L. D. Mittal (right) Chairman, Sonalika Group, with Deepak Mittal, Managing Director, International Cars and Motors, launching the new luxury version of Rhino RX MUV in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: The Hindu. Sonalika group firm Indian Cars and Motors Ltd has tied up with automobile design house Pininfarina to develop a family of 'world cars' that will be rolled out in India and other countries by 2010.

Sonalika group firm Indian Cars and Motors Ltd has tied up with Italy's automobile design house Pininfarina to develop a family of 'world cars' that will be rolled out in India and other countries by 2010, reports The Hindu.

The company is co-developing a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car with Pininfarina that would be positioned in the 'C' segment. Cars in the 'C' segment are generally priced between Rs 8-10 lakh.

"With the world cars, our intention is to develop a family of global cars which will include an SUV and a luxury vehicles. We have tied up with Italy's Pininfarina for developing these cars and are planning a global launch some time in 2010," ICML Managing Director Deepak Mittal told reporters here.

The company on Monday launched a new variant of its multi- utility vehicle Rhino at a starting price of Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). ICML expects to sell 5,000 units of Rhino this fiscal and is targeting sales of 24,000 units in 2008-09.

“Fitted with high-calibre MG Rover 2000 cc diesel engine fully compatible with Bharat Stage III emission norms, Rhino Rx has a maximum cruising speed of 160 km per hour. With its mileage of 15-17 km a litre, it is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the category,” claimed the group Chairman, L. D. Mittal, at a press conference yesterday.

Available in three variants, Rhino Rx has the best in the class features with ‘Nightingale Technology’-based instrument cluster and a new age aerospace steering wheel for smooth and effortless driving “We are yet to roll out Rhino pan-India that would be done within the current fiscal. We will be selling it through 170 dealers spread across the country soon,” he informed.

Giving further details on the ‘world car’ project, ICML Managing Director Deepak Mittal said: “We will be co-developing a sports utility vehicle and a passenger car with Pininfarina, an ace Italian automobile company renowned for its car design and process engineering. The new car will be positioned in the ‘C’ segment and generally priced between Rs. 8 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh.”

report courtesy of The Hindu