A few months back ICML (International Cars and Motor limited), has announced that they want to make a ‘World Class’ Sedan for the Indian masses, which would rival the Skoda Laura, Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze. Now Sonalika Motors is also planning to enter the SUV segment.
Earlier Sonalika Motors had shown an SUV concept called Inspire at the 2008 Delhi Auto Expo. Now the company will display a concept vehicle in the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo followed by a launch in late 2012. The proposed SUV will compete against XUV500, Safari Merlin, Force One and Mahindra Scorpio.
ICML is the passenger vehicle division of the Sonalika Motors, which sells the Rhino (Toyota Qualis look alike). The company had said it was going to develop a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car with Pininfarina, the famous Italian design house is rumored to design this new SUV and Sonalika would be developing this car mostly in house with some inputs from suspension tuning specialists, Lotus. It is expected to be priced in and around Rs 8-10 lakh.
A sum of about Rs 500 crores is set to be invested by the company in the passenger car segment now. After the launch of the SUV somewhere down by 2012, there would also be a passenger car segment which would be launched later on. This sedan would take on the likes of the Honda City , Vento and others and would be priced between Rs 8-10 lakhs. Initially, the company plans to roll out only a diesel engine. It would be the same Rover derived one with a capacity of 2.0 liters and varying power ranges from 120 Bhp to even 140 Bhp.
The company operates out of a manufacturing facility in Amb, Himachal Pradesh with a capacity to produce 24,000 units per annum.
Also see – Sonalika Group plans to launch a Rs. 15 lakh ‘World sedan’ by mid-2012
See more pictures of ICML Inspire Concept –
Image credit – Team-bhp
