Will the Ambassador Compact Sedan be the big launch from Hindustan Motors for 2012?
Hindustan Motors’ big launch for 2012 could be the Ambassador compact sedan, a car that will retain the Ambassador’s innards but will have a chopped off boot to make it fit under the 4 meters length that the Indian government mandates for cars to be given a excise duty cut. With the 1.8 liter Isuzu petrol or CNG engine getting out of the picture due to it being over the 1.2 liter petrol engine limit imposed by Indian governmental regulations for the car to qualify as a compact sedan, the only other engine that seems likely to power the Ambassador compact sedan is the prehistoric 1.5 Liter diesel engine.
2012 Hindustan Ambassador Grand used as an illustration
So, it will be quite interesting to see how Hindustan Motors tackles this issue. We do know that the ailing automaker is developing a common rail diesel engineto propel the next generation Ambassador but it remains unclear whether the common rail diesel engine will be ready in the next few months, in order to power the Ambassador compact sedan. Also, the target audience for the Ambassador compact sedan remains unknown at the moment. We’re guessing that the Ambassador compact sedan could be more of a cabbie special variant, designed mainly to be frugal and inexpensive.
2012 Hindustan Ambassador Grand used as an illustration
We can’t really see why a family car buyer would actually go in for an Ambassador compact sedan at a time when there are options aplenty, with much more modern cars, with better features and performance levels. Maruti Suzuki just launched the Dzire compact sedan barely a week ago and two other compact sedans are lined up for the Indian market, although their launch timelines remains unclear at this moment. Tata is said to be working on an Manza compact sedan while Mahindra is giving the Verito the compact sedan treatment.
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4 Responses to “Will the Ambassador Compact Sedan be the big launch from Hindustan Motors for 2012?”
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It is difficult to revive this brand. As you said, general public may shun this and only taxi segment (from poschim bangal) may adopt it. There is nothing in it to look forward to.
Srishar: I dont agree with you. This has been Iconic and Classic Models, which can be very well revived…It can be designed/Modified just like other companies modified their old Beetle/Mini/Fiat 500.
Jay,just now saw you answer to Sridhar Rao on February 10,2012.It is now 15 March 2013, and today you have mentioned that they may come out with the compact sedan in 2014. I hope, at least by 2014, they will be able to bring a new car.
Dear Sir,
Since we’re talking about Hindustan Motors here, we can only keep our fingers crossed. :-P
Cheers,
Jay