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NEW DELHI, Jan. 9

AUTOMOBILE buffs can look forward to a feast of new vehicles at the forthcoming Auto Expo 2002 with Tata Engineering, Hyundai Motor, Ashok Leyland, BMW and the who's who of the industry promising a slew of launches.

After the mega launch of the Indica a few years ago, Tata Engineering is getting ready to display the Indica saloon, a three-box Indica with a 1.4-litre turbo diesel engine and the Aria Coupe, a two-seater sports coupe.

Ashok Leyland would launch two luxury coaches, the Limo RE and the Limo FE at the Auto Expo, both from the company's joint venture with Spain's Irizar.

The RE is a rear engined inter-city luxury coach with a front and rear air suspension and a seating capacity of 37 passengers. The FE retains all the features of the RE but would have a different engine.

The Confederation of Indian Industry, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association are the joint organisers of the show, which is billed as the Asia's largest automotive show.

BMW's new 7 series super luxury saloon would be previewed for the first time during the Auto Expo. Also on display will be the M3, the sports utility vehicle, the X5, Z3 and the current range of the 5 series saloon.

Not to be undone by its German rival, US-German DaimlerChrysler will display the M Class, C Class (sports coupe), the SLK and the CLK-Cabrio series of Mercedes Benz at the show.

Fiat would be displaying the Palio S10 (short for Sachin Tendulkar), which would sport flatter fenders and tyres, side skirt and rear hatch boiler. The company will also showcase the Alfa Romeo 166 Super and also Formula One ace Michael Schumacher's world championship winning Ferrari.

Ford India would display the Ranger Splash utility vehicle and the Escape.

Hindustan Motors, the erstwhile market leader, will display a retrofit Ambassador besides a slew of other products like the Pushpak and the deluxe version of the RTV.

Hyundai Motor will showcase the new version of the Santro, a five-door hatchback version of the Accent, Elantra and the Matrix while Czech Skoda will display the Fabia.

In the two-wheeler segment, Honda Motor Cycle and Scooter India would display the 125-cc Froza scooter, the Silver Wing and Elysium while Monto Motors would be launching its 125-cc motorcycle.

Monto Motors' other attractions would be the 100-cc Cosmo Blaster and a 60-cc Gazab, all bikes with features such as remote control start, anti-theft alarm and disc brakes.

Eicher Motors would be launching the 2016, a 16-tonne gross vehicle weight truck. It would also unveil a host of new buses.

Royal Enfield Motors would unveil its new 350-cc motorcycle while Kinetic would display a slew of products including a Dilip Chhabria-designed scooter.

Get ready for Bitch & Infidel

IF you thought next week's Auto Expo was all about those mean machines and short hemlines, then wait till you hear and see the `Bitch'! And the `Infidel'!

In case you are shocked, then, these are just the brand names of some new designs from Dilip Chhabria Design Pvt Ltd.

Dilip Chhabria Design will showcase the Bitch, a CBZ motorcycle makeover, a pro-kit Palio, a Mercedes E class redesign, and `Attractor', a tractor.

Also on display will be the project Infidel, which is a super sports car in the genre of Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

``This creation is slated for participation at the Geneva motor show starting March 5, a proud first for our company and particularly for India,'' Mr Chhabria said in a statement.

The Infidel will be unveiled on January 15 at the Auto Expo.

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