Mahindra’s hybrid ingenio:
M&M is likely to offer the Ingenio as a hybrid option. M&M’s automotive sector president Pawan Goenka had said that the Ingenio will come with a variety of engine options, including the M&M’s indigenously developed common rail direct injection diesel engine. Mahindra and Mahindra is believed to be working with a combination of diesel and battery-operated hybrid for Ingenio. The end result is it would give a distinct advantage to the Ingenio with an extremely low cost of running.
Mahindra and Mahindra showcased a concept hybrid variant of the `Scorpio’ and the hydrogen engine `Alpha’ three-wheeler in the 2006 Delhi auto show. The proposed Ingenio hybrid is seen as Mahindra’s further development in that domain. The Scorpio hybrid concept vehicle combines both the common rail diesel technology and the fuel-saving technology of an electric motor. Scorpio hybrid gives 15-16 km per litre delivering up to 600-700 km on one tank of fuel. The vehicle is propelled by using CRDe (common rail diesel engine) and an electric transaxle supported by a traction battery. This helps the vehicle to provide better fuel economy and lower transmission, while giving the benefit of a full hybrid performance.
The hybrid versions will cater to the demand of urban areas while petrol and diesel powertrain variants will target other markets,” company sources told ET. Toyota Innova currently comes only in petrol and diesel versions. Ingenio is now being built on a new platform and M&M has ditched the idea of utilising the ageing platform of Balero. Also the ingenio will have a monocoque platform and not the conbody-on-frame chassis. M&M has earlier tried voyager van(developed with Japanese major Mitsubishi) in the MUV segment but it ended in a failure note.
M&M which does not have any MUV(Multi utility Vehicle) has 6 models Scorpio, Bolero, Invader, Commander, Maxx — in the utility segment. MUV is currently dominated by Toyota’s Innova.
Hindustan – Mitsubishi’s wakes up:
Hindustan Motors on august 28th announced that it has firmed up plans to launch premium sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in the price range of Rs 15-25 lakh from the Mitsubishi stable within six months. In june 2007 Mitsubishi proposed that it would introduce a new model by the end of 2007 to increase its product portfolio to five. Mitsubushi – Hindustan is seriously mulling to enter the mass segment through a small car(possibly mitsubishi’s ‘i’). The proposed car and the new SUV will be manufactured at HM’s Chennai plant.(at Uttarpara in West Bengal, Hindustan produces Ambassador cars.) Hindustan have decided to launch new cars and come up with upgraded variants of existing Mitsubishi cars at least twice or thrice in a year. Hindustan is also expanding its dealer base which now stands at 39. Currently Hindustan manufactures Pajero and Montero SUVs two cars — Lancer and Cedia under the Mitusbishi’s label with prices ranging between Rs 6.97 lakh and Rs 34.11 lakh. With all these new launches Hindustan – mitsubishi plans to catch up with other manufacturers. It seems to be sleeping giants finally decides to wake up.