Yearly Archives: 2011

2012 Mini Coupé

Adding to MINI’s extensive lineup, the MINI Coupé is the brand’s first two-seater. The most distinctive design feature of this MINI would be the ‘helmet roof’ painted in shades contrasting to the bodywork. The sharply raked A Pillars, wrap around glass areas and the design lines are characteristically MINI.

2012 Mini Coupé 2012 Mini Coupé

This two seater has extended loading capacity behind the seats, extremely flexible luggage area and a a large through-loading facility into the passenger compartment and finally a wide and extremely high-opening tailgate that makes loading easier. MINI UK even claims that this car  can take on a snowboard.

This car is also MINI’s first three box design. The stepped rear end and flat coupé silhouette add to its sporty image. The coupé is also 52 millimeters lower than the MINI.

The ‘helmet roof’ also has an integrated roof spoiler for optimized aerodynamic properties in addition to the rear spoiler that extends at 80 kph.  MINI John Cooper Works Coupé with John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit as standard.

2012 Mini Coupé

We’re sure we’ve never typed out something like this before, but MINI claims that oval recesses in the roof liner provide extra headroom for the driver and front passenger! I guess you do have to go to great lengths to keep passengers comfortable when the most important aspect of your car is that it is MINI.

2012 Mini Coupé Headlights2012 Mini Coupé Taillights2012 Mini Coupé Helmet Roof and Intergrated Spoiler2012 Mini Coupé Spoiler

Other design features as stated in the Press Release

Exclusive colour and materials concept; roof in contrasting colour as standard; new interpretation of the optional Sport stripes in the same contrasting colour on the bonnet, boot lid and rear apron, and in body colour on the roof; anthracite roof liner as standard; new upholstery variants, exterior mirror colours, trim strips and Colour Lines offer additional scope for customisation.

MINI has worked hard to retain the go-kart feeling that makes driving MINIs an absolute hoot. A chassis set-up, weight balance and body structure geared squarely work toward that goal. Electric Power Steering and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) as standard, DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) with EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control) optional (standard on MINI John Cooper Works Coupé). There are also innovative pedestrian protection systems and measures to enhance body rigidity shift the car’s weight balance slightly further forward, giving the front-wheel-drive MINI Coupé optimised traction. Agility and safety are boosted by increase in torsional rigidity achieved through additional strengthening elements.

Mini Coupé InteriorMini Coupé InteriorMini Coupé InteriorMini Coupé Interior

Hyundai Verna

The Indian auto industry has been transforming at a brisk pace for quite some time now. New and exciting cars, separate segments being made and redefined, it was all happening at too fast a pace. So much so that it was easy for a new customer to get lost while considering the number of choices.

Considering all the hue and cry manufacturers normally make about a launch whether it is ‘new’ or genuinely new, it wasn’t a surprise that people didn’t pay much attention when news came in some month’s back that Hyundai was going to bring out a new Verna. “Hyundai going in for a Verna upgrade, maybe just cosmetic. Yawn…” I had thought.

But when pictures began to trickle in of the Hyundai RB which was supposedly the new Verna, we were in for a shock. This was a Hyundai like no other. Gone was the Korean crudeness or the ‘inspirational’ designs which they were infamous for. This car was a genuine good looker. With flowing lines, curvaceous body and a European look more than anything else. Hyundai called it a part of their Fluidic Design Philosophy. How all of us were forced to sit up and take notice of this new Hyundai kid!

Alright, so Hyundai had not just prepared an upgrade to Verna but had built an all new gorgeous looking car instead. Yes, this is good news indeed but what is it that necessitates an analysis of this car, you might ask? Especially when there were similar new launches in this segment, the VW Vento, for example. This is where I believe Hyundai has made a move which might be one of the most intelligent yet boldest in Indian auto industry. Why? I am just getting to that.

You see unlike the VW Vento, or the Fiat Linea or Manza or any other car that has been manufactured in India for the past few decades, the Hyundai Verna made a very different entry. It came with four different engine options to choose from. Two each in pricey petrol and dormant diesel. And these engines are supposedly designed in such a way that the lower spec versions of 1.4 litres are meant for the economy conscious while the higher 1.6 litre engines are more for the performance greedy.

A look at the statistics of the engines and things become clearer.  The so called economy conscious 1.4’s are not just that. They have enough power output to match the VW Ventos and Fiat Lineas. Which means that the 1.6s are in a league of their own, licking at the feet of Jettas, Civics and Corollas, but at a much lower sticker price.

Hyundai Verna

Now look at the new Verna with its 4 new engine options in the perspective of the other cars which have one petrol or one diesel engine to offer and you begin to see the picture. Which is this-Hyundai was plugging every single gap in this segment and was trying to expand it to take a shot at the premium segment knowing very well that they had a car to try and achieve it.

This is the first time that a car manufacturer had attempted this sort of a technique in India. It is normal to see cars come with multiple options in developed countries which leave the consumer with multiple permutations and combinations of trims to choose from. But in India, such liberties were unknown of. If you liked the way a car looked, there is a very high possibility that it might not have the engine that you think it should have. But in the developed countries, manufacturers generally launch the car with multiple engine options and to top it, they also release sports or rally or RS versions that are for the performance minded.

Take the case of Ford Figo for example. I know of many people, including me, who just loved the way it looked. But when you consider the engine options it gives you, it is disappointing to say the least. This car tends to just one segment of people. People who like the car (and) like it even more because of the frugal diesel engine. For the other segment of people who like the car (and) want it to have some ‘go’ to match with the looks-nothing but disappointment.

Think in these lines and you understand the importance of the new Verna. It is a very gracious, BRAVE and intelligent move by Hyundai. They knew of the upcoming Ford Fiesta. They knew about the newly launched Vento. And of course, they would have very well known about the Honda City. And they launched a car which can take on all these cars with all the engine options they offer and better still, take a shot at the upper segment

I am sure Ford would have had to re-think about the pricing of the Fiesta after this car. And we are already seeing the decline of the City, once considered infallible in this segment. This sort of competition is not only healthy for the economy and the consumers, it also opens up new avenues for other car makers to try and test new waters, like bringing in various engine options on their cars to tend to a larger spectrum of people.

The new Verna is young and raring to go. It would be a battle to watch out for in the months to come. We at RiotEngine, wish it all the very best.

If the news that is doing the rounds is to be believed that is indeed the case.  Many reputed websites have said that the three cylinder engine with a turbocharger of the fixed geometry variety is good for that kind of mileage.  This engine is based in the same Multijet engine of Fiat’s with one cylinder chopped off.  Fiat may not be selling their cars in great numbers but most of the best selling diesel cars of India have the Multijet engine in their bonnet.  It is now the turn of the Beat.  If that mileage figure stands, Chevrolet have a killer on their hands.

The long anticipated and eagerly awaited launch of the new Swift model by Maruti Suzuki in India is delayed due to the two week strike by its workers at the Manesar plant that crippled operations considerably.  The waiting list on the existing models has grown as has the waiting period.  Maruti is now prioritising the clearing of existing bookings on existing models before it ventures to launch the new Swift.  Not that it matters.  The old Swift still sells like hot cakes.

LML which started life as Lohia Machines Limited in the mid 1980s with a scooter in collaboration with Piaggio named Vespa XE enjoyed a fair amount of success.  Later the company was taken over by the Singhanias and it became LML limited and launched 150cc scooters such as the NV, the Select and the Supremo etc.  LMLs fortunes nosedived in the late 1990s and the company was shut but it was revived a couple of years ago and now sells scooters only in the northern part of the country where there is still some demand for geared scooters.  LML has now launched a four stroke scooter in the Select range and has announced plans of exporting scooters and motorcycles and also regaining a pan India foot print.  LML made motorcycles such as the Adreno and Energy, Freedom and Graptor based on technical inputs from Korea’s Daelim Motorcycles.  When LML split with Piaggio it also retained the rights for a twist and go scooter of 125cc capacity which it never launched in India.  Now LML according to some websites is going to launch this product and some motorcycles as well.  Will it be another false start?  We have an open mind on that.

In the AGM held on the 17th of June, 2011 the shareholders of the Hero Honda Motors have approved the new name Hero MotoCorp for the company.  It is now well known that Honda has pulled out from the JV with Hero and therefore the company has been looking for a new identity.  Hero has entrusted the work of new brand and identity building to reputed consultants and it is just a matter of time before the company will announce the change of identity and name, now that it has the approval of the shareholders.

Today’s Times of India newspaper carries an advertisement by Piaggio asking for dealer applications for their Vespa brand of scooters which they have said is a way of life.  They have also asked interested parties to visit www.piaggio.co.in for further details.  So now we can be sure.  After a few decades the Vespa name will be back in India and this time with no Indian tie up.  The said advertisement features pictures of the Vespa 125cc scooter.

Max Biaggi on the Alitalia Aprilia finally broke the duck this year to win his and Aprilia’s first race this season.  This year has seen a bad start to Aprilia’s defence of the World Championship and it is only at the midway point that Biaggi and Aprilia have won their first race this season.  However, Biaggi is second in the points standing behind runaway leader Carlos Checa on the Althea Ducati.  Marco Melandri on the works Yamaha is third in the standings.  In the two races at Motorland Aragon Marco Melandri and Max Biaggi traded victories while Carlos Checa fell in the first race and made it to to the podium in third position.  The first race was won by Melandri when Biaggi made a mistake and Melandri overtook him.  The third position in the first race went to Biaggi’s team mate Leon Camier.  In the second race it was Melandri who made a mistake and enabled Biaggi to win.  Kawasaki had a relatively good day with Joan Lascorz finishing fifth in the second race.

The second offering of Renault’s for the Indian market is the Koleos soft roader SUV.  Renault has also plans of launching the Duster SUV developed in the Logan platform towards the end of 2012.  This means that there will be a gap of a year between the Koleos launch and the launch of the Duster.  Renault is positioning the Koleos as a premium SUV while the Duster will be a mass market SUV.  It is obvious that Renault is taking a top down approach which means that it will start of in the more expensive segments and later come down to the more inexpensive ones.  This it is doing to avoid the problems that Hyundai, Tata and Maruti have.  The three manufacturers are not seen as makers of premium products and all the products launched at the upper end of the market have bombed severely.  The Hyundai Sonata, Terracan and Tucson, the Maruti Grand Vitara, Kizashi and the Tata Aria have all not been well received.  So it seems Renault is learning not just from its own mistakes with the Logan but from the mistakes of others as well.

There has been a buzz about the diesel engined Chevrolet Beat being launched in the market.  The launch of the car has already been delayed and it was being said that the car would be launched by June.  However, the Car&Bike show on NDTV which as Siddharth Vinayak Patankar anchoring it has got hold of a diesel Beat for a drive.  The report presented by Mr. Patankar is very promising, saying that the Beat is quite driveable and quiet for a diesel engined car. He also has said that the likely launch is now in July rather than June.  With the gap between the prices of petrol and diesel stretching to around Rs. 30 diesel is becoming the engine and fuel of choice of people.  GM hopes to rake in volumes with the diesel Beat.