[AVR]

The Indian Automobile market has over the past decade or two got many models from foreign manufacturers that were custom-designed for that market but passed on to the Indian customer with the assumption that we'll lap up anything that's "foreign". We've proved the theory right with the success of a Qualis and maybe many more.

The goal of this thread is to identify features in cars previously launched in other markets that carried over features specific to the original market. Are these just simple cost-cutting measures? Oversights? Don't-care-to-make-small-changes? What do you think?

Some examples that come to mind immediately are:
1) Left-side stalk for indicator that was first seen in the Ford Escort (IIRC) and now seen in many models across manufacturers

2) The spare wheel cover of the Ford Endeavor that shows a silhouette of Mount Everest as it was originally called the "Ford Everest" in Southeast Asia. Its not a bad design for a spare cover but just the fact that its just a hangover from an earlier market!



source: www.india.ford.com

Anything else that comes to mind?

[mohandasnikhil]

Well heated seats on the Laura LnK?

[ethanhunt123]

Originally Posted by mohandasnikhil

Well heated seats on the Laura LnK?

Useful if you stay up north, so i wouldnt say totally "imported".

[volkman10]

Spare wheel of VW ( Polo's,Vento's ) cars being of a smaller size, is defintely a cost cutting measure though as such they are offered in other countries!

Cheers!

[drmohitg]

The Renault fluence is a classical example of this. So many things in the car have been left as it is from the foreign left hand drive version. Simple things like the lever to open the hood. How do they expect a driver to open it in malls and hotels where it has become customary for the security people to check out the engine bay?

The left hand placement of stalk is again a very gross carry over and its becoming more and more prevalent.

PS: BTW which part of the qualis was not oriented for right hand drive?

[zteg]

The VW Vento. It has the tunnel on the floor running on the rear as well. Just a carry over from the rear wheel driven Vento abroad.

[AVR]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

PS: BTW which part of the qualis was not oriented for right hand drive?

The Qualis by itself is a hand-me-down from the Southeast Asian market. Just plonked smaller tyres and sold it in India. Earlier, not many manufacturers tried thinking about the Indian customer really.

[libranof1987]

The list is endless; may examples of how some features of cars in India have characteristics of their non-Indian versions.

IIRC, there are a couple of threads running on this; http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ml#post2419342 is one.

[rajcs]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

The Renault fluence is a classical example of this. So many things in the car have been left as it is from the foreign left hand drive version. Simple things like the lever to open the hood. How do they expect a driver to open it in malls and hotels where it has become customary for the security people to check out the engine bay?

The left hand placement of stalk is again a very gross carry over and its becoming more and more prevalent.

Ditto for the Skods Fabia

In addition, following less annoying features...
1. DRL. No provision to turn off DRL, since turning off is not permitted in EU. Nevertheless a good feature to have.
2. Single light for reversing. Understand EU regulation says atleast one light should be provided for reversing. But most Indian cars always had two lights.
3. Fuel filling on right hand side. Personally I find it convenient to have it on the driver's side, and most fuel stations in metros can take cars on both sides of the pump. But norm in India is to have fuel filling on left hand side.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by zteg

The VW Vento. It has the tunnel on the floor running on the rear as well. Just a carry over from the rear wheel driven Vento abroad.

That floor hump is not only for RWD cars; many cars also use that area to route the exhaust plumbing.

BTW, our model of the Vento is only manufactured in a FWD spec.

[S5157]

Logan/Verito with windscreen wipers designed for LHD.

[drmohitg]

Infact is there any product from european or american car makers which has taken the pains to modify itself according to the Indian RHD system totally?

[zteg]

Originally Posted by GTO

That floor hump is not only for RWD cars; many cars also use that area to route the exhaust plumbing.

BTW, our model of the Vento is only manufactured in a FWD spec.

Agreed that, the hump can be used to route the exhaust. But, will VW have the rear tunnel in our market, only to route the exhaust pipes? Isn't this another case of similar parts used on different variants. Correct me if i am wrong.

Originally Posted by S5157

Logan/Verito with windscreen wipers designed for LHD.

You mean the setup simiar to XUV?. I thought manufacturers go for this since it is common to LHD and RHD.

[sandeepmdas]

The Punto. It has no place to put a 2L water bottle properly. Guess the Italians never get thirsty...

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Infact is there any product from european or american car makers which has taken the pains to modify itself according to the Indian RHD system totally?

NOT an answer to your question, but I've seen a program in Discovery a couple of years back that featured a Honda plant in Japan that can assemble both LH and RH cars. A highly-robotized, flexible assembly line.

[JustCause]

Here's what I can recall :

1) Wiper stalks on left side (usually meant for indicator) on European cars.

2) Hood release on left hand side making it quite a stretch to reach

3) Heated ORVMs.

4)Front windshield defogger on the Mondeo. This one feature was a real blessing on wintry days. This, IIRC no other car company has tried to incorporate in its products.

5) LHD style ORVM . The right side mirror is more concave than the left. Generally, the one away from the driver is more convex to allow a greater Field of View.