Hyundai i20 Elite Launched

This is the second time I have come across a car which tries very hard to segregate itself from its other siblings mass-produced by mother Hyundai. The first time was with Hyundai as well when they launched the Grand i10. Yes, they make the i10. So they thought very hard to come up with a name which makes the new car stand apart. And then best name they could come up with was Grand i10. Wow! I don’t know how many millions they spent on finalizing that name.

Now comes the second chapter from the book of “How hard can it be to name a new car?”. Presenting the i20 Elite which is somehow more Elite than the outgoing i20 we saw and purchased. That should mean we will get acquainted to a more luxurious take on the hatchback. However, it does not sound promising. With the options of a 1.2 litre Kappa2 petrol engine, all you get is a power-plant with 81 Korean ponies to get you moving. Diesel motor is the 1.4 U2 CRDi which has 8 more bhp than the petrol sibling. On paper, it seems pretty similar to its predecessor when we compare the variants. Speaking of which, here is how they pan out:

Variant - ERA

• Eletric Power Steering
• Day & Night Rear View Mirror
• Body coloured bumpers
• Two-tone interior ambiance
• 12V power outlet
• Front power windows

Variant - Magna
Gets all the features from ERA plus:

• Foldable key
• Body coloured ORVMs and door handles
• Rear parcel tray
• Front centre armrest
• 2-Din Audio system with 1GB memory, USB and Bluetooth connectivity
• Steering mounted audio controls
• All four power windows
• Rear AC vents
• Cooled Glovebox
• Electrically adjustable ORVMs

Variant - Sportz
Gets all the features from Magna plus:

• ABS
• Driver Airbag
• Reverse Parking Sensors with rear camera
• Front Fog Lamps
• Impact-sensing auto door unlock
• Rear defogger with timer function
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Turn indicators on ORVMs
• Leather wrapped steering wheel and gear-knob
• Height adjustable driver’s seat
• CD Player
• Climate Control
• Rake and reach adjust for steering
• Electric and auto folding ORVMs
• The options pack adds Smart Key, Diamond-cut alloy wheels and push-button start-stop function

Variant - Asta
Gets all the features from Sportz plus:

• Front passenger air-bag
• Light sensing Headlamps
• Rear seats with an option to split in a 60:40 ratio
• Adjustable rear headrests
• Second 12V power outlet
• Rear Wiper and washer

Now to the price list:
All prices Ex-showroom Delhi.

Variant	Petrol	Diesel
Era	Rs. 4.89 lacs	Rs. 6.10 lacs
Magna	Rs. 5.42 lacs	Rs. 6.62 lacs
Sportz	Rs. 5.94 lacs	Rs. 7.14 lacs
Asta	Rs. 6.47 lacs	Rs. 7.67 lacs

This is what you call a Car Launch!

New Ford Figo and the Figo based sedan

Yes, that does look like Aston Martin and No its not an Aston Martin. Frankly, it looks like the Chinese take of a cheaper Aston Martin. Just kidding! Say hello to replacement for the current Ford Figo and the Fiesta Classic. In the European market, the hatchback will be sold under the Ford KA name, however, here in India, the hatchback will be named as the Figo and the sedan based on the same platform will be the Fiesta Classic replacement (Ford has yet to conceive a name).

There are no details as of now about the engines that will power this beauty but the 1-litre Ecoboost engine (currently on offer under the hood of the Ecosport) should make it. Yes, there will be a diesel engine on offer, probably the slightly tweaked version of the current diesel motor powering the Figo.

So then Mr. Dzire and Miss Amaze, started counting the days yet? Yes, says the Xcent!

New TATA flagship SUV in works

Finally TATA has accepted that there are things that Europeans do much better than our Desi Boys. This includes making an all-round SUV and Freelander from Land Rover is a prime example. Now though, Land Rover has decided to merge the Freelander badge under the ever-expanding Discovery line-up. The current Freelander will form the skeleton of the new flagship SUV from TATA that will lock horns with likes of Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. That means a car with a TATA badge costing between 20-25lacs. That is a bold move.

The chassis mechanicals may be shared with the British cousin, but the engine will be an enhanced version of the current 2.2 VariCor diesel engine that powers the Aria and the Storme. While the Land Rover Freelander 2 is currently assembled in India as a CKD, its tooling will likely be shipped over from the UK once production is stopped, so that the TATA Motors SUV can be built here from the ground up.

So, a TATA product built locally and with a considerable amount of Land Rover engineering behind it, will surely entice many. However, moving into the category of the Fortuner could be a disaster theory for TATA as we has seen examples in the past - the Grand Vitara and the Kizashi being the previous victims. This is simply because TATA is synonymous with low-end cars/SUV maker and moving into a premium segment will have its challenges for sure. We will not see the finished product till 2016 and we at Horsepower India wish TATA all the best to get it bang on target for the SUV-loving country like India.

What do you guys think of this move from TATA?

Maruti’s S-Cross coming next year...

Maruti is working on the S-Cross, a entry level baby SUV, which will go head to head with the Duster, Terrano and the entry level variants of the XUV500. It will not the same as showcased during the Auto Expo earlier this year as Maruti has a habit of ruining the looks whenever they try to improve the car. With a price tag expected between the 13-14lacs range, the S-Cross will work on the Hyundai’s principle by jamming it up with gadgets all over the place. So that means, the Japanese have started learning from the Koreans. Is that where our future is heading? Gulp!

The S-Cross will be more of a Crossover rather than upright SUV. This means that Suzuki has taken up a project which is going to be a lot more tough than expected. Crossover concept is fairly new in the Indian market and it has yet to spark its potential. However, Maruti will try and make it more dominating in looks by fitting it with 16-inch alloy wheels, albeit to the top-model only. High ground clearance, black cladding all around and metal scuff plates at the front and rear are some of the cosmetics you should expect as well. Will it come a 4 wheel drive system or not is still a mystery.

Under the hood, a Fiat 1.6 litre diesel engine will be the heart of this car. Churning around 118bhp and 320Nm of torque, it will have a decent kick once you stomp on the accelerator, provided they don’t make the car too heavy. To keep the costs down, most of the switches and the steering wheel will be shared from other Maruti cars.

In my opinion, this is a desperate attempt to to try and lure customers from the Renault, Nissan and Mahindra car lovers club. Whatever happened to the XA Alpha, this is something that Maruti has to get spot on. Yes it might have a good ground clearance and comfortable space inside for people but without butch looks and a commanding riding height, it will be tough to convince the customers.