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Hero MotoCorp has revealed its new Leap Hybrid concept Scooter at the Auto Expo. The Leap is the first hybrid concept scooter in India which will run on both petrol and electric power. It gives a new way for Hero’s future products which could use the hybrid technology.

Hero says,”This concept is a culmination of the added impetus the firm is laying on research and development and that is certainly a welcome sign for a company which for long has depended and is still largely depending on Japanese auto giant Honda for technology”.

The Leap Hybrid concept scooter in hybrid mode is expected to deliver up to 100 Kmpl per liter of petrol as it combines electric and petrol power which makes it one of the most fuel efficient scooters in India. So, the Leap hybrid concept will be apt for Hero’s portfolio.

The Leap Hybrid Concept Scooter is exclusively designed for the average scooter buyer since it is more affodable form of transport.

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. kicked off its iconic Vespa at the Delhi Auto Expo which is a unique example of immortal design that has gone beyond a mere commuting product to become a part of social history and way of life. The Vespa is a symbol of a distinctive lifestyle in market which is present in more than 100 countries with over 17 million units being sold since its inception.

With its Indian foray, Piaggio plan to create an exclusive, premium segment for the brand. The Vespa will be positioned as a lifestyle, iconic, timeless and ageless product that goes beyond mobility and leverages its heritage and unique values.

Vespa in India will meet the aspirational needs of the fashion, style and brand conscious individuals who would like to be a breed apart. Predominantly aimed all over the world at a premium segment of consumers who are looking to own nothing but the best, Vespa will be a disruptive force in the 2-wheeler segment in India.

Vespa enthusiasts in India will have a reason to cheer as later this year the country will have its own Vespa Club that will enable them to be a part of an exclusive fraternity. In 2006, the Vespa World Club was formed that brought together 35 National Vespa club Federations and 685 Vespa clubs in the world.

At the launch occassion, Mr. Ravi Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our foray into the Indian market activates a whole new segment of style and fashion conscious consumers who are looking for a premium, exclusive, lifestyle offering reflecting their personalities and attitudes. We would like to leverage this sizeable untapped market segment that shows tremendous potential for growth in the coming years”.

Piaggio India has set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Baramati for the production of the Vespa. The plant has an initial capacity of 150,000. The Vespa will be available in Indian markets in April 2012 and will initially be available in 35 main cities.

Peugeot, French car manufacturer in a few minutes back showcases its new stylish 508 saloon at the Auto Expo which has already made its international debut two years ago. The company claims that the 508 saloon will be the flagship model with its quirky styling.

The spacious Peugeot 508 will be powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine. Along with the other, the Peugeot 3008 crossover is also shown at the Peugeot stall which is a blending of SUV and MPV. The 3008 provides a Multiflex interior in which the seats can be fold in all the way enabling a flat loading space. Peugeot’s 3008 HYbrid4 is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine which delivers 200bhp and the diesel engine of the car generates 163bhp.

Maruti Ertiga

i) Holds three row of seats and can accommodate seven passangers

ii) Its overall length measures 4265mm and the wheelbase measures 2740mm

iii) Features the same identical dashboard design of Swift and a twin AC system as its standard kit

iv) The last row of seat can be folded and hence offers a large luggage space

v) The combination of black and beige coloured plastics offers an upmarket look to the cabin

vi) The engine is mated to the same gearbox of Swift and will offer an ARAI mileage of 16.02kmpl.

The much-awaited Maruti’s new compact MPV,christened the Ertiga has been unveiled today at the Auto Expo.It will go on sale by March 2012.Ertiga is the first model of Maruti in the premium MPV segment.It is built on an extended Swift platform and its front part looks almost similar to the Ritz.

The stretched peeled-back headlights resembles the new Swift.Ertiga also features a sporty front bumper styling with a larger air inlet and neatly enclosed fog lights.Ertiga will be offered in three trim levels on both petrol and diesel engine versions.

The new K14B petrol engine will make its debut on Ertiga which delivers 93.87bhp at 6000rpm and 13.25kgm at 4000rpm.Ertiga will also feature a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine of SX4 which will deliver 89bhp of power.Expect the Ertiga to be launched by March 2012 at an affordable price tag.

Chevrolet unveils the Sail hatchback and its new MPV model at the Delhi Auto Expo.Both the models will be launched in India in mid-2012 at an aggressive price tag.

Chevrolet Sail

The sub 4-metre hatchback will be first launched with a 1.2-litre petrol engine which will deliver a maximum power of 81bhp.The Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel engine will be available later.The car features a pleasant look and its split grille holds the bowtie emblem in between.The Sail hatchback holds a spacious interior and its rear part also looks so smart.It will go on sale from mid-2012.

Chevrolet’s new MPV

The new MPV of Chevy can accommodate seven to eight members.It will first come with a 1.4-litre petrol engine delivering 94.6bhp and as like the Sail,the 1.3-litre diesel engine version will be available from the year end.Anyhow,the styling of the new MPV is not up to the level of expectations.

Renault Duster has been unveiled today at the Auto Expo.It will go on sales from the later part of this year.Built on the platform of Mahindra Verito,the Duster comes only as a two-wheel drive version.The car holds a spacious interior.

The Indian version of Duster features an upgraded interior styling in which the power window switches for the rear passengers will be moved from the front dash to the more conventional location on the door pads.

After its launch,the Duster will be available in five variants in both petrol and diesel engine options.Duster will be powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine and the same 1.5-litre diesel engine of Fluence.The diesel engine will offer an entry-level 85bhp power output and a top-of-the-line 110bhp power output.The 110bhp motor is the ‘Step 4’ version of the K9K engine.The Duster is expected to be launched at an aggressive price tag of Rs.7 to 11 lakhs.

The architecture of the car has been totally refined with its large arched roof, nose but the big cabin remains the same. The front end of the Pulse is looking so sharp with its styled, raised lights, hexagonal grille and a Renault matt-black centre section. Talking about the interiors, the Pulse is nearly same as that of Nissan Micra in terms of its colours and shades.

The car possess a much stronger chin compare to the Micra and the rear has been mildly altered. Renault says, “There could be an even sportier version of the car on the cards too”. For better safety, the Pulse sports two trim-levels which features automatic start-stop and a driver airbag. The base RXL comes with a manual A/C and steel-wheels where as the top end RXZ is built with alloy-wheels, automatic climate control, fog lamps and a leather-wrapped shifter.

Renault just now launches its new hatchback known as Pulse at the Auto Expo. The Renault Pulse comes in two variants which includes RXL and RXZ. The base RXL has been priced at Rs 5.77 lakh and the top-end RXZ costs Rs 6.25 lakh.

The new Renault Pulse is a modified version of Nissan Micra which features a 1.5-litre diesel engine delivering 63bhp and 16.3kgm torque. It is developed on the basis of lightweight V-platform, basic suspension and gearbox. The ARAI- certified fuel efficiency of the new Pulse is about 23.08kpl.

Mini, British car manufacturer plans to bring its new four models such as includes Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Countryman into the Indian market. The Mini range car will be available through three exclusive dealerships namely Deutsche Motoren, Bird Automotive in New Delhi and Infinity Cars in Mumbai.

The company claims that the Cooper hatchback will be the most affordable car among the other. The three door body style will give a classy look with lot of retro touches inside the cabin which includes large circular dials for the speedometer and tachometer. The Mini Cooper will be a four seating car which is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol
engine. The engine is expected to deliver 122bhp at 6000rpm and 16.3kgm of torque at 4250rpm. The Mini Cooper will be available at a cost of Rs. 24.9 lakh.

Similarly, the Mini Cooper will come with a twin-scroll turbocharger engine which will generate the peak power of 184bhp at 5500rpm and peak torque of 24.47kgm at 1600-5000rpm. The Mini Cooper S has been priced at Rs. 27.9 lakh.

Another model named Cooper Convertible will have a 1.6-litre, 122bhp petrol engine same as that of Mini cooper which adds the joy of open-top motoring to Mini Charm. The Cooper Convertible will be available at a price tag of Rs 29.99 lakh.

The Cooper S Countryman is also one of the Mini range of cars featuring five doors with decent space for four occupants. The raised ride height of the car will be excellent with pothole-laden Indian roads. The Cooper S Countryman will possess a 184bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which will cost Rs 31.99 lakh. Surely, the family buyers will be impressed by this car.