Expected Launch Date & Price of Hyundai H800 Hatchback in India

Hyundai H800 Hatchback will be priced under 3 Lakh rupees & come in November to take on the likes of the Maruti Alto and the Chevrolet Spark.

Along with launching the Hyundai H800, the South Korean Automaker is also planning a rapid expansion in its dealer count, especially in India’s hinterland to cover areas which were hitherto untapped by Hyundai.

Hyundai India is planning to add no less than 300 rural sales and service points, across the country, in line with the automaker’s plans of increasing the rural sales outlet count to 1,000. Coming back to the Hyundai H800, the car will feature a three cylinder 800c engine, which Hyundai claims will deliver significantly better power as well as fuel economy than it’s rivals.

We have already put in place 700 rural sales outlets and plan to add 300 more in the next couple of months. These are physical locations built with a small investment and are not the standard brick and mortar model. These will help us get closer to the customer with our executives conducting car demos, test drives and also small repair requirements. With this rural model, we will grow our sales share in these markets to 33 per cent by the end of this year.

Notably, Hyundai India has tasted some success with the Hyundai Verna Fluidic which has raced to the top of sales charts in the Indian C-Segment sedan space. Hyundai’s other big sellers include the Hyundai Santro Xing and the Hyundai i10, which continue to sell strongly. These models have ensured that Hyundai India has gotten its nose ahead of Tata Motors, to emerge as the second biggest car maker in India.

Maruti & Hyundai also give good discount on their cars

In fact, car sales growth slowed to just 1.6 percent in June. This has prompted automakers to throw away some freebies and discounts to encourage sales. Following Honda’s announcement on Monday which dropped the price of the Honda Jazz by a staggering Rs 1.75 lakh now, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have joined the fray. 

• Maruti, India’s #1 auto maker has offers rebates of more than Rs 50,000 on Alto, WagonR and Estilo 
• Hyundai Motor India is offering up to Rs 45,000 discount on its popular i10 and Santro compact cars

Honda is also offering a discount of Rs 50,000 on the Honda City which at some time was the segment leader. This comes after the Japanese automaker revised the prices of the Honda City by Rs 66,000 last month. Meanwhile, the rising interest rates have also been one of the factors responsible for the slowdown in the auto sector.

Car makers like Volkswagen are now encouraging customers to buy the Vento petrol sedan by offering loans 6.99 percent interest rate. German premium car makers like Audi and Mercedes Benz are offering zero interest loans on the Audi A4 sedan and the Mercedes Benz C-Class.

Finally Ford Fiesta 2011 Sedan 4 Variant Launched in India

With the Ford Fiesta Sedan, Ford India is taking the Hyundai Verna Fluidic head on. To do just that, a whopping 8 variants spread across two engine options is what the new Ford Fiesta Sedan will come with.

The variants are Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium+

• All these variants will get airbags, ABS, EBD and tilt steering as a standard piece of kit
• The segment topping features like cruise control and voice assisted controls will be present in the top end Titanium+ model
• Two engine options, a 1.5 Liter Ti-VCT petrol engine and a 1.5 Liter TDCI Turbodiesel engine will be on offer in the Fiesta twins

A five speed manual transmission is what you get on both the engines. Fuel economy is a big factor that Ford have focused on and the results are quite impressive. An ARAI certified 17 KMPL figure for the petrol Fiesta and the 23.5 KMPL figure for the diesel Fiesta are high fuel economy numbers indeed

Ford India’s dealers have already began accepting bookings of this car from the Sunday, the 10th of July, 2011.

Here are the prices of the new Ford Fiesta.

Ford Fiesta Sedan Style Variant

• Petrol INR 8,23, 500
• Diesel INR 9,27,200

Ford Fiesta Sedan Trend Variant

• Petrol INR 8,77,200
• Diesel INR 9,77,200

Ford Fiesta Sedan Titanium Variant

• Petrol INR 9,17,200
• Diesel INR 10,17,200

Ford Fiesta Sedan Titanium +

• Petrol INR 9,42,200
• Diesel INR 10,42,200

All prices are ex-showroom New Delhi!

After Honda City, Honda Cut the Price of Honda Jazz also by 1.75 Lakh Rupees

First Honda City prices cut by 66,000 Rupees. Now Honda Jazz’s price has been cut by a whopping 1.75 Lakh Rupees depending on the variant


Currently, the Honda Jazz’s Base variant in Delhi costs INR 7,12,500 ex-showroom, and the Jazz has been selling with a dealer discount of around 55 thousand rupees. Add to this a special insurance amount offer by Honda of 1 Rupee, the total discount basket for the Honda Jazz at the dealer end is around 80,000 rupees. So, the 1.75 Lakh discount on the Honda Jazz is effectively a 95,000 Rupee price cut, which is simply astounding to say the least. What this means is, the price of the Jazz has now seen a steep correction, with the entry level Jazz being available for under 6 Lakh rupees, ex-showroom Delhi.

Suddenly, the Honda Jazz looks like a tremendous value for money proposition as the Jazz has always been a brilliantly kitted out car with very nifty features like the Magic seats, adding tremendous practicality and space to the Jazz’s interiors. Add the typical Honda reliability and quality, you have a bomb proof package that is all set to sell more than it ever did thus far in India. After the massive discounts, the Honda Jazz, which currently sells for INR 7.12 to 7.6 Lakhs will fall to around INR 5.5 to 5.8 Lakhs, thus making the Jazz tremendous value for money. Watch this space for official word from Honda!

We got in touch with a leading Honda dealer, who confirmed the price cut and also gave us the revised Jazz prices.

• Revised Honda Jazz Base Variant Price in Pune: INR 5,80,00 Approx (Old Price: INR 7,37,104)
• Revised Honda Jazz Select Variant Price in Pune : INR 5,91,000 Approx (Old Price: INR 7,48,278)
• Revised Honda Jazz X Variant Price in Pune: INR 6,25,000 Approx (Old Price: INR 7,81,021)

We have also learnt that Honda might continue with the 1 Rupee insurance offer on the Jazz, thus taking the total discount on the Honda Jazz to a mind numbing INR 1.75 Lakhs.

Booking of Old Maruti Suzuki Swift Close as New Swift Arrive

The the moment that most of you have been waiting for is just around the corner. Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the new Swift in India in one months time. To make way for the new model the company has stopped producing the old Swift and so have the bookings. So if you walk into a Maruti dealership today, the dealers apparently won’t accept bookings for the Swift

Now, according to the The Economic Times, Maruti dealers have started accepting bookings for the new Swift. The new Swifit might get the same 1.3 litre MultiJet diesel sourced from Fiat which is expected to be one of the best sellers. Compared to the old Swift the new model has better interior space thanks to its slightly larger proportions while the overall weight of the car too has gone down without compromising on rigidity.

The new Maruti K-Series engine will also be available a the petrol options to the 1.3 litre diesel. The new K-Series engine has been characterised by improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Couple all this to the lighter body of the new Swift and you could have a nimble 90 horsepower hatchback perfect for India. Also, prices of the new car are expected to be around Rs 30,000 higher compared to the outgoing model.

 The main rivals for the new Swift will be Hyundai’s i20 and Volkswagen Polo. Toyota has also entered the fray with the Etios Liva which was recently launched. So as far as competition goes, the Swift won’t come short of any. But history suggests, that the Swift could be a clear winner when it comes to sheer sales numbers.

Offically launch date of Chevrolet Beat Diesel

The grapevine has it that the Chevrolet Beat Diesel will officially be launched on the 15th of July, after months of testing on Indian roads.

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Beat Diesel is expected to be a price warrior, and is set to become one of the least priced diesel hatchbacks in India, thus giving General Motors India a solid chance to boost Beat volumes. The Chevrolet Beat Diesel could be available in three variants. The base variant, a mid level variant and a top end variant.

EXPECTED PRICE

• The base variant is expected to be a bare bones affair and could arrive with a price tag under 4 Lakh Rupees, Ex-showroom Delhi. 
• The mid level variant, which will get a few more creature comforts but miss out on the safety kit like airbags and ABS is expected to be priced around 4.4-4.5 Lakhs ex-showroom
• the top end version with all the bells and whistles like automatic climate control, airbags and ABS could sell just under 5 Lakhs, ex-showroom.

These prices obviously make the Beat Diesel look quite tantalizing for the small family, for whom spacious interiors might not be a prime requirement. By undercutting it’s rival(Read the Figo) by a good 50-60 thousand rupees, the Beat Diesel with a 936cc CRDI engine producing 57 Bhp and 160 Nm looks like a solid bet as an entry level diesel hatchback. Now, time to sit back and wait for the official launch even as we’ve revealed most of specifications and price points that the Beat Diesel will come with.

FIAT INDIA give good offer on Punto and Linea

Fiat India has announced an upgrade offer on their cars to attract more customers to the brand.

The offer is valid on the Punto hatchback and the Linea sedan only with the offer period starting from July 1, 2011 to July 31, 2011 (both days inclusive).

On purchase of a Fiat Punto or a Linea within the offer period, customers will be eligible for a lucky draw if and only if they wish to participate in the contest. Any customer who does not wish to participate will be offered assured fuel fuel vouchers worth Rs 6500 on the purchase of any diesel variant of the Linea or Punto in addition to free roadside assistance and savings on insurance.

20 lucky winners will be selected at random from the list of customers who opt to participate in the contest. The lucky winners who buy a Punto or Linea petrol will be offered the corresponding variant of a diesel for the same price and those who opt for a diesel variant of either of the cars will be only have to pay the price of a petrol variant. Those going for the Linea T-Jet will be eligible for a Rs 1,00,000 discount. The customers who do not wish to participate but book a diesel car get assured fuel vouchers worth Rs 13,500 plus free roadside assistance and savings on insurance.

7th generation Toyota Camry will come this fall winter

Toyota is gearing up for a big launch later this year. The next generation Toyota Camry will be revealed in the second half of 2011. The car will be first put on sale in the United States of America which is one of the biggest markets for the car. According to a Toyota official the seventh generation of the Toyota Camry will be launched this fall. Ahead of its formal launch Toyota have shown us a glimpse of the actual car in a teaser video released by the automaker.

In the video Toyota CEO, Akio Toyoda describes the car as the “best Camry ever” and a ”remarkable car in terms of handling, safety and fuel economy.” Now the earlier Camry was not the car which could be hustled around bends with confidence but it gained on the comfort front making it one of the best cars to be driven in. In India, the Camry has not been the best seller mainly because of its high price. The price of the Toyota Camry nudged Rs 30 lakh which didn’t make it good value for money.

Toyota Camry in India had

• 2.4 litre petrol engine with an optional automatic with four ratios
• 2400cc engine with 167 bhp was refined and perky
• Four speed automatic was smooth as well but an added ratio could have made things even better
• Main trait of the Camry though was the descent legroom at the back and a comfy ride
• For India, the Camry’s ride height was raised and was fitted with harder springs which surprisingly did not ruin the ride

Another factor that played against the car was fuel economy. In the city the Camry’s 2.4 litre engine did 7.6 km to a litre of gasoline. Now, can get similar comfort and performance from other cars like the Skoda Superb and the Honda Accord albiet with better fuel economy and low running costs. One of the things we loved in the Camry apart from the host safety features, fit and finish was the translucent blue center console.

New Ford Fiesta price & launch date in India

The all New Ford Fiesta is speculated to be launched on July 14th. The new car is full integrated with superb interior and exterior design. Various automobile manufacturing company are rocking the Indian auto market and this time the renovated version of the Ford Fiesta will also participate in the rocking event on the Indian roads. The New Ford Fiesta price in India is expected be around Rs. 7.99 lakh. The renewed version of the car is a very superb model which has enhanced look and design.

New Ford Fiesta features

• Car is provided with glossy exterior look and design
• Car thriller look will definitely make the Indian car lovers fall on their knees
• Interior design of the car is also superb
• Dashboard is having lots of options along with good and comfortable seats
• This car was the most awaited sedan of this year
• Car headlamps and tail lamps are the major attraction
• Engine of the car is also superb

New Ford Fiesta specifications

• New Ford Fiesta will be powered by 1.5 liter diesel and petrol engine along with 5 speed transmissions systems
• Diesel version of the car provides maximum power of 90Bhp and a maximum torque of 204Nm. Mileage that will be provided by the car will be 23.5kmpl
• Petrol version of the car also produces maximum power of 108Bhp and a maximum torque of 140Nm. The mileage that will be providing by the petrol version is 17Kmpl
• Car suspension system is very nice and which enhances the comfort level of the car
• There are options for charging mobile and iPods

When Sunny Sedan by Nissan will launch in India

Nissan is all set to field its contender in the mid-sized sedan segment of the market with three-box car based on the Micra platform in India. Nissan Motor Limited, Japan announced on Wednesday that the car will roll out by December this year. Nissan Motor India Private Limited managing director Kiminobu Tokuyama said this after inaugurating a brand new Nissan dealership in the city of Vadodara.

The Nissan global car is called ‘Sunny’ in certain markets of the world. The car which will be based on the Micra platform will be manufactured at Nissan’s Chennai based manufacturing plant. Nissan’s India portfolio includes the Micra, X-Trail and the Teana. With the addition of a mid-sized sedan to its Indian portfolio, Nissan will complete its product rang from small cars to premium segment saloons in the country. Nissan India also plans to introduce enter the MPV vehicles segment with a new product that will be manufactured through a collaboration with Ashok Leyland.

“The new global sedan will be based on the same platform as that of Micra and will be built from our existing plant at Chennai. Next year, we are planning to come out with our first multi-purpose vehicle through our joint venture with Ashok Leyland,” said Tokuyama.

The Nissan Micra hasn’t been doing well, a high price and lack of dealer penetration being the root causes. Now, Nissan plans to increase its dealer network in the country from 36 to more than 100 by 2013. Nissan also hopes to double the sales of the Micra during this year. The company has sold 13000 units of the compact hatchback till March 2011.

The Nissan Sunny could be priced in the Rs 7 -9 lakh bracket and could also feature a diesel engine. The 1.5 DCi Common Rail Diesel Engine tuned for use in the sedan could be lined-up by the company. The Nissan Sunny will join the Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Verna out of which the Verna has already been launched with the launch of the new Fiesta still impending.

Chevrolet Beat Diesel Price in India and its launch date

Chevrolet is the biggest car manufacturing company in Indian auto market. Now the company is going to launch its Diesel variant small car Chevrolet Beat in the middle of the July. Chevrolet Beat Diesel Price in India is coming with a price tag of Rs.3,55,490 in mid JULY

• Aerodynamic design of the body with attractive head lamps are the main look from the front view
• Body is finished with glossy look and small shades and lines on the exteriors will impressive very much
• Fog lights on the edges of the bumper along with logo on the front grill are the additional assets for the car
• Superior ground clearance and outstanding suspension system will make this car is perfect match for the bumpy road conditions
• Luxurious interiors, spacious boot and back seats along with comfortable seating facility will give homely feeling to the customer
• Chevrolet Beat Diesel is powered by the 936 cc with advanced fuel injection technology
• Engine can able to produce maximum power of 58.5 Bhp and hammering torque of 150NM
• Dash board is equipped with all the sophisticated technologies and the steering wheel is powered by the EPS with all operative keys on it
• Comfortable seating and two way air condition with heater is enabled on this car

All new 2012 Honda CR-V images, specifications & features

Honda has released an image which isn’t actually a teaser image or a leaked photograph of the 2012 CR-V instead, a picture of a tunnel with a beam of light approaching from the other end.

An automobile magazine in Japan has already begun speculating about the design of the new model. According to them, the new CR-V could be based on the same platform as the current model except for the proportions of the car. The dimensions of the new crossover might increase compared to the present version. Honda could also feature the concept on which the actual CR-V would be based at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in October.

The Honda CR-V in India has a 2.4 litre and a smaller 2.0 litre i-VTEC petrol engine. The latter produces 143 bhp while the bigger 2400cc version pumps out 161 bhp of max power. The 2.4 litre variant also gets four-wheel drive. But, the present scenario calls for a diesel engine and we expect to see one in the next generation at least. The main rivals in the segment today are Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Chevrolet Captiva and the Mitsubishi Outlander all of which get frugal oil burners in place of gasoline power which is quite expensive these days.

The new 2.2 litre i-CTDI diesel engine is what Honda could offer in India. The new engine produces 140 bhp and 251 lb-ft of torque from its inline four cylinder configuration. This could form the basis of Honda’s revived campaign in India. Honda was under intense pressure recently as sales of the Honda City mid-sized car fell only because of the lack of a diesel option. Honda then announced that the company will be introducing a diesel engine for India as more and more people are now moving to diesels as the price petrol spikes day after day.

Replacement of Lamborghini Murcielago is Lamborghini Aventador (Specification & Features)

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is the most exotic supercar yet from Sant’Agata. The 6.5 Liter V12 engined supercar produces 700 Italian stallions at a sky high 8,250 rpm. Along with all that power, you also 690 Nm ot tree stump pulling twist that will ensure that the going is rapid even before the real power of V12 kicks in at higher echelons of the rev range. A highly advanced pushroad suspension bred for the track and a carbon fiber monocoque only add to the exoticism of this super sharp looking hyper car.

Direct injection, variable valve timing, four individual throttle bodies and dry sump lubrication come together to not just ensure scintillating performance from the 6.5 Liter naturally aspirated motor but also to use 20% lesser fuel than the previous raging bull, the Murcielago, to make for both a powerful as well as an efficient beast.

Lamborghini also throws in an optional transparent engine cover for you to show off the delectably made V12 nestling in the Lambos behind. By the way, the Aventador will reach 100 kilometeres in under 3 seconds, going all the way to 350 Kph, if you keep the gas pedal floored

What is the price of Etios Liva hatchback & its variant; Etios Liva hatchback launch date in India

Toyota has launched the Etios Liva hatchback in India. The Etios Liva was launched at a glittering function in New Delhi. The Liva is based on the Etios sedan which was launched earlier. This marks the entry of Toyota into the high volumes hatchback segment in India. Toyota Kirloskar Motors Ltd. are very proud of the fact that the company now offers products all the way from the range topping Landcruiser SUV to the Etios Liva hatchback.

The Etios Liva hatchback will be priced at Rs 3.99 lakh ex-showroom Delhi for the base variant and the top of the line VX priced at Rs 5.99 lakh. The car is available in four trims; J, G, V, VX. Except for the base variant all the other models will get numerous active as well as passive safety features. A very upmarket, 2-DIN system and a huge glove box with cooling function is offered in G, V and VX variants. The focus has been on providing the best possible interior space as well as storage space in the Etios Liva. A 13 litre cooled glove box is unique to the car apart from the other cubbyholes in the car. The car also offers descent boot space of 251 litres.

Toyota Etios Liva Specification and Features

The Etios Liva, which will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX just like it’s sedan sibling will come with a cooled 13 liter glovebox that common to all the variants, and thus a very nice addition to the car. This apart, another nice addition is the remote to control the 2-DIN stereo apart from the steering mounted controls the Etios Liva Hatchback comes with. The kerb weight of the car at 890 to 920 KGs for the different variants means that the performance won’t be as peppy as the Etios Sedan, which produces more power and torque from a 300cc bigger engine.

For the record, the Etios Liva hatchback produces 80 Bhp power and 104 Nm torque output from the Etios Liva. The standout factor here is the ARAI certified 18.31 KMPL fuel economy figure which is expected to really move things for Toyota at the hustings, and this is something that is very relevant in these times of sky high petrol prices, given that the Etios Liva Diesel will arrive only by the end of this year or early next year. The Etios Liva’ offers airbags, ABS and EBD as the standard safety bits in the higher V and VX variants.

A good thing though is the fact that Airbags, ABS and EBD can be specified as optional for the G variant, which is a good thing as this offers the car buyer more choice, especially when it comes to the critical safety features of ABS and Airbags. The interiors don’t seem any different from the Etios Sedan and hence expect plenty of cheap feeling bits all around. That, in a nutshell is the Toyota Etios Liva for you, a day before Toyota Kirloskar India will officially launch the hatchback in Gandhiland. The only thing that remains a secret is the price, which reportedly will be close to the 4 Lakh rupee mark or even lesser for the base variant.

When TATA NANO will launch in Nepal; What is the price of TATA NANO in Nepal

Tata Nano Hatchback has just been launched in India’s neighboring country, Nepal. This is the third nation in which the Tata Nano has been launched, after India and Sri Lanka. The Tata Nano will be sold in Nepal for an estimated price of 7,98,000 Nepal Rupees or INR 5 Lakhs when converted to Indian currency.

The price definitely looks quite steep in comparison to the Indian Nano’s price but then again, that is the price the folks at Nepal need to pay due to the high import duties imposed by the Nepalese government on imported cars. All three variants of the Tata Nano Hatchback will be available for sale in Nepal. Bookings are set to be open starting today, for a ten day window after which bookings would be closed to service the orders.

The Tata Nano Hatchback will be sold in Nepal by Tata Motors’ Nepali distributor, Sipradi Trading Pvt. Ltd through 14 Sipradi owned & Sipradi authorised dealer showrooms. For its part, Tata Motors seems to be doing its best to ensure that prospective Tata Nano buyers in Nepal have no misgiving about the little car’s reliability and robustness. So, Tata will put two Nanos across an epic 40,000 kilometer journey in Nepal, through which the cars will be showcased at 15 locations.

When Honda Accord Diesel will Launch in India; Honda Accord Diesel Price in India

Japanese auto mobile biggie Honda makes the plan to introduce diesel version of Honda Accord which would be titled as Honda Accord Diesel. After abandoning Accord hybrid, Buzz in auto mobile sector is that Honda has officially made announcement to bring out diesel variant that can provide mileage of 63 mpg on the highway.

Recent reports have unveiled that Honda Accord was not able to collect revenues even comparable to the sales of Skoda Superb in the period of 7 months . Also, according to the folks, Skoda Superb gives a much better worth for money . Now in this drowning scenario emergence of Honda Accord Diesel can prove as big support in levering the company's position.

Giving a brief look towards the specifications of the model, the swanky model that was displayed recently at the Geneva Motor Show is equipped with a

• 2.2L i-DTEC diesel that can provide power of 148 bhp and top torque of 258 lb-ft
• Bolder part is CO2 emissions which is kept as low as 138 g/km

Honda Accord Diesel Price is yet to get disclosed at the time of car launch time but would be tagged around 20 lakhs.

By 2014 hydrogen fuel cars may be ready for roads said Mercedes Benz

Hydrogen fuel cells were once a part of science fiction stories and were thought to be the future of automobiles. Slowly, as technology caught up Mercedes Benz embarked on a quest to tame Hydrogen which is the most abundant element of the Universe. Now, the German automaker says, that Hydrogen F-Cell vehicles will be here by 2014. Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche is optimistic about the developments that have been taking place and believes, the cars will be on roads in a couple of years.

Mercedes Benz has been testing its F-Cell powered B-Class hatchback lately. The company also completed a round trip around the globe in a hydrogen fuel cell powered car recently. In the real world, this technology still needs to catch up as the infrastructure required for storing hydrogen is scarce. California, USA is one of the states which has got hydrogen filling stations. Secondly, the manufacturing costs of hydrogen fuel cells are still high but, Mercedes Benz believes the technology is now ready for mass production and the costs could reduce over time.

Daimler boss believes that the car will be ready for production by 2014 and later on in a few years time the costs of production could come down even further. The automaker thinks that over a period of time hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could be available at the cost of diesel-hybrids that have only recently been introduced in production cars. With mass-production the technology could also be viable in certain markets of the world by 2014. Honda is the other automaker that has been involved with the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

General Motors has also been testing the Chevrolet Equinox crossover with a similar fuel source. All said, the hydrogen fuel cell technology would one day become viable and could become the fuel source for all future vehicles. The advantages of this are immense as the bi-product is just water vapour. Thus, it is one of the cleanest technology available today and could bring around a revolutionary change in the cars we drive.

2013 Jaguar E Type - Jaguar XKE Images and other Info about Car

50 years ago, Jaguar launched the E-Type which was one of the best looking cars back then. In fact, it still remains one of the most exquisite classics on the road today. The long swooping bonnet and the overall shape of the car was designed on the curves of a woman’s body and has since then been loved by aficionados the world over. Now, Jaguar plans to revive the model which once raced at endurance races of Sebring and Le Mans.

The test mule was spotted near Jaguar’s R&D facility in the UK and bears a striking resemblance to the current Jaguar XK Convertible. According to folks at Autocar, the official reveal of the all new Jaguar E-Type is just months away and the car could be launched at the 2013 Detroit motor show. The new car is expected to come in both coupe as well as cabriolet body styles and would directly compete with the Porsche Boxter. The new E-Type will be based on next generation XK with the same basic aluminium structure underneath.

The new Jaguar E-Type will be shorter than the XK by 250 mm with an overall length of 4.55 meters. The images clearly suggest that the car is based on the XK abiet with a shorter boot. Now, the XK Convertible had a boot spoiler and a small rear window to increase the boot space. The boot spoiler was added to install the rear high mounted stop lamp according to EU-specs. This had an adverse effect on the handling of the XK when driven at high speeds. Over 130 mph or so, the front of the car used to lose downforce and as a result become twitchy.

The images that Autocar has acquired also show a similar boot spoiler on the E-Type which could have an effect on the high speed handling of the car. We hope the Jaguar designers address this issue if at all it exists on the upcoming E-Type before the official launch of the car in January 2013. Secondly, the design of the car does not actually remind us of the brilliant E-Type which the designers should have actually taken cues from. The E-Type test mule looks more of a squashed XK Convertible. As far as the power under the hood is concerned the E-Type could get a V6 petrol and a more powerful V8 could follow in a XKE-R, may be. Making the new XK the base for the revived E-Type could dilute the image of the old E-type. We think, the Jaguar designers should’ve designed the new E-Type from the ground up making it a bespoke model which would’ve done justice to the original E-Type of the 1960′s.

Maruti Swift delayed from August to October due to Strike in Manesar

The recently concluded strike at Maruti Suzuki seems to have cost the automaker not just loss in production but also seems to have thrown a spanner in it’s new model launch plans. The new Swift, which is set to replace the five year old current model was expected to arrive in early August. But, a 16,000 car production loss will only mean that production of the new Swift will get delayed until the existing orders are serviced.

With Maruti operating at a 108% plant capacity, it is highly unlikely that Maruti will be able to accommodate the new Swift’s production without affecting the other models as it’s scheduled annual plant maintenance kicks in during end June. Since that isn’t too viable an option, a delay in the Swift’s launch now appears inevitable. October could be when the new Swift could be launched as Maruti would require some buffer time to tide over the fortnight of production loss that it has suffered recently due to strike

While the delay in the new Maruti Swift’s launch could put off many potential buyers, who are simply too tired to wait endlessly for the new Swift, a silver lining is the fact that Maruti will launch the new Swift with a 1.3 liter, 90 Bhp K-Series petrol engine that will now feature variable valve timing, So, expect the new Swift to be more powerful, responsive as well as fuel efficient. The diesel model though will come with the same 1.3 Liter multijet diesel engine.