Splendid Italian Exotic – That’s what I would call this Alfa Romeo 8C. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, this beauty will be one of the rarest around. That’s because only 500 of this beautiful shall be made by Alfa Romeo.
Well, the car couldn’t have been more under covers and has been spied by Autocar India forum member FuelRunGod. Here are the pics. Wonder why everyone loves Orange??
The car looks the same as the pictures that were released before, and the car does look a lot promising and would be interesting to know if Maruti Suzuki replaces the Wagon R for this. Esp whats more interesting is how it plays this with the Swift.
I would rather expect this one to be a a leg smaller than the Swift and be marketted as a cheap hatch with some curvy looks. Look at the A and C pillar, and there’s no B pillar. The design is good enough to turn heads and looks like the big brother of the A Star.
Tata’s shall now have a stronger foothold outside India, but it would be interesting to see how they manage the truck maker’s image and the luxury brands.
So what’s in it for India?
Well, something that’s immediately expected is to get these brands in India esp. the Land Rovers, the cat can wait. Later you may find some technology following to Indian cars as well, provided Ford doesn’t have an IP problem.
Issues apart it’s really good to see the Indian car maker come of age. Not just with the acquisition but more importantly with the Nano. It was remarkable to see all CEOs of major auto companies’ line up to get a glimpse of the Nano. It’s truly pleasant to see an Indian brand amongst the biggies of the industry.
What next?
Many call 2008 as the year of the Tata’s, with the small car and new models being lined up for the year to come. What I would like to see is some green cars to be launched, say hybrid or ethanol or hydrogen based cars. Something that should largely addresses the rising fuel prices. The Land Rover LRX is car that they could get inspired from. You something like that thing in your bouquet and you right there on top of the competition.
Well, in case you haven’t heard anything of this then here’s it. India has a target of having 20% of its vehicles operate on hydrogen based fuels by 2020. And thus, Eden Energy Ltd has been chosen by Indian Oil Corporation to install and supply the first public hydrogen fuelling station in India. The outlet shall be completed by autumn 2008 shall supply Hythane as well as Hydrogen to all natural gas vehicles.
Scheduled for completion in Autumn 2008, the station will produce, store, blend, and dispense Hythane as well as hydrogen to power a network of natural gas vehicles, including buses, cars, and trucks. Hythane itself is a patented mixture of hydrogen and natural gas that provides a dramatic reduction in nitrous oxide emissions.
India has set a target of having at least 20% of all vehicles operate on hydrogen-based fuel by 2020, at an initial estimation of around 1 million vehicles. As well as a number of other projects in place, Eden’s involvement in Delhi is seen as a potential springboard for the company’s Hythane fuel.
Eden Energy’s Executive Chairman Greg Solomon, commented, “India’s first hydrogen fuelling station will be a showcase for public access to this environmentally beneficial alternative fuel. We expect to expand here rapidly to present a model to the world in which Hythane is the fuel of choice in a thriving hydrogen economy.”
It’s high time that we start thinking Green about the automobiles we drive, especially when the no. of automobiles is poised to rise.
Starting with this post Stay Undefined shall begin coverage of Eco Friendly Automobiles, Green Fuels, Green Cars and all that leads from the Automotive front for a cleaner, greener environment.
We’ve discussed the Effects of Tata Nano on India, environment and the society time and again, this time we shall see what ’side effects‘ does it have. This is an email forward that makes a no of trips in your mailbox, found it good enough for the post.
Days after the big launch of the much awaited small car, the Tata Nano the debate continues on its implications on Indian economy and the infrastructure. Many argue that the car is going to slow down India in its Economical growth, even noted Journalists like Thomas L Friedman, of the NY Times asking not to follow American footprints. Dr. Pachauri, who had sleepless nights on the car, adds that the car is not the transport solution for India. It was never intended to be.
To begin with, Tata Nano does make a car’s dream for many Indian’s come true. Many of them who had a two wheeler as the only mode of transport would like to upgrade to this one. The implication of this as envisaged by Dr Pachauri is that it would rather add to the no of vehicles on the street rather not hitting the Indian bike market. Definitely, I would agree to some extent on that. A car can never replace a bike. The average Indian buyer would still like to own the bike, while adding the car.
Fiat at the the Indian Auto Expo showcased their new sedan for the Indian market, which could be launched commercially later. The car shall pruduced at their Ranjangaon plant, while they also showed the Fiat 500 and Grande Punto, both of which shall be imported from Italy.
Fiat India showcased its four globally successful cars — Linea, Grande Punto, Fiat 500 and Bravo — all of these will be launched this year. “Fiat 500 and Bravo will be imported fully from Italy and delivery would start three months from now, while Linea and Grande Punto will be rolled out from its Ranjangaon unit by the end of this year,” said Fiat India Vice-Chairman, Alfredo Altavilla