What's new, What's hot /// East of your border!

[AutoCrat]

Meant for the fair sex?

Impressive interior

Engine options

Bound for European markets

Image source

[jasroop81]

finally NISSAN is INDIA ready.with MICRA looking promising for NISSAN , all NISSAN has to do now is ramp up their dealer network from a paltry 6 currently to a more respectable no.and that shall start the cash registers to ring

[AutoCrat]

finally NISSAN is INDIA ready.with MICRA looking promising for NISSAN , all NISSAN has to do now is ramp up their dealer network from a paltry 6 currently to a more respectable no.and that shall start the cash registers to ring

That though is the real challenge. Setting up a manufacturing facility is one thing but expanding a dealer network in a country as complex as India is quite another, not to mention the task of understanding customer requirements which change from region to region and building a competent and flexible service delivery model is outright herculean. The reason why Maruti's ruling the roost.

[UsmanAnsari]

Micra looks impressive.. way better than the older one (y)

[nickatnite]

@AutoCrat

Thanx for posting more pics. The Micra will be a hit with women drivers, i'm sure. There are more of them on the road every day:(.

@jasroop81

I still haven't found time to drop by a TATA dealer and click a pic of the Nano. The ones i have posted earlier in this thread ain't upto snuff. Ford opened 200 dealerships in one day!. Nissan is going to open bids for dealerships too shortly.

@UsmanAnsari

Price of the base model Micra is expected to be in the RS3.5-4.0lac range. I spoke to a motorclub friend here who was at the inauguration and he said the interior space is phenomenal for the size of car.

Meanwhile, for those who didn't check out my 2010 New Delhi Auto Show thread, below are pics of the Fluence sedan and Koleos MPV which are slated for introduction in the Indian auto market late 2010 and will be made at the Chennai plant.

[UsmanAnsari]

i like the Fluence, somewhat a Peugeot type styling but looks good! what about the specs?

[nickatnite]

[nickatnite]

i like the Fluence, somewhat a Peugeot type styling but looks good! what about the specs?

I was told the Indian Fluence will get the 1.6liter 110bhp engine and also some diesel variants too. The engine capacity will be similar to Maruti's SX4 and compete in the same price bracket. Renault is looking to be a volume player in this market, in respective segments and they'r clearly aiming their strategy towards that goal.

Here's another pic

[nickatnite]

[nickatnite]

[nickatnite]

[nickatnite]

[chinyoti]

@nick, i didnt noe Micra was a debut for Nissan in India. but belive it or not as they know small cars are market leaders there they made a bold step to start up with small cars creating competition unlike wat Nissan and VW did in Pakistan nd died before many people came to know about them

altho Nissan survives because of the huge Truck network

[nickatnite]

@nick, i didnt noe Micra was a debut for Nissan in India. but belive it or not as they know small cars are market leaders there they made a bold step to start up with small cars creating competition unlike wat Nissan and VW did in Pakistan nd died before many people came to know about them

altho Nissan survives because of the huge Truck network

This is a debut for Nissan in the small car segment which is a volume market and the establishment of a manufacturing facility to also serve as an export base. Signficant. Nissan has been coasting for a while in the luxury and utility segments in the Indian market upto now.

Scenes from my late evening commute in Chennai today ranged from the normal to tight to bumper kissing to pure mayhem by the time i neared home!. For your amusement only...

[AutoCrat]

I was told the Indian Fluence will get the 1.6liter 110bhp engine and also some diesel variants too. The engine capacity will be similar to Maruti's SX4 and compete in the same price bracket. Renault is looking to be a volume player in this market, in respective segments and they'r clearly aiming their strategy towards that goal.

Here's another pic

The Fluence seems to be a bigger car than the likes of SX4, Linea and almost in the Cruze, Laura, Civic space although the engine options don't suggest the same. My guess is that it would be positioned in the upper C segment to compete with the City and the upcoming Polo sedan. Its time the overpriced and over hyped City was given a good shakeup. But its gonna be difficult to dethrone that segment leader given the blind reputation Honda enjoys with the Indian middle class. Perhaps the diesel mills might just do the trick but lets see.

Personally I would like to see the Renault Espace on Indian roads rubbing shoulders with Toyota Innova (enjoying virtual monopoly at the moment if not for Mahindra Xylo though its a different story) and Tata Aria. VW can bring in the Sharan.

Photo source

[nickatnite]

The Fluence seems to be a bigger car than the likes of SX4, Linea and almost in the Cruze, Laura, Civic space although the engine options don't suggest the same. My guess is that it would be positioned in the upper C segment to compete with the City and the upcoming Polo sedan. Its time the overpriced and over hyped City was given a good shakeup. But its gonna be difficult to dethrone that segment leader given the blind reputation Honda enjoys with the Indian middle class. Perhaps the diesel mills might just do the trick but lets see.

Personally I would like to see the Renault Espace on Indian roads rubbing shoulders with Toyota Innova (enjoying virtual monopoly at the moment if not for Mahindra Xylo though its a different story) and Tata Aria. VW can bring in the Sharan.

It's time Honda was brought down a bit, i agree. The Fluence is a longer car than the SX4 maybe because of it's lower frame but interior dimensions are the same.If the pricing is right, this car stands a chance of surviving 'cause it's French. Both the US and Indian auto markets have not got over the overpriced and faulty French cars of the 80's and 90's!.That's the reason why despite Mahindra involvement, the Logan doesn't find many buyers beyond taxi and rental car fleets.

The Optra is a good car but the more expensive Cruze has struck a chord with buyers. One can never really make predictions in the auto business.

[nickatnite]

I was back at the Ford dealer today near me by chance as a friend booked a Fiesta sedan and invited me over. There were lots of Figos covering the entire range of colors except for black and dark blue. Acc. to this particular dealer they are sold out for their March allotment of Figos and bookings taken now will be delivered after 20April. The Figo seems to be an instant hit with the middle class car buyer, who is the main driver of the market here!.

Below is the top of the line petrol Figo ZXi model with Titanium package(ABS with EBD/Airbags) and factory fitted alloys listing at RS5.06lacs on the road, ex-Chennai!.In the 3rd pic is a diesel test car. Obviously more interest in the petrol version as both petrol test cars were missing!.

[nickatnite]

White is my obvious choice. A set of alloys , some tint and one is good to go with this car!.

[nickatnite]

One more color. Coming up later in the week, test drive review of the VW POLO and various colors(looks cool in yellow) a sneak peek at the TATA ARIA MPV and lots more crazy stuff. Later.....

[AutoCrat]

Ford really nailed it with the Figo pricing. Now even the Polo will find it hard to justify its case but IMHO I do agree German toys come at a premium.

Now with the latest gossip that Micra will follow suit in the same pricing bracket as that of the Figo, Maruti is bound to blink for the first time ever.

@Nick Any inside info on the release date of Aria? I am eager to see a first drive report.