2010 Delhi Motor Show
India’s first 4-door passenger EV: Chevrolet e-Spark
This is the all electric Chevrolet e-Spark that was revealed at the 2010 New Delhi Motor Show. The e-Spark will become India’s first 4-door passenger electric vehicle when it is launched at the end of the year. The e-Spark is a local project and GM India has collaborated with Indian-based Reva Electric Car Company to come up with it. The EV will be powered by a RECC powertrain that will allow its drivers to choose between Regular and Boost modes, with the latter offering a more spirited drive.
The company also confirmed that the e-Spark will be fitted with the Driver Display System that will provide all necessary and vital signals on the dashboard. Continue reading to view two more images of the Chevrolet e-Spark. More information will be released when the EV is launched. Read the rest of this entry.
2010 Delhi Motor Show: Tata Indica Vista Sport concept makes its presence known
Along with the Aria and the Magic Iris, Tata is also showcasing the Indica Vista Sport concept at the 2010 Delhi Motor Show. The concept is a design study that showcases Tata’s ability in being able to come up with something that breathes a little bit more sportiness and I must admit that it has done a not-too-bad job with this attempt, although I am not fan of the ‘fat’ chrome-like piece on top of the grille.
The concept is painted in Alphanso Orange and features ’smoked’ headlights and a large lower bumper intake (which looks like its not functional) and side scoops. With the blacked-out roof the rear looks pretty decent with tall taillights and a diffuser insert which is flanked out by what seems to be non-functional exhaust ends.
2010 Delhi Motor Show: Odd-looking Tata Magic Iris set to replace Tuk-Tuks
What you see above could potentially change the streets of India forever. Whether you are in Mumbai or whether you are enjoying a Bollywood film, you are bound to see Tuk-Tuk’s being driven on the streets and usually its many of them. Thanks to Tata that scene may change.
The company has launched the Magic Iris at the 2010 Delhi Motor Show. In its press release, Tata stated that the purpose of the odd-looking vehicle with a front overhang that is much longer than its rear’s, is “for public transportation, offering safer and more comfortable mobility for those who depend on three-wheelers”.
From the looks of the Iris looks like a much better solution and with an expected affordable pricetag, the Iris could fill the streets of India in no time. Most importantly, it can seat five and all of its occupants will be fully enclosed, something a Tuk-Tuk can’t shout about.
The Tata Magic Iris features a tiny 611cc water-cooled diesel motivator and it is capable of allowing the Iris to hit a 55 km/h top speed which is very low but enough if we talking about replacing Tuk-Tuk’s. I hope the price is actually low enough so Tuk-Tuk’s can be fully replaced. Lets face it, its about time for these three-wheelers to be shelved. The Magic Iris will be launched sometime this year.
2010 Delhi Motor Show: Tata’s off-road capable MPV – the Aria crossover
The Tata Aria is one of the few local cars that made its debut at the Auto Expo 2010 in Delhi. First shown as a concept at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, it blends the functionality and comfort of a mid-range MPV with the all terrain assurance and premiumness of an SUV, says its maker.
Tata’s most expensive vehicle to date, the Aria is powered by a 2.2-litre Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) diesel engine with 138 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. Buyers can choose the 4×4 option, which is a torque on demand system. This, coupled to the decent ground clearance and ladder frame chassis, means that the Aria should be capable of some mild off-roading.
The seven-seat cabin features equipment such as 3D surround sound, dimming roof lamps, in-dash GPS, infotainment system, multifunction steering, twin blower air con with automatic climate control and cruise control. The seating layout is said to be “theatre style”; the second row slides and inclines, while both it and the third row can fold flat.
The Aria boasts of safety features uncommon for its market. Six airbags and ESP are being offered by an Indian automaker for the first time.
2010 Delhi Motor Show: Maruti Suzuki Concept rIII MPV makes its debut
Maruti Suzuki has unveiled the Concept rIII MPV at the 2010 Delhi Motor Show. The MPV concept features a 2+2+2 seating configuration and was designed in India by a team of “young and enthusiastic” designers and I must admit that the concept does look the part. Just like the Vauxhall Meriva, the Concept rIII MPV also features rear suicide doors and looking at how the configuration made it into production with the Meriva, there is possibility of Suzuki Maruti which holds a 50% market share in India retaining it for the production version, if the company decides to do it the first place.
The concept MPV is underpinned by a stretched SX4 platform. If it goes into production there is possibility that it will be offered with engines supplied by Volkswagen since the German auto giant recently purchased a 19.9% stake in Suzuki. Look for an image gallery after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
Renault to reveal several more cars in India
Renault has confirmed via a press release that it plans to introduce several more cars for the Indian market. Renault India’s general manager and managing director Marc Nassif revealed that these cars will be introduced within 18 and 24 months while a full range can be seen in a 48-month time frame.
Nassif confirmed that these cars will be manufactured in Chennai and that the company will launch the Fluence and Koleos models sometime in 2011.
He said that the range will feature small to luxury cars and will be a mix of Renault models and shared platform cars within the Renault-Nissan alliance including a crossover. The company is also about to finalize its distribution network for the Asian country.
2010 Delhi Motor Show: Toyota Etios breaks cover – there’s a hatchback too!
After Toyota released a teaser video of its new low cost compact car, we assumed that it will be a saloon. But Toyota not only unveiled a smart looking small sedan earlier today at the Auto Expo 2010 in Delhi, it showed off a hatchback too. Named the Etios, the duo are officially concepts, but there’s nothing very concept about their simple designs – expect much of the same when the sedan is launched in India end of this year. The hatch will follow in 2011.
To make the car as affordable as possible, a high percentage of local parts will be used to keep costs low. Toyota says that two newly developed engines will power the Etios: a 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre gasoline engine.
Etios chief engineer, Yoshinori Noritake, had this to say: “I visited many Indian cities and homes to learn the market and to hear from the consumer directly. Over four years, more than 2,000 engineers have been involved in the development of the Etios, and each has devoted his or her best effort with no compromises. I am convinced in my heart that the Etios offers joy of ownership and quality of life to consumers in India.”
Toyota expects to sell 70,000 units of the Etios per year in India, and to achieve this target it will expand its Indian sales network to 150 dealers by the end of 2010 from the current 97. Exports are likely and Toyota has expressed interest to sell the Etios in China, Brazil and South East Asia.
Images of the hatchback and interior after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
2010 Delhi Motor Show: Honda New Small Concept revealed
Honda has unwrapped the New Small Concept vehicle at the Auto Expo 2010. A production version based on the concept is expected to be introduced into the Indian and Thai markets by 2011. The 5-seater vehicle will be co-developed by Honda R&D teams located both in India and Thailand and the vehicle should be powered by small displacement engines and reports suggest a 1.2 engine.
According to Honda the New Small Concept features a design language called “Efficient Energetic Exterior” and said that the production version will surpass customer’s expectations and that it will carry an affordable price tag. Koichi Kondo, Honda Executive Vice President said, “Honda will strive to introduce a small car with a competitive price in the entry level of the hatchback segment.” Look for an image gallery after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
