The Mahindra Quanto’s price has just been announced (ex-Thane) -
Mahindra Quanto C2 – 5.82 lakhs
Mahindra Quanto C4 – 6.35 lakhs
Mahindra Quanto C6 – 6.86 lakhs
Mahindra Quanto C8 – 7.36 lakhs
Mahindra Quanto launch pointers
The word ‘Quanto’ is derived from the word ‘Quantum’ which means
more. More power, space and fun to drive, in the Quanto’s case, Mahindra
elaborates.
The Mahindra Quanto, in 5+2 seating, comes in four variants (C2, C4,
C6 and C8). It is powered by a 1,493cc CRDI engine that makes
100bhp@3,750 RPM, and 240Nm@1,600-2,300 RPM.
The new engine, complying to BS3 and BS4 standards, is equipped with
a twin turbocharger, making it the smallest ever engine to have two
turbos.
It is built on the proven Ingenio platform that underpins the Xylo
and Genio models. Due to the platform sharing, less than 100 crore
rupees was spent in developing Quanto.
The turning radius is 5.4m and a ground clearance of 180mm.
The vehicle returns 17.21 kmpl, according to ARAI certification.
The DDAS feature (Digital Driver Assist System) is restricted to the
two highest variants, while Micro Hybrid technology, that lowers fuel
consumption by 5%, is available on all variants but the entry model.
Safety wise, the Mahindra Quanto gets ABS on the two high end
variants, while dual front airbags is restricted to the flagship
variant.
The target audience for Quanto is a newly married man. The car is attempting to fill the gap between a hatchback and an SUV.
The Quanto is available in black, brown, silver, beige, red and white.
The Quanto will be available through the network of 200 Mahindra dealers.
Mahindra plans to take the Quanto to European markets in the future.
The Korean car maker SsangYong is all set to unveil an exciting concept at the Paris Motor Show. Called as the e-XIV Concept (electric – eXciting user Interface
Vehicle) is the successor to the the XIV-2 (eXciting User Interface
Vehicle 2) which gathered crowds at the Geneva Motor Show. The XIV concepts from SsangYong represents the company’s vision for
the future of the B segment. If the XIV Concepts go into production,
they will rival the likes of Ford EcoSport, Nissan Juke, Chevrolet Trax
and Renault Duster. The XIV concepts will primarily target young
audience who want to comfort and practicality of a compact SUV. It goes
without saying that the XIV is their entry model. Ssangyong explained that the XIV gets its oomph from Euro VI
compliant 1.6-liter gasoline and diesel engines with a choice of manual
or automatic transmissions.
Coming back to the e-XIV, as one would have imagined by now, it is
powered by an electric motor backed up by a small petrol engine. It gets
a glass roof which incorporates solar cell panels to generate more
electricity. Ssangyong could explore synergies with REVA to realize the
dream of introducing a compact electric crossover. The Ssangyong e-XIV concept measures 4,160mm long, 1,790mm wide, 1,575mm high, and rides on a 2,600mm wheelbase. Most XIV Concepts feature an advanced user interface system which
enables the user to control all the functions of the cabin via a mobile
device. More details will follow once it debuts at the Paris Motor Show.
Tata Motors today announced its entry into Indonesia, the largest
automobile market in the ASEAN. A wholly owned Jakarta-based subsidiary,
PT Tata Motors Indonesia, will sell passenger and commercial vehicles
from 2013.
Instead of reading through the exhaustive statement, we’re going to
provide you with pointers that puts the brand launch in a nutshell.
Operations will be conducted through a wholly owned Jakarta-based subsidiary, PT Tata Motors Indonesia.
The commercial launch and local assembly of products are scheduled for 2013.
Country-wide dealer network is currently under construction for sales, service and spare parts.
The company has plans for developing components locally with Indonesian vendors.
Both passenger and commercial vehicles will be sold in Indonesia –
products right from the 0.5T mini-truck to 49T heavy trucks under
consideration.
By the launch period, about 15 dealers would have started operations
across the country. In three years, PT Tata Motors Indonesia targets to
open 60 dealerships, 100 workshops and 300 spare parts retailers.
Tata Motors is considering “setting up a manufacturing base in Indonesia to serve the country and the ASEAN region.”
Tata Motors will display 14 products at the 20th Indonesia
International Motor Show, that takes place in Jakarta on September 20,
with a view of launching them progressively. A special green pavilion
will play a significant part in the show with Tata CNG vehicles, the
need for which is growing in Indonesia
Mercedes Benz India has confirmed that the B Class Sports Tourer will take its public bow on the 18th of September.
You may have seen the B Class at regional launch parties, but that was a B200 variant in LHD configuration. The national launch will be held in Mumbai, with the car initially
arriving in India as a CBU. The B Class will not available in diesel
this years, a B180 petrol will be the only variant, and perhaps as a few
months into 2013, Mercedes Benz could introduce more variants including
a diesel.
Mercedes Benz is also working on several future launches off the MFA
Platform. These include the A Class hatchback (2013) and the GLA Class
compact SUV (2015). Mercedes cannot take any vacations in the next
couple of years as the launches don’t stop here. They have planned to
invested 850 crore rupees over the next couple of years to equip the
production lines in Chakan for the roll out of the MFA Platform
derivatives. They have also planned to assemble the GL Class in the second half of 2013. The E Class facelift
will touch down next year and lower variants of the ML Class will also
have to be introduced. These will be followed by the launch of the W222 S
Class. 2013-14 may well be MB India’s busiest year in its history.
1.0-litre engines were seen as motors that powered small, cute-looking
hatchbacks, but in one creation, Ford has taken that claim and wiped its
shoes with it. Ford is plonking the 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine into the 2013 Mondeo
for European market. The 1-liter Ecoboost engine fits on an A4 paper. Codenamed ‘Fox’ this turbocharged, direct-injected petrol engine which broke 16 world speed records in 2012 and has bagged many accolades including the coveted "International Engine of the Year"
award, is making its way to almost all Ford vehicles. Manufacturers are
downsizing their engine options, but it seems strange to see a 1.0L
engine powering a car in the executive segment. The 1.0L EcoBoost engine would produce a power of 125PS and 170Nm of
torque. In the Overboost mode the torque figure increases to 200Nm. This
would be the most fuel efficient offering of all Mondeo engine options. Other options on the Euro-bound Mondeo are 1.6- and 2.0-litre TDCi
diesel engines. A 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine is also available. A new 1.5
litre EcoBoost engine is rumored to arrive soon. There is also the
‘Energi’ variant which is a plug-in hybrid. As for the transmission
options there is a 6-speed manual and a PowerShift automatic to choose
from. The latest iteration of the Mondeo is a derivative of the Evos
concept shown last year. Design nuggets from Aston Martin (earlier owned
by Ford) feature on the Mondeo as well. Our reader Aditya Singh coined the car as a poor man’s Aston Martin Rapide! The new model is said to be roomier and Europe would get liftback and
wagon bodystyles of the car in the near future. The quality of the
materials used is also improved. The Mondeo also gets added technologies
and enhanced safety equipment. India gets to drive the much talked about 1.0L EcoBoost next year
when the Ecosport launches. Ford India may not launch the Mondeo anytime
soon, but by mid-decade we are positive about this model reviving the
Mondeo nameplate that still has so many fans in India.
Mitsubishi’s new global sub-compact Mirage made its first public
appearance in 2011 Tokyo motor show. The Mirage will be showcased at the
Paris motor and will go on sale in Europe by February 2013. Presently, it’s sold in Thailand where it’s manufactured and exported to Japan. There are no visual changes to the European version, but the car may
shed its Asia specific name and introduce itself under the popular
identity ‘Colt’. The five-door hatchback is 3.7 metre long, 1.6 metre wide and 1.4
metre tall. Under the hood is a 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder petrol motor with
MIVEC (variable valve timing in Mitsubishi’s language) mated to a
5-speed manual transmission. The small Mitsubishi emits no more than 92
grams of CO2 for every kilometer. The key strength of Mirage lies in its compact dimensions, ease of maneuverability and efficient packing. The Mirage is well within the 4 metre mark and is powered by a 1.0
litre motor, making it eligible for the small car exercise duty
concession in India. Also they run an underused assembly line at
Chennai. But due to sky rocketing petrol prices and a very weak service
network, the financially beleaguered Japanese automaker is unlikely to
give India a thought, at least not in the immediate future.
Our keen-eyed friend Nithin Kumar who came to us with spyshots of the
next generation Mercedes S Class from Dubai has returned with images of
the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe that should reach India next year.
The new Santa Fe is apparently launching today in Dubai. In his note, Nithin said “I was going to my work place when I spotted
the new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The badge at the back is still covered.
They will unveil it later today.” The prices for the Middle East is expected to begin at around 82,000 UAE Dirhams which converts to 12.5 lakh rupees.
As per a report on an Australian motoring website, the long wheelbase version will be reserved for the U.S. (LHD market). If at all Hyundai plans to
slip in an extra row of seats, they would have to do it compromising the
luggage space. Hyundai India should begin testing the new Santa Fe soon, and prepare it
for a launch sometime during 2013. Don’t expect the Santa Fe to cost
under 20 lakh rupees when it eventually hits the market.
At the Paris Motor Show that opens doors during the last week of this
month, BMW will reveal the concept avatar of the FWD product line.
Expected to be called as the Compact Active Tourer, it is essentially a
sporty van. When it heads to production, it will be sold as the BMW 1 Series GT. AutoBild presents us yet another rendering of the Sportsvan which is less than one month away from its official unveiling. Being BMW, the front fascia is very aggressive almost like a bald
eagle ready to nose dive on its prey. It will be based on a derivative
of the Mini Cooper’s FWD Platform. The new platform is lighter and
bigger than the MINI’s platform and is reported to underpin the next generation BMW X1 due in 2015. The Sportsvan will be equipped with BMW’s new family of engines
called the ‘baby-six’ because they share their components with BMW’s
classic 3.0-liter straight six petrol unit. The BMW 1 Series GT will be powered by a 1.5L twin-turbocharged
engine with 180 hp. It will offer awesome gadgetry such as iDrive system
with 8.2 inch display, numerous assistance systems and ConnectedDrive.
The BMW 1 Series GT is slated to meet a production line in 2014. Considering BMW India has already tried the Mini brand of vehicles
with moderate success, we think that these new FWD products will find
appreciation in India as well.
Maruti Suzuki was never really successful in making their premium offerings mimic the sales charts of their compact models. Case-in-point Grand Vitara and Kizashi which are promptly relegated
to the list of ‘also ran brigade’ by the Indian car buyers. But the two
setbacks hasn’t stopped India’s largest car maker from giving the
haunting segment another try. MSIL is exploring the possibilities of locally assembling its premium
SUV Suzuki Grand Vitara by 2014 to counter the rising Yen and to bring
down the cost. We are ready to take a punt that a diesel powerplant is also under
consideration. After all, you don’t want to go to a gun fight with a
knife! Meanwhile, Suzuki showcased its European spec Grand Vitara facelift at
the Moscow auto show. The new grill is slightly larger and rectangular
and is dominated by two prominent horizontal strips that get thicker at
the center and has a chrome underlining. A comprehensively redesigned
bumper, smoked headlamps and a silver scruff plate renders the new
Vitara a more upmarket look. Also the OVRMs now get LED turn indicators. Unfortunately, the interior is nothing to write home about. It was
also one of the strong reasons for the car’s mediocre performance in
India. The top end gets a new multifunction display and the lower dashboard
now sports beige hue and so do the seat and door fabrics. The dual tone
interiors impart a bit of airiness to the cabin which has been not
changed in shape and layout. And oh yes, the place around the gear knob
is finished in faux wood. The European Vitara gets the same 2.4 litre VVT Petrol with manual
and automatic transmission. There is also a 1.9 litre DDis diesel engine
(FIAT’s bigger multi-jet), which belts out 129 PS. MSIL should
seriously consider bringing this motor here if at all they want their
second attempt to be fruitful.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer made its European debut at this year’s Moscow
International Motor Show. The Trailblazer utilizes a body-on-frame
platform. This platform was designed to tackle some not so drivable
terrains.
Given Chevrolet’s history of developing some great off-roaders, we
are sure that the Trailblazer too might get some of the genes from its
ancestors. It can offer enthusiasts a great vehicle for occasional
off-roading experience. The Trailblazer will be sold in Europe with a 3.6 L V6 petrol engine
producing a good 255 hp and 445 Nm of torque. The diesel charge will be
headed by 2.8 L motor that churns out 180hp with 470Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Auto transmission can be utilized to deliver this power to the wheels. This SUV is fairly large. With a length of 4.87 m, width of 1.9m and a
wheelbase that stretches to 2.84m, it will provide a comfortable and
ample space for the passengers. The list of goodies include:
18-inch alloy wheels
ABS,ESP, TCP,EBD
Cruise control, Trip computer
Automatic climate control
Front, side and curtain airbags
Sliding sunroof
Powered and heated seats
Recently, news flew in from Indonesia that the pricing of Trailblazer
is set in order to avoid cannibalising the sales of Chevy Captiva. The
Captiva is an important product for GM and is said to attract a
different segment of customers. Chevy claims that both the models can
and will co-exist in the market. We can expect GM India to use this same strategy when they bring the
Trailblazer to India. With the right kind of pricing and marketing,
Trailblazer could actually do for GM what Fortuner did for Toyota.
