Archive Page 2 of 8

A Lifestyle Pickup truck for India: Tata Xenon XT

on January 21, 2008 in India, SUVs and Upcoming Cars. 13 Comments

Tata Xenon pickup

Wheeeeee!! finally a lifestyle pick-up truck for India, and thats from our very own Indian TATA in the form of Xenon. Sure, there is Mahindra Getaway but this Tata is the closest we can get to a true pickup truck. Although Tata has released Xenon last year for the international market, they only revealed the details about the India launch at the 2008 Auto Expo.

Xenon is the second generation Tata Mobile and it is to be made available in two body trims – Xenon single cab & Xenon crew cab and with a choice 4×2 or 4×4 (with an LSD) drivetrains. The single-cab is called Tata Xenon and Tata Xenon XT (cross terrain) is the double-cab 4×4 version with all the features like power windows, power steering, Air-con, central locking and the lot.

It shares its platform with the Tata Sumo Grande but gets the 3.0l DICOR engine from the older Tata Safari instead of the 2.2 dicor. Xenon pickup with this engine is good for 115 bhp power and 300 Nm torque and is expected to go on sale by the end of 2008 .

I am more curious about the Xenon single-cab and like it better. A simple mod like slapping on some wider rubber and a good set of SUV alloys to go with those wheel-arches would do wonders here.

Also check out the video below for some good footage of these pick-up trucks doing their thing but in Italian.

Continue reading ‘A Lifestyle Pickup truck for India: Tata Xenon XT’

Bavarian Brute comes to India – 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

on January 19, 2008 in India and Sedans. 4 Comments

2008 BMW M3 India

I wasn’t quite happy with the looks of the new BMW 3-series and wasn’t expecting the M3 to change anything. But, everything changed the day BMW released the details of the E92 M3 coupe last year.

And from that day, I have been Dreaming… I have been Drooling… I have been Restless… like a 15 year old teenager going gaga for Angelina Croft.

I cannot say M3 is beautiful. Its a thing of lust. It looks mean and menacing – It appeals to the rebellious side of the personality.

As if that wasn’t hard enough, BMW put in a brutal V8 – a first time ever in an M3. This engine is not a lazy one as we’d expect a V8 to be, it can rev all the way to the moon… and back!. The redline starts at 8300 rpm.

And now, BMW India has launched this Bavarian brute at the Indian Auto Expo 2008. E92 M3 coupe will be imported and sold in India as a CBU and that means we pay a premium price of 7,500,000 in Indian currency.

The engine in the M3 is a 32-valve 4.0L V8 that makes 420 bhp power at 8300 rpm and 400 Nm torque at 3900 rpm. BMW M3 can do the 0-100 km/h in 4.8 secs and the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. BMW even gives us the fuel economy figures, a combined fuel efficiency of 8 km/l.

But hey! if you’re thinking about the M3, you don’t really care! do you?

Launched at Auto Expo 2008: Honda CR-V 2.0L for India

on January 17, 2008 in India and SUVs. 2 Comments

Honda CRV 2.0 India

Honda cars India launched the 2.0 litre variant of their CR-V at the Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi. Priced at Rs 17,15,000 Delhi ex-showroom, this Honda will take on the Chevy Captiva and might take even more buyers off of Maruti Grand Vitara.

This Honda’s 2.0L i-VTEC engine displaces 1997 cc and produces 143 bhp power at 6000 rpm and 190 Nm torque at 4200 rpm. HSCI says Honda CRV 2.0L is more fuel efficient and doesn’t compromising on performance.

In comparison with the 2.4-litre version.

Honda CR-V 2.0L costs Rs 1.25 lakhs cheaper
18 bhp lesser power and torque is 28 Nm lesser.
This Honda is 2 wheel driven (2WD) vs real-time AWD on 2.4L
Power steering is electrically assisted vs hydraulic assist on the 2.4L CRV.
Honda CR-V 2.0L gets a single CD audio system versus 6-CD changer on the 2.4-liter version.
The only visual changes outside are it doesn’t get a sunroof and door handles are body coloured (vs chrome).

5 Fiat Cars for India in 2008

on January 16, 2008 in India and Upcoming Cars. 19 Comments

Fiat has undergone a transformation globally in the past few years and now Fiat India is all set to revitalize their brand in India. Teaming up with Tata Motors and building of the Rs 4000 crore Ranjangoan plant in Maharashtra have been their first steps towards this. Moving forward, equipped with a new logo, FIAPL has lined up some of their internationally successful cars for India in 2008.

Fiat Linea

Fiat Linea India

Based on the Grande Punto platform and designed by Fiat Style Centre, Fiat Linea (a stunning beauty she is..) has been launched recently in the European market and is quite a success. For India this sedan will be manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangoan plant with high localization and will be launched in the C-segment to take on the likes of Hyundai Verna, Chevy Aveo and Ford Fiesta. Expected to be priced in 7 to 8 lakhs bracket for the base version, Linea will hit the showrooms by the end of 2008 and will be offered with 2 engines – a 1.4 petrol and a 90 bhp 1.3 multijet diesel.

Fiat Grande Punto

Fiat Grande Punto India

One of the best selling cars in Europe and Fiat’s best selling, Grande Punto is another car that will be manufactured in India and sold through Fiat-Tata dealer network. Though not clear, Grande Punto will most likely be offered with a 1.2 and 1.4 petrols and the 1.3 Multijet diesel. Expected price is 5 to 6 lakhs.

Fiat 500 (Cinquecento)

Fiat 500 India

Call it a “City Car” or a “Fashion Car”, the Fiat 500 with its countless customizing options is outselling its production capacities everywhere its being launched. Nevertheless, Fiat India announced that it has plans to import the 500 as a CBU and sell it in India. It will be powered by a 75 bhp 1.3 Multijet diesel (MJD) engine Fiat will start deliveries in April. Its expected to be priced around 10 lakhs.

Fiat Bravo

Fiat Bravo India

Aggressive and definetely a hot hatch, Fiat Bravo is powered by a 150 bhp 1.9 Multijet diesel unit. Sadly like the Fiat 500, Bravo also will be sold in India as a CBU, which again makes it an exclusivity for people with deep pockets. Price is expected to be around 20 lakhs.

Fiat Palio 1.3 diesel

Though not an entirely new car for 2008, Fiat Palio Stile will get the 1.3 Multijet diesel (MJD) engine (that powers the Swift diesel) and this new variant will be called SDX. Expected to be priced at 4.7 lakhs for the base model (ex-showroom Delhi), it will go on sale some time in May-June 2008.

In summary, the Grande Punto and Fiat Linea will go on sale by the end of 2008 and Palio diesel by june. Until then, to show us how serious Fiat is about India, the 500 and Fiat Bravo will be sold as CBUs (Completely Built Units) but with high price tags, making them a bit unrealistic choices for a conservative practical person.

Auto Expo 2008: TATA Indigo CS, Indica DICOR and X1

on January 13, 2008 in Hatchbacks and India. 4 Comments

Even before all the commotion about the launch of the Tata nano, Tata has launched 3 new models – 2 new variants of their long running successful models Indigo and Indica and an all new Tata Sumo. They also showcased a new generation Indica and Xenon XT pickup truck which are to go on sale in the later part of 2008.

TATA Indigo CS (Compact Sedan)

Tata Indigo CS Compact Sedan

Tata added another variant to their Indigo line-up, a shortened version called the Indigo CS. This sedan with a shortened boot manages to offer 400 litres of boot space and is offered with two engines – a 65 bhp 1.2-litre petrol from the Indica Xeta and a 70 bhp 1.4-litre turbo diesel from the Indigo V series. All of these make this car fit into the small car category and make it eligible for excise duty exemptions.

TATA Indica V2 DICOR

Another engine option has been added to the Indica line-up. Its the common rail 1.4-litre 70 bhp diesel unit thats offered in Indigo DICOR. This engine is much smoother with better torque and a more linear power delivery. Its priced at 4.25 lakhs (delhi ex-showroom).

New TATA Indica (X1) 2008

new Tata Indica 2008

The all new completely redesigned Indica (codenamed X1) has been unveiled and will go on sale along with the current Indica lineup later this year. Dimensionally, this 2008 model X1 is 4.7 inches longer and 1.2 inches wider with a 70 mm longer wheelbase over the current Indica. The immediately visible details on this Euro style hatch are the bigger headlamps and the new grille. It also has a centrally mounted instrument cluster inside. This Indica X1 will be offered with two engines – a common rail 1.3 diesel (based on the Fiat’s engine in Swift diesel) and a 1.2-litre petrol with VVT.

Images from team-bhp
read the TATA motors press release here.

redlineblog – Indian Car Reviews

Archive Page 2 of 8

A Lifestyle Pickup truck for India: Tata Xenon XT

Bavarian Brute comes to India – 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

Launched at Auto Expo 2008: Honda CR-V 2.0L for India