CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THIS
New 200cc car arrives
By Farhan Sharif
KARACHI: A new 200cc full fibre body car with a hard top a pre-fitted compressed natural gas (CNG) engine has hit the local auto market.
The car, named Ashaan, has been imported from China, and its dealer expects that it would get a good response in the local market. This newly imported car is available at Rs 200,000, while the dealer said the prices can vary according to the upcoming conditions for the auto sector.
“It is a full-body car, with a CNG engine, and fulfils all the requirements of a lightweight family car,” said Farooq Usman, managing director of Mayfair Motors, authorised dealers of Ashaan vehicles in Pakistan. Mr Usman said his company has imported three such cars for the time being.
He also said that apart from these cars, auto rickshaws with CNG engines have also been imported from China and are available for sale.
“The earlier imported vehicles with comparative features, including low fuel cost, lacked the look of a car due to the soft-top option, which is accepted by the consumers in countries like China, but not in Pakistan where people prefer more privacy,” said Mr Usman.
He added that the new car is likely to attract customer due to its low duel cost and other attractive features.
Zubair Naqvi, a mechanical engineer, said the suspension and other essential mechanical features of this 200cc vehicle are close to the 800cc vehicles available in the market since its has complete springs, plus supporting levers suspension to keep the vehicle stable and provide strength according to local road conditions.
“It has a seating capacity for four persons, and would be a good option for replacing the auto rickshaws, which have a very low road safety, higher fuel cost, higher pollution, and a space for only two passengers,” he said.
The body designing of this light-weight vehicle is in line with the new trend for vehicles up to 1,000cc engine capacity emerging in the market. It has new features such as short front or engine compartment, high and wider windscreen for better view and sharp turning level for urban requirements.
Earlier a soft top petrol engine vehicle, a product of Yingang Company, China, with they name of Sporty, has been imported but it lacked the look of a proper car with a complete hard top body. The Sporty has a single cylinder engine, water-cooled, vertical overhead valve, and a four stoke gasoline engine. The vehicle has a soft top, made of canvas, while the middle and rear support of the canvas can be mounted to demounted according to the requirement. It is available in the market at the price of Rs 1,80,000.
This bread of the vehicles, known as mini cars, is expected to create a place in the consumption cautious customers. A local manufacture has already developed a similar completely locally manufactured car, Sitara, likely to be launched soon.
The locally made vehicle is likely to be offered by the manufacturers below Rs 1,00,000 and its price with taxes may reach to Rs 1,10,000 to Rs 1,20,000 for the buyers.