Monthly Archives: May 2009

Maruti Suzuki takes the Green Route

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‘Going green’ is the new mantra in car industry amidst rising environmental pollution and fuel prices. Many car manufacturers are joining the ‘green revolution’ to attract environment conscious car buyers.

India’s car giant Maruti Suzuki is planning to launch electric cars and compressed natural gas (CNG) variants of its three or four car models. The CNG variants of its car models is likely to arrive by 2010 or 201.

Currently, the company is studying the possibility of the electric cars and developing the technology for India. In a venture with U.S. based General Motors, Suzuki has already developed a fuel cell technology which is presently being tested in the Hybrid SX4 in Japan. The engine is offered with a mixture of fuel cell and high-pressure hydrogen.

Besides this, the company has also tested the hybrid technology on WagonR for the Japanese market. Whether the hybrid version of WagonR will be seen on the Indian roads is still unknown. The company has already launched the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) variants of the Maruti 800 and Wagon R.

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Mahindra’s Sedan Killer Campaign for Xylo

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New Mahindra Xylo Cars In India

A lot of criticism has been heaped on Mahindra and Mahindra for its sedan killer campaign. Many sedan owners have voiced their anger over Mahindra campaign to market the Xylo. The car owners said that they would never chuck their elegantly designed sedans for the robust and rugged appearing vehicle.

But Mahindra defended itself saying that Xylo campaign was rightly designed to highlight the merits of the vehicle. The Xylo is a multi purpose vehicle (MPV) that combines the qualities of a sedan and a utility vehicle. Xylo promises more space with seven or eight seat options and facilities for flatbeds, foldable dining trays, and parking sensors. The extended wheelbase also ensures more cargo space. A sedan will never be able to offer so many facilities.

It is also noted that Xylo is shown in an urban setting unlike other SUVs by Mahindra which highlighted their off-road capabilities. The sedan killer strategy was aimed at urban car buyers, who normally go for mid-size cars to gain more space and comfort. An MPV can add more dimensions to the space sought by the sedan buyers.

Mahindra Xylo has been able to plug four of the six aspirations (identified in a study TNS India) of a car buyer. They are status, control, security, comfort, potency, and liberation. And the Xylo advertisement is based on this report. The advertisement highlights the four important aspects of influence-space, comfort, status, and potency. Mahindra tries to reach the young and zestful consumers who want to get enough from a car rather than only a means for travel.

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Flying Car becomes Reality

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A lot is said and discussed about flying cars. The idea of flying cars has also inspired many films and TV serials. Termed as a futuristic concept, flying car concept has fascinated masses across the world. Since the birth of the concept, several efforts have been undertaken to make it a reality. Finally the future is here with the first working prototype of the Terrafugia Transition.

Also called as Roadable Aircraft, the Terrafugia Transition has successfully completed its maiden flight at the Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. Terrafugia is a small company founded by a team of five pilots graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Terrafugia is a two-seater aircraft designed to take off and land at local airports and drive on roads. It can transform from plane to car in less than 30 seconds. The Transition was flown by Phil Meteer, Colonel, USAFR (Retired) for the first time.

Said to be a historic milestone for aviation, the flight comes after six months of static, road, and taxi testing. The promoters claim that the Transition which cruises up to 450 miles at over 115 mph can drive at highway speeds on the road and fits in a standard household garage. It is a front-wheel drive vehicle on road and comes with a propeller for flight. Both modes are powered by unleaded gasoline from a regular gas station. With this breakthrough, the travel may now become a hassle-free integrated land-air experience.

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Maruti Suzuki Cars to Get Modifications

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Maruti wants to upgrade all its car models including the Maruti 800 and the Omni. This decision is mainly taken by the company to meet the Bharat Stage IV emission norms that will be effective from 2010. Earlier Maruti had announced to phase out the models that do not obey the forthcoming emission norms, but later it decided to modify them as par the emission norms.

The company is now working on the existing engines and trying to make them compliant with the Bharat stage norms. The new generation K-series engines are more efficient than the older ones and a little upgradation will further ensure improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emission.

In addition to the modified K-series engines, other existing engines after upgradation will enhance the power as well as the performance of Maruti cars. This will be a double treat for car buyers who can drive home their favourite cars with better mileage while safeguarding the nature from harmful gases.

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Power Packed New Audi TT

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The hot favourite among car lovers ‘Audi TT’ will now come with top-notch power and exhilarating performance. It has received subtle changes in the drivetrain that promises a more dynamic and powerful Audi TT. The new Audi TT was unveiled at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Since its launch in 1998, it enjoyed voluminous market share impressing many car buyers worldwide. The Audi TT was christened after the NSU’s success at racing cars at the legendary Isle of Man TT. NSU from Germany was founded in 1873 and was known for manufacturing cars and motorcycles. Later in 1969, the company was taken over by Volkswagen which eventually evolved into Audi brand.

The new Audi TT now comes in two body styles – Coupe and Roadster fitted with more powerful 2.5 litre, five cylinder turbocharged engine that churns out 341bhp and 448Nm of torque. Mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, Audi TT can accelerate from 0 to 60 kmpl in just 4.5 seconds. The speed machine with five-cylinder engine, upgraded chassis and all-conquering Quattro drivetrain is all set to create a benchmark in the car industry.

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MRF Lockout Affects Maruti Suzuki

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MRF tyres has announced lockout at its Arkonam plant in Tamil Nadu due to labour unrest. The ongoing labour strike at the factory has compelled MRF to shut off the facility. MRF is India’s top tyre manufacturing company that is involved in manufacturing a wide range of best quality tyres. It has six production facilities across the country and exports its products to over 75 countries globally.

MRF is a supplier to the country’s leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki. As the strike is likely to stretch up to a week or more, Maruti will not be able to roll out cars from its facilities until tyres are supplied. Many popular Maruti Suzuki cars are already having a long waiting period after booking. Car models like the Swift and the Swift D’Zire have a minimum waiting period of two months while the models like Alto also have good demand in the market.

Recently, the company has also launched its global car ‘Ritz’ in the Indian market. The deadlock between the tyre manufacturer and the labours is going to impact Maruti Suzuki severely. This will further increase the waiting period of the Maruti’s flagship models and will also affect the supply of the newly launched Maruti Suzuki Ritz. Though Maruti is looking for an alternative to ensure supplies, it is really difficult for the company to manage the present crisis. Hopefully, the strike gets over soon making things easy for both MRF and Maruti Suzuki.

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Ritz: Not just ‘Splash’ing Headlines

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New Maruti Suzuki Ritz Cars In India

The much awaited launch of the Ritz, a premium hatchback by Maruti Suzuki, has led to a lot of discussions. Some have termed even the Ritz as a rebadged version of the Splash. However, the Ritz is not just a rebadged version, there’s more to it. The Ritz has been specifically developed for India.

The engineers from Maruti Suzuki worked closely with their Japanese counterparts in the development of the Ritz. First of all, the Ritz was conceived as a different car, not just as a rebadged version of the famed Splash. Its exterior modifications like a redesigned rear bumper that accommodates reflectors and RR fog lamps were made keeping the Indian tastes in focus. The K12M engine which powers the Ritz has been comprehensively tested, calibrated and tuned specifically for Indian conditions. Not only this, a reworked gearbox utilizes gear ratios different from that of the Splash to match its driveability with Indian traffic conditions. Special emphasis has been laid on the shoulder space and rear seat comfort. Ritz’s redesigned central console provides smooth ingress and egress for rear seat passengers.

Most notably, the ground clearance of the Ritz is a good 30mm higher than that on the Splash to take on potholes, sometimes massive ones, in India. The suspension has been adjusted for comfort according to the Indian roads. A bigger and wider tyre has also been accommodated with suitable body redesigns. In this way, the Ritz is much different from the Splash and is an indigenously built car.

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Ferrari to Auction the Last F430

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Ferrari plans to auction its last F430 for a noble cause. The Last F430 will go for public sale and the money raised from the auction will be used to rebuild the city Abruzzo, Italy. The entire Abruzzo region was devastated by a severe earthquake in April this year.

The exclusive car comes with a two-tone livery paint work which is a complete deviation from its fully red coloured cars. The winning bidder of the car will get to choose from a range of options from the Carrozzeria Scaglietti catalogue to personalize the car as per individual preference. Ferrari Chairman Mr. Luca di Montezemlo will award a signed certificate to the highest bidder. A personalized dedication plate commemorating the donation will also be bestowed to the person.

The F430 is a legendary car with a huge fan following across the world. Few F430s were also sold in India. Though the F430 had a short life of only five years, it has left an indelible mark on the minds of sports car enthusiasts. Ever since its production started in 2004, F430 has seen numerous versions and the most popular among them being the Scuderia. The F430 will be replaced by a smaller but highly effective ‘F450’ later this year. Ferrari may manufacture better cars but the F430 with its stylish design and powerful engines will always remain in the memory of car lovers.

This charitable auction is completely different from the profit-oriented policies of most car manufacturers. It is praiseworthy that Ferrari is trying to help natural calamity victims by using its celebrity status.

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Maruti Suzuki Plans for More Diesel Cars

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After tasting success with the models diesel Dzire sedan and Swift hatchback, Maruti Suzuki wants to introduce diesel versions of its car models. It has also equipped the recently launched Ritz with a diesel engine.

It is observed that the demand for diesel cars has been increased considerably in recent times. For instance, the demand for the diesel version of Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire is relatively more than the petrol variant with waiting period of 3 to 5 months. Seeing this, Maruti plans to add more diesel cars in its credential. Taking a step towards the plan, Maruti Suzuki has raised its diesel engine capacity by 1 Lakh which will make an overall capacity of 3 Lakh by 2010. Currently, it is not been specified by the company how much the waiting period for the diesel model will be reduced with the expansion of the engine capacity. But surely this will help the company to meet the demand conveniently.

Its closest rival Tata Motor’s interest in diesel variant might be another reason for concentrating on diesel cars. Though both the car brands have major share in the Indian car market, they want to retain their positions by introducing the commanding car models.

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Audi’s First Terminal Style Showroom in India

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Audi is progressively expanding its network in India signifying its brand philosophy “Vorsprung durch Technik” that stands for progressiveness, sophistication, and exclusivity. It has recently inaugurated a terminal showroom ‘Audi Kochi’ that symbolizes Audi’s persistent brand building efforts.

The showroom is designed as par global standard similar to company’s other existing showrooms in Tokyo, Geneva, Sydney, and Munich. It is Audi’s second largest dealership in India with 9000 square feet entirely engaged for sales and additional 6000 square feet dedicated to the body shop.

It provides a unique Audi experience to customers giving them a chance to carefully go through each car and evaluate its merits and demerits. The car buyers also get knowledge of the path braking latest technologies introduced by the car manufacturer while visiting the exclusive showroom.

The new showroom with its world class service standard will certainly strengthen Audi’s foothold in the Indian market while fulfilling the company’s commitment towards its customers.

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