Indian auto industry was never so exciting. Every now and then we get to hear of new launches and to add to that our very own Tata Motors ARIA is expected to be launched in May 2010 with prices ranging from 9 – 14 lakhs. Way to go Tata !!

Keep a close watch, we’ll get you all the details post launch.

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• January 11, 2010 -- Tata Motors Unveil Aria @ Auto Expo 2010

Mr Ratan Tata Unveling The Aria @ Auto Expo 2010

If there was an award for the grandest stall at the Auto Expo 2010, it would have gone to Tata Motors for sure. The whole range of Tata Motors vehicles were at display including buses and trucks while the company took this opportunity to unveil two very important products for the Indian market - Tata Aria crossover and the recently launched Jaguar XJ luxury saloon.

17inch Alloy Wheels fills the wheel arches nicely!

First shown at the Geneva Motor show in 2005 as Xover concept, the Aria blends the functionality and comfort of a mid-range multi purpose vehicle with the all terrain assurance and premiumness of an SUV.

The squat stance is both purposeful and confident

The dynamic exteriors bear a distinctive lunging silhouette complemented by a unique A-pillar sweep and a well planted stance. Wrap-around dual barreled headlamps enhance the signature Tata grill, while the chrome underlining the glasshouse creates a distinctive kinetic beltline.

Trademark Tata Grille and dual barrel headlamps look striking!

The Aria comes with the 2.2 Litre DICOR engine delivering 140 PS of maximum power and 320 nm of maximum torque and delivers a lot of firsts for a Tata vehicle. Lets go through them one by one

1) First Tata vehicle with 6 Air Bags (You read it right, its “six”)

2) First with all wheel drive with torque on demand which senses the terrain and supplies the torque accordingly.

3) 3D surround sound system.

4) In dash GPS Navigation system

5) Cruise Control

6) Traction Control

By now you must have realized that Aria is a totally new ballgame for Tata Motors and it genuinely is! How many times do you see a Tata vehicle trumping the competition for features, safety, performance and technology?

Other notable safety and comfort features include – Multifunction steering wheel, dual zone airconditioning with air vents on B pillars, sliding and reclining second row seats and chassis with hydroformed members for class leading rigidity along with 6 Air Bags and ABS for first rate safety.

The company was tight lipped on the price but going by the specs and the figures, the top end version is expected to retail for close to 14 Lakh rupees! Another first for Tata!

Other images from the Tata stall at Auto Expo will be covered in another post so keep coming back!

Jump over for the image gallery of Tata Aria.

Image Gallery: Tata Aria @ Auto Expo 2010

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• September 30, 2010 -- Tata Aria Launch On October 11th
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In an attempt to retain the market leadership, Maruti plans to launch newer variants of the hot selling Wagon R, Swift & Alto in the coming months. Similar steps taken by the company in the past with the launch of new zen Estilo were successful and it managed to sell some good numbers.

The new model of Alto would be cheaper and than its existing model and would boost the numbers in the small car segment. New Swift Petrol will have new 1.2 litre KB series engine which promises to be give better fuel efficiency and since it is 1.2,  it attracts only 8% excise duty and the company plans to pass on the benefit to the customer hence making the car Rs 30,000 – 35,000 cheaper.Wagon-R is as such selling good numbers and with the new model coming in the sales are likely to go up.

This move by maruti is much appreciated as it promises to give many value for money propositions to the customer.

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• January 18, 2010 -- Maruti Suzuki Swift Gets 1.2 K-Series Engine
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• September 29, 2010 -- Maruti Suzuki SX4 Hybrid & Eeco Charge Electric Concepts To Be Used At CWG 2010
• September 17, 2010 -- Maruti Planning SX4 Diesel, Launch By Mid 2011
• September 1, 2010 -- Maruti Suzuki Launches Swift “One Million” Limited Edition
• September 1, 2010 -- Maruti Suzuki Reports Best Ever Sales In August 2010
• August 29, 2010 -- Maruti Suzuki Launches Limited Edition Ritz Genus

Menacing front would make the lesser cars pee in their pants errr paths!

Old is gold... and we know you agree!

Audi has one of the most impressive display at the Auto Expo 2010, befitting a company celebrating its centenary in the Auto world. The company had everything from the 1935 225 Roadster to the gorgeous A7 Sportback at display which gives you an insight as to where the Audi design is headed in the future. The A7 Sportback according to Audi symbolizes the sportback principle in its purest form with combination of elegance, sportiness and variability.

A "Stunner" from every angle!

An Audi from yesteryears but no less gorgeous!

Audi also took this opportunity to launch the Audi Q7 4.2 TDI having the most powerful diesel engine in its class and the limited edition A6 which will be available for an attractive Rs 37 Lakhs onwards (Ex-Showroom, Mumbai). The company also announced the production of its highly successful Audi Q5 SUV at its group production facility at Aurangabad and plans to launch an extended warranty program later this month.

The eye of the tiger

Audi A7 Sportback Concept

The stall built on the lines of Audi pavilions at any of the major auto shows abroad gives auto enthusiasts an opportunity to experience the entire Audi range available in India which includes Audi A4, A6, A8, Q7, new Q5, the TT sports car and the R8 supercar together with two international exhibits in the form of the A7 Sportback Concept and the 1935 225 Roadster.

Jump over for the Audi @ Auto Expo image gallery.

Image Gallery: Audi @ Auto Expo 2010

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Suzuki Kizashi Sedan (Never mind the ladies!)

One of the stars at the Maruti Suzuki pavillion was the production version of Kizashi sedan which made its first appearance on the Indian subcontinent.

The Rear is especially delicious with those gorgeous twin exhaust pipes

The car launched recently in the US and Japan and is expected to come to the Indian market by the end of this year. Kizashi is Suzuki’s most ambitious and most important launch yet which until now was only considered to be a small car player. The new D-Segment sedan catapults Suzuki straight into the big league with the likes of Honda and Toyota.

The bloaty front looks very aggressive

At first glance the Kizashi looks like the SX4 on steroids and to an extent it is. What makes it different is the attention to detail like nicely shaped twin exhausts at the back, nicely curved boot lid with integrated spoiler and large sized alloy wheels with fat tyres.

Suzuki Kizashi comes with a 2.4 Litre 4 Cylinder DOHC engine which develops a maximum power of 188 PS and a healthy 230 nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-Speed manual transmission which sends the power to all wheels to provide smooth acceleration and superior cornering abilities.

Jump over for more details and Kizashi Auto Expo gallery.

The interiors are nicely built and laid out too with solid European feel to it. The whole car infact feels very teutonic, something which can’t be said of many Japanese built cars.

The company has also worked hard on the NVH with sound absorbing and insulating measures throughout the body and uses high capacity dual exhausts to supress the low frequency booming noise.

Suzuki Kizashi Sedan @ Auto Expo 2010

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Harley Davidson Softail Painted in Indian Tri Color

There are two kinds of people in this world – those who love Harley Davidson and the one’s who don’t and then there are people who have Harley’s and the one’s who wished they had! The wait is finally over for Harley Davidson enthusiasts in the country as beginning April you would be able to book your very own Harley Davidson.

Any resemblance to your car's dashboard is purely co-incidental!

The cult US motorcycling brand has entered India with their full range of five motorcycling families – the Dyna, the VRSC, the Sportster, the Softail and the top of the range Touring series. The bikes have been priced from starting from Rs 6.95 Lakhs to Rs 34.95 Lakhs Ex-Showroom, Delhi offering the widest choice to buyers.

Harley Davidson Night Rod which has a Porsche developed 1100cc V twin!

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Anoop Prakash, Managing Director Harley-Davidson India said, “For over a century, Harley-Davidson has inspired motorcycles across the world to celebrate their passion for riding. Our experience in leading the leisure motorcycle market worldwide makes us naturally suited to help lead and define leisure riding in India. We entered India with a promise to bring riders the pure Harley-Davidson experience with bikes from every family. Over the past year, we have listened to riders across India at our many events, and we have produced a line-up to stir their soul.”

Harley Davidson Flagship Road King

The company will announce five dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh in the due course with the aim of increasing the total count to more than 20 within the next 5 years.

“The bikes will be imported as completely built units (CBUs). That’s why there is 100 per cent import duty. However, we will see how the market matures and we are open to manufacturing in India if it is viable. We are here to create a new culture of leisure riding,” said Mr Prakash.

Jump over for images of Harley Davidson’s whole range for India.

Harley Davidson @ Auto Expo 2010

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• November 2, 2010 -- Harley Davidson To Be Made In India

Toyota Etios Sedan Concept

We will now start our Auto Expo coverage and what better way than to start with one of the largest car makers on the planet, Toyota.

Toyota Etios Htachback Concept

Apart from the usual suspects the Innova, the recently launched Fortuner and the giant Land Cruiser, Toyota unveiled the all new Etios small car concept, a model which when launched later this year will the first mass market product for the Japanese giant in India. 

The company is hoping to capture 10% of the Indian car market by 2012, an aim which rests almost entirely on the shoulder of their new small car.

The company also showcased the Etios Sedan concept which would take the fight to the other C segment rivals like Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta, Fiat Linea, Tata Indigo Manza and the king of the crop Honda City.

The Etios follows Toyota’s age old mantra of playing it safe. Its not designed with the passion and verve of a Fiat’s Grande Punto nor its as futuristic as Honda’s Jazz but one thing that all Toyotas do and do very well at that is being functional and reliable.

The Etios Rear is quite frankly Boring!

Whats amply is clear is that looks will never be the USP of the Etios. Its safely styled and even though the show car was dressed in a striking Imprezish blue color and snazzy gold color alloy wheels, it looked rather boring. The side profile is the best part of the looks with a strong shoulder line that runs across the length of the car ending at the tailights. The front is ok too with the huge chrome grille and nicely creased bonnet in the centre. Its the rear which sort kills a good looking car. It seems that Toyota designer lost the will when it came to designing the rear. For example that chrome bar on the hatch door frankly looks very much out of place!

Toyota Personal Mobility Concept

Toyota also displayed the personal mobility concept, the fuel cell powered low slung concept car which looked like it was designed in the nineties and the soon to be launched Hollywood green brigade’s favourite Prius Hybrid.

Jump over to see more images from the Toyota stall at the Auto Expo.

Toyota @ Auto Expo 2010

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• December 1, 2010 -- Toyota Etios Sedan Launched @ Rs 4.96 Lakhs
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• July 21, 2010 -- Toyota Corolla Altis Diesel D4-D India Launch Press Release
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The star and his steed

Mark your calendars boys if you love the two wheeled toys… heck even otherwise, its not everyday that a motor racing world champion comes home! 7 times world Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi and Fiat-Yamaha rider will be visiting the Yamaha stall at the ongoing Auto Expo 2010 on 9 th January!

Reports also suggest that Yamaha will launch a limited edition  Yamaha YZF-R1 Moto GP Rossi replica to mark the occasion which will have all the jazz from the champion’s Moto GP bike (you know the doctor logos and the numbers) and also an autograph by the star himself on the fuel tank! Can it get any better for us fans… no.. so make it a point to visit the Yamaha stall because you never know, you might just get a chance to pose for a picture right beside him or equally good, an autograph!

And indeed if you are the lucky one we would like to hear from you!

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