The homegrown auto maker, Hindustan Motors, a CK Birla group company, is going through a very bad phase in the Indian car market. Last year, the company introduced the BSIV compliant Ambassador ‘Encore’ to gain some sales in the market. Now, HM is planning to launch a compact sedan in the Indian car market. The exact launch date of the car is yet to be announced, but it is expected to make its debut by the end of this year or by early 2015.
The new sub-4 metre small car will be based on the aging Ambassador platform. It will be cheaper than the outgoing Ambassador, as it attracts less excise duty on less than 4 metre cars. The Amby CS is likely to offer an excellent rear seat comfort that the current model is offering. The company might also add a new dashboard and features to distinguish it from the standard model.
Under the hood, the Hindustan Motor’s compact sedan is likely to be powered by the same 1.5-litre BS-IV compliant diesel engine that produces a low 49bhp of power and 112.5Nm of torque. A petrol version of the vehicle could also make its way to the market. If media reports to believe, the company is planning to source the Fiat’s immensely popular 1.3-litre Multi-jet diesel engine. This engine is capable of developing 75bhp and 190Nm of top torque. This will help the company to position the vehicle well against the competition.
The vehicle is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 4-4.5 lakh, and it will compete against the likes of Maruti Swift Dzire, Tata Indigo eCS and others. It is quite early to comment whether the sub-4 metre Ambassador will help HM to revive its lost market share in the country on not; however, the company believes it will surely attract the car buyers and taxi owners.
