Car Blog - CarSalesIndia.com

Volkswagen reacts to the Vento car fire death case

2012-02-13T15:49:00.001+05:30

Some days back in Pune, a Volkswagen Vento had ended up in flmaes. The driver of the car- Mr. Kailash Gupta, had sustained serious burns and succumbed to them last week. A VW said , ‘Our dealer is in close contact with the family. The safety of our customers is of utmost priority to us‘.

It may be noted VW is a relatively new entrant in Indian car market and this is the first time that such an incident has occurred with a Vokswagen car. The burnt VW Vento was collected by the manufacturer for further investigation. Now, the Deccan Gymnkhana, Pune police will act as per the report submitted by VW. VW Spokesperson added , ‘Our technical experts are investigating‘.

While we are sad about the loss of a life, we strongly feel that VW should be quick with its investigation and come out openly with the findings.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd increases dealer margin by 10% to push petrol car sales

2012-02-13T15:29:00.002+05:30

Ever since the petrol prices have decided to start their journey to the moon, diesel cars have been finding a lot of favor from the car buying lot. One of the bread and butter models for Maruti is the Swift diesel and the diesel variants of Swift, Ritz and SX4 have eaten into the sales of petrol brothers of these cars. Now MSIL has bumped up the dealer margins on gasoline engined cars by 8% to 10%. This move is to give a new lease of life to the fast declining petrol car sales.

Another reason for this might be the dip in market share of MSIL. For the first time, the company’s share in passenger car market has gone below 40%.

It may be noted that rival Hyundai offers as much as 7% dealer commission as compared to only 4% by Maruti. MSIL’s profits have decreased by a whopping 39% in the first 9 months of this fiscal.

Renault to soon come up with Petrol engined Pulse hatchback

2012-02-03T15:37:00.002+05:30

We have been reporting in detail about Renault Pulse since a few months. The Nissan Micra derived hatchback has received around 600 bookings withing a month and now, our sources say, Renault India is working on introducing a gasoline variant of the hatchback. It may be noted that Renault had introduced the Pulse with the 1.5 DCi diesel engine that it had borrowed from the Micra. Now, we expect that Renault Pulse will share the 1.2 Liter, 80 Bhp, 3 cylinder petrol engine from the Micra. Also interesting are the rumors of Renault planning to introduce an automatic transmission variant with the petrol sibling. It may be noted that Renault and Nissan are present in the Indian market as a group of two manufacturers and are expected to share a lot of components (and in this case, the entire car). We also feel that sooner or later, the good folks at Renault will come up with an entry level sedan that will be employ Nissan’s V platform and will be based on the Micra.

Renault Pulse diesel retails at a slight premium over the Jap manufacturer’s Micra diesel hatchback and similar case should be seen when Renault announces the pricing of Petrol variant.

Maruti Swift Dzire compact sedan spied!!

2012-01-18T16:24:00.003+05:30

Recently, the good folks at Indian Autos Blog managed to capture pictures of the upcoming Dzire compact sedan. The sedan was being tested in Jammu and it may be noted that the car had no hints of being camouflaged. Just a day ago, we had reported that this car will make it to the market by mid 2012 and it seems like our sources in the industry have again manged to do a decent job. On comparing it with the current Dzire sedan, it won’t be wrong to say that the car has a lot of new design features, both on the exterior and the interiors. The sedan borrows the fascia from the new gen Swift hatchback. The car also gets a set of all new trendy wheel caps. The rear end on the Dzire compact sedan (CS) looks quite unlike the one seen on the current Dzire sedan. The tail lamps on the CS are differently styled and are little smaller in size as compared to those on the predecessors. The car benefits from the new surfaces that it has borrowed from the Swift hatchback.Talking of the current Dzire’s overall form, we have always maintained that the car’s proportions have gone for a toss.But, owing to a reduced rear overhang, the upcoming Dzire looks much more proportionate than the current Swift sedan.
On the interiors front, gone are the acres of dull grey tacky plastics of the current Dzire as the new sedan benefits from sharing the interiors with the new Swift hatchback. Dzire compact sedan offers the two tone dashboard that boasts of an upmarket integrated audio interface, stylish air-con vents and a scoop for under dash storage space. The power house is a 1.2-liter K Series petrol engine and 1.3-liter Fiat-sourced Multi-jet engine.
All over the web, this car is being called the new Dzire 3.99 and not without a reason. It may be noted that the current Dzire sedan is longer than 4 metres and this prevents the car from being entitled to the excise duty benefits. Taking cue from the Tata Indigo CS, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has decided to keep their upcoming sedan’s length below 4 metres and hence, benefit from the excise duty relaxation. The manufacturer plans to pass on this benefit to the buyers and it all simply means that the new Dzire, in all probability, will be priced lower than the current Swift Dzire. One hot seller this car should be!

MINI bags 100 bookings. Already!

2012-01-12T15:33:00.002+05:30

It has been just six days since the MINI was officially launched in India and the BMW group already has about 100 bookings for the iconic British car. It may be noted that the entire line up of mini cars was launched in the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and going by the response that the car got at the Expo, MINI brand is already a hit in the Indian market. Sources reveal that the deliveries of the MINI cars should start from April.

“We can sell around 200 units in the first year, as these models are all imported and orders have to be placed many months in advance. The highest demand is for the Countryman SUV and convertible variants,” an official said.

The MINI range will be imported into the country as Completely Built Units (CBUs). Unlike what many thought, MINI cars won’t be sold through the BMW dealerships but will get three exclusive showrooms– Deutsche Motoren and Bird Automotive in New Delhi and Infinity Cars in Mumbai.

MINI prices (ex-showroom Delhi):

Cooper: Rs. 24.9 lakh

Cooper S: Rs. 27.9 lakhs

Cooper Convertible: Rs. 29.99 lakhs

Cooper S Countryman: Rs. 31.99 lakhs

Revealed: Toyota Yaris Hybrid

2012-01-11T15:51:00.002+05:30

We are seeing a lot of hybrid cars hitting the roads these days. What with the world deciding to go green. Now, the trickle down effect seems to have been in work as the hybrid technology makes it to the B-segment for the first time. The web world is full of spy pictures for the 2012 Toyota Yaris Hybrid. To make the system work with the smaller model, Japanese automotive giant Toyota went ahead and downsized their hybrid powertrain-Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). Now, the HSD will work with a 1.5 litre petrol engine. The re-worked unit is a good 20 percent lighter than the full sized sibling being used in the Auris Hybrid. The combined power output of the system is rated at 100PS (98hp/73kW) and this alone speaks that the downsized HSD has no handicap to deal with.

The hybrid version of Yaris has received a substantial facelift. The updated styling includes a redesigned front and rear fascias. As per Toyota, the new front is also the new family face of the Toyota line up of cars.“It combines a new, more assertive Under Priority trapezoid opening frontal design element with the Keen Look design implemented on the front lamps.”

The 2012 Toyota Yaris Hybrid will be unveiled to the world at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Honda unveils the NSX Concept: The giant killer will be revived after all!

2012-01-11T15:23:00.002+05:30

American Honda today unveiled the new NSX Concept, highlighting the design and technology direction for the next-generation supercar. Badged as an Acura in the US, the new NSX, which is expected to go on sale in the next three years, will be developed by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio. The car, however, will be available across the world.

The dynamically-styled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next great performance vehicle from Honda. Making use of lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX Concept employs several new technologies, including an innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel DriveTM) hybrid system.

Speaking at the Detroit Motor Show, Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd, who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, explained the values of the new NSX, “Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.” While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept champions the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio.

A powerful next-generation VTEC V-6 engine with direct-injection, works in concert with a dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor, to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency. This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of, “the synergy between man and machine,” added Ito. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

Fiat India Automobile launches Fiat Caffe

2012-01-10T15:26:00.002+05:30

We have been talking about FIAT’s plan of introducing Fiat Caffe in India. FIAT India Automobiles launched the first Indian Fiat Caffe at Tolstoy Marg in New Delhi. The next Caffe will be launched in Pune and that will make India the only country to possess two FIAT Caffes. As we told, the Caffe will allow visitors to go through the latest FIAT India cars, take a test drive, browse through FIAT worldwide or FIAT India details and interact with specially trained Fiat personnel.The Caffe boasts the classy Italian ambiance and serves the visitors with some authentic Italian coffee.

At the launch of the Caffe, Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, President & CEO FIAT India Automobiles Ltd said, “The launch of FIAT Caffe is an integral part of our strategy to showcase our commitment to the Indian customer and market. With this Caffe we aim to promote our Italian heritage and the ‘real’ FIAT brand, by engaging a passionate connect amongst the audience and prospects with FIAT automobiles. The Caffe will provide us with an opportunity to hold an array of events, both car and lifestyle related, demonstrating the values and culture we share at FIAT, amidst the Italian ambiance while sipping on authentic Italian coffee.”

Also, on display will be the Fiat merchandise and accessories at the Fiat Caffe brand stores. Fiat has quite a few Caffes aboad that are used to showcase Fiat brands like Ferrari, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

Audi confirms the new A3 sedan for 2012

2011-12-30T12:13:00.002+05:30

If you have always dreamed of acquiring an Audi but the A4 sedan is a little beyond your budget, we bring to you a news that should set you excited. The German luxury car manufacturer has confirmed launching the new A3 sedan in 2012. Luckily for us, India will be one of the first countries to get the new entry-level Audi. In all probability, the Audi A3 will be priced very aggressively to take on the arch rival-BMW.

The A3 is a part of a really long list of future Audi vehicles but the others from the list might not make it to the sub continent any time soon. The list includes the hybrid version of the luxurious A8 and the all electric version of the R8 sportscar. Also, Audi should be unveiling the revamped A4 at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.

Tata Motors is also upgrading cables of the Nano cars being recalled for replacing the starter motor

2011-12-29T12:14:00.002+05:30

Only yesterday, we had talked about Tata Motors recalling as many as 140000 Nano compact cars for replacing the starter motor provided in them. We spoke about how Tata denied calling this exercise a ‘recall’ and labelled it as ‘replacement exercise’ being done to make the car perform even better. Now, it won’t be surprising if the deed is being done because of more than half a dozen incidents of the engine compartment of the car catching fire.

Today, we bring to you the information that the starter motor is not all that is being replaced by the manufacturer.The alternator and the accelerator cable of the car have shown many incidences of failure. This has lead to cases of Nanos being stranded in the middle of nowhere. The problem of snapping of the Nano’s accelerator cable is quite common. These cables are being replaced by the manufacturer to improve the reliability of the car.

The 2012 Tata Nano comes factory fitted with upgraded started motor and cables and this upgrade sure makes the latest edition of the car much more trustworthy than the initial versions. This all appears to be an experience of deja vu to us. Remember the Indica and Indica V2?

Tata to replace faulty starter motor of 140000 Nano compact cars

2011-12-27T16:12:00.002+05:30

This latest recall has to be Tata’s biggest ever recall in the Indian Automobile history. Earlier today, Tata Motors announced their recall of as many as 140,000 (No, we have not made that up!) Nano small cars to replace the faulty starting motor in them.Interestingly, Tata Motors has declared that this event is not a recall but a replacement exercise (Yes, we have had our share of laughter). The starter motor of Nano will be replaced free of charge and this supposedly ‘noble deed’ by the manufacturer will set the popular Indian car manufacturer back by Rs. 110 crores (approximately Rs. 8,000 for each starter motor replaced). The replacement exercise had started in October and so far, the manufacturer has successfully replaced 50000 starter motors.

A spokesperson for Tata Motors said, “We have devised a better starter motor and so we are upgrading it in our old Nanos for improved performance. We have not received any complaint for this and this is not a recall. We will change the part in all the old Nanos that were sold before launching the Nano 2012 in November.”

Readers may remember media reporting as many as seven different incidents of Tata Nano engine catching fire without any particular reason. Tata Motors even launched an investigation which surprisingly gave a clean chit to the car. What is more interesting is that these incidents didn’t stop. We recently reported about the launch of 2012 Tata Nano. According to SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), Tata Motors sold 140,428 Nano units till November 2011 since the car was launched in 2009.

Last year Tata Motors had launched a similar ‘replacement exercise’, where as many as 70,000 Nano small cars were installed with fire safety devices. Talking about Tata’s latest replacement exercise, Mr Deepesh Rathore, Head, IHS Automotive India, said, “Tata Motors, like any other car-maker, wants to ensure that its customers are satisfied with their product. So they are willingly replacing the starters in all available Nanos in the market”.

We appreciate the manufacturer’s efforts of ironing out the faults from their product. We hope that after the completion of the recent recall, we do not get to hear of any ‘Nano on fire’ incident.

Petrol Sedan of The Year!

2011-12-27T04:30:00.002+05:30

After a thorough reflection on the year, and after answering many of our customers questions, it is obvious that the Honda City has come a long way ahead of the other Petrol sedans.

If it is a sedan you are after, and if it is a petrol engine that you definitely prefer, then our verdict strongly is with the Honda city. It holds pretty strong against all the odds with the other petrol sedans. Almost every other sedan has one or the other missing. Things like after sales service, cost of maintenance, cost of spares, resale value, customer care and I can keep going on and on, the Honda city ticks all of them.

Surely you cant ask for more. See more about the Honda city here. http://www.carsalesindia.com/Honda/City/Honda_City.html

Pete’s introduces Stage 2 and Stage 3 kits for Volkswagen group’s 1.8 TSi engine

2011-12-19T16:56:00.001+05:30

Pete’s has to be the first name that comes to our mind the moment we start talking about performance tuning boxes. Pete’s is a popular brand among performance junkies who wish to extract the maximum out of their car’s powerplant without really having to change the mechanical bits. Now, the good folks at Pete’s have presented Stage 2 and Stage 3 Packages in India. These come with technical assistance from JBS Autodesigns and Custom Code UK. These Stage 2 and Stage 3 packages elevate the power output of cars sporting the 1.8 litre TSI engine. India has many cars that use this engine and these include Skoda Laura, Skoda Superb, VW Passat and the Audi A4. These tuning boxes can bump up the power from 160 BHP to as much as 320-340 BHP (Stage 2) and a whopping 360-400 BHP (Stage 3). Now, all you might need is a set of new shock absorbers and clutch plates to put down all that power on the road.The Stage 1 Package (200-210 BHP) was launched 4 months ago.

The Stage 2 and 3 packages have been reportedly developed over months of research and development with JBS and Custom Code technicians. Pete’s claim’s that their tuning box is one of the most reliable packages for the 1.8 Litre engine. The following are the 3 stages of packages available and the approximate engine power output:

Stage 1 – 200-210 BHP.
Stage 2 – 320-340 BHP.
Stage 3 – 360-400 BHP.

Pete’s began its Indian operations in the year 2005 and after collaborations with some leading tuning firms, it has become a well known brand in the country. Pete’s has over 35 dealers across the country and look forward to expand even further.

Hyundai Santa Fe and new Sonata to be priced aggressively

2011-12-16T17:18:00.002+05:30

We have been catching Hyundai testing the Sonata/i45 in India for quite some time. The all new generation of Korean’s premium segment sedan has been spotted in and around Hyundai’s manufacturing plant in Chennai. Now, news is in the air that the popular car maker is readying itself to locally manufacture both the Santa Fe and Sonata in India. This will let the car maker save on import duties and price the cars more aggressively. Indian rupee losing its value against the US dollar has led to substantial increase in prices of importing these vehicles and this has pushed many manufacturers to increase the prices of the imported models. It may be noted that the Santa Fe SUV is not doing very good numbers and the car can do with a good price cut. Again, the upcoming i45 has won a lot of appreciation abroad and Hyundai’s newly acquired design language makes the car a stunner. Good pricing is much needed when the car comes to the country.

“We have already started complete manufacturing of the Santa Fe in India from August this year. As a result, we have been averaging 225-250 units of the Santa Fe every month. This will be the company’s focus area in the future, too. We will launch the new Sonata in 2012 because we want to remain as a full line-up manufacturer. We would like to maintain that spread. If we want to sell the new Sonata, we will have to produce it locally to bring down its cost. As a result, we will be doing the complete manufacturing here in India,” Arvind Saxena, director (marketing and sales), Hyundai India, said. The Santa Fe facelift will get the Fluidic styling and should be more competitively price. The car will compete with the Toyota Fortuner facelift and 2012 Honda CR-V. The i45 will be priced around Rs. 18 lakhs and will rub shoulders with the Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. There is a strong chances of the car getting an automatic variant as well.

The new Sonata will be displayed the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and will be available with a diesel engine when launched.

Nissan Sunny Diesel launched!!

2011-12-14T17:15:00.003+05:30

Since the launch of the Nissan Sunny, we knew that the diesel version of the car will be introduced sooner than later. But in what seems to be a very abrupt move, Nissan launches the oil burner variant of its mid segment sedan. The car is powered by a 1.5litres 4 cylinder diesel engine. As per ARAI figures, Sunny diesel sedan offers best in class fuel economy of 21.64 kmpl. Sunny has been built on Nissan’s global V platform. The codenamed K9K 1.5 litre diesel engine generates maximum power of 86 bhp at 3,750 rpm and 200 Nm torque at 2,000 rpm. Sunny diesel is now available for booking at all 47 Nissan dealerships across India. The diesel sedan’s color options include: Brick Red, Onyx Black, Sapphire Blue, Storm White, Blade Silver, and Bronze Grey.

The car is available with safety features like EBD (Electronic Break force Distribution),ABS( Anti-Lock Braking System), airbags and engine immobilizer.

Mr Kiminobu Tokuyama, MD & CEO, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd, said, “We are delighted to introduce the diesel variant of Sunny for the Indian market. At a time when Indian market is witnessing an increase in demand for diesel cars, Sunny Diesel with Nissan technology of high performance and fuel economy will be the right choice for our valued customers in their search for the most suitable sedan.” At the same occassion, Mr G M Singh, VC & MD, Nissan’s Marketing & Sales partner Hover Automotive India said, “Introduction of Sunny is another major milestone in Nissan’s efforts to grow fast in the Indian market which is growing at much faster pace compared to many other parts of the world now. The fact that we are able to clock over 3000 sales for the Petrol Sunny so far reinforces our belief that Indian customers prefer Nissan’s products which are filled with innovation and excitement.”

Sunny diesel has been launched in two variants- XL and XV. Prices start from Rs7,98,000 (XL) and Rs. 8,78,000 (XV), ex-showroom, Delhi. Going by the market trends, Nissan hopes to ride high on the sales of the diesel Sunny.

Engine Specifications:

Codename: Nissan K9K

Cubic capacity: 1.5 litre

Maximum power output: 86 bhp@3,750 rpm

Maximum torque: 200 Nm@2,000 rpm

Transmisson: 5 speed manual

ARAI certified fuel efficiency: 21.64 kmpl

Hyundai to showcase compact SUV concept at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

2011-12-12T16:15:00.001+05:30

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is all set to bring out its concept compact Sports Utility Vehicle at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo 2012. Sometime ago, we mentioned about the Korean Auto giant planning to introduce a ‘mini-SUV’with dimensions not very smaller from the Tuscon that we had in India. This most probably is a significant part of auto maker’s plan to expand their range of offerings in Indian market. However, it is not clear if the upcoming Hyundai SUV will be below 4 metres in length to benefit from a reduced excise duty. It may be noted that an 8% reduction in excise duty is applicable to small cars within the 4 meter range and also to cars with petrol engines displacing less than 1200 cc or diesel engines less than 1500 cc. Mahindra and Mahindra’s upcoming Mini Xylo and Maruti Suzuki’s MPV should benefit from this excise duty benefit once they are launched in future.

Our hopes are high from the Korean car maker as we have seen some well sorted SUVs from Hyundai in past and we are eager to see the concept at Expo.

2011-12-11T15:16:00.000+05:30

Ford cars to get costlier by 3%

2011-12-09T10:43:00.002+05:30

American auto major Ford India is all set to join the likes of GM India and Toyota Kirloskar as the American auto major has planned to raise prices of its entire line up of cars by as much as 3 percent from next month. Rising input costs and devaluation of Indian rupee are being cited as the reasons for this increase in price.

Reportedly, Ford India executive director (Marketing, Sales and Service) Nigel Wark said “For the last three months, the rupee devaluation is happening. The rising input costs are also hurting us. We have now decided to increase the prices of all our products by 2-3 percent.” The company will hike the prices of its models from January 1, 2012, he added. It was mentioned that he also said “Our models like Figo has very high local content. However, our suppliers import technology and raw materials and they are facing the burden. Overall, our operating cost has increased in recent months.“ It may be noted that the company has already hiked the prices of its cars thrice this year.

A more powerful engine to power Polo diesel

2011-12-09T10:40:00.001+05:30

We have always maintained that Polo is as solidly built as Germans come. And it is hard to criticize the awesome handling package it offers. Combine this with very modern and teutonic styling and it is tough to go wrong with this car until you look at the engine. The weakest link has to undoubtedly be the 3 cylinder 1.2 Liter common rail turbodiesel on duty in this car. I won’t be wrong to say that the engine keeps the driver from exploiting the handling capabilities the chassis and suspension set up offers. Plainly speaking, the diesel Polo is nothing short of being underpowered and that really is a shame. Looking at the sister Vento and Polo cup cars, the road going diesel Polo appears to be anemic. That leaves performance enthusiasts with no option but to look at rivals. Now, the situation might change sooner than expected. Various sources suggest that Volkswagen India might decide pleasing us adrenaline junkies by plonking in the Volkswagen Vento’s 1.6 Liter turbo diesel engine into the Polo’s engine bay. It is not being too optimistic as it may be noted that Polo is available with the 1.6 Liter diesel engine for international market, in two states of tune, a 89 Bhp and a 105 Bhp version. Now we really wish that VW listens to us all and goes ahead with launching a much more potent diesel Polo. Please? Pretty please?

Discount of INR 200000 on Tata Aria!!

2011-12-07T15:31:00.001+05:30

There is no denying that Aria is one of the most sorted out vehicles to be launched by Indian auto major Tata Motors but then again, there is no hiding from the truth that the car failed to attain much popularity. Just when the car had started doing average numbers, Mahindra XUV500 arrived and played the perfect party crasher. To make the deal sweeter, Tata decided to introduce a low cost version by dumping the 4 wheel drive system and that did help with improving the sales but nothing spectacularly. Now, to attract potential customers, dealers are offering a massive discount of Rs. 2 lakhs.The discount package includes a cash discount of as much as Rs.1.6 lakhs and remaining sum is being offered as exchange bonus. However, the bad news is that this offer is valid only for this month and this most probably is being done to deal with low sales that happen in December as buyers usually want a new model year vehicle.

We are of the belief that Tata Motors should consider making this discount a permanent deal and hence, officially reduce prices of all versions of this crossover. If Tata does this, we can’t think of any reason that might keep people from buying this upmarket Tata.

Maruti Suzuki plans to start exporting to other Asian markets

2011-12-07T15:23:00.001+05:30

Country’s leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) has it’s eyes set on other Asian markets too.As per reports, MSIL is planning to export some of its models as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits. The exports are to begin with the upcoming multi-passenger vehicle Ertiga.

Reportedly, Maruti Suzuki India MD S Nakanish said,”There is a great potential to export vehicles as CKD in many markets in Asia. Maruti will act as the biggest supplier of cars to the parent SMC and to start with we will dispatch Ertiga MPV and other new models from next year.” It is known that Ertiga will be available with a 1.4 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel mill and expect the MPV to be the first midel to be shipped to Indonesia and Thailand. It’s CKD kits will include drivetrains and suspension among others.

Suzuki holds a 9 % share in Indonesian market and with the introduction of Ertiga, the jap auto maker will compete with Toyota Avanaza, Daihatsu Xenia and the likes. It may be noted that importing a car to Indonesia invites 26 percent duty whereas cars brought thru CKD route warrant just 10 percent of the car’s cost as tax. Maruti Suzuki is busy overhauling its production capacity and has set a target to sell 20 lakh units

Etios series boosts Toyota’s sales

2011-12-06T15:55:00.003+05:30

Toyota Kirloskar Motor gave a good performance this November by selling as many as 13,956 vehicles. Toyota has shown a tremendous growth, with sales growing by a whopping 266% when compared to the corresponding period last year (5242 vs. 13596).

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, Toyota Kirlosakar Motor said, “We are very happy with the overwhelming response and confidence shown by our customers in the Etios and Etios Liva. The Etios series has sold a total of 8, 271 units in November. This growth can also be attributed to our efforts of educating more and more customers about the cost benefits of petrol cars by understanding theirrequirement and usage.”

The Etios sedan sold a good 3,943 units whereas the Etios Liva hatchback recorded a sale of 4,328 units. Innova MPV too did a good show by selling as many as 4,308 units last month. It may be noted that Etios series is the manufacturer’s first attempt at tapping the sales that come from the lower segments and so far, the manufacturer seems to be reasonably successful in doing so.

Honda unveils its new 1.6 liter diesel Engine! To power the Civic first!

2011-11-30T17:21:00.002+05:30

Finally, Honda Motor Company has managed to create a mid-size engine which would be able to power its cars ranging from the City to the Civic. The 1.6-liter engine (1596cc) was badly required by Honda for diesel happy markets such as Europe and India. Till now Honda had only one diesel engine, the 2.2 liter i-Dtec, but its large size doesn’t allow it to be fitted in smaller cars. The all-new engine to be fitted in the new Civic in the later part of 2012 is capable of delivering peak power of 120PS at 4000 rpm and peak torque of 300 Nm at 2000 rpm.

Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Company, at the Tokyo Motor Show announced that Honda have developed a new generation of engines called ‘Earth Dreams Technology’. This new engine series will deliver excellent performance and environmental values and will be gradually introduced throughout the Honda range.

According to the official company statement, with the exceptional environmental values of Earth Dreams Technology, Honda will strive to be number one in fuel economy in each category within 3 years.

The new engine, designed for the European market, will first be mounted on Honda’s new Civic and will be launched in late 2012. It is lighter than any other diesel engine of its size and with CO2 emissions below 100g/km and 120ps (at 4000rpm), the engine delivers a class-leading balance of fuel economy and performance. The 300Nm of torque (at 2000rpm) results in excellent driveability for models equipped with this engine.

Expect the new engine to make its debut in India under the bonnet of the Civic by late 2012 / early 2013. The new engine may also get a place under the City’s bonnet knowing the fact that the segment is currently defined by diesel propelled cars in the country.

What do you think of those engine specs? Do you think Honda will once again assume the leadership position in the C-segment if it equips the City with the new engine? Do let us know.

Maruti to soon launch a MUV

2011-11-30T17:18:00.001+05:30

MSIL, country’s largest car maker is working on a multi utility vehicle (MUV) that is spacious on inside (with a seating capacity of up to seven) and compact on outside. The MUV will be an important launch as it will be interesting to see how the leading manufacturer fares in this fast developing segment. It may be noted that the now defunct Maruti Suzuki Versa never met with the kind of success the manufacturer had hoped for and only after serious cost cutting, it is so that the Ecco (re-invented Versa) is doing good numbers. The upcoming MUV has been the hard work of Maruti’s Indian engineers coupled with consultancy provided by Suzuki’s R&D team. Expect the prototype to be showcased at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo. Hatchbacks have been traditionally a strong point of Maruti Suzuki and going by the strong sales figures of Mahindra Bolero along with TATA providing a makeover to the Grande, the need of the hour for Maruti is to mark its presence in this competitive segment. Reliable information says Maruti’s MUV will hit the market by March 2012.

Maruti seems to be getting aggressive with the development of the aforementioned MUV, a compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) and a SUV based on the platform of it’s SX4 sedan. We are of the view that hardly any other manufacturer understands the Indian automotive scenario the way Maruti does. Hence, these new products should be as competent as they can get.

Skoda Citigo bags full 5 stars at Euro NCAP

2011-11-30T17:01:00.003+05:30

Before you may ask, let me clarify that as with almost every Skoda car, the Citigo is a rebadged Volkswagen. Based on the Up! this car is VW group’s offering to those who are looking for a sub compact for urban use. Like with Skoda internationally, the Citigo will be placed at an affordable price point. But going by the pricing of VW cars and their Czech representatives in India, expect the Citigo to be priced just a wee bit below the upcoming VW Up! Now, as expected from a reputed manufacturer, the Volkswagen group has not exercised cost controls when it comes to safety factor of this Skoda. The Citigo was recently awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP, which simply means that the car scores maximum points with respect to overall safety the car provides (includes passenger, whiplash test, infant and pedestrian protection).

As is the norm at Euro NCAP, Citigo was tested in front, side and pole impact collisions. The head-thorax airbags, seat belt reminders for all seats, City Safe Drive features coupled with passive safety features clearly helped in making the Citigo a very safe car. To put things in perspective, the current generation of Suzuki Alto (A-Star in India) scored 3/5 stars in a similar test by Euro NCAP.

“This excellent five-star rating confirms the Citigo’s high level of safety,” said Eckhard Schols, Škoda’s in charge of technical development. “The development team has done outstanding work and it has proved that affordable, yet uncompromising safety is achievable even in the city car segment. The award by Euro NCAP is deserved praise for this great dedication.” He further added.

Now, when the Volkswagen Up! is all set to be launched in India, can the Skoda Citigo be far behind?

Chevrolet Cruze Hybrid to come soon

2011-11-30T16:56:00.002+05:30

Cruze is not just another General Motors car as it has played a very important role. No, we are not talking about the presence of Cruze in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). This is the car that has been responsible for making GM rise from the ashes. GM is planning to battle it out against the very popular Toyota Prius by introducing a hybrid version of the Cruze.

Cruze will be utilizing electricity as a source but will be reasonably different from the manufacturer’s Volt. While Volt is an electric car with a range extender, the Cruze will be a conventional plug-in hybrid. Volt uses a gasoline engine to charge the battery to power the electric motor which in turn powers the front wheels whereas the Cruze will make use of a combination of electric and gasoline engines. Simply speaking, both may be hybrids but their modus operandi will be different and they won’t eat into the sales of each other.

It is sad that due to certain factors, hybrids such as the Prius and the hybrid Civic did not perform very well. However, it may be noted that the Bengaluru based GM’s research center played a vital role in Bolt EV and Volt projects and it may again help with the development of the Cruze hybrid. We hope to see the hybrid Cruze on our roads soon. Fingers crossed.

Honda Siel Cars India to suffer due to Thai floods

2011-11-24T15:44:00.001+05:30

The Thailand floods seem to have taken its toll on the Indian auto industry too. Honda Siel Motors India is the Indian subsidiary of the Japanese auto giant. Honda motors and its Indian unit recently stated that production will be severely effected in the month of December 2011. This is due to the decline in essential supplies from the firm’s suppliers in Thialand, who have been victims of the flood. The firm seems to be prepared to face its worst month as far as production is concerned.

Honda has already stopped the production of its City sedan. The Brio might also have to face the same if conditions worsen. The production capacity of the firms manufacturing plant will be cut down by a whopping 95% next month which definitely is going to give rise to long waiting periods. As a result of this, expect the manufacturing facility to manufacture only a few hundred units in December, 2011 out of which none of them would be City sedans, close to 250 units would be the Jazz and about 100-200 units would make up for the Accord and Civic.

The firm manufactured 6,000 units last month and Mr Jnaneshwar Sen, VP, Honda India said with an intention to restore supplies, “We are looking at China and Japan very keenly. We hope to firm up things soon and return to normalcy in the coming months, though nothing can be confirmed as of now.”

Rs. 52000 gift offer on Nissan Sunny

2011-11-24T15:40:00.002+05:30

Nissan is offering benefits worth Rs. 52000 on every Sunny sedan purchased till November 30th. The offer is such that the customers receive Rs. 27,000 worth insurance on purchasing the car and he/she also receives car accessories worth Rs. 25,000. The customer can chose from a wide variety of accessories to enhance both the interiors and the exterior of the car as per his/her tastes.

The long list of exterior accessories include :

Wheel Covers

14 inch Alloy Wheels

Mud Guards

Trunk Spoiler

Body Side Molding

Door Visors

Rear Trunk Garnish

Black Pillar Tape

List of interior accessories reads like :

Floor Mats

Manual Rear Sunshade

Sear Belt Pad

Cusion Pillow Set

Neck Pillow Set

Steering Cover

Seat Covers

The lists of goodies do not end here,. The customer can also opt for extra electrical fitments for his Sunny. The list of electrical accessories include : parking sensors, remote locking mechanism and trafficators on ORVMs.

The top of the line Sunny XV costs Rs. 8.93 lakh and the XL variant has a purchase price of Rs. 8.03 lakh (all prices on-road Pune).

The price of insurance i.e. Rs. 27,000 is directly deducted from the price tags. It may be noted that the car has a spacious interior with class leading leg room and 490 litres of boot space. The Sunny comes with HR15 1.5 litre DOHC 16 valve, 4 cylinder gasoline engine that puts out 99 horsepower @6000 rpm and 134 torques @4000 rpm. And with the limited period benefit offer of Rs. 52000, Nissan Sunny makes an even stronger case for itself.

Skoda launches Yeti 4×2 in two variants, price starts at Rs. 13.46 lakh

2011-11-24T15:27:00.003+05:30

Skoda Auto India have launched the 4×2 version of its Yeti SUV. Although an accomplished SUV, which is equally good on the road, the Yeti wasn’t finding many takers primarily due to the high price of its 4×4 variant, and probably because of its unconventional looks. Skoda have removed one stumbling block by introducing a cheaper variant for the car.

The 4×3 version of the Yeti will be available in two variants – Active and Ambition, priced at Rs. 13.46 and 14.32 lakh respectively. Unlike what most of you guys would think, the changes made to the Yeti 4×2 do not restrict themselves only to the transmission, as the engine on the 4×2 variant is also a less powerful version of the 2.0 liter TDI unit. While the 4×4 version of the car features a 140bhp / 320 Nm version of the engine, both the 4×2 variants come with a 110bhp / 250 Nm version of the engine – much like the entry level Laura, which is less powerful than the higher spec variants.

Another change made to the Yeti 4×2 over the 4×4 is the gearbox. The 4×2 variant will have a five-speeder unit unlike the 4×4’s six speed box. Other changes include a lighter weight (98kg) and a smaller fuel tank (55 liters, against 4×4’s 60-liter tank). The ARAI certified fuel efficiency for the car is 17.72kmpl, which is great for a vehicle in this segment.

Here’s a detailed technical specification sheet to let you know all the changes made to the car

Technical specifications	2.0 TDI CR/81 kW	2.0 TDI CR/103 kW
Engine
Engine type	Turbocharged diesel engine, turbocharger with self-aligning blades, in-line, liquid cooling system, high-pressure direct injection system, 16V DOHC, transverse in front	Turbocharged diesel engine, turbocharger with self-aligning blades, in-line, liquid cooling system, high-pressure direct injection system, 16V DOHC, transverse in front
Cylinders	4	4
Displacement [cm3]	1968	1968
Max. power/revs [kW(bhp) at rpm]	81(110)/4200	103 (140) /4200
Max. torque/revs [Nm at rpm]	250/1500-2500	320/1750–2500
Fuel consumption – rule 115 of CMVR [kmpl]		17.7
Transmission
Wheel drive	Front wheel drive	Permanent four-wheel drive with automatic torque distribution, Haldex clutch
Transmission	Manual 5-speed fully synchronized	Manual 6-speed fully synchronized
Chassis
Front axle	McPherson suspension with lower triangular links and torsion stabiliser
Rear axle	Multi-element axle, with one longitudinal and three transverse links, with torsion stabiliser
Braking system	Hydraulic dual-diagonal circuit braking system vacuum assisted with Dual Rate system
Brake – front	Disc brakes with inner cooling, with single/piston floating caliper
Brake – rear	Disc brakes
Steering system	Direct rack and pinion steering with electro mechanic power steering
Wheels	7.0J×16
Tyres	215/60 R16
Outside dimensions
Length [mm]	4223
Width [mm]	1793
Height [mm]	1691
Wheel base [mm]	2578
Ground clearance [mm]	180
Inside Dimensions
Storage capacity [l]	416
Storage capacity with rear seatback folded down [l]	1485
Storage capacity with rear seats removed [l]	1665
Weights
Kerb weight [kg]	1445	1543
Gross weight [kg]	1960	2075
Liquids
Tank capacity [l]	55	60
Performance
Turning circle diameter [m]	10.0

Upgraded Tata Nano hits the showrooms: All the details and images

2011-11-21T16:20:00.004+05:30

Tata Motors today announced a new, upgraded Nano with more features, more fuel efficiency and lesser emissions without changing the price of the car. Changes on the car include new colours, new interiors, a more powerful gasoline engine and even greater fuel efficiency of 25.4 kmpl, further improving on its record as India’s most fuel efficient petrol car. The car is already available at dealerships, at the same price as before.

The key feature changes for the new Nano are

• More fuel efficiency at 25.4 kmpl
• New interiors
• New exterior colors
• More engine power
• More engine torque
• Booster brakes for even the standard version
• Lowest CO2 emission, among cars in India

The 624cc engine of the Nano will now deliver 38 Ps of peak power against the 35 Ps power of the earlier version. The Peak torque too has gone up from 48 Nm to 51Nm. What comes as a bonus is that the fuel efficiency has gone up too to 25.6 kmpl from an earlier 23.6 kmpl as certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The high fuel efficiency, with a low kerb weight of 600 kg, ensures that the Tata Nano at 92.7 gm / km has the lowest CO2 emission among cars in India.

Tata Motors have also worked on the exhaust note of the car, which earlier sounded more like a small diesel commercial vehicle than a car. Tata Motors, in their official statement have suggested that the exhaust now sounds ‘racier’.

Capable of doing a top speed of 105km/h, the Nano now comes with booster-assisted brakes for all the variants (earlier available only on the CX and LX variants). The Nano CX and LX now have internally adjustable mirrors on both the driver and passenger sides. For the Nano Standard, which already has a driver side mirror, the passenger side one can be installed as an accessory.

The interiors too have been thoroughly enhanced with better look and feel. The Nano LX now features luxurious beige interior, the Nano CX a rich black tone and a medium graphite color for the Standard version.

The exteriors are now available in 10 colours, eight of them new — Pearl White, Rouge Red, Aqua Blue, Neon Rush, Serene White, Meteor Silver, Mojito Green, Papaya Orange, Sunshine Yellow, and Champagne Gold. New half or full wheel caps accentuate the distinctiveness.

Commenting on the introduction, Mr. P.M. Telang, Tata Motors’ Managing Director – India Operations, has said, “Tata Nano owners, over 90% of whom are highly satisfied with their choice, have given us valuable insights on what more can be done. We have introduced some of these ideas. We will continue to add features, as has been our tradition across our product portfolio.”

The three trim levels and their key features are:

Tata Nano Standard: The standard version comes with three colour options — Rouge Red, Aqua Blue, Serene White — along with clear headlamps, tubeless tyres and tip-tap driver side mirror, booster-assisted brakes and front suspension with anti-roll bar. The interiors comprise dual-tone vinyl seats and fold-down rear seat.

Tata Nano CX: The Nano CX comes in six colour options — Rouge Red, Champagne Gold, Neon Rush, Meteor Silver, Papaya Orange and Serene White. The interiors have been refreshed with trendy black fabric seats, ebony black interiors, fold-down rear seat with nap rest. Besides these, the variant offers best-in-class air-conditioning with heating (optional), parcel shelf, booster-assisted brakes, tip-tap mirrors on driver and passenger side and half wheel covers.

Tata Nano LX: The top-end variant comes loaded with features like premium beige fabric seats, central locking, door handles, front power windows, cup holder in front console, provision for 12V socket, body coloured bumpers, fog lamps, electronic trip meter, rear spoiler, full wheel covers and tip-tap mirrors on driver and passenger side and booster-assisted brakes. The Nano LX comes in six premium colours – Pearl White, Papaya Orange, Mojito Green, Sunshine Yellow, Meteor Silver and Champagne Gold.

All the variants come with a warranty of 4 years or 60,000 kms, whichever is earlier.

The Tata Nano will continue to be available at the same price. The Tata Nano is priced (ex-showroom, Delhi), at Rs.1.40 lakhs for the Nano Standard, Rs.1.70 lakhs for the Nano CX and Rs.1.96 lakhs for the Nano LX.

The Tata Nano is available across 676 outlets. Customers can buy the Tata Nano at an extremely low down-payment, starting from Rs. 15,000, and high tenure financing (up to 60 months).

Coming Soon : Renault Duster

2011-11-21T16:17:00.001+05:30

Koleos has been in our market for sometime and it is no secret that it hasn’t exactly set the sales charts on fire. Now, Renault is readying itself to introduce the Duster in India. The Duster, like the Logan and unlike the Fluence, The Duster is a ‘economy-class’ SUV manufactured by Dacia and is built on the same platform as the Logan nay(!!) the Mahindra Verito.

The SUV will hopefully be available in 4×2 and 4×4 configuration and will be propelled by the 1.5-liter (K9K) diesel engine that does the duty on the Nissan Micra & will also be seen on soon to be launched Renault Pulse. The engine will hopefully be retuned to offer more punch and give a decent blend of fuel efficiency and performance.

Renault recently unveiled the Duster ‘compact-SUV’ at the Motor Show in Buenos Aires. The Romanian version of the Duster crossover sports a new grille, dark gray painted mag wheels, upgraded AWD system, and different instrument binnacle and center console.

Renault has officially confirmed the 2012 launch of Duster for India.

speaking of the dimensions, the Duster is similar to the now defunct Hyundai Tucson but the car will be priced significantly lower. It is a safe guess that the Renault will be priced within the 10 Lakh rupee bracket. The Duster will have high local content which translates into competitive pricing.

DIVORCE: Suzuki & Volkswagen part ways

2011-11-21T14:47:00.002+05:30

Sometime ago, Japanese auto major, Suzuki made it clear that they are to put an end to their partnership with one of the world’s largest manufacturer,the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen had earlier purchased as much as 19.9% of Suzuki Motors shares for a price of good $2.5 billion, but due to rapidly increasing and consistent clashes of ideas within the management of the two, Suzuki decided to call off the deal and decided that they will buy back the 19.9% stake from Volkswagen Group by November next year. Osamu Suzuki, CEO & Chairman, Suzuki Motors said, “Today, Suzuki terminated the partnership with VW. Suzuki will be seeking the return of its shares from VW in arbitration. I am disappointed that we have to take this action but VW’s actions have left us no choice.”

Suzuki’s and Volkswagen’s relationship hit a rough patch when VW’s annual report, stated that they will “significantly influence financial and operating policy decisions” at Suzuki. This statement, reportedly, gave a blow to the sentiments of Suzuki Motors. Mr Suzuki told, “I am disappointed that having shaken the hand of Dr. Winterkorn (VW Chairman) in agreeing to this partnership, he has not honored his commitment to grant Suzuki access to what was originally agreed.”

When contacted, Eric Felber, Spokesperson of Volkswagen Group said that they will not be selling their stake in Suzuki Motors at any price as they intend to keep their stake in Suzuki as it is.

2013 Nissan GT-R to be 15 horses more powerful

2011-11-18T16:00:00.004+05:30

Nissan had displayed the 2013 version of the GT-R at the 2011 LA Auto Show. Nothing seems to be changed as far as the eye can see. However, when it comes to performance, the car pumps an additional 15 horses as compared to the 2012 model making it the most powerful GT-R till date.

The twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 motor pumps out 545 bhp of power and 463 pound-feet of torque. This additional strength to the engine comes from a new redesigned intake system, complete with larger intercooler ducting and reduced airflow resistance. The firm also uses new lubricants for the GT-R’s transmission which has recalibrated shift action.

Along with this, the new car comes with carbon ceramic brake option which seems to be essential while considering Nissan’s claim that the car can hit 60 mph from stand-still in merely 2.7 seconds. With a stiffened chassis, the car has proved to be 10 seconds faster at Germany’s Nürburgring track. However, we still have no expectations for this beast to hit the Indian streets. In the meanwhile, let’s just sit and do what we can do best, ‘hope!’

Volkswagen sales rise by 46% worldwide!

2011-11-18T15:53:00.002+05:30

The German auto manufacturer, Volkswagen has high aspirations to become the world’s most profitable and largest auto manufacturer. Looking at the sales figures achieved by the firm in the last quarter that ended in September 2011, it seems that the firm is moving on the right track. In the last quarter, the German auto giant observed a 46% rise in worldwide sales. The firm also claims that they achieved a profit of $4.05 billion in the third quarter of 2011.

The January to September 2011 period has observed an overall growth of 14% with 15% profit in China and 20% profit in America. With this pace, the firm wishes to take Toyota’s place as the world’s second largest auto manufacturer, the largest being General Motors.

The firm has keen intentions to expand further on the global level by adding on to their investments. The firm revealed its plans to invest about €62.4 billion in the coming 5 years for the purpose of research and development plants and newer models. Recently, the firm also stated that it would increase its work-force to 500,000 by 2018. In order to achieve their goal of selling 10 million vehicles on a yearly basis, the firm stated that it would hire about 50,000 employees by the end of 2012.

“The past performance of the company shows our strength and stability and this is what will get us ahead despite uncertain economic conditions,” stated Mr. Martin Winterkorn, Chief Executive of VW.

Official Skoda Rapid Studio Image Gallery

2011-11-18T15:41:00.008+05:30

Skoda Auto have released the official studio images of their Rapid sedan. Here we have the entire set of images for you. Enjoy!

Maruti readying 1.0-liter diesel for Alto, WagonR, Estilo et al

2011-11-15T16:02:00.001+05:30

There used to be a time when petrol used to be affordable. Some lucky blokes in the West, in a country called America used to gleefully burn this liquid in cars running 8.0 liter V12 engines, returning 2 kmpl. And they didn’t have to sell their houses, or murder a millionaire for that little pleasure, mind! No one felt guilty, or sorry, or robbed. Times changed, and as we talk, the same guys who burnt a few gallons of fuel for a trip to the mall, have learnt how to make it last for a month.

One the other, hand, somewhere in the third world, ages after our Western counterparts burnt half the oil available on this planet, we somehow realized that there was a certain luxury in this world, referred to as an automobile. We realized that one could make his family sit inside the thing, buy groceries, and come back home without having to whip a human or horse tied to a cart in the process. Wow! We said, and a few privileged ones amongst us started buying these little mechanical marvels called cars, which used to suck gasoline to derive their power from. Slowly the not so privileged of us also realized that it’s not such a far-fetched thing to be driving a car, and we soon started driving small, fuel efficient, affordable cars ourselves. We started believing that these little contraptions were finally a part of our lives and modern culture which had hitherto been incredibly devoid of such luxuries.

And that was when our proactive government swung into action. Wary of the ill consequences of people indulging in too much luxury, it took measures to make gasoline, along with every other thing the common man thought he ‘needed’ out of his bounds. It was time, once again, for the struggling middle class to understand its position in the society. Luxuries such as an affordable commute in a personal car were not meant for this class of mortals. It’s a sin, not to be committed by the high-on-morals flag bearers of Indian inviolability – the great Indian middle class. The right to do any such things laid exclusively with the business, political and criminal – class of the society, shouldering the tough responsibility of committing all seven of sins on behalf of the rest of country, and sparing them the blemish. How so virtuous!

But corrupted as we already are, bitten by the motoring bug, we won’t give up driving for any of the virtues. And so, even with motoring having gone out of our limits with the soaring fuel prices, we want to be seen behind a steering wheel. And which other carmaker answers our prayers of affordable motoring better than a certain Maruti Suzuki! Diesel is the answer to the problem, and while MSIL may not have a small diesel car at hand as of now, they are gearing up to make sure that our indulgence with motoring doesn’t end abruptly.

Maruti is considering a 3-cylinder version of the 1.3 liter multijet diesel, the same one as employed on Chevrolet’s rather new Beat diesel. With about 60 PS of power, 150Nm of torque the engine will either be sourced from Fiat from its Ranjangaon plant near Pune, or will be manufactured by MSIL at its plant in Haryana. The smaller version of the 1.3 liter DDiS engine currently used in the bigger Swift will be employed in diesel variants of cars like the Wagon R, Alto, Zen Estilo and the new 800cc car from the company. In essence, Maruti Suzuki would, in the coming years try and offer each one of its small cars with a diesel option.

According to RC Bhargava Chairman, Maruti Suzuki, ‘At the moment, we have a 1.3-litre diesel engine. Fiat is working on 1,000cc engines also. We don’t know the timeline, but surely, we will get these for our smaller cars.’

We expect the new engines to take at least another year before they are made available on the Maruti Small cars. However, in the wake of rising competition and spiraling prices of petrol, Maruti Suzuki will have to come out with a diesel solution for their popular cars sooner rather than later.

Nepal to get Hyundai Eon by January 2012

2011-11-15T15:57:00.003+05:30

After launching the much awaited Eon in India, Hyundai is all set to introduce its small car across the border at Nepal. The car is expected to hit the Nepalese street by January 2012. Laxmi Intercontinental, the company’s local dealer at Nepal will look after the retailing of the brand new Alto-competitore from the house of Hyundai.

According to Mr. Abhishekh Dhungana, Marketing Officer of Laxmi Intercontinental, the company is primarily targeting entry level customers who are in search of their first car. The car will bear a price tag of NPR 1.5 million. Hyundai sells its Santro too in Nepal at a cost of NPR 1.7 million.

However, the firm has not yet revealed how many variants are set to be launched in Nepal. Mr. Abhishekh predicts that the firm will launch 3 out of the 7 variants that are launched in India and is very much confident about healthy sales figures due to the fact that no other car offers features and luxuries like an MP3 player with USB, keyless entry, airbags and air-conditioning, power steering with tile function and power windows at a similar price.

Tata introduces Sumo Gold at Rs. 5.23 lakh

2011-11-14T17:01:00.001+05:30

Tata Motors launched its revamped MUV in Pune, India on November 11, 2011. The new version of its popular people mover, the Sumo, has been christened as the Sumo Gold. The four variants of the updated MUV are GX, EX, LX and CX and the price range starts from Rs.5.23 lakhs.

The price list is as follows:

TCIC

TCIC CX – Rs. 5.23 lakhs
TCIC LX – Rs. 5.6 lakhs
TCIC EX – Rs. 5.96 lakhs
TCIC GX – Rs. 6.6 lakhs

CR4

CR4 CX – Rs. 5.49 lakhs
CR4 LX – Rs. 5.84 lakhs
CR4 EX – Rs. 6.1 lakhs
CR4 GX – Rs. 6.74 lakhs

The new Sumo Gold is being offered with two engine options: a BS-4 compliant CR4 Turbo motor and a BS-3 compliant 3-litre DI (TCIC) motor. It is the popular Indica hatchback that was the first vehicle from Tata to sport a CR4 engine. This trend was then followed by the Indigo sedan.

The CR4 engine delivers a power of adequate 84bhp and produces a good torque output of 25.5kgm.Likewise,the 3-litre Direct Ignition motor offers a power output of 69bhp at 3000rpm and 23kgm of torque at 1000 to 2000rpm. This difference of the efficiency between the two engines alone speaks for the advancements Tata has made with the development of the CR4 series. The MUV now boasts of better NVH levels.

The car features a slightly updated look with basic design form carried forward from the Sumo Victa. Talking about the exteriors, the upgrades include a mildly tweaked front grille,headlamps and fog-lamps and its interior feature a leather-wrapped 4 spoke steering wheel and updated switches for HVAC controls and power windows. Tata says that the seats have been made more comfortable.

The vehicle is being in production at the company’s Bhosari plant. The Sumo Gold will replace Sumo Victa. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) claims it gives 14.07 kmpl.

According to R. Ramakrishnan, vice president, commercial – PCBU, Tata Motors “We have improved the engine performance of the vehicle“. Sumo Gold will be battling it out with the Mahindra and Mahindra’s Bolero and the upcoming upgraded Chevrolet Tavera BS IV.

With new engine and slight cosmetic changes, the dinosaur bones seem to have to got a new lease of life and expect this people mover to soldier on for a few more years to come.

VW Vento Highline now available with additional features

2011-11-14T16:50:00.003+05:30

The C-segment is going to be the next big thing in the Indian auto market. In a market which is fast maturing, people are looking at cars which are not just commuting tools but have all the check boxes including style, presence, features and space tick marked. People are increasingly buying into the sedan segment and want a classy looking car to emerge out from when they visit social gatherings. No wonder the Verna, Vento, City and Fiesta which define the segment have all been doing respectable numbers.

The Vento, in the wake of the increasing popularity of the new Verna, and with its cousin Rapid gearing up to make a debut seems to have added a few more features to its arsenal. The Vento will now boast of some additional features to lure the customers buying into the segment. The top of the line Vento Highline variant now comes with features such as steering mounted controls, parking sensors and a USB slot for the music system. Small additions, those, but for a buyers in that segment, another car offering those features may tilt the decision.Wise move that, we must say.

So in case you were unwilling to buy the Vento for the lack of the features mentioned above, you have your worries allayed.

Here’s the official VW press release on the new additions

- New features include steering mounted audio controls, park distance control, RCD 310 Music System with USB and 4 speakers

Mumbai, November 10, 2011: Riding with the success of the Vento in the country, Volkswagen, Europe’s leading car manufacturer is now offering steering mount audio controls, park distance control, RCD 310 Music System with USB & 4 speakers as standard features in the highline diesel variant.

The new features have been introduced in the market to further enhance the driving pleasure of the Volkswagen Vento in India.

The car is available for customers at Rs. 9,77,500/- ex showroom Delhi.

The Vento is available with a petrol and diesel variant. The petrol variant is equipped with a 1.6 litre engine with an output of 105 PS @ 5250 rpm and a Torque of 153NM @ 3800 rpm.

The diesel variant is also equipped with the 1.6 litre engine with an output of 105 PS @ 4400 rpm and a Torque of 250 NM @ 1500-2500 rpm.

It is available in two trim levels i.e. Trendline, Highline. The petrol variant is paired with a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gear box and the diesel variant is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Interior:

It is equipped with storage compartment in front doors for 1 litre Bottles, sunglass storage inside glove box, foldable roof handles with coat hooks, front and rear centre armrest, cupholders and “Livon” fabric upholstery are proof of the sure instinct of high design quality which interprets the classic elements of the Vento in a contemporary way.

Exteriors

The Vento offers Body colored bumpers, Chrome inlays in front grille, body coloured exterior door handles & mirrors (Highline), rough road package with increased ground clearance and partially zinc coated body with 6 years anti-rust warranty.

Safety

With regards to safety, the Vento Highline is equipped with ABS, Front Airbags for driver and co-driver, Anti Theft system with interior surveillance and back up alarm.

Comfort

The Vento petrol Highline offers CD MP3 Player with 4 speakers, while the diesel highline offers the RCD 310 music system with USB, electrically adjustable outside mirrors, Climatronic automatic air conditioning with rear AC vents, and remote control for central locking. Multi function information display including door opening warning, height adjustable driving seats, space lever for rear passenger and a steering wheel adjustable for reach and rake which improves the drivability of the passenger.

Hyundai i10 Diesel delayed

2011-11-14T16:48:00.001+05:30

It is a known fact that every car owner, right from owner of Maruti Alto to the owner of say, a Honda Accord, is bothered by the rising price of petrol in India. Thanks to the strong increase in price of Petrol, India is seeing a great demand for the diesel driven cars. But this all has not really made India’s second largest car maker Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) to tap in on the potential. The Korean giant has stated that it has put on hold its Rs. 400 crore diesel engine plant, which would have an installed capacity of 1.5 lakh unit per annum, due to sluggish demand. With this move the i10 diesel will surely not make it in 2012. The diesel version of the popular car may be launched in 2014-15 when the new i10 on a new platform is expected to be launched. It may be noted that i10 is already posting good sales figures and with the two petrol mills it has on offer, the manufacturer is probably not seeing a need to rush with the diesel plant.

In December 2010, HMIL MD & CEO Han Woo Park had said the company had planned to invest Rs. 400 crore over next three years to set up a diesel engine manufacturing plant with an installed capacity of 1.5 lakh unit per annum. “The feasibility study for the diesel engine plant has been completed and we will announce the location in the next few months. The plant is proposed to have an annual installed capacity of 1.5 lakh units” he had said.

From various reliable sources it was reported that the plant would have manufactured as many as three different engines of 1.1 litre, 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre capacities only for the domestic market. The manufacturer was thinking of utilizing the engine from the new plant in its new models and only some of them to be used for the existing models. The company at presents imports its diesel engines from Korea for its premium hatchback ‘i20′ and its present generation of ‘Accent’ sedan that is sold as the ‘Verna’ in the market.

2012 Honda CR-V, undisguised interior and exterior images of production vehicle

2011-11-14T16:40:00.002+05:30

Honda’s 2012 CR-V has been in the news for a very long time now. The Japanese carmaker officially revealed the images of the CR-V concept, almost similar to the production version some time back. The 2012 CR-V has grown in size, features and equipment. It will now be able to seat seven but without any changes being made to the engine. At the heart of the new CR-V would be the good old 2.4-liter i-VTEC power plant, with a marginal increase in power and fuel efficiency. Very recently, a group of American auto journalists were given a chance to drive the production version of car. The new car is ready to make is world debut, and every auto publication worth its salt in the US of A has savored the taste of this hot-selling crossover. There is, however an embargo on publishing the pictures and reviews of the car. However, as it happens every single time, some images and pointers always leak through these embargos, and we auto enthusiasts simply love the phenomenon.

The totally undisguised interior and exterior images you see here were apparently taken during the media drive of the new car. As you can see, the new CR-V is a huge departure from the current iteration of the vehicle. The triple slat front grille, elongated, curvy headlamps and a pronounced plastic cladding under the front bumper define the front end of the car. The rear end, with its oddly shaped tail-lamps and bulging hatch area doesn’t look very appealing, but must have released loads of space inside to seat two more occupants in comfort, while still leaving some space for luggage.

On the inside, the instrument cluster, the center console and the dashboard have been given a thorough overhaul. Steering mounted controls have been inlaid seamlessly. Gear shifter stick juts out from below the center console and the back-grey treatment to the interior looks nice.

While these images are brought to light courtesy Brenda Priddy & Company via Autoblog, we are sure Honda will release dozens of official images of the new car in the coming week as the car makes its show debut at the LA Auto Show on Novermber 18th. Stay tuned for more dope on the car.

De-spec’ed Skoda Superb by next month

2011-11-14T16:30:00.002+05:30

Indian unit of Popular Czech auto manufacturer Skoda, is busy working on a de-spec’ed Superb to make it more accessible to the masses. And of course more accessible. At present the Superb is available in three engine options -1.8 TSi (Petrol), 2.0 TDi diesel and a 3.2 V6 Petrol.

The company is working to launch a new trim level “Elegance” of the Superb luxury sedan.The ‘economy’ variant is rumored to come in with the tried and tested 1.8 TSi motor and will be priced around Rs. 17 Lakhs, i.e. a whopping 1.5 Lakhs cheaper than the existing base variant. Skoda will be doing away with some of the less important goodies to bring the selling price down.

The current entry-level variant boasts of dual-climate control and 6-airbags, and we feel that Skoda may reduce the number of airbags and offer a basic air con to keep the price in check.

The Skoda Superb is known for the spaciousness it offers and it has been one of its major selling points and it is likely to remain so even with the upcoming stripped down version. We are eagerly looking forward to the new version of the car. Luxury is all set to become affordable and now don’t say you still can’t buy on

15 new Hyundais in next 5 years

2011-11-12T16:28:00.003+05:30

Hyundai India seems to be on a roll ever since it launched the i10 a few years back. Since then India’s second largest manufacturer hasn’t looked back.
We got a refreshed version of the i10 and an all new i20, also came the fluidic Verna and recently we saw the Korean giant launching the highly promising EON. Hyundai does not seems to get tired of launching new cars and it plans to continue raining upon us with more and more new cars for the next five years.

Going by the numbers, seems that the car maker is planning to increase it’s market share which has fallen to 18.3% from approx. 21%. The modus operandi? Hyundai will probably be launching 15 new models in the next 5 years!!

A few safe guesses :

Eon LPG, i10 LPG, All new Tuscon, Hyundai i45, i20 Facelift, Next generation i10, Refreshed Santa Fe, Hyundai Avante/Elantra.

We hear that India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki has lined up 15-20 cars by 2015. 6-8 new models will come from General Motors, 8 from Ford by mid-decade, and 10 from Renault-Nissan. Simply saying, capturing more market will not be a cake walk for Hyundai.

Porsche finds its sixth home in India at Ahmedabad

2011-11-12T16:24:00.002+05:30

Sixth Porsche Center in India has been opened in India at Ahmedabad. The new Porsche dealership will provide customers across Gujarat an access to Porsche products and service. Along with New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Chandigarh, this becomes the overall sixth Porsche Centre in India and the second in the western part of the country.

Construction of this showroom started in February 2011. The facility offers a 4,200 square feet showroom space with five sales consultants being permanently available for visitor enquiries. In addition, a 30,000 square feet service area is also there. Now completed, the site is home to the entire Porsche product range, including the most popular model – the Porsche Cayenne.

Speaking at the occasion, Ankur Jain, CEO of Porsche Centre Ahmedabad, said: “We are proud to be selected by Porsche to represent its operations in this key region. Our experienced and dynamic team is committed to delivering exceptional Sales and After Sales service on par with Porsche global standards.”

“This is our third opening of the year and we are looking at further expansions into the Indian market with Bangalore and Kochi to be opened in the near future”, added Ashish Chordia, Chief Executive of Precision Cars India Private Limited.

On the occasion of Porsche Centre Ahmedabad’s opening George Wills, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa, states: “We are excited about the inauguration of Porsche Centre Ahmedabad, our second showroom in the western part of India. It not only represents another milestone in our expanding network, but will provide us with the opportunity to expose our fantastic range of products to a wider audience in the prosperous states of Gujarat.”

Sixth Porsche Center, the dealership and service center for Porsche goes functional in Ahmedabad

Lamborghini Aventador India launch: details and photo feature

2011-11-12T16:11:00.004+05:30

Very recently Lamborghini launched it Aventador supercar in India. The latest offering from the legendary Italian super car maker carries a price tag of Rs. 3.69 crore ex-showroom Delhi. With a displacement of 6.5-liters, the v12 engine of the Aventador is good for a peak power output of about 700PS at a high 8250 rpm and peak torque of 690Nm at 5500 rpm. Those figures make the Aventador capable of attaining a top speed of 350km/h and equip with enough thrust to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a mere 2.9 seconds.

“India is an emerging market for sports cars, which is evident from the successful Formula 1 race event. We have already received 20 bookings for the Aventador. The car was launched globally in March this year and so far, we have received 1,500 orders worldwide. In India, people have to wait for about 18 months to get the delivery of their car”" James Page, marketing manager, South-East Asia and Pacific, Automobili Lamborghini S. p. A, said.

We were there at the launch event, and took some exclusive images of the Supercar only for your eyes. Go on, ogle!

Suzuki reveals the Regina

2011-11-10T16:10:00.003+05:30

Suzuki recently unveiled details of it’s all-new concept car. Suzuki has christened it as Regina and it is well set to be a city-car concept and it should be placed below the popular Swift. As per the Japanese manufacturer, Regina represents Suzuki’s vision of “a next-generation global compact car with excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions thanks to lightness and superior aerodynamics“.

There are no exact engine details revealed but Suzuki says with a conventional petrol motor, this concept could return a fuel economy of at least 32kpl !!

There sure is a hint of Swift in the rear end of the car. We would also safely expect the body colored trim to make it to the production models spawned out of the Regina. I particularly like the well defined waistline of the car, though the treatment done to the rear wheel arches may not be to everyone’s taste.

The Regina concept is a 730kg four-seater and is 3550mm long, 1630mm wide and 1430mm tall and has a 2425mm wheelbase. The Regina concept will be showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show to be held in early December

Chevrolet displays Sonic Boom compact at SEMA!

2011-11-07T15:39:00.002+05:30

Many concept cars along with numerous Camaro project cars that have been presented at the new version of SEMA Show is not all that Chevrolet has to offer at Las Vegas. Chevy presented the Sonic Boom and as it can be guessed by its name, the Sonic Boom is all about..well.. sound. The subcompact model boasts of an audio system developed by the manufacturer and Kicker. The design and component placing of the ICE (In Car Equipment) package is said to be inspired by jet engines.

A high-end head unit controls the 4,000 Watts (!!) system that includes (!! AGAIN) 10 six-inch mid-range speakers coupled with two 15-inch sub-woofers.

Chris Perry, vice president of global marketing and strategy for Chevrolet said, “This concept reflects the interests of a new generation of car enthusiasts who judge a car as much by the output of the sound system as the output of the engine,”

Other attractive features consist of the Z-spec bodywork add-ons, 19-inch alloy wheels, a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, performance seats (even sportier), a special trim combined with Z-Spec trim pedals.

A high-flow exhaust, a lower coil-over suspension and a more efficient braking system are the performance upgrades that make it to the car.

This compact Chevy now with the mods looks hotter and more futuristic than the Beat and all set to attract young crowd to the nearby dealers. Bring it on Chevrolet and then, bring it to India.

Skoda Rapid to be launched on 16th !!

2011-11-07T15:37:00.003+05:30

Skoda will launch its Honda City rival on the 16th November in capital.

As we talked about, the car is based largely on the underpinnings of Volkswagen Vento and will be powered with the same powerplants: 1.6 Petrol and a 1.6 Diesel. We expect them to be in a somewhat different state of tune. The Rapid will get automatic transmission in both the engine options.

Skoda Rapid is the first car from the Skoda that has been tailor made to deal with needs of Indian customers. The car’s manufacturing will be exclusive to India. As we mentioned in our last article, after looking at pricing of Polo and Fabia, we are almost sure to see Rapid to be priced below the sister concern’s Vento.

Also, expect a fully detailed review of the new Skoda by us in the first week of this month.

Ferrari FF launched

2011-11-07T15:34:00.002+05:30

As informed by us on 25th October this year, Ferrari today launched the FF model in India. The FF is a special Ferrari as this is the first four-wheel-drive model to wear the prancing horse badges. The supercar sports a V12 engine mounted in front and this four-seater GT replaces the 612 Scaglieitti two-plus-two coupe globally. The car’s “all-roads, all-weathers” character should bring new customers to the brand.

The car has been christened as the FF for it is a four seats and four-wheel-drive. As with the many Ferrari cars including the 612, the car is designed by Pininfarina with the direction of Ferrari’s own chief designer, Flavio Manzoni. The first of its kind Ferrari has an all new all-independent suspension that incorporates the latest-generation magnetically adjustable dampers. The braking is some serious stuff in form of carbon ceramic disc brakes from Brembo.

The four-wheel-drive mechanism has been claimed to be around 50 per cent lighter than similar set-ups and helps with sustaining the rear weight bias that is typical of V12 Ferraris of this generation. Called 4RM (‘Ruote Motrici’), uses the car’s electronic systems to direct torque to the front wheels when it senses need for traction in slippery conditions. But the system otherwise usually keeps the car in desirable rear-wheel-drive state. This 4WD system is unique to Ferraris.

This new Ferrari seems to be more practical than the Ferraris we generally get to see but the Italian sports car manufacturer is quick to dismiss this belief. The fact that the it has given FF a newly developed 6.25-litre V12 with 22 per cent more power (than 612) and mated to a seven-speed double-clutch gearbox depicts that this is no ‘soft’ Ferrari.

The FF also gets stop-start and smart charging to improve economy by 10 per cent. This feature cimes from the California. The FF engine produces 650bhp at 8000rpm and a healthy 69.68kgm of torque (16% more than 612) at 5000rpm. The car has a claimed top speed of 335kph.

The FF’s boot provides a sufficient 450 litres of space or 800 litres with the rear seats folded. Ferrari has priced the FF at Rs. 3.42 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). With every new international model being launched in India, our market sure seems to be coming of age.

Audi loses share in Chinese market

2011-10-31T16:13:00.001+05:30

buyers increasingly favoring models from rivals BMW and Mercedes Benz, Audi’s share in the Chinese market have gone for a downhill ride. It was seen that the younger age group of buyers are prefer vehicles from either BMW or Mercedes Benz and this in all probability is the reason for Audi shares in the Chinese auto sector to come down within last two years.

Audi used to supply as many as 70% of their vehicles to government agencies in the 1980s. Shaun Rein, Managing Director of China Market Research Group says this has caused Audi to be looked upon as a government car. Quite a logical explanation, we might add.
This has made Chinese customers perceive bimmers and 3 pointed stars as more stylish and appealing than Audis.

While Audi is losing grip over the market, Mercedes Benz has seen a boost in sales by 22% in the first half of 2011 as compared to a 16% jump in 2009. BMW’s share too has grown at 25% from an earlier 21% while Audi share has dropped from 40% to 30%.

Renault Pulse revealed!!

2011-10-31T15:52:00.002+05:30

A couple of days ago, we talked about Renault getting really aggressive in Indian market and here is one more news to further consolidate it. Renault is all geared up to plunge into the ever expanding hatchback segment and it recently revealed its new small car. Christened as the Pulse, thanks to the JV between Nisaan and Renault, the Pulse is based largely on the Micra. We won’t be wrong if we say that Pulse is Micra but with a different set of clothes. The difference is just skin deep and the two are basically the same. They share the same V platform, same suspension, same set of drivetrain. These include a 1.2 three cylinder petrol and a 1.5 turbo oil burner.

As for the looks, the basic form of the car, with it’s arched roof and big cabin remains the same as the Nissan but the nose is dramatically different from that sported by the Micra. The front end is now much sharper and bolder, with its raised crisply styled lights, a really large hexagonal grille and a typically European matt black center section. Similar treatment to grille is also found on almost all Renault cars. The rear is almost the same as Micra but with minor alterations to it.Renault hinted that there could be a sportier version of the car and it made me dream of seeing something like a Renaultsport Megane R26 on our roads.

A big let down is the fact that the interiors of the Pulse turned out to be almost identical to those of the Micra and the similarity extends right down to colours and tones. The center console that comes from the Micra appears to be smart and trendy. However, nothing ground breaking in interior department. An Opportunity lost Renault.

Pulse (codename: B58) will be the French auto maker’s third offering in six months and will follow the Fluence saloon and Koleos SUV. The Pulse will be produced at Renault-Nissan’s Chennai plant alongside the Micra. The prices were not revealed but we had earlier talked about the car being positioned at a price point somewhere between the Micra and the segment leader Swift. And Renault did mention about pricing their Pulse at a slight premium over the Nissan Micra. Renault has planned to offer 2+2 year warranty on the Pulse.

It will be interesting to see how well the french flair battles with the Japs and Koreans in the segment.

Zero Defects Toyota

2011-10-29T15:29:00.001+05:30

World’s largest and country’s seventh largest carmaker Toyota has retained the top slot in India for bringing out zero-defect vehicles. Quite an achievement we must say. What is even better is the fact that this has gone to Toyota India for the past two years. Very much surprising and welcomed. Welcomed because it is a matter of pride that we Indians are getting top notch services from a globally well established manufacturer and surprising it is if we keep in mind the quality glitches and the resulting recalls by the manufacturer that happened worldwide in the recent past.

However, all the recognition in India hasn’t made Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd lenient and ignore the issues. The Bangalore-based manufacturer is concerned about the strengthening of the Yen and other currencies against the Indian rupee. It sure needs to be concerned about it as Toyota India imports various vital components such as the engine and those related to transmissions. These alone consumed around Rs. 180 crore of the auto major last financial year.

The Aichi based Japanese giant has more than 50 manufacturing plants across the world, including in developed and developing countries.
“We are bullish about the quality of the Indian workforce, all we have to do is to create a right environment for them to work.” said Shekar Viswanathan, deputy managing director of the Indian subsidiary.

Right when, even industry leaders such as Maruti Suzuki are having to deal with work disruptions owing to strikes, Toyota is known to have shared a good relationship with its workforce for all the 13 years it has been here. And the workforce sure seems to be rewarding the manufacturer with decent work. Well done, Toyota India. Kudos!

Renault gets aggressive in India !!

2011-10-29T15:26:00.002+05:30

Remember Nissan’s entry in India? With a premium SUV it never really gained much of a popularity. Even though the SUV was nothing short of being amazing, it was not until the introduction of Micra that the country took notice of the Japanese car manufacturer. If one will notice, Maruti has long been king of Indian automobile market. And on looking more closely, it won’t take any rocket science to figure it out that most of the sales for Maruti come from the hatchbacks. Toyota, world’s largest car maker, sensed the importance of having a small car in India and developed and introduced the Etios siblings. This, even when it’s Innova MPV and premium sedans were doing decent numbers. Now, sensing a similar need, French car maker Renault is planning to introduce a V-platform model. Even better news is that the plan is to launch the car within three months from now and the car will be displayed at the Auto Expo 2012, New Delhi.

The car can be expected to be positioned between Maruti’s Swift and Nissan’s Micra. Sources in the company reveal that the aforementioned small car is undergoing tests at the Renault-Nissan’s factory on the outskirts of Oragadam. It is also relevant to mention that this is where the Renault-Nissan joint venture partners are investing a sum of around Rs. 4,500 crore. Going by the seriousness with which the JV is looking at our market, we are nothing short of being impressed.

Hopes are high for the small car’s launch to help Renault achieve its target of one lakh units with five products by 2013. The line up of these 5 cars will be complete once the French car maker launches three more cars next year to give company to the sedan and SUV the carmaker already boasts of. The annual sales is estimated to be in the vicinity of 100,000 units by 2013. To optimize the probability of this, it also plans to have 100 dealerships in place by end of 2012. Currently Renault has merely 15 dealerships in India.

It will be noteworthy to mention that Tamil Nadu govt. has provided the JV of car makers a structured incentive package that holds good till 2015 and this aggressiveness in expansion being shown by the group certainly points at it’s plan to optimize the extraction of benefits from this package provided to them . Renault sold 800 units in the country last year and its plan of selling 100000 by 2013 looks quite optimistic but certainly nowhere near unrealistic. The group also plans to increase its components sourcing to Euros 100 million next year. Up by Euros 35 million from current 65 million.

Nano launch delayed at Bangladesh

2011-10-28T16:39:00.002+05:30

In an interesting development recently, the launching of world’s most affordable car- India’s Tata Nano, was postponed indefinitely at the last moment in Bangladesh. This incident is a result of the concerned distributor seeking a price-cut.

As planned, Nitol Motors, Tata’s solitary Bangladeshi distributor, was due to launch the compact at a fair but high tax structures ensured the price tag for the least expensive no-frills Nano would be 599,000 taka or US$7,900 (compares to 141,000 rupees ($2,870) for base Nano in India.). At this price, a B segment can be purchased or (more surprisingly) this much money can easily purchase two top end versions of the Nano in it’s parent land.

“A lot of people came to us for booking at the fair. At least 23 people confirmed their interest, but we’ve deferred launch of Nano at the last moment as we’re seeking a re-look at the price, which some say is too high.”” told Abdul Matlub Ahmad, director of Nitol Motors.

Not just the Nano but even other small cars produced by foreign companies such as Maruti are significantly much more expensive in Bangladesh as importers have to pay a whopping 132 percent of tax on every import.

Nano has the potential to become very popular in the neighboring nation as the little Tata promises to reward its owner with a very low fuel consumption.

Very much like us, Bangladesh has seen a substantial fuel price increase during the past few years coupled with the Bangladeshi government withdrawing the subsidies. Nano would have been a promising product in the Bangladeshi product had it not been plagued with the taxes and resulting high purchase price.

Will VW displace Toyota?

2011-10-28T16:24:00.001+05:30

There was a time when the title of World’s Largest Automaker belonged to General Motors. We were as used to this fact as we are to the sun giving us a visit everyday. Then came the Japanese giant, Toyota was able to displace GM and became the one to wear the crown of the largest automaker. As the Japanese automaker became more and more popular in GM’s homeland and abroad, German car giant Volkswagen started with its mission to show them (aforementioned giants) who the boss is. According to Bloomberg, these top three carmakers are likely to see themselves reshuffled before 2011 officially comes to an end

Volkswagen, with an approximate 2011 sales figures of 8.1 million vehicles globally (up by a good 13 percent over 2010), is likely to earn the top spot and be labelled as the largest automaker in the whole world. General Motors, which saw the most number of sales in the first quarter had to ultimately move to around 7.55 million machines (an eight-percent increase over 2010) to hold on to second place while Toyota’s estimated 7.27 million sales (a nine-percent decrease over last year) would only be good enough for third in the global race for highest sales.

There seem to be a number of reasons for Toyota to see itself being over taken in 2011. One such reason, and a big one at that is the disastrous earthquake and tsunami in the first quarter of this year. It put on pause production of many of Toyota’s well selling models. Another reason is probably an aftereffect of its recall-ridden history over the past few years. However, CEO Akio Toyoda has vowed to address all of these concerns.

Analysts have a difference of opinion when it comes to predictions for 2012. Some suggest VW will see enough momentum to hang on to its numero uno spot while others believe Toyota will have a rebound effect to reclaim the top slot in global sales figures.

Increasing popularity in rapidly emerging markets like India and China can probably be the ultimate factor in deciding the rightful owner of the crown.

3 pointed star to get new engines

2011-10-28T16:17:00.002+05:30

German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz has recently decided to opt for a new engine family. Now, we are prepared to see most Mercs of future with four-cylinder motors, downsized V8s and…(hold your breath!) straight sixes.

I won’t be joking if I say that I almost jumped off my seat when I first heard of this development regarding the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015.

There will be a family of new low-cost four cylinder engines and the gigantic big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

All of this sounds very nice but we would had never expected that the V6 has been destined to be shown the boot, both in diesel and petrol form.

Instead, MB is going ahead with re-introduction of the in-line six for use in its larger cars. Various sources suggest that it will be available in single and twin-turbo guise.

It will be very interesting to see how these new motors fair in the luxury cars and we are sure that driving a Mercedes will give a different feel. How different? Only time will tell.

Ferrari FF to be launched in India on the 31st of October

2011-10-25T16:01:00.004+05:30

Ferrari is introducing its latest international offering, the FF in India on the 31st of October 2011. Powered by a 6-liter V12 engine which dishes out 660 bhp of raw power and 683 nm of torque, the FF does a 0-100 km/h sprint in less than 4 seconds. Power is transmitted to the wheels via a7speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

The FF is not only Ferrari’s first four wheel drive model, but also the first ever Prancing Horse to be styled as a Shooting Brake. The pricing of the car is expected to be more than Rs. 3 crore in India after all the exorbitant duties and taxes have been levied. And if anyone still musters enough courage to put down that enormous amount of money on the table to get one, he’ll have to wait, as the car has been sold out for a year.

Even with its smart AWD in place, the FF acts as a rear wheel drive car most of the time. However, if the electronics detect a loss of traction, it can send drive to one of the two, or both front tyres. The FF drives like a true Ferrari, but can handle tricky situations such as a snow clad driveway, and a slushy trail without a whimper – something other supercars would shiver at the very thought of. Icing on the cake comes in the form of space of four and a huge boot to swallow a week’s worth of luggage for the entire family.

The power and practicality offered by this Ferrari is simply incredible. So if someone like me is smitten and wants to have one parked, he should have two grand flats in Mumbai ready. Sell one to buy the car, and the other one to pay for the fuel bills. Alas! the FF is not for me just yet.

Here we have the specs for you.

Displacement 6.262 liter
Compression 12.3:1
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Direct Fuel Injection
Power 660 bhp @ 8000 rpm
Torque 683 Nm @ 6000 rpm
Gearbox Dual Clutch 7 speed Automatic
Drive All wheel drive
Top Speed 335 km/h (208 mph)
0-60 mph 3.6 s

Rolls-Royce appoints new business head for India

2011-10-25T15:58:00.002+05:30

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have appointed Herfried Hasenoehrl to the newly created role of Head of Business Development for India. Mr Hasenoehrl will also look after the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh markets. Rolls-Royce terms the new appointment important as it ‘signals Rolls-Royce’s commitment to a region that has played an intrinsic role in its rich heritage’. The appointment comes at a time when the company is undertaking the launch of Ghost Extended Wheelbase and expanding the Manufacturing Plant at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has enjoyed significant recent success in the region with the pinnacle Phantom and dynamic Ghost models, in particular being embraced by the young business elite. In addition to developing business opportunities Hasenoehrl will support the outstanding work of existing dealers, Navnit Motors in Mumbai and Select Cars in New Delhi.

Paul Harris, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Regional Director for Asia Pacific said: “Our return to India in 2005 was more akin to a homecoming than a traditional brand re-launch. History was revived, with echoes of the grand Maharaja’s Rolls-Royces of the past given a new life. This appointment is a testament to the growing importance of a market with a very special relationship with the brand.”

Herfried Hasenoehrl said: “I am relishing the prospect of contributing to the latest chapter of Rolls-Royce’s extraordinary story in India. I am convinced we can build on the momentum we are already enjoying in what has rapidly become a vital market in the Asia-Pacific region. I am certain that the Indian love affair with this very special marque will continue for many years.”

Hasenoehrl has already enjoyed a highly successful career with BMW Group, the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Here he gained valuable exposure to emerging markets, playing a key role in the development and implementation of BMW’s international manufacturing and sales network strategy across Asia, including the set up of sales entities across the region.

Following this Hasenoehrl took a wide ranging brief as Senior Manager for Brand, Product and Price Management in Thailand and Munich, where he gained invaluable experience of the Asia markets. Spearheading market entry preparations and successfully leading the product launch of the BMW X-series in three continents.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo XI, some info emerges

2011-10-24T17:02:00.001+05:30

These days, it may seem to you that Mitsubishi is on hibernation. If you really think on such lines, well, stop doing that because the Japanese auto maker is working on its ambitious plans for the future. The legendary ‘lanevo’ (Lancer Evolution) will see an all new generation as soon as in 2014. The upcoming car is far from what you’d expect from a brand of cars that have instilled fear in rivals in the cross-country rally scene with its formidable four-wheel drive sedans. The current version, the Misubishi EVO X, fails to give any hints about what is in store for us in future. Not even a single subtle hint. Simply saying, upcoming generation of EVO is supposed to be a hybrid!

Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko has confirmed this with a few publications but refrained himself from revealing anything about the other technical details. As per him, the Mitsubishi EVO XI will feature a (surprise surprise !!) diesel-hybrid power-train. Yes, no joking. And if you stood up from being seated, I request you to resume with the sitting. The new changes will do a substantial bit with controlling emissions. Now, the EVO is known for terrifyingly quick 0-100 kph dash and unmatched reflexes. Revolutionary changes or not, the new EVO XI can be safely expected to retain its brilliant handling and gob smacking performance .

Mitsubishi will start working on the new EVO project as soon as next year. The production version of the car is expected to arrive in the three years time.

A green car that hunts apexes for breakfast and is quick enough to bite off chunks of metals from the rear of Ferraris. We say? Bring it on.

Mclaren Chairman addresses MP4-12C quality issues

2011-10-24T16:52:00.002+05:30

Remember Lambos of the past? Before Audi took over the sports car brand? They were fast, fun and good looking enough to give you goosebumps. The thing that bugged most of the owners was pathetic build quality. No Mclaren’s MP412-C has also been reported to have some bugs related to its electronics. Now, this is not expected expected from a seriously focused sports car maker. The good thing is that the firm has accepted the fault and openly so. Read on.

In a letter sent to all MP4-12C owners, McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis addressed the common issues that their latest sports car owners are dealing with. Speaking about the issues with car’s infotainment system and tell tale lights, Ron Dennis labelled the issues as “early software bugs” and also added that these can be easily dealt with at the dealerships. He also went on to say that the company intends to provide a class-leading ownership experience.

We do hope that Mclaren succeeds in delivering such an ownership experience and we feel even more highly of the manufacturer because it went ahead and accepted the fault. Way to go Mclaren.

Cadillac XTS to be launched in 2013

2011-10-24T16:48:00.001+05:30

Quite a few reports from around the world suggest that Cadillac will introduce the 2013 XTS at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The upcoming car is a production version based on the XTS Platinum Concept, and once launched the car will replace the DTS and STS models from the Cadillac line up.

The car boasts of typical Cadillac styling. The large grill up front along with vertical head lamps give the car a bold look. The rear again has vertically shaped tail lapmp units and the car can be mistaken to be nothing but a Caddy.

The car will feature very rich and luxurious interior and the popular CUE Infotainment System.

The upmarket sedan is likely to come from a 3.6-liter V6 engine that belts out 318 hp (237 kW / 322 PS) along with 275 lb-ft (372 Nm) of pulling power. Front Wheel Drive is to be standard but expect an option of all-wheel drive system as well.

Defender to continue defending till 2017

2011-10-21T17:12:00.001+05:30

Land Rover has long since announced plans to replace the defender with an all new model in the next four years from now. It has even put on display not one, but two concepts that may be the future replacements of the Defender. These were found to be as named ‘DC100′ at the recent motor show at Frankfurt. The world saw the 4×4 model’s successor in three-door form.

However, this all does not mean that the current Defender (tracing its roots back to original Land Rover Series launched in 1948) will be discontinued any time soon.

Popular British magazine Autocar reports that the long-wheelbase 110 and the commercial 130 versions will remain in production even after the all new short-wheelbase variant hits the market.

A source within Land Rover itself said, “There are a number of changes to the legislation, which mean that we can keep the current Defender in production longer than we thought.” This sure hints at the possibility of a longer life span for the British icon.

Therefore, it is estimated that the legendary British 4×4 will probably remain in production at least until 2017, perhaps even longer than that. It may even not have to deal with meeting stricter EU6 emission norms to its classification as a commercial vehicle but even if it does have to, it can always have an option to be fitted with Land Rover’s EU6-compliant 2.2-liter turbodiesel.

BMW 330d Covertible on sale for Rs. 57 lakh, deliveries by November

2011-10-21T16:50:00.003+05:30

The 330d convertible at the BMW Xperience 2011

BMW has dropped the top on its 3-series cars. Recently when we went to the BMW Xperience 2011, we were pleasantly surprised to see the BMW 330d Convertible show car smiling at us at the reception. The Show car had a specification placard next to it, which apart from all the technical specs also mentioned the price of the car in India. What that means is anybody’s guess. The latest news, however, is that BMW have started taking bookings for the drop top version of this diesel scorcher. The style of a drop top, however comes at a price, and at Rs. 57 lakh ex-showroom, the 330d Convertible is not meant for the value seekers. The deliveries of the car will begin in November.

The 330d Convertible comes with a folding metal hardtop and the motor comes from the bigger 530d saloon. The 2993cc,straight-six (inline 6 cylinders) oil burner belts out a good 243bhp and churns out 55.1kgm of torque and all this means that the light convertible will perform like a 2 door drop top should. The 330d will be a Completely Built Unit (CBU) import, one of the reasons why it is so expensive.

Coming to the styling and exclusivity of the convertible, the car is sure to turn heads. Go to the city center and come out of this car wearing your fine suits and you are sure to turn heads and make a nice statement for yourself. The car looks the part with 2 doors, carries the lines of the conventional 3 series and as a friend commented, has quite some hints of the fierce M3 in it. The rear again, coupled with its twin exhausts and a set of tail lamps that are NOT found on 3 series sedan, will remind you of the mighty M3. The boot lid has an incorporated and discrete lip spoiler along with a 3rd rear stop lamp. Although it will be the most affordable convertible in BMW’s Indian range, priced nearly Rs. 5 lakh lower than the Z4, it still will should be a really niche product. And before I forget, let me add that the car also has an added pair of seats, albeit suitable mostly for small aged children and very short trips.

Icing on the cake? It comes with an efficient and tired & tested diesel unit, which could be a solution to sky rocketing prices of the gasoline in our country and this alone should be a key to success.

So would a 330d drop top be exclusive enough for you? Or would you rather wait for the 2012 version of the 3-series to hit the showrooms before making a decision? Do let us know

BMW Xperience 2011: report and images

2011-10-20T16:45:00.015+05:30

BMW India very recently showcased the prowess of its X range of vehicle in Gurgaon from 16th to 23rd October 2011. The event, christened BMW Xperience 2011 took place at a specially designed test course to exhibit the intelligence and capability of the X series vehicle in dealing with off-road conditions. The test course, designed exclusively by international experts included 10 simulated obstacles, where each obstacle brings out a unique feature of the BMW X range. BMW Xperience provided the drivers an opportunity to drive the BMW X5, the BMW X6 and the all-new BMW X3, under the expert guidance of international BMW trainers.

The X range of vehicles, are equipped with BMW xDrive technology, which has the capability to react to various surfaces within a fraction of a second. The system offers advantages in terms of traction. When setting out on slippery or loose ground, for example, the time-lag between the loss of wheel grip on the surface and the re-distribution of drive forces to wheels with grip is only a few milliseconds. And it thinks ahead too. As one drives, the xDrive analyses data from the on-board electronics systems such as speed, steering angle, torque output and other key factors – and calculates whether the vehicle can follow the driver’s wish or if it threatens to oversteer or understeer, thereby preventing the vehicle from swerving.

Further, the xDrive monitors the driving situation constantly and distributes drive power smoothly between the axles. According to the requirements of driving dynamics, the power transmission proportion may vary between 50:50 and 0:100 per cent, with the default ratio being 40:60. However, if there is any sudden change in requirements on account of differences in the friction values between the road surface and the driven wheels or because of the driving situation, the torque split can be varied within a fraction of a second without the driver even becoming aware of the change. xDrive system aims at providing handling typical of rear-wheel drive vehicles. Even in normal situations on the road, all-wheel-drive BMW models send the lion’s share of drive to the rear wheels.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President BMW India, said, “BMW Group is a pioneer in creating new vehicle segments. The entire Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) was created by BMW. The BMW xDrive is one of the most advanced examples of a four-wheel drive systems in use today’s world. The BMW Xperience is a one of its kind event, being organized at such large scale in India. This is an exciting opportunity to experience the superiority of the BMW X range of SAVs in a stimulating and safe off-road environment.”

The test track comprised of various sections such as a steep incline, river bed, sand, banked surface and a variety of other obstacles to let the drivers witness the intelligence and capability of the X range of vehicles. The obstacles have been illustrated in the images below.

The banked course to highlight the low center of gravity of BWM vehicles. Vehicles with high center of gravity have a high probability of toppling over in such conditions.

Diagonally opposite wheels on humps. As you accelerate, the xDrive system detects which wheels have traction and which ones don’t. Torque is delivered to wheels with traction.

xDrive provides torque to all the wheels, preventing the vehicle from sliding back over such steep gradients. The inclination was also used to demonstrate the Hill Hold / Hill Descent Control function available on some of the X range of vehicles. While going up, with the Hill Hold function turned on, one doesn’t have doesn’t have to apply brakes to prevent the vehicle from sliding back. Just lift the foot up and the car will stay in place. No worries of banging into the vehicle behind you as you sop and start again in a steep, narrow lane Shimla.

The Hill Descent Control function lets you specify a speed using Cruise Control and the car coasts down at the speed specified (even very slow speeds such as 5, 7 , 9 km/h ) without having to worry about acceleration or braking

Mirrors to let the drivers know how the wheels are behaving.
Again, torque delivered only to the wheels with traction

Parked on the incline with the Hill Hold function on.

Mahindra & Mahindra: It really has been a ‘Rise’ story

2011-10-19T15:27:00.001+05:30

Not many years ago, what was once a loss making company, is a class leading and emerging car manufacturer today. Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has come a long way since Anand Mahindra took over the proceedings of the group the group back in 1991. A company that was badly affected by losses that it all caused it to sell some real estate to balance the equation has now become a company that has opened its doors to foreign investment, M&M has finally risen up from the ashes.

M&M have come really a long way in the past 20 years with Anand Mahindra at the driving seat. Continuously dominating the entry level SUV segment is their Scorpio at $22000 making it their most expensive vehicle until recently with the launch of the XUV 500 which has received so many bookings that M&M had to put thoughts of the vehicle’s export on a hold to satisfy the domestic demand first. The manufacturer also bought stakes in Ssangyong, Satyam Computer Services, Indian electric car manufacturer Reva, Kinetic, Punjab Tractors and Gippsland Aeronautics. The company was interested to make forays into the US auto industry but has only managed to launch their tractor plants there and not passenger vehicles as initially planned.

The new XUV500 SUV is manufactured at the company’s Chakan unit and was launched recently in India, and then South Africa. The Mahindra XUV500 SUV will also be launched in Australia, China, Sri Lanka and Western Europe. The overwhelming booking of 8000+ units in the first 10 days of launch reflects Mahindra’s ability to stay ahead in the auto business both in domestic and foreign markets. Bookings for the SUV have been temporary suspended and production will be increased.

Ford India Introduces Endeavour 4×4 Hurricane Limited Edition

2011-10-19T15:24:00.001+05:30

Ford India have introduced a special edition of its Endeavour SUV. The limited edition variant, namely Hurricane 4×4 is priced at Rs. 20,13,244 (Ex-showroom Delhi). The vehicle comes fitted with a new bull bar ahead of the front bumper. Ford is calling the new addition ‘the new muscular Front Nudge bar’. Other features on the special edition include a specially designed chrome exhaust, Hurricane body decals and 5th- door convex mirror.

On the inside, the Ford Endeavour 4×4 Hurricane Limited Edition will feature a touch screen based entertainment system with a built-in DVD player which supports all popular file formats and a rear camera. This unit also has a USB Input and Aux-in port that allows the users to connect popular MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod, with the audio system.

This particular variant of the Endeavour is powered by a 3.0-liter Duratorq TDCi common-rail powertrain with 156PS of power and 380 Nm of torque at 2500 rpm.

The launch of the 4×4 Hurricane Limited Edition will be accompanied by a 360-degree marketing campaign. The marketing activities will be a combination of traditional print media as well as the nontraditional digital media. It will also be backed up with events and promotional materials like danglers, fliers and standees at all Ford dealerships.

“The introduction of the Endeavour 4×4 Hurricane Limited Edition offers value for money coupled with distinct class and safety features for our customers during this festive season. This special variant offers aggressiveness, adventure and agility with features that improves safety, adds style and class’’, said Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India said.”

Peugeot 608: The new Flagship model from the French carmaker

2011-10-19T15:17:00.002+05:30

If recent rumors and reports are to be believed, the Peugeot’s conecpt HX1 will head into production as the 608. said to have a possibility of getting launched in 2014, the model will be about half a ‘shoe size’ larger than the Mercedes R class.

Engine options are guessed to be among a variety of diesels expected with outputs ranging from 163-275 PS (119-202 kW / 161-271 hp). For environment friendly people, there are reports of a hybrid variant which has a 204 PS (150 kW / 201 hp) diesel engine and a 95 PS (70 kW / 95 hp) electric motor. Sounds interesting, to say the least.

If everything goes as per the stories we are getting to hear, the upmarket wagon should be priced starting approximately €55,000 ($75,710 / £47,990)

Suzuki serves VW with a legal notice

2011-10-18T16:23:00.007+05:30

Claiming that a breach of agreement on partnership has been done by Volkswagen, Japanese giant Suzuki has served VW with a legal notice.

Suzuki wishes of VW to ‘remedy’ numerous breaches of the Framework Agreement established between the two in December 2009. VW has a 20 per cent stake in Suzuki, with the two companies deciding to work together on mutually beneficial projects.

VW had entered the agreement with the hopes to increase its insights on manufacturing and selling small cars and also to enter the Indian market, both the areas where Suzuki excels. Suzuki had hoped for access to future technologies including petrol-electric drivetrains.

But the partnership between Suzuki and Volkswagen has hardly progressed ever since it started, although the Japanese manufacturer claims it sure has made “prolonged efforts to progress its relationship with VW, as agreed at the partnership’s inception”.

Suzuki’s CEO, Osamu Suzuki, told: “This capital alliance was intended to facilitate Suzuki’s access to VW’s core technologies. I remain disappointed that we have not received what we were promised.If Volkswagen will not allow access it must return Suzuki’s shares. We are very encouraged by Suzuki’s consistently solid performance. We remain on track for profitability and are excited about the potential for future growth.”

Last month company’s chairperson Suzuki offered to buy back Volkswagen’s 20 per cent stake in his company and sell back the 1.5 per cent stakes in the Wolfsburg based auto manufacturer that the Japanese holds.

Eco friendly Ecotec engines from GM

2011-10-18T16:14:00.002+05:30

General Motors (GM) is in process of developing an ‘up from scratch’ global engine family of small gasoline motors, to be labelled as Ecotec. These future engines, expected to power many GM cars globally, will offer improved fuel efficiency, better performance and importantly reduced carbon-dioxide emissions.

The new engines should comprise power-plants ranging from 1 litre to 1.5 litres with a three- and four-cylinder formats, and will be lightweight in design and boast of technologies such as direct injection, turbocharging and alternative fuel compatibility to provide both efficiency and performance. The new engines will also have better Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) levels as well.

The auto major plans to design and manufacture the new engines from multiple manufacturing facilities for world wide application. The engine family consolidation is one of the key parts of GM’s larger product development strategy to bring down manufacturing inputs along with making the process of engineering and manufacturing simpler, while improving competitiveness, efficiency and quality.

These engines will be constructed using a modular approach with interchangeable global parts and that in turn will enable more flexibility for various global vehicle programs. Production is likely to commence as early as by 2015 and the Ecotec-powered vehicles are likely to hit the roads towards the end of this decade.

“Our customers around the world agree we need to reduce our dependence on petroleum and reduce vehicle carbon emissions” says Jim Federico, vehicle-line executive for manufacturer’s global small cars and electric vehicles (EVs). “We are working aggressively on vehicle electrification and other technologies, but the most immediate progress will come from continually improving the internal combustion engine.”

The upcoming engine family is the result of the engineering tie up between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), Shanghai General Motors (SGM) and Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC). GM intends to manufacture about two million Ecotec engines per year globally.

Let us hope Ecotec engines are successfully introduced in the future and are as good in applications as they sound in the development stage.

2014 R8 to get hotter, faster, lighter, wilder !

2011-10-18T16:06:00.004+05:30

What will a facelifted version of the popular Audi R8 look like? Well, we can’t stop our imagination from running wild about it and also we are eagerly awaiting to lay our eyes on the R8 facelift, but now certain new details are starting to surface about the next-generation of the super sports car which is slated to be launched sometime in 2014.

Audi’s Engineering boss Michael Dick said the ‘re-visited’ sports car will in all probability be the lightest vehicle in its segment thanks to an advanced aluminum and carbon fiber platform. He also said that the new model will weigh approximately 100 kg (220 lbs) less than the current generation of the R8.

Not just being lighter, torsional rigidity is also expected to see an increase by 30% to 40,000 Nm (29,498 lb-ft) per degree! This is quite a remarkable figure and betters the numbers posted by the hard core super car the Lamborghini Aventador and the 458 Italia from the ‘prancing horse’.

However, none of the other detail is available about the car but it wouldn’t be too optimistic if we do some guesswork and say it might just get a ‘change of heart’ and come equipped with the new twin-turbo V8 which recently debuted in the S6, S7 and S8..

6th gen BMW 3 series revealed! Images and all the details

2011-10-17T15:47:00.004+05:30

A few days back, we had talked about the 6th generation of the popular BMW 3 series sedans and now that the car is finally here and will soon be on sale at most of its markets, here is a little information regarding the new car. The all-new BMW 3-series was revealed at a special event in Munich. The car is codenamed as the F30 for BMW’s internal processes. The new 3-Series is …well…new. What I mean is that this version is not a face-lift job but is new from the ground-up. As with most of the new launches it took BMW four years in the making of this new vehicle.

The car is expected to continue dominating over the segment and having more sales than its direct rivals like the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Volvo S60. BMW R&D chief Klaus Draeger says making of the 3 series has been ‘BMW’s most ambitious engineering program to date.’ The exterior design cues of new 3-series seems to borrow heavily from the latest 5-series and the two best-selling models of BMW now have a familiar look ie. a unified appearance. The 5 series-like front end continues along heavily structured sides to a high-set rear and this gives the sedan a wedge-shaped profile. The interiors are typical BMW with the clean yet sophisticated centre console and chunky 3 spoke steering wheel.

The interiors are available in black and beige and the latter should be to be very popular, thanks to India’s affinity towards beige interiors. Personally, I find the black interiors with red stitching to be very cool and sporty and should be my choice between the two interior color options.

Drive-trains are likely to be carried forward from the current 3 series but it will be safe to expect BMW to re-tune them in interest of an improved efficiency and more power. As we reported earlier BMW also has plans to set up a drivetrain plant in India and that will allow the carmaker to price the new 3-series more aggressively and make it more easier on the pocket. Again, as we reported earlier,The Bavarian car maker has plans for five 3-series body styles in future. Namely: Touring, GT, coupé, convertible and GranCoupé. The last three will have to do away with 3-series nomenclature in favor of sporting badges of an all-new 4-series nameplate. The car is planned to be shown off at the Detroit motor show early next year and it is safe to expect Indian sales of the new 3 to commence a few months after right-hand-drive versions are developed and made available towards the middle of 2012. Hence, we should have the new 3-series to on our roads by the end of 2012. And thanks to the aforementioned upcoming manufacturing plant we should have the 3 series at an expected price range of INR 21-35 lakh.

Shekhar Kapoor shoots Amitabh Bachchan for Force Motors’ TVC

2011-10-15T16:20:00.002+05:30

Force Motors’s first TVC with Amitabh Bachchan has been shot, and will soon be aired nationally. While we’re excited about how the video turns out, the company hasn’t yet provided us the clip to be shared with you. Only a press release, and here’s what it reads.

“Force Motors will soon be airing TVCs featuring Amitabh Bachchan, the official brand ambassador for he SUV. The first part of TVC was shot at ND Studios, Karjat in Maharashtra and second part will be shot in Rajasthan.

The TVC has been conceptualized and created by well know creative agency Lowe. This TVC is been directed by Oscar winner and internationally acclaimed director “Shekar Kapur”. Creative team behind this campaign is a multi talented and experienced crew from the entertainment industry. Director of Photography Mr. Mohanan has worked on successful advertising campaigns like Incredible India, Tata Safari, Reid and Taylor, Bajaj Avenger.

Action Director of the TVC Mr. Shyam Kaushal has done several successful film projects like Don, Om Shanti Om, Kkrish, Raajneeti, Kaminey to his credit”

Get a chance on FB to star with Ranbir, courtesy Nissan!

2011-10-15T16:14:00.002+05:30

In a unique marketing strategy, Nissan and Ranbir Kapoor are searching for 20 actors to be cast in a film alongside the Bollywood star. This would be the world’s first Bollywood movie auditioned entirely on Facebook. The talent hunt is christened ‘Nissan Star of India’

Auditions begin October 19th on Facebook where movie-fans will be able to join the on-line talent hunts by uploading a short clip of themselves dancing for a chance to appear alongside Ranbir in the 3-minute Bollywood blockbuster – New Star of India.

Members of the public will vote to decide who the 20 lucky Ranbir co-stars will be, and will also help produce the movie by shaping the plot, choosing the music, picking the wardrobe and naming the characters.

As well as being screened to millions on Facebook, New Star of India will be premiered at exclusive red carpet events in cities across India in January 2012, where there will also be a chance to win one of six all-new Nissan Micras.

Ranbir said: “I’m incredibly excited to be involved in this ground-breaking movie with Nissan – no-one’s attempted anything like it before”.

“Speaking to all Bollywood fans out there, this is your once in a lifetime opportunity to join me in the magic of the movies. I’m looking forward to seeing your auditions and can’t wait to meet my co-stars, so get dancing, get voting and get involved!”

All would-be stars have to do is record a 45-second audition of themselves via their webcam, smartphone or video camera showing off their best Bollywood moves and upload it to the dedicated New Star of India page on Facebook ¬– www.facebook.com/nissanindia.

There are just three steps to stardom…
1: Choose your favourite soundtrack on the Facebook page
2: Get dancing – either solo or with up to nine friends
3: Upload the clip to the site and wait for the votes to pour in.

Nissan will also be taking New Star of India on the road and will be touring shopping malls across the country to film live auditions in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kolkotta, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad & Aurangabad from October 22nd – check the Facebook page for details.

Even non-dancers can get involved. Everyone who votes, shares or takes a test drive from Nissan’s model range will be entered into a competition to win a chance to attend one of the movie premieres and win a Nissan Micra.

Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director of Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd said: “Nissan is all about innovation. It’s in the cars we build, the way we do business, the way we communicate and now we are offering members of the public a genuine world’s first – an opportunity to become a Bollywood star”.

Ford gears up to kick off Discover Smart Drive Season 2

2011-10-14T17:11:00.002+05:30

Ford’s Dicsover Smart drive is a unique initiative by Ford which gives young couples a chance to travel across India in a Ford Figo in an all-expenses paid trip. The first edition of the Discover Smart Drive was a great success for Ford. The couples chosen for the Discovered Smart Drive last year covered 2500 kms in 25 days across. These four couples selected from a contest calling for entries online drove the “Discover Smart” themed Figo across India. Enroute, the couples shared their experiences through Figo drive website, communities across Facebook, Orkut, Twitter and Driving Ford blog

Now the American carmaker is introducing the second edition of the pan India drive. Last year Ford invited couples to drive the Ford Figo around the country and this time it is going be interesting and enthusiastic duo of friends, couples or siblings.

4 teams will be selected from the shortlisted candidates and will be a given an opportunity to explore India in 4 different routes. One selected team from each region (north/south/east/west) will represent and explore the region while performing tasks in search of clues to solve a puzzle. The route of the Discover Smart Drive Season 2 will be specially designed across every region to explore key cities before reaching the final destination. The winning team will be decided on the basis of Top score acquired through the team’s performance on various tasks and maximum social media followership in minimum time possible. Ford India will sponsor the winning team along with their favorite fan to an all paid trip to explore Nepal and the majestic Himalayas.

Online contest for participating is open on www.drivingford.in/discover-smart-drive-season-2/#. To participate the contestants will have to send us a video along with their friend or co-driver introducing themselves, telling us what they are passionate about and why they should be a part of the Discover Smart Drive, Season 2. The videos can be shot on handycam, mobile phones or webcam. Last date for entries will be 24th October 2011 and the winners will be announced on 27th October 2011.

Deja Vu : Audi TT Coupe gets a 1.8 Litre engine

2011-10-14T16:33:00.002+05:30

Remember we once had an earlier generation of Audi TT on sale in India ? Then you should also know that it was available with a 1.8 litre turbocharged motor that belted out performace that can be best termed as adequate. Now, dear reader, do you also remember that not long ago our nation had a Czech sedan with a turbocharged petrol 1.8 litre engine and belted out figures similar to that of the above mentioned car and was available at a fraction of Audi’s cost? Yes, I won’t be wrong if I say that the Skoda Octavia vRS’s powerplant shared more than the engine size with the then TT.

Audi has launched a new entry-level TT in the international market. Introduced with a price tag of £24,070, this variant of the Audi TT coupe is billed as a 2012 model.

The new variant of Audi TT Coupe will come with 1.8 TFSi badges and gets Audi’s 1.8 litre turbocharged engine that used to be available only in roadster version of Audi TT. The engine delivers ( a modest for sportscar) 158bhp between 4,500 and 6,300 rpm and 184 lb/ft of torque from 1,500 to 4,500rpm.

The car can be bought with either a standard six-speed manual or optional 7-speed S-tronic twin-clutch transmission and can also be had with optional Sport or S-line trim specification.

Audi claims that the car is capable enough to reach 62mph from rest in a quick 7.2 seconds and this can be further reduced to 7.1 seconds if one has opted for the twin-clutch gearbox. The car has a claimed top whack of 140mph. Also, regardless of the type of transmission, 44.1 mpg and 147g CO2 are claimed.

The Sport models gets 17-inch alloy wheels, an electronic climate control, leather combined with rich Alcantara for upholstery and Concert audio equipment with iPod connectivity.

S line models feature bigger 18-inch alloys, a lowered suspension, a short-shifter for manual transmissions, S line detailing and powerful xenon headlights.

Other revisions for the 2012 TT range include the option of having the popular S tronic transmission for both roadster and coupe versions of 1.8 TFSI and 2.0 TDi powered cars.

Honda planning further investments in India!

2011-10-14T16:29:00.002+05:30

Japanese car manufacturer Honda Siel Cars India is currently evaluating possibility of injecting a dosage of vitamin M into its second manufacturing facility in India to enhance its car manufacturing capacity and thus meet the increasing demand for the two hatchbacks.

The 1995 entrant is planning of upgrading its plant at Headquarters (Noida) to cash in on the increased demand that takes place during the festive season. Its second plant at Tarakpura, Rajasthan too has an installed capacity of 60,000 units but is currently manufacturing only a few critical components for export models of the cars. Many dealerships across the nation are reportedly asking buyers to wait for 4 to 6 months for the delivery of their Brio and Jazz hatchbacks. This further depicts that launching the competitively priced and capable Brio and reducing the selling price of their premium hatchback Jazz is working in favour of the auto maker.

Installed capacity of 1,00,000 units a year will in all probability fall short in case the manufacturer’s objective of selling as many as 40,000 units of Brio in a few months is met. Currently HSIC is planning to sell about 5400 cars a month. Also, Jazz is predicted to post a strong growth ever since it witnessed a price cut of a whopping INR 150000 in the second half of August. Hyundai’s i20 and Skoda Fabia being direct rivals of the Jazz are probably experiencing a serious threat from the Jazz ever since it started retailing at a reduced price of Rs. 5.5 lakhs (Ex showroom, Delhi). Even the upper C segment sedan from the manufacturer, the City saw a reduction in price by a considerable amount of Rs. 66000. This made City crawl back to its numero uno status by selling as many as 3720 units in the month of September. City sits on top of the sales chart of its segment without having any diesel variant. Before the Brio came, Honda was utilising only 60 per cent of its manufacturing capacity by producing cars like the Jazz, City, Civic and Accord. The company has also stated that it has future plans of a lower C segment sedan spawned out of the Brio. The company exports its cars to Nepal and also is looking forward to export to right hand drive markets like Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

If all this was not enough, company’s future plans of launching diesel variants of its cars in India has further consolidated the need of optimising its manufacturing capacities in India. The Japan based manufacturer is already developing diesel powerplants and plans to introduce them here subsequently.

Strong show by Brio, 5000 cars booked!

2011-10-14T16:20:00.003+05:30

The dictionary meaning of Brio reads as liveliness and the Japanese car named after a word of Celtic origin has surely given Honda a reason enough to feel lively.

Towards the last few days of September, Honda Siel launched its much awaited hatchback and the state of Gujarat alone has seen 500 bookings so far. Honda is hoping 15% of its national sales to come from Brio’s sales in this state. The fact that the Japanese giant has already received nation wide bookings of 5000 cars without even making test drive vehicles available sure hints that this has been a very potent launch, probably one of the most potent of this year.

The latest hatchback from Honda is the most inexpensive car in the country to wear the Honda badge and will compete with Hyundai i10, Suzuki Ritz and the likes. The car is 3610 mm long, 1680 mm wide and 1500 mm tall with 2345 mm of wheelbase and comes with a 1.2 Litre 4 cylinder engine that sports the famous iVTEC tech from Honda and belts out 88 Power Strokes at 6000 RPM and maximum torque of 119 Nm at 4600 RPM apart from an expected overall fuel efficiency to be between 17 to 19 kmpl.

Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice President, marketing and sales, Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) said, “We have launched the Brio at a competitive price due to our concerted efforts to control costs, maximize production efficiency and minimize impact of currency fluctuations. We have achieved this through pure localisation of critical components, using local suppliers, local materials and dies, by localised drawings and our Indian associates.”

Without going into the details, it can be said that with Brio, Honda is well set to take the small car market by storm and going by the good response towards its new car, we can dare say that it won’t be any surprise if the car ends up becoming the segment leader. Thanks to the high initial pricing of the Jazz, Honda seems to have learnt its lessons the hard way and the pricing of Brio sure hints at it.

Jaguars to be manufactured in China under a Tata-Chery JV?

2011-10-14T16:07:00.004+05:30

Chinese auto manufacturer Chery and TATA acquired Brit car manufacturer Jaguar are said to be getting ready to plan a Joint Venture in China. As per the news from a few sources at China, the two manufacturers have successfully planned to have manufacturing tie-ups and are currently seeking regulatory approval. Relevant to state here is that Chery & Fuji Heavy Industries were on talks to start manufacturing of the popular Subaru vehicles but their plans went in vain as they could not seek the regulatory approval owing to incompatibility with Beiging’s Industry policy.

What adds fuel to the fire here is the information that TATA controlled Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) was looking for a Chinese partner and was in touch with many manufacturers from our neighbouring nation including the Great Wall Motor Co.

Despite national dailies at China reporting chances of the aforementioned talks going on, spokespersons from both Chery and Jaguar have preferred to maintain silence over the subject and are instead going to the lengths of denying the plans for the JV
We hope that Jaguar ends up making its presence felt at the land of booming automotive economy and as with most of the rumors, something turns out to take place from this one too.

Maruti Suzuki Introduces limited edition Alto Xplore

2011-10-13T17:01:00.002+05:30

In what could be termed as a respone to the launch of the Hyundai Eon, Maruti Suzuki India Limited today introduced a limited editions of its highest selling brand Alto. Branded as Alto Xplore, the new variant is said to be loaded with as many as 10 new features. The launch is also a means to offer something special during the ongoing feastive season. The ne Xplore edition will be available only in the in top variants – Alto Lxi and Alto-K10 Vxi.

The Alto Xplore model will be available in 6 Colours in both models and will sport an advanced double-din stereo with USB and Bluetooth, Luxurios Leather Seats, new Body graphics, Body coloured bumpers, ORVMs and door handles and Sporty Roof Spoiler.

On the occasion of launch of the limited editions, Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Chief General Manager – Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India, said “Alto has been the favourite hatchback for Indians. With festive season coming up customers look forward for exciting offers. With the introduction of this limited edition we will cater to this need of Alto buyers.”

Stay tuned as we get some more official images of the limited edition model

Overwhelmed! Mahindra stops taking XUV500 bookings

2011-10-13T16:35:00.003+05:30

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) today announced that it has sold out 4 months production of the XUV5OO and has hence temporarily deferred new bookings since October 11th. This has been necessitated due to the overwhelming response to the newly launched XUV5OO across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai.

The XUV5OO has received over 8000 bookings in just 10 days, which is probably one of the most overwhelming responses to a new car launch in recent times. The priority is to expedite deliveries for existing bookings, hence a decision has been taken to not open up new cities immediately. This may help in advancing delivery dates already committed.

All new BMW 3 series to be revealed on October 14th

2011-10-13T16:32:00.001+05:30

BMW is all set to unveil its all-new 3-series on 14th this month. This will be the sixth generation of the 3-series and as with the manufacturer’s norm of referring to its vehicle with a name reserved for official usage, the car is codenamed as the F30. In this day of social connectivity via Facebook, Twitter, Orkut and umpteenth social sites, BMW seems to have planned of taking the social networking experience to a new level. You will be surprised to know that the car’s unveiling in Munich will be broadcasted live on BMW’s facebook page.

BMW has revealed nothing but just a teaser sketch of the saloon’s outer shell. The Bavarian luxury car marque has plans for five further 3-series body styles: Touring, GT, coupé, convertible and GranCoupé. The latter three models will probably have to do without a 3-series nomenclature for sporting an all-new 4-series tag.

From what we know, the all new 3-series should be based a bit heavily on the latest 5-series in what can possible be an attempt to provide BMW’s two popular models with a more familiar appearance.

Engines in all probability will be carried forward from the current model, albeit in a retuned guise for added performance and efficiency. BMW also has plans to set up a drivetrain plant in India and that will allow the carmaker to price the new 3-series more aggressively and make it more easier on the pocket than the already aggressively priced Corporate Editions.

The car will be showcased at the famous motor show at Detroit in 2012 and Indian sales are likely to commence soon after right-hand-drive versions become available towards the middle of 2012. Going by the aggressiveness of the auto maker in India one can safely expect the new gen 3-series to be out on Indian roads towards the end of next year.

Oh lord! Won’t you lease me a Mercedes

2011-10-13T16:24:00.003+05:30

Mercedes Benz is the first of the German luxury car manufacturing trio to start its business in India. The famous and celebrated German auto maker has planned to make it large by tapping the car buying crowd of the fast developing auto market of India. The objective is of improving the perception of its luxury cars in India by making sure that a wider section of population can aspire to buy their cars. And MB has come up with an interesting and tried & tested plan to fulfill its wishes. In order to make this possible the German car maker is now offering people to drive home their cars on a lease basis.Sounds interesting? Read on.

Mercedes Benz is the first manufacturer in India to come out with this scheme. By carrying out this task the German giant aims to bring the masses into its list of customers and thereby increase its profits considerably.

Debashis Mitra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India commented “Like many other firsts, Mercedes-Benz first brings to India a financial product which can change the way consumers purchase a car. Our leasing product shall ensure easy upgrades for consumers & hassle free ownership experience. We are proud to be the only luxury car manufacturer to offer this option in India.” He further added, ”Consumers shall now have an option to drive away a Mercedes-Benz without any initial investment & just pay affordable rentals which shall cover all insurance & maintenance costs for 3 years.“

Leasing is the grant of use of a vehicle where the customer pays only what he uses. Under a leasing contract the customer has the use of a vehicle over a period of time for a fixed monthly lease rate. Daimler Financial Services India Pvt. Ltd will be the owner of the asset and maintenance of the vehicles will be carried out by Mercedes-Benz dealers as a part of the leasing contract.In western countries, car leasing is in a high demand . It is estimated that half of all people who don’t pay upfront, lease their cars instead of going for full financing.

As mentioned by Mr. Mitra, one will have to pay only 50 % of the cost thru monthly rentals and this shall continue for 3 years after which the customer will have an option of choosing between returning the car and paying an additional sum to purchase the vehicle.

Interesting it is but one may ask in what way is it different from buying a car on EMI and then selling it off after 3 years if one wishes to let go of it?

We think that the customer will benefit from having a tighter check on cost control as leasing would be demanding a lower EMI to be paid as compared to the financing schemes available. The vehicle would not a part of the customer’s assets and that would gift the person with tax benefits. The ownership of the vehicle appears to be risk free as the residual risk is to be taken care of by Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd. Through this flexibility the customer can afford to change his/her Mercedes-Benz every two to five years, or can very well upgrade to a costlier and better model that would have been beyond their budget till now.

If all goes well, we can safely expect to see more 3 pointed stars on roads of the non-metro cities. This plan by the luxury car manufacturer seems to be squarely aimed at the fast growth rate of its main rival, the BMW and also the Audi, which is fast catching up. Also, it may pull prospective buyers of cars like Camry, Accord, Passat, etc towards the nearest Mercedes Benz showrooms.

So, we can safely edit Joplin’s famous song to go like “Oh lord! Won’t you lease me a Mercedes Benz?”

Peugeot 4008 SUV makes its international debut

2011-10-13T15:15:00.003+05:30

Peugeot recently unveiled the 4008, an SUV that completes Peugeot’s range of vehicles “suited to the various expectations of all-terrain customers,” according to the car manufacturer.

There is a wide range of engine options with as many as four engines to choose from – a 1.6-litre petrol that belts out 114bhp, a 2.0-litre petrol with 148bhp, and two more motors that burn the sticky fuel, a 1.6- and a 1.8-litre with power rated at 110bhp and 148bhp again respectively. However, for European markets, only the diesels are being offered, both of which are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as the standard option.

Unlike what is the norm these days, the 4008 will be offered in only a 4×4 (4WD) format in Europe, along with a system that features three selectable driving modes, including a 2×4 (2WD), a 4WD and the ‘Lock’ option. Entirely based on the platform of popular 4007, in the Peugeot 4008, the front and rear overhangs of the vehicle are shorter by 300mm, and on the same time keeps its predecessor’s long wheelbase and wide tracks to maximise cabin space.

Externally, features of the new Peugeot 4008 include aftermarket-like and aesthetically appealing 18-inch alloys, a tastefully done vertical grille, bold and flared wheel arches, sill protectors and as with all the upmarket vehicles these days LED daylight running lamps that in words of marketing guys “complement the headlamps”. On the inside, the cabin gets a full glass panoramic roof, a touch-screen navigation system and a reversing camera too. Pricing for the Peugeot 4008 variants was yet to be announced at the time of filing of the story.

Mercedes Benz’s new dealerships in Chennai and Ludhiana

2011-10-12T17:28:00.003+05:30

Mercedes-Benz India consolidated it’s operations in South India and in Punjab to be precise with the inauguration of it’s first ever ‘state-of-the-art dealership’ in the Industrial city of Ludhiana. Joshi Autozone Pvt. Ltd. has been associated with Maruti Suzuki in past and is currently partnering with Honda and Tata motors in Punjab. This group now boasts a Mercedes Benz dealership in Ludhiana which was inaugurated by Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Mr. Deepak Joshi, Joshi Autozone Pvt. Ltd.

The dealership is spread across cumulative area of 16,000 sq. ft with high class facilties, the showroom is equipped with the Mercedes-Benz Café, Customer Lounge and Driver Lounge and it all makes for an enhancing customer experience The service facility is is spawned over a 5,500 square feet area with a capacity for servicing 20 cars in a single shift of the day and in 16 different bays. The availability of trained technicians will ensure that the prized possessions of the customers get world class treatment.

At the inauguration, Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented: “Mercedes-Benz has always been the pioneer of unparalleled customer experience. We truly abide by our brand philosophy, ‘the Best or Nothing’, ever since we invented the automobile 125 Years ago. Our consumers in Ludhiana and nearby towns today lead global lifestyles, and our partners at Joshi Autozone Pvt. Ltd recognize this fact. This is the third showroom of Mercedes-Benz in Punjab equipped with unrivalled features that are aimed to take care of all the automotive needs of our evolving customers that include new car sales, spare parts and financing options, thus establishing a superlative car ownership experience.”

He further said: “Joshi Autozone Pvt. Ltd. has represented Mercedes-Benz India since 2009 and has grown with us. As partners we share the same passion and commitment towards our valued patrons. We are confident that our customers in Ludhiana will experience even further enriched ownership experience with the inauguration of this state of the art dealership.”

Mr. Deepak Joshi, Principal Owner of Joshi Autozone Pvt. Ltd. said, “Tier Two cities like Ludhiana have developed global aspirations in the recent past. We are certain that with the inauguration of this new showroom of Mercedes-Benz India in Ludhiana we will be able to satiate these aspirations. We are proud of our long term association with Mercedes-Benz and are happy to take it a step further today. We look forward to making this initiative a true success, not only through best in class products, but also the slew of value added service on offer.” Ludhiana, with its high population of well heeled citizens and a taste of luxury cars depicted by a large number of limousines, other German cars, etc. been spotted at the city should serve as a nice location for having dealership of the luxury car maker to bring the wide range of upmarket vehicles a step closer to potential buyers.

If a new dealership was not enough to satisfy MB’s thirst to expand, another such dealership was opened up in a geographically opposite corner of the country at Chennai. Mercedes-Benz India has set yet another benchmark in Luxury Automotive Industry and launched South India’s largest automotive Dealership in Chennai.

Mercedes-Benz India, the premium luxury car manufacturer, inaugurated its largest state of the art car showroom in partnership with the group Transcar India Pvt. Ltd.

The massive showroom is spread over an area of 29,900 sq. ft. and was inaugurated by Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Mr. K. S. M. Musaddique, Managing Director, Transcar India Pvt. Ltd. The new addition has helped with reinforcing Mercedes-Benz India’s position as the luxury car manufacturer with the widest & largest network presence in the country. The new dealership is located on GST Road.

The dealership flaunts an exciting display of 20 cars from the Mercedes-Benz’s stable in India.

Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India stated: “Mercedes-Benz has always been at the forefront of superlative customer experiences in line with our brand philosophy of ‘the Best or Nothing’, since our invention of the automobile 125 Years ago. Consumers in Chennai are exposed to global lifestyles and are looking for the best in luxury and technology; our partners at Transcar India Pvt. Ltd recognize this fact. The showroom is equipped with world class features that are aimed to take care of all automotive needs of our evolving customers, ranging from new car sales, spare parts to financing options, thus establishing a world class car ownership experience. This multi-storeyed showroom has the capacity to display 20 cars and has been designed in such a way that at every level there is a different experience zone consisting of SUV, Sports and Specialty cars , Premium products like S Class etc and an exclusive accessory section along with Mercedes Café.”

Mr. K. S. M. Musaddique, Managing Director, Transcar India Pvt. Ltd. stated : “Chennai is a city full of discerning automobile aficianados that is constantly looking for the latest and best technology. This dealership will provide these customers a complete range of automobile services with proven standard of reliability and efficiency, nurturing and forging a lasting association with the brand. We have had a long standing relationship with Mercedes-Benz India, and through the inauguration of this dealership,we further cement our commitment to the brand and our patrons.”

Keeping in mind the fact that high end luxury cars have made their way into many garages of the homes in city, there is no option but to agree with the above comment.

With setting up of the magnificent showrooms in Chennai and Ludhiana, Mercedes-Benz now enjoys presence and network spread across 29 cities with over 61 touch-points and retains with it the distinction of being the leading luxury car maker of the country with the widest and most intensive network of sales and after-sales services in India. The setting up of these state of the art dealerships has not just consolidated its widespread network even further but very well portrays how serious the German manufacturer is about its Indian operations.

Verito Executive makes it to the market.

2011-10-12T17:16:00.003+05:30

Close on the heels of launching of the world class SUV- The XUV 500, M&M has launched a new variant of its C segment sedan, the Verito, a rebadged Dacia Logan. Special editions have almost always did the trick of boosting sales and Mahindra has introduced a special edition of the Verito saloon,cristened the Verito Executive.

The new variant comes factory fitted with trendy alloy wheels, body leather seat covers and leather-wrapped steering wheel, matching door inserts, an integrated Bluetooth and as is the norm these days, USB connectivity for audio system.

Now if you remember the previous special edition of the same car that was sold as a variant of the Renault Logan, the red mag wheels and those decals were not to everyone’s taste and to many they were quite ‘wannabe’. To me, decals belong to something like a souped up Renault Clio and not a budget saloon like Verito. Even taking the executive tag in consideration, idea of body decals hardly makes a point for themselves. After all, which luxury car (aimed at executives) has ever come up with a set of body decals?

The Executive edition retains all the features of the Verito D6 including driver airbag, ABS with EBD, Variometric AC, body side cladding( Do we see a mini- SUV inspirations in here? Funny.), ski racks, rear spoiler and chrome highlights. The Verito Executive can be ordered in two colours; Pearl White and Walnut Brown.

Vivek Nayer, Sr. Vice President – Marketing, Automotive Sector, M&M, mentioned, “The launch of the Verito Executive Edition will add a more premium status quotient to the saloon. Together with the propositions of space and mileage, which Verito is already known for, this new edition will provide premium interior and exterior features to our customers.”

The Verito Executive comes with the engine options from the rest of the Verito range. The 1.5-litre 65bhp diesel variant has been priced at Rs. 6.94 lakh for the BS III variant and Rs. 7.09 lakh for BS IV. The petrol variant with 85bhp 1.6-litre engine retails at Rs. 5.95 lakh for BS III and Rs. 5.99 lakh for BS IV. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. At this price point, the feature loaded sedan takes the fight head on to the likes of Swift ZDi/ZXi, Etios base variants, etc. Only time will tell if a special edition of Verito will be as popular as the limited edition of Esteem Vxi in the past and if it will do any good to the already increasing sales figures of the popular car.

Toxic Exposure Risks Found in Automobiles: A Commentary Toxic Exposure Risks Found in Automobiles: A Commentary

2011-10-12T16:46:00.005+05:30

Brian Turner is an avid reader and fan of Motoroids. He wrote to us a while back expressing his wish to write about toxic wastes used in automobiles and their hazards. Here’s what Brian has to say about the subject. Brian Turner is an avid reader and fan of Motoroids. He wrote to us a while back expressing his wish to write about toxic wastes used in automobiles and their hazards. Here’s what Brian has to say about the subject. Brian is British / Irish and was born in Syracuse, New York. His interests are looking at all types of cars like classics, tuner, muscle, import, supercars, etc. He likes to research and write about inherent toxic hazards in automobiles. Brian also likes to watch and play sports, hanging out with friends and having fun. He has have recently been accepted as a staff contributor to the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog where he posts about the cancer risks that toxins such as asbestos pose.

Do let us know your views on the topic too via our comments section so that Brian may get his feedback

One of the most iconic images of Americana is riding in the family car. Modern life revolves around personal vehicles, and these cars are a reflection of an individual’s finances, personal status, and lifestyle. Over the past 50 years, vehicles have been made from a variety of materials, including toxic chemicals. Over time, many of these chemicals have been discovered as carcinogenic, and mutagenic. While the auto industry is required by law to disclose any potentially toxic construction materials used in manufacturing, new petrochemicals, polymers, and rare earth chemicals are increasingly used in modern vehicles.

One of the oldest and most common toxins in vehicles is asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, used to manufacture fibers, textiles, and insulation. Asbestos, whichis not electrically conductive, possesses a high tensile strength and is effective at dampening noises. Because of these properties, asbestos was used in vehicle manufacture for many years in the 20th century. Many components, such as the noise dampener under the vehicle hood, insulation wires, and some vehicle seats were manufactured from asbestos. As these vehicles were driven, fine fibers of asbestos drifted into the cabin air of vehicles. These fine fibers were too small to be seen, and occupants inside the vehicles were unaware of being exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs, and can cause a form of cancer known as mesothelioma. It took many years for asbestos to become associated with cancer and respiratory malfunction, as health groups are still reporting rising numbers of asbestos victims.

Many modern vehicles contain a variety of potentially lethal components. Modern vehicles contain advanced battery systems, integrated electronics systems, and LCD screens. Many of the electronics in modern vehicles contain hazardous metals, including mercury in LCD screens, cadmium, barium, cesium, and other components that can be a health hazard.

Most of the dangerous components in vehicles are contained in sealed areas of the vehicle, reducing the risk of exposure. Unfortunately, many of the components such as the plastic dashboard can contain hazardous chemicals.

One chemical that has come under media attention in recent years is Bisphenol A (BPA) BPA in an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of many plastics. The interior of many recent vehicles have been shown to contain moderate levels of BPA in the ambient air. BPA is similar to estrogen in the human body, and can cause heart disease and some types of cancer. Vehicles in warm weather emit higher levels of these binding chemicals, and can reach levels that are hazardous to occupants.

Many watchdog groups are conducting ambient air and surface tests in new vehicles, to determine potential risks for consumers. The ‘new car’ smell that many vehicles have may be a popular scent, but likely contains a variety of industrial toxins.

Skoda Rapid: Undisguised images, design commentary and other details

2011-10-12T16:31:00.007+05:30

Skoda’s Lauretta is now the Rapid (nothing to do with a certain Rapide) again after being briefly termed as the Lauretta. At the rolling-out ceremony in Chakan, Skoda Chairman Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland commented, “The Rapid is a true reflection of our motto ‘Simply Clever’.”

From the pictures it was pretty clear this Skoda has been put together using a collection of familiar elements. And then more than a few from VW, Skoda’s sister concern. And luckily for Skoda it all translates into an attractive design. The front profile will remind you of Skoda Fabia whereas from the side view, the car can easily be mistaken as the VW Vento. But, combining it all does translates into the car looking like a mature sedan should and looks ready to rub shoulders with the likes of Honda City and Hyundai Verna.

As mentioned earlier in this article, the headlights, the grille and the fogs are similar to Skoda’s Fabia. To assist Skoda with merging its design elements with VW bits, there’s a new bonnet, new fenders and a mildly altered chin. The bonnet seems to be longer than the Fabia, the new fender can be seen with the Vento’s sharp crease built into it and the chin appears slightly altered at the corners, and this is where it blends well with the Vento’s beautifully executed wheel arches. As it should have been, the rear is different from the VW Vento too. You sure will have to compare the pictures directly with a Vento, but you can tell Skoda’s ‘C’ motif has been inserted in the tail-lights, the area where the number plate sits has been altered too and there is some more. With the bumper being a new, more sculpted unit.

The engines will be shared with the Vento too – a 1.6-litre, 105bhp petrol and a 1.6-litre 105bhp diesel.

Keeping the positioning of the two brands and also the positioning of Fabia and Polo in mind, you can also expect the Rapid to be priced slightly below the Vento. And then, there’s also the possibility of Skoda launching an even wallet-friendly version, with some kit omitted. Looks like the vacuum created by the popular Octavia going defunct will be removed once we have the new car launched. With more and more competition increasing in the segment, expect a lucrative price and a really strong sales push from Skoda. Let us wait and watch if Rapid’s sells rapidly !!

So what would it be for you? The Vento or the Rapid, if you were to buy into the C-segment?

Volvo’s plans its future with new Scaleable Platform Architecture

2011-10-12T16:26:00.001+05:30

Swedish auto maker Volvo has recently outlined a future platform and drivetrain plan after it separated from Ford, its parent company then . The future planning by Volvo includes a new modular platform that can possibly be used to underpin a wide range of vehicles from say, a C30 to an S80 and the auto maker’s plan also has a new range of highly efficient four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

The new Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) will permit Volvos of future to be as much as 150kgs lighter than the outgoing models. Their modularity will translate into all models — regardless of size — to utilise the same production line. Now Chinese-owned, Volvo claims that the SPA also benefits from improved weight distribution and better driving dynamics. Safety is something that Volvo has always given a prime importance to and the SPA will be seen incorporating a common electrical and safety architecture for all models.

The Volvo Environmental Architecture (VEA) direct-injection petrol and common-rail diesel engines will produce less CO2 and offer up to 35 percent better fuel economy than the predecessors of the proposed engines, that are in use today. Volvo aims for a greater and more efficient performance than current six-cylinder units.

VEA engines should also be as much as 100kgs lighter than present units and keeping in line with the increasing concern of fossil fuel decline and also the unwanted strains on environment, some will be offered with hybrid technology, including a hybrid system that includes an innovative flywheel and should produce about 80bhp more power and 20 percent better economy.

Volvo is gradually spreading its wings in India, from being known as a world-class bus manufacturer to being known for its capable SUVs and also for the S80 that takes the fight straight to German automakers, it will be interesting to see the response of people once our market receives the proposed upgrades. These upgrades combined with Volvo’s new found styling language will probably make a strong case for its cars.

Mercedes tops the Best Global Brands 2011 list for premium cars

2011-10-12T16:23:00.002+05:30

Mercedes Benz can proudly flaunt the fact that it has been ranked at the top amongst the premium car brands of this world in the ‘BEST GLOBAL BRANDS 2011’ ranking ! If nothing else, this should be good enough to launch an ad campaign on this theme.

The ranking is assessed by consultancy Interbrand Zintmever & Lux. The ranking is gauged on the measurement of the value of the brand in terms of its appeal and resonance with the consumers.

Among the overall ranks of top 100 brands, Mercedes Benz is placed at number 12 with soft drink manufacturer Coca Cola ranked at the absolute top. The only other automobile manufacturer to better Mercedes Benz is Toyota which pipped the luxury car manufacturer to acquire the 11^th slot. Mercedes’s main rival BMW has been ranked at 15^th and the other rival, Audi has been placed way below at 59^th.

Interbrand has positioned Mercedes Benz brand value at a staggering $ 27.455 million. And make no mistake, this is not the value of the company, but just what Interbrand rates as the value quotient of the brand !

India sure seems to be becoming a hot market for Bimmers with BMW posting better sales figures than the 3 pointed star but the world still seems to be singing ‘Oh lord! Won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz??!’

Hyundai Eon: interior, exterior and brochure images, specs and features!

2011-10-10T16:41:00.018+05:30

There is hardly anything about the Hyundai Eon that remains to be revealed. Images from every angle, including interior, specs, features and variants – everything is out in the open. Except, of course the price. Here’ a compilation of most of the information you are looking for on this entry level small car from Hyundai

The Eon features a swept back, ‘tapering-towards-the-fender’ set of headlamps with bulged curvatures creating a popped-out eye effect for the Eon front’s end. The chrome grille with the Hyundai emblem forms the top part of Hyundai’s hexagonal family grille, which at the bottom surrounds the central air dam. The huge bumper has been shaped rather sportily at the bottom, and has place for two triangular fog lamps.

The Eon will have exceptionally flared and muscular wheel arches for its category, which frankly is a bit of overkill for us. The area at the bottom of the doors has been scooped to create a trough above the door sills. While the front window follows the usual design, the aft portion of the rear window’s sill has been given a kink to make the car look sportier in profile. There is a crease that follows the window’s sills, starting from the upper portion of the tail-lamps and ending into the headlamps, forming the shoulder line of the car in the process.

Two huge, vertical bat-shaped tail-lamps complete the look at the rear for the Eon. The rear windshield is U shaped, while the tail-gate with a rather high loading lip has a horizontal crease at the bottom, merging into the curvature of the tail-lamps. The rear bumper matches its front counterpart in terms of size, and comprises a substantial portion of the rear fender’s massive girth, which, as we mentioned earlier, is a tad too much for a car this size to carry elegantly. The Eon’s rear also features a roof mounted spoiler with a stop lamp. This feature should be available only in the top variant though.

In the first ever spy pictures of its cabin, the Eon also gives away its interiors to a large extent. By the first look, the black beige combo and the overall quality looks appreciable. The layout, the materials used and the overall turnout of the interiors is a cut above the rest of the cars in the segment. The Eon will have an open storage space forming the left portion of the dashboard above the glove compartment. The three spoke steering wheel is new, and so is the entire center console / instrument cluster. The center console will be a new design altogether with music system as a standard fitment in the top of the line variant. The music system will support USB/AUX-in. From what we can see, the instrument cluster will have a big dial for the speedo with a gear shift indicator.

The center console and the instrument cluster will be green blacklit. There will be two cupholders ahead of the gear shifter and there would also be some space in the doors for a small bottle and documents. Space in the boot too, as eveident from the images is more than sufficient for a car this size.

The Eon will target the Maruti Suzuki Alto as its primary rival, and will try to match the volumes of the largest selling car in India. The Korean carmaker plans to price the Eon between Rs. 3.0 to 3.5 lakh. At that price, the Eon would really catch the fancy of lakhs of small car buyers, especially as it is a Hyundai, and the brand holds great value and respect among the buyers in the small car segment. The overall quality, size and equipment levels of the Eon clearly seem to outclass the Alto in the first look.

The Eon will be powered by an all-new 814cc, 3-cylinder engine with 54 bhp of peak power and 76.5 Nm of torque. The Eon is expected to deliver an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 21.1kmpl, which is slightly more than the Alto’s 20.2 kmpl. The Eon will also have driver side airbag, power windows for the front passenger, manual A/C and power steering. The car will ride on 13 inch wheels (12 inch for lower variants) and will be shod with 155/70 tyres (145 /80 for the base variants) . The Eon variants will follow the i10’s nomenclature pattern and will be presented in Era, Magna and Sportz trims.

Here we have the detailed features and specifications of the Hyundai Eon

Engine : 3 Cylinder, 814cc in-line

Transmission : 5 speed manual

Power: 56PS

Torque : 76 Nm

Fuel efficiency : 21.1 kmpl
D-Lite

AC
Engine mmobilizer
Full size spare wheel
Child lock
Hub caps
Cup holder
Floor console with storage tray
Single folding rear seat
12″ wheels
Heater with 4 speed blower
Power outlet
Driver side OSRVM
Two spoke steering wheel

Era (Features in addition to D-lite)

Radiator grille in body colour + chrome
Power steering
Body coloured bumpers
Tinted glasses
Shaded windshield

Magna ( Features in addition to Era)

Front power windows
Roof antenna
tilt steering
Internally adjustable ORVMS
2 speaker Audio system with USB and aux-in
Passenger side ORVM
Molded door trims
Door pockets for driver and fropnt passenger
rear parcel tray
13″ wheels 155/70 R tyres
Full wheel cober
Wheel in black
Central locking

Sportz (Features in addition to Magna)

Driver airbag (not for passenger)
keyless entry
Fog lamps
body coloured door handles and OSRVM
3 spoke aluminum finish steering wheel
Inside door handles in metal finish

However, NO ABS, NO Air bag for the front passenger and NO Alloy wheels

If the Eon succeeds, Maruti Suzuki, which is already under attack from all quarters, will have some serious trouble protecting its market share. So does the Eon present itself as the first genuine Alto killer to you? What are the things which the Alto will still have going for it even with the Eon’s launch? Do share with us your thoughts.

Here, we have a whole bunch of images for your eyes

Official: Mahindra’s XUV5OO registers 5000+ bookings in 6 days

2011-10-10T16:36:00.002+05:30

The mad rush to book a Mahindra XUV500 isn’t just a figment of us auto journo’s imagination. It’s for real, and Mahindra & Mahindra have now officially come out with the booking numbers. The Indian carmaker is witnessing an unprecedented rush of prospective customers at its showrooms. The new SUV has registered 5000+ bookings in just 6 days from the official launch. The company has registered more than 35,000+ test drive requests for the vehicle. And this is a situation when the bookings have been opened only in five cities – Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. M&M sure have a trouble they would love to be in.

The XUV500 has become one of the most searched for terms in the auto domain in India. The XUV500 official site has witnessed more than 8.5 lakh unique visitors in only 2 weeks. The live launch & press con webcast attracted 1.5 lakh viewers on the web. And the Guess the Price Contest on the website registered 1.15 lac entries. Amazing figures, those!

Such is the response to the vehicle that Mahindra & Mahindra have decided to defer the launch press ad campaign in view of the euphoric consumer reaction.

Speaking on the response to the XUV500, Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “It is a delight for us at M&M that the XUV500 has garnered 5000+ bookings in a mere 6 days and across only 5 cities. We are humbled by this overwhelming response to the launch and would like to thank customers for the confidence they have reposed in the XUV500.”

Good show, Mahindra, now take it to the next level. Let’s bring some more finesse and sophistication to the future products! Keep up the good work!

Tata Manza to be restyled by fashion designer Rajesh Pratap

2011-10-10T16:30:00.001+05:30

Tata Motors has associated with fashion designer Rajesh Pratap for Tata Manza’s interior and exterior restyling. The fashion designer will liaison with Tata Motors’ styling team the auto firm’s styling house in Pune. Tata Motors will be developing 1,000 Tata Manzas (a limited edition range), incorporating design inputs from Rajesh.

Tata Motors has associated with the Wills India Fashion Week and Rajesh Pratap Singh has designed an exclusive theme-based collection, which will be showcased at the Wills India Fashion Week. The collection theme is inspired by a road trip which Rajesh undertook in the villages of Orissa. Focusing on Ikat and handloom textile weaves, some of the experiments are part of this collection. The show attempts to initiate a dialogue and thought process on what is the relevance of handloom in the country. The theme of Rajesh’s collection will also be integrated on two specially accessorized Tata Manzas, which will be the show-stopper, on October 8, 2011 at the Wills India Fashion Week.

According to Mr. Rajesh Pratap Singh, “It has been a pleasure and an honour for me to be associated with the Tata Group, a proud Indian brand with values that inspire everyone in the industry. Tata Motors have an exceptional and dynamic young team that is going to change the way India drives. I am truly excited to be involved with this project.”

Currently based in New Delhi, Rajesh Pratap Singh belongs to Rajasthan in India. Subsequent to his graduation from NIFT Delhi he worked in the Fashion Industry for two years in India and Italy before introducing his own line of men’s and women’s clothing in 1997.

Toyota Kirloskar to export Etios and Liva to South Africa

2011-10-07T14:52:00.001+05:30

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has forayed into the export market. The company will be exporting its Etios sedan and Liva hatchback to the South African market to start its export operations. The company plans to begin exports by March 2012. The two vehicles will be further exported to other markets as well, as Toyota Motor Corporation plans to make Toyota Kirloskar Motors as its export hub for small cars.

The export model of Etios will be built on the same platform as Etios and Etios Liva, manufactured and sold in India. However, there would be a few changes in technical specifications/features, pertaining to the different needs of each market. The export model will be customized to suit the local requirements. The company will export only the petrol variants of the Etios.

Commenting on the beginning of TKM’s export operations , Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, TKM, said, “With the start of exports, TKM has entered a new chapter of business in India. This milestone is a defining moment for all of us at TKM. Exporting the Etios to South Africa would also mean showcasing the advanced technology and superior quality features that have been developed by Toyota for Etios. We are convinced that the Etios will be successful in delivering Toyota’s promise of quality in South Africa too.”

Mr. Shekar Viswanathan, Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, TKM added, “The start of the export operations of the company denotes the growing role of TKM in Toyota’s global operations. This is a tremendous achievement for us at TKM as we enter into a new phase of business. We see a big opportunity in this sector as exports have considerably grown when compared to last year. TKM’s foray into the export market promises a lot of growth for the company.”

The Etios is currently manufactured in TKM’s second plant located in Bidadi industrial area on the outskirts of Bangalore. The export model will also be manufactured in the same plant. The current production capacity in the second plant is 80,000 units which has been ramped upto 1,20,000 units by 2012 and 2,10,000 units by 2013. The engine and transmission for the Etios sold in India and export markets will be manufactured at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts. Approximately 100,000 engines will be produced per year starting in the third quarter of 2012 and approximately 240,000 transmissions per year starting in early 2013. The engines and transmissions are currently being imported from Japan.

Honda NSX may be launched by 2014

2011-10-07T14:50:00.002+05:30

The NSX was the original everyday supercar. It was the original Ferrari substitute for the executives who drove to their 9 to 5 jobs. Sadly, first the recession and more importantly a lack of will have been preventing Honda from developing a modern version of this legendary (though not so successful) car. The rumors about Honda developing the new gen NSX under the Acura brand have been ride for quite some time. Plenty of spy pictures of the car have been shot, and the new car is highly anticipated to be another GT-R in the making.

Now, a new report on the Internet suggests that the car may be launched by 2014. According to some reports, the new NSX will be inspired by the Acura Roadster Concept, which is also expected to debut in Avengers movie. However, an Acura spokesperson previously stated the vehicle is a “one-off, fictional car that was made just for the movie and will not be produced.

In its modern guise the NSX is expected to be propelled by hybrid power, with a 3.7 liter V6 turning the wheels in tandem with two electric motors. Expect power output in the region of 450bhp. The car will most likely be positioned slightly below the GT-R, also known as the Godzilla, the exotic supercar killer and the King of the Green Hell

Renault’s compact car concept to be unveiled by Mr Ghosn in India!

2011-10-07T14:37:00.002+05:30

Renault had just recently launched the Koleos SUV in India. The firm, after parting ways with Mahindra, decided to make its independent entry in India with the launch of the Fluence sedan followed by the Koleos SUV. The firm had also announced that it would launch a small car that would be pitted against the Maruti Suzuki Swift, VW Polo, Hyundai i20 and the Ford Figo.

The car will be unveiled by the chairman CEO of Renault and Nissan, Mr Carlos Ghosn who will visit India by the end of October. The compact car’s concept version is scheduled to be unveiled prior to the start of the inauguration of the Formula One Grand Prix of India which will take place in October 28-30. The concept car is expected to be very much similar to the final production version of the car that will be launched next year.

The compact car will be unveiled and launched internationally at Delhi’s international Auto Expo in January 2012 and the bookings for the car too will begin on the same day. The car is expected to be developed specially for the Indian market and will be based on Nissan Micra hatchback’s platform.

Rolls Royce Ghost Extended Wheel Base launched in India

2011-10-07T14:32:00.002+05:30

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled its latest model Ghost Extended Wheelbase at a ceremony in Mumbai. The sixth new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars model builds on the success of Ghost in India. The interior of Ghost Extended Wheelbase will offer 170mm more room for rear-seat occupants over the Ghost. A panoramic sunroof comes as standard. Lambs-wool mats, individual rear seats, and rear theater configuration, also as standard, combine to create a luxurious space to travel in unbridled comfort.

The new car is powered by a 6.6 litre twin turbo charged V12 engine which produces 563 hp and 780Nm of torque at only 1,500 rpm, Ghost Extended Wheelbase accelerates from 0-100km/h in just five seconds. An intelligent, four-corner air suspension aims at delivering the best ride + handling combo.

The four-seater Ghost has seen exceptional demand since its India launch in 2010. The Ghost Extended Wheelbase will be built to order and is available in only limited numbers for 2011 until full production begins in 2012.

Paul Harris, Asia Pacific Regional Director said: “Akin to the unique and spectacular Maharajah cars of the past, current Rolls-Royce customers are commissioning our Bespoke department to create contemporary motor cars as unique as their own fingerprints. This demand has led us to add more craftspeople to our bespoke team and to extend the manufacturing plant to accommodate this growth.”

A complex computer system reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car whilst the dampers alone make individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds ensuring perfect poise, balance and handling. Anti-roll stabilisation, dynamic brake control and dynamic traction and cornering brake control work together under dual Integrated Chassis Management.

Passengers have access to TV channels, CDs and radio or to browse the navigation menu. The accompanying audio system delivers 600 Watts through a 10-channel amplifier and 16 speakers. USB and auxiliary inputs allow external audio devices to be integrated.

Some Interesting facts about Rolls-Royce cars

Each Rolls-Royce passes through up to 60 pairs of hands before leaving the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, England.
Each cars goes through a meticulous, seven day painting and polishing process
The first of five stages starts with a phosphate electro-coat to protect against corrosion.
This is followed by a layer of primer, colour coat and two layers of clear lacquer.
The body is sanded between each layer and hand-polished for five hours after the application of the final coat.
12 exterior colours are available, each of which can be contrasted by an optional Silver Satin bonnet.
Only the finest materials are selected for the interior.
A Ghost Extended Wheelbase wood-set has at least 3m² of veneer, consisting of 18 wood parts and takes 16 days to complete.
Each individual piece consists of 11 layers of veneer, one layer of foil and one of aluminium to provide strength.
Their natural beauty is brought to life by the skill of those working in the Wood Shop, providing high quality wood veneers in four different finishes ranging from contemporary straight grain to classic burr finishes.
A veneer option includes the famed Malabar wood from India. The veneers are milled and sanded by hand before being coated with five layers of lacquer for protection – and to give the trademark mirror-like sheen.
As with every Rolls-Royce model service and maintenance is covered by a condition-based service package for the first-four years, regardless of mileage.
It has taken Rolls-Royce Motor Cars just seven years to achieve record sales of 2,711 cars in 2010 since Phantom was first launched in 2003. It took Rolls-Royce Motors, the previous company, more than 70 years to achieve the same figure in a single year.

VDO: Affordable collision avoidance system introduced by GM!

2011-10-07T14:25:00.002+05:30

The collision avoidance system is not something new that is seen as a feature on a car. The Mercedes S-class sedans have the collision avoidance system as a feature on them. However, now this collision avoidance system is also available on the 2012 GMC Terrain small SUV. But what could be the USP for this? That’s simple to answer. Its the low cost of $295 that brings the collision avoidance system on-board.

The system consists of a high resolution camera that scans the road for traffic as well as lanes. Changes in the images determine any changes in lane without indicating signals and can alert the driver. This obviously can also detect the rear end of other cars in the same course. The warning is indicated in the form of an audible warning along with a visual display. The system also has the ability to engage the brakes on its own when a collision is eminent in order to minimize damage.

New Honda City coming late November, current version cheaper by 80K

2011-10-04T16:34:00.001+05:30

It’s no news that Honda Siel Cars is planning to launch a new version of its City this year. The images, features and details of the new car have been discussed in detail in one of our earlier posts. The news, however, is that the new car should be ready for deliveries in December. We called up one of the Honda dealerships and they informed us that a new variant of the City is due in December. While dealers have a fair idea of new variants and launches, they don’t know the exact dates. From whatever the dealer shared with us, it seems Honda is planning a late November, early December launch for the car.

Another important news is that the dealerships are offering a cash discount of upto 80 thousand rupees on the current version to clear stocks and make way for the new City. The discounts will accompany only the current stocks and the new City will sell for a higher price. The dealers are also suggesting a slightly higher price tag for the top end variant of the car than the current one.

The new City will be powered by the same 1.5-liter i-VTEC mill that currently propels it. The changes made to the car will be purely cosmetic with the mechanicals and underpinnings left untouched.

Diesel cars from Honda coming soon!

2011-10-04T16:28:00.001+05:30

Petrol has become the recent headache for common man with its ever increasing price. At the wake of this, India has seen the rise of diesel cars which are presently at a high demand. However, the intentions of Honda still remain a mystery. Whether it is the rising petrol prices or the quest to reach the apex mark in the Indian market, no one knows yet. According to a Honda official, the firm is working on the development of diesel engines back in Japan.

“The Research and Development team in Japan is developing diesel engines. It is premature to say that the products will be rolled out on diesel (platform),” said India Senior Vice-President (Sales and Marketing), Jnaneswar Sen. He revealed that these diesel engines are being developed specially for the Indian market since the demand for the same is not as much in other foreign markets.

According to various sources, the Honda City will be the first car to get the diesel powered motor. After this, the Jazz may also feature a diesel engine. The new CR-V which is expected to arrive by 2012 may also be powered by a diesel engine along with the Honda Accord.

Red Bull Speed Street in Delhi: Images galore!

2011-10-04T16:23:00.002+05:30

Formula One World Champions Red Bull Racing drove their Formula One car down Rajpath, as 60,000 fans cheered on Red Bull Racing’s driver, Daniel Ricciardo, as he powered his Formula One car down the ceremonial boulevard for the Republic of India.

The event signaled the last lap of Red Bull’s activities in the lead up to the 2011 Formula One Grand Prix of India. Red Bull Racing fans, Formula One enthusiasts and other onlookers thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of the Red Bull Racing Formula One car which fired down the stretch, clocking speeds of over 300kph.

Keeping up with the Formula One car were the Ghost Ryderz – one of India’s top professional stunt bike group. Impressing crowds with a mix of jaw dropping wheelies and stoppies, the Ghost Ryderz set Rajpath on fire, defining precision on two wheels. Not to be left out, some of the best drivers in India took to the tarmac in Renault Koleos’ balancing acceleration and braking to the tee. That resulted in perfect synchronized formations with of course, screeching tyres and the smell of burnt rubber.

“It was a proud moment for me to be the first Formula 1 driver to race down the iconic Rajpath. Today’s drive was truly exhilarating especially with the legions of cheering fans who lined up the road. I’ve never seen anything like this before but I’m sure that Red Bull has set millions of pulses racing as India waits for the lights to turn green at the Grand Prix later this month,” said Daniel Riccardio