Monthly Archives: January 2010

Maruti Cervo to be launched in India soon

Maruti Suzuki CervoGuess what? Maruti Suzuki might be riding a high wave with their production output surpassing the parent company itself but that does not stop India’s largest car manufacturing company to stop at it.

Maruti Suzuki has been ruling the roost in the compact segment and it is a known fact that 2 out of every 3 cars sold in India is a Maruti Suzuki. Maruti Suzuki wants to further consolidate their position in the Indian car market and how?

Maruti plans to launch another compact car Cervo in the Indian market by the end of 2010. Though Cervo was seen a replacement for the already successful Maruti cars like Alto and Wagon R, Maruti Suzuki plans to launch the Cervo that will co-exist with the popular other models.

This compact car is a five door car which features a 54 bhp, 1-litre and has a sleek and stylish body and going by Maruti’s pricing standards, they might just price it right. If the rumors are to be believed, Cervo might be priced between 2-3 Lakh. There is not even an ounce of doubt that once Cervo is launched in India with this price tag, it will become the fastest and the most selling model for Maruti Suzuki.

If we have to summarise the Cervo, it looks much similar to the Honda Jazz but with an economical price tag. The fit and finish of the car is praise worthy and has enchanting looks. The interiors of the car resembles a Swift or the SX4 and has loads of space, be it the head room, leg room or the boot space. We hear that the car comes equipped with front semi-bucket seats, 4-speed auto gearbox, a K6A DOHC engine with VVT and bluetooth capability. The car which has already been launched in the Japanese market is quite a hit.

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Ferrari unveils their 2010 F1 challenger car

Ferrari F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa with Ferrari F10 F1 CarFerrari F1 team has gone the Mercedes GP Petronas way. They just launched their 2010 challenger, the F10, and as predicted there seems to be a heavy influence from the RB5.

The F10 has a longer wheel base than last year’s car which improves the car’s weight distribution because of the enlarged fuel tank owing to the refuelling ban. In the aerodynamic details front, the F10’s carries most of specifications from the previous F1 car. This car is believed to have an aggressive double diffuser.

One of the most striking changes is to the nose, which is longer and raised higher in the distinctive style of Red Bull’s 2009 RB5. The onboard camera housings, which every car must be fitted with, have been moved back from the tip of the nose.

The front-on shot reveals slightly smaller air intakes for cooling, which is most likely a consequence of this year’s car on having KERS. Under the skin the radiators are likely to be longer and narrower than last year’s to fit around a larger fuel tank, a compromise other teams will have to make.

There are small turning vanes in front of the sidepods, upon which the rear view mirrors are mounted. The sidepods themselves have a more sculpted aerodynamic shape.
Ferrari F10 F1 Car
The arrival of Santander means the car has white front and rear wings, as it last did in 2006. Former communications sponsor Alice’s logos are no longer visible on the car.

We here bring in some of the basic technical specifications that Ferrari has given though the information is not very revealing itself.

The F10 has a chassis made up of Carbon-fibre and has a honeycomb composite structure. This car features the Ferrari longitudinal gearbox, Limited-slip differential, seven speed plus reverse semi-automatic sequential electronically controlled gearbox for quick shift, Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes, Independent suspension, push-rod activated torsion springs front and rear and has a combined weight of 620 kg. Ferrari F10 features a Type 056 cylinder block in sand cast aluminium engine with eight cylinders which has been placed in a 90 degree V formation.

The drivers lineup include Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso and the reserve driver Giancarlo Fisichella. It should be noted that 37 year old Fisichella who joined Ferrari from Force India last season to stand in for the injured Felipe Massa, had been linked in the media with another move given Renault and new teams US F1 and Campos are still to complete their driver lineups. But Giancarlo Fisichella has made his point clear that he would like to stay with Ferrari F1 team.

posted by admin @ Friday, January 29th, 2010 Comments Off links to this post
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Mercedes GP Launch New Livery

Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher pose for the cameras at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.Mercedes GP F1 Team which is also known as the new Silver Arrows Formula One works team recently unveiled its new livery at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Nico Rosberg and seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher along with team management Ross Brawn, Nick Fry and Norbert Haug were introduced to guests with a presentation and press conference.

Over 600 guests, including 200 media representatives and 200 Mercedes-Benz employees, visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum, one of the biggest and most famous car museums in the world, to see the launch of the team and the unveiling of the new Silver Arrows livery. Mercedes-Benz employees from the company’s manufacturing plants in Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen, 100 of whom were invited for their outstanding performances and 100 selected through a popular internal draw, also had the opportunity to take their first look at the new MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team.

The event opened with a welcome speech by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars before Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg unveiled the new Silver Arrows livery for the 2010 season on last year’s car. The team’s 2010 car, the MGP W01, will make its track debut at the first Formula One test in Valencia on Monday 1 February, with the 2010 Formula One season starting in Bahrain on 14 March.

The new silver and green livery creates a true marriage between the heritage of the Silver Arrows and the team’s title partner PETRONAS. The legacy of the Silver Arrows goes back to the 1934 Eifel Race when, on the evening before the event, the white paint was sanded off the Mercedes W25 race car to fulfill weight regulations (750kg formula) and the silver colour of the aluminium surface of the car appeared. This season, with the return of the Silver Arrows, the MGP W01 will shine in silver combined with a flow of iridescent silver and green shading. On the nose and other parts of the car, traces of black carbon fibre visible are visible – a reminder of the first Silver Arrow of 1934.

Seven time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher who will be driving for this team said “Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up! I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated. We have a very exciting combination at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS. We have a World Champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia.”

He also added that he is convinced that MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and said that he will definitely give it a go. Recounting on the nostalgic feeling he said “driving for Mercedes-Benz again is like the closing of a circle for me as I started my racing driver career with the three-pointed star on my helmet. This is another reason why I cannot wait for the competition to get underway.”
Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher show off their new racing colours together at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
The other driver for Mercedes GP Nico Rosberg during the unveiling of the new livery said “You can really feel the successful motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz here at the Museum in Stuttgart and to be part of the new Silver Arrows team and that racing heritage makes me feel extremely proud and motivated. Since joining the team in November, I have spent a lot of time at the factory in Brackley, at Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines in Brixworth and here in Stuttgart, which has given me the opportunity to settle in and get to know everyone. I have seen how hard the team is working on the new car and I really can’t wait for the opportunity to drive it for the first time in Valencia next week. I am looking forward to working with everyone at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS and will give it my all to reward their fantastic efforts with good on-track results this season.”

Ross Brawn, the Team Principal of Mercedes GP and the erstwhile owner of the Brawn GP said it was a privilege to be here at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart for the official presentation of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team. With your first look around the Museum, you realise the fantastic racing heritage of Mercedes-Benz and we hope to be able to contribute to those successes going forward. Our team has been working extremely hard throughout last year and over the winter on the development of the MGP W01 and everyone at the team is looking forward to the start of testing in Valencia next week. We have two excellent drivers in Nico and Michael, who will form one of the most exciting and one of the best partnerships on the grid, and with the support of Mercedes-Benz, Aabar, our new title partner PETRONAS and all of our team partners, everyone is looking forward to the 2010 Formula One season with anticipation.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor Signs MoU with SBI

It seems like all the major car makers in the country are tying up with one or the other banks so that they can sell their wares quite effectively in the country. Bucking this trend is Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India to provide auto retail financing to their prospective customers.

The State Bank of India will be one of the preferred financiers for the entire range of vehicles marketed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKM) in India.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Sandeep Singh, DMD of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKM), and Mr. P. Nanda Kumaran, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India Personal Banking Business Unit in Mumbai in the presence of Mr. Anup Banerji, DMD & Group Executive (NBG) of SBI and Mr. H. Nakagawa, Managing Director of TKM. Among those present on the occasion were the officials of both SBI and Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKM).

The MOU aims at targeting high end customers who will be availing car loans from SBI above Rs. 5 lakh onwards. SBI has come out with a special scheme called SBI Advantage Car Loan Scheme for this niche segment.

This scheme is applicable to individuals – Salaried, Professionals, Self employed, Businessmen and Proprietary /Partnership firms, who are income tax assesses and whose income/net profit or gross taxable income is Rs.2.50 lakh and above. This scheme will be implemented in all RACPCs, all PBBs, all District Head Quarter Branches, Project area branches and Branches specially authorised by AGM (Region). Maximum loan amount will be 48 times of NMI or 4 times of NAI.

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Drivers and teams in F1 2010

The Formula One season of 2010 is around the corner and the 1st month of the New Year almost is a passé. We have seen, heard and read a lot on F1 in the year 2009, the hits and misses, titles and scandals… F1 certainly has been a good thing for the fans in 2009 with Jenson Button finally emerging out in the top as the World’s Drivers Champion after a close fought fight with rivals for this coveted award.

When we thought that 2009 was almost over, came in the news of the King of F1, Michael Schumacher returning back to the grid, no, not in a customary Red Ferrari F1 car but in all whites, the official colour of the newly formed Mercedes GP F1 team and will be driving the Mercedes Silver Arrows F1 car.

There have been many changes in the teams and drivers in the 2010 F1 season when compared to 2009 F1 season. The drivers have changed their loyalties to different F1 teams; some F1 teams have disappeared and have been replaced with newer ones.

We here give you the list of the teams and their respective drivers participating in the 2010 season of F1.

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will be driving for Team Ferrari F1 this season. Yes Alonso has shifted his loyalties yet again from Renault F1 Team while Massa who was injured in the 2009 F1 season has returned back in the prancing Horse team and will be proving his mettle.

Mercedes who had partnered McLaren and supplied engines for the McLaren Mercedes Team has picked up a major share in the last year’s victorious team Brawn GP to form Mercedes GP where Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher will be doing the driving duties. This is a big year for Schumi as lots of expectations has already started running high on this Seven-time world champion.

Red Bull F1 team which has closely followed Brawn GP last year will be retaining last year’s drivers line up in Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, while McLaren F1 team will have the youngest world drivers champion Lewis Hamilton and last year’s world Drivers Champion Jenson Button performing their driving duties. Sauber F1 team, the remnants of the erstwhile BMW SAUBER F1 Team will have Kobayashi and pedro de la Rosa discharging their driving duties.

Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will be driving for Williams F1 team this sedason while Force India F1 cars will be chauffeured by Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi. Likewise Sebastian Buemi and Alguersuari will be driving for Team Toro Rosso. Renault F1 which hit a rough patch in 2009 with a string of scandals have for the moment confirmed just Robert Kubica as their driver and they are yet to give heads-up on the other driver.

The new teams apart from Mercedes GP to take part in this year’s Formula One races will be Lotus Malaysia with drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen driving the F1 cars for them. Other teams in the grid will be Virgin Racing driven by Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi. USF1 will feature Pechito Lopez as their driver while Field Goal F1 team has announced Bruno Senna to be their drivers. These two teams along with Renault are expected to come up with more names pretty soon.

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Audi E-Tron not damaged in 2010 Detroit Auto Show Fire

2010 Audi-E-TronIt has been confirmed that Audi concept car E-Tron has not been damaged in the fire that erupted in the Audi stand at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show on Thursday. The freak fire mishap which happened in the Audi stand saw forceful evacuation of the visitors there. The Auto Show organizers were quick to issue a statement saying that the fire was quickly contained and there were no injuries.

Though the fire was first seen in the Audi stand at the show, Audi spokespersons have said that there had been no damages on the production cars or the E-Tron Concept car that was displayed at the show. They also mentioned that no injuries were reported on Audi’s stand by the visitors or the Auto Show staff. The fire seems to have started above our stand and not on our stand stressed the Audi spokesperson in an emailed message and added that the investigation by the proper authorities was on.

This second version of the E-Tron electric car is described as the “little Brother” of the earlier version of the E-Tron which was displayed in late 2009. The 2010 E-Tron made its formal debut earlier this month at the media kickoff of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Audi still has to confirm whether or not the second E-Tron is going into production at a later date.

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Skoda Auto in India

Skoda Auto Logo

The Czech car maker SkodaAuto revealed that it will not go in for a change of its position as a luxury car maker in India to favour its parent’s brand, Volkswagen.

SkodaAuto is globally positioned a level lower than Volkswagen but is perceived as a more luxurious brand than the German car maker Volkswagen in India.

“We are not in the mass segment and will not definitely look at it. We will not dilute our position,” Skoda Auto India Senior General Manager Sales and Marketing Ashutosh Dixit told PTI. He also said Skoda will focus on consolidating its own positioning as a provider of value for quality.

In order to consolidate its place as a luxury brand in India, Skoda is embarking on a new concept of opening boutique outlets for retailing its products, which are different from normal dealership showrooms.

The new boutiques are in the high streets of metros, where usually no auto dealerships are found. SkodaAuto India is offering a unique blend of lifestyle and contemporary ambience bringing the customer closer to the brand.

SkodaAuto India plans to open 15 such boutiques this year as part of an overall network expansion strategy that will see the firm having 75 outlets by the year-end from the current 65.These boutiques will also offer the company’s merchandise and later will have genuine accessories shops as well.

Skoda currently sells four models in India — Skoda Superb, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Laura and Skoda Fabia. The Skoda Yeti, which was previewed at the 10th Auto expo, will be launched in October.

posted by admin @ Monday, January 25th, 2010 Comments Off links to this post
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Maruti Suzuki Smiles Again

Suzuki Logo

Maruti Suzuki has a reason to smile.

The car maker announced that there is an over three-fold increase in its quarterly net profit. The net profit is at Rs.687.53 Crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal ending December 31, 2009, against the same quarter of previous fiscal year, while its net sales went up by over 62 per cent to Rs.7,334 Crore.

This profit can be said to have been fuelled by easy and affordable car loans and a reviving domestic economy.

Maruti Suzuki’s chief financial officer Ajay Seth remarked, “This has been a good quarter,” as he announced the company would expand capacity to defend its market leadership position from global rivals and meet increasing domestic demand.

Many car makers such as General Motors, Renault, Toyota and many more have disclosed their plans for new car launches in India to have a bigger piece of the fast-growing market share to counter sluggish demand in the developed countries because of the global recession.

India has now emerged as the third largest car market in Asia, China being the first followed by Japan. Moreover, India is one of the few countries where automobile sales are rapidly increasing. In India, car sales jumped 19 per cent last year to 1.43 million units.

Maruti Suzuki sells about one in two cars in the country and its sales jumped 62.5 percent to 73.34 billion rupees.

Ajay Seth also said Maruti Suzuki planned to invest 17 billion rupees to make 250,000 more cars each year from April 2012, thereby increasing the total capacity from one million units to two and a half times. This expansion would take place at the car company’s facility at Manesar. He added that the car maker could further ramp up capacity “if there is a need later.”

The car manufacturer attributed the profit increase partly to government stimulus measures aimed at helping the industry ride out the global economic slump. These measures have put more money into the hands of India’s growing middle class.

The company said that favourable conditions in the domestic market supported by the government’s stimulus package and ease of automobile finance helped achieve good sales. Nearly four-fifths of cars in India are bought using car loans.

Maruti Suzuki’s domestic sales in the quarter jumped by 38 per cent to 218,910 units while exports soared by 167 per cent to 39,116 vehicles, spurred by European government incentives to scrap gas guzzlers.
The company is now “cautiously optimistic” about sales volumes in the fourth quarter but added rising commodity prices would put pressure on profit margins.

posted by admin @ Monday, January 25th, 2010 Comments Off links to this post
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S Korea to Produce Hyundai i10 Electric in late 2010

Hyundai i10 EVJust jog down your memory lane and recollect the Hyundai i 10 Electric that was showcased in the 10th Auto Expo which was unveiled by none other than the Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. Got it??? Yep, It’s time for us to speak a few thing about it.

This cute car was introduced as a concept model at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and was promised the delivery of the same in late 2010. Well good news guys, Hyundai are sticking to its promise.

More good news around the corner, just keep on reading… This electric car based on the popular i 10 model being currently manufactured and sold in India will be partially built in India. Most the frames and the body parts might have a “Made in India” tag in them when it reaches South Korea where the batteries and the power train will be assembled and installed.

Yes, South Korea is where the Hyundai i 10 electric will be exclusively launched. You read it right, exclusively, as the car will be initially sold to fleets and government agencies, but consumer sales are expected to follow within a year, probably as a 2011 model.

Hyundai i10 electric has a mileage of 100 miles per charge and is equipped with a 49kW motor, 16kWh in batteries, and will be the first purely electric vehicle to come from Hyundai.
Well, the world can further wait for this beauty is still to prove its crash test standards.

posted by admin @ Friday, January 22nd, 2010 Comments Off links to this post
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GM Looks To Sell 5000 Chevy Beat per month

Chevrolet BeatChevy Beat is in the Indian market and how? After its launch just a day before the commencement of the 10th Auto Expo, Chevy Beat has been the centre of attraction anywhere it is seen.

The parent company General Motors is quite happy about this car which saw its global launch here in India.GM hopes that their Beat breaks into the sales charts of the country as a top grossing model pretty soon.

GM which is contemplating to sell at least 5000 units of the Beat per month is heavily banking on the North Indian sales as the North Indian market alone accounts for about 40 per cent of all small cars sales in India. So it’s quite evident that GM hopes to sell 1,600-1,700 units of the Beat in the North Indian region alone.

The deliveries of the cars would start from January-end or early February. It must be noted that the Chevrolet Beat was put through over a million km of durability tests in extreme weather conditions and crash tests both in India and abroad to prove its utility on Indian roads. The beat has been launched in three variants viz. Beat PS, LS and LT, carrying price tags (ex-showroom) of Rs 3.34 lakh, Rs 3.54 lakh and Rs 3.94 lakh respectively.
Chevrolet Beat
Beat will be launched in 170 countries around the world, including Europe, Asia and North America. Besides this, GM also has ambitious plans lined up for India and will soon foray in to the commercial vehicle market in India by launching light vans and pickups in a collaboration with a Chinese automaker.

posted by admin @ Friday, January 22nd, 2010 Comments Off links to this post
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