla’s profile is wide and low and the A & C pillars have been remodeled in a way to give an impression of more space and improve the aerodynamics of the car. The front edges and corners have been reshaped in a curve to achieve improved maneuverability.
The only hiccup might be that this Corolla can be a bit over-priced. Whichever it is, the Motown is a-buzz if Toyota will be able to take the dog out for a walk this time instead of Honda.
Permalink
February 19, 2008 at 5:28 pm
· Filed under Fiat ·Tagged Alfa Romeo, Ferrari Scagliettis, Fiat
Our eyes will finally stop being so luxe-starved all the time. And why you ask? Because Fiat is rushing in Alfa Romeo to India.
Fiat has been gasping for fresh air in the Indian autoville and in a bid to make a comeback, is planning to reveal its ace engineering DNA through the uber-chic, deluxe Alfa Romeo. Though the practical introductions from Fiat stables will be sedan Linea and hatchback Grande Punto but Fiat Cinquecento and Bravo and Alfa Romeo will be v-roomed in to increase the celeb status of the brand.
Alfa Romeo will be Fiat’s take on Mercedes, Audi and BMW 3 & 5 and will be most probably priced in the bracket of 27 lakhs to 42 lakhs.
Fiat is indeed very serious about its image in India. It has planned a ‘Magic of India’ drive around the country with an entourage of two Ferrari Scagliettis followed by Fiat Cinquecento and Bravo. Judging by the response that the Ferraris draw, there might be yet another announcement for introduction of those Italian beauties too.
But until that happens, we are more than happy with the Alfa Romeo.
Permalink
February 18, 2008 at 4:58 pm
· Filed under Maruti Suzuki ·Tagged Maruti, Suzuki, sedan, Swift Sedan, Esteem, Dzire
Maruti has been keeping the all new three-box based on the hatchback Swift well under wraps. So much so, that there was no mention or glimpse of it in the Auto Expo. As this gimmick fired our curiosity, we set our hounds free to sniff out a Dzire somewhere and lead us to it. And what we got to know was this.
Maruti seems inspired by the FMCG tradition and has put on offer a product for the difference of every lakh. This is an effort to retain its huge customer base. The new sedan is going to be an offering between Swift and SX4 and will be offered in 6 variants, LXi, VXi and ZXi in petrol and LDi, VDi and ZDi in diesel. The 1.3L multijet engine used in the Swift is something which will be put to use here too. Going to be released in mid-March, the car will be priced between 5 to 7 lakhs.
The sedan is a replica of the hatchback with a boot attached along. And as some spy shots do the rounds of internet, the reactions to the car are mixed. Some think it is amazingly boyish, upbeat and young-looking and others think that Maruti is making a big mistake by phasing Esteem out and bringing in this sedan. SOME are also promising that when the car actually comes out, it is going to take peoples’ breath away and that it resembles Toyota’s Camry from the rear end.
Whichever it is, the hype is building up and Maruti seems all set to ride the crest with panache.
Permalink
February 16, 2008 at 5:55 pm
· Filed under Volkswagen ·Tagged SUV, Tiguan, touareg, Volkswagen
The new Tiguan. Wild, if you want.
That’s how the new Tiguan’s commercial goes. Heidi Klum driving the Sport & Style Tiguan and Seal driving Track & Field Tiguan. Those are not the only variants that are offered by Volkswagen though. A third variant called Trend & Fun is on the platter too.
Soft-roader CRV’s alternative and Volkswagen Touareg’s younger brother, this VW was first produced in 2007 and is going to spice up the Indian SUV scene when it debuts here end of this year or the beginning of next year.
In the models offered outside India, six-speed manual and five-speed automatic gearboxes are an option. The engine options to be offered initially are a 138bhp 2L supercharged and a turbocharged direct-injection engine producing 150bhp. More options in petrol and diesel engines will be offered in the time to come.
Right now only all-wheel drive has been introduced. Front-wheel drive will again be introduced with time. Sport & Style and Trend & Fun have an 18-degree-approach-angle and Track & Field has a 28-degree-approach-angle.
The features are more or less what you will get in a Touareg, only that Tiguan is much smaller. And we think that good things come in small packages. Only they are not necessarily inexpensive. Because this one isn’t.
Permalink
February 15, 2008 at 5:32 pm
· Filed under Ford ·Tagged Concept cars, Fiesta, Ford, global, Verve
The new global Fiesta
Brand Ford’s first global product is ready to go to the assembly line. And guess what has it been named? Ford Fiesta. Yes. But it will be different from the Fiesta we Indians are used to. The new Ford will be launched in Europe somewhere around fall 2008 in 3 and 5 – door hatchback style.
The car is supposed to be introduced to Asia and North America somewhere between 2008 and 2010. The new policy to introduce same cars globally and launch cars in the same platform is a gimmick to save millions spent annually on research and development and manufacturing costs.
These global cars will be tailored according to regional and local tastes but will have the same underpinnings and technology, said Ford. Fiesta was first introduced in 1976 and was a great favorite of Henry Ford II. When it first came, it pronounced lots of changes on the automotive scene and became symbolic of a small car which provided reliable, steadfast and economical transportation.
Previewed earlier as Verve concept cars in Frankfurt Auto Show in late 2007, the Fiesta is out to prove a point. That small necessarily doesn’t mean just-a-commodity. It can very well be a style statement. From whatever has been seen yet, the car looks chic, sophisticated, stylish and full of un-self-conscious oomph!
Well! We raise a toast to that and waiting in anticipation.
Permalink
February 13, 2008 at 5:57 pm
· Filed under Honda ·Tagged 2008, Accord, Honda, sedan
Old Accord is plain Jane compared to this new model and from all the shots I have seen of the new Honda Accord, the side rear profile left me mesmerized. Powerful and dominated by mature lines, this will be the third generation Honda in India since the manufacturer’s introduction here in 2001 and oh-its-so-welcome!
Accord is being offered in a 2.4L 180 bhp 4-cylinder version and a more powerful 3.5L 270 bhp V6 engine. The new version of this already-top-notch-of-its-class car’s length is translating to E-class proportions. This means a longer car, which is also supposed to be wider and taller and hence, more space and luxury for all.
The sharply fashioned headlights, the newly done grille, the re-fashioned rear where rectangular tail-lights have been replaced by wrap-like, stretched out lamps – the way the car has been revamped justify the Rs. 2-lakh added to the already loaded price tag.
Its supposed to come to life to Indians around the middle of this year and once that’s done, we have to see who rules the roost in this premium car segment – Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb or the new Honda Accord.
Permalink
« Previous entries
