Mahindra Quanto

We first broke the news of the ‘mini-Xylo’ (code: U203) on our website on June 3, 2010, and it’s been no secret Mahindra has been developing its own sub 4-metre car, one that has finally taken shape as this, the Quanto. The case for chopping the Xylo’s length was to qualify the Quanto as a small car and, correspondingly, a lower 12 percent rate of excise duty. The result is Mahindra’s first compact SUV that’s set to expand the segment the Premier Rio originally created.
From the front there’s little to distinguish the Quanto from the facelifted Xylo. The ‘V’ on the bonnet is more defined, and there’s a new lip above the toothed grille, but this apart the two cars are near identical upto the rear doors. Where the Quanto looks totally different is from the back. The Xylo’s large rear windows and sizeable rear bumper have been replaced by a smaller quarter glass and minimal overhang aft of the rear wheels. The Quanto also gets different D-pillars, wraparound tail lamps and comes with its spare wheel mounted on the side-opening tail-gate, which goes with its SUV character. The tail however is quite truncated this gives the Quanto slightly gawky proportions that are further accentuated by small 15-inch wheels. However, there are good reasons for this, which you discover when you step inside.
for more deatails go to autocarindia.com

Duster vs Scorpio

duster-vs-scorpio for more details go to autocarindia.com

What They Have Got !

Hyundai

 

Hyundai showcased its MPV concept, the Hexa Space (code-named HND-7), at the Expo. This 4.3-metre car is built on a 2750mm wheelbase and propulsion comes from a 1200cc turbocharged Kappa petrol motor. Hyundai also revealed the latest-gen Sonata executive saloon at the Expo. It is powered by a 198bhp, 2.4-litre petrol engine with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. The Korean carmaker also showcased its new Elantra, which will take on the likes of the Honda Civic, Skoda Laura and Volkswagen Jetta, as well as the funky Veloster 2+2 coupe.

 

 

Jaguar Land Rover

 

Tata-owned JLR displayed a slew of its cars and concepts at the expo. Production cars included the face-lifted XF, the XJ and Jaguar’s most powerful production car yet, the wild 542bhp XKR-S. However, the pair of Jaguar concept cars, the C-X75 and the C-X16, was what made heads turn at the stall. Land Rover showed two DC-100 concept SUVs, one of which came with a stunning white roof that contrasted with the bright red lower half of the car, while the other had no roof at all.

 

 

Mahindra

 

The Auto Expo served as the launchpad for the Ssangyong brand in India. Taking centre-stand on the expansive Mahindra stand, the Ssangyong display included the soon-to-be-launched Rexton SUV, the stylish XIV-1 Concept, Actyon Sports dual-cab pick-up and a full-electric version of the Korando. Brand Mahindra had the two Reva electric cars on display, an electric Verito and of course, one of this year’s big stars, the XUV500.

 

 

Maruti

 

Maruti unveiled the XA Alpha compact SUV concept at the Auto Expo. A car that could be built on the new Swift platform, the Alpha looks every bit the compact SUV and with overall length at 4000mm, it is eligible for the lower rate of excise duty for small cars. Maruti will be offering the mini-SUV with its range of K-Series petrol engines and the 1.3-litre DDIS diesel engine. The eagerly anticipated Innova fighter, the Ertiga, is also on display. This seven-seater is also the launchpad for Maruti’s latest K-series petrol engine, the 1.4-litre K14.

 

 

Mercedes-Benz

 

Mercedes-Benz displayed a combination of concept, road and racing cars at the Auto Expo. Among the production models on display were the SLS AMG roadster supercar, the new, third-generation M-class and a customised S600 Pullman Guard armoured limousine. The star of the show however was the concept A-class - a hatchback that previews Merc’s forthcoming design direction for its family of MFA transverse-engined front-wheel drive cars. However, the first car off this platform to be launched in India will be the all-new B-class mini-MPV.

 

 

Nissan

 

Nissan unveiled the seven-seater Evalia MPV at the Auto Expo. Built on Nissan’s B-platform, this is the car we previously knew as the NV200. Powering the Evalia will be the 1.5-litre dCi turbo-diesel engine from the Sunny diesel. Production will start in the second half of 2012. Nissan is also showcasing its pioneering electric car, the Leaf and its powerful supercar the GT-R at the Auto Expo.

  

Renault

 

Renault unveiled the Duster midsize crossover at the Expo. It shares its platform with the Logan, so as you can imagine it’s not an all-out off-roader and will in fact be sold only with two-wheel drive in India. Renault has also launched its Micra-based hatch, the Pulse, at the Auto Expo.

 

 

Royal Enfield

 

Royal Enfield has launched its eagerly anticipated Thunderbird 500 at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi. The company is targeting touring enthusiasts with this cruiser. The bike gets distinctive ‘black’ styling and it is powered by a 500cc Unit Construction Engine (UCE) that makes 27.2bhp. Apart from the bikes on display, the Enfield stall includes biker apparel and riding accessories as well.

 

 

Skoda

 

Although no new models or variants were launched, the Fabia Monte Carlo and the RS 2000 concept did garner a lot of attention. The Monte Carlo Fabia is a tribute to 100 years of the Monte Carlo rally and 110 years of Skoda in motorsport. The company’s recent success in the S2000 rally series prompted Skoda to make a celebratory concept car, the RS 2000. Also on display at the Skoda stand are the company’s new Rapid saloon and Laura RS.

  by autocar

Mahindra unveils REVA NXR

The NXR will be offered with three battery options – small, medium and large – to cater to a variety of driving ranges.

1
photo

Jan 6, 2012

Mahindra showcased the production ready prototype of the NXR electric vehicle at the expo. The REVAi successor looks much more appealing and will have more variants too.
The badges of the production version have changed from the large REVA logo on the front grille to the Mahindra logo and the NXR logo with four leaves is used in the rear. The rest of the vehicle remains unchanged. The NXR uses parts from the Mahindra parts bin to keep costs in check. Despite this, making the NXR more appealing has made it a little more expensive. The company expects infrastructure support from the government to source, distribute and charge a range of electric vehicles and subsidy for its EV.
The NXR will be offered with three battery options – small, medium and large – to cater to a variety of driving ranges. There will be two kinds of batteries – lithium ion and lead acid but Mahindra will focus more on lithium ion variants.
Engineers responsible for the NXR’s development have also worked on the Verito electric vehicle. The conventional engine has been swapped with a 29KW (39.4bhp) electric motor. The company claims the Verito Electric has a range of 100km on full charge and a top speed of 86k

Mahindra XUV500 vs Ford Endeavour

Think America and there are a few things that come to mind – big juicy burgers, stars and stripes, Led Zeppelin, hot dogs and massive gas guzzling trucks. And that last part of America is what has made its way into India in the form of the Ford Endeavour. The Endeavour is everything a SUV has to be. It is big on size and attitude, menacing to look at and built on a solid ladder frame chassis. Big old school indeed.
In terms of styling ,the Endeavour and XUV are as different as Lady Gaga and Mother Teresa. One employs a mindnumbing number of flowing lines and has spent long periods of time on the drawing board while the other seems to have been designed using just a pencil and a ruler. In a sense both cars are supposed to cater to different audiences – young and not so young. In terms of road presence, the Endeavour wins, no questions asked. The sheer size of the car is enough to make grown men go weak in the knees. But what the XUV does better than the Endeavour is turning heads. With its (some say) radical design and bright colour (ours was Tuscan Red) the XUV does not leave a single eye uncaught. Both, then, have their own pros and cons.
Under the Endeavour’s hood lies a noisy 2.5-litre diesel power plant that makes 143PS of power and 330Nm of torque. And when I say noisy, I don’t mean just outside. The engine transmits almost as much noise inside as it does outside. So in terms of refinement, the Endeavour loses out to its newer born rival. But then again, some might say that in this crude nature of the Endeavour lies its charm. Well, everybody’s entitled to their opinions, aren’t they? As far as performance numbers go, the XUV beats the Endeavour by 2.5seconds with the Ford taking in 15.3seconds to 100kmph dash while the Endeavour runs out of breath at 145kmph (to the XUV’s 183kmph). The XUV also outshines the Endeavour in braking performance, with it coming to a halt from 100kmph in 49.37m which is 7m less than the Endeavour’s 56.37m. Both get ABS, the XUV also adds ESP.
The surprising thing about the Ford is that inside the Endeavour does not seem as big as it seems from the outside. Quite possibly because of the relatively small steering wheel and the not so tall seating position. The interiors are a very plain affair with only a 6 CD changer and quite literally nothing else. This SUV is not that hard to wheel around in traffic if you are okay with doing three-point turns at every intersection.