Top 5 upcoming hatchbacks under Rs 10 lakhs in 2014

Here we compile information on top 5 upcoming hatchback launches this year that will be worth waiting. List includes revamps and all new cars from popular auto makers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Tata and Fiat, in the form of Swift facelift, 2nd generation i20, Polo GT, Bolt and Punto EVO respectively.

 
Maruti Suzuki Swift facelift - Even with same old looks and features, outgoing Swift model is 4th best selling car in India; about 13,632 units sold in June 2014. Upcoming Swift facelift will look similar to model launched in UK last year.
New 2014 Swift would include automatic parking & head lamps, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) near fog lamps, electrically foldable Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVM) with embedded turn indicators and revised centre stop light at rear hatch door. Dual tone interiors, new seat upholstery, foldable rear seats, six Airbags, Music player with Bluetooth connectivity and revamped instrument cluster would also feature in upcoming Maruti Swift hatchback.


Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) in new Swift is rumoured but it is less likely to happen. Same 1.2 litre K12M petrol engine with VVT, producing max. power of 87 PS @ 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 114 Nm @ 4,000 rpm is expected to continue duty in 2014 Swift. Diesel variant would also host same 1.3 litre DDiS engine that generates 75 PS max. power @ 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm peak torque @ 2,000 rpm. Starting price of new Swift will be around Rs. 4.5 lakhs; launch is expected by September / October 2014. Read more about Maruti Swift facelift.
 
Next generation Hyundai i20 - Spied more than a few times, we now know what new i20 will look like. Again we’ll be seeing European influence, but on i20 it will be extensive. Front fascia will be akin to Peugeot’s styling. Redesigned front grille, new headlamp assembly and sporty trapezium fog lamps are hiding under the camouflage.

Modish rear facade gets new tail lights and bumper lamps. Rear hatch door is made to look smaller with new rear bumper. Slanting roofline, blacked out C pillars and athletic alloy wheels make next gen Hyundai i20 look chic. Better features and equipment will certainly make outgoing i20 feel old.

Engine options will add 1.2 litre Kappa petrol engine with VTVT producing 83 PS at 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm at 4,000 (same as in Grand i10) and a 1.4 litre diesel unit pushing 90 PS at 4,000 rpm and 220 Nm at 1,500 – 2,750 rpm. Auto and manual gearbox options will be available, mostly with petrol, while diesel would get manual transmission only. Expected launch is in September / October 2014. Read more about next gen Hyundai i20 here.
 
Volkswagen Polo GT -Just launched facelift version will be available in showrooms with GT tune engines in September. Both GT TSI (petrol) and GT TDI (diesel) will debut, alongside Volkswagen Cross Polo on last week of August 2014. Polo GT TSI will be seen with same engine as before, the 1.2 litre 4 cylinder engine with Turbo Stratified Injection, blasting 105 PS @ 5,000 rpm and 175 Nm @ 1,500 – 4,100 rpm. Volkswagen Polo GT TSI will feature 7 speed Tiptronic Dual Clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) only. Polo GT TDI gets same new 1.5 litre Turbo Direct Injection engine but tuned to throw 105 PS @ 4,400 rpm and 250 Nm @ 1,500 – 2,500 rpm. GT Diesel engine will be mated to same 5 speed Manual Transmission used in regular TDI model; no auto variant.

Apart from changes in power train, rest of parts and features in VW Polo GT will be same as newly launched Polo facelift. GT models will be available in top end “HighLine” spec only. Learn about specs, features, highlights, price and mileage of new VW Polo here.


Also Read - Volkswagen Polo Facelift vs Maruti Swift vs Hyundai i20 spec compare.

Fiat Punto EVO - Already arrived at few dealerships across India, new Punto EVO has shown itself to lot of cameras and most have liked what they saw. Borrowing some key exterior elements from Fiat Avventura crossover showcased at 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, Punto EVO looks more charming and sporty than its previous version.
Exteriors get prominent pout with chrome lining and horizontal slat running across, and chrome surrounded front fog lamps. Swept back headlamps compliment new grille and makes new Punto EVO more energetic than previous design. LED tail lights and lower lamps at rear add freshness, and chrome strip connecting and bordering rear set of fog lamps is a bit too much. Interiors get Linea inspired dashboard and decors, along with new steering wheel, full black theme, upholstery, controls, etc.

Powertrain choices include acclaimed 1.3 liter Multijet diesel engine in two tunes, 75 bhp and 90 bhp maximum power, and two petrol engines – 1.2 litre & 1.4 litre giving out 68 bhp, 96 Nm and 90 bhp, 115 Nm respectively. Bookings are already open for advance amount of Rs. 25,000; expect 2014 Fiat Punto EVO to start delivering by first week of August. Read more about Fiat Punto EVO here.
 

Tata Bolt -Much awaited hatchback from Tata is expected to come out of hiding by September 2014. As we have driven upcoming Tata Zest compact sedan, we have good idea of what Bolt will be like.
Read out review of Tata Zest to get an insight.
Bolt bears similar front fascia to Zest; signature Tata grille, giant headlamps with projector light units, sporty trapezoidal air dam portion on lower half of front bumper, nice looking trims / LED DRLs near front fog lamps, bold side profile and less conspicuous rear section would draw good crowd to showrooms.

Much loved music system from Harman, with first in segment features and comfortable interface will also be a USP for Bolt. Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) would not be seen in Bolt; new 1.2 litre Revotron petrol engine and 1.3 Quadrajet diesel engine will get only 5 speed manual transmission setup. Later after launch, sporty body kits will be made available for Bolt, either as additional accessory kit or as special edition / variant. Expected to be priced competitive to rivals in B segment, will new Bolt hatchback revive Tata’s brand image? Read more about Tata Bolt here.

Also read – Tata Zest AMT diesel review.
Top 5 upcoming sedans under Rs 10 lakhs in 2014.

source:-http://www.rushlane.com/

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Audi A3 Local Assembly Begins. Launch In August

The Audi A3 has won laurels the world over. The compact luxury sedan has been testing in India since mid 2013 and is all set to launch next month. Audi currently manufacturers the A4 and A6 sedans in India along with the Q3, Q5 and Q7 SUVs at the German car maker’s factory in Aurangabad. The Audi A3 is the sixth car that is being produced in India at the group plant Škoda Auto India Private Limited (SAIPL) in Aurangabad, in a specially designated hall which covers a floor area of 20,000 square meters (215,278 square feet). The Audi Q3 and Audi Q7 are also produced in the same hall.

 
 
 Audi A3 India Assembly line

The Audi A3 Made Its Big Indian Debut At the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo

“The local production of the Audi A3 Sedan in India is in continuation of our growth strategy and consistent focus on the Indian market,” said Dr. Hubert Waltl, Audi Board Member for Production. “The market potential coupled with the world-class infrastructure in the plant, efficient working processes, qualified workforce and a well-developed logistics environment were the factors that motivated us to expand the product portfolio at the Aurangabad plant.”
“India is a very promising market for Audi. With the upcoming launch of the the next big Audi – the Audi A3 Sedan, we will be creating a new segment, that of the compact luxury sedan, in India. The Audi A3 sedan will attract an entirely new customer segment into the Audi family. We will start the local production of the A3 Sedan right from the launch phase as we are convinced that this model is the right product for the Indian market at the right time. We are confident that the A3 Sedan will set new benchmarks and will further consolidate our leading position in the luxury automobile market in India,” said Mr. Joe King, Head of Audi India.

The A3 35 TDI is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-pot, turbo diesel engine that produces a maximum power output of 143 hp from 3500-4000 rpm and a peak torque of 340 Nm between 1750-3000 rpm. The petrol A3 40 TFSI is powered by a 1.8-litre, 4-pot engine produces 177 hp of power and 250 Nm of torque.

source:-http://www.indiancarsbikes.in

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Indian Cars To Become Safer; Mandatory Crash Tests

In India, the motor vehicle population is growing at a faster rate than the economic and population growth. The surge in motorization coupled with expansion of the road network has brought with it the challenge of addressing adverse factors such as the increase in road accidents. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road traffic injuries are the sixth leading cause of death in India with a greater share of hospitalization, deaths, disabilities and socio-economic losses in the young and middle-aged population. Road traffic injuries also place a huge burden on the health sector in terms of post-hospital and acute care and rehabilitation. These accidents are caused due to different reasons but the key factor is that these automobiles are unequipped to endure resistance during accidents.

This is the solution for the aforementioned problem, New Car Assessment Program (or NCAP) is a government car safety program tasked with evaluating new automobile designs for performance against various safety threats.


The dreadful results of the crash tests held by NCAP earlier this year have finally caused a stir in the minds of the Indian car manufacturers because of the poor performance of their cars when it comes to managing a crash. Even Europe or North America-based carmakers who claim their vehicles to be crash tested and safe, are known to omit many safety features for the India models, in the interest of cost-cutting. Finally, because of this horrendous report the government has taken a stand to making safety features like ABS and Airbags mandatory for all cars along with which the new releases upcoming in India as well have to undergo routine crash tests in order to acquire clearance. The NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) have the responsibility thrust upon them to ensure these tests are performed and all criteria are met by automobile manufacturers.

Crash Test Results Indicating A Decent Performance By The Figo

The crash test facilities will be set up in Manesar and Pune. Where the standard crash tests will be conducted which includes the frontal crash that involves the cars to undergo a head on collision at the speeds of 60 kmph and to be analysed on how the car manages the impact. These results also set a stage for rating the cars based on their reliability and sturdiness, the NCAP will rate vehicles on a scale of 1 to 5 based on their safety aspects.

Crash Test Results Indicating A Poor Performance By The Tata nano

Automobile manufacturers have been provided time till 2017 to implement these crash safety norms at the end of the procedure. No longer are Car Companies going to produce cars without producing structural modification in the vehicle chassis and without compulsory inclusion of safety features like ABS, ESP and airbags. These additions are indeed going to make the automobiles dearer as safety always triumphs in circumstances as such.

source :-http://www.indiancarsbikes.in

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Review: 2014 Volkswagen Polo Facelift

Let's face it. A vehicle facelift is usually never really 'exciting' unless you have some kind of mechanical changes instead of just minor cosmetic upgrades. Thankfully, the Volkswagen Polo facelift does have something 'new' to offer. Okay, don't get carried away with the new factor because it is really under the hood that the Polo looks and feels new. The global media also had a similar reaction when the new Polo was first unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show with a range of new or updated 3- and 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines for the European market.
But for India, the engine portfolio gets refreshed with an all-new 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine, which makes it eligible for excise duty benefits. However, sadly at Rs. 6.27 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), the new Polo is still pricey. But hey, this is a 'new diesel' hatch in the Indian market, and I am sure customers will be lining up for it.


A few minutes out on the highway, and one can feel the true characteristics of the engine. So I'm not surprised at the confidence that Volkswagen has in this new 1.5-litre diesel engine. The engine feels quite smooth with the turbo kicking in early and that too, without any major lag. It isn't the quickest off the blocks but out on the open road, the engine loves being pushed around with an equally smooth and responsive acceleration. In city traffic, the engine does not struggle much although it is a bit too loud for my liking and the clutch needs some effort too. However, with the quick gear shifts as well as decent power at low speeds, the drive is quite hassle-free.

I also enjoyed the improved ride quality on the facelifted Polo, with VW tuning the suspension to be slightly more soft for Indian roads. The hatch now feels more stable to take on bad roads with more assured handling than before. Out on the open roads, the sporty steering feels more responsive and heavy, thus allowing you to steer the car easily through wide turns at high speeds. VW tops it off with solid braking that it gives you enough confidence to push the car a bit more. I happily obliged!


This new engine produces 88.8bhp and 230Nm of torque, and has been tuned up for the new GT TDI. The power output goes up to 103.6bhp, while the torque goes up to 250Nm on the GT. The fuel economy figures are fairly impressive with an ARAI-certified 20.14Kn/l for the Polo 1.5-litre TDI and 19.91Km/l for the Polo GT TDI

If you were wondering why I am going on and on about the all-new engine, well that's because there is nothing 'major' to report about the new Polo's styling and design. One would probably be inclined to think Volkswagen's styling department either didn't have much to contribute, or were given a rather short brief about the facelifted Polo. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Honestly, I quite like the original look, and now that it gets a new orange shade, I am sure it will make a lot of heads turn. That said, the facelifted hatch now sports subtle changes on the front, chiefly a new grille along with a new bumper with integrated fog-lamps and a chrome strip running across it. It also gets new head-lamps, though I wish the head-lamps or at least the fog-lamps received the LED treatment, just to add to its overall appeal. Another feature that the Polo could have done with are the integrated turn indicatore on the outside rear view side mirrors (ORVMs). Other upgrades, even though minor, are the new 15-inch alloy wheels that are available only on the Highline variant, and a new rear bumper with integrated license-plate carrier and reflectors.

The subtle treatment continues on the inside too; the facelift gets new fabric upholstery and a silver-finish on the centre console. But again, the cabin didn't exactly need a facelift anyway. However, what caught my fancy was the sportier steering wheel with audio controls, which, by the way, is a standard provision. The other standard feature across all trims are dual front airbags, which is quite an impressive move by the German carmaker.



Long story short, the 2014 Polo facelift packs in a lot, especially the impressive new diesel engine. However, all that comes with quite the premium pricing. Introductory ex-showroom (New Delhi) prices of the 2014 Volkswagen Polo facelift are as follows:
a. Polo 1.2-litre MPI: Rs. 4.99 - 6.07 lakh
b. Polo 1.5-litre TDI: Rs. 6.27 - 7.37 lakh
c. Cross Polo: Rs. 7.90 lakh
d. Polo GT TDI: Rs. 7.99 lakh
e. Polo GT TSI: Rs. 7.99 lakh



The New Polo GT TSI, Polo GT TDI and Cross Polo will be put up for sale from August-end and Volkswagen will sell existing stock of the models till then.

source:-http://auto.ndtv.com

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2015 Volkswagen Polo to be launched in India on July 15

The new, reworked Polo, with mechanical as well as cosmetic changes, is set to be launched by Volkswagen India on July 15. The major change in the new Volkswagen Polo is the 4-cylinder 1.5-litre diesel engine. Expect this engine to make 105PS/250Nm like the current 1.6 diesel motor.
Volkswagen will pair this engine to a DSG automatic box. The primary reason behind the downsized engine is to make the Polo eligible for excise duty benefits applicable to cars in India under 4m length with powerplants under 1.5l for diesels. As of now, it's too soon to say if Volkswagen will discontinue the current 1.2l diesel.

As far as the petrol mill is concerned, VW may use the current 1.2l motor and the sportier TSI variants will be powered by a turbo motor. Expect fuel efficiency to be a tad more than before.

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7161431113763573186#editor/target=post;postID=4311684998808982708

The new Polo will be given double-barrel headlamps along with LED DRLs in the top end variant, just like in the Euro-spec models.

The new Polo will be given double-barrel headlamps along with LED DRLs in the top end variant, just like in the Euro-spec models. The new front bumper will be prominently lined with chrome.

 source:-http://ibnlive.in.com

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Volkswagen invests anew in India to meet local demand

Volkswagen AG will invest Rs. 1,500 crore in India over the next five to six years on various activities such as localisation and new products, reports from The Economic Times and Reuters stated.

VW India President and MD Mahesh Kodumudi hinted that the company might also start making its engines in the country, saying that the engine plant may rise in Maharashtra. Presently, 100 per cent of its car engines are imported.

The move is part of "Indianisation" or localising the production of engines, gearbox, and other car parts. Kodumudi said that the company plans to increase the local content level in cars from 65 per cent to 90 per cent.

Industry figures show that for VW's latest fiscal year, its passenger car sales fell 24 per cent to 52,525 vehicles, ranking it sixth out of 14 carmakers in the country. Despite this, India shows huge potential as only 13 out 1,000 people own a car.

Also, a study by IHS Automotive revealed that by 2018, India will become the third largest car market by unit sales in the world, beating Brazil, Germany, and Japan.

Since 2007, VW has already invested some Rs 4,400 crore in the Indian market. The company is now planning to expand its presence in growing segments of the local automotive industry, such as the compact sports utility vehicle and compact sedan segments.

source:- http://ibnlive.in.com

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IMPORTED MARUTI SUZUKI NEW SWIFT AND SWIFT DZIRE HEADLIGHT

source:-http://www.autogully.in

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