General Motors are planning on rolling out a new diesel version of their hit sedan, Chevrolet Optra. The diesel Optra will come with a TCDi engine - Turbo Charged Common Rail Direct Injection. The plans at the moment is to launch the car as early as next month.
This TCDi technology uses a new type of common rail technique which is a bit different from the CRDi engine. GM has been very active in rolling out new cars with them having launched 3 cars in 2006. The Aveo (sedan), SRV (sports model), and the Aveo U-va which is their small car. In 2007 they have already announced their Chevrolet Spark which is a pepped up Matiz.
The Optra diesel will cost about Rs. 10 lakhs - indicative price ex-showroom Delhi. This will definitely be atleast 20% cheaper than the diesel Skoda Octavia, which costs as much as Rs. 14+ lakhs.
TATA Motors came out with a announcement of their new common rail diesel engine (CRDi) engine with the Tata Indigo DICOR today. This is an entry level sedan with a diesel engine. The car will cost approximately Rs. 5.25 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi price.
The Dicor will come with the Indigo LS version. The car comes with 70PS with a 140nm torque. TATAs have previously offered a diesel version of the Indigo with the Indigo XL which was priced at 6.2 lakhs, so this one is a cheaper version and will definitely appeal more to the Indian customers.
The Tata Indigo LS Dicor is now one of the cheapest diesel Sedan in the country.
Maruti today announced their new sedan in the Indian market to try and gain market share in this segment. Maruti is hoping that the Maruti SX4 sedan can do what the Maruti Baleno didn’t do for them.
The Maruti SX4 comes with a 1.6 litre engine and has two variants. The VXi version which is the lower version is priced at about 6.18 lakh and the ZXi costs Rs. 6.89 lakhs. There is another higher version of the ZXi which goes as high as 7.24 lakhs.
The SX4 has the looks of a Maruti Swift and is all set to take on the Honda City and other cars in this segment. According to the company data the car is the longest and widest car in the ‘C Segment’ with excellent legroom and headroom. The car has a very good ground clearance of 190mm.
