MUMBAI (Reuters) - A feasibility study by Bajaj Auto Ltd, India’s No. 2 motorcycle maker, and France’s Renault on making a small car in India should be ready within two months, a senior Bajaj official said on Friday.

Renault and Bajaj said in July they were in initial talks on making “very competitive” vehicles in India.

“Right now, it looks like the study will be done in six to eight weeks,” Executive Director Sanjiv Bajaj told Reuters by telephone.

“Depending on the outcome, we will then make a decision on how to proceed,” he said, without giving further details.

Renault, which also has a joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra to make the no-frills Logan sedan in India, has said it was looking at the viability of a $3,000 car to compete with a cheaper car that Tata Motors is making.

Renault, Nissan Motor and Mahindra also have an alliance to make 400,000 vehicles in a plant in southern India from the second half of 2009.

It has been reported that Bajaj, which also makes motorised three-wheelers and is developing its first four-wheel vehicle, a cargo carrier, would make the engine for the proposed small car.

Bajaj has been reported as saying the engine may be displayed at India’s Auto Expo in January, when the Tata car is also expected to be unveiled ahead of its launch later in the year.

Earlier on Friday, Bajaj posted a better-than-expected 6 percent rise in net profit to 3.36 billion rupees ($85 million) in the fiscal second quarter to Sept. 30.

Source : Reuters

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PRESS RELEASE:
NISSAN ANNOUNCES NEW NISSAN GT-R
- New Dimensional Multi-Performance Supercar Available in Early December –

TOKYO (Oct. 24, 2007) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced the launch of the Nissan GT-R, a new multi-dimensional performance machine that lives up to the concept of “an ultimate supercar for anyone, anywhere, at anytime”. The Nissan GT-R features a newly developed Premium Midship package, including the world’s first independent transaxle 4WD developed independently by Nissan. The Nissan GT-R will be available in Japan mainly through Nissan High Performance Centers nationwide from December 6th.

The Nissan GT-R was developed with a new understanding and appreciation of the Earth’s natural forces – gravity, inertial force and aerodynamics – and translates those forces into a completely new design, maximizing tire grip and airflow.

Basic vehicle dynamics and integration with the driver have also been examined, resulting in new componentry and creating a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) never seen before in the marketplace. All of these theories have been integrated to balance “speed and efficiency,” “high-output with environmental consideration” and “high performance and safety.”

Taking these factors into account, Nissan created the all-new Nissan GT-R, which offers advanced high performance for secure and enjoyable driving by minimizing the effects of climatic, road condition or driving technique limitations. The Nissan GT-R offers ultimate performance for virtually every driving situation – whether it be the Nurburgring circuit, to snow, rain or urban areas – all manageable by the GT-R driver through advanced technology and driving dynamics.

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Newsletters don’t normally float our boat here at the Cars.com offices, but the latest from the 2008 North American International Auto Show (2008 NAIAS), aka the Detroit auto show, has our interest piqued two and a half months before the annual event. A number of the cars that will debut there are mentioned, including:

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