The New Renault Pulse to be revealed in India

Renault, the French automaker that is best known in India for its unsuccessful partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra, is all set to unleash Renault Pulse, its new hatchback. Though speculation was rife that the carmaker will launch a hatchback version of its popular mini-MPV Renault Modus, company officials have stated that the upcoming vehicle will not be a smaller version of the Modus. Instead, it will be an all-new car that has been developed keeping in mind mileage and Indian road conditions. They have clarified that this car is not among the models that it sells in Europe, so Indian buyers can expect a whole new package to hit the roads quite soon.

The French car manufacturing giant has chosen an excellent day to unveil this vehicle – the first Indian Grand Prix. However, full specifications and details will be discussed at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012. The upcoming Renault Pulse is expected to be built on the V platform, which the company shares with its sister concern, Nissan. Other cars built on the Versatile platform are Renault Clio and Nissan Micra.

Notably, Pulse is expected to be powered by the same engines that run the Micra. If this turns out to be true, then the petrol variant will be equipped with a 1.2 L, 3 cylinder engine that is capable of generating 74.9 hp power and 1.4 Nm torque with utmost ease. Likewise, the 1.5 L, 4 cylinder diesel engine will be able to produce power output of 63.12 hp and torque of 160 Nm. Both the cars will have 5-speed manual transmission systems to ensure a smooth driving experience.

In terms of pricing, the car is expected to sport a tag of Rs. 4 Lacs to Rs. 5 Lacs, thus giving tough competition to many popular cars, such as Nissan Micra, Honda Brio, Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Ritz and Maruti Suzuki Swift. In fact, Sudhir Rao, Deputy Managing Director, Renault India said “The car will be positioned between (Maruti’s) Swift and (Nissan’s) Micra”. This gives a clear indication that the company is targeting the pole position of the Indian hatchback segment with the upcoming Pulse.

A lot of its success depends upon its design, which has been kept under wraps till now. Considering that the car is not expected to sport the looks of a smaller Modus, it will be difficult to speculate how it will appeal to Indian audiences. The official website of Renault India displays an upcoming car that boasts of a tall boy design, which may eventually turn out to be Pulse, though there was no confirmation for the same. According to rumours, the car may even look like Micra with some modifications, though the chances of that are quite slim.

This car will be built at the company’s Chennai plant, where the Micra is also developed. However, many people have sighted the test mules of Modus in and around Chennai, so speculation is that the company may launch the mini-MPV in India as well. However, according to officials, the car is in India as part of validation testing, which is being carried out in eight countries in order to develop the next generation of Modus. Moreover, the company has categorically said that Modus will not be launched in India. So, all eyes will be on today to see the third car that Renault will launch in the domestic market.

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New Nissan shifts gears in India now

Sunny, launched last month, was Nissan’s fifth car in India in four years. The car maker is now on an overdrive and is planning at least four launches in the next one year.




If Sunny, priced at around Rs 5.78 lakh, will compete with Maruti SX4, Chevrolet Aveo and Fiat Linea (a diesel version will follow in the next few months), Nissan has decided to take the predictable route – the small car, which is a must-have for all car companies wanting to succeed in India.


It plans to launch a compact car positioned below the Micra, which will allow it tap the segment of around Rs 3.5 lakh. The car has been under development for the past one year and Nissan expects to showcase it in 2013-14.

“Demand for diesel models has been evolving at a rapid pace in India. We have the 1.5 litre diesel engine on the Micra now but we have to look for something smaller than that for the future. May be it could be a 1.1-1.2 litre engine,” says Satoshi Matsutomi, vice president, product planning and program management office, Nissan Motor India.

Besides small cars, Nissan is aiming to address the other segments in the market as well. At the upcoming international Auto Expo to be held in New Delhi, the company will showcase a multi-purpose vehicle (a multi-seater van), aimed at attracting buyers who like to travel in groups and to address the commercial demand from hoteliers.

Although the exact positioning of the vehicle is not yet clear, the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) will target customers who are now opting for Mahindra’s Xylo, Toyota’s Innova and Tata’s Aria. The vehicle is based on a modified platform of a van sold by Nissan internationally.
“Nissan’s brand needed to be established; so the company introduced a sports car, a premium SUV and sedan. Nissan did not hurry its launches and this strategy has paid off well for the company. The top-down brand building ploy worked well for Micra,” says an analyst based in Delhi.

The Japanese carmaker, which had a market share of 0.80 per cent till September and sold 13,000 units last financial year, has beefed up technology and looking for strong distribution tie-ups.

It has been working with Defiance Technologies, a Hinduja Group Company for sourcing engineering and IT services for the small car. While the Micra will continue to compete against Maruti’s Swift, the new compact car will take on Hyundai’s i10, Ford’s Figo and Maruti’s Wagon R.
Nissan India presently has five models under its fold, two of which are made in its Chennai factory. Five of the nine models will be made in the same factory. It is preparing to launch one more product through the imported route next year. Sources say that a Juke crossover is likely be brought to India.

Further, to avoid complications relating to distribution especially when it launches the small car, Nissan is said to be keen on bringing the sales, service and marketing company, Hover Automotive India, under its control.

Hover Automotive India (HAI) has already started laying the ground work for the small car entry, beefing up its expansion of sales outlets. It sells Nissan cars through a small network of 40 outlets but aims to add another 60 before the end of next year.
Moez Mangalji, chairman, Hover Automotive India, says, “If any proposal of bringing Nissan as an equity partner in Hover is put forward, we would be happy to have them. However, there has been no such proposal as yet.”

Sources say that Nissan will pick up substantial stake in HAI before the launch of the small car. A mail sent to Nissan India seeking reply on the same remained unanswered.
Riding on the success of Sunny, which grossed 659 unit sales in the first nine days of launch Nissan hopes to more than triple sales to 40,000 units by March.
Micra, its premium hatchback priced around Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), saw sales of a little less than 1,500 units last month. Sales of the Micra were mostly centered around the urban areas due to limited presence of sales outlets.

To grab a pie of the growing market of mid-segment sedans – petrol being costlier than diesel in India due to the subsidy element – several car makers have kickstarted efforts to make arrangements for diesel engines. Companies like Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen, General Motors, Honda, Nissan to name a few have started developing engines themselves.
General Motors recently launched the smallest diesel engine in India strapped on the Beat hatchback. The diesel variant of the car has been well received in the market, according to General Motors.

Exports will remain as the focus area for the company, according to company executives. About 85 per cent of its production is exported. The Sunny and Micra will form the backbone of Nissan’s export strategy.

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The new Sedans throngs in the year 2011

The most recent addition to the sedan segment is the Nissan Sunny, produced by Japanese car maker, Nissan Motor Company Limited. This mid-size sedan joins the league of stalwarts like Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Volkswagen Vento, Honda City, Toyota Etios and Hyundai Verna. The new Hyundai Verna Fluidic is another addition to the segment in 2011, which stands out from the rest in terms of design theme, known as the 'Fluidic Sculpture'. Hyundai Motor India Limited, which entered the sedan segment with Accent, is expected to receive positive response for Fluidic.

India's most trusted car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, is taking further strides in the rapidly growing sedan segment. Sales of Maruti SX4 diesel received a boost after being credited with 'OBD-2' compliant certification, a first-of-its-kind accreditation in India. The capability notifies the driver regarding any fault in the emission control system. In addition, Maruti introduced its first luxury sedan in the form of Maruti Kizashi. 

Sedans

In a quest of revival in India, Renault S.A. launched Fluence, being positioned in the C segment. Showcased at New Delhi Auto Expo 2010, Renault Fluence was among the most awaited car in India in 2011. Moreover, the sedan has been launched in both petrol and diesel versions, to take on the well-established models.

Czech Republic based subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, Skoda Auto, is coming up with a new compact sedan car MissionL, by the end of 2011. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, Skoda Mission L is sportier than the existing league of Skoda sedans in India. The sporty sedan, with loads of new generation features, will carry price tag falling between Rs. 10 lacs and Rs. 12 lacs.

Honda Motor Company has also unveiled the upcoming edition of its Civic model at the Detroit Auto Show. The revised edition has undergone a number of changes in its interiors as well as exteriors. The move to launch the new edition by the Japanese car manufacturer is believed to pose competition for Toyota Corolla Altis and Chevrolet Cruze.

In the luxury segment, 2011 witnessed the launch of highly awaited models like Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The premium segment of sedans has become experienced increased competitiveness, with Volvo S60 and BMW 5 series models under its belt. One of the most prestigious luxury car maker, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, introduced the new variant of its Ghost model in India at a starting price of Rs. 3.05 crore.

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Hyundai Cars Going to launch Hyundai's small car Eon at Rs. 2.69 lakh

Korean auto major Hyundai Cars Company on Thursday launched entry-level compact car Eon that has been developed specifically for the Indian market, at an introductory price of between Rs. 2.69 lakh and Rs. 3.71 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The company, which operates through wholly owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), said the car has been designed and developed keeping Indian consumers in mind.
The Hyundai Eon, which will compete with Maruti Suzuki India's bestselling model Alto, is powered by a 814 Cc petrol engine.

Alto is priced between Rs. 2.32 lakh and Rs. 3.17 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and is the bestselling car, averaging about 20,000 units a month.

"Eon has been specifically built keeping in mind the varied Indian conditions and special requirements of the customers here. It will further expand our market share in the fast-growing small car segment in the Indian market," HMIL Managing Director and CEO H W Park said.

HMIL has invested Rs. 900 crore on the development and production facilities for the Eon.
HMIL Senior Director marketing and sales Arvind Saxena said the company has plans to produce up to 1,50,000 units of the Eon on a 12 month basis.

Asked about export plans, Park said: "Later on, we may consider exporting the Eon to markets in South America and South Africa but the present focus is on the Indian market."
Besides Hyundai, other car makers are also lining up new launches for a pie in the hottest (by volumes) segment. Tata Motors is developing a car sized between Nano and Indica. Volkswagen's 'Up' is also expected to debut in India by next year. And encouraged by the success of Figo, Ford is developing another car below Figo's price point.

Though auto sales have slowed down because of rising interest rates and petrol prices, sales of small cars are still robust, meaning small cars are still 'big' in India.

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Review of New Tata Indica Vista

The Tata Indica has evolved over the years to become what it is today. The Vista that was born in 2008 was a better car, but the new Indica Vista introduced earlier this year is a big step in the right direction. Compared to the predecessor, the changes to the new one finally arms it to take on the others in the premium hatch category. 

The changes to the all new Vista are very evident, though the design is all-together very familiar. It is a classic example of what the right choice of trim can do a car's appeal. Inherently, the design lines are all carry forwards, but within that the changes help the new Indica Vista bloom and suddenly there is a lot of premiumness that radiates from the car. 

At the front of the new Vista, the elongated, semi-circular headlamps now feature the same three-barrelled reflector design that the Tata Manza has. In fact, there are more borrowings from the Manza like the chrome-lipped, four-slatted bonnet grille. There are a lot of chrome elements all around, re-confirming that we Indians are still madly in love with this finish. The grille is entirely coated with chrome and there are chrome strips on the front bumper, the door protection rub-strips, on the door handles and surrounding the front fog lamps. At the rear, the most prominent new addition in the Indica Vista is a new black, mirror-polished tailgate garnish at the bottom of the rear glass. An intelligent rear wiper and demister and some minor alterations to the rear bumper are the other changes at the rear. 

The shut lines in the new Indica Vista are tight as was the case with the predecessor too. Panel gaps are uniform and well within limits that are found amongst similar cars in the segment. Quality of materials used and the overall finish quality of the features in the new Vista take the exterior appeal to a new level never seen before in an Indica. 

Step in and you will find the same goes for the interior of the new Indica Vista too. There is sea change in the quality of the interior, with much of the change evident in just the quality of the material used, for example in the dashboard plastic, the plusher seat fabric and the knobs and controls. 

Steering mounted audio controls, under seat tray, electrically adjustable door mirrors, height adjustable driver's seat and an illuminated key-hole ring to make it easy to find in the dark are some of the features in the new Indica Vista. 

The interior also gets soft-finished dashboard plastic and a new Sahara Beige and Ebony Black dual-tone colour theme. The instrument cluster continues to be centrally located on top of the centre stack on the dash. Previous users will be familiar and possibly even like the location of the dials, but new buyers might take a while to get used to it. 

Electric HVAC controls and nicely shaped and bolstered seats were a treat in the new Vista. Rear seat comfort, including the shoulder space and legroom are still excellent compared to many cars in this segment. Safety also gets a leg up in the new Vista with dual front airbags and ABS with EBD being available in the top variants. Keyless entry and an engine immobiliser are the other additions. 

On the road, the new Indica Vista seems to behave with new found confidence. There is no hesitancy or delay in braking and at first the reasons are not apparent as much as the feeling of strength is. The previous Vista also felt like a lumbering hulk, with the power train sounding like it was straining hard to pull the car away quickly. The effect was very similar when you tried to stop in a hurry, with the car lurching and coming to a stop after a nose dive. But this is almost gone in the new Vista. 

The change agents here are the larger brake booster and the much improved clutch. Braking performance has clearly improved and the new clutch that keeps the same power trains engaged has contributed significantly to improving the drivability of the new Vista. 

More progressive in response, pliant during use and quick to engage, the new clutch in the Vista managed to leave me with a happy left foot. There is still room for improvement though. 

I test drove the new Indica Vista Quadrajet, fitted with the same 4-cylinder, common rail diesel engine that is also offered with the Fiat Punto, Suzuki Swift DDiS and a couple of other cars from the three brands.

Developing a peak output of 75 PS and peak torque of 190Nm, this engine, like the other three on offer – the Safire 65 and Safire 90 petrol mills and the other Tata turbocharged intercooled TDI diesel engine – felt the same. All the engines have been carried forward and offer the same intrinsic performance. 

The clutch has made the difference and changed the way the new Vista feels to drive. It is clearly more oriented towards its target audience – individual buyers. In cabin noise levels are also lower in the new Vista, though again there is room for further improvement. 

Talking about comfort, Tata engineers also seem to have reworked the suspension of the new Vista, making it more pliant and softer. The ride quality is more accommodating over bad roads and there is a lot of that now after the monsoon. The ride is not exactly wallowy, but there is a lot that gets soaked up and only some really big potholes leave the Vista ruffled. However, some of the retuning to the suspension has meant that the driving dynamics have had to be compromised. 

I felt a lot of body roll when I tested the new Vista on windy roads, quick overtakes and through tight corners, but it doesn't interfere much during city driving. 

The new Indica Vista's claimed fuel efficiency continues to be 22.3 kmpl for the Quadrajet and 19.4 kmpl for the TDI (which is a BS3 version only) and for the petrol engines - Safire65 it is 16.7 kmpl and 13.7 kmpl for the Safire90. 

Armed to be as loaded as, yet priced just lower than the Suzuki Swift, the new Tata Indica Vista wants to be seen as the better car. Surely, there is a lot going for it in the car itself. This new version just could be the image changer. 

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The New Sedans throngs the year 2011

The most recent addition to the sedan segment is the Nissan Sunny, produced by Japanese car maker, Nissan Motor Company Limited. This mid-size sedan joins the league of stalwarts like Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Volkswagen Vento, Honda City, Toyota Etios and Hyundai Verna. The new Hyundai Verna Fluidic is another addition to the segment in 2011, which stands out from the rest in terms of design theme, known as the 'Fluidic Sculpture'. Hyundai Motor India Limited, which entered the sedan segment with Accent, is expected to receive positive response for Fluidic.

India's most trusted car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, is taking further strides in the rapidly growing sedan segment. Sales of Maruti SX4 diesel received a boost after being credited with 'OBD-2' compliant certification, a first-of-its-kind accreditation in India. The capability notifies the driver regarding any fault in the emission control system. In addition, Maruti introduced its first luxury sedan in the form of Maruti Kizashi. 

Sedans

In a quest of revival in India, Renault S.A. launched Fluence, being positioned in the C segment. Showcased at New Delhi Auto Expo 2010, Renault Fluence was among the most awaited car in India in 2011. Moreover, the sedan has been launched in both petrol and diesel versions, to take on the well-established models.

Czech Republic based subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, Skoda Auto, is coming up with a new compact sedan car MissionL, by the end of 2011. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, Skoda Mission L is sportier than the existing league of Skoda sedans in India. The sporty sedan, with loads of new generation features, will carry price tag falling between Rs. 10 lacs and Rs. 12 lacs.

Honda Motor Company has also unveiled the upcoming edition of its Civic model at the Detroit Auto Show. The revised edition has undergone a number of changes in its interiors as well as exteriors. The move to launch the new edition by the Japanese car manufacturer is believed to pose competition for Toyota Corolla Altis and Chevrolet Cruze.

In the luxury segment, 2011 witnessed the launch of highly awaited models like Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The premium segment of sedans has become experienced increased competitiveness, with Volvo S60 and BMW 5 series models under its belt. One of the most prestigious luxury car maker, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, introduced the new variant of its Ghost model in India at a starting price of Rs. 3.05 crore.

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The Skoda lines up new compact car Citigo for India

MUMBAI: Czech automaker Skoda Cars is lining up a new compact car Citigo for India, the small car originally planned for Europe. The company has not been able to crack the big volume compact car segment in India with the Fabia, and it now plans to launch new products in the lower-end of the market to corner higher numbers and market share.

"The Citigo, which is mainly a small car for Europe, also has a potential in a market like India," Skoda Auto Global chairman Winfred Vahland told TOI here. Vahland, who was in India to oversee the production of the company's soon-to-be-launched entry sedan Rapid (based on parent Volkswagen's Vento), said India is one of the key markets for the company globally, along with China and Russia.

"We are very optimistic on the Indian market and expect growth rates between 10% and 20% in the coming years."

The Citigo is one of the newest and the smallest cars in Skoda's stable and will be launched in the Czech market in late 2011 and in Europe in the beginning of summer 2012. In line with the company's positioning of a value-formoney brand within the Volkswagen (VW) stable, the Citigo will be a cheaper alternative to parent VW's Up!.

Vahland said when the Citigo makes an entry into India, it will be with the support of parent VW. "If it makes sense, we will do it together with the group." Sources said the company will have common strategies and synergies with the VW Up! that is also expected to enter the market next year.

Vahland said the company is looking to give a substantial push to its sales in India. "The Rapid is the first model in this direction and it is the first car from the Skoda brand which has been designed, keeping in mind the special needs of Indian customers. It will be manufactured here."

The Rapid will be launched in India in December and will compete with models like Nissan's Sunny, Toyota's Etios, Maruti's Dzire, Ford's Fiesta Classic and Tata's Indigo Manza. It will be priced lower than Volkswagen Vento, whose price starts at Rs 7lakh. The model will be manufactured at Volkswagen's Chakan factory.

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The popular car break records,With 1,08,000 Maruti Swift bookings

Maruti Suzuki India has surprisingly raised the bar with 1,08,000 units of the new Swift already being booked. Moreover, the figure achieved by the popular product of Maruti, is the highest for any car in India so far.

The fact has emerged as a blessing in disguise for the company, which has been struggling to produce its vehicles according to the capacity of its plant, for the last few weeks. Not to forget, the overall slowdown that has engulfed the passenger car market that refuses to fade out at the outset.

Maruti has managed to take control over things by producing a little over 700 cars a day, as a combined capacity of its two plants. However, the commendable effort by the company does not seem to influence the long waiting periods, as customers still need to wait for about five months for the petrol version. Moreover, the diesel version has asked for a time of more than six months.

However, company officials claim that the 'Swift customers' are loyal and would be willing to adjust with the delay in deliveries. Vide with the waiting period extended to six months, the possibility of switchovers cannot be ruled out.

Maruti Swirf

Since the workers disrupted the production process, Maruti has left no stone unturned in order to maintain decent pace of production at Manesar. In the wake of the unrest, it even hired 850 new ITI-trained people as contract workers, shifting a part of its production of the Swift to Gurgaon. In addition, the company also commenced an automated weld and paint shop at Manesar to compensate for the loss.

The desperate attempts made to fight the menace does not stop here, with the idea of making a shorter version of the Swift Dzire at Manesar being taken consideration, to boost the overall demand.

According to a Maruti official, discounts have already been raised significantly, as against the first quarter of this fiscal. In fact, the average discounts on all of Maruti’s products now count same as  during 2008-09. In the June quarter, average discounts offered were Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 9,500, as against Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 8,500 in the previous year quarter. The current quarter carries discounts of  Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 11,500.

In fact, dealers in Delhi are offering Rs. 20,000 cash discount for the Alto, the country’s highest selling car. Discounts for other models too are also at the peak level since 2008-09.

Maruti officials conceded that the country’s largest car maker has registered a loss of about Rs. 1,000 crore in turnover, due to the chaotic conditions at the plant, and that its profitability would be at an all-time low. As speculated by the company, the sales figure too, may bore the brunt once again by declining to around 5 per cent this quarter.

Thus, the silver lining in the form of new Swift has relieved the Maruti camp to some extent, which has been continuously threatened by unbidden issues in the recent past.  

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F1 Formula One static cars in Delhi

With just over a month to go for the inaugural Formula One race at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida to get underway, curiosity and interest around F1 is increasing. Formula 1 cars have been drawing attention of Delhi racing enthusiasts like bees to honey.  The Indian Grand Prix which is scheduled for October 28th 2011 is something India is about to witness for the first time.

Static F1 cars are giving people a close view of racing vehicles of what that cars that are used in a F1 race look like.  A Red Bull Racing F1 car has been seen on the streets of Noida, and Ferrari too unveiled their static car at Select Citiwalk in Saket.

Various F1 racing teams which will be seen at Airtel Indian Grand Prix at Noida will be visiting in the coming two weeks with special events to stir up viewer enthusiasm.  Mr. Ian Albiston, F1 Project Manager for Ferrari and Shell said that Indian sports fans were very enthusiastic about the first ever GP in India.  Once the GP draws to a close it will open new avenues for the sport in the future.

Though many a racing and F1 aficionado may already have tickets to the main event, the majority, without Paddock Club courtesies are unlikely to experience seeing these mean machines upfront.  While many are interested in Formula 1 and had been following their progress over the years, Indian fans have hardly ever viewed a race car from close.  Now, being able to experience these cars upfront will give people an idea of how powerful and huge they really were. All of these activities to engage the public would make people take special interest in the forthcoming F1 weekend. For those who aren't going to be at the event, it's the weekend telecast that will have everyone interested.

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Upcoming New small car from Renault

Renault and Nissan chairman CEO Carlos Ghosn will visit India this month-end to kick-start what would be the strategic partner companies’ big marketing build-up towards the launch of their compact car early next year.

Ghosn, 57, will unveil the concept version of Paris-based Renault’s compact car prior to the start of the inaugural Formula One Grand Prix of India, which is scheduled to take place in October 28-30. Renault, served in 118 countries, had a forgettable start to its India venture four years ago when it partnered utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra only to call it quits and running it independently later. The company has, thus, been cautious with its re-entry.

The French behemoth’s upcoming premium compact car competing against the Maruti Suzuki Swift, the best-seller in the segment, will be regarded as its flagship product. The firm, founded in 1899, aims at generating volumes and spreading brand exposure.

Renault will unveil and launch its compact car at Delhi’s international Auto Expo in January. The booking for the car would commence on the same day, informed a source. The concept compact car to be unveiled later this month will not be very different from the production version of the same car.

“The idea behind Ghosn coming to India for the compact car is to generate the excitement around the vehicle,” a source said. “Formula One will give the biggest platform for the launch. Renault has been associated with F1 for a long time.”
 
It will also be a global launch for Renault, as this car has yet to be launched anywhere else. The car is developed keeping the Indian market in mind, say Renault India executives. It shares its platform with Yokohama-based Nissan’s premium hatchback Micra.
 
India, where four out of every five cars sold is a compact, is one of the most crucial markets for Renault. The company is present through a premium sedan Fluence and sports utility vehicle Koleos. Despite the ongoing slowdown in demand in the local market, no auto company has chosen to hold back their launches. Ghosn, who will be also cheering his Renault F1 Team and drivers Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld on race day, is desperate to contain the drop Renault financial profits with expansions in newer markets like India.
 
Ghosn, who is also the chairperson of the 1999-initiated Renault-Nissan Alliance, has been instrumental in kickstarting three partnerships in India with local firms. Although the joint venture with M&M was aborted, Renault continues to ride with two-wheeler firm Bajaj Auto for a small car.
 
The 1933-founded Nissan has forged three joint ventures with truck and bus making company Ashok Leyland for making engines, vehicles parts and commercial and passenger vehicles.

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Tata Cars launched New Tata Indica Vista in India with a price of Rs 3.88 lakhs

Tata Motors have reportedly launched a new variant of their successful car, Indica Vista in the Indian auto industry with a price tag of Rs 3.88 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The new Tata Indica Vista is already available across all Tata Cars showrooms in India.

In order to increase their market share in the segment, Tata Motors has launched this new variant for Indian car buyers. The new Indica Vista is available in 6 vibrant color options, Grey, Blue, Red, Silver, White and Summer Sparkle.

Tata Motors new Indica Vista will be available in both petrol and diesel powered engine options. In the petrol Tata Indica variant, you have the Safire petrol variant which is available for Rs 3.88 lakhs  (ex-showroom, New Delhi) while in the diesel option, you have QuadraJet diesel available for a price of Rs 4.79 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

The petrol variant is powered by the 1.4L MPFi engine that will deliver a mileage of 16.7 kmpl while the diesel variant is powered by the 1.3L CRDi diesel engine which will return a mileage of 22.3 kmpl. Both variants have features like, keyless entry, engine immobilizer, side intrusion beams, crumple zones, dual airbags, EBD, and ABS.

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