Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 Whats ? | Special Posts | Entertainment Star | Upcoming Cars | Upcoming Bikes

Bajaj to showcase ultra low cost car at 2012 Auto Expo!

Bajaj Auto, Nissan, Renault, Upcoming Cars | By Mohd Asrar | December 7, 2011 at 2:39 am |

Bajaj ultra low cost car

2012 Auto Expo is the platform where Bajaj Auto will pull the wraps off the Ultra Low Cost car. However, this is not for a launch as one would suspect. This step is to rate the Bajaj’s skill in small car development where apart from the consumers, Nissan and Renault will have to give a nod of approval to set the project in motion. Bajaj has been constantly striving to impress its partners and it is the latest version of the ULC that will make it to the Auto Expo next year. Bajaj apparently is all set with the new ULC in hand. So, a joint announcement from Nissan and Renault can be expected soon after the Auto Expo.

The deal between the Japanese car manufacturer, the French auto major and the Indian two-wheeler manufacturer went through in 2008, but without much progress so far. Bajaj Auto was to take care of the infrastructure and manufacturing meeting all the production requirements. Nissan on the other hand is supposed to take care of the marketing and the distribution needs for the ULC car sales. Only back in September Giles Normand, the vice-president of Nissan’s corporate division, who handles the ULC project with Bajaj had given an insight on the ongoing project.

He clearly mentioned that the project was neither off nor confirmed yet. The consumers will have to wait up till January 2012 for their joint decision. The basic criteria is the Bajaj ULC will have to live up to the standards that it is expected of. While nothing could be said about the partnership of the trio, Nissan, Renault and Bajaj Auto, the Renault-Nissan JV has reached the next level. A new hatchback Renault Pulse will also make it to the 2012 Auto Expo from Renault’s side which is a rebadged version of Nissan Micra. A new sedan based on the Nissan Sunny is also expected from Renault, though unsure of the timelines. Nissan on the other hand is all set to launch a new MPV NV 200 in India next year.

 

Also see - Renault’s small car for India


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India’s leading car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India is keen on reviving its falling market share in the small car sales segment in India which has been on a downward trail for the past couple of months. And the first step towards this will be the introduction of two sub-800cc small cars in the Indian market by 2013. The company has showcased three new models at the Delhi 2012 Auto Expo, where it will be analyzing based on consumers’ feedback and insights on design, technology and pricing, the Company will decide on any possibility of their introduction in India. The three cars that will be making it into the Indian scene are the Suzuki Palette SW, Solio and MR Wagon which is currently available in the Japanese market by Suzuki, its parent firm. These cars are powered by a small K series 660 CC MPFI Petrol engine coupled with a CVT automatic transmission, but will be positioned above the 800cc Maruti Suzuki Alto steering both the cars clear out of the Nano’s league in terms of pricing. Now the 660cc Suzuki engine is well-known for its staggering 32 kmpl mileage and Maruti believes that the ever rising petrol prices will definitely bring in demand for the Palette SW, Solio and MR Wagon. Although the size of the engine is smaller than the Alto’s, the new small cars will have greater interior space, thanks to the improved height, along with a better list of features to look forward to thereby explaining the higher price when compared to the Alto. “As the market gets more competitive, we have to gear up for the new dynamics. We are thus showing the best we can offer. The new models like the Kei cars and the SUV, MPV and MUV will prove to the world that we are future-ready. We need to get first-hand feedback for this,” Maruti Suzuki India, managing executive officer (marketing and sales), Mayank Pareek said before the Expo. The wide array of display vehicles demonstrates how Brand Maruti Suzuki integrates into the life of every Indian. The existing vehicle range has taken on new dynamic avatars to exhibit the versatility of usage of the Maruti Suzuki range.   Also see - 2012 Auto Expo – Maruti Suzuki unveils XA Alpha SUV concept 2012 Auto Expo – Maruti Suzuki A-Star Cabriolet convertible unveiled   Image Credit - Team-bhp