Three superb new SUVs coming to India

This year has been a year of some great car launches. From hatchbacks to Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), every segment has seen the entry of a new model.

One of the recent entrants in this is the crossover launched by Tata Motors -- Aria.

The SUV and MUV (Multi Utility Vehicle) segment of the country is all set to get many more models in the coming future. Here is a little about three of them:

Mahindra Ssangyong Korando



The acquisition of Korean carmaker Sasangyong by Mahindra had the auto industry abuzz for a long time.

The two companies share special interest in the SUV/MUV segment and it is rumoured that the Mahindra Ssangyong Korando is expected to be in India soon.

The specifications about the new car are still not available, but the fourth generation Korando C is ready to hit the international market once again.

Volvo XC60


The car is expected to come to Indian shores by November 24.

The Volvo XC60 is a contemporary crossover and the company has put all its safety knowledge into making XC60 a very safe car across all categories.

The Volvo XC60 is expected to come in both diesel and petrol variants. The diesel variants include 2.4D 175hp, 2.4 D DRIVe 175hp and D5 AWD, 205hp engines. While there would be two petrol engines -- the 3.2 AWD, 238hp and T6 AWD 285hp.

The Volvo XC60 is claimed to have more energy than any other Volvo and is considered a visual feast. This makes the XC60 the prefect car for those looking for superior design, brand integrity and high-tech content.

BMW X1


The car is being launched in the premium compact segment in the price band of Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh (Rs 2.5-3 million).

The car is expected to be available in five variants with a diesel engine in both manual and automatic transmission option.

It is expected to come with a 1995cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, diesel engine that produces 143bhp of maximum power at 4000rpm with 320Nm of maximum torque at 1750-2500rpm.

The same capacity engine capable of producing 177bhp of maximum power at 4000rpm with 350Nm of maximum torque at 1750-3000rpm would also be available.

The top end variant of the BMW X1 is expected to have the same engine with 204bhp of maximum power at 4400rpm with 400Nm of maximum torque at 2000-2250rpm.

The car also has features such as ABS (Antilock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution), dual front airbags and side ITS head airbags, alarm system with remote control, engine immobilizer, front and rear anti roll bars, central locking, child lock, crash sensor, front and rear fog lamps, halogen headlamps, front and rear seat belts with pre-tensioner, belt force limiter and side impact protection.

Volvo Launches The World's First Large Premium Executive Cars

Volvo Launches The World's First Large Premium Executive Cars Under 120 G/Km - The New 119 G/Km Drive Versions of the Volvo S80 and V70



Car UK has revealed 119g/km DRIVe versions of its S80 executive saloon and V70 premium estate, the fourth and fifth body style it's launched delivering CO2 emissions below 120 g/km.

Delivering 109bhp and 240Nm of torque, the modified 1.6 litre turbocharged diesel engine provides improved fuel economy by 5.1mpg to 62.8mpg on the Combined Cycle, increasing both cars’ range to nearly 1100 miles.

Both cars fall into Vehicle Excise Duty Band C - costing motorists just £35 per year - and Volvo estimates the new 119g/km engine reduces annual carbon emissions by 150kg over the S80 and V70 DRIVe’s previous low of 129g/km.

Volvo believes the two new cars offer the best environmental performance in their respective classes. Both cars provide lower Benefit-in-Kind tax bills for company motorists and fuel savings - 60 litres per annum - equivalent to receiving a free tank of fuel each year.

Like all DRIVe models, drivers do not have to compromise on high levels of comfort and specification with both models being available to order in SE, SE Premium, SE Lux and SE Lux Premium trim levels.

Volvo has employed two main techniques to reduce CO2 emissions further on both cars.

Intelligent battery recharging ensures that the car’s control system only allows the alternator to charge the battery when the engine is operating at low load, for instance when driving downhill. In addition the belt that drives the alternator
and air conditioning compressor benefits from reduced friction helping lower fuel consumption and emissions.

"There has been a swift pace of development since the launch of our first 119-gramme models in Paris in autumn 2008. Now that we have brought two of the larger models in below the magical 120 g/km limit, few of our competitors can now match us when it comes to offering customers an extensive range of low emission cars," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

The Coming of the Volvo S60

Volvo Cars, the Swedish auto maker, has released the first official pictures of the production-ready S60. The S60 is sportier and more vibrant than any previous Volvo model. The S60 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. And it will be produced at Volvo’s plant in Ghent, in Belgium.


The Volvo S60 is expected to be equipped with Pedestrian Detection. And it is groundbreaking safety feature that can sense pedestrians in front of the car and brake mechanically even without any reaction from the driver.

Volvo Cars India (VCI) is looking at the possibility of launching its compact executive sedan S60 in the country by next year. And this will be after its reintroduction in the European car market. In case if its annual number touches 2,000 units, the company is also looking forward to set up a car assembling unit in India.

The company has established its charisma in seven cities in India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, and Pune. And now the company is planning to further develop its strategies and stretching its dealership base to Goa, Coimbatore, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.

S80 a luxury sedan and luxury seven-seater SUV XC90 are the options the company is currently offering its customers. Volvo will also launch a diesel variant of the S80 next month. Other than the S60, Volvo is also intending to bring in compact crossover SUV XC60, which is currently undergoing road testing it at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT). Even though the C70-coupe is also on the company’s list of to be launched cars, it will be available to the customers on an individual basis depending on the demand.

Volvo delinks from Ford India

Volvo in India will no longer be a subsidiary of Ford India, but a separate company.

With Ford Motor Company planning to sell Volvo Cars and announcing Chinese carmaker Geely as the preferred bidder, the Indian operations of the Swedish company have severed its ties with Ford India, said Mr Paul de Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India, while speaking to Business Line.

Volvo Cars India has changed its name to Volvo Auto India Pvt Ltd, with effect from October 1.

“The process which started in May should help in case of a possible sale. It will help avoid complications,” he said.

In 1999, Ford had acquired Volvo Cars from Volvo AB as part of its Premier Automotive Group, which then included Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. Volvo had begun operations in India in March last year as a subsidiary of Ford India, with all backend operations being handled by Ford.

When asked how the sale of Volvo may affect the company’s plans, especially in terms of component supplies for Volvo products, Mr de Voijs said that there should not be any impact.

“Short-term changes won’t affect our long-term plans for India. We do not believe in setting up a huge network at first, but instead, we believe in the gradual process to build our strength in terms of volumes as India is a huge market,” he said.

He added that the company already has seven dealerships in the country, which it will increase to 12 by end 2010. The new dealerships would be in Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Goa and Coimbatore.

Mr de Voijs said that Volvo had sold about 100 units between March and December last year and sales for the current year is close to doubling. “The luxury segment has grown by 20%, whereas we have grown by 23%,” he said.

Volvo has plans to launch two new cars in India next year. First up will be the smaller brother of the XC90 luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV), the compact crossover SUV XC60, which is slated for launch in the first half of 2010. This will be followed by the launch of the new S60 sedan in the second half of the next year. Volvo sells its top end S80 sedan and XC90 in India.

“The XC60 will be launched after the Auto Expo. We are currently road testing it at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT),” said Mr de Voijs.

He said that Volvo will also launch a diesel variant of the S80 next month, while the C70-coupe may also be made available, but on an individual basis according to demand.

Volvo to introduce plug-in diesel-electric hybrid by 2012

Volvo will launch its first series-production plug-in hybrid car in 2012

According to a press release from Volvo, the Swedish car manufacturer will launch its first series-production plug-in hybrid car by 2012. This vehicle will be fitted with a fuel-efficient diesel engine and a lithium-ion battery-powered electric motor, and its combined range would be about 1,200km.

According to the statement from Volvo, ‘Pure electric power from the battery will cover the daily transport needs of 75% of drivers. For longer distances, an efficient diesel hybrid engine will automatically take over when the battery energy levels start to run low. CO2 emissions will be less than 50g/km while mileage figures would be around 148.6mpg.’

‘The new Volvo plug-in will be a truly enjoyable car to drive, featuring Volvo's high safety and comfort standards. At the same time, CO2 levels and fuel consumption will be as low as half that available on the market today,’ says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

All-Electric Volvo C30 BEV

The Swedish luxury auto manufacturer Volvo has revealed its C30 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car company is presently working on launching its first plug-in hybrid car by 2012. As a result, Volvo is evaluating the commercial and technological viability of the all-electric C30 BEV, which is fitted with a lithium-ion battery that can be fully charged in eight hours.

The Volvo C30 BEV has a range of 150 km. The automotive major has built a few prototype units of the C30 BEV this year, which it has been testing extensively. In addition to focusing on performance and safety, research has also been carried out on the integration of the electric propulsion system with the rest of the car.

The C30 car is the first model of Volvo that runs on electric power. The Volvo C30 BEV is excellent for driving in the city traffic and its relatively low weight makes it particularly suitable for this driving condition. As electric cars are primarily expected to be used in and around cities and for daily commuting, Volvo has paid special attention to the weight of the car and its performance in congested city conditions.

Volvo perceives that car buyers must feel that the car should be attractive both to drive and own. In order to ensure this, Volvo ensures that its electric car is comfortable and safe and offer similar levels of performance as cars that run on other power sources. The C30 BEV project will help Volvo develop more electric cars in future.

The Volvo C30 BEV is limited to a top speed of about 130km/h and it can accelerate from zero to 100km in less than 11 seconds.