Audi Vs BMW Markets in India

The battle of the Teutons just got interesting even as Audi India edged passed competitor and compatriot BMW India in the June 2012 sales. Audi managed to sell 759 cars amidst difficult market conditions even as BMW could manage only 750 units, 9 units lesser than that of Audi India. The Volkswagen group owned car maker Audi is fast catching up with BMW in terms of sales in the Indian car market on the back of new launches and aggressive price positioning. While Audi aims to displace BMW from the top perch in India by 2014, the sales momentum currently seems to heavily be in Audi’s favor to achieve that feat much earlier.

2012 Audi Q3 Crossover SUV

2013 Mini Cooper Interiors

The 2013 Mini Cooper range of sporty hatchbacks will now get a more conventional speedometer instead of the current dashboard design of mounting the speedometer centrally. The main reason for the central mounting of the speedometer being done away with is due to safety concerns. The central mounting of the speedometer is said to be distracting to the driver, which could possibly cause accidents. So, the current Mini range come with a digital speedometer in the conventional position along with th centrally mounted analog unit. However, the 2013 models of the Mini Cooper range will feature the speedometer behind the steering wheel.

2013 Mini Cooper Interiors Spyshot

2012 Hyundai Elantra Fluidic Sedan

Hyundai India has yet again put the proposed diesel engine plant on the back burner even as the Indian government’s policy uncertainty on diesel fuel’s pricing and the taxation on diesel engined cars remains an unknown area. Due to these factors, the South Korean automaker is not yet certain of setting up a diesel engine manufacturing plant with an investment of INR 400 Crores at its existing production facility at Sriperumbudur, off Chennai. Currently, Hyundai imports all its diesel engines from South Korea. The car maker has been contemplating a diesel engine manufacturing plant in India for a while now.

2012 Hyundai Elantra Fluidic Sedan

2013 Volvo XC40 Crossover

At this year’s Paris Motor Show scheduled to happen later this year, Chinese Geely owned Swedish car maker Volvo will launch an entry level product in the form of the XC40 crossover, which is essentially a jacked up V40 with a more aggressive design to go with its crossover badging. Most of the specifications and interiors of the XC40 crossover are expected to be very similar to the V40 hatchback.  Even before the official unveiling can happen at Paris, the 2013 Volvo XC40 has been caught uncamouflaged. So, here it is, in all its undisguised glory.

2013 Volvo XC40 Crossover Spyshot

2012 F30 BMW 3 Series Sedan

BMW India will launch the all new 3 Series sedan, a very important car for the German luxury car maker, on the 3rd of August, 2012. The F30 3 Series sedan is the latest in the 3 series range and in its latest iteration, the car is both bigger on the outside and the inside. A grown up 3 Series sedan is what the F30 model actually is, with the length increasing by 93 mm, wheelbase by almost 2 inches and width by 1.5 inches. This car will be instrumental in BMW India fending off competitor and compatriot Audi,which is close on the heels of BMW in terms of sales figures in India.

2012 F30 BMW 3 Series Sedan

2012 Ford Classic Titanium Sedan

India has dumped the Fiesta moniker from the previous generation Fiesta, also known as the Fiesta Classic. The change in name could be due to the fact that Ford already has the replacement of the Fiesta sedan selling in India as the all new Fiesta. In a bid for brand differentiation, the Ford Fiesta Classic will now be known as the Ford Classic.

2012 Ford Classic Titanium Sedan

2012 Mercedez Benz B-Class MPV Sports Tourer

Mercedes Benz India will unveil the B-Class Sports Tourer on the 19th of July, 2012. The B-Class will be positioned as a sports tourer and will be the German luxury car brand’s least priced offering in India. The car is expected to generate big volumes for Mercedes Benz India even as the brand tries to fight its way back to the top. Currently, Mercedes Benz is the third largest luxury car maker in India, after BMW and Audi. Mercedes Benz will assemble the the B-Class Sports Tourer in India through the completely knocked down(CKD) at Chakan, off Pune.

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Sports Tourer

2013 Fiat 500X Crossover

It is of common information that Fiat has been working on a crossover based on the Grande Punto platform. However, instead of being positioned above the Punto, the crossover will join the Fiat 500 range, as the 500X model. The 2013 Fiat 500X Crossover is the Italian automaker’s answer to the Mini Countryman and will be pitted directly against the Mini in markets across the world. The Fiat 500X is expected to make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, with a launch to happen sometime in 2013. Like the 500L hatchback, the 500X crossover is also expect to share its engine range with the Punto.

2013 Fiat 500X Crossover

2013 Fiat 500L Hatchback

Italian automaker Fiat has begun taking orders for the 2013 500L hatchback, which is essentially a larger hatchback in the Fiat 500 range, aimed primarily at customers gravitating towards the BMW Mini range of sporty hatchbacks. For all its cutesy appeal, the Fiat 500 is a car that isn’t the most practical car in town when comes to doing duty as a primary car for everyday use. “While we don’t suggest something as gargoyle-esque as the Multipla, why don’t you look our cute, yet practical 500L model” seems to be the general refrain from the Italian automaker.

2013 Fiat 500L Hatchback

Mahindra TwoWheelers inaugurates Research and Development center at Pune

Two wheeler major Mahindra TwoWheelers inaugurated its spanking new Research&Development facility at Pune. This facility, into which Mahindra has already pumped in INR 100 crores will receive a further input of INR 500 crores towards developing new products in the coming years. Along with the inauguration of the new R&D facility, presided by Mr Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Mahindra group, Mahindra TwoWheelers made a few key announcements regarding future products for the Indian two wheeler market.

Standing from L to R : PS Ashok, Head – Research and Development, Mahindra Two Wheelers, Viren Popli - VP - Strategy & Market Development at Mahindra Two Wheelers, Anand Mahindra - Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group and Anoop Mathur, President – Two Wheeler Sector

2012 Renault Duster SUV

Renault India has just launched the Duster SUV, its fourth product for the Indian car market, in barely over a year of the Fluence breaking cover sometime last year. Marc Nassif, the Managing Director of Renault India did the unveiling honors. The Duster SUV has been launched both in petrol and diesel engined variants. The SUV can seat five adults and comes in front wheel guise for the Indian market. Coming to the all important pricing of the car, Renault India has done quite well to price the base petrol model of the Duster at INR 7.19 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

2012 Renault Duster SUV

Hero MotoCorp Laucnhes Ignitor 125

The country’s largest two wheeler maker and the world’s largest two wheeler maker by volume, Hero MotoCorp, has just launched their second product for this year, the 2012 Hero Ignitor motorcycle. This motorcycle, which was first showcased at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo is essentially a rebadged and restyled Honda CB Stunner. The Hero Ignitor 125, however will get only the carburetted version instead of the fuel injection that is available on the top end variant of the CB Stunner. The rest of the specifications of the Ignitor 125 are bog similar to that of the Stunner.

2012 Hero Ignitor 125cc Motorcycle

Rumor of Honda Jazz based crossover

Japanese automaker Honda could be the latest amongst the increasing crop of car makers wanting a pie of the fast expanding compact SUV and crossover range. The Honda Jazz hatchback, a spacious and practical car that has been a big seller for Honda across the globe could be the base for the crossover.This is pretty much what WhatCar has managed to glean from sources in the know about this project. For now though, it remains to be seen when the Jazz based crossover will debut in markets across the world as there has been no time frame revealed just as yet.

2012 Honda Jazz Hatchback used as an illustration

2012 Mahindra Maxximo CNG Mini Pick Up Truck

Mahindra &Mahindra has launched the CNG version of the Maxximo mini pick up truck at Delhi. The CNG variant of this mini pick up truck is priced at INR 3.99 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. Pitted at the Tata Ace mini pick up truck, which has been the market leader in the segment it helped create, the Maxximo has been a decent success for Mahindra. Mahindra also has a passenger van variant of the Maxximo, which does duty in the semi-urban and rural parts of India as a people mover. The Maxximo is the only vehicle in it category to feature common rail diesel injection engine technology.

2012 Mahindra Maxximo CNG Mini Pick Up Truck

2012 Honda Civic Sedan

The new 2012 Honda Civic that was launched in markets globally many months ago is apparently a no-show for the Indian car market. According to AutocarIndia Editor Hormazd Sorabjee, the Japanese automaker is not planning to launch the new Civic to replace the older model, that has been around in India for quite a while now. Honda’s reluctance to launch the new 2012 Civic sedan in India stems from the lack of a diesel engine in its portfolio. Also, the car has been a dud in many markets across the world, with critics vociferously panning the car for being a damp squib in terms of the update.

2012 Honda Civic Sedan