New Superb previewed at the Autocar Performance show

The all-new Skoda Superb will be in Indian showrooms early next year. Showgoers at the Autocar Performance Show were treated to an exclusive preview of the car.

The new Skoda Superb was unveiled at the Autocar Performance Show but will reach showrooms only in February 2009.

Prices will start at Rs 20 lakh for the base petrol model, going up to Rs 25 lakh for the full-fat petrol.

Thomas Kuehl, Board Member of Skoda India, said: “We will bring an exciting range of engines: a 1.8-litre, 160bhp TSI petrol, a 2.0-litre diesel with 140bhp, and a new 3.6-litre V6 petrol with 260bhp.”
The V6 however, will be launched a few months after the 1.8 petrol and 2.0-litre diesel versions.

Its trump card is the limo-like space that few can hope to match. The Superb will prove to be the biggest threat to Group stable-mate the Volkswagen Passat.

Maruti launches new car, seeks to increase exports

ew Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Auto major Maruti Suzuki Tuesday launched a new model targeted at the mid-priced segment, and said it hoped to export it to over 150 countries.

Priced in the Rs.347,000-Rs.412,000 range, the car - called A-star - will be made in over 200 variants and is touted to give a mileage of 19.59 km per litre of petrol. A-star is Maruti Suzuki's eighth vehicle launched in a little over three years.

'A-star will be exported mainly to European markets and we expect it to account for a major part of our total exports,' company chairman R.C. Bhargava said at the vehicle's launch.

The company exported around 50,000 cars last year and expects to export more this year.

Incidentally, A-star has been designed keeping the European market in mind, and will be rolled out of the company's facility at Manesar near Delhi