New Fiat GRANDE PUNTO

Fiat offers 6 different engines for this baby, all with character that may satisfy buyers with differ demands. Punto with 1.3-litre Multijet diesel with 75bhp is not a rocket, but it is satisfactory for every day use, with more than adequate peak torque of 190 Nm at 1750 rpm for its bhp. With this engine, gas pedal should be managed hard, but the car will listen for your instructions. 1.3-litre Multijet with 75bhp offers 165 km/h top speed with 13.6 sec. from 0 to 100 km/h, which is a little surpassed. The second diesel engine is 1.3-litre 16V Multijet which delivers 90bhp, offers a variable geometry turbo and top speed at 175km/h and 11.9 sec from 0 to 100 km/h.There is also two more diesel engines, both with 1.9-litre, which delivers 120 or 130 bhp.These engines are pretty furious in such a small city car, with high torque even at low speeds. 120 bhp version gives 190km/h with 10 seconds acceleration, and 130 bhp version gives 200 km/.h top speed with 9.5 sec acceleration.
With only two gasoline petrol in the gamma, Fiat has made great lapse. Punto with 1.2 and 65bhp or 1.4-litre and a 77bhp may feel lazy, with lack of response to the accelerator and make you want run the pedal through the floor. In general, diesel engines feel better, but that is common practice these days. A 95bhp 1.4-litre version will appear at the end of 2006 and stronger versions with 120 and 200bhp petrol engines are promised for 2007.
Steering is powered by the Dualdrive electric servo, which is standard on all versions of the car. On the open road, steering wheel may exhibit crisp handling, but it is not Punto’s natural environment anyway. On the other hand, in city centers driving is a real pleasure, steering wheel is precise and super light witch CITY mode turned on. Even if the Grande Punto is bigger than its predecessors, it has similar turning circle, about 10.6 meters.
Grande Punto is extremely fun to drive, with impressive stability, strong brakes and low noise level. The five star NCAP rash test score makes it the safest car in the B segment. By offering 6 engines, 4 equipment levels and 12 types of interior, Fiat has made strong, fashionable car with plenty possibilities to chose from. It is in the top of the offer in its class.

New Fiat Grande Puno is younger, but bigger bother in Punto family. With 4.03 m/1.68 m/ 1.49 m/2.51 diemension (length/ width/height,wheel base), Grande Punto is one the biggest cars in B segement even if cars are getting bigger every day.

Grande Punto is commodious enough for long distance rides, while integrating all ergonomic criterions.Luggage compartment is big enough for the B segment car, with 275 liters capacity. Rear door opens high enough so your head should stay safe, but the brink is little bit taller than it should be. Seats are shaped very well, and the driver seat is adjustable by height, also. Steering wheel is also adjustable, 4 ways, which makes that every driver find his best position. The only complaint can be visibility, because the A counterfort may be side-view marplot for someone, but that is a standard problem which is poorly solved, in general.
The dashboard is simple and functional, with all needed information and good groupings. Interior is full of quality materials and differ color schemes are available.

Renault Sandero :

Renault has signed an agreement with Mahindra for a manufacturing plant, an agreement with Ashok Leyland for making LCV, holding discussions with Bajaj for the proposed $3000 car and it is scouting for a partner for making trucks. Renault has also made a design centre in Mumbai. But all this will frutify and indian specific products will be rolled out only in 2010 or 2011, until then it has to build its brand in India. Apart from the Logan sedan, Renault has made 4 models on logan platform - logan sedan, logan MCV, logan VAN, logan pick-up and the sandero hatch back. Already Mahindra -Renault is selling more than 2000 units per month amidst the intense competetion and by next year Logan MCV will be launched in india. The Sandero hatchback which was unveiled in the recent Frankfurt Motor show may join the 2008 Renault’s Indian line-up. Sandero is a modern hatchback and was designed with the expectations of South American customers in mind. But that does not hamper Renault from marketing the sandero in other parts of the world. Like the Logan sedan, Sandero will be rolled out on a global scale. In addition to Curitiba several other production facilities are being considered. Sandero thus sets the tone for a new stage in Renault’s internationalisation. In Europe a model derived from Sandero will be launched in 2008. If reports are to believed India will receive the sandero by the same time.

The design of the sandero is a mixture of European Clio (Renault’s popular hatchback) with some characteristics of Logan. Sandero’s appealing design suggests dynamic performance and robustness. Its distinctive front end features are very expressive headlamps, with a grill & bumper that merge very seamlessly into the bodywork. The design of the flanks strengthens the suggestion of robustness. The rear styling of the sandero emphasises the impression of a roomy, generously proportioned car.

Renault Sandero has everything which indian customer will surely love, This attractive five-door hatchback boasts all the basic qualities that are inherent for the B0 platform(logan). Sandero’s ample dimensions both at the exterior and interior are examples. It is roomy, robust and has plenty of luggage space. Sandero is 4.02 metres in length with a storage capacity of 320 litres(30L more than the getz and 88L more than the Maruti Suzuki’s swift). Its front seat shoulder room of 1,400mm is best in class, while at the rear sandero has 878mm of headroom. marks Sandero out from its competitors. Not only does the interior afford plenty of space, so do the doors, which open to an angle of up to 67° for ease of ingress. In addition, the sandero has rear bench seat split-folds 60:40.

The logan has become synonymous for ‘frugal’, built on the logan platform, renault’s sandero also some bane of the cost cutting procedures. Hard plastics and central console mounted window buttons are few signs of such measure. Sandero will come with Anti Lock Braking system and other safety features include 3-point seat belts, honeycomb dashboard, padded doors and the roof cross-member. Sandero meets the safety requirements of European regulations.

Space does not make the car fit for India, its price and its fuel efficiency! Renault’s sandero will score in these section too. The sandero will take on the swift, getz and the upcoming new indica. The second-generation common rail direct injection 1.5 dCi is acknowledged as one of the best performing and frugal diesel engine which powers the logan sedan might be strapped under the hood of the sandero. Since, Renault has wide range of petrol engines it will pick the right one for the indian market at the time of launch.

Fiat LINEA - Set for launch in India

Looking at the Fiat Linea photos on this page, one can’t feel but a little sad. Remember, the Fiat Linea has been talked about for almost 2 years now. Anticipation has been high from the beginning, and blogs and forums were abuzz about the imminent launch. After Fiat and Tata formed an alliance last year, the LInea was expected to arrive quickly but that did not happen either. The Fiat Linea is a very good looking car alright - but last month, another C-segment sedan which has vowed evreyone was launched- the new Honda City. Your thunder has been stolen comprehensively, Fiat.
Make no mistake - the Fiat Linea is still a very good looking car and with classically handsome lines.

The Fiat Linea will be launched in India several variants, and petrol and diesel options.
The petrol version would have a 1.4-litre petrol engine, and the diesel version would have a 1.3 diesel VGT, combined with five-speed transmissions. The Fiat Linea will also come in a variant with a 120 bhp 1.4 16v Turbo option. We now know very well that the diesel will sell a lot more in numbers than the petrol. Only Honda seems to buck the diesel trend in India.
The Fiat Linea has been designed by the Fiat Style Centre. The Fiat Linea is 4.56 metres long, 1.73 metres wide, 1.5 metres tall, with a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, and a 500 litre luggage capacity.
The Fiat Linea variants will comprise Fiat Linea Active, Fiat Linea Dynamic, Fiat Linea Emotion, and the Fiat Linea Emotion +.
The Fiat Linea Active will come with power steering, manual central locking, power windows, driver and passenger vanity mirror, 2-tone beige/black interiors, tachometer, fog lamps, and halogen lights.
The Fiat Linea Dynamic with have rear seat arm rests, integrated Mp3 stereo, instrument cluser with white dials, adjustible rear seat head rests, height adjustable driver’s seat, and dual airbags.
The Fiat Linea Emotion will come with ABS, EBD, 16-alloy wheels, silver metal finish central console, audio controls on steering, instant fuel consumption, average speed, distance to empty data, and chrome trim on door handles.
The fiat Linea Emotion+ will come with a Blue&Me hands-free system that allows the driver to browse mobile phone’s book, and controls the audio system. The built-in USB port can be used to connect PenDrive with music in MP3 and WMA formats.
The top-end Fiat Linea has an option of a Blue&Nav system, which is, essentially, a Blue&Me system with an integrated GPS system. The system provides voice instructions and displays directions with arrows.
The car has a power of 77PS @ 6000 rpm, and torque 115 NM @ 3000 rpm. The Fiat Linea can go up to 0-100kmph in 14.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 170 kmph.
The Fiat Linea will be available in 10 colors: Cool Jazz Blue,Tecno Grey, Flamenco Red, Lullaby Blue, Fox-Trot Azure, Minimal Grey, Rockabilly Black, Breakdance Green, Ambient White, and Indie Ivory.
The Fiat Linea is expected to be priced between Rs 7 - 9 lakhs.

VEHICLE SUMMARY
Name: Linea
Model: Active
Car Body Type: Sedan
Segment: C+ Segment
Top Speed: 195
Fuel Consumption: Highway16.00 kmpl.
Fuel Consumption: City12.00 kmpl.
Warranty: N/A

VERDICT
FOR: Superb LooksFeature Rich. Reasonably Priced
AGAINST: Fiat's Poor Reputation

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement: 1368 cc, 16 Valve, FIRE
Engine Type: Petrol
Maximum Power: 90 Bhp @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 115 Nm @ 4500 rpm

DIMENSIONS
Length: 4560 mm
Width: 1730 mm
Height: 1487 mm
Headroom: 930.00 cm
Rear Leg Room: 860 cm
Rear Seat Width: 1340.00 cm

OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Seating Capacity: 5
Tyre Size: 195/60 R15
Suspension: Double acting Telescopic Dampers & Stabilizer Bar
Turning Circle: 5.55 mtrs.
Boot Space: 500.00 ltrs.
Steering: Power
Brakes: Front Disk, Rear Drum
Gears: 5 Manual
Ground Clearance: 165.00 mm
Kerb Weight: 1240.00 kgs.
Fuel Tank: 45.00
Body Color Bumpers: Yes
Tachometer: Yes
Alloys: Yes
ORVM Indicator: No
Xenon Headlamps: No
Trip Meter: 2
Headlamp Washer: No

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
AC: AC without Climate Control
Power Windows: Yes
Central Locking: Manual
Remote Boot: Yes
Remote Fuel Filler: Yes
Rear Wiper: No
Rear Defogger: Yes
Rear Armrest: Yes
Streeing Adjustment (Rake/Reach):Yes / No
Driver Seat Adjustment: Manual
Music System: No
Leather Seats: No
Door Mirror: Both Side Manual
Tinted Glass: Yes
Rear AC Vent: No
Folding Rear Seats: No
Sun Roof: No
Buttons/Controls on Steering: No
Auto Wiper: No
Auto Headlamp: No

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
Airbag: No
Parking Sensors: No
Fog Lamp: No
Traction Control: No
EBD: No
ABS: No
ESP: No
Rear Seat Belts: 3

Maruti Suzuki's next big launch - RITZ

Maruti Suzuki Ritz, after a highly successful launch in European market is set for home coming, India launch. It was launched as Maruti Suzuki Splash in European markets, this car will come to the Indian market as Maruti Suzuki Ritz.
Maruti Ritz is expected to be available in Indian markets by the mid 2009. It's expected to be a B+ segment targeting mid level and higher mid level income groups. Maruti Suzuki Ritz is set to be a new model and will not be replacing any present Maruti series of cars. Offering of Ritz is speculated to be between A-star and Swift. One of the most noticeable features of Maruti Ritz is the rear end, with inward tilt. Signaling that Maruti Ritz launch is just around the corner

Maruti Suzuki’s next big product in the B+ segment, the Ritz will be formally launched very soon. The car is coming the in second week of May and as always we will be present at the launch.
The car will come in three variants LXi/LDi, VXi/VDi, ZXi/ZDi and two engine options, namely the DDiS and the recently announced KB12 engine.
The ZDi variants will be fully loaded inside out and safety features like Dual Airbags and ABS.

Look over for the detailed specifications:

Maruti Suzuki Ritz
1.2 KB-Series Petrol LXi, VXi, ZXi
1.3 DDiS Diesel LDi, VDi, ZDi

Dimensions

Length x Width X Height : 3710 mm X 1680 mm X 1590 mm

Wheelbase: 2360 m

Front track: 1470 mm

Rear track: 1480 mm
Ground Clearance: 170 mm

Turning Radius: 4.5 mm
Luggage Space: 205 Litres (with seats in place)

Engines:1.2 KB Series 4-Cylinder Petrol

All Aluminium 1197 cc DOHC

16 Valves, 4 Per Cylinder

Max Power: 85 ps@5500 rpm

Max Torque: 117 nm@4200 rpm
1.3 DDiS 4-Cylinder Diesel 1248 cc DOHC

16 valves, 4 per cylinder All Aluminium

Fixed Geometry Turbocharger With Intercooler CRDI

Max power: 75 ps@4000 rpm

Max Torque: 190 nm@1,750-2,250 rpm
Euro 4 ready, both petrol and diesel

Kerb Weight

Petrol: 1045 kg

Diesel: 1150 kg

Brakes

Front: ventilated disc

Rear: drum, leading and trailing (self-adjusting)

ABS: Standard on ZXi/ ZDi

Suspension

Front: MacPherson strut & coil spring

Rear: Torsion beam & coil spring

Tyres

165/80 R14 (VXi/ VDi with steel wheels)
185/70 R14 (ZXi/ ZDi with alloys)

Fuel Tank Capacity: 45 litres

Standard Features
LXi/LDi

Exterior
8 colour options
Pearl Metallic Arctic White
Silky Silver
Midnight black
Almore Grey
Green
Cool Blue
Ravishing Red
Chocolate Brown
Body Coloured Mirrors and Door Handles

Body Coloured Bumpers
Steel Wheels with hub cap

Front and Rear Fog Lamps
Full Wheel Covers

Alloy Wheels with 185/70
R14 tyresChrome Plated Front Grille

Interiors

Power Steering

Adjustible Front Seat Head Restraint
Safety4 ELR seat belts with lap belt for 5th passenger

iCATS VXi/ VDi- adds on to lxi/ldi

Audio System, Integrated cd/mp3/wma with aux-in2 Speakers

A/C and Heater (HVAC)

Dual Digital Trip Meter

Manual Central Locking

All 4 power windows

Rear Seat Single Bench Folding

Power Outlet On Central Console

Vanity Mirror On Left Sun Visor

Front and Rear Seat Adjustable Head Restraints

Grey and Black Dual Tone Interior

Fabric Insert on door trims

Front Seat Back Pocket (behind driver’s seat only)

3-position Central Cabin Light

Co-Driver Seat Under Tray

Safety4 ELR Seat Belts with lap belt for 5th passenger

AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL

Silver Lining on central console

Silver Finished 3-spoke steering wheel

Stereo Remote (separate)

Tilt Steering

Driver’s seat height adjusterPop-Up Tachometer

Rear Parcel Tray

Safety and Security
iCATS

Dual Airbags

ABS Standard

Remote Keyless Entry Security System

Rear Defogger

Rear Wiper and Washer

The All new Honda CITY

The all new Honda City is longer, wider and sturdier. It is 4420 mm in length 5 mm longer and 1695 mm in width 5 mm wider While maintaining the same ground clearance and same head clearance, the height has been lowered by 15 mm to 1470 mm delivering a sleeker and sturdier body shape which gives the City a refined driving position. With its wheelbase extended by an additional 100 mm, efficient use of space has been made for both driver and occupants to create a spacious cabin interior.

VEHICLE SUMMARY
Name:City
Model:S M/T
Car Body Type:Sedan
Segment:C+ Segment
Top Speed:175
Fuel Consumption (Highway):18.00 kmpl.
Fuel Consumption (City)
14.00 kmpl.

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement:1497cc , 4 cyl, PGM-Fi, SOHC
Engine Type:Petrol
Maximum Power:116 Bhp @ 6600 rpm
Maximum Torque:146 Nm @ 4800rpm

DIMENSIONS
Length:4420 mm
Width:1695 mm
Height:1480 mm

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

AC:AC without Climate Control
Power Windows:Yes
Central Locking:Remote
Remote Boot:Yes

Remote Fuel Filler: Yes
Rear Wiper: No
Rear Defogger: Yes
Rear Armrest: With Cup Holder
Streeing Adjustment (Rake/Reach):Yes/No
Driver Seat Adjustment:Manual
Music System:MP3 CD changer
Leather Seats:No
Door Mirror:Both Side Electric
Tinted Glass:Yes
Rear AC Vent:No
Folding Rear Seats:No
Sun Roof:No
Buttons/Controls on Steering:Yes
Auto Wiper:No
Auto Headlamp:No

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY

Airbag:2
Parking Sensors:No
Fog Lamp:Yes
Traction Control:No
EBD:Yes
ABS:Yes
ESP:No
Rear Seat Belts:3

Honda Jazz New Hatchback by HONDA up to mid-2009

Honda is launching it’s new hatchback after launched the new Accord V6 & said its ‘Jazz’ hatchback would hit the Indian roads by middle of this year, so the new car would trail the it’s own “Honda City” sedan in terms of sales volumes.
Honda will launch its premium hatchback Honda Jazz in India in Year 2009. In view of the importance of small cars in Indian market and the enthusiastic response which the company got for the Jazz when it was showcased at the Auto Expo in New Delhi this year, it has been decided to pre-pone the launch of the Honda Jazz to the middle of next year. The initial roll out of the car will be done from the current plant at Greater Noida.
The very new Jazz will be a premium segment hatchback and we do not expect that it will overcome the sales numbers of the City sedan in India as it is expensive. The Jazz is priced much higher than the City in many foreign markets, including Thailand, but it is still managing to sell more numbers. Honda people said they were not worried about the premium tag associated with the Jazz. The price or premium ness will be determined by the customer. We are confident that the model will be well accepted in India as like other premium segment cars.
Honda is expected to price this car between 5 lakh to 6 lakh. The pricing in the Indian market would be tricky, as the Jazz has to be profitable for Honda, as well as stay reasonably below the Honda City to ensure it doesn't cannibalize the low end Honda City cars. As hatch back is the only category in which Honda does not has a product, once a small car like the Jazz enters the Indian automobile market, Honda would have a car in every category. . Honda already has the Honda City ZX and other variants in the mid-size saloon market, The Honda Civic as a larger saloon, The Honda Accord in the luxury segment and the Honda CR-V as a city crossover SUV.The launch of the Suzuki Swift in India forced Honda last year to re-calculate its plans for India. Originally, Honda SIEL had planned to enter India with cars from Daihatsu whcih could be priced lower in the Indian market. However, the tremendous response to the Swift forced a relook - the Indian customer now expected a lot more sophisticated car than a Daihatsu hatchback, and the Jazz initially was considered a bit too expensive a car for India. The production of the Jazz will still be a tough feat for the car manufacturer to stay within the price range and have a car in the Indian market that can beat the Suzuki Swift.
Jazz is accomplished with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and will be competitively priced for the Indian market and get the premium tag due to the company’s focus on making it luxurious and safe by adding features like- Airbags,- ABS (anti-lock braking system)- G-CON Technology (an advanced passive shielding that offers the occupant a survival zone in case of an unavoidable collision).
Honda, however, believes that customers would be willing to pay for the additional features.
Vehicle Summery
Name Jazz
Model SE 1.4
Segment C
Car body type Hatchback
Top Speed 170 kmph

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement: 1339cc, i-DSI
Engine Type: Petrol
Maximum Power: 83bhp@5700rpm
Maximum Torque: 119nm@2800rpm

DIMENSIONS
Length: 3855 mm
Width: 1876 mm
Height: 1525 mm

OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Seating Capacity: 5
Tyre Size: 185/55 R15
Steering: Power
Brakes: Front Ventilated, Rear Disk
Gears: 5 Manual
Kerb Weight: 1041.00 kgs.
Body Color Bumpers: Yes


COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
AC: AC without Climate Control
Power Windows: Central Locking:
Remote
Remote Boot: No
Remote Fuel Filler: No
Rear Wiper: No
Rear Defogger: No
Rear Armrest: No
Streeing Adjustment: Yes
Driver Seat Adjustment: Manual
Music System: MP3, 4 Speaker
Leather Seats: No
Door Mirror: Both Side Electric
Tinted Glass: No
Rear AC Vent: No
Folding Rear Seats: No
Sun Roof: No
Buttons/Controls on Steering: No
Auto Wiper: No
Auto Headlamp: No

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
Airbag: 4
Parking Sensors: Yes
Fog Lamp: No
Traction Control: No
EBD: Yes
ABS: Yes
ESP: No

Fiat 500 comes to India

The Fiat 500 - the much fancied car of 2008 has been launched in India. The two door Fiat new car is to be priced around 15lac ex-showroom Mumbai. The on-road price in India (Mumbai) will be close to 17lac.
This car will not be fancied by the public, but is going to be loved by the rich youth of the country. Celebrities and car lovers would enjoy this car as much as anything.
The Fiat 500 will face stiff competition against the Mini Cooper and the Volkswagen Beetle which is also going to be launched soon in India.

Maruti Suzuki A-Star

The Maruti Suzuki India group has launched the A-Star in India which is produced in Haryana at teh Manesar factory. The car has been desgined by Rajesh Kumar and Saurabh Singh.
The car is a Euro 5-compliant model with lower Co2 emissions. The car is going to be the replacement for the Alto in export markets. In India the car will be a direct competition to the Hyundai i10.
The price of the Maruti A-Star is a good 10% higher than the i10. The base version of the A-star will be about 3.6lacs.

Face-lifted Scorpio launched

Mahindra continued to it's culture of launching Refresh version after Champion Refresh & Bolero Refresh.

Refreshed Scorpio launched. Rs. 7.21 lakh to Rs. 9.99 lakh. Price cuts ranging from Rs 34,000 to Rs 70,000. Model range includes new VLX BS-IV micro-hybrid variant.
Mahindra has launched a refreshed version of its Scorpio. The price has been significantly reduced accross the range with price cuts ranging from Rs 34,000 to Rs 70,000. The new Scorpio has a host of new features across its range of variants.The VLX, LX and SLE variants get the mHawk engine and the SLE gets ABS. The SLE, VLX, VLX Bharat Stage-IV and VLX Automatic get powered outdoor rear view mirrors. The all new VLX BS-IV variant also features Mahindra’s stop-start Microhybrid system. The variant is priced at Rs 9.3 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi. "We are especially pleased to be the first company to launch a BS-IV compliant version in India", said Rajan Wadhera, Mahindra's engineering department chief.The price range is from Rs. 7.21 lakh to 9.99 lakh across the five variants (prices are ex-showroom Delhi).

XYLO v/s INNOVA

Spruced up Toyota Innova to take on Mahindra Xylo

A new face-lifted version of the hugely successful Innova MPV has been launched by Toyota in India.
The new Innova is essentially a tidied up version of the existing model, with spruced up exteriors and interiors. The company had anticipated the launch of the Xylo, and had planned the new Innova to be revealed immediately after the launch of the Maxindra MPV.
That apart, the company is said to be in the process of launching alternative fuel versions of Toyota Innova in India following the facelifted Innova. Sources said that a CNG version of Toyota Innova which will cost approximately Rs 75,000 – Rs 90,000 or more.
The modifications in the new Innova include a handful of cosmetic alterations aimed at making the vehicle exude freshness. The changes include a refreshed bumper, grille, fog lamps and new front skirt. Meanwhile, the company has also spruced up the interiors to make it more comfortable and pleasing to the eye. The inside of the car now comes with a new color wooden panel with climate control AC, steering mounted audio controls and an in-dash CD changer. The Toyota Innova was much loved by large families, as well as by the tourist taxi trade for its car-like comfort.
With regard to the alternative fuel version being planned, the company feels that the CNG Innova might have to be sold for a bigger price. This, because, there is a difference in the installation procedure of the CNG kits in India and Japan. The company might go in for a tie up with Minda Industries for its CNG kits for CNG variant of Toyota Innova, sources added.
Toyota had recently been elevated to a position as the the world’s biggest carmaker, thanks to the strong global presence it boasts of. Toyota has a market value of about $117 billion, and like all major carmakers, it is suffering from the financial troubles that have afflicted the global market place. The company had recently said that it will record its first operating loss for the current financial year. Toyota sold about 9.366 million vehicles worldwide last year.

Mahindra XYLO “the era of sedan is under serious threat.”

Mahindra unveils multi purpose vehicle Xylo to indian market with comparioson to it's competitor TOYOTA Innova. It is bit cheaper & more in performence to it.

Xylo, with its competitive price ranging from Rs 6.24 lakh to Rs 7.69 lakh, is pitched against not only MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) market leader Toyota Innova but also midsize sedans including Ford Fiesta and Maruti SX4.
Mr Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, reiterated the pre-launch advertising slogan for Xylo – “the era of sedan is under serious threat.”
According to Mr Mahindra, comparatively lower price and additional comforts it offers would help Xylo beat the current downtrend in the automotive market.
“There is clearly pressure on market all around world. But if you come out with right product at right price, there is a huge overhang of demand that you can capitalise,” said Mr Mahindra.

GLOBAL LAUNCH
He said that Xylo will have its global launch in South Africa by the end of this financial year. The product will later be launched in other markets, including Europe where tougher emission standards are in place, he said.
Xylo will be available in 57 select Mahindra dealerships in January and another 44 from February.
While Toyota’s low-end Innova E costs Rs 7.60 lakh, the low-end version of Mahindra MPV, Xylo E2, at Rs 6.24, comes with greater comforts including power steering, power windows and central locking. Toyota’s high-end Innova G4 is priced Rs 9.29 lakh while Mahindra’s high-end variant Xylo E8 costs Rs 7.69 lakh and offers additional comforts including digital drive assist system and flatbed front seats, said Mr Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief of Operations, Mahindra & Mahindra.

A NEW PLATFORM
Xylo, which was under development for four and a half years, is coming out of an all-new platform called Ingenio. It is six and a half years since Mahindra launched a new platform in the UV segment.
“The entire product development has cost Rs 550 crore,” said Mr Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra. “The product development process has improved significantly in the last six and a half years. We hadn’t got everything right the first time when we launched Scorpio. We have got everything right in Xylo the first time.”
Mahindra has the capacity to produce 25,000 units of Xylo a year which, the company officials said, can be ramped up based on demand. “We are assembling Xylo and Scorpio on the same line. So we have got that flexibility,” said Mr Goenka.

NEW PRODUCTS
Mahindra will have a few more products from the Ingenio platform in the coming years. “We cannot afford to develop just one product out of one platform. There will be many more products in the next two to three years,” said Mr Goenka.
The company is developing two products, one of which is an SUV targeting the US market. The development cost of the two upcoming models is Rs 550 crore each. Interestingly, the development cost of Scorpio and Xylo is the same.