Maruti Suzuki at the 2012 Auto Expo

Maruti Suzuki is planning to unveil some concept small cars, a concept SUV, the new Swift Dzire and the much-awaited Ertiga MPV with seven seats. Here we take a detailed look at these cars!

Photo: Front View of Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Dzire compact – January 2012 – Rs. 5 lakh

The new Dzire will be a shortened version of the outgoing model. The 2012 Dzire will have a length of less than four metres to conform to the government’s small car norms. It will have all the design elements introduced in the new Swift launched in August 2011. On the inside too, expect the upcoming Dzire to come with a dashboard and upholstery similar to the new Swift.

The compact Dzire is likely be fitted with the same 1.2-litre K-series petrol motor and the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine that powers the new Swift and the outgoing Dzire. We expect the new Dzire to be offered in three petrol variants (LXI, VXI and ZXI) and three diesel variants. The new Dzire is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 5 – 7 lakh.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga – January 2012 – Rs. 6 lakh

The Ertiga is built on the Maruti Suzuki Ritz hatchback’s platform. As per the spy photos available on the internet, the MPV will be spacious and will likely come in 6-seater and 7-seater options with a 2 +2 +2 and a 2+3+2 seating arrangement. The interiors of the Ertiga will resemble that of the new Swift. However, unlike the Swift which has black/grey interiors, the Ertiga will have beige interiors including the dashboard and steering wheel.

The Maruti Suzuki MPV will likely be powered by the same 1.3 litre DDiS diesel engine that powers the diesel version of the SX4 and makes 89 bhp of power. There are speculations that Maruti Suzuki may also launch the Ertiga with a 1.4-litre K-series petrol engine that makes 95 bhp of power. The Ertiga is expected to come with dual Airbags, ABS with EBD, BA (Brake Assist), seat belts for all passengers and 3-point seat belt pretensioners for the front row occupants.

The Ertiga is expected come in six variants (similar to the new Swift), Lxi, Vxi and Zxi (petrol variants) and Ldi, Vdi and Zdi (diesel variants) and may be priced in the Rs. 6 – 9 lakh.

Maruti Suzuki will showcase concept small cars at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and we expect these to be the Palette and MR Wagon.  These two cars are displayed to gauge the response of the audience.

Suzuki Palette

Suzuki Palette is a boxy vehicle with sliding rear-doors like those on the Maruti Suzuki Omni and the Eeco. It has a large glass area and looks rather attractive for a mini-van. Under its hood lies a 658cc petrol engine that belts out 52 Bhp of power and returns a fuel economy of around 18-20 Kmpl for the automatic variant sold abroad.

We feel that the Palette will be able to comfortably seat five people thanks to its fully flat floor and will have ample leg and headroom for all passengers. The boot space in the Palette is just adequate and may not be of much use if the rear seat is fully occupied.

If launched, the Pallete will likely be placed above the Eeco and will start at around Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh. It would compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Estilo and A-Star.

Suzuki MR Wagon

The MR Wagon is a boxy small car but the sharp straight lines lend it a nice overall appearance. It looks very minivan-like and can be compared partly with the outgoing Wagon R.  The car’s front looks cute with a body-colored grille. The India specific model, if launched, may come with this MR Wagon inspired styling.

The MR Wagon sold in Japan shares its engine with the Suzuki Palette. The 658 cc, 3 pot engine puts out 53 bhp of power and has a mileage of around 20 Kmpl for the automatic variants sold abroad. If launched in India, expect Maruti Suzuki to plonk in a 998 cc engine for the MR Wagon.

Maruti Suzuki SUV Concept

Maruti Suzuki will showcase a small concept SUV at the Auto Expo. The teaser images of Maruti Suzuki SUV concept on the company’s official website suggest that this SUV may be the next-generation Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. The teaser image reveals a stylish front grille, a unique headlamp design, radically designed dual tone alloy wheels and L-shaped LED tail lights.

The entry-level SUV segment is fast catching up. Ford will unveil the new Eco Sport at the Auto Expo. We also expect Premier Rio to come with 1.3-litre Multijet engine sourced from Fiat. Also, Mahindra will soon launch the mini Xylo to be priced in the same range as the Eco Sport.

Upcoming cars of Hyundai in 2012

Hyundai, the second largest small car maker has an interesting lineup of models for the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The company plans to showcase a concept SUV and we expect two production cars, the Hyundai Sonata (i45) and the Hyundai Elantra. Both these cars will likely be launched next year. Let’s take a closer look at each of these cars.Hyundai Sonata – March 2012 – Rs. 16 lakh*

The Sonata (i45) will be one of the best looking cars from Hyundai in its Indian product portfolio. When launched, the Sonata/i45 will be the third model (after i10 and i20) in Hyundai’s i-series in India with a price tag of roughly Rs. 16 -18 lakh.

The company’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design seems to suit the Sonata best. It gets attractive lines and curves. The rear of the Sonata has stylish, wide tail lamps and sculpted boot lid that accentuates its premium feel.

Hyundai may consider launching the Sonata with a 2.2 litre diesel engine that produces 197 bhp of power and 420 Nm of torque. It has to be noted that Hyundai’s 2.2 litre CRDi engine already does duty in the Santa Fe SUV which was launched in December 2010.

For the petrol variant, the Korean car maker may employ a 2.4 litre petrol engine for the India-bound Sonata. This motor puts out 198 bhp of power and will likely sport a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The outgoing Sonata has not been a hot selling model because its design did not appeal to customers. The new Sonata may however strike the right chord and help Hyundai widen its market share in the premium sedan segment.

Hyundai Elantra/Avante – June 2012 – Rs. 12 lakh*

The upcoming Elantra, may retain the Avante name when launched in India. It too adopts the popular ‘fluidic sculpture’ as adopted by Hyundai cars such as the i10, Verna and the recently launched Eon small car. We feel that, the new Elantra will be a better looking model with its attractive curves.

The Elantra diesel is expected to get a 2.0-litre common-rail diesel engine that makes 138 bhp of power. The petrol variant will likely be powered by a 1.8-litre Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) petrol motor that puts out 146 bhp of power. The engines will be mated to 6-speed manual and 6-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission.

Expect the Elantra to be equipped with six airbags, cruise control, optional sunroof and an attractive infotainment system to compete with other cars in the segment. To be priced in the range of Rs. 12 – 15 lakh, the Elantra will compete with the Honda Civic (Rs. 12.21 -13.96 lakh), the Chevrolet Cruze (Rs. 12.03 – 14.44 lakh) and the Skoda Laura (Rs. 12.44 – 15.05 lakh).

Hyundai i20 Facelift – July 2012 – Rs. 5 lakh*

Hyundai has begun testing the facelifted i20 in Chennai. The i20 facelift will come with a new front grille that will resemble the i10 and the fluidic Verna. Expect minimal or no changes in the car’s side profile and interiors.

Under the hood, Hyundai will likely use the same engines on the face lifted model that are found in the outgoing model. At present, the diesel variant sports a 1.4 litre CRDi engine that puts out 89 bhp of power and 220 Nm of torque. Among the petrol variants, there are two engine options: 1.2 litre petrol & 1.4 litre petrol. The 1.2-litre petrol engine churns out around 80 bhp of power and 112 Nm of torque. The 1.4 litre petrol engine develops a healthy 100 bhp of power but comes only with an automatic transmission. The i20 has both manual and automatic transmission options which will likely be carried forward in the new model as well.

The new i20 may cost slightly more than the outgoing model which is priced in the range of Rs. 4.5 lakh -6.2 lakh for the petrol variants and Rs. 5.7 lakh – 6.9 lakh for the diesel variants. The face lifted i20 will compete with Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and Nissan Micra.

Apart from these models, Hyundai will showcase a concept SUV. There are speculations that the concept SUV may likely be the latest generation Tucson or ix35 sold in international markets. However, Hyundai may surprise us with a 5-seater concept SUV which could later enter into production for Asian markets.

Peugeot to showcase 508 luxury sedan at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo!

Peugeot will launch its first car, the 508 luxury sedan in India in 2012 and the car will be showcased at the Auto Expo. Peugeot will appoint dealers across India to sell its 508 model, next year and will follow a top-down approach (similar to Renault) in launching its products.

Peugeot 508

The 508 is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 18 lakh – 22 lakh and will compete with the likes of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and the Nissan Teana.

The 508 has floating-style single, large radiator grille clearly revealing its European origin. In fact, the 508 is forward-looking, dynamic and in many ways better than its predecessor, the 407. The 508 is 4,792 mm in length, 2,068 mm in width and 1,456 mm in height. Length-wise, the 508 is smaller than the Honda Accord (4950 mm) and the Toyota Camry (4815 mm).

The well-sculpted headlamp units comprising LED day/night lamps coupled with the bi-xenon directional headlamps make the 508 look lively and contemporary. The 508 has a head-up display, four-zone air conditioning, start-stop button, Bluetooth and it also has 545 litres of boot space. Quality, fit and finish too is top notch.

In international markets, the Peugeot 508 is powered by a 1.6-litre e-HDi FAP diesel engine that produces 112 bhp of maximum power and 285 Nm of maximum torque. The engine comes with either a 5-speed/6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Being a CBU, expect the same engine for the India-bound model. Safety features in the 508 include dual front airbags, curved head restraints in the front, with integral multi-position adjustment to secure the passenger from collisions.

Peugeot at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

The French auto giant will showcase three of its India-bound models including the 508 saloon at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. “The Auto Expo will mark our first formal presence in India. We will display vehicles that will best demonstrate the DNA of Peugeot. We have just developed the world’s first diesel hybrid,” said a company official. Peugeot is expected to unveil its models on a display floor of roughly 500 square meters.

No Citroen in near future

Citroen fans may have to wait for a while because Peugeot has no plans as of now, to launch car from its close ally (Citroen) in the Indian market. Peugeot needs to get its network and infrastructure in place, before the plant comes up in 2014.

Peugeot plant

The company is investing a sum of Rs. 4,000 crore for building its production plant in Sanand, Gujrat which will become functional by 2014. It has to be noted that Peugeot began its work at the plant site in November 2011 after a foundation stone-laying ceremony at Sanand. The upcoming Peugeot plant is spread across 600 acres and will have an initial production capacity of 1.7 lakh cars per annum and will likely be scaled up to produce 3.4 lakh cars per annum by 2016.

Force to launch 4WD and lifestyle getaway variants of Force One at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo!

Force Motors will showcase two new variants of the Force One SUV: a four-wheel-drive variant and a concept luxury weekend getaway at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. In the commercial segment, the company is also planning to launch a minibus with 26 seats on the standard version and 10 -18 seats on the luxury version.

The Force One 4×4 will be powered by the same by 2.2 litre common rail diesel engine that puts out 139 bhp of power and 321 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to 5-speed manual transmission. The mileage for the Force One 4×4 will likely be around 11 kmpl.

The Force One 4×4 will have ABS along with other safety features such as remote key entry, driver Seatbelt warning, door open warning and display, rear windscreen wiper with washer, front demister, central locking and over speed warning. The 4×4 version will be offered in only one variant and is expected to be priced at Rs. 12.5 lakh.

Earlier, there were expectations that Force would launch a passenger van for both private and fleet operators but it seems that the company is focusing on widening Force One as a brand. In August 2011, the company launched the Force One 4×2 variant at an attractive price of Rs. 10.65 lakh. But, the Mahindra XUV500 with far more features was launched at aggressive starting price of Rs. 10.88 lakh which is now a big threat to the Force One SUV

Cash discounts of up to Rs.70,000 on the Skoda Laura Diesel!

Skoda India is offering attractive cash discounts on variants of the Laura diesel manual. The cash discounts range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 70,000 depending on the variant. The offer is valid till December 25th 2011. Unlike many other car makers who offer discounts only for petrol cars, Skoda has offered a discount on the Laura diesel which is a pleasant surprise for potential buyers.

Photo: Skoda Laura

dwsAuto spoke to Skoda dealers from across the country to bring you the exact details of the offer. As per dealers, the Laura Ambition variant gets a cash discount of Rs. 50,000 bringing down its price to Rs. 13.73 lakh from Rs. 14.23 lakh. The Laura Elegance variant gets a cash discount of Rs. 70,000 bringing down its price to Rs. 15.05 lakh from Rs. 15.75 lakh. Let’s see if these cash discounts give the Laura an edge over its competition.

Skoda Laura vs. Volkswagen Jetta

The Laura Ambition variant with an offer price of Rs. 13.73 lakh is Rs. 47,000 cheaper than the Volkswagen Jetta Trendline priced at Rs. 14.2 lakh. Both the cars are similarly equipped though the Jetta comes with front curtain airbags as well.

With regard to the top-end variants, the Laura Elegance with an offer price of Rs. 15.05 lakh is priced Rs. 65,000 lower than the Jetta Comfortline which is priced at Rs. 15.70 lakh. Despite the lower price, the Laura Elegance comes with dual zone climatronic, odour filter, pollen filter, leather seat upholstery, leather wrapped steering wheel, gear knob, brake lever and heated front seats. These features are not available on the Jetta Comfortline. Hence, the Laura Elegance is a more value for money option than the Jetta Comfortline.

Skoda Laura vs. Chevrolet Cruze

Photo: Chevrolet Cruze

The Laura Ambition variant with an offer price of Rs. 13.73 lakh is still priced Rs. 8,000 more than the fully loaded Chevrolet Cruze LTZ variant which is priced at Rs. 13.65 lakh. The Cruze LTZ, despite its low price, comes with leather seats, sunroof and cruise control but lacks traction control, mechanical brake assist and anti-slip regulation which are features offered in the Laura Ambition.

The Laura Ambition is a better choice as it offers more safety features at a premium of only Rs.8,000. But, if comfort features are important, the Cruze LTZ comes with more comfort features at a slightly lesser price making it better ‘value for money’ than the Laura Ambition.

Skoda Laura vs. Toyota Corolla Altis

The Laura Ambition variant with an offer price of Rs. 13.73 lakh is priced Rs. 18,000 more than the Toyota Corolla Altis G variant priced at Rs. 13.55 lakh. Though priced lower, the Corolla Altis G variant comes with an in-dash DVD touch screen audio system with Bluetooth, six speakers, steering mounted audio controls & a MID (multi-information display) switch on steering wheel which are not available on the Laura Ambition. Hence, the Corolla Altis G is a better ‘value for money’ option than the Laura Ambition.

When we compare the top-end variants, the Laura Elegance with an offer price of Rs. 15.05 lakh is Rs. 32,000 more than the Corolla Altis GL variant priced at Rs. 14.73 lakh. Both the cars have features that are at par with each other. However, the Laura Elegance comes with heated seats, dual zone climatronic, odour filter, pollen filter, parking sensors, traction control, mechanical brake assistant and anti-slip regulation which are not offered in the Corolla Altis GL.

Summing up, with regard to price, the Corolla Altis G is better than the Laura Ambition but the Laura Ambition offers more safety features and looks more attractive than the Corolla Altis GL.

Skoda Laura vs. Renault Fluence

The offer price of Laura Elegance (Rs. 15.05 lakh) makes it Rs. 55,000 pricier than the Fluence E4, top-end diesel variant, priced at Rs. 14.5 lakh. Despite the lower pricing, the Fluence E4 offers cruise control, automatic headlamps and Bluetooth connectivity and chest airbags for the front occupants which are not available in the Laura Elegance.

The Laura Elegance has a slight edge in terms of safety as it comes with a host of safety features such as MBA (Mechanical Brake Assistant), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) and TCS (Traction Control System). Overall, if comfort features are taken as priority, the Fluence E4 is a more ‘value for money’ proposition than the Laura Elegance.

*All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi