There is going to be a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) coming from Fiat India in 2010. While initially it was not clear which model this would be, it was later confirmed by the Hindu Businessline that the new car would be a CNG variant of the Fiat Punto hatchback.

Generally, we have stayed away from news stories about premium and luxury vehicles in India.  The logic always was that very people would be able to afford them in any case and if they did, they would hardly make up their minds by reading articles on the Internet.  However, recently we have come to realize that there is a large audience out there that wants to read about these cars irrespective of whether they can afford them or not. Here is a look and the approaching launch of the Volkswagen Touareg in India, quite possibly in December 2009.

We have been hearing occasional rumors about an upcoming vehicle from Mahindra for a while.  We have talked about the limited, but pent up, demand for a smaller suv to replace the Maruti Gypsy.  However, the only vehicle which even tries to be a mini SUV is the recently launched Premier Rio.  But that is a little too small and too unsophisticated to become a hit for that audience.

Looks like the launch season is not going to end anytime soon.  The latest that we hear is that the much anticipated Volkswagen Beetle will be coming to India by December 2009.  More car and motorcycle launches will of course happen during the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo.

And the recently concluded Tokyo Motor show, the company told the Indian media that it has plans to launch a new MPV in the Indian market which will be priced below the Toyota Innova.

The Economic Times today reported that the Tata Xover will be displayed at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Now this is interesting. Cars from Premier Auto Ltd. were some of the first we ever rode in. Premier Padmini, alongwith Ambassadors and Mahindras formed our automobile trinity for a long time indeeded, till the soap-dish sized Maruti 800 came into overthrow all of them. Update: Premier Rio launched - click here!

It has now been confirmed that Toyota will launch its popular hybrid sedan, the Toyota Prius, in India at the 2010 Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Maruti Suzuki will launch a premium mid size sedan, the Suzuki Kizashi, at the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010.

It has just been announced that a 1.9 liter version of the popular Fiat Linea will be launched at the 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi.

In the middle of all the noise about the Chevrolet Cruze, we missed this story.  It now seems that the electric version of the Chevrolet Spark which General Motors is planning to launch in association with the Reva electric car company, will be named the Chevrolet Spark Electra.

The Tata Manza would come with interior trim levels and safety features that are seriously tempting.

We are approaching the official launch of the Volkswagen Polo.  Anticipation of the small car is building up to fever pitch.

We are less than an hour every from the launch of the most anticipated motor cycle in India - Kawasaki Ninja 250R  - there is really no point in doing a story but we're doing it anyway!

Chevrolet would launch its premium sedan, the Chevrolet Cruze, in India on the 12th of October 2009.  The car would be positioned against the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis in the Indian automobile market. Update: Chevrolet Cruze launched: Price 10.99 to 12.45 lakhs

Last week, we had reported on the upcoming launch of the Tata Indigo Vista - now named Tata Manza - the sedan version of the already launched Indica Vista.

Tata Motors plans to launch the new Indigo, renamed as the Tata Manza, on October 14, 2009.

Porsche AG will launch its luxury four-door super sedan, the Porsche Panamera, in India on October 6, 2009.

After the launch of the Honda Jazz superhatch in India, now Honda plans to introduce its automatic transmission variant soon. This should happen quickly, and if automatic transmissions are what you like, it would be better to wait around for a little bit.

There is one thing to be said about Maruti Suzuki - they do not give up easily. Every time Maruti has tried to sell something in the mid-size segment, they have had to struggle. Whereas, bring in a Honda - any Honda - price it a lakh rupees above a similar car, and sales shoot up. Such is fate.