Good Motoring
New cars on the block
H. Kishie Singh 

The Ambassador’s longevity is legendary. Now it goes one step forward by going backwards ! There is an excise benefit on cars that are less than four metres long, so the rear boot has been chopped. The rear has been designed to look like the Ambassador of the 1950s. It will have a 1.5-litre diesel engine which has been perked up to give better performance and meet the latest emission norms. A CNG engine will also be an option. Little else is known about the car but then there is little else to know.

It should be available early 2012 for less than Rs 5 lakh. Oh yes, a pick-up version is already on the roads. The Swift Dzire has also got a rear-end chop to make it under four metres in length. It makes it look better than the current Dzire with the shorter length but reduces the capacity of the boot. The two engines are 1.200cc petrol and 1.300cc diesel, the same as the Swift.  This will be available early 2012 for Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.

The Ambassador in its new avatar next year will be geared to met the latest emission norms and will have the option of a CNG engine Photo by the writer

Toyota has finally decided to replace the long in the tooth Camry. It is a Lexus look alike and this should endear it to prospective buyers. Under the bonnet there should be a 2.5 litre (Variable Valve Timings) VVT-I petrol engine pumping out 167 b.h.p. with 23 kgm of torque. The gear box will have a choice of a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. Not much to add to the Toyota’s reputation of being reliable with low running costs and a luxurious interior. The new Camry could be assembled in India from CKD (completely knocked down) bits. The price will be about Rs 20 lakh. To be launched at the Auto Expo in January.

The Skoda also has a new offering. The name is unknown but it is identified as the SK 251. However, the SK 251 borrows heavily from the VW Vento. The major difference that sets it apart from the Vento are the bumpers, both fore and aft. But the front end is undoutedly from the Fabia. Very distinctive and good looking. The engines, petrol and diesel are both 1.600 cc and are from the Vento. What could be a pleasant surprise is that the diesel could have an automatic transmission. The price is expected to be between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Expect it any day.

Honda will bring out a new Civic in mid-2012. As always with Honda, the cars are of a top-notch quality engine and plush interiors. The engine, 1800 cc as usual, will be a (Single Overhead Cam) SOHC – Honda does not believe in DOHC (Double Overhead Cam), which has been improved and refined. That means better emission, performance and economy which has always been Honda’s strong point. The engine will be putting out 140 b.h.p. and 18 kgm of torque. A diesel engine? Not in the near future. The price will be about Rs 15 lakh.

One of the best offerings from Chevrolet was the Cruze. That was two years ago. To make sure the Cruze retains its market share, the new Cruze has had a face lift. The external features have been very subtly changed so that the Cruze does not lose its identity on the road. The 2000-cc engine which had a lot of grunt, the Z series common rail diesel engine has been upgraded to put out 163 b.h.p., 13 b.h.p more than the previous engine. The biggest change on the inside is the re-designed rear seat providing more head room. A thoughtful touch if it is to be used as a corporate car and Sahib sits in the rear. Available any day soon.

Audi has launched a Blitz Kreig with its ‘S’ series cars. The ‘A’ series have established themselves as top of the line cars alongwith the ‘Q’ series. Now the S 4, S 5, S 6 , S 7 and S 8 will all be available in India, starting early next year. The star of the show is the S 6 which was launched at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show. It has a 4 litre, twin turbo V-8 engine that pumps out 414 b.h.p. The same engine will do duty in the S 8 but with an output of 513 b.h.p. Audi excels in luxury and the S denotes sports. So expect a marriage made in Germany, sports to luxury. While all models are four-door Sedans, the S 5 is a two-door coupe. Putting out 335 b.h.p, it is the younger brother of Audit RS 5, a true blue-blooded sports car. Price: Rs 60, 70, 80 lakh. Hyundai has put on its boxing gloves. In the last couple of years, two of its models, the Elantra and Sonata failed to set the sales charts on fire, in spite of the fact that both had diesel engines.

The new Elantra is stylish and looks nothing like the boxy Elantra of yore. It is set to do battle with the Honda Civic. With clean-cut flowing lines the Elantra is a good looker from any angle. The crease lines on the side panels are a Hyundai trade mark. They make a good looking car gorgeous! With the low sloping bonnet it looks mean. The interior has a multimedia screen on the dash board, and a luxurious interior. Engines should include a 1.8 litre petrol worth 147 b.h.p. The diesel engine is also 1.8 litre. Price Rs 14 to Rs 15 lakh.

And then there is the Sonata. Possibly the best looking from the Hyundai stables till date. We know the i 10 and I 20 from Hyundai. The Sonata is the I 45. A big leap forward! Sleek slopping bonnet to the front bumper level. Crease lines along the side panels, a sharply raked windscreen, the car is a designer’s dream come alive.

It offers three engines. A 2.0 litre petrol – 162 b.h.p, a 2.4 litre petrol – 198 b.h.p and a 2.2 litre diesel – 194 b.h.p. It will be hard to find fault with the new Sonata. Prices range from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 18 lakh depending on what you buy. There is more to look foward to yet.

Happy Motoring !