International Wrap - VW clones Passat, EcoSport's MPV counterpart, Europe's Renault Pulse

02/02/2012 - 11:12 ,  ,  ,  ,  ,   Shrawan Raja

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Shanghai-VW has cloned the latest generation Passat, made it smaller and is introducing it as the Volkswagen Lavida in the Chinese market. Everything from the car's daylight opening, tail light, kink on the C-Pillar to the car's headlights are similar to the Passat (NMS).  Volkswagen has many tie-ups with local Chinese auto makers but the latest Lavida's development used very few inputs from Wolfsburg.

Ford has presented the B-Max five-seat MPV on the internet. The public will see it in flesh for the first time at next month's Geneva Motor Show. The B-Max is the MPV counterpart of the EcoSport SUV. It will make it to India by mid-decade with a longer wheelbase. The bodywork, front-end and rear are likely to stay similar on the extended wheelbase version.

Renault is finalizing last minute details on the fourth generation B-Segment Clio as it gets ready to present the vehicle in October's Paris Motor Show. The new Clio will be the most stylish of generations as Renault is trying to connect emotionally with its would-be buyers. A 900cc, turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is said to be the driving force on the Clio 4. Isn't that engine ideal for the Indian market as Nissan could also benefit from it?

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