Monthly Archives: November 2009

Hyundai Facelifted Verna

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New 2010 Hyundai Verna
Hyundai has plans of launching its facelifted Verna in India. The new Verna has already has made its appearance in the Korean car market. And now the company is launching it in the country with much expectation.

Guessing on what would have made Hyundai think on these lines of launching a fresh looking Verna, we can get an answer. Even though not the only reason, the launch of the revamped Maruti SX4 and Ford Fiesta could be a motivating factor behind the company’s decision of launching the facelifted Verna in India.

The company launched its much loved sedan, Verna back in 2005. Since then the car has not received any major change in looks. The growing competition in the auto industry might have made the company think about bringing in the new looking Verna to India.

We are not sure as to what exactly would be the changes that the car would receive. And whether it will be able to conquer the hearts of the Indian car lovers as its predecessor did. We are also not well aware of the launching date of this new Verna and what possibly would be the price that should be spend to owe one. Anyways, waiting eagerly.
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What is in Store from Volkswagen?

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The German master car maker, Volkswagen, has much in store for us. Within the next few months we will see VW like never before. And the most interesting of it would be the bug, the Beetle from its stable. We will be pushed to step in to the amazing new world of the VW cars. And the increasing sales of its models reveal a clear picture of the growing acceptance of the car brand by the customers which will surely boost up the confidence of the VW. And it will give a new rising of the VW models.

More than any other models from other cars brands, it is the VW Beetle that will be filling up the auto dreams of the car lovers of the country. Accepting the car is priced at the higher end, the Beetle is still among the cars that has an excellent sales record. The bug has bitten the auto lovers throughout the world and now we are getting ready to be bitten. Even though not a new face the facelifted version of the SUV from VW, Touareg, will soon grace the Indian roads. The SUV will be spotted with its new look starting from December this year.

Another car worth mentioning from the auto maker is VW Polo. The Polo is designed on the VW principle of Design DNA, we expect the launch of Polo on 2010. Well it seems like a busy year for Volkswagen in the Indian car market. If things go as expected, same time next year, we will have VW cars plying on the Indian roads.
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Hyundai Genesis to Thread In India

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Hyundai GenesisThe Hyundai Genesis is going to make its India debut in the upcoming 2010 Delhi Auto Expo. This adds another luxury car to the Indian car market menu.

The Hyundai Genesis is a rear-wheel drive luxury sedan introduced initially as a concept car in the 2007 New York International Auto Show. This gorgeous sedan has won the ‘Car of the Year’ award in Canada, North America and China.

Hyundai says that the Genesis can offer the performance of a BMW 5-Series and the interior packaging of a 7-Series. The Genesis sedan is a luxury sedan that was designed to compete with the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M and Lexus GS.

Hyundai was in fact not planning to bring this car in India, but the Korean company must have changed its mind looking at the recent sales growth of luxury cars in the country.

The full size Genesis comes with three engine options, none of them less than 6 cylinders in size. The Hyundai Genesis utilizes a speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering and comes with four-wheel disc brakes. The suspension is a multi-link setup in front and a 5-link setup in the rear.

The Hyundai Genesis includes dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, side-curtain airbags, ABS, brake assist, EBD, traction control and electronic stability control as standard safety features.
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Nano Vendors Have A Reason To Smile

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New Tata Nano Cars in IndiaTata Nano car parts and accessory makers are getting calls from global biggies for their assistance to aid them with their new small cars. These component suppliers who made the Nano possible are now ready to yield the paybacks of their innovative low-cost technologies.

Global car makers like Nissan-Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda are proposing to launch small cars in the Indian car market. These car majors are approaching the key component suppliers of the Nano for car parts and accessories for their small cars.

India’s second largest car maker Hyundai has revealed that it will launch a new car positioned below theSantro with an investment of Rs 800 Crore. Similarly, Toyota is working on a platform for a small car for India with an investment of over Rs 3,000 Crore. Honda has also announced its first small car that will have India as the hub. The Nissan Micra, Chevrolet Beat and Volkswagen Polo will make their India debut in 2010, while the Nissan-Renault-Bajaj ultra low-cost car is due in 2012.

As a result, the Tata Nano’s 100-odd vendors have a reason to smile with as many as seven small cars lining up for Indian debut in the next two years. Moreover, the potential challenger to the Nano, the low-cost car from Bajaj Auto and Nissan-Renault alliance, is likely to be benefited by Nano vendor base.

Though the Nissan-Renault-Bajaj ultra low-cost car project will source almost 100 per cent from the Bajaj supply base, but many suppliers in that pool are Nano parts suppliers.

Most of the car makers are looking at replicating the ‘Nano experience’ in their products as they are planning to introduce their cars at lower prices than their existing range. But before they tie up officially, they want their components to be validated by their overseas parent companies.

The small car market in India comprises 80 per cent of the 1.5 million units industry and is all decked up to experience a number of new launches in the next fourteen months.
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Ferrari 458 Italia Breaks V8 Top Speed Limit

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New Ferrari 458 Italia CarsThe latest offering from Ferrari stable, the 458 Italia, has sparkled bright and basked in the glory with its speed, style and performance.

The Ferrari 458 Italia can accelerate to 100km/h in just 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph or 325 kmph. This means that the 458 Italia has broken the V8 engine top speed limit with is restricted to 200 mph or 322 kmph!

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a replacement for the Ferrari F430. This latest car from the Italian super car maker is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars by incorporating new engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics which means it has a creative flair, passion as well as cutting edge technology. The car was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The two-seater car gains its design and technology inspirations from the racing legend Michael Schumacher and Ferrari also delivers the needs from its vast Formula One experience. This is evident from the car’s response to driver’s inputs and the improved fuel efficiency by reducing the overall friction levels and aerodynamic efficiency which is reduced to only 140 kg at 200km/h in the new model.

There is a single opening port in the front grille with side air intakes. The aerodynamic sections are designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody.

The engine capacity is 4499cc with V8 architecture and is first direct injection mid-rear mounted engine from Ferrari. The piston compression heights are very low like racing engines which achieve a nice compression ratio of 12.5:1. The engine delivers a power of 562 bhp at 9000 rpm and a maximum torque of 540 Nm at 6000 rpm. The amount of torque and power available at low rpm is also extraordinary.

The transmission system is seven speed dual clutch transmission that provides smoother gear shift even at full throttle. The gear ratios are nicely chosen to match the power and torque delivery of the engine.

Too good to be true, right?
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Toyota Turns Down Offer to Sell F1 Car Designs

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Toyota F1 carA couple of weeks back we brought you the news of Toyota quitting F1. Though the car giant detached itself from Formula One racing, it wants to keep its stint at F1 fresh in its memory and carry the memories further. Toyota wants to keep its 2010 F1 car design to itself.

Toyota has turned down all offers to sell its 2010 Formula One challenger design. This might sound strange to all the motor sports fans out there. And the only valid reason that we all think is that Toyota might be planning a comeback in the F1 scene later in future.

The Lotus F1 team, which has got its first driver, is said to have made an attempt to buy Toyota’s 2010 F1 car design. The rumour mill says the Malaysian outfit has been making several enquiries over the Toyota TF109 car in the past few days. But Toyota rejects such enquiry.

Late last week, Lotus F1 Team announced their new partnership with Aerolab for the construction of their 2010 challenger. Aerolab previously worked with Toyota and Force India for the building of F1 machineries.

The new Malaysian-backed Lotus Formula One is one of five new teams due to make their debuts in 2010, with Toyota and BMW bowing out.

Lotus still has to pass the official crash tests from Formula One’s world-governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA). Under the FIA’s strict rules on safety, all cars must comply with mandatory crash tests before being allowed to compete in Formula One.

Once the global economic condition improves, we can only expect Toyota to make a comeback. F1 fans, keep your fingers crossed!
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Fiat planning CNG option for Punto

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Fiat India plans to launch its first compressed natural gas (CNG-run car for the domestic market in the April-June quarter of 2010.

Though Fiat India has been tight lipped on the models it plans to come out with CNG, we are quite sure that Fiat Grande Punto is being seriously considered for the role and Punto would have a fuel mix comprising of CNG and petrol.

CNG is ultimately going to be a fuel for most commercial applications, Fiat officials opine, explaining the rationale behind the move. Though Fiat has LPG models in its kitty, they clearly stand by CNG as it is a less expensive fuel option of the duo and the better fuel of the two. This clearly sends across the message that Fiat is not lagging behind when it comes to vehicles running on more viable fuel options.

FIAL is a 50:50 joint venture between Fiat Group Automobiles SpA and Tata Motors. Incorporated in 1997, the company has its production unit located in Ranjangaon in Pune, Maharashtra. The unit has a capacity of two lakh cars, three lakh engines and an equivalent number of parts and accessories. Apart from Fiat cars, the facility will produce Tata passenger and next generation cars with an investment exceeding 650 million euro.

Apart from this, Fiat India also seems to busy in developing a India-Specific small car in Turin, Italy, that would be positioned between the A and the B segment and will be launched in 2011.
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Volkswagen voted Europe’s best carmaker

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Volkswagen has just got another feather in its hat. Volkswagen has been voted the best volume car manufacturer in Europe, by visitors to the UK-based Road Test Reports website.

In a poll conducted by this website, in which 140,000 people took part, Volkswagen netted 35% of the total votes cast to come out on top as the manufacturer of the best, most reliable cars. Skoda(owned by the VW Group) finished in second place, while Spanish manufacturer SEAT took third place.

‘Volkswagen has always had a great reputation; it is an aspirational yet affordable brand and it has worked hard to strike that rare balance,’ says Faye Sunderland, a spokesperson for Road Test Reports.

It’s interesting to note that Volkswagen plans to increase its presence in the Indian market in a very big way, from 2010 onwards. The German car company is preparing to launch a host of mass-market as well as niche offerings here, including the iconic Beetle, which will be launched in India in December this year.
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Palio to Get a Facelift

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New Fiat Palio
Fiat India, it seems like, has been doing its home work pretty well. Fiat India playing its second innings in India now by trying to build the brand and reliable and stylish cars has its eyes set on the Palio.

Fait Palio which was one of the first models of Fiat after its short lived Indian outing earlier will get yet another facelift to make it appealing amongst the car enthusiast in India.

Fiat will relaunch the Palio hatchback in the upcoming 2010 Delhi Auto Expo. The new model of the Palio is already in the markets of Brazil.

The new Palio will come with a new heart, possibly with a BS-IV compliant 1.2-litre engine borrowed from the Grande Punto. The new Palio will come with a revamped interior and refreshed styling.

The car was designed as a world car, aimed at countries like Brazil, Argentina, India, Turkey, South Africa and China. It is also built under license in North Korea as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam. The Palio ventured into the Brazilian market in 1996 and followed later that year in Argentina. 1997 saw production starting in Venezuela, Poland and Morocco while Turkey started building the same car in 1998. South Africa began production in 1999, Egypt in 2001 and China in 2002.

The Fiat Palio has been awarded the Indian Car of the Year 2002. The car was a hit when it made its India debut in 2001. But the car is now dying a slow death mainly because of high fuel consumption and the pricing.

So, this time Fiat India will be attaching a very competitive price for the Palio. The hatchback may come with a price tag of Rs 3.5 Lakh for the base model.
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Luxury Car Sales In India Pick Up Pace

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It very much seems like that the expensive luxury vehicles, priced over Rs 15 lakhs and above, including sport utility vehicles and luxury sedans have caught the fancy of car enthusiasts in India. This comes in the time when major car manufacturers in the country are working on the low cost cars.

These luxury cars are so much in demand that the new products are actually overselling the actual estimated units to be sold in India, signaling a huge growth potential in the segment in India. Another interesting thing about this trend is that the once traditional markets for the segment, the US and Europe are fast turning in towards small and fuel efficient cars.

BMW India has already sold 63 units of X6 since its launch in July and another six units of Z4 in October. Thanks to this trend, BMW India’s new products are helping the company exceed its earlier set target of 3,000 units in India in 2009 against 2,908 units in 2008.

BMW India is on cloud number nine, thanks to its newly acquired position as the leader in the segment and attributes this trend to its strong product line up, market expansion and brand building exercise it has done in a while since its advent in India.

While the above mentioned cars are the cars belonging to the high-end luxury segment that revolves around Rs 50 lakh, the demand for the cars in the lower end of the segment like the Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Fortuner and Honda CR-V is also reaching new levels that were beyond expectations.

Toyota Fortuner, which was launched in August, saw a backlog of 3,100 units that were to be delivered in seven months as Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s manufacturing plant could assemble 550 Fotuners a month.

Meanwhile Volkswagen India may end up selling more Passats as against earlier target of 1,000 units.

This certainly comes as a welcome note for the luxury car manufacturers who have always have had high expectation from the emerging new Indian car market as well as the general public who are bored looking at the drab looking small cars plying around in India.
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