Design Resource
History of Automotive Design in India
Appearance and Design of Automobiles
by
Cars Designs
HM AMBASSADOR
The Hindustan Ambassador is basically a redesigned Morris Oxford of 1950’s. It was made in India by Hindustan. It was in production from 1958 to 2014. It is one of the most iconic cars in India. The car became synonymous with Indian taxi. It was the first car to be made in India and was once a status. It has a simple, Functional and timeless design. The comfortable rear seat made it the first choice for Indian Politicians and families alike.
The Hindustan Ambassador is basically a redesigned Morris Oxford of 1950’s. It was made in India by Hindustan. It was in production from 1958 to 2014. It is one of the most iconic cars in India. The car became synonymous with Indian taxi. It was the first car to be made in India and was once a status. It has a simple, Functional and timeless design. The comfortable rear seat made it the first choice for Indian Politicians and families alike.
PREMIER PADMINI
Premier Padmini was basically a rebranded version of Fiat 1100 Delight. It was manufactured in India by Premier Automobiles Limited (PAL) from 1964 to 2000. It is a smaller, lighter and nimbler car compared to its competition like HM Ambassador, Standard Herald etc. Its simplicity and ease of driving made it popular amongst youngsters and celebrities alike. Its popularity peaked in 1970 – 80’s.
Premier Padmini was basically a rebranded version of Fiat 1100 Delight. It was manufactured in India by Premier Automobiles Limited (PAL) from 1964 to 2000. It is a smaller, lighter and nimbler car compared to its competition like HM Ambassador, Standard Herald etc. Its simplicity and ease of driving made it popular amongst youngsters and celebrities alike. Its popularity peaked in 1970 – 80’s.
STANDARD HERALD/GAZEL
The Standard is an Indian brand , which brought Triumph UK’s cars to India. The factory was setup in Madras. The Gazel is a redesigned Herald In 1971, by Nasser Hussain. It was the first automobile design took place in Indian industry.
The Standard is an Indian brand , which brought Triumph UK’s cars to India. The factory was setup in Madras. The Gazel is a redesigned Herald In 1971, by Nasser Hussain. It was the first automobile design took place in Indian industry.
SIPANI DOLPHIN
Sipani Automobile limited was a company which used to make fiberglass bodied cars. Based in Bangalore, Sipani prepared mould for their cars from UK based Reliant motors. The Dolphin is their most successful model. It had parts from Maruti 800 which made it look like a copy of 800. Being built out of fiberglass, Dolphin is pretty lightweight and was used in rally racing. The company went defunct because of high maintenance cost of fiberglass panels.
Sipani Automobile limited was a company which used to make fiberglass bodied cars. Based in Bangalore, Sipani prepared mould for their cars from UK based Reliant motors. The Dolphin is their most successful model. It had parts from Maruti 800 which made it look like a copy of 800. Being built out of fiberglass, Dolphin is pretty lightweight and was used in rally racing. The company went defunct because of high maintenance cost of fiberglass panels.
MARUTI 800
Maruti 800 was the first people’s car in India. It was manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India from 1983 to 2013. It is regarded as the most influential car in India. It enabled countless Indian families to fulfil their dreams. This small, compact car became an Indian household name thanks to its reliability, low cost and low maintenance.
Maruti 800 was the first people’s car in India. It was manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India from 1983 to 2013. It is regarded as the most influential car in India. It enabled countless Indian families to fulfil their dreams. This small, compact car became an Indian household name thanks to its reliability, low cost and low maintenance.
MARUTI SUZUKI GYPSY
Maruti Gypsy is a 4WD vehicle based on Suzuki Jimny. For Indian market, it was elongated and provided 4 bucket seats or 2 bucket seats and a rear bench. Launched in Indian in 1985, it was primarily used for off-road purposes. The model became popular with law enforcement due to its tough build, ruggedness and simplicity. It instantly became a favourite as a rally car amongst Indian enthusiasts.
Maruti Gypsy is a 4WD vehicle based on Suzuki Jimny. For Indian market, it was elongated and provided 4 bucket seats or 2 bucket seats and a rear bench. Launched in Indian in 1985, it was primarily used for off-road purposes. The model became popular with law enforcement due to its tough build, ruggedness and simplicity. It instantly became a favourite as a rally car amongst Indian enthusiasts.
TATA SIERRA
The Tata Sierra was the first automobile to be designed and produced in India, in 1991. Sierra was the first diesel vehicle to be accepted as a personal car in India. It was a 3 door SUV. The distinctive boxy styling of the car made it instantly recognizable and a design icon. It has a huge fan following. It brought feature such as adjustable steering, power windows, power assisted steering and a tachometer. Production ended in 2000.
The Tata Sierra was the first automobile to be designed and produced in India, in 1991. Sierra was the first diesel vehicle to be accepted as a personal car in India. It was a 3 door SUV. The distinctive boxy styling of the car made it instantly recognizable and a design icon. It has a huge fan following. It brought feature such as adjustable steering, power windows, power assisted steering and a tachometer. Production ended in 2000.
TATA INDICA
The Tata Indica is a very important automobile in the Indian industry. It was the brainchild of Ratan Tata. His idea of the car was a family car for India, as spacious as an Ambassador, as big as a Zen and as costly as Maruti 800. It was launched in 1998. it is considered as India’s first indigenously developed passenger car. The styling was done by Italian design house, I.DE.A. It had a set of indigenously developed engines.
The Tata Indica is a very important automobile in the Indian industry. It was the brainchild of Ratan Tata. His idea of the car was a family car for India, as spacious as an Ambassador, as big as a Zen and as costly as Maruti 800. It was launched in 1998. it is considered as India’s first indigenously developed passenger car. The styling was done by Italian design house, I.DE.A. It had a set of indigenously developed engines.
SAN STORM
San Storm is one of the very few convertible cars available in India. Launched in 1998 by San motors, the Storm was designed by Le Mans group, a French design firm. Powered by a 1.1 liter Renault engine, Storm had a good power to weight ratio thanks to its Double skinned fiberglass body and steel tubular chassis. Introduced as a lifestyle product, it did not do very well in market due to its high maintenance cost, lack of dealerships and impracticality. But it still remains as a memorable Indian car.
San Storm is one of the very few convertible cars available in India. Launched in 1998 by San motors, the Storm was designed by Le Mans group, a French design firm. Powered by a 1.1 liter Renault engine, Storm had a good power to weight ratio thanks to its Double skinned fiberglass body and steel tubular chassis. Introduced as a lifestyle product, it did not do very well in market due to its high maintenance cost, lack of dealerships and impracticality. But it still remains as a memorable Indian car.
TATA SAFARI
The Safari is the first SUV to be designed, developed and manufactured entirely in India. It replaced Tata Sierra when launched in 2001. It was very successful because it was a very good alternative to expensive foreign sedan cars. And being an SUV, it could tackle the worst of Indian roads with ease.
The Safari is the first SUV to be designed, developed and manufactured entirely in India. It replaced Tata Sierra when launched in 2001. It was very successful because it was a very good alternative to expensive foreign sedan cars. And being an SUV, it could tackle the worst of Indian roads with ease.
MAHINDRA SCORPIO
The Mahindra Scorpio is a 4WD SUV. It was launched in 2002. It is the first model which was conceptualized and designed in- house by Mahindra. Scorpio was designed to be a tough, go anywhere SUV which can be used for highway trips also. The idea clicked and it became a huge success in Indian and other markets. The first version was launched in 2002. It got a series of cosmetic and mechanical upgrades along the years.
The Mahindra Scorpio is a 4WD SUV. It was launched in 2002. It is the first model which was conceptualized and designed in- house by Mahindra. Scorpio was designed to be a tough, go anywhere SUV which can be used for highway trips also. The idea clicked and it became a huge success in Indian and other markets. The first version was launched in 2002. It got a series of cosmetic and mechanical upgrades along the years.
TATA NANO
The Tata Nano is a very important milestone in Indian automobile history. It marked India in the global automotive scene as one of the most capable. It is the world’s cheapest car in the world, at Rs. 1,00,000, when launched. But far from a cheap, low quality city runabout. Tata has launched the Nano as a family car for four or five people. The realization of this car was an engineering and design challenge. To keep cost to a minimum, extreme engineering measures had to be taken, with clever and ingenious industrial design.
The Tata Nano is a very important milestone in Indian automobile history. It marked India in the global automotive scene as one of the most capable. It is the world’s cheapest car in the world, at Rs. 1,00,000, when launched. But far from a cheap, low quality city runabout. Tata has launched the Nano as a family car for four or five people. The realization of this car was an engineering and design challenge. To keep cost to a minimum, extreme engineering measures had to be taken, with clever and ingenious industrial design.
MAHINDRA XUV 500
XUV500 is a mid size SUV from Mahindra. Launched in 2011, it was designed and developed by Mahindra’s design centers in Nashik and Chennai. It was designed to appeal to the SUV crazy Indian market, to replace C and D segment sedans which are less practical. Its design was inspired from a Cheetah. XUV was the first monocoque chassis car ever produced by the manufacturer. Its contemporary styling, price and practicality made it hugely popular in India.
XUV500 is a mid size SUV from Mahindra. Launched in 2011, it was designed and developed by Mahindra’s design centers in Nashik and Chennai. It was designed to appeal to the SUV crazy Indian market, to replace C and D segment sedans which are less practical. Its design was inspired from a Cheetah. XUV was the first monocoque chassis car ever produced by the manufacturer. Its contemporary styling, price and practicality made it hugely popular in India.
BAJAJ QUTE
Also known as Bajaj RE60, the Qute is an inexpensive, 4 passenger rear engine quadricycle. It was designed to replace autorickshaws. The Qute is the result of Bajaj’s alliance with Renault and Nissan to make a USD 2500 car with 35 jmpl mileage. Introduced to Indian market in 2013, its ingenious polymer- metal body provides it with a very low weight of just 400 kg.
Also known as Bajaj RE60, the Qute is an inexpensive, 4 passenger rear engine quadricycle. It was designed to replace autorickshaws. The Qute is the result of Bajaj’s alliance with Renault and Nissan to make a USD 2500 car with 35 jmpl mileage. Introduced to Indian market in 2013, its ingenious polymer- metal body provides it with a very low weight of just 400 kg.
MAHINDRA E2O
E2O, also known as Mahindra Reva NXR is an electric micro city car. It is a developed version of India’s first electric car, the Reva. Launched in 2013, the exterior styling was done by DC and Mahindra. The detailed production exterior and interior design was done in-house by REVA’s design team. It provides 120 km of range and passed all safety regulations.
E2O, also known as Mahindra Reva NXR is an electric micro city car. It is a developed version of India’s first electric car, the Reva. Launched in 2013, the exterior styling was done by DC and Mahindra. The detailed production exterior and interior design was done in-house by REVA’s design team. It provides 120 km of range and passed all safety regulations.
DC AVANTI
It is India’s first indigenously designed and developed sportscar. It was developed by DC Design of designer Dilip Chhabria. Launched in 2014, this car is for the nation’s youth who aspires of owning a sportscar. It is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder engine sourced from Renault. The body is reinforced with carbon fiber to make a strong and lightweight package.
It is India’s first indigenously designed and developed sportscar. It was developed by DC Design of designer Dilip Chhabria. Launched in 2014, this car is for the nation’s youth who aspires of owning a sportscar. It is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder engine sourced from Renault. The body is reinforced with carbon fiber to make a strong and lightweight package.