Monthly Archives: October 2009

Land Rover LRX on the Way

1


Land Rover LRX Concept
The news is out and it is official. The speculation on the production of the Land Rover LRX coupe has finally come to an end after Tata Motors owned Land Rover has given a nod to the manufacture of the concept vehicle.

The LRX is a compact offroad coupe that was first displayed as a concept at last year’s Detroit show. This new car will be designed and built at Land Rover’s Gaydon plant in England.

The LRX is designed to fill in the blank for compact, sporty SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) in the market. The new Land Rover LRX is likely to feature a hybrid drive combination of either petrol or diesel and electric propulsion. Hence this new car will attract customers in the luxury and offroad segment who want an eco-friendly package as well.

The Land Rover LRX coupe will be unveiled some time next year. The LRX has an unmistakable Land Rover design with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest cars in its class. The scaled-down offroader will feature some of the innovative green features of the Detroit show car. These “green features” include integrated Electric Rear Axle Drive which allows it to retain full off-road ability in tough conditions.

The electrical drive system of the LRX concept uses power stored in a dedicated, high-voltage capacity, lithium-ion battery pack independent of the normal 12-volt battery. This is kept charged by regenerative braking.

Land Rover has recently launched the Freelander 2 in India.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Adrenalin Potenza RE001 Tyres from Bridgestone

13


Bridgestone Adrenalin Potenza RE001 TyresIf you are interested in cars you will be equally interested in car accessories as well. And so here is the latest car tyre from Bridgestone, which was unveiled recently.

The new tyre, Adrenalin Potenza RE001 from Bridgestone is a high performance car tyre. The tyre is originally a sports tyre, but it promises great driving pleasure irrespective of the car it is fitted to. These tyres provide great driving comfort not only for a high-end car but also for a normal car.

It is great news for those who would like to race around with their cars as you will now be free from the tangles of a low performing tyre that does not give you the feel of ease. The tyre will be available in 17 and 18 inch rims. The tyres are targeted mainly at the luxury cars, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche, customers.

Bridgestone aims at ensuring the customers with a great driving experience, taking away all the trouble that are caused by tyres. And so the Adrenalin RE001 is developed in a way that will not give troubles of powerful grip and speedy response.

It has an asymmetrical rigid tread design for high cornering forces at a lower steering angle. For better sidewall stiffness and handling and steering response the tyre has a semi slick shoulder design and an asymmetrical rim guard.

It also has a provides larger contact area with the ground and this gives the driver better direct response and feel and which helps in getting more steering information. Adrenaline RE001 has very low noise level gives a smooth response to steering inputs. It also promises an excellent wet and dry performance and superior grip for an easy driving.

These superior quality tyres are sure to offer great driving experience.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Porsche Backs Big On Diesel

4


It seems that the heart of Indians does skip a beat when it comes to diesel cars. Riding on this sentiment of Indians is the German sportscar major, Porsche.

Porsche which is encouraged by the rocking response to Porsche Cayenne diesel, is all set to bring in the whole range of engine options to the Indian automobile market with a big emphasis on diesel.

With the fast growing fan base for the Porsche brand in India, Porsche plans to boost its diesel portfolio with diesel version of its Panamera sedan. It will also expand its overall portfolio of cars by launching super fast cars such as the new 911 Turbo and 911 GT3 RS by next year. On the anvil are hybrid and electric versions as well. Porsche seems to be in the right track of reading the changing moods of Indians car enthusiasts.

The flagship SUV from Porsche, Porsche Cayanne, has been well received across the world in its diesel avatar. Porsche Cayenne Diesel has also been a hot favourite of the Indian luxury SUV lovers as it is very popular in India.

And while all this happens, the company would have spread out to six different cities from two at present. But the question is whether such a wider product portfolio required from a company who sells only 150-200 cars a year. And we ask why not?
Porsche currently is facing increasing competition from Audi and Lamborghini, which only proves a point that it is sane of Porsche to bring in the whole spectrum of products.

The market for these luxury vehicles is relatively small at the moment, but in a longer run Porsche will certainly yield its benefits of bringing in the entire product portfolio.

Right now, over 70 per cent of cars sold by Porsche are SUV’s and limited volumes coming from the sports car portfolio. With the new four door Porsche Panamera, the company is hoping the additional volumes kick-in.

For now, despite the downturn the company is eying 20 per cent growth this calendar year but with a bigger product portfolio, more engine options and a wider reach, it is hoping to double the growth rate in 2010.

    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Audi India Grows 153 Per Cent During September

1


New Audi Q7
Move aside BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi is here (with a bang). German Luxury car manufacturer, Audi has been making its presence felt in India ever since it first came to the country.

The German company when first started its operations in India though had high hopes on the Indian market, never probably thought that it will be welcomed by its Indian customers with arms wide open.

Audi posted its best-ever sales results of 205 cars for the month of September 2009, thereby registering an extra-ordinary growth of 153 per cent considering it sold 81 cars in September 2008. Now that’s called growth.

Audi’s chief boss here in India Mr. Benoit Tiers is indeed a happy man. Beaming with pride while looking at the sales charts for the month of September, he says Audi India has continued its growth momentum pretty well. He also is pleased that Audi as a brand has finally arrived as brand Audi is getting popular amongst the car enthusiast in India.

Audi always raised the ante in terms of refinement, elegance and luxury in keeping with its philosophy of “Vorsprung durch Technik” and it is this commitment that has won the confidence of Audi customers.

Audi India has recorded strong growth all year around in spite of the difficult market conditions. The year-to-date growth stood at an impressive 72 percent (Jan-Sep 2009: 1,333 cars; Jan-Sep 2008: 777 cars).

Much of the credit for Audi’s unhindered progress in India goes to the terrific response to the new additions to its portfolio – the all new Audi Q5, the new Audi A6, the introduction of three new engine offerings to the Audi A4 and the new Audi Q7 which was launched in September 2009. Audi India has already surpassed last year’s annual sales of 1,050 cars by recording a total of 1,128 car sales in the period of January to August 2009.

The entire Audi model range, comprising the new Audi Q7, the Audi Q5, the new Audi A6, the Audi A8, the Audi A4, the Audi TT and the super sports car Audi R8, is available at 12 dealerships across the country: in Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Mercedes open to CNG E-Class imports

1
CNG is “in” and how? Mercedes Benz India has itself endorsed the idea of introducing the CNG variant of its new Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This step probably might boost the sales of E-Class in India and might as well propel the sales of Mercedes units in India so that it will regain its lost territory. Oof! What a thought?

Mercedes Benz India is contemplating to bring in and deliver the CNG variant of its popular model E-Class sedan to the customers who want them.

But the CNG variant comes with a catch, it has to be imported. Well, so what’s the hitch you might ask? India, which has got its own, one of a kind, infamous import duty policy will be a deterrent to the customers who would want to import the CNG versions of the car.

This is because the imported car will attract 104 per cent duty, which will mean that it will be twice as much the latest edition of the E-Class (petrol) that costs Rs 45.89 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The fact that CNGis largely retailed in Delhi and Mumbai also means that the market will be confined to these two cities.

Mercedes Benz India would consider assembly of the CNG version if there was adequate demand. The petrol Merc models are E-25 (25 per cent mix of ethanol) compliant while the diesel options can operate on bio-diesel.

Mercedes had earlier conducted a trial run of the CNG-E Class in India. The mileage of the car is estimated to be 18 km a kg.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Elegance of Tata Elagante

1


We find the time appropriate to write about this blog on Tata Motors since we had carried a blog on the new Tata Manza in Carazoo.com just yesterday.

Tata Motors led by Ratan Tata is one among the largest automobile companies of India and is the only Indian automobile company which has been taking part in the Geneva Auto show for last 10 years. Tata Motors had unveiled its Tata Elagante, a sedan which was designed on a completely new platform in 2007. Tata Motors has launched a portfolio of cars, designed with contemporary features after showcasing the car.

Tata Elagante is much larger than the present Tata Indigo and it is designed with 4 cylinder transverse petrol and diesel engines. The engines options the Tata Elagante comes with is of 1.4 litres, 2 litres and compact V6 petrol power unit. Also there will be common rail direct injection turbo diesel engines with different valve timings. All of the variants will comply with Euro V emission norms. These variants are expected to deliver maximum power from 90 to 200 PS with torque up to 280 Nm. It is equipped with 6 speed manual speed transmissions and automatic gearboxes with the engine displacing 2000cc.

Tata Elagante is designed to meet all the European safety standards, emission standards and crash-worthiness. Other advanced features provided in this sedan include cruise control, satellite navigation system, integrated blue tooth compatibility, rain sensors, heated mirrors, rear parking sensors and other modern and advanced features.
This is middle segment, luxury and can accommodate 5 passengers comfortably.

Its exterior look is very attractive. In the Geneva Auto show, there was silver color sedan which looked very elegant as its name. It is aerodynamically shaped with gorgeous features. The front and rear bumpers are integrated in the main body and are in the body color. The bonnet cover looks slightly raised which gives it a new dimension.

There is a long series of front lights and rear lights which add to the Tata Elegante look of the car. It has front disk and rear disc brakes. It is equipped with alloy wheels which is a norm in modern cars now days.

Interiors of the cars are beautiful as well as comfortable. There is AC with climate control. It features power steering, power windows, remote boot, remote fuel filler, rear defogger, rear wiper. There is rear armrest with cup holder. It features electrical driver seat adjustment. Passengers can relax in its comfortable leather seats even on long journeys. Rear seats are folding. For safety of the car, it has remote central locking system. It is equipped with 2 airbags.

Tata Motors, which was always looking for a premium car in its portfolio, could be a price winner by inducting this car to give a stiff competition to other premium cars such as Fiat Linea, Maruti-Suzuki SX4, Honda City and others. Tata Motors could be contemplating its release in a couple of months from now after they launch the Tata Manza later this month.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

BMW to launch Z4 in India on Oct 12

1


It looks like German luxury car maker BMW is going for the kill. BMW India, which currently holds the Numero Uno position in the multi-crore Indian luxury car market pushing Mercedes-Benz to an uncomfortable second place, is trying its bit to gain a strong foothold for itself in the competitive Indian Market.

BMW India will launch its most awaited car, the Z4 convertible, on October 12 in Mumbai in an attempt to further bolster its presence in the multi-crore Indian luxury car market. This would be the company’s third offering in the convertible segment where it also sells the M3 and M6 Convertibles.

BMW Z4 will carry a price tag of Rs 50-60 lakh. BMW is hopefull of selling 30-40 units of the car in the first year of its launch. All though details regarding the specification of the car are not yet revealed by BMW India, however sources say that Indian consumers will get the straight 6-cylinder petrol, 258bhp, sDrive 30i.

The sDrive 30i can accelerate from 0-100 km/hr in 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/hr. BMW India, which until the end of last financial year was trailing Dailmer Benz-owned Mercedes in India, has so far this year, gained a comprehensive lead over it.

In the five months ended August, BMW sold 1,313 units, a growth of 12.62 per cent over same period last year. In comparison,Mercedes recorded sales of 1,128 units, a fall of 19.02 per cent during the same period.

BMW has set a target of selling 3,000 units in the current calendar year, up from 2,908 units sold last year.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Tata’s New Manza

2


In less than ten day’s time from today, another new model from Tata Motors will be launched in India. We have been waiting for a long time now for the Tata Indigo Vista and it has been announced that the Indigo Vista will be launched but with an all new name.

Tata Indigo with its new name, Manza, will be launched in India on the 14th of this month.

It is still a mystery as to what would have led Tata in changing the name of the car. A very good possibility is that the company wants to give the customers a new feel about its new car. And this, the company would have thought would not happen with the little amendments on the existing name. And so a new name and a new identity is expected to bring in a new boost for the sales of Tata Indigo now renamed as Tata Manza.

The Manza will be launched in Mumbai by the Chairman of the Tata Motors, Ratan Tata. The Manza will be built on the same platform as Tata Indica Vista, but it will be an extended version. The highlights of Manza will include spacious interiors, projector headlamps, centrally mounted instrumental panel, steering mounted audio control, and a dashboard similar to that of an Indigo but boasts of a superior trim.

The car will be available in both 1.4-litre petrol engine and 1.3-litre multi-jet diesel engine. The expected price of the car is Rs. 5.5 lakh for the petrol model and Rs. 7.5 lakh for the diesel model.
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid Previewed

38



Maruti Suzuki Swift is a car which has never lost its steam since its inception in the world market.

This is a car which has already scorched the roads of many countries in the world through its radical design and styling. And now creating news all over the world with panache is its hybrid version.

This popular car will now be showcased in the upcoming Tokyo Motor show in a plug-in hybrid version.

Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid is a surprise for the world; no auto journalists could smell such an interesting development till date. The Swift Hybrid will be powered by a cache of Lithium Ion battery and a 658cc gasoline engine.

The combined output of the Plug-in Swift will exceed 74hp out of which 20hp will come from the electric motor. The official launch of this plug-in hybrid will happen after few days. The bulky Lithium Ion battery box will eat up one seat in rear row.

Now, for the question that everybody is willing to ask here in India. Will Maruti Suzuki add the Hybrid Swift into their product line up? Well, we are being frank here by saying that this will not happen at least for another couple of years as the Hybrid and electric market here in India is still in its infancy. Anyways the concept image of this spicy hatchback hybrid version is hotter than the fossil fuel version. We liked the images especially the one with a plug chord.

Maini Reva can now breathe in ease as it was the first Indian Car company to show the world that the electric cars will be the “in” thing of the near future.

Let’s all wait and watch who else will follow the suit?
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post

“Blue” Mitsubishi Outlander Based Plug-In Cometh

1



Mitsubishi’s soft-roader SUV Mitsubishi Outlander extends its portfolio.

Mitsubishi Outlander after proving it’s capabilities on and off road by fossil fuel is now ready to get a blue powerhouse too. Mitsubishi is all set to show a concept model of a plug-in electric vehicle, Mitsubishi PX-MiEV based on the Outlander. The interesting point is that we need not wait for its arrival keeping our fingers crossed for long.

Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is expected to grace the upcoming Tokyo Autoshow scheduled to start on 24th October this year. Mitsubishi promises none before fuel economy figures for this plug-in hybrid SUV. The hybrid version of Outlander will be powered by a 1.6 litre gasoline engine and 60kW electric motor. The gasoline engine can deliver maximum power 85kW at peak while the electric counterpart will deliver 65kW.

The mileage of Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is 50km/ltr, (read it once again) and we are talking about an SUV with this unbelievable mileage figure. During normal running PX-MiEV will utilize power from electric source but if additional power is required the gasoline engine will boost the output.

All other basic Mitsubishi SUV features like Mitsubishi’s all-new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) and luxurious interiors are part of the offering.

Sounds interesting right? Stay tuned for further updates coming further…
    SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend     Add to Technorati Favorites                 Add New Post