AL Nissan Dost undergoing final rounds of testing

The Ashok Leyland Dost that was unveiled to the public a couple of months back is significant in more ways than one. First of all, this is the first product to come out of the Leyland-Nissan Joint-Venture that was signed a couple of years back to make and sell Light Commercial Vehicles in India. Next, the Dost is yet another competitor to the super-successful Tata Ace that is still ruling the market even after the advent of a lot of competitors. Most importantly, it heralds the entry of Ashok Leyland into the LCV segment where it was conspicuous by its absence all these days.

The Dost has a lot of things going for it. The design is moderately attractive with the headlights with integrated indicators being the most impressive part. The protruding nose which gives the Dost slightly odd proportions takes some time getting used to though. With a 1.25 ton payload and bigger 14 inch radials, the Dost will be considerably bigger and ride better than the Ace and other sub-one ton LCVs. The cabin seems to be a nice place to be in and the company is even offering air-conditioning as an option in the top-end variant which is a first in the Commercial Vehicle segment.

The Dost will be powered by a 3 cylinder turbocharged common-rail diesel engine with a power output of 55 bhp. The company is planning to start full-fledged production of the Dost in the festive season after which the Dost will be available for sale through brand-new dealerships coming up across the country. Before the final launch however, the company is doing some final rounds of testing before pitching this all-important model in the market. This fully loaded test vehicle that looks alarmingly rear-heavy was spotted in the Chennai-Bangalore Highway a couple of weeks back.

Just like the U Truck did in the HCV segment and the Viking chassis did in the city bus segment, Ashok Leyland will be hoping that the Dost will create an impact and establish the brand in the LCV space. With more models from Nissan like the Atlas, Civilian and NV Series also being planned for launch in India, the success of Dost is extremely important for the very existence of this Joint-Venture between the two companies. From our side, here is wishing both the companies all success in their first endeavor. Maybe its time for Tata and the Ace family to roll up their sleeves further.

New VW Touareg and new variant of Polo seen testing

The German offensive in the Indian automotive market shows no signs of slowing down. With Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz continuing their relentless assault with new model launches one after the other, will Volkswagen prefer to sit behind and watch its peers in action? Close on the heels of launching the new Passat and the new Jetta in India, Volkswagen seems to be preparing itself for some busy times ahead. Need proof? A host of cars from the Volkswagen group including the new Touareg were seen testing together in Pune.

Like all the other cars in the group, the new Touareg was also without any camouflage indicating that the launch is not too far off. Up front, the new Touareg gets the now-familiar corporate look of Volkswagen that is seen on all its models starting from the Polo to the Passat. Horizontal slatted grilled with chrome strips flanked on either sides by clear trapezoidal headlights gives the new Touareg a more aggressive face compared to the rounded look of its predecessor. From the profile and rear, the Touareg remains largely unchanged except for the stylish new taillights.

Just like the Vento and Jetta, Volkswagen is likely to cash in on the diesel trend in India by plonking in its award-winning TDI technology into the Touareg. Being a Volkswagen, superb build quality and very high levels of fit and finish with a host of comfort and safety features can be expected. All these factors combined with its good macho looks and great off-roading capabilities gives the new Touareg the potential to lead it’s segment with the only dampener being Volkswagen’s lack of premium image compared to its rivals.

The Porsche Cayenne, widely considered by critics to be not quite as capable as the Touareg, comfortably outsells the latter in India due to the brand catchet of Porsche. Also, we all know the fate of Phaeton in India, the ultra-luxury sedan from Volkswagen which was in the news recently for being offered with a mind-boggling discount of 25 Lakhs. Will the new Touareg be in a position to do what the Phaeton didn’t and bring about a change in the perceived image of the brand? Let’s wait and see. The answer will be out in a few months.

Also seen on testing along with the new Touareg were many new variants of existing Volkswagen group models like the Polo and Vento and Skoda’s Fabia, Laura and Yeti. Though more details about these new variants could not be observed, one particular Polo even had steering mounted buttons in it indicating that the company is working to address the issue of Polo’s lack of features compared to the competition. With one of its major grouses all set to become history with this new variant, we can expect Polo’s sales to increase further.

New LHD Tata LCV seen testing in Pune

Of late, Tata Motors is on a roll with many recent launches and quite a lot of new models waiting to hit the market. It’s not surprising though when you consider the fact that the product portfolio of Tata Motors has everything from the Nano mini car to the Prima heavy-duty truck. Though Tata is extremely strong in India, the same cannot be said about them in the international markets and that is where the next phase of growth lies for Tata. The company knows this only too well and models like Xenon, Aria and Prima were all designed to compete globally.

Now, with these shots captured in Pune, it is clear that the next target of Tata is the LCV segment. This particular test vehicle had a huge ‘Tata’ branding at the rear and a partly camouflaged front end. The rear end has nothing remarkable about it but the front end is where all the efforts have gone into. The cabin is pretty modern with upward sloping windows and there is a new triangular frame for the lights. Though the test vehicle had separate round headlights and indicators, we can safely assume the final product to come with a triangular lens cover thus further improving the looks.

Having said that, the front end of the test vehicle was hardly complete with the panel beneath the windshield and the bumper protector missing exposing the internal mechanicals to the elements. The ‘Left Hand Drive’ configuration makes it pretty clear that Tata is planning to export this LCV to other markets as well. Also apparent are the improvements in overall fit and finish and paint quality of the vehicle. The powertrain, the transmission options, the tonnage, the price range and pretty much everything else of this vehicle are yet unknown.

Whatever it may be, it’s once again proved beyond doubt that Tata is not a company to rest on its laurels but is rather a company waiting to grow its wings further. Good luck Tata!

BharatBenz Trucks seen testing in NH4 yet again

“When it rains, it pours” goes a saying. And that is exactly what is happening with BharatBenz, the Indian arm of global commercial-vehicle major Daimler Trucks. Every other month, a group of trucks from this company are seen testing on Indian roads. If you remember correctly, there were already a couple of posts on these trucks over the past two months in which a pair of heavy commercial vehicles and a light commercial vehicle that was remarkably similar to Mitsubishi Fuso were spotted testing separately.

Now, as if to confirm their identity as BharatBenz as was being speculated in the previous two posts, all of them were seen testing in close succession last week in the busy Chennai-Bangalore Highway (NH4). One of the trucks even had the much-worshiped three-pointed star logo at the front as the camouflage has started to tear off. But, as we all know, it would mostly be replaced by the BharatBenz logo at launch. No other details of these trucks like the power-train and transmission options, the payload capacity or the prices have been released by the company yet.

But, one thing is very clear for all of us to sit and take note. This is one company that is planning for a serious assault in the Indian market, going by the extensive testing that the vehicles are being subjected to. If the alarm bells have not started ringing yet at Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, it’s better it starts at least now. If priced right, the combination of good looks, tough build, supreme reliability and the brand value of Benz will surely make life tough for the Indian duo who are currently dominating the market.

BharatBenz (Mitsubishi Fuso) LCV seen testing near Chennai

Blame it on the lack of general knowledge in commercial vehciles or in the increasing number of automobile companies testing their models in the Chennai region or whatever. When this LCV was seen testing near Kanchipuram in NH4 (Chennai-Bangalore Highway) last weekend, it was just not possible for me to confirm it's identity on the spot. Now, after probing and researching the details for three more days, this post is still a speculation.

Though the initial impressions of this LCV hinted that it could be a product from Leyland-Nissan joint-venture, there are more significant details that lead me to decide that this is actually from BharatBenz, Daimler's Indian subsidiary. So, this follows the spyshots of the medium to heavy-duty multi-axle trucks from BharatBenz that I had posted last month.

The most striking similarities between this LCV and the other BharatBenz trucks are the pattern of camouflage and the horizontal slatted grille with a big round space for the logo. Apart from that, the positioning and shape of the headlights and indicators, the slots below the windscreen and the steeply raked front windows bear a strong resemblance to the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter, a brand owned by Damiler. There are full chances that BharatBenz is trying to capitalize on that.

This post might be a speculation but it drives home a crystal clear fact. Daimler, through its dedicated Indian subsidiary BharatBenz, is in for a long haul in the country and is preparing itself for a major onslaught. Going by the frenetic pace and increasing number of models being tested by them in Indian soil, I am sure the other local and global players are already worried.

MAN FE Intercity Bus seen testing in Pune

The Indian commercial vehicle space is getting hotter and hotter with each passing day. The huge success of Volvo, especially in the luxury intercity passenger segment, has spurred many of its global competitors to setup shop in India. Mercedes-Benz made a grand entry a couple of years back to end Volvo’s decade-long monopoly and there are reports that Scania is also trying to make an entry. In the meanwhile, MAN, the German major which has a joint-venture with Force Motors for its commercial vehicles, is planning to launch an intercity bus in India.

 

The company has already started testing this vehicle on public roads and there were a few spy-shots showing the rear view of the bus. So, when this partially-masked bus was seen at Talegaon near Pune a couple of days back with a very similar rear end, there was hardly any doubt about its identity. The front end of this bus, though unique, is nowhere close to the classy looks that the Volvos come with. The profile and rear looks no different to most buses that we see in India, but the fit and finish looked great.

 

Strangely, MAN is coming out with a front-engine model instead of the rear-engine configuration that most luxury buses come up with. Probably, MAN is not trying to compete with Volvo and Mercedes-Benz but is, in fact, trying to slug it out with the high-end front-engine models from our very own Ashok Leyland and Tata. Ashok Leyland’s 12M is currently the biggest player in this segment but the company only sells the chassis while external coach builders build the bodies over them.



If this fully-built-vehicle is launched at a competitive price with now-essential features like a 250 HP engine, air conditioning, air suspension and ABS, it can very well give the 12M a run for its money. Over to you, MAN.

BharatBenz (Daimler) Trucks spotted testing near Chennai

The Germans are invading big-time in all sectors of the Indian automobile industry. As part of that invasion, the German auto major Daimler’s commercial-vehicle division has set up its base at Oragadam near Chennai and is building up its manufacturing facility there. The company even unveiled a huge, first-of-its-kind oval test-track at Oragadam and launched its specific-for-India brand ‘BharatBenz’ along with its logo a few months back.

While the first model launch from BharatBenz is still a few months away, the trucks have started venturing out onto public roads for undergoing real-world testing. A couple of those trucks were spotted testing last weekend in the NH4 (Chennai-Bangalore Highway). There are fair chances that these are the clearest spy shots yet of the BharatBenz trucks in India. There was no doubt that these trucks belong to BharatBenz as design similarities with Mercedes-Benz’s international models were clearly visible.



Both the trucks were medium to heavy duty haulers and had two axles at the rear. Most of the design elements in both the trucks were similar except for some exceptions like the taillights and the rear crash guard. At first glance, you can immediately notice the solid build quality in the body of these trucks and everything looked fit enough to withstand abuse on our roads. Also impressive was the truck’s amazing stability in an emergency braking situation that was encountered. The price is expected to be on the higher side too.   



The front end of the trucks were partially camouflaged hiding most parts of the grille and the bumper with integrated headlights. The overall design bears strong resemblance to the other popular global models of Mercedes-Benz like the Actros. In one of the trucks, the slotted grille and positioning of the round BharatBenz logo can also be seen. The rear had nothing noteworthy except for the horizontal slotted taillights in one of them. No other details of these trucks like the name, the payload capacity and the power-train options have been officially released.

Tata Military Vehicle seen testing in Pune

We all know that Tata Motors makes an enviable line-up of vehicles starting from the little car Nano to the heavy duty truck Prima. Some of us also know that some of Tata’s vehicles are being heavily modified for military purposes and are sold to the Indian Army. What we didn’t know or atleast, I didn’t know till now, was that Tata is developing a full-blown and dedicated military vehicle on its own. That is why I was startled to see the Tata logo in this vehicle while it was passing in the opposite direction near Talegaon in Pune.



It is so obvious that this vehicle is intended for military usage and not for us civilians. The military green camouflage paint just makes sure that doubts, if any, about its target audience are put to rest. At first glance, the massive size of the vehicle strikes you immediately and commands your respect. In fact, the passenger compartment is set so high that small ladders are provided in the sides to climb onto them. Also attracting attention were the peculiar-looking muffler and the big, rugged tires.



With ‘Temp’ registration plates on it, it seems that the vehicle is being tested. All in all, it looked all set to serve the Indian Army by conquering the rocky mountains and the snowy peaks. As nothing more about this vehicle could be inferred, it would be nice if someone can throw some light on the proposed name, power-train and other details of this vehicle. Once again, the same question that had come up a hundred times before and went unanswered comes up again – Is there anything that Tata can’t do? Apparently, 'none' it seems.

Force Motors SUV seen testing again

Now, this is turning out to be a regular affair. Once again, the new SUV from Force Motors was spotted testing near Pune. The huge size of the vehicle makes sure that you don’t miss it even when going in the opposite direction. Even after so many spy-shots doing rounds in the internet over the past year or so, there seems to be absolutely no firm date from Force Motors about the launch of this SUV. Given the rigorous testing that it is undergoing, we can only assume that the model, when launched, would be worth the long wait.



All we know about the vehicle is that it is closely based on the Chinese Guangdong Foday Explorer III, not quite a benchmark in the first place. Just google the name and what you see will be a big, outdated looking Chinese SUV. The interiors, though not bad, are not too impressive either. But, it is definitely much better than any of the current models from Force Motors. Another much-publicized fact is that the power-train and drive-train of this new SUV is from Mercedes-Benz and it’s handling was tuned with the help of experts from Lotus.



There are widespread rumors going around that the company is planning to position this SUV as a premium lifestyle vehicle. But, will the exteriors and interiors be given some significant tweaks to make it look like one? Will the much-touted power-train, drive-train and handling of this SUV be in line with what we expect from such stalwarts like Mercedes-Benz and Lotus? Only Force Motors can answer these questions by launching this SUV as soon as possible. Let the wait continue!

Force Motors SUV spotted testing in Pune

What you see in these spy shots would probably carry the entire hopes and future of  Force Motors in the passenger car segment. Though the company is doing moderately well in the commercial vehicle space, their passenger car lineup is in total shambles. But, this vehicle may change the scenario completely.

This all-important model is believed to be closely based on the Chinese Guangdong Foday Explorer III. But if you are already writing it off, better don’t. The powertrain and drivetrain of the vehicle is touted to be from Daimler and the world-renowned Lotus has worked in getting the handling of the vehicle right. Will Force Motors get the act of mix and match right this time?

At first glance, the vehicle looks like it could indeed carry the burden of the entire company on it's shoulders. It’s so big and massive that it commands an imposing road presence. But if it ends up looking similar to the Chinese SUV that it is based on, the inoffensive but dated design would ensure that it isn't a head-turner on road. Compared to modern rivals, the design sure lacks flair and some curves.

The interiors are sure to be extremely spacious with enough room to accommodate three rows of passengers and their luggage as well. Quality and durability of the interiors would be a big question though. Hopefully, the mechanicals with inputs from stalwarts like Daimler and Lotus should be one positive aspect of this vehicle. But, if Force Motors wants to project this as a luxury SUV as they claim it to be, they really need to spruce up the interiors and the exteriors.

Toyota Etios Liva seen testing in Chennai

Of the many things that makes Toyota special, the most important is their policy of committing less and delivering more. Time and again, they have thrived by following this policy and this recent episode in India is a classic example of that. When the Etios sedan made its debut, there were a flurry of bookings which Toyota was obviously not able to meet. Immediately, the company announced that the scheduled launch of the Etios Liva hatchback would be postponed until the pending orders for the sedan are fulfilled.



Now, that is not something which every company would do. Most of them would just be willing to increase the sales and hence their profits irrespective of the plight of the waiting customers. But that is Toyota for you. Now that the flutter created by the Etios sedan has settled down, it is expected that the Liva would finally be launched by June 2011. As we are nearing the launch dates, it seems that the car is undergoing some final test runs before being put into the market.



A couple of Liva hatchbacks accompanied by an Etios sedan were spotted waiting at a toll gate in the Chennai-Bangalore Highway with their badges masked. It is clear that these are the same cars that have been spotted over the past few months by the automotive media. Indians are traditionally known for their strong penchant towards the Japanese automotive brands, especially Toyota. This coupled with an already strong demand for the Etios sedan could well make the Liva a smash hit in India.



If you can get over the conservative looks of the car and some glaring cost-cutting efforts in the interiors, you just can’t go wrong with the Liva. Just like every other Toyota, its bulletproof reliability, powerful yet fuel-efficient engine and good fit and finish will make the Liva an enticing buy. And just like the sedan, the Liva will be terrific value for money too!

All-new Ford Fiesta undergoing final rounds of testing

Though Ford has already unveiled the all-new Fiesta in India, the fact that the car is still not on sale to the public makes this as significant as the spy-shots of other yet-to-be-launched models. Just like they did for the Figo, Ford seems to be doing some final testing in a fleet of all-new Fiestas before putting it in the market. Here is a group of Fiestas spotted in the NH45 (Chennai-Trichy Highway).

The new Fiesta is a head turner no doubt, more so in the unique-to-Ford 'Turquoise Blue' color that was loved so much in the previous Fiesta 1.6S. The trademark trapezoidal grille, the chrome-ringed foglamps, the sweeping headlights that extends well into the front fenders and the tipped-forward profile makes the car look aggressive and sporty. The rear though looks a bit bulbous and heavy because of the way in which the boot is integrated and the small taillights.

The Hyundai Verna has taken this segment by storm with many standard features on offer and Ford seems to be well-prepared with its own set of first-in-segment features for the Fiesta. The cruise control and voice-activated commands are touted to be the highlights of this car. Going by the reviews in the press, the rear passenger space seems to be the only negative aspect of this car compared to the competitors. Like all Fords, the ride and handling is said to be amongst the best in the segment. 



Whatever it is, Ford should bring the Fiesta at the earliest to stop Hyundai from running away with the initial popularity and sales. Wake up Honda! After the Vento and the Verna, the all-new Fiesta will be out soon to spoil your 'City' party further.

EDIT: New Tata Safari spotted testing in Pune (or) Is it Force Motors SUV?

For us auto-enthusiasts, every visit to Pune turns out to be a blessing as we get to see many yet-to-be-launched automobiles doing rounds there. Apart from being an automotive manufacturing hub, the fact that Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), that approves every automobile launched in the country, is located in Pune only helps matters. And I was not disappointed during my recent visit too. On the way back to airport yesterday, I happened to see this fully-masked SUV parked on the roadside in the Kirkee area of the city.

Since our car went past the test-vehicle in a flash, I was not able to observe the minute details. Though the full camouflage and design of the alloys makes its identity a little suspicious, there are reasons why I claim this to be the all-new Safari. The Global SUV (W201) by Mahindra has been steadily losing camouflage of late revealing many of its details while the new SUV by Force Motors looks much bigger and different in the spy shots released. More than everything else, the rear-view mirrors that look very similar to those in the existing Safari gives the strongest hint about its identity.



So, it is safe to assume that this is the all-new Safari, which the media claims would be renamed as Merlin when its finally launched. If it is so, then Tata has got the proportions of the vehicle absolutely perfect and spot-on. I really don’t know whether it’s the angle in which the snap was taken or the car really is so well-proportioned. The existing Safari, with its classic styling and legendary rear seat comfort has attained an iconic status in India and I just hope and wish that Tata would let the legacy continue with the all-new Safari. Oops, the new Merlin or whatever Tata likes to call it.



EDIT: There are quite a lot of claims that this is Force Motor's new SUV and not Tata Safari Merlin. I still have doubts about this being the new SUV from Force Motors. I have already posted some shots of the Force Motors SUV being tested in Pune and it looks quite different and bulky than this one. Anyway, it would be nice if someone can clear this confusion. Thanks!

Ashok Leyland rear-engined bus spotted testing in Chennai

Not a week passes by without spotting something interesting in Chennai roads to ramble about. Just a fortnight ago, I had posted some snaps of an old Ashok Leyland bus being tested and speculated that the company may be testing the Neptune engine in that body. A couple of days back, I saw the iBus on test but could not manage to take snaps.

Not surprisingly, here is something interesting yet again. But surprisingly, it comes from the same company. Late yesterday night, I saw yet another Ashok Leyland bus with 'On Test' stickers and 'Test' registration plates on it. It was rear-engined this time and just like the previous ones, the body was far from perfect and showed signs of having taken quite a beating.



Spotting three models being tested in public roads by the same company in three weeks has left me completely baffled and clueless except for the fact that the Indian Commercial Vehicle segment should get ready for an extensive onslaught from the Chennai-based company once it completes its testing and launches these models for sale.

Nissan Sunny sedan spotted in Chennai

Nissan is slowly and steadily making inroads as a mainstream automotive manufacturer in India. With just a handful of dealers in major cities, the company is constantly selling around 2000 units of its Micra hatchback every month. And here is proof that Nissan is not planning to stop with that and is getting ready for an assault in the mid-size sedan segment.

On a casual drive off the GST Road in Chennai yesterday evening, I spotted this all-new Nissan Sunny/Versa sedan parked with minimum camouflage. Fresh on the heels of global premiere at the New York Auto Show last week, Nissan is expected to launch this sedan in India by end of this year or early next with the 'Sunny' badge.



Though the taillights and boot lip look similar to those on Swift Dzire, Nissan has managed to do a much better job with the integration of boot unlike the former. The other attractive elements include alloy wheels and the chrome surround over the front grille. Overall, there is nothing catchy nor offensive about the car's design. But, compared to competitors like Fiat Linea and Hyundai Verna, the Sunny definitely has to play catch-up.



The interiors too were very similar to the American version with the slab-like center console taking prime place. Having equipped the Micra with a slew of segment-first features, we can expect Nissan to do the same with the Sunny too. But, will it be enough for Nissan to shake up the segment? Let's wait and see.

Speculation - Is Ashok Leyland testing the Neptune engine in this bus?

While driving in NH45 a couple of days back, I happened to see this Ashok Leyland bus with ‘On Test’ stickers plastered on the front and rear. At first glance, the far-from-immaculate condition of the test vehicle, with its age-old outer body and damages here and there, tried its best to divert my attention elsewhere. But, on closer inspection, I was able to make out that the company was probably using this old body to test some new internal mechanicals.



So what can it be? Would it be a new engine or transmission option or was it something related to suspension and drive-train? The immediate thought that comes to mind is the Neptune series of engines that were launched at the 2010 Auto Expo. After making huge noises at the launch event, Ashok Leyland went silent on the Neptune series and as of today, the engine has not yet been launched in any of the company’s models.



The Neptune series is slated to come in inline 4 and 6 cylinder configurations, with power output ranging from 160 to 380 hp and an ability to comply upto Euro V emission norms. This all-new series of engines, which is being developed in-house by Ashok Leyland with technical assistance from AVL of Austria, is expected to power almost the entire new generation trucks and buses of the company for both domestic and international markets.



In a recent interview, Mr. Rajiv Saharia, ED-Marketing of Ashok Leyland, said that field trials are being conducted with the Neptune engine and the initial feedback has been positive. So, in all probability, this should be the Neptune engine which is being tested before being launched in the market. But, as already declared, this post is a mere speculation. So, I would like you all to take it with a pinch of salt.

BMW 3 Series without badges spotted in Chennai

The onslaught from Bavaria is showing no signs of slowing down. Seemingly not content with taking over the leadership of the Indian luxury segment, BMW is wasting no time in getting it's latest models and versions to India.



I happened to see this 3 Series sedan in Chennai last week, where I guess it was being tested by BMW. Though the car looks perfectly stock and like any other 3 Series out on the road, the absence of badges anywhere in the car coupled with the test number plates make it look a little suspicious.



It could be an already existing variant in India in which case this post goes totally invalid. But, it could also very well be a new variant being tested with badges removed to avoid early flutters. If so, what could it be? In India, the 3 Series sedan is currently being offered with 3 engine options - 2 petrols (320i, 330i) and 1 diesel (320d).



Scanning through BMW's international lineup which includes many engine variants with different power outputs, I would place my bet on the 330d. India being a predominantly diesel market, launching a more powerful diesel variant would be the most logical thing for BMW, if it decides to launch a new variant of the 3 Series.



Let's keep our fingers crossed. By the way, don't miss out the all-new BMW 6 Series, which is scheduled for launch in India later this month.

Hyundai i45 spotted testing in NH4

Thanks to a friend of mine, what you see here is Hyundai’s yet-to-be-launched car in the D segment. Badged as Sonata in most international markets and strategically renamed i45 in certain markets including India, the model has been a runaway success for Hyundai world-wide. With sales of over 200,000 units in North America last year, this sixth-generation Sonata is giving the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord sleepless nights with its combination of superb styling, feature-rich interiors, advanced technology and multiple variants (Inline 4, Hybrid and Turbo).

In India, the i45 will be competing with models like Honda Accord, Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat, the former two being the most successful. But, unlike USA and rest of the world, where the Sonata is comfortably cruising ahead of its rivals, the case in India is a little different. Due to Hyundai’s relative lack of brand image in the luxury segment, none of its models above 10 Lac Rupees, except the initial Sonata and the most recent Santa Fe, have succeeded in our country.

Having said that, if one model could change that perception and build up the image of Hyundai in India, it has to be this. Just look at the pictures to know why. The i45 has one of the finest forms yet of ‘Fluidic Sculpture’, Hyundai’s new design philosophy. Though the front end with its big chrome grille and large wraparound headlights looks a bit overdone, the profile and the rear of the car are superbly designed. Undoubtedly, when launched, the i45 would be the best-looking car in its segment with terrific road presence.

Knowing Hyundai, we can safely assume the interiors to be feature-packed and made of very high quality. Like other markets, the car is expected to come with a 2.4 litre direct injected gasoline engine (GDI) producing around 200 PS, which would make it powerful yet fuel-efficient. The absence of a diesel engine may be a disadvantage in India, given the number of Hyundai CRDi loyalists here. Overall, the i45 has all the ingredients to succeed in India purely on its merit. And if it doesn’t, it would not be Hyundai’s fault at all, but very much ours.

Ford Fiesta 'Classic' spotted testing in Chennai

When Ford decided to discontinue the Ikon, it was clearly aware of the fact that it is creating a void between the Figo and the existing Fiesta. Also, with the all-new Fiesta on its way to India before the end of the year, which in all probability will be positioned even higher than the current model, that gap is only going to get bigger.

Ford has found out a smart way to bridge that gap. Before the launch of the new Fiesta, the existing Fiesta would be repositioned in the lower segment and they have decided to call it as Fiesta Classic. Now don't ask me what is so classic in this classic. It is just a stripped out and cheaper version of the existing Fiesta to make way for the new model.

When I saw this Fiesta from behind with a red number plate, I guessed it would be the Classic undergoing road trials and it proved to be right. There was this 'Classic' sticker placed just below the Fiesta badge. From what I saw, it was the EXi variant of the existing car with those black mirrors, door handles and number plate garnish. The fog lamps were absent as well. Apart from that, there were no changes to the looks, which is a good thing. From a quick glance, I couldn't notice any changes to the interiors either.



So, with those nice looks, sorted out chassis and good combination of Duratec Petrol and Duratorq Diesel engines, all I would say is the Fiesta Classic would be more than a match and a successor to the Ikon if its priced right. The best bet for Ford would be to price this car between 5.75 to 6.75 Lacs. Anything less would affect the Figo and anything more could affect the New Fiesta.

Hyundai 800cc Small Car (HA) spied testing in NH4

The Chennai-Bangalore highway (NH4) is turning out to be a hot spot of activity for automobile companies for testing their yet-to-be-launched models. Most recently, the highly publicized and much awaited 800cc car of Hyundai, being referred to as 'HA' was caught testing in the highway near the company's factory. When I spotted this camouflaged car, it was immediately apparent that it was a Hyundai, the 'headlights' making sure that I didn't mistake this for any other model.

At first sight, its clear that this new model will continue Hyundai's international styling trend that we all are now familiar with in the i10. The fluidic headlights with clear partition for indicators, the hexagonal grille (as outlined by the camouflage), the upward sloping rear windows and the tipped-forward aggressive stance - all are clearly visible. Overall, we can safely expect the car to bear a strong family resemblance to other Hyundai cars, especially the i10 and that's no bad thing at all.



The car also seem to be noticeably smaller than the other two tall boys from Hyundai - the Santro & i10. But, when its main competitor is going to be the Alto, it only makes sense for Hyundai to come out with a similar sized car. Its a known fact that Hyundai is developing a new 800cc 3-cylinder engine in the 'Epsilon' platform to power this car. The Epsilon engine, in its current 4-cylinder form, has been doing duty in the Santro since 1998 and more recently in the base versions of the i10 as well.



Though Hyundai is still tight lipped about the car's launch date, its being widely speculated that it will hit the roads in the third quarter of 2011. If priced competitively at around 2.5 to 3 Lacs, we can surely expect the car to take the fight to India's numero uno best-seller, the Alto, which has been enjoying a monopoly in that segment. Personally, I can't wait long to see this happen.