Nissan Micra Active Diesel spotted testing in Chennai

When Nissan launched the facelifted Micra hatchback last year, it decided to not discontinue the older model. Instead, the car was stripped inside and out, subjected to a subtle redesign and repositioned in a segment below as the Micra Active. Now that rebranding and repositioning of older models to make way for new has become the norm of the industry, that wasn't surprising. But, what was indeed surprising was the fact that Nissan chose to launch the Micra Active with only a petrol engine. It was quite an irony, given that diesel variants of the old Micra were popular and carrying them forward to the Active would have made perfect sense in our market that prefers diesel.

While speculations about the impending launch of the Micra Active diesel were rife in the media, there was no concrete proof to support the claim. That changes today, as we managed to nab the Micra Active diesel while on test. Spotted on the busy GST Road in Chennai, Nissan's familiar 'Pure Drive dCi' badge ensured that we didn't ignore this car as another regular Micra. While the one you see in these pictures with a 'test' registration plate is the XL variant, there was another XV variant following this car. Nissan didn't bother to hide the badges as neither the car nor the engine is new for the Indian market.

Since the Micra Active essentially shares the platform, sheet metal, mechanicals and most of the interiors with the original Micra, we expect the same 1.5-liter K9K diesel engine under the hood of the Micra Active. Power output may be reduced to differentiate the Micra Active from the facelifted Micra, but we aren't sure about this. With decent looks and loads of interior space being it's major trump-cards, the launch of diesel variants will make the Micra Active a more attractive proposition in the highly-competitive small car segment in India.

Currently, the petrol variants of the Micra Active are priced between INR 3.50 Lakhs and INR 4.79 Lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. In a segment above, the facelifted Micra is pegged between INR 4.99 Lakhs and INR 6.65 Lakhs for the petrol variants and INR 5.65 Lakhs to INR 7.29 Lakhs for the diesel variants. Again, all figures are ex-showroom Delhi. That gives Nissan a comfortable cushion in between to position the Micra Active diesel and we expect the car to be priced between INR 4.5 Lakhs and INR 5.5 Lakhs. At that price point, the Micra Active diesel will still be a value-for-money buy as the car is literally one size bigger than the existing competition.

Nissan has already lost potential customers and market share by not launching the diesel variants of the Micra Active last year. Will the company make up for it by launching the Micra Active diesel soon with an attractive price tag? Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Fiat Punto Adventure caught testing in Pune

Gorgeous styling, the popular 'Multijet' diesel engine and all the initial hype and hoopla not withstanding, the Fiat Punto could hardly make an impact in the Indian market. In a country obsessed with hatchbacks, Punto's sales figures continue to disappoint month after month. But, Fiat isn't ready to let the Punto go anytime soon. As part of its strategic plans for the Indian market, the Italian company was said to be working on a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that measured less than 4 meters in length. Then came reports that this model would be a pseudo-SUV based on the Punto.

Thanks to our reader Punit Sharma, we now have proof that Fiat is indeed working on a pseudo-SUV for India based on the Punto. Caught testing in the outskirts of Pune where Fiat's factory is located, this Punto was partially camouflaged at the rear. The front and the sides are left uncamouflaged, making us believe that this new variant will have no or minimal changes in those areas. Changes seem to be aplenty in the rear though, with the most significant being the presence of spare tire in the tailgate. An all-new bumper with a swing-arm to accommodate the tire is also expected to be a part of the list of changes. As evident from the taillights that are similar to the current Punto, the eagerly-awaited 'Evo' facelift seems to have evaded India yet again.

Responding to an emerging fad in the Indian market for pseudo-SUVs that saw the launch of models like Skoda Fabia Scout and Volkswagen Polo Cross, this macho-looking hatchback is likely to be christened "Punto Adventure". Unlike the Adventure Station Wagon of the past that came with a host of rugged goodies to differentiate itself from the regular Siena Weekend, the Punto Adventure seems to be having nary a change elsewhere. The interiors, feature list and the engine and transmission options are expected to be carried over from the top-of-the-line variant of the existing Punto itself while the dimensions might change a bit depending on the positioning and orientation of the spare tire and the plastic cladding, if any.

Though the craze for Sport Utility Vehicles in India is at an all-time high, the Indian customers are intelligent enough to identify what's actually an SUV and what's not. In that pretext, is the addition of a spare tire mounted on a swing-arm in the rear bumper alone a compelling enough reason for Punto's fortunes to change? We do not think so but would be glad to accept if the market says so. By the way, can somebody from Fiat tell us where's the Punto Evo?

2014 Detroit - All-new Ford F150 makes a grand debut

America's favourite truck just reinvented itself. We just couldn't think of any other adjective to describe the F150, a big-seller in the F-Series range of trucks that has been the largest selling truck in USA for a whopping 37 years in a row and the country's largest selling vehicle for 32 years in a row. Not an easy feat that, we swear!

While the existing model is still in peak form, Ford debuted the all-new F150 at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this week. Based on the Atlas Concept that made waves on the show-floor last year, the new F150 is attractive and macho. A huge radiator grille with three horizontal slats sets the tone up front. Flanking the grille on either sides are the unique C-shaped LED headlights that are matched in shape and size by the LED taillights. The flared wheel arches and the small, upward kink in the front doors keep things interesting in profile while the metallic strip that runs between the taillights at the rear looks flashy.

On top of a fully-boxed ladder frame made of high-strength steel, Ford has used high-strength, military-grade aluminium alloys throughout the body of the new F150. Though the lightweight metal is already used extensively by luxury brands in their high-end cars, this is probably the first application of aluminium in trucks that are expected to be rugged and abuse-friendly. The result of this is that the new F150 is 700 pounds lighter which helps it tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker, stop shorter and sip lesser fuel while doing all these. A 3.5-liter V6 engine and 5.0-liter V8 engine are part of the power options for the new F150 as are two EcoBoost engines with displacements of 2.7 liters and 3.5 liters.

In keeping with the nature of the truck, the interiors are big, bold, practical and loaded with features. A host of segment-first features like a 360-degree camera view, integrated loading ramps, Trailer Hitch Assist system, LED lights, remote tailgate and a smart trailer tow module makes the new Ford F150 a segment benchmark. These features join the famous SYNC infotainment system with MyFord Touch and other safety and driver assistance systems that even include inflatable seat-belts with tubular airbags in the second row.

Despite being the last full year of production, 2013 was one of the best years in recent history for the Ford F-Series trucks. Let's not forget that next generation models of both Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra made their debut last year but the combined sales of both those models still fell short of the F-Series. The introduction of the new F150 in such a situation means that the competition should prepare themselves for a massacre.

2014 Detroit - Kia stuns with the GT4 Stinger Concept

Affordable, rear wheel drive sports cars are becoming a rare breed these days, thanks to the widespread fetish on economy and efficiency. Kia wants to change that and, if the GT4 Stinger Concept that debuted at the recently-concluded 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit is any indication, we are mighty impressed.

If we are asked to pick one automotive brand that completely reinvented itself over the last few years, our unanimous choice would be Kia. There might be a few eyebrows raised out there, but Kia just stole the show and bowled us over of late with it's stunning new design language.

The GT4 Stinger Concept is no exception. The car sits low and wide, with the latest iteration of Kia's signature grille hogging the limelight up front. Flanking it on either sides are vertical LED headlamps and air vents for cooling the brakes. In profile, the muscular fenders that protrude on top of chunky wheel arches, the transparent A-pillars with slots cut out in the sheet metal and the floating roof creates a lasting impression. The twin, circular exhaust pipes and the LED taillights that glow from inside a glossy black panel stand out at the rear. The interiors are minimalist and functional, but there is very little chance that this cabin will be carried over, even if the GT4 Stinger makes it to production.

A tuned version of Kia's 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injected four-cylinder engine (T-GDI) resides under the hood, putting out 315 horsepower. A 6-speed manual transmission transmits all this power to the ground through the rear wheels. Further highlighting the performance credentials are the Pirelli P-Zero tires, 20-inch aluminium wheels with carbon fiber inserts and Brembo brakes.

Though Kia says that this concept isn't headed to production, our experience with cars like the Soul before make us secretly wish that the GT4 Stinger does make it production with a design that's not far off from this stunning concept. Kia has surprised us a lot of late and we hope that trend continues with this affordable, rear wheel drive sports car.

Indian Motorcycle range is now available in India

The premium motorcycle segment in India is in the midst of an incredible growth phase and global brands are rushing to be a part of this growth. The latest to join the bandwagon is Indian Motorcycles, the more-than-a-century-old American manufacturer that is in no way related to India apart from its name. Now owned by Polaris Industries that is popular for its range of All Terrain Vehicles (ATV), the entry of Indian into the Indian market proves that the industry is bullish on the prospects of premium motorcycles here.

Indian’s model range in India consists of three motorcycles. Priced at INR 26.5 Lakhs ex-showroom Delhi, the Chief Classic is the most affordable of the lot, if we can say so. The Chief Vintage comes in next at INR 29.5 Lakhs, followed by the range-topping Chieftain at INR 33 Lakhs. Well, that’s a lot of money for sure, a part of which is due to the fact that these motorcycles are imported as Completely Built Units (CBU), attracting full duties and taxes.

But wait, all that money will get you what is probably the grandest thing with two wheels on earth. Oodles of chrome fittings, the flowing contours, those valenced fenders and the unique saddle bags are sure to create a lasting impression that would refuse to fade long after seeing these motorcycles. Built on the legendary history of 'Chief' motorcycles of the years gone by, the all-new Chief lineup unites true Indian style with today's most advanced bike-building technology. Powering all three models is the new Thunder Stroke 111 engine where the number denotes 111 cubic inches of displacement. Well, that's 1811 cc. Each of these motorcycles are equipped with keyless ignition, Antilock Braking System, cruise control and a classic, tank-mounted speedometer. While the Chief Vintage also has a removable windshield and leather saddle bags, the Chieftain adds a fairing, hard saddle bags and even speakers that can stream music from smart phones.

Positioned as the most premium offering in the emerging super-bike segment, Indian motorcycles are for those fortunate few who wouldn't mind spending millions for exclusivity. For the rest of us, let's keep our eyes wide open for an opportunity to relish the sight of this Indian from close quarters!