Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 10, 2012, 4:43 am
Hyundai India is all set to re-enter the D segment with their new contender – the all-new Sonata. The Sonata will pick it up from where the old Embera left off. Hyundai’s first Sonata was quite a successful product in the Indian market owing to its Mercedes-looking front fascia. However, the lat...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 10, 2012, 3:18 am
M&M has a knack of knowing when to bring the replacement models in the market is such a manner that maximum is obtained from the outgoing model and minimum cannibalization happens within the existing portfolio. Toyota Kirloskar Motor just gave the Innova a comprehensive revamp and immediately it ca...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 10, 2012, 3:01 am
Compared to say the Vento and Verna, the sales volumes of the Linea may not be significant but the Italian’s road presence is unmatched by the competition. Fiat India will hope sales improve with independent dealerships and amidst the first models to grace them will be the Linea facelift. Last mo...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 10, 2012, 1:57 am
Maruti Suzuki, one of the oldest manufacturers in India, has just crossed an historical landmark. The company has now sold more than 10 million units since its inception. The 10 millionth vehicle, a Red Swift Vxi, was sent to its proud owner in Coimbatore from the Manesar factory. Established in 19...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 10, 2012, 1:51 am
If you clearly remember, back in November 2011, we got you a review of the Ford Fiesta Automatic. We expected the car to be launched at the Auto Expo. Unfortunately, Ford India had other plans. We don’t know what caused the delay but whatever it is, the wait is over! Ford India has just updated i...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 9, 2012, 10:54 am
... last month. Here’s the new Touareg spotted in Delhi by reader ... earlier this week. The new Touareg is nothing new to IAB ... about it. For some reason Volkswagen chose not to launch it ... rupees. Our friends at many Volkswagen dealerships tell us that they ... to price the five-s...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 9, 2012, 9:30 am
Earlier today Mitsubishi released the first image with limited details on the 2013 Outlander, the world debut of which will be staged at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It will have two engine choices for either 2WD or 4WD. The 2.0-liter MIVEC petrol engine may not be the practical option for diese...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 9, 2012, 6:50 am
From those fabulous marketing campaigns to those steadily climbing sales numbers, the Volkswagen group is on a mission to keep everyone interested in their products. The mother company is taking extra care of little one Audi to make it shine in its endeavors. The Volkswagen group has plans to doubl...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 9, 2012, 6:12 am
... Volvo – S60 with the same engine on the 15th of this month. The Volvo XC60 will directly compete against Audi Q5, Land Rover Freelander 2 and BMW X3. Strangely, the Volvo XC60 is much cheaper than the German rivals despite the fact that the Germans are assembled in India and the XC60 is imp...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 9, 2012, 5:30 am
Valentine’s day is just around the corner. Your partner’s expectations are touching new highs. Roses, chocolates and champagne are just too bourgeois for your liking? Want to make your valentine feel really special? We have just the thing for you! Tata Motors Goa dealer Auto Industries has laun...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 8, 2012, 8:16 am
click on the thumbnail to read the full story Fiat has started testing the rebadged Dodge Dart in China. Many in India falsely believe the rebadged Dart is the new or successor to the Linea. This is incorrect as with a facelift in the pipeline, the current Linea has some more time before hanging up...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 8, 2012, 3:05 am
Mahindra has just unveiled the facelift of the Xylo at its Kandivali manufacturing plant in Maharashtra and announced prices for the same. There are a total of 5 variants - D2 and D4 for commercial segment E4 and E8 for family E9 positioned as the luxury variant Mahindra Xylo facelift variant and p...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 8, 2012, 2:16 am
This is the true litmus test of any car. The Premier Rio+ may be aesthetically pleasing and has simple and basic interior. But it needs good drivability within city and on the highway for customers to adopt it. Although the demands may sound simple, it is actually the tallest order for any car. Has...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 8:31 am
Just when Mahindra is supposed to give the mighty Xylo a small facelift tomorrow, Chevrolet India has quietly slipped in its challenger – Tavera Neo3 at a tempting price of 6.72 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The Tavera Neo3 was showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo featuring minor changes to exterior...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 8:10 am
Speculation is rife about Tata Motors investing in Jucu, near the Cluj-Napoca area of Romania after a report emerged on news service MediaFax. The county’s council chief Alin Tise said meetings were held with Tata officials but declined to elaborate on the matters discussed between the two parties...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 4:35 am
The passionate folks at Cousins On Cars have photographed the basic version of the Xylo facelift with black bumpers and plain looks. The side profile is the same, the tail lights have subtle revisions (note the clear lens portion) and all variants get a new steering wheel. Mahindra sells two versio...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 3:59 am
The Premier Rio+ now looks chic and stylish from the outside. But is it the same story on the inside? Is the build quality right for the Indian conditions? How good is the quality of plastics? Is it spacious enough to accommodate an average family with luggage? Let’s find out: The number of chan...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 3:41 am
No this isn’t a Maruti 800 driven over a center median by a drunk driver. In China a company named Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Corporation produced the three-wheeled version of the Alto (800 in India) briefly in the 90′s. The ‘Qingqi Alto Trycicle’ was manufactured with a 125cc, 12KW motorbike ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 3:14 am
The Volkswagen Up’s Indian foray with the XL1 concept’s uber-frugal diesel engine maybe a heated boardroom discussion topic in Chakan and Wolfsburg at this moment, but there are countries the Up’s reached where Volkswagen’s marketing team is busy coining the term “creative absurdity.” T...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 2:15 am
What’s with the Mahindra XUV500 that so many Indians can’t seem to get enough of? After attracting an impressive 8,000 bookings in a few days after the launch in 5 cities, the XUV500 yet again exposes the treasure chest hidden in the 10-15 lakh rupee SUV segment in its second round of bookings �...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 4, 2012, 10:55 am
Are you a fan of IndianAutosBlog? Are you a person who’ll do anything for Top Gear or the Bugatti Veyron? Do you extremely like and dislike certain cars? Whichever the case we have big news for you! IndianAutosBlog invites petrolheads to update their status messages on their Facebook account and ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 3, 2012, 4:56 pm
We’d love to know your thoughts on the two topics we’ve discussed in this under-four minute audio clip. Put them down in the comment box below (after clicking through) as we’d love to collectively discuss on this further. If you are reading this on our daily email, you will have to click on t...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 3, 2012, 10:04 am
With almost everyone today using Facebook, Twitter and Youtube you need the safety of Area 51 to keep something secretive for very long. Case in point is the new Mercedes A-Class caught completely undisguised on the public roads of Canary Islands. When the unsuspecting Mercedes crew are filming for...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 3, 2012, 9:32 am
Ssangyong has started retailing a special edition Korando LE in the UK market. It stands apart from the usual variants through 18 inch bespoke alloy wheels, rear spoiler and privacy glass. Interior additions such as heated front seats, leather trimmed steering wheel and gear lever, parking sensors ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 3, 2012, 4:00 am
Fiat has started working on the facelift for the Linea in Europe and the first spyshots were posted here on IAB yesterday. Fiat India introduced MY2012 Linea last month with no cosmetic changes that continues as the mainstay model for the rest of 2012. In 2013, there’s a good chance of seeing the ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 6:12 am
click on the thumbnail to read the full story Shanghai-VW has cloned the latest generation Passat, made it smaller and is introducing it as the Volkswagen Lavida in the Chinese market. Everything from the car’s daylight opening, tail light, kink on the C-Pillar to the car’s headlights are simil...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 3:43 am
Mahindra exhibited the Rexton at the Delhi Auto Expo and we weren’t the only ones who felt the need for a redesign. The Rexton joining hands with the Korando will sit above the XUV500. Mahindra has announced that the Rexton’s launch will be conducted by November 2012. Examining its ecosystem, t...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 2:46 am
... not true much before the launch). Renault India finally showcased its Pulse during the Indian GP in Delhi. When we saw the Pulse, we immediately realized that the Pulse was just a re-badged Nissan Micra. However, Renault waited till the Indian Auto Expo ... launch, Renault has managed to ba...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 2:36 am
Fiat India’s CEO Rajeev Kapoor told IndianAutosBlog.com four weeks back that the company will work on facelifts of its current range, without putting a date on it. He categorically stated that 2012 will be reserved exclusively for the MY2012 Punto and Linea to penetrate the market. Fiat is workin...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 2:00 am
BMW has always been known for create segments that no one would have ever dreamed off. Can you imagine the look on the designer’s face when BMW CEO walked in to the boardroom and said “Right chaps, we will make an SUV which will look like a Coupe”. Even the world automotive press questioned th...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 9:12 am
Ford India is organizing a three hour free motoring skills program on the 25th of February exclusively for Indian Autos Blog readers in Chennai. The “Ford Driving Skills for Life” is a globally conducted program that has trained over 3,000 participants so far. It was launched to promote safe dri...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 4:20 am
After showing you spyshots of the refreshed Xylo testing near Pune and presenting Shoeb’s speculative rendering, today we bring you images of the Xylo facelift completely uncamouflaged, thanks to user Dieseling from Team-BHP.com. The front-end has gone through a sea of change and feels like some ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 3:26 am
Indian Autos Blog is attending the Mumbai launch of the Swift Dzire today evening. We’ll bring you in-depth analysis on the facts, strategy and marketing in a dedicated blog post. Prices of the new Dzire have been announced by Maruti Suzuki in New Delhi a few minutes ago. Maruti Swift Dzire petr...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 3:04 am
Renault India showcased the robust Duster at the Auto Expo last month. Its launch is expected to unfold in mid-2012. Renault has not finished conducting tests on the various system on-board this mini SUV vehicle. Renault India will be offering 4
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 2:00 am
If you recall two years ago DC Design set off on designing a custom Tata Nano expected to retail for over one crore rupees. You won’t hear that everyday – no wonder it made headline news around the world. Newspapers in India ran the story days before the Auto Expo. Some publication went as far a...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 1:13 am
Click on the thumbnail to go read the full story. Dacia’s finally ready to bring out the Lodgy mini van as seen in this spy video. The Renault-owner Romanian low-price vehicle manufacturer previewed the new arrival a few weeks back using pictures. It will be seen for the first time at the Geneva ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 12:43 am
Last week IndianAutosBlog.com got a chance to test drive the new Swift Dzire that is going to be launched today. New? How new is it? Maruti Suzuki claims to have put in 150 new features. The Swift Dzire is already the leader of its segment with a 39% market share i.e. about 3.3 lakh units sold in th...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 3:07 pm
Thanks to one of our readers AR, we’re able to show you brochure shots of the Maruti Swift Dzire notchback that launches today. The vehicle shares its platform with the new Swift and has a tiny boot to qualify for excise duty benefits. The engines and features have also been carried over with subt...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 6:47 am
Following its global debut in 2011, Mercedes Benz India has introduced the GL-Class Grand Edition in the Indian market in two levels. The GL Grand Edition Executive is priced at 60.99 lakhs and GL Grand Edition Luxury is priced at 65.5 lakhs (ex-showroom). Features exclusively reserved for the Gran...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 5:59 am
Indian Autos Blog fan Pappu Hatela mailed us three spyshots of the mini Xylo he snapped during its tests in Bangalore. Unlike its eight-seat sibling, the mini Xylo will be marketed as a junior SUV. The introduction is just months away now, by the festival season the launch will unfold. See interior...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 4:11 am
Soon after Ford, Maruti and Renault made their plans official, General Motors is the latest to believe that compact SUVs are the way forward in India. Financial Chronicle newspaper is carrying a story with the newly appointed president of the Indian operations on record about their interest to build...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 3:14 am
Edit – On revisiting the spyshot, we’re starting to suspect that this could be the new Audi A6. Our well-informed Twitter follower Gavin compiled an image (left) having the Audi A6 on top, Motorbeam’s spyshot in the center and the A4 facelift at the bottom for a comparative study. The spyshot...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 2:32 am
Back in February 2011, when Peugeot officially announced that it will enter the Indian market, the whole of India’s automotive community rejoiced. Then we saw the cars testing on the Indian roads and gave them a thumbs up. The French manufacturer finally zeroed in on a site in Gujarat for their pl...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 2:22 am
Now that Volkswagen has showcased the 5 door variant of the UP!, it was about time Skoda gave us a glimpse of their 5-door Citigo. Not that you should be surprised or anything because IAB viewers are already seen the renderings of the 5 door Citigo. We liked the 3 door version of the Skoda Citigo a...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 2:18 am
Showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo in early January, Nissan has moved to the final stage of the Evalia’s development – sending it to a production line. Nissan will begin the roll out of the Innova basher at the Oragadam plant in Chennai in August. The market introduction shall take place around t...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 12:58 am
In Romania, Dacia wore a comedy tragedy mask as the Logan was the best selling car shifting 15,808 units in 2011 yet representing almost a 31 percent drop in sales compared to 2010. Skoda managed a sale of 4,138 units of Octavia putting it in the second position trailed by the Renault Clio in third ...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 27, 2012, 8:30 am
... 95% of the time, it will either be a 525d or 530d, which means it’s a diesel. And it doesn’t matter whether it is Mercedes or Audi, the story remains the same. Diesel sells. Period. BMW recently unveiled the M5 for India at the 2012 Auto Expo. The ... performance M brand in India for 20...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 27, 2012, 6:42 am
The marketeers at Ford Brazil have scratched their heads, realized that sporty and Fiesta go hand in hand and presented a nicely kitted-up edition of the Ford Fiesta in Brazil. Yes, the Figo is sold as the Fiesta in Brazil and it looks a little odd for Indian taste. The Fiesta Storm edition include...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 27, 2012, 6:22 am
Edit – Thanks to one of our eagle eyed readers, we understand that the image shown below is of the i30. Hyundai has not released any images of the facelifted i20. In Slovakia, Hyundai has supposedly released a teaser image of the i20 facelift speculated to touch down at the Geneva Motor Show in u...
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Shrawan Raja posted an article on Indian Autos Blog - Jan 27, 2012, 5:21 am
We’ve just shown you two images of the next generation Santa Fe/ix45 with absolutely no camouflage. Shoeb has prepared a rendering to provide you an impression of the side profile. The ix45 breaks cover at the New York Motor Show about three months from now replacing the model running since April...
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