As we informed you earlier, Honda will introduce two mass market vehicles in the current fiscal (2008-2009), of which one would be a scooter and an unknown other model. More details have evolved on the new scooter. The new scooter would be new Activa. But read it carefully, it will be facelifted but not a plain sticker job which we have been witnessing for years. The new activa will get a new engine sourced from Aviator. However the the variomatic transmission will be carried forward from the current one. The new activa will come in two variants – activa and activa deluxe. Activa deluxe will be the top end variant and would boast additional features and will come at a premium. Honda will also introduce new practical features with the launch of new activa. Expect the new activa before April 2009.
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2009 Car & Bikes List
The year 2008 has become one of the disappointing year for auto makers in India. After registering double growth for the past years, growth of auto sector fall to single digit. But this itself is a big achievement when auto sector in developed countries are posting negative growth. For the global auto makers the only hope in these tough times are India and China. To revive the sales, Manufacturers are lining up models to grab the customers. In India, we will witness atleast two new major models from every auto maker. Let’s have sneek peak on some of the important models.
Tata Nano:
Clearly nano is the most awaited car of the century. While the controversies and relocation pushed the launch of Nano to 2009, the expectations seems never dying. Till the new plant in Gujarat kicks in, Tata will produce small volume of Nano from its other plant. Auto Industry hopes the 1 Lakh car (Nano) will revive the consumers interest in automobile in tough times
Maruti Ritz:
Popularly known as ‘splash’ , this small car from Maruti will add to the japanese makers brigade of small cars. Ritz will be powered by a KB family engine and is a roomy hatchback. Ritz will be positioned between A-star and Swift. A-star and Ritz will counter Hyundai’s i10 and i20 respectively.
Honda Jazz:
Indian’s love for Honda’s civic and city is well known. But not all can spend 8 or 10 lakhs for a car. India is a small car market and Honda knows that, it will bring its internationally successfull model Jazz/Fit to India. This premium hatchback from Honda will take on the Skoda Fabia and recently launched Hyundai’s i20.
Fiat Linea:
This is the comeback time. From Dravid to Ricky Pointing coming back and conquering is always special. Fiat hopes to do the same with the launch of Linea. After a long period, Fiat is back in the hope of reviving its glory in India. Fiat plans to bring to launch Grande Punto and linea sedan in 2009. Of these, Linea sedan will come first in both petrol and diesel versions. Linea will be contesting in the C-segment which is currently ruled by the likes of Honda city, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Verna.
Mahindra Xylo:
2009 is an important year for Mahindra and Mahindra as the Indian maker plans to launch Indian made cars in USA. But that’s not the only reason to celebrate. Mahindra and Mahindra – the maker of Scorpio and Bolero will launch a new Multi Utility Vehicle called “Xylo”. The launch date for Xylo is already officially announced.. Xylo is the second biggest launch for Mahindra after the successful Scorpio. If you have 8 lakhs and looking for a family vehicle wait till January 13th when Xylo will be launched.
In addition to listed prominent models, auto makers are planning number of new models and version upgrades for 2009. As the world move towards cheaper diesel fuel, popular car models like Hyundai i10 Toyota corolla altis may get a diesel engine. As usual, options for new cars in 2009 will be plenty, you have the duty to pick the best.
Here is the list of cars and bikes to be launched in 2009
CARS
Maruti-swift kb
Tata-new Indigo
Toyota-Innova facelift
GM-Chevrolet-Captiva automatic
Mahindra-megane
Mitsubishi-Lancer gallant
Fiat-Bravo
Chevrolet-Cruze
BIKES
Hero Honda 4 new variants
Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition – Pictorial Review
Pictures of Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition
1) Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition: What is the best way to mark the 10th anniversary of first Indian car?? Tata celebrates in its style by launching limited edtion Indica vista. Indica Vista anniversary comes with new styling and new features. For the Indica Vista anniversary edition buyer, exclusivity is assured. Flash gold strip on the grille and T-strip and top and bottom grille in contrast colours gives a premium look to the car.
2) Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition: You will be very few to drive Indica Vista in white colour as the Body colured bumpers, ORVM,door handles and rub rails gives a distinct styling to the car.
3) Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition : 14″ black five leaf alloy wheels on Indica Vista Aura Quadrajet and 13″ black five leaf alloy wheels on Indica Vista and black roof complements the all white body.
4) Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition: Rear Mascots (Indica Vista and quadrajet/saffire) and T-emblem in Flash gold. 10th anniversary logo mascot on the side and metallic vista badge on the glovebox reminds you this car is special.
5) Tata Indica Vista Anniversary Edition : An integrated music player with USB compatibility, new seat fabric and 10th anniversary logoon headrest of driver and co-driver seat are new features inside the new Indica vista anniversary edition. The Anniversary Quadrajet Diesel Indica Vista limited edition is priced at Rs. 504,045 (ex-showroom Delhi) and the Anniversary Safire Petrol Indica Vista limited edition is priced at Rs. 415,263 (ex-showroom Delhi).
Hyundai to launch facelifted Sonata Embera
Hyundai which made headlines with the launch of i20 and the success of i10 will look beyond the small car portfolio in 2009. Sonata embera – Hyundai’s D-segment sedan will receive a facelift soon. The facelifted sonata embera will hit the market in January 2009. The facelift includes minor changes in exteriors styling and major revamp of interiors.
A new grille and new headlamps will bring freshness to the styling of sonata embera. The design team added a more refined touch to Sonata’s exterior design, with new bumpers, lamps, wheels and grille creating a more elegant, dynamic and taut stance. Inside the new embera, there would be number of changes – thanks to a completely new center console and instrument panel, which borrows design cues and rich materials from the premium Hyundai Veracruz. Under the skin, the 2.4L petrol engine would be tweaked for better performance. New Sonata Embera might witness a slight increase in its price.
Picture of new Hyundai Sonata Embera (likely)
Fiat Linea Specifications, Variants,Colours and its prices
Days before the Linea launch, Fiat has unveiled the specifications, colours and prices of Linea variants.Linea would be available in five variants – Active, Dynamic, Dynamic Pack, Emotion and Emotion Pack with two engine options – petrol and diesel.The top end variants emotion pack gets loads of features inlcuding alloy wheels and ABS. All the variants of the linea will be available in six colours – Fox Trot Azure, Medium Gray, Vocal White, Flamengo Red, Perla Champagne and Hip Hop Black. The price range of petrol linea starts from Rs6.19 lakhs and goes up to Rs7.22 lakhs. Linea diesel is priced between Rs7.12 lakhs and Rs8.36 lakhs. All the prices indicated here ar ex-showroom, Mumbai.
Prices of the new Linea variants:
| Models | Petrol | Diesel |
| Fiat linea Active | Rs. 6,19,000 | Rs7,12,000 |
| Fiat Linea Dynamic | Rs.6,51,000 | Rs7,43,000 |
| Fiat Linea Dynamic Pack | Rs.6,80,000 | Rs. 7,72,000 |
| Fiat Linea Emotion | Rs.6,92,000 | Rs.7,82,000 |
| Fiat linea Emotion Pack | Rs. 7,22,000 | Rs. 8,36,000 |
Fiat Linea reaches dealers
Fiat India Automobiles , the joint venture of Fiat and Tata Motors, has despatched the first batch of 100 Lineas from its plant in Ranjangaon near Pune.Targeting at the premium C-segment, Linea have already reached 50 of the 65 dealerships under the Tata Fiat brand across the country.
More Lineas will be seen in these outlets in the coming days even though its official launch is in mid-January.Early despatching of cars to the showroom, is clearly part of a brand building approach intended to pave the way for a faster booking schedule.
The Linea will be available in both petrol and diesel versions.Linea is considered to be more significant because it is the first manufactured model from the Ranjangaon facility in contrast to the Cinquecento (Fiat 500), which is directly imported and costs a handful thanks to the 100 per cent plus import duty.
The next model that will be part of the manufacturing agenda is the Grande Punto sometime in the first quarter of 2009-10. Prior to this will be the Bravo which, like the Cinquecento, is also being imported. Fiat is seriously looking at Ranjangaon as a strategic global base for small cars. The plant could also be home to the affordable car, which is now at the drawing board stage. This car is intended for Europe but will not sport the Fiat badge.
Tata launches Indica vista limited edition
Tata Motors today launched limited edition Indica vista to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Indica on December 30, 2008. The new Indica Vista comes with an all new colour combination – Porcelain White with a Black roof. Exteriors of the new Indica vista limited edition wear alloy wheels, gold finished grill garnish, golden emblems & mascots and a specially designed number plate. The interiors have a more premium look and incorporate a new integrated music system, new seat fabrics in a double stitched pattern and subtle touches all around.
In the first decade, close to 940,000 Indicas have been produced and the platform has spawned off close to 1.2 million vehicles. The Indica has remained a bestseller throughout in the industry figuring in the top 3 selling list of cars for most of the years. It achieved a peak sale of 144,690 in 2006-07 and the new generation Indica Vista was launched in August this year to a continuing pull even in today’s depressed market conditions.
The Anniversary Quadrajet Diesel Indica Vista limited edition is priced at Rs. 504,045 (ex-showroom Delhi) and the Anniversary Safire Petrol Indica Vista limited edition is priced at Rs. 415,263 (ex-showroom Delhi).
Pictures of Indica vista limited edition
Tata Nano micro Hybrid
Much before we see a petrol Nano, we already heard of euro speci version, nano diesel, nano hybrid and now Nano micro hybrid. Media reports claims that a micro hybrid variant of Tata Nano would also be launched. Micro Hybrid first brought to India for its Scorpio and Bolero is meant to save fuel during idling. Bosch will supply the kit for Nano. The micro hybrid or start/stop technology will result in increase in price of Nano by Rs4000 – Rs6000.
Tata nano booking
Of all the good things that happened in 2008, the unveiling of the Nano fuelled a long-cherished aspiration of millions of middle class families, to own a car. Country’s most expected small car, Nano from Tata Motors will soon strike over the auto market on sales. Tata Motors has sent prototypes of its small Nano car from its Pantnagar plant to three cities in the state for test run.Nagbhushan, Head of Tata Motors’ Engineering Department, said three prototypes of Nano have been sent to Dehra Dun, Almora and Ranikhet where its test run would be conducted in a day or two. The company would start booking for Nano from March or April next year, He added.
In addition to this last week, the Uttarakhand government has provided the company an additional 45 acres of land at its Pantnagar facility. The additional allotment is expected to give hand the company in rolling out the world’s least priced car at Rs one lakh, after delays due to the Singur imbroglio. Previously, The Company has shifted to shift the mother plant to Sanand in Gujarat from Singur, where it was originally planned due to opposition from Trinamool Congress over land acquisition.
Tata Nano will come in a micro hybrid version also and would also use stop-start technology, likely to be supplied by German engineering major, Bosch. Bosch will be supplying the fuel and braking systems for the Nano. This technology enables the car’s engine to switch off automatically at a traffic light when idle and in neutral gear and the engine starts seamlessly once the driver depresses the clutch before moving forward.
Tata has planned to invest Rs 1,500 crore at Singur but the investment was increased to Rs 2,000 crore, when it shifted to Sanand. The company is planning to produce the Nano from its various locations, including Pune and Pantnagar till the mother plant at Sanand is ready. Nano has a 624 cc engine, four doors and a mileage of 23 kilometers per liter and comes in three different versions including one with air conditioning. Power steering is provided in a Nano. Nano would be available in two deluxe models and a standard model.