Auto Expo 2012 is Asia’s largest motor show was held at Delhi, the capital of India in January. This year’s Auto Expo, we have seen many vehicles launched from hybrids to supercars and from compact vehicles to SUVs. First-time participants like Ferrari and Peugeot would look to leave an impression while existing players would seek to bolster their line-up with new models for India as well as the world.
India’s first super-car cost around Rs 30 Lakh, Avanti has been unveiled at Auto Expo 2012 by actor Amitabh Bachchan. The car, designed by Dilip Chhabria will be manufactured by Chhabria’s firm DC Designs. Pegged to be initially powered by a 2 litre 4 cylinder turbo charged engine from Ford, the Avanti will likely be a sub 7 second 0 to 100 car. Avanti’s engine, transmission and other vital components will be imported however the car’s body, the tubular chassis frame and interiors will be manufactured at DC Design’s plant and facility in Pune.
British car maker Mini has unveiled BMW Mini CooperS at the Auto Expo 2012. The BMW-owned manufacturer will bring four models of the car in India. BMW India has also unveiled its Vision Connected Drive concept study at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012.
Skoda Auto has showcased the RS 2000 concept, a four-door roadster based on its Fabia platform at the Auto Expo 2012. The roadster dons 18-inch alloy rims, front and rear spoilers as well as a traditional green-and-white rally livery. The interior features tight-fitting sports seats, a three-spoke sports steering wheel and the shift lever sleeve. The front door sills sport running boards, and stainless steel pedals echo the styling of the Fabia RS model.
Audi unveiled its Audi Q3 model to public. Audi has lot of expectations from this new model as this will give birth to a new segment. Actress Katrina Kaif and Lisa Ray were present during the launch gathering a huge crowd and gathering more charm for the event.
Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Company unveiled its seven-seater multipurpose vehicle (MPV) ‘Evalia’ at the Auto Expo and said it will triple its dealership network in the country in the next three years. Film star Ranbir Kapoor was present during the launch.
Automobile major Maruti Suzuki unvieled its new compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) Maruti XA Alpha, termed by the company as “a bold new experiment.” Although, the price or the launch date of the XA Alpha, have not been revealed, the company say it focuses on the changing preferences of customers, especially the youth. It stands at number four in our list. The final production version of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga also launched with its hatch style design, but seven-seater configuration. The Ertiga’s central premise is to capture the imagination of the upwardly mobile young Indian who is looking for a family tourer, but doesn’t want an oversized vehicle.
Tata Pixel may be one of the smallest unveils in the Auto Expo 2012 in terms of size, but it made every one stop and stare in awe. A compact car with the dimensions of the Tata Nano, the Pixel will be powered by a 1.2 litre diesel engine with an expected mileage of 29 km/l. The Pixel also has scissor doors on the sides with allow ample space for entry and exit of the 4 comfortably seated passengers in the compact cockpit. Tata also boasts Pixel to be a ‘zero-turn’ drive vehicle, making it the best car to be parked in tight spots and maneuvered easily in massive traffic. Tata also unveiled the new Tata Safari Storme in the SUV segment.
Renault forayed into the compact car and ‘ass segment’ of the automobile industry in India by unveiling its own compact car, Pulse. The compact premium hatchback RxZ version sports a 1.5 litre diesel engine with a claimed ARAI mileage of 23.08 km/l and has features like dual airbags, engine start/stop button, automatic front outside rear view mirrors and 15 inch alloy wheels in the top model.
Launched alongside the Pulse, the Duster is Renault‘s take on a luxury SUV which is not a sub 4 metre vehicle but still is more compact than the other larger than life SUVs in the market. Reported to be powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine and a 1.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine, guesstimates say that it is likely to be priced between 7 to 9 lakhs. The styling is trendy and contemporary, and the car is likely to hit Indian roads by the last quarter of 2012.
Hatchback seems to be the next big thing in the small car and the mid-sized car segment as Chevrolet unveiled the Sail hatchback which is considered to be the successor of the Aveo U-VA. It will have both petrol and diesel variants with 1.2 litre petrol engine and a 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine respectively, both manufactured locally in GM’s facility near Pune. The styling of Sail resemble Chevrolet’s trademark looks with a large front grill, side swept headlights and a sporty rear.
Bajaj created ripples a day or two before the Auto Expo 2012 was officially launched, by unveiling the RE60. While some call it a compact car, others call it a compact eco friendly vehicle. Features of this compact vehicle include a body that weighs about 400 kg, a 200cc 4 stroke engine with an expected mileage of about 35 km/l, moulded seats, 400 litre boot space. It will also be available with CNG variants.
Piaggio, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer known for the Aprilla and RSV4, unveiled this premium scooter at the India Auto Expo 2012, pegged to be launched by April 2012. The scooter will be manufactured at Vespa’s newly setup facility in Baramati and the production is estimated to be around 1.5 lakh units annually.
The Ducati Monster is a popular model and an icon worldwide that Ducati has brought to India with an estimated price tag of Rs 6.99 lakh. The eagerly awaited Monster which was unveiled at the Auto Expo 2012 sports a characteristic macho and aggressive styling of a naked bike and is definitely attention grabber from the word go. It has been an extremely successful model for Ducati in the worldwide markets and the industry gurus will be watching its reception in India like hawks.
Japanese auto maker Yamaha has unveiled its Ray scooter concept at the Auto Expo 2012. The scooter has been designed specifically for women and is priced around Rs 1.10 lakh.
