What's new

Made in India Vehicles

wgFhgPh.jpg

FXg4ZOU.jpg

uKLDLDx.jpg

15uc5TB.jpg


Mahindra Mojo Trialing

Z2Zazkv.jpg

wJMP0xH.jpg

ycMfW9A.jpg

uo9drye.jpg


Mahindra S101 Compact SUV Trialing
 
Wow, perfect timing.

Coal block sales bought legal and Corp. clarity to Corp. @ books. Mining truck sales will go through the roof. Buy stock.

I'm not happy that they never apply hybrid or electric tech. re. mining trucks. No, I'm not buying tech. excuses. Indian mining is a dumpyard of dirty, expired and legacy Western tech.
 
SCOOP! Next-gen Tata Sumo to use all-new lightweight platform

New ‘Raptor’ platform will combine the benefits of monocoque and ladder frame chassis.

vJBGaBM.jpg


The Tata Sumo turns 20 years old this year, and while the current car will soldier on for a few more years still, the company has big plans for the next-gen version. The next Sumo that is expected in 2018, will use an all-new platform codenamed ‘Raptor’ that will also underpin a new range of budget SUVs and MUVs.

What’s most interesting about this new Raptor platform is that it will break with convention and will not be built on ladder-on-frame architecture, nor it will use a car-like pure monocoque setup. Instead, it will use a new technology known as the ‘Body Integrated Frame’ where, as the name suggests, the frame is integrated or welded into the chassis. This allows the company flexibility with the cars it builds on this platform – for example, choosing a stiff, heavy frame for vehicles that are likely to go off road, versus a lighter one for SUVs which are more car-like. So the new Sumo could have the correct level of stiffness, while still being much lighter and more efficient than its rivals.

6KicHEI.jpg


A source in Tata Motors said “we feel that the conventional body-on-frame architecture is too heavy to meet future CO2 and fuel efficiency norms and that a move to lighter monocoque chassis’ will be inevitable” Tata Motors seems to have taken a leaf out of Land Rover which has ditched body-on-frame chassis altogether for all its SUVs in the future.

With the next Sumo, core traits like big passenger and luggage space, and the value-for-money proposition are expected to remain, but with improved performance and fuel economy thanks to the lower weight. And thanks to the new Raptor platform, we could even see a sub-family of new, affordable MUVs and SUVs from Tata Motors in the same ilk.
 

If all together new, I say optimal time to intro a new sub brand un-locking the hidden value in Tata's JLR deal, huge demand for a non klunky and plebian Sumo, neither over-the-top and still kooky Safari; a light and affordable family mini SUV that cashes in on Land Rover quality and Tata mass appeal co-branded to reflect the same.

Bharat Benz did it. FIAT Premier Padmini got away with it. Hero Honda lost it; but this may be different because it can go Global fresh off assembly lines without knocking Land Rover brand. Idea would be to burnish Tata Motor's SUV'S, MUV'S brands by indirect association in the Global markets without affecting the Land Rover brand.

Smashing idea if they revive, say the Land master brand and go with it afresh. Parents can be traced and leveraged for re-entry.

@ ashok, mark my words, DC's got a hit on it's hands in a 100% virgin market unless you count ltd. retro mg by Chinkara Motors.
 
Last edited:
Definite employment figures re. Indian auto industry, anyone know?

I read 25 million, not sure.
 

Back
Top Bottom