In an era when car global manufacturers launch new models with upgraded features nearly every five years this could be classified as a case study of a kind.

The new car, based on a new platform altogether, will be positioned in the C to C-plus segment (Rs 5-10 lakh-plus price bracket) and will roll out by December 2003. Company officials say HM is not interested in the highly competitive small car segment. The car will be manufactured at the company''s Uttarpara facility near Kolkata.

This is not all. S Burman, vice-president (marketing), HM, says the company intends to launch a number of new vehicles including a multi-utility vehicle (MUV), a pick-up truck, a part-passenger-part-goods carrier and a light commercial vehicle (LCV).

The MUV (hard top) will use a platform independent of the one used for its older soft-top MUVs, the Trekker and the Pushpak. It will be positioned alongside the base models of the Tata Sumo and the Mahindra Bolero.

HM''s part-passenger-part-goods carrier, the Porter, will be on roads by the end of October or early November. The company also intends to make an entry into the LCV market with a six-tonner.

Recently the company came out with the Grand version of the Ambassador and hopes to sell 2,000 units of the vehicle in the current fiscal and over 10,000 units next year. The model is mostly targeted at institutional buyers and personalised ownership, which is a new market segment for HML. The company aims to sell over 20,000 normal Ambassador cars this year, up from 14,000 sold during last fiscal.

The Ambassador was the first car to be manufactured in India. It is based on the 1948 Morris Oxford earlier manufactured in the UK. The Amby was upgraded several times over the years with powerful engines, improved suspension, smoother gears, ergonomically designed seats, wider tyres, power steering and a choice of fuel such as CNG/LPG.

HM has sold over 8 lakh Ambassadors since its launch, with sale of 14,000 units in 2002.