New babes at the Auto Expo

Visitors will get goggle eyed looking at the dazzling array of cars, bikes, commercial vehicles and auto components on display at Auto Expo 2012. Their legs will become weary tramping through all the halls located so far from each other. But they will not be disappointed for there will be something for almost everyone. Despite many fancy vehicles and new technologies the biggest interest will be for the cars and bikes that they can aspire to buy. Their stars in this segment will probably be:
The new Ford EcoSport that will be a baby SUV built on the Fiesta platform. It will probably be just under four meters in length with a 1200 cc diesel engine to qualify for a lower excise slab. One suspects that they might also offer a peppier engine for a few buyers who will want performance. These may be priced between `7 and 9 lakhs. Another affordable baby SUV that looks quite attractive is the new Rio. Although it is based on the well known Daihatsu Terios and assembled by India’s oldest auto company, Premier from China produced kits, buyers may have some reservations about service and spares.
In this small and affordable SUV segment there will also be the slightly bigger and more costly Renault Duster that may sport 1500 cc diesel and 1600 cc petrol engines. Renault’s Pulse, similar to the Nissan Micra will however be their biggest star. Their French rival Peugeot with Citroen will display their wares for the first time.
India’s leading car company, Maruti, will launch a Innova like Ertiga multi purpose vehicle and may offer a new small car to replace the ageing Maruti 800. Tata Motors may have a new Tata saloon, a face lifted Safari, and possibly a diesel powered Nano. To compete with the latter Bajaj might surprise us with their long awaited low cost car. Toyota will feature a face lifted Fortuner SUV with automatic gears while Chevrolet will showcase their Sail small saloon to replace the Aveo.
Mahindra & Mahindra will certainly flaunt their very successful XUV 500 plus a four seater Reva electric car and a mini Xylo. Hyundai may also showcase a compact SUV, a crossover UV, the Velostar, and possibly new models of the Elantra and Sonata saloons sporting their very successful fluidic design.
The design to ogle at will however be the brilliant new Mercedes A Classe small saloon that will compete with the Audi A3 small saloon. Not to be left out will be the sporty BMW Mini that is small, sporty but not cheap.

The writer is an automotive expert and the former editor of a national magazine

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