Club Class Tata Manza - INR 5.7 Lacs

Tata Motors has launched a revised line-up of the Manza Sedan for this festive season. Although the exteriors remain largely unchanged the interiors do get a handset set of new features including black leather Italian upholstery, a chrome instrument cluster, a new gear knob with chrome and leather combination finish, a two-tone dashboard, touchscreen multimedia navigation, steering mounted audio controls. Front and rear cabin lights, Tachometer and automatic climate control.

The company has introduced a new top-end trim called the EXL. The other variants are LS, LX,VX and EX which replace the Aqua, Aura, Aura ABS and Elan monikers. The new Manza is available in six colors – Laser Red, Tyrian White, Castle Grey, Dew White and Jet Silver come with black roof, while Infinity Black colored Manza comes with silver roof. This roof color combination is only offered on the EX and EXL variants.

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

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

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

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

Market Rumors flow about 2012 Mercedez Benz B-Class

Mercedes Benz India has made no bones about the fact that it intends to capture back market share that it has lost to competitors and compatriots, Audi and BMW over the past couple of years or so, with a slew of product launches aiming to bring in big volumes. The first car in this new crop of Mercs will be the 2012 B-Class Sports Tourer, which could break cover as early as July 2012, according to a report carried by our friends over at Overdrive. The 2012 B-Class sport tourer will be Mercedes Benz India’s entry level product, competing in the same price range as that of the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 crossovers.

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Sports Tourer

Facelifted Tata Winger expected to get 2.2 Liter DICOR Turbo Diesel Engine

Our roving eye in the sky, EarthFusion, is back with a juicy bit about the Tata Winger. Tata Motors is testing a 2. Liter DICOR turbo diesel engine on Winger MPV. The Tata Winger MPV, a van that is strikingly similar to the previous generation Renault Traffic, will get a makeover in the future and along with the facelift, the 2.2 Liter DICOR engine is said to be big change. Currently, the 2.2 Liter DICORturbo diesel engine is used in a range of Tata vehicles, ranging from the Sumo Grande to the top of the line Aria crossover. However, on the Winger, the engine is expected be in a state of tune similar to that on the Sumo Grande.

2012 Tata Winger MPV

Tata eMO Electric Small Car Concept

Tata Technologies, which showcased the eMO electric car concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, is currently in partnership with Dassault Systems to build an electric car that will be priced under $20,000. The main aim of this electric car will be to seat 4 adults in a compact form factor with the price being pegged at under $20,000. The car which was showcased at Detroit featured innovative interiors with foldable rear seats that will liberate a large amount of luggage space. The car also comes with innovative packaging to maximize space on the interiors.

Tata eMO Electric Small Car Concept

Apple iPhone Siri Eyes Free support for Chevrolet Spark USA

General Motors is all set to bring the Siri Eyes Free support for the apple iPhone to even its budget range of cars. Siri is a voice activated assistant that works on the iPhone, that allows users to carry out a range of functions, from playing music to sending text messages, all through voice commands. This feature, which is available in the latest Apple iPhone 4S will also be available on GM cars of the future, albeit in the  form of an Eyes Free version. In this version, drivers can activate the Siri using a steering mounted button.

Eyes Free Siri for Apple iPhone

BMW sets up a Mini dealership in Delhi

After setting up the first Mini dealership in Mumbai, German luxury car brand BMW has set up the second Mini dealership in Delhi, with Bird Automotive being the dealer that will sell Minis in India’s capital city. BMW will also open another Mini dealership in the country’s capital in the coming months. Bird Automotive is an existing BMW dealer and the other Mini dealership that will come up in Delhi is expected to be run by Deutsche Motoren, another existing BMW dealer. The Mini dealership in Delhi, run by Bird Automotive, is located at the posh Vasant Kunj locality, spread across 5,000 square feet. The dealership was launched on Wednesday, 6th June, 2012.

Dr Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India with Mr Gaurav Bhatia, MD, Bird Automotive

2012 Honda Car Discounts

As they say, what goes around comes around. Once upon a time, Honda cars and discounts were as far apart as chalk is to cheese, but time changes everything. Back then, petrol power ruled in India while diesel cars were largely relegated to the cabbie business. diesel power has fought back with high technology common rail diesel injection and now we have petrol engines facing the brunt of lower economy and higher emissions, not to mention the cost of petrol being significantly higher than diesel, in India at least. And petrol engines cars are being clobbered at the hustings what with even market leader Maruti Suzuki cutting production.

2012 Honda Car Discounts

Launch of Audi 2012 Q3 Crossover in India with a Starting price ranging INR 26.21 LACS (Maharashtra ex-showroom)

Audi India has launched the hotly anticipated Q3 crossover in the Indian car market. While the launch was quite restrained with merely a press release signifying the Q3′s arrival into India, the automaker has definitely managed to price the Q3 extremely competitively. The 2012 Audi Q3 crossover is available for a base price of INR 26.21 lakhs for the base variant while the fully loaded top end version will sell for INR 31.49 lakhs. Both prices reflect ex-showroom Maharashtra figures and the Q3 will be available initially only in diesel guise.

2012 Audi Q3 Crossover SUV