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Part-2 - Small Cars to be launched in 2012

This is the second part of the article that was published under the same name yesterday. Read the last part of the article tomorrow.

Ford Figo (Facelifted)

Ford plans to launch the revamped model of hatchback car, the Ford Figo. Though the original Kinetic Ford design has been retained, the car has been given a new look with slightly sharper headlamps and a more angular appearance though the changes are more defined in the rear side. The revamped car sports a more sleek appearance and a premium looking exterior. The new Figo has scoops for fog lamp and appears sharper and edgy. Ford has also introduced an entirely new variant of the EXi in petrol and diesel versions, taking up the number of variants offered by it to 10. The Ford Figo was launched in India in 2010.

Ford continues to offer both the 1.2 litre petrol and 1.4 liter diesel engine versions. Ford has priced the new car at Rs 3.7 lakhs for the base variant. The upgraded version has priced its high end Titanium variant with an additional Rs18,000.

Ford Fiesta Hatch (New)

Encouraged by the success of the Ford Figo hatchback on the Indian soil, Ford launched its Fiesta all new Sedan. Now buoyed at the success of these two models, Ford India has made elaborate plans to launch the hatchback version of the Fiesta in India. Very bullish on the Indian markets, the company has promised more than eight new models in the near future. The Fiesta hatchback will be positioned above the Figo, as a premium hatchback. The new car will feature the same Kinetic design and offers great driving and comfort features while being the most refined and stylish car in its class. The hatchback offers premium comforts including climate control and Bluetooth connectivity.

The new Fiesta Hatch is expected to be launched with 1.2 litre and 1.5 litre petrol options and a 1.5 litre diesel option. The car is expected to be priced very competitively and is expected to be very cost effective with low maintenance costs too.

The Hyundai Eon LPG (Facelift)

Hyundai launched its small car EON on 17th Nov 2011 in an affordable price range and plans to introduce an LPG variant to woo more buyers. The new car is expected to hit the markets in mid 2012. The new Hyundai EON is all set to impress, making the new car compatible for switching between petrol and LPG fuel options, since diesel technology is more expensive. Hyundai has taken up an aggressive initiative to revive its sagging market share which has dropped from 21% earlier to 18.3% currently and plans to launch 15 new models in India by 2017. The Hyundai EON LPG is expected to be priced in the range of Rs.2.5 lakhs to Rs. 3.8 lakhs approximately.

Hyundai plans to leverage on its wide sales and service network, good reputation, competitive pricing and other strategies to achieve its sales targets in the Indian markets.

Maruti 800 (Next Gen)

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) currently rules the Indian car market, with about three decades of popularity and success in the country. The company started working on its "Made in India" Next Gen Maruti 800 in about late 2009. The car has been launched in China under the name of mk2 Suzuki Alto, priced at about Rs1.25 lakhs, making it the cheapest car in China currently, which also meets the Chinese pollution norms. The car however compromises on the power, with a bare bone design and 800 cc engine which produces 36 bhp.

The car to be launched in India is likely to be powered by its 1-liter, 796 cc Fiat Multi-jet engine. The engine will be BS IV emission norms compliant, allowing it entry into the Metro cities where the car had been forced to discontinue due to excess emissions. The revamped car will feature refreshed interiors and a perked up and more upmarket exterior. MSIL plans to take on the Tata Nano by pricing the new Maruti 800 in the sub two lakhs category.

Mahindra Reva NXR (New)

Known earlier by the name of Reva Electric Car Company, the car maker was rechristened as Mahindra Reva NXR after it was acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra in May 2010. The flagship electric car of the company based in Bangalore, REVAi has been ruling as the best selling electric vehicle in the world till date. The company currently plans to launch its second electric car, Reva NXR, the concept of which is currently under development. The car, to be equipped with new era technology, will be built to accommodate four adults.

The new Mahindra Reva NXR, expected to be priced between Rs 4 and Rs 10 lakhs, will have a top speed of 65 mph and is expected to cover 160 kilometers on a single fast charge of 90 minutes. A fast charge of 15 minutes is expected to offer a 40 km range. The car will offer advanced features including keyless operations, digital display, dual charge port and SMS alerts. The technologically advanced car will be fired by lithium-ion batteries and offer a host of other features with stunning exteriors.

Mercedes Benz B-Class (New)

Mercedes has launched its new Benz B-Class with re-engineered features, incorporating the most number of developments made by it till date in a single swoop. The car now features a new corporate look with new lights and a more pronounced grille and wheel arches along with new side skirts and a roof spoiler. Though the height of the car stands 5 cm shorter, the car offers better headroom and legroom. The Easy-Vario-Plus system allows one to rearrange the high quality premium interiors. Other features include anti-roll bar, electric power steering and the COMMAND multimedia system which offers internet access. The company plans to assemble the new car in India and to start selling them from October 2012 and to follow it up with the A Class, its sporty low-line hatchback.

The SUV features a 1.6 litre four-pot M270 petrol engine. The B180 will have an output of 122 bhp while the B200 will have an output of 156 bhp. Mercedes will also offer a four-pot diesel option in its C and S class models with a 1.8 litre 109 bhp and 136 bhp in the B200 CDI variant. The aerodynamic car has a drag coefficient of 0.26 and McPherson strut front suspension and a four link independent arrangement in the rear portion.

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