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Spied – VW Up! hatchback’s headlight

by Paul Joseph July 4, 2011 Featured

JokeForBlog has posted images of what it claims is the headlamp of the VW Up! rumored to premiere in France on the 22nd of August. Judging by the style of headlamps shown here, we assume each one resembles VW Group cars SEAT, Skoda and the VW’s version of the Up! The Up! brand will give birth to a line of compact vehicles which should include a MPV. Its official debut could be at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Buyers shouldn’t be surprised to find the Polo’s 1.2-liter diesel engine providing motive force to the Up! backed by a five-speed manual transmission. If the images shown here are indeed accurate, then you can expect to see them on cars that closely resemble the VW Up! concept cars. The Up!/Lupo will be smaller than Polo in length, but the tallboy design brings with it the ease in ingress and egress. The build and quality, especially the interior outfitting is going to be a point of keen interest to us. Can Volkswagen produce an Etios with a quality of a Polo? Volkswagen India hasn’t confirmed the Lupo for India but sources in the company told Indian Autos Blog that rebadging Maruti products is out of question. We don’t know of another small car under Polo in the works ( VW India ruled out the Fox ), so we’re assuming this is what Volkswagen India mean when they say they are working on a car below Polo. This is what VW India’s spokesperson told me when I visited their plant last year – No, the Fox is not our small car. We’re discussing the “Up!” internally. We still don’t know whether it is going to be Up! or another small car. Our next step is certainly a car below the Polo. It will have attributes of bigger Volkswagens like the Jetta or the Passat. Don’t mistake me, we will not build a Nano. For safety and quality reasons, we’ll not build one. We’re looking at making a car a segment higher than the Nano. We’ll have the full details when VW is interested in sending it our way. [Source - Jokeforblog.blogspot.com]

Tagged as: india, indian, interior, polo, style

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Spied – RHD Ssangyong Korando C spied in Kandivali

by Paul Joseph June 20, 2011 Featured

Our reader Saahil Kapoor has spotted the RHD edition of the Ssangyong Korando C in a housing complex near Kandivali, Mumbai. Mahindra has not been tight lipped about the Ssangyong models slated for India – the Korando C you see here will join forces with the Rexton (spied in India too) to form the line-up to start with. They have ruled out the Chairman sedan citing positioning reasons. The Rexton will play the butch 7 seat SUV for large families while the Korando C is a crossover vehicle aimed at buyers who opt in for vehicles like Tata Aria, Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Captiva. Our hunch is that the W201 will sit right above the Scorpio followed by the Korando and topped off by the Rexton. Both Ssangyong cars will be assembled in Maharashtra (Nashik or Pune) from kits shipped from South Korea. The branding for India is another debate as these are not Mahindras by any stretch of the imagination. Mahindra is likely to leave the Ssangyong badges alone. They could add Mahindra lettering above the Ssangyong on the tailgate like they did with Logan. Saahil says he saw the Mahindra logo above the audio system, which is strange as manufacturers don’t use brands or nameplates apart from having one on the steering wheel. We’ve designed a Korando C with the Mahindra saw-tooth , which seems unlikely at this point. Ssangyong Korando C promotional video After seeing these images, Shoeb R Kalania, who spotted the Korando on the Eastern Expressway not very long ago, says this was the same vehicle he photographed. The Korando has good road presence and the style, executed by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro who is behind the Fiat Palio and Grande Punto, it looks nothing like any SUV on the road today. The new SUV is going to arrive from Pyungtaek, South Korea in the form of kits. Maharashtra will be the third assembly site as the Korando C is already being assembled in Moscow and Ukraine. A 2.0-liter turbodiesel paired to a 6-speed manual transmission is offered while an automatic they say is in the pipeline. Diesel will be the no-brainer for India, while automatic transmission, though not very popular, is crucial for broader appeal. Ssangyong Korando spyshots The Malaysian Korando (named Actyon) is sold in 6 color options. In India we think the gray should be used in marketing campaigns as it brings out the lines very well. The Korando C has kept the Korean production line very busy as the car is a hit in many overseas markets. The RHD Korando C has entered Australia. Poland, Russia and Belgium are other markets the factory makes cars for. One Korando is born every 150 seconds in a place which dramatized a war zone with a striking workforce not very long ago. After Mahindra acquired the company, things have sailed very smoothly for Ssangyong. How much would you pay for the charming Korando C?

Tagged as: audio, chairman, markets, style

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Finally Ferrari lands in India..

by Paul Joseph May 27, 2011 Featured

Italian sports car marquee Ferrari finally landed in India through official channel. As we reported earlier, Ferrari opened their Indian operations in Janpth, New Delhi. The Shreyans Group, a well known business group deals in luxury automotive products is the importer for the country. Ferrari is expected to open another showroom in  Mumbai by next year. Ferrari India’s current  product portfolio includes the California, 458 Italia, 599 GTB Fiorano and the latest Ferrari FF. Ferrari California is priced at Rs 2.2 crore, while the 458 Italia will cost Rs 2.56 crore and the 599GTB Fiorano, Rs 3.37 crore. Ferrari’s latest sensation the FF is priced  at  Rs 3.41 crore. Ferrari has a very ambitious plan for our market, they plan to sell 100 units in first year. If you are looking for more details about Ferrari’s Indian arrival go ahead for company press release. Ferrari officially debuts in India New Delhi , 26 May – Starting from today all the Ferrari enthusiasts and clients in India can count on the official presence of Ferrari in the country, 58th market of the Prancing Horse, as the first dealership in the heart of New Delhi opens its doors. The Grand Opening, dedicated to the local and international medias, was hosted by Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari Commercial and Marketing Director Enrico Galliera, and Ashish Chordia, Chairman of the Shreyans Group, the Ferrari importer for the country. The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, already in Montecarlo for next race, sent their greetings to the guests through a video message, looking forward to coming to India in October for the first Indian GP. The street facing the New Delhi location was panelled for the occasion with great images of the Ferrari past and present, to tell the story of the passion, the races and the style. The special preview for the medias was held in the over 500 square metres on two levels of the dealership, with the ground floor entirely dedicated to the range, and the personalization area to support the client to uniquely configure their new Ferrari. During the meeting with the press, Felisa said. “Our objective was to launch the Indian market in 2011 and it ‘s a pleasure to inaugurate this first dealership here today. We feel that this is the right moment, considering the dynamism of the country and its economy. Here in India you feel great enthusiasm and a strong connection to the Ferrari brand, which, even before officially entering India, had already around 50 clients in the country. Naturally the entire range will be available on this market, imported by the Shreyans Group, the partner we’ve chosen and who shares with us not just the desire to invest, but also the passion for Ferrari and its values.” The dealership carries the Ferrari Corporate Identity with elegant, timeless and authentic design. It is also sided by the official Ferrari Service, and their combination will guarantee a top level experience enhanced by the customer best in class service. Tonight an exclusive dinner will be dedicated to the Indian clients and enthusiast to celebrate the event. The Shreyans Group has played significant role in transforming luxury retail in India, distributing and retailing luxury products. From the inception of the business, the Shreyans management has had the very clear vision to offer the highest quality products and after sales service, providing customers with an unprecedented buying experience. Stay subscribed Subscribe to Wheelosphere In A Reader Subscribe to Wheelosphere by Email Related posts: Ferrari eyeing Indian market; Possible entry in 2011 Its official this time – Ferrari is looking at India… Shrayens Group to bring Ferraris to India As expected Ferraris are all set to roll on Indian… Maserati Quattroporte & Bentley Continental GT drives in tomorrow! Its luxury time this year! All the luxury car makers… Maserati arrives India! We yesterday informed you all that Maserati will be launching… Ferrari to enter India officially 26th May 2011 So finally a year after numerous rumors, assumptions and news…

Tagged as: business, country, india, indian, press, style, time

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