Hyundai's new SUV Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor India has launched the internationally acclaimed Santa Fe in India. The luxurious SUV offers a combination of power and luxury, supported by cutting-edge technology. with Santa Fe, Hyundai aims to grab a bigger share of the highly competitive SUV segment in the country.

The Santa Fe has been launched at an introductory price of Rs 20,95,000 (2WD) and Rs 22,95,000 (4WD) ex-Showroom, New Delhi.

The advantage of the SUV is the flexibility of its interior space. The seating for seven can be reconfigured to enjoy greater comfort, ensure ample cargo space or carry odd-shaped items.

In India, Santa Fe will be available with 2.2L CRDi engine – the most powerful and efficient engine in its class - that delivers a maximum power of 197PS/4000 rpm and an impressive torque of 42.9 kgm/1800~2500rpm – both highest in class.

With the remote control built on the steering wheel, one can adjust audio system safely while driving. The modern design adds sophistication to the steering wheel.

Available in six speed manual transmission, with an option of 2WD and 4WD, the high-tech engine incorporates a host of advanced technologies aimed at delivering an optimal balance of performance, excellent drivability on all terrains and a segment best fuel mileage of 14.66 kmpl (ARAI certified).

Diverse external devices can be plugged into the onboard sound system for unlimited music access.

Santa Fe comes with a premium safety feature - ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) which is one of the industry's most effective life-saving technologies, that integrates the functions of EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) system, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and TCS (Traction Control System) to ensure greater driving stability.

The dynamic SUV image is further accentuated by aggressive features like twin exhausts, rear spoiler with high mounted stop lamp, high contrast rear combination lamps, heated outside mirrors with side repeaters and chrome accent door handles.

The In-Dash 6 CD changer Audio system is built into the dashboard adding convenience to the audio entertainment. Passengers will enjoy their audio experience all the more thanks to improved acoustic engineering resulting in reduced road, wind and engine noise.

As part of its festive campaign, Skoda India, part of the Volkwagen group, launched its new Fabia with an entry level ex-showroom price of Rs 4,19,216, which is close to 20 per cent less than the existing model.

Tata Motors has launched the Tata Aria, a four-wheel drive crossover, which the company claims is the country's first-ever crossover car that straddles a sport utility and multi-utility vehicle.

The six-seater Tata Aria is priced between Rs 12.91 lakh and Rs 15.50 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi).

It will be sold with three engines options - 1.2-litre petrol and diesel and a 1.6-litre petrol.

Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group, unveiling the Tata Aria. Tata Motors said the 2.2-L Aria will be available in three variants - Pride at the top end, and the Prestige and the Pleasure, each in eight colour options.

The 1.2-litre models will have three variants - Classic (base), Ambiente (mid) and Elegance (top-end) and the 1.6-model will have a top-end version, which will be priced at Rs 5.81 lakh.

From left) PM Telang, MD for India operations at Tata Motors; Ravi Kant, vice chairman of Tata Motors; Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group; and Carl Peter Forster, group CEO and MD of Tata Motors, at the launch of Tata Aria. Tata Motors said that the company has used the expertise of interior designers of its European arm JLR, the British marque brands which the Tatas bought a few years back, to do the interiors of the Aria.

The company in the process of using localised components for its cars. Earlier, it used just 15 per cent of local components whereas now it has increased to 40 per cent.

(From left) Ratan Tata, Carl Peter Forster, PM Telang and Ravi Kant. The Aria, which will be rolled out from the Pune plant of Tata Motors, offers three-rows of flexible theatre-style seating, with leather upholstery. It is the first in its segment with an in-dash GPS-based navigation system that maps 400 cities. The Aria is being made available, to begin with, in 25 cities through 69 dealerships.

By 2011-end, the new Skoda variant will come out with 70 per cent local components and by 2012 it will bring out our cars with full local components.

Tata Motors Managing Director for India operations PM Telang (left) said the company would be launching the Aria in Italy, Spain and Poland, where the company is already present.

The new Fabia has a changed interior and exterior, with added safety features such as air bags as standard.

Carl Peter Forster, group CEO and MD, Tata Motors, at the launch of Tata Aria. He said that the company would export the vehicle to Latin America and Asia as well.

The company will expand its dealer network to 80 by the end of this year from the existing 64 and has intensified its dealer personnel training programme by 20 times.

Dual tone interiors of the car give a lavish feel. The multi-textured fabric on the seats and interiors give a special touch to the interiors. The silvered gear lever knobs, gear lever frames, interior door handles and hand brake safety knobs add to the stylishness.

The new Fabia has multi-function display (MFD) of travelling time, distance travelled, average speed, immediate consumption, average consumption, travel distance before refuelling, service interval, outside temperature and clock.