Mahindra & Mahindra plans to launch a sub-four-metre version of the Verito saloon by early 2013. This will allow M&M to qualify for the excise duty sop on cars of this length, thus enabling it to price them competitively.

The sub-4-metre Verito is expected to sport styling cues similar to the recently facelifted Verito. However, we expect the front bumper of the car to be altered a bit. It will use the same basic structure as its bigger sibling, though Mahindra’s engineers have chopped off a large chunk of the boot section while retaining the wheelbase. This will help the saloon duck under the 4000mm mark (the regular Verito is 4247mm).

While the current Verito is powered by 1.4 petrol and 1.5 diesel motors, the sub-4-metre offering may come with only a single engine option – the Renault-sourced 1.5-litre dCi diesel motor – which has in any case been the reason for the car’s success. The Verito sold over 16,000 units in 2011, nearly double its 2010 tally. With the sub-4-metre Verito, Mahindra will be ready to take the fight to the Maruti Swift Dzire and Tata Indigo eCS. The sub-4-metre saloon will be sold alongside the existing saloon.

Article courtesy

Autocar India

Mahindra has launched the refreshed Verito saloon.

Like the earlier model, the new Verito comes in both petrol and diesel versions. The base petrol variant is priced at Rs 5.21 lakh while prices for the diesel variant starts at Rs 6.05 lakh.

The facelifted car gets an almost Skoda-like new front grille (complete with chrome strip and vertical slats), the chin is now more rounded and there are re-profiled angular headlamps as well. A strip of LEDs, similar to the ones on the XUV500, seem to be present too. Look closely and you’ll see that the wipers now correctly sweep left-to-right.

Mahindra has clearly tried hard to get rid of the boxy looks of the erstwhile Logan. The rear has been made less boxy, the numberplate is now at the centre of the bootlid and horizontal slashes across the rear help break up the mass of the square boot. Mahindra designers have also inserted what look like LEDs in the new tail-lamps.

There are some significant improvements in the interior design and a Scorpio-like music system now dominates the centre console. The power window switches are now in a more convenient position on the doors.

These fresh new looks are sure to enhance the Verito’s appeal, which, in this guise, should stand up much better to its direct rivals like the Toyota Etios and Maruti Dzire.

The new Verito is avaialble in both petrol and diesel engine options in both BSIII and BSIV guise.

Source :- AutocarIndia

Please read a comprehensive review on the New Verito by our Senior ClubLogan Member Suryaprakash Vankamamidi on the ClubLogan Forums. Below is the Link to the review.

Mahindra launches New Verito (Refreshed) on 26th Jul’12

New Verito Prices Ex-Showrooom Mumbai.

The Duster isn’t an out-and-out hardcore SUV. At 1695mm in height, it’s not as tall and the Duster isn’t muscular looking either. Still, a purposeful bumper, running board and overtly flared wheel arches hint at the Duster’s SUV pretensions and the large 215/65-R16 tyres give it a high stance, which is good enough for basic off-road duties.

From the side, the low window line rises gently, before getting thrown up by the flush-mounted rear quarter-glass. The tail-lights and the rounded tailgate feels out of place on what is otherwise a simple, yet effective design. 475 litres of luggage space is not that big but the Duster at 1205kg doesn’t weigh as much as an SUV either. Although built on the Logan platform, ground clearance has been increased to a purposeful 210mm and wheelbase has been stretched too by 43mm and is also longer overall (25mm).

Those familiar with the Logan will notice the highly inconvenient placement of the rear power window switches between (and just behind) the front seats. Other ergonomic gaffes are carried over too like the air-con switchgear, whose poor location is made worse by the centre console which oddly slopes at the bottom. However, the Duster feels better built and more upmarket than the Logan. The black dash looks smart and will age better and the silver door handles look more stylish. The plastics though still lack any plushness and the shiny finish makes them look cheap.

The Duster however scores well with its spacious interiors. The driver’s seat gets a two-step height setting for a commanding view of the road ahead. The backseat is also very good, if not better than the Logan. Excellent kneeroom just makes it all the more comfortable to be in, even for the long haul.

The Duster shares the proven K9K 1.5-litre diesel motor with the Logan too however power is up to a useful 107bhp and comes mated to a six-speed gearbox. Once past the 2000rpm mark, the turbocharged motor develops power cleanly, running till the redline without faltering. The rubbery gearshift quality meant that slotting gears in a hurry required some effort and the clutch too was quite heavy on the car we drove, which made negotiating rush-hour traffic hard work. Out on the highway, the Duster’s tall proportions and large frontal area don’t suit high-speed driving.

The Duster has a MacPherson setup at the front and the semi-independent torsion beam suspension at the rear. The ride was supple and pliant and unaffected even with a full load. The high profile tyres would work brilliantly in India, rounding off sharp edges with their tall sidewalls. However, don’t expect the Duster to be a hoot to drive. The soft setup has the Duster rolling a fair bit around corners and this two-wheel-drive version distinctly understeers. The ventilated front discs and rear drum setup offers sufficient braking power to slow things down when required. For proper off-roading duties, the Dacia has a 4×4 variant which should do the job.

The factor that is likely to make the Duster a no-brainer and will turn the tables decisively in its favour is the price tag. If Renault pulls this off, then the Duster will end up scripting a new and exciting chapter for Renault in its India story.

Renault Duster (ex showroom, Delhi) prices are as follows:

Petrol engine 104PS

RxE: 7.19 lakh

RxL: 8.19 lakh

Diesel Engine 85PS

RxE: 7.99 lakh

RxL: 8.99 lakh

RxL diesel optional pack: 9.99 lakh

Diesel engine 110PS

RxL: 9.99 lakh

RxZ: 10.99 lakh

RxZ diesel optional pack: 11.29 lakh

Renault Duster (ex showroom, Mumbai) prices are as follows:

Renault Duster petrol

RxE – 7.47 lakhs

RxL – 8.52 lakhs

Renault Duster diesel

RxE – 8.31 lakhs

They are looking to sell 3,000 units per month of the Verito hatch. It is also slated to launch the mini-Xylo this fiscal, said Arun Malhotra, senior vice-president, sales and customer care.

“We had launched the Verito in 2007 in collaboration with Renault, which had a 41 per cent stake in the joint venture. In 2009, Mahindra bought over Renault’s stake fully. At that time, the vehicle was selling only 350 units a month. We turned that around to sell 5,300 vehicles a month in 2009-10 and by 2010-11, sales climbed to 10,100 units, marking a growth of 86 per cent. In 2011-12, we sold 17,980 Veritos,” Malhotra said.

“We have plans for Verito. We will launch a hatchback version of the car four months from now,” he said.

Mahindra sold 4,40,000 units (passenger and commercial vehicles) in 2011-12, posting an overall growth of 27 per cent. In April 2012, its domestic sales totalled 39,299, a growth of 29 per cent over 30,349 units sold in April 2011.

Malhotra said the company’s Nasik plant would continue to manufacture all variants of the Verito, including the upcoming hatchback.

He, however, ruled out Mahindra’s entry into the sub-compact segment. “We are known to be commercial vehicles and SUV-makers. We do not have the expertise or the technology for sub-compact vehicles,” he added.

Source : The Telegraph

And here’s proof of how much potential the Mahindras find in the Logan/Verito.  Fully built camouflaged Facelifted Verito found testing on the roads.

Quite evident the New Mahindra trademark front grill, new wheel caps, new split headlamps, new taillamps and new treatment to the back.

Very unlikely that there will be anything new mechanically. The 65 bhp K9K Renault engine under the hood is quite well acclaimed for its superior performance and high mileage.

Another camouflaged compact sedan was also spotted a while back.

From the time Mahindra’s took over the reign of the Logan in India, the sales of the renamed Verito Sedan have been rising and hence the special interest by M&M.

Pic courtesy – ICB

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Mahindra Verito Electric showcased at the AutoExpo 2012 Delhi, India.

The Verito will soon be transformed into a compact sedan to become an entry level car taking on the likes of the upcoming Maruti Dzire compact sedan and the Tata Manza compact sedan. But before all that, Mahindra also displayed an all electric concept of the Verito at the ongoing 2012 Indian Auto Expo. The all electric Verito uses technology that Mahindra has gained access to when it took over Reva Electric, India’s foremost electric car manufacturer.

The Verito Electric uses a 40 bhp electric motor that will deliver a range of 100 kilometers on a full charge of its lithium ion battery stack. The lithium ion battery stack has a charge time of 6 hours while a quick charge option that juices the battery partially to up to 80% of its capacity can be achieved in an hour and fifteen minutes. The Verito Electric has a top speed of 86 Kph and comes with an automatic CVT transmission that obviates the need of a manual clutch.

The Verito electric, like many of the electric cars displayed at the Auto Expo might be a concept whosecommercial production might still be many years away. Yet, the important takeaway here is that the electrictechnology Mahindra has showcased in the Verito Electric could some day filter down to Mahindra’s range of vehicles in the future. Also, Mahindra has been using the synergies it gained with its spate of acquisitions in the past few years very effectively and going into the future, expect more such products from the Indian marquee which began life as a jeep and tractor maker.

The Sub-4 mtr logan to be launched at the Auto Expo 2012. In competition with the New small Maruti DZire and the New Indigo Manza small car. Expect sharp pricing for the Small Verito. To be launched only by the year end though.

According to reports which quoted M&M president (Automotive and Farm Equipment Sectors) Pawan Goenka as saying “While one will be a refreshed version, the other one will be a smaller car that will be sub-four metre in length.’’ Besides, M&M will introduce a new sports utility vehicle by December this year, Goenka said without sharing details.

Source: Wheels Unplugged

Merging the Logan manufacturing division with itself would help M&M work more aggressively on product development and also give it a tax shelter that can be used to set off profits and reduce the combined tax outgo.

“Since the Verito division made losses, M&M will reorganise the share capital and share premium account by setting off portion of the existing losses incurred by the division,” said a senior company official who did not wish to

be named.

After M&M acquired French carmaker Renault’s 49 per cent stake in the Mahindra Renault joint venture that manufactured the Logan passenger car in April 2010, it continued operating the division as a subsidiary of M&M. “There is synergy in the manufacturing, product development and sourcing of Mahindra Vehicles division and hence we are moving the Verito vehicle business to M&M,” Rajesh Jejurikar, chief executive – automotive division at M&M told Financial Chronicle.

The company will seek shareholders approval for the merger at the annual general meeting in August 2011, he added.

Renault exited the JV after sales of Logan fell to a paltry 350 units per month. According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) data, Logan sales fell to 5,332 units in 2009-10 from 13,423 units in 2008-09. The decline also resulted in losses of over Rs 600 crore for both the partners during 2007-2010.

Since M&M makes healthy profits, the JV’s carryforward losses can be set off against M&M’s profits resulting in lower profits reported under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.

After M&M acquired Logan, sales of the car improved to 10,009 units in 2010-11. The company, in April this year, rebranded the car as Verito. M&M sold 2,297 units of Verito in the first two months of this financial year, according to Siam’s May 2011 data.

According to M&M’s annual report for 2009-10, the share capital of Mahindra Renault was Rs 200 crore. M&M had invested Rs 154 crore in the JV.

Deepak Jain, assistant vice-president at Sharekhan, said, “M&M was operating the Verito division as a subsidiary as it was meant to roll out more products with Renault. Since there is no JV now, it is viable to merge the division into the company. That way, M&M will be able to utilise the assets for developing other products and leverage the balance sheet.”

M&M, however, will continue sourcing 1.5-litre diesel engines from Renault.

As reported in the Financial Chronicle

An unofficial rendering of the Dacia X52, or the next-generation Logan.

Sure the current gen Logan has been renamed the Verito in India. But Renault and Dacia have not given up on taking the project to its next level. Dacia is working on the next generation model of the Logan, which the company may launch in 2012. But this time it won’t be a bare-basic workhorse, it would be much more than that. It would be stylish, spacious, much more premium and still carry forward the biggest USP of its predecessor, the VFM proposition. The large interior, the luggage space, ride quality and road holding will also be maintained as the key features of the new car just as the current one.

The new generation version of the Logan, codenamed X52, will try to match the German cars in all aspects. “The new car is seen as somewhere between Renault Fluence, Skoda Octavia, VW Passat, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze. At least from a visual standpoint. In other words, the Logan 2 will be low-cost with a “human face”. I do not want people to feel ashamed that they are driving a Logan” said Larens van den Acker, the head of design at Renault.

The new Logan, or the Logan 2 will be 4.60 meter long and will have a cavernous, 500-liter boot. New engines will do duty under the bonnet, all Euro 5 compliant. Engine options will be 1.4-and 1.6-liter petrol units, mated with both manual and automatic gearboxes. The 1.6-liter gas burner will produce 110bhp, while the current 1.5-liter dCi diesel will also be available.

Higher spec models will also feature Led lights. New, brighter colours will also do their bit in lifting the image of the new Logan. Brighter and lighter colours like red and yellow will be used.

Prices for the new car would be more than current one, as it would be a big leap forward. Speculations range from Rs. 8.5 lakh to Rs. 9.5 lakh in the international market for the 1.6 petrol and the 1.5 diesel variants respectively.

Story Source :- Motoroids

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EDIT:-

The story above is as reported in Motoroids.com

A fellow ClubLogan.com Forum Member, Dan from Bucuresti, Romania has brought to our notice that the Car in the Picture is actually a Chinese Car Roewe 550. We have no way of verifying the story.