Monthly Archives: September 2009

Hyundai’s Plans for a Low-Cost Car

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What would have been that encouraging factor for Hyundai from which the idea of a low-cost car stemmed, without further thoughts; it could be the Tata’s dream child, Nano. This small wonder has been in the news for some time now, and what would stop Hyundai from making one such car so that they will get flaunted and praised like never before.

Or is Hyundai really concerned about the interest of the Indian crowd who would be greatly pleased to have such economical cars. Could be both, but India is an emerging market and this new car, for sure, will not be a reason to regret for the company later in the future. And again, the country’s common interest on small cars will be of great benefit for the company.

The company had voiced its ideas of bringing out a small car in the beginning of this year, which they are planning to launch in India and other similar emerging markets. And now more details of the car are revealed. It will be an 800cc new model car which will be manufactured at the company plant in Chennai.

And the most attractive part, the price, it will be priced at Rs 1.77 lakh. It is not as cheap as a Tata Nano, as the base model of Nano costs only Rs 1.25 lakh, well, it seems like no one can really compete with Nano in terms of the pricing. But there are still more hurdles to cross before we could say whether this small car from Hyundai is a competent to Nano and the Maruti models such as the Maruti 800 and Maruti Alto.

It is not sure when this model will hit the Indian car markets, but let us expect that the launch of this low-cost car will happen soon.
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The Route from Frankfurt to India

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The cars that will be showcased in the Frankfurt Motor Show will be the best in of our times as the companies are competing with each other for bringing out the best. And the show will not only be an exhibition of wonderful machines, it will also display the toil of the car makers round the word for the past years and a peep into the future of cars.

For the Indian car market, it will not have the privilege of driving all the cars available in the motor show, but yes there will be cars from the Frankfurt Motor Show that will be later launched in the Indian car market.

The two models from the Indian electric car maker Maini Reva is a good example for this. Reva will be showcasing its two electric cars, NXR, a four-seater two door hatchback, and NXG, a sporty two seater. Both the cars will run on lithium-ion batteries and these eco-friendly cars from the only electric car maker of the country will also be available to the Indian customers within a period of two years. The production of NXR will begin by 2010 and for the NXG by 2011.

Another car that will be showcased in the Frankfurt Motor Show and will also mark its entry into the Indian car market is the baby Phantom from Rolls Royce, Ghost. This small ultra luxury sedan is engineered by Helmut Reidl has very alluring and dominant features. The Ghost that will be powered by a 570PS 6.6-litre turbocharged V12 engine is expected to hit the Indian car market by the end of 2009 or by early 2010. The car will be price between 1.2 and 1.3 crore.

Within the next few years, the Indian car market will be flooded with luxury and eco-friendly cars and the models mentioned will surely make a huge hit.
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Renault Sparks Imagination

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Once again we bring you more information on the ongoing Frankfurt Motor Show. If you think, we are going overboard with Frankfurt Motor Show, just remember it is the most happening thing in the automotive world now at this moment. All car enthusiasts are talking about the Frankfurt Motor Show and will be talking about it only for another fortnight.

Lots of excitement revolves around this International Auto Show. The most important thing about this year’s Auto Show is that most of the car makers are showcasing their latest eco-friendly car creations.

As we told you earlier, the theme of the Frankfurt Motor Show is ‘Blue’ and ‘Green’ and hence Renault is exhibiting its products in ‘Blue’.

The French car company is unveiling four electric car concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The four EVs unveiled are the Twizy, the Zoe, the Fluence and the Kangoo Zero Emission (Z.E.) concepts.

The Twizy Z.E. is a two-seater equipped with a 20 bhp engine which can run at a top speed of 75km/h. The Zoe Z.E., Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. are fitted with a 94 bhp electric motor and have a range of 160km. All these four electric cars will have multiple options for recharging, including standard recharge, quick recharge and quick battery swap.

Renault will start selling its affordable production electric vehicles in 2011, with the Renault-Nissan Alliance targeting number one status in mass-market zero-emission vehicle sales.
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Audi S5 Sportback and R8 Spyder scorches Frankfurt

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German luxury car maker Audi will be unveiling two new cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The suave 2010 Audi S5 Sportback will have a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine under its bonnet. The supercharged engine will churn out 333 bhp of power and feature seven-speed S-tronic gearbox, Quattro all-wheel-drive and sport differential as optional feature.

The 333 bhp V6 pushes the S5 Sportback from static to 100km in just 5.4 seconds and can hit an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. The Audi S5 supercharged V6 engine can take 9.7 liters of petrol to travel 100 kilometres.

The car will run on 18-inch alloy wheels and 19- and 20-inch wheels are also available as optional. The “5-door coupe” (We don’t understand how a ‘coupe’ can possibly have more than two doors?!?) comes with LED daytime running lights and rear lights, electrically adjustable sports seats upholstered in Silk Nappa leather, leather multifunction steering wheel with aluminium-finish shift paddles and a choice of carbon, wood or stainless steel mesh trim.

The Audi A5 Sportback is set to be launched in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The price of the coupe starts at Rs 41 Lakh (€57,900).

The enchanting Audi R8 Spyder is all decked up to make its first public appearance at the 63rd IAA Cars in Frankfurt, Germany. The 2-door convertible will be powered by a 5.2-litre V10 FSI engine that can deliver a robust power of 525 bhp. The engine is mated to Quattro all-wheel-drive.

The gorgeous R8 Spyder is the best in open-top motoring from Europe. Audi makes uses of carbon fibre to build the body parts and the electro-hydraulic foldaway top is made of leak-proof cloth to reduce weight without having to compromise on structural integrity and stiffness.

The Audi R8 Spyder can sprint from inertia to 100 km in only 4.1 seconds and from zero to 200 km in 12.7 seconds as well as can go on to a top speed of 313km/h.
The R8 Spyder is adorned with 19-inch wheels, full-LED headlamps, a rear spoiler that deploys automatically at high speeds, electrically adjustable seats, Bang & Olufsen audio system, climate control system and Audi’s MMI controls with navigation system.

The base version of the Audi R8 Spyder comes with a price tag of Rs 1.11 Crore (€156,400). This breathtaking car will be launched in Europe early 2010.

We expect Audi to roll out some of the units of the S5 Sportback and the R8 Spyder in India by the end of next year.
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Three Bimmers in Frankfurt Motor Show

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BMW Active 7 series Hybrid
The ongoing Frankfurt Motor Show will showcase the different ventures the car manufacturers have been working over the past years. The German automaker BMW, together with the other auto majors such as Mercedes-Benz, Suzuki, Hyundai, will showcase its best efforts in the show.

The BMW Active Hybrid X6 and Active Hybrid 7, BMW X1, and the BMW 5 Series GT that has been empowered to woo the audience will debut in the Frankfurt Motor Show. As the name suggests, the BMW Active Hybrid X6 and Active Hybrid 7 will be eco-friendly models.

The elegantly designed hybrid cars are an epitome of their respective series. Looks apart, it is the heart of these cars that matter the most and that’s why both the cars will be powered by 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 motor. While the X6 will feature two electric motors and a 7-speed CVT transmission the 7 has a single electric motor and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The most bizarre BMW that has been manufactured in the near past and one can name the BMW 5 Series GT without a second thought an MPV, an executive car or even an estate car, because it fits into all these categories. The car is a perfect combination of the X6, 7, and the 5 series. And the car will be available in three options namely 530d, 5351, and 550i.

Another model from BMW, BMW X1, the mini x, will also be showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The X1 built based on the 3 Series foundation will be available in two options such as the one with a rear wheel drive, known as sDrive, and an all wheel drive, xDrive.

It will take another one or two years before most of the models be available to common man, but it is a true pleasure to see these cars showcased as they are a glimpse to the future of the auto industry.
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Honda City Gets New Variants

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The popular Honda City now comes with new variants. Honda City 1.5V will come loaded with accessories and City 1.5S, will flaunt a new beige interior.

Honda Siel Cars India has revealed that the new variants of Honda City are launched as a part of the Great Honda Fest promotion.

The City 1.5V with option for manual and automatic transmissions will now sport stylish 5-spoke alloy wheels and brighter front fog lamps for style and better visibility. On the outside, the City 1.5L will also get cool chrome door handles, sporty exhaust finish and chic front and rear mud gears.

Honda City 1.5S in the meanwhile, comes with a complete new interior in the fashionable beige colour. The fabric seats are also in beige and the fan knob is in alluring silver. The inner door handles, door lining garnish and power windows panel are painted to match with the interior. The sedan also has dual front tweeters and a driver seat back pocket for added convenience.

The new Honda City will now be available in three variants: SMT, VMT and VAT. Besides, all these variants will be available in two versions: Elegance and Inspire.
Honda City will have an additional colour option, Deep Sapphire Blue, for a limited period during the festive season along with the exciting existing colors to select from the paint shop.

The Honda City can boast of the 1.5L, 4-cylinder new generation i-VTEC engine under its bonnet. The engine can deliver a power output of 115 bhp. The engine is E10 compliant and has Euro IV emission levels.

The new City is packed with various active and passive safety features standard such as Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA), Dual SRS airbags, pre-tensioner seat belts and G-Force Control Technology (G-CON) body with a high integrity survival zone. The front body structure of the Honda City ensures advanced pedestrian safety features.

The New Honda City is available in the price bracket of Rs 8.37-Rs.10.24Lakh.
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Wait for Nissan Leaf Gets Longer For India

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The Nissan Leaf, the electric car, will be launched in the Indian market only after it has been launched in many other countries.

It would be first launched in Japan and at the same time it will be launched in the United States and Europe. The Nissan Leaf will surely gain good business from the growing interest for electric or more eco-friendly cars in the American car market and it will not be a different case for Leaf in Europe also. And there is a possibility that China will also be in the list of countries where Leaf will mark its debut.

The Nissan Leaf is been already unveiled at Nissan’s headquarters Yokohama in Japan and it will be launched by the end of this year in Japan, US, Europe, and China, but the Indian car buyers need to wait longer to glance the Leaf.

But will the Indian car buyers be really waiting for the Leaf that is expected to come after one or two years, in fact they will not be very keen on it as there will be more options available in the home country by then.

The Indian made Reva cars might pose a good competition for the Leaf as there will be two new models from the brand, NXR and NXG, available in the Indian car market by 2011. Within two years time there might be lot more options such as the Bavina cars, a new Indian Electric car company and Tata, which is expected to launch the electric version of Indica in Norway and might launch same or a different model in India.

Even though the pricing of the new electric cars are not announced, the Leaf will be priced minus the battery and this could be a great advantage for the car against other electric car models. And also the Indian car buyer’s fascination for foreign car models will work favourably for Nissan.

But the question still lingers as to will the hatch be available in the Indian markets by 2012, as the earlier the more beneficial. The Indian car lovers who have not seen much of electric cars in two years will become one among the most demanding electric car customers.
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New Cars in the Line-up

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During this festive season, many new cars will be launched or reintroduced with a makeover in the Indian car market.

Festive season is the busiest time for the car makers as they try their level best to woo customers with new cars, attractive discounts and special offers.

Coinciding with the festive season is the target of the car makers which they have to meet by year end. To compete with their fellow car manufacturers, the car makers come up with hefty price cuts and revised looks as they apprehend an up in sales during the festive season.

This year, there has been a steady growth in sales of cars at 11 per cent with 4.38 Lakh cars sale in the April-July period. This led by a sharp 30 per cent jump in sales in July and carmakers point similar spike in August too. Car sale is anticipated to remain strong for a couple of months.

There is a line-up of new car launches and reintroductions coming up in the next few months. We have the Maruti Suzuki O2 that is build on the Versa platform. The car company has already launched the Estilo with a new look and strapped it with the fuel-efficient K-Series engine.

Mercedes-Benz will roll out in India the ninth generation of the E-Class after selling over 40,000 units of the car globally since its inception in March this year.

In the way same, Porsche will bring in the Panamera in the upcoming months. Mercedes-Benz’s archrival BMW will unleash the convertible roadster Z4 to India next month and the iconic Beetle is all set to for the discovery of India.

Chevrolet will lift the curtains for the Cruze in India and Honda will unveil the new variant of its most popular sedan, the City, with alloy wheels, fog lamps besides other high-end accessories.

General Motors will also let the Chevrolet Tavera and the Aveo re-enter the Indian car bazaar with refreshing looks. Nissan Motors plans to debut its next generation Teana sedan and the XTrail SUV shortly.

Tata Motors is also not lagging behind besides it’s loses with Jaguar Land Rover. The Indian car maker will launch the Indigo Vista with a new heart from its Italian partner Fiat.
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Global Car Market Expecting Growth in American Market

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What would you think is the possible time that the world car market will take before it wakes up from its slumber? If you think the answer is one year or two years or perhaps three or four years, well you may be right as you still would be guessing as there is no specific answer for this question.

But it will take a considerable amount of time before it swings back to the good old prosperous days. Though no one really knows how much time will it take, foreseeing the future, we can take a wild guess and beat around the bush saying that the golden days of the past will soon be back.

The car market that we are speaking about is the American car market which is trying hard to regulate itself with the global car market. And the American car market seems to not have a glorious time. It was the most thriving market in the world but before the “Motown meltdown” last year which turned the whole car industry upside down.

American car market is now in a stage of rebuilding itselves from a very steep fall.
The fall of the American car market was best utilized by the Indian and the Chinese car markets. Both the markets, especially the Chinese car market, have grown really big and they even have able to mark a strong base in the American car market, which is very evident in a recent study that shows the growing demand of Indian and Chinese cars in the American market.

The Chinese car market, for the first time, is expected to be emerged as the number one car market of the world. And the growing Chinese car market is the reason why the world car market did not fall into a disastrous phase, but it will not be able to stand holds the global market for a long time. The only car market that will push the global car market back to its normal self is the American car market. And this will certainly take some time.

The American auto majors, Ford and General Motors, does not expose a favourable condition and this could be a reason for further trouble in the American market, but whatever may the once majestic American car market will regain its past glory and together with it the global car market too.
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VW L1 Concept Car to Become A Reality

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Here is a riddle for you: Which car has a 1-liter diesel engine, seats two people longitudinally, weighs less than 500kg and achieves 100 km/l?

If your answer is “An experimental aircraft?”, then you might have just hit the wrong button. The above mentioned stats belong to that of a Volkswagen L1 concept.

This new L1 concept from Volkswagen will make its world debut in the Frankfurt Motor Show that begins today and would go up to 27th September 2009.

The modest German car maker who gave the world iconic cars like the Beetle and the Golf redefined mobility for man. In this age, where fuel prices are reaching the sky, Volkswagen is working to present Mother Earth with an eco-friendly car.

This concept car which is known as the L1, for obvious reasons, uses carbon-fibre extensively in a bid to keep the weight below 500 kilograms. The L1 concept car is capable of seating two people effortlessly and can go about 100 kilometres for every litre of oil. To obtain this superb fuel economy, the aerodynamic drag of the Volkswagen L1 has been reduced.

This is possible because of the sleek body of the car which has a passenger-behind-driver body with the rear wheels covered by skirts that also improves air flow. Air intake ports for engine cooling and cabin ventilation also open only as required to further assist the car’s smooth shape. The car will be able to run at a top speed of 121km/h. Incredible!

The design of the car will make the L1 narrow enough to cut across the narrow city roads with much ease. The L1 is likely to be 3800mm in length and has a canopy roof for passenger entry and exit. The car comes with a small cargo area of 50 litres to carry luggage.

The Volkswagen L1 concept car will be powered by a 1L TDI diesel engine and a single electric motor in a full-hybrid configuration that can derive 36 bhp. The diesel engine is paired with a seven-speed DSG transmission and the engines will emit only 39 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

To top it all off, Volkswagen is very keen on the L1 hitting roads as early as 2013. Why wait till 2013, Volkswagen? We say, bring the L1 on right away.

The L1 was originally developed as a concept in 2002 as the world’s first car capable of consuming just one liter of fuel for every 100 kilometers it traveled. But, due to various reasons, Volkswagen was unable to make a production case for the L1. Now VW has decided that it is the high time to bring an updated version of the L1 Concept to the world.
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