| Audi Audi's Indian strategy is to slowly introduce Indian assembled cars. Now, after the A6, the new A4 is next on the cards. Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show three months ago, the company will showcase it for the first time in India at the Auto Expo. |
| The new A4 will arrive with a turbocharged petrol 2000cc and a pressure-injection 2000cc diesel engine, with the first cars expected to roll out of Aurangabad in May. The other highlight will be their 2007 Le Mans winning R10 TDI, and Audi hopes to bring down one of their star drivers during the unveiling. |
| BMW The propeller-badged German brand has had an impressive first year in India and wants to round it off with a bang at the Auto Expo. |
| The company will showcase the new M3 coupe, and the 414 bhp V8 powerhouse will be centre stage. BMW also plans to bring in the 3 Series coupe and convertibles into India, so expect them to be present as well. |
| Apart from the rest of the current lineup on sale, expect BMW to sneak in the new Mini and probably the Mini Clubman as well, as it evaluates the car for an Indian launch in 2009. |
| DaimlerChrysler India DaimlerChrysler India is ready for a name change and will soon be re-christened Mercedes Benz India. |
| But that's just the beginning, with the new C-Class ready for launch. The Indian version of the C-Class will have the same capacity engines as the outgoing C, except that the new cars now sport higher states of tune. |
| The C200K will have over 175 bhp, with the C220 CDI making close to 170 bhp and a phenomenal 40 kgm of torque. The other highlights will be their current India range of the E, S and ML class as well as the SLK and even the CLS or CL sports coupes. |
| GM GM's best year in India will be backed by two stars at the Expo. One will be the new Captiva SUV and we expect the next new small car, the Beat concept, to also be present at the stall. |
| The Captiva is GM's luxury SUV and features the diesel engine from the Optra Magnum, but with variable turbocharging and 150 bhp. The fully-loaded SUV is expected to take on the likes of the Honda CR-V. |
| The Beat, on the other hand, is a concept that has been confirmed by GM for worldwide manufacture. The hatchback will be positioned between the Spark and Aveo U-VA and the first roll-out is expected by the end of 2008 from GM's new plant at Pune. |
| Hyundai Hyundai's much-awaited SUV, the Santa Fe, will finally take centre stage at this Auto Expo. Just like its younger sibling, the Tucson, the Santa Fe looks soft, yet rugged. It will be powered by a 242 bhp V6 engine that produces 22 kgm of torque. |
| More on the prices at the launch. Hyundai's latest hatchback, the i10, will also be there with its new engine variant and if all goes well we're hoping Hyundai will plonk in a quick 75 bhp, 1100cc, variable turbocharged diesel powerhouse into this hatch as well. |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Mahindra are a step closer to launching their new MUV and we're saying that because they've already put in a de-tuned version of the engine in the Scorpio mHawk. Rumoured to be called the Ingenio, this car will definitely be up on display at the show. |
| M&M have said that this car will be in the Scorpio price bracket, but is meant for large families rather than those who want an SUV or an adventure vehicle. |
| More importantly, they have said that they will take on the Japanese giants and their Innova head on. From whatever we've seen of the car in spy pics, the Ingenio is quite a handsome car; we just hope they find a better name. |
| Maruti Suzuki While Tata have been furiously at work putting together their One Lakh car, the largest car manufacturer in the country have been close on their heels. |
| Although the Auto Expo hasn't been one of the hottest locations for manufacturers to unveil all new cars, Suzuki have deliberately chosen the 9th Auto Expo to unveil their latest small car concept, the A-Star. |
| The A-star is a car that is designed for world markets and will be produced in India later in 2008, and it is slated to be the Alto replacement in India. Another car that Suzuki have been mulling is the Swift sedan. And if there's one place you're going to see it, it's going to be the Suzuki pavilion at the Expo. |
| Skoda Yes, we know you've been hearing about this car ad nauseum but it's finally here. Skoda is slated to throw their hatchback, the Fabia, into the world of Swifts, Getz' and U-VAs. |
| The Fabia has a plethora of engine options abroad, but the ones likely to make it to India are the 70 bhp, 1200cc petrol engine and the 68 bhp, 1422cc Tdi diesel. The Fabia will be sold at a premium over the other hatchbacks in the country, to keep it a niche product. |
| Tata-Fiat The centre of attraction at Pragati Maidan will be the Tata pavilion, where their much anticipated, almost-production-ready 'One Lakh' concept car will be shown. The grand unveiling of the people's car will take place on January 10th, 2008. |
| That aside, upgrades to the Indica (the picshave been doing the rounds), the Indigo and the Sumo will also have the wraps taken off them. From the Tata-Fiat venture, Fiat's big small car, the Grande Punto (with the Swift, Getz and U-VA as competitors) will be on display for the Indian masses. |
| But the more important car, the mid-sized Linea that will take on the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna and the Chevy Aveo when it is launched in India next year, will occupy centre stage there. |
| Volkswagen A Dakar winning SUV will stand imposingly at the Volkswagen stall at the auto expo. The Touareg, VW's luxurious yet ultra capable SUV, will be Volkswagen's second offering for India and will go on sale in 2008. |
| In Volkswagen's maiden display at the Auto Expo, they're pulling out all the stops to show their finest - in their small car concept, the Up! VWs's flagship model, the Passat, that is already on sale in India, and their future launch, the Jetta, will also be on display. |
| Bajaj With the recent purchase of an 18.5 per cent stake in KTM, Bajaj will have bits of the bright orange hue to brighten up their stall. Funky KTM official merchandise will also be on display. |
| Bajaj have said that they will show two new products of their own. One is rumoured to be a 300- or 400cc motorcycle that will be their next platform motorcycle beyond the 220. |
| With the scooter market growing, we think the second Bajaj that will be on display could be a scooter. Also, remember the Blade that Bajaj showed last time around? It's up for launch and might be the product that will actually hit showrooms after the Expo. |
| Hero Honda Tight-lipped as ever, Hero Honda said that the only thing they're 'allowed' to say on the Auto Expo stall is that the full range of refreshed products will be on display. What could they be hiding up their sleeves, then? |
| Honda Honda, being Honda, haven't indicated what their plans are. But we speculate that they will display a product to indicate the direction they are going to take in the coming year. A premium segment motorcycle is also in the offing, so hope to see one. Honda has also spoken of wanting to take a more youthful, aggressive product line in the near future. |
| Royal Enfield Although Royal Enfield haven't had too much presence at the Auto Expo, we reckon they're going to be there this time around with a motorcycle that will showcase their unit gearbox engine as well as their 500cc fuel-injected AVL engine. Thumper delight, no? |
| Suzuki Just like Honda, Suzuki are tight-lipped about their plans for the Expo. However, expect the new Suzuki GSX-R1300 Hayabusa and the GSX-R1000 that Suzuki is reportedly likely to launch mid next year in India. |
| Also, rumours of Suzuki's 150cc motorcycle are doing the rounds. What remains to be seen is if they actually launch it at the Expo, or just have it on display. |
| TVS The south-Indian two-wheeler manufacturer is known for its out-of-the-box concepts and this year too it will have a green and eco-friendly concept as its centrepiece. |
| TVS will also showcase its 125cc Flame, the 160cc fuel-injected Apache RTR and the Teenz EZ electric scooter. |
| Yamaha Yamaha's stand will, obviously, feature the YZF-R1 and the MT-01 that have already gone on sale. But the big star will be their 150cc or 165cc premium segment contender. This motorcycle is to be Yamaha India's aggressive new face. |
| Rumours are flying thick and fast and speak of a faired motorcycle, proper liquid cooling, and yes, higher power than its peers. And we might get lucky, because a little birdie told us five-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi may make it to the Yamaha stall in Delhi. Fingers crossed then. |
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