Home / Special Coverage / 2010 Delhi Motor Show

  • Delhi 2010: Tata’s tuk-tuk, the Magic Iris!

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, India, Tata / By / / 90 comments

    Tata seems to be on a mission to improve motoring standards in India, to get people off bikes and trikes and into a four-wheeler. It started with the Nano, which low entry price gave families an alternative to cramming everyone on a bike. Now, the company has launched the Magic Iris at the Auto Expo in Delhi, which should be a decent alternative to the three-wheeled auto rickshaw common in India.

    To be launched this year, the Magic Iris “is for public transportation, offering safer and more comfortable mobility for those who depend on three-wheelers”. The tiny body can sit five, including the driver, and occupants will be fully enclosed, unlike in tuk-tuks.

    The Magic Iris is powered by a 611cc water cooled diesel engine. With a 10-litre fuel tank, it’s capable of longer distances than a three-wheeler and has a top speed of about 55 km/h. 11 bhp may not be much, but it’s more than what the auto rickshaws offer. Tata also promises lower maintenance costs and a higher load capacity than the popular vehicle it’s trying to replace.

    Looks quite cute and cartoonish, don’t you think?

     

  • Delhi 2010: VW launches Indian made Polo, Race Polo

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, India, Volkswagen / By / / 33 comments

    Volkswagen has launched its made-in-India Polo at the Auto Expo 2010 in Delhi. The latest generation supermini is produced at VW’s Chakan plant, which has a 110,000 unit annual capacity. Europe’s largest carmaker also previewed the Race Polo for the Volkswagen Polo Cup, a one-make race scheduled to start in India by June.

    The road going Polo, which will go on sale in March, is available in two 75 bhp 1.2-litre engines. The petrol version at has 110 Nm of torque while the TDI diesel version comes with 180 Nm of twist produced at 2000 rpm. Both are paired with a five-speed manual gearbox; no DSG for the Indian Polo.

    Three trim levels are available (Trendline, Comfortline, Highline) with dual airbags and ABS standard across the board. VW highlights body coloured bumpers, green tinted heat absorbing glass and a galvanized body with six years anti-corrosion waranty as significant features for India.

    The Race Polo meanwhile comes with a 1.6-litre TDI engine with 130 bhp and 250 Nm mated to a six-speed manual. The track ready car is equipped with Sachs adjustable suspension, uprated exhaust and brakes, 17-inch wheels wrapped with slick tyres, FIA approved roll cage, HANS-ready six-point harness, data logger and fire extiguisher. Yummy!

     

  • Delhi 2010: Tata’s flagship Aria crossover

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, India, Tata / By / / 51 comments

    While it may look like another bland MPV, the new Tata Aria is billed as a crossover by its maker. Tata says that the Aria blends the functionality and comfort of an MPV with the all terrain assurance and “premiumness” of an SUV. To be launched in the second quarter of this year, the Aria can be ordered with torque-on-demand AWD and sits on a ladder frame. The ground clearance looks pretty substantial too, so perhaps Tata’s SUV claims aren’t that unreasonable.

    Tata is proud of the Aria’s cabin, which has “theatre style” seating for seven. It sports premium features such as 3D surround sound, dimming roof lamps, built in GPS, “state-of-the-art infotainment system”, multifunction steering wheel, climate control and cruise control. Safety features include six airbags and ESP, which is a first for an Indian OEM.

    The Aria, which sits on an all-new platform, is powered by a 2.2-litre direct injection common rail diesel engine with 138 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. It is Tata’s most expensive model and will take on the popular Toyota Innova in India.

     

  • Delhi 2010: Maruti Suzuki Concept rIII MPV

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, India, Suzuki / By / / 29 comments

    This is the Maruti Suzuki Concept rIII, designed in India by a “team of young and enthusiastic engineers”. Built on a theme of “togetherness”, the Concept rIII is for the “big family” with “bigger needs” without the bulky looks of a traditional MPV. The seating configuration is in a 2-2-2 formation.

    It’s a good effort that looks neat and modern, but after yesterday’s post on the Opel Meriva, we can’t help but draw similarities between the two. As with the GM product, the Concept rIII features rear-hinged “suicide” doors and a kink in the windowline! This compact MPV sits on a stretched SX4 platform with a monocoque body, so it should offer a more car-like experience compared to body on frame rivals like the Toyota Innova, which Indians are familiar with.

    Shinzo Nakanishi, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki revealed that the company will introduce CNG (compressed natural gas) technology in the near future, so that could make an appearance in the production rIII. Or perhaps, Volkswagen drivetrains, now that Wolfsburg and Suzuki are walking hand-in-hand. Fiat’s 1.3-litre Multijet diesel should be available, as per Maruti Suzuki’s current cars.

    Maruti Suzuki, which holds about 50% market share in India, will be keen to diversify its range as rivals take aim at the small car segment, which is its stronghold. The brand also showed off the Kizashi sedan (which it bills as Super Luxury) at the Delhi show.

    More pictures after the jump!
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  • Delhi 2010: Honda New Small Concept makes debut

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, Honda / By / / 46 comments

    These are the official images of the Honda New Small Concept, which was just unwrapped at the Auto Expo 2010. The production version of this five-seater concept will be launched in India and Thailand by 2011, executive vice president Koichi Kondo said at the Delhi show.

    Honda promises a vehicle that is “beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price by leveraging Honda’s global parts sourcing network”. The company calls the concept’s design “Efficient Energetic Exterior”.

    As reported earlier, the New Small Concept will jointly developed by R&D teams in India and Thailand; both countries will also manufacture the A-segment car. It is rumoured to come with a 1.2-litre engine.

    UPDATE: Full gallery after the jump!
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  • Delhi 2010: Toyota Etios sedan and hatch unveiled!

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, Cars, India, Toyota / By / / 99 comments

    This is the Toyota Etios sedan, unveiled moments ago at the Auto Expo 2010 in India. The show cars feature newly developed 1.2 and 1.5-litre petrol engines, according to Toyota. This booted version will be launched in India by the end of 2010, with a hatchback model to follow in 2011. It’s officially a concept, but should be almost production ready from the looks of it.

    Toyota expects to sell 70,000 units of the Etios in India annually. To do this, Toyota will expand its Indian sales network to 150 dealers by the end of 2010 from the current 97.

    “India will play a pivotal role in Toyota’s global expansion plans and the time has come for us to strategically accelerate our growth here,” said Toyota Vice-Chairman Kazuo Okamoto.

    UPDATE: Toyota will sell a similar car in China, Brazil and South East Asia, according to Executive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo.

    Pictures of the Etios hatchback and interior after the jump!
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  • Delhi 2010: Auto Expo coverage coming your way

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, India / By / / 3 comments

    The Auto Expo 2010 starts today, and there’s plenty of interesting news from inside the gates of Pragati Maidan in Delhi. Along with Shanghai, the biennial show in the Indian capital is now one of the motor shows to watch, as carmakers rush to get a piece of India’s booming car market.

    Toyota will launch the Etios compact car; Honda has a New Small Concept to unveil, and market leader Maruti Suzuki has the R III Concept, an MPV based on the SX4 while GM jumped the gun by unveiling the Beat ahead of the show! Will local brands like Tata and bike-maker Bajaj have surprises in store?

    The Auto Expo is gaining momentum. There’s so much more buzz and debuts than when I was there two years ago, where the only significant launches were the Tata Nano and the Suzuki A-Star Concept. We will bring you updates as info flows in so stay tuned for our coverage of the Auto Expo 2010!

     

  • Chevrolet Beat unveiled ahead of Delhi show

    In 2010 Delhi Motor Show, Cars, Chevrolet, India / By / / 41 comments

    GM has launched the Chevrolet Beat in India ahead of the Delhi Motor Show. Production started mid-December 2009 at GM’s Talegaon plant, which will export 20% of its output by the end of this year. India is one of the first few markets to get the Beat; it’s not yet launched in Europe and North America, where it will replace the Daewoo Matiz based Spark and take over that nameplate. The Beat will be sold alongside the old Spark in India.

    The Beat is powered by a 1.2-litre S-TEC II twin-cam with 79 bhp, capable of 18.6 km/l fuel consumption. The engine features what GM calls PDA (Port De-Activation) which ensures high exhaust gas recirculation for combustion stability at low speeds, improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. The sole transmission is a five-speed manual, but an auto ‘box and diesel engine is on the way.

    GM says that the Beat’s body is the stiffest and toughest in its segment with 66.5% high-strength steel and over 16% ultra-high-strength steel. With this, it expects a good EuroNCAP rating. Two airbags, ABS and EBD are options in the top LT spec, but climate control, integrated audio with USB and AUX-in, steering column mounted LED back-lit speedo and LCD digital rev counter are standard. Roof rails are also included.

    The Beat carries Chevrolet’s design language which appeared in the Cruze. It’s a five-door hatch, but looks like a three-door because the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillars. Looks familiar? The Beat, in concept form, starred as Skidz in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

    More pictures after the jump!
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