Delhi Auto Expo 2012: A gist of the important events

Auto Expo is rocking this season and it is just the third day of the seven day event. There is a lot more to happen in the following days, but until then keep yourself up to-date with all the hot and happening news straight from the Indian Auto Expo. 18 car manufacturers from across the globe have been vying to take part in one of the best Automobile Exhibition in the world, not to mention a couple of drop outs who chose not to participate in the Indian event like Fiat India, Premiere Auto and Mitsubishi.

While it is their loss altogether, there is again our Tata ‘s British subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover who opted to be a part of Indian Auto Expo over the Detroit Motor show due to clashing dates. Motorsports is being observed with increased interest of late which is more than evident from Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Motors who have each made something new to drill the point home.

A Mercedes-Benz AMG driving Academy and Etios Racing Trophy mark the advancement of journey of motorsports in India. Sports cars are added to serve the purpose where Toyota has displayed the sports concepts of Toyota Etios and Toyota Etios Liva with a 1.5 L and 1.2 L petrol engines powering the cars with increased performance as ideal for the car racing.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG sports car is also added to the league of sports cars in India with a unique looking form factor, side gills and a 6.3 L V8 engine to drive the car. Audi also added another feather to its cap with its accomplishement with a new sports car, the Audi R8 GT syper . The statement of the year is the new Avanti Sports car designed by a domestic designer Dilip Chhabria which is launched with a price tag of Rs 30 lakh and will go into production in no time at all.

The luxury car segment doesn’t want to miss a step who sees the Indian car market as a mountain of growth. BMW made a grand gesture bringing it its iconic brand Mini to India with Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman and a Mini Cooper Convertible.  Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV, Audi Q3, Audi Q7 with a powerful V12 engine and Audi A3 E-tron are the new additions in the premium car segment and there is a lot more to follow as the Auto Expo is still very much on.

The Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV)and Multi-Purpose Vehicles(MPV) were raining cats and dogs. Almost each car manufacturer seems eager to tap this segment. Right from the domestic car manufacturer Maruti India who brought the Maruti Ertiga MPV and the least we can say about the MPV is that it way surpassed the consumers’ expectations, though we cannot say the same about the Maruti’s new compact SUV concept, Maruti XA Alpha.

GM India has taken a big step to introduce an entry-level MPV with the Chevrolet Wuling CN-100 to make a foray in India car market after its spectacular track record in China. In the mean while General Motors India did not disappoint the Captiva and Tavera fans bringing in the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva and Chevrolet Tavera proving all the speculations on the versions to be just as true.

2012 is the time for SUV and MPV segment growth in India and Mahindra who is the leader in the segment has brought two new SUVs to the Auto Expo, the SsangYong Rexton for an unveil and SsangYong Korando for a display.

TKM (Toyota Kirloskar Motors) brought its larger than life image with the new Toyota Innova and new Toyota Fortuner with the promised changes leaving no scope for disappointment. Ford EcoSport compact SUV and Renault Duster - the rivalry is the air is worth capturing. The fight is worth watching going forward.

Sedans this season were as if they were outpouring. Peugeot Citroen made its foray back in India after a decade unveiling the Peugeot 508 sedan which is expected to be launched in two-three months down the line.

Sedans are evergreen choice of many and the new Toyota Camry and new Hyundai Sonata are not just true competitors within the same price bracket but each is so rich in features well-matched with its own share of beauty; it is certainly one difficult choice to make.

Hatchbacks and electric cars this season were as if showering from the sky like rain. The Renault Pulse and Chevrolet Sail in the B+ segment of the car market definitely have the potetinal to  show Maruti Swift its place, which however only time will tell us going forward. 

New Volkswagen Beetle in the premium hatchback segment is actually more of a rival to the latest entrant Mini Cooper and Cooper S hatchback in the country.
Few more additions to the genre of electric cars are clearly evident from the Mahindra Reva NXR and Mahindra Verito electric sedan.

Tata Manza hybrid sedan is displayed by Tata Motors unable to contain itself when Mahindra is growing in the segment in leaps and bounds. 2012 Auto Epxo, Delhi Auto Expo 2012, Auto Expo, new cars