Gear up: News of new vehicles

March 25, 2015 08:13 pm | Updated 08:13 pm IST

FOR MP

FOR MP

Skoda Octavia vRS India launch on hold

Skoda’s sporty version of the Octavia has been sold in India for the past two generations. Whereas the earlier Octavia vRS was detuned from 180 to 150bhp and the later Laura had a smaller 160bhp 1.8 TSI engine, Skoda, this time, is looking at getting the real thing. That means 217bhp from a 2.0 TFSi engine and 0-100kph time of 7 seconds.

But the carmaker is struggling to justify bringing the car here as the number of units it is likely to sell of this around Rs.30-lakh car is not likely to be too many; the 2.0 TFSI also needs to be homologated for India. So while Skoda is looking at it, it looks unlikely that the 250kph-capable new Octavia vRS will make it here.

Nissan confident of increasing market share in India

Nissan Motors Co is confident that its India operations will soon be a part of its top three subsidiaries globally — a shift up from its current position in the top 20 list.

Guillaume Sicard, president, Nissan India operations, is keen on expanding the brand's awareness through marketing and on-ground activities.

While Nissan enjoys a top-of-the-mind recall with three out of 10 customers in India — Datsun is a low, one out of 10, which Sicard plans to improve. In the current fiscal (April 2014-Febraury 2015), of the total 141,694 units produced, 31,309 cars were sold in the domestic market (down 10.24%) and 106,091 units were exported (up 19.46%). According to Sicard, localisation levels in India have gone up to 88 percent. They also export nearly 60 percent of the total units produced annually, which makes Nissan Motor India the country's third largest automobile exporter, after Hyundai Motor India and Maruti Suzuki India.

Datsun Go to get airbags

Nissan India, parent company of budget brand Datsun, has confirmed that the Datsun Go hatchback will soon come with driver side airbag. The airbag equipped model will go into production starting next month at their Oragadam plant near Chennai.

Although this move comes just months after the Go failed the Global NCAP crash tests, the Japanese carmaker has played down rumours of the move only taking place because of the fallout from the car’s failed test. Nissan has said that the plan for an airbag feature was made right at the beginning of the Go project.

The driver side airbag on the Datsun Go is likely to be only on the top end T trim.

Back in November 2014, there was a huge furore after the Go scored a zero in the crash tests. In fact, official statements from the testing body, and the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), directed that the vehicle in its current state of construction be taken off the roads, and off production lines too. Even though the lack of airbags was a major issue, the testing authorities were more concerned with the car's structural rigidity.

So now, though the Datsun Go will benefit from the driver airbag, how far will it help the Go's overall safety credentials, needs to be seen.

Volvo V40, S60 T6, XC90 SUV coming this year

Volvo India has set aggressive sales targets for the year 2015. In order to achieve them, the Swedish carmaker has lined-up a slew of new model and variant launches for the Indian market.

First up, Volvo will bring the standard version of the V40 hatchback in our market. The Volvo V40 is expected to compete with the likes of the recently updated Mercedes A-Class and the 1-series facelift which is also expected to receive an update soon. The Volvo V40 hatchback will be powered by the firms D3 diesel engine that also does duty on the V40 Cross Country. The standard version of the Volvo V40 hatch is expected to be priced around Rs 26 lakh which will put it in direct competition with the Mercedes A-Class hatchback.

Since sales of petrol-powered cars are gaining momentum, Volvo will introduce the petrol-powered version of the V40 Cross Country for our market. The V40 Cross Country petrol will come with a 1.6-litre motor and will also command a sub-Rs 30 lakh pricing. Volvo will also launch the S60 in the T6 variant that will feature a powerful 304bhp four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine; it is expected to be priced at around Rs 42 lakh.

The carmaker will also bring the new XC90 SUV to India in September this year. It is expected to come in two trims and will be priced competitively. Volvo will start taking orders for the XC90 SUV in May 2015. All Volvo passenger vehicles sold in India are CBU units. Volvo also sells the S80 luxury sedan in India.

The Swedish carmaker has opened an all-new sales outlet in Mumbai today and a new service centre at Saki-Naka in Mumbai. Volvo will also open another sales outlet in South Mumbai later this year.

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