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Monday, 30 June 2008
Palio will get CNG version
 When all car manufacturers are taking move towards making the environment greener, why should Fiat lack behind? The company is coming up with the CNG version of Palio model by 2009.
Both gas and diesel variant of the Palio hatchback are already present in the market. Increase fuel and raw material price is giving the industry a shock and to fight this crisis car manufacturers are taking different prop to maintain their market share. Many car makers like General Motors, Maruti, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai has turned towards CNG version. Well, it’s a delightful news for all Fiat lovers as they can own the car without spending much on fuel. Labels: CNG-cars, Fiat-Palio
Hybrid Cars needs Government’s Attention
Global warning is at its peak and India is still far away to combat with the situation. Major air pollution is created by automobile exhausts which can be minimized by the use of green cars. Hybrid cars are good alternative for diesel or petrol vehicle. But these cars are seeking government’s attention. The customs duty and the tax imposed on them are really high. It is the high time for the government to take necessary steps to encourage auto makers for the local production of hybrid cars. India has only one hybrid car ‘Civic Hybrid’ recently launched by Honda Motors. The number will definitely increase if the government drives some policy in favour of these cars. It can cut down the customs duty on such cars which will encourage the car manufacturer to roll out these cars or permit imports at a lower duty for those auto companies who assure to manufacture hybrid cars for a specified period of time. Labels: Government's-Policy, Hybrid-Cars
Eaton India Expands to Electrical Technology
Everyone is moving towards green technology and so is Eaton India. Eaton India is a Pune-based subsidiary of the US-based automotive company, Eaton Corporation. The subsidiary is rolling fast to expand its operation in producing electrical vehicles. The company has already produced many hybrid engines that are running on North American roads and now the diversification is towards Indian roads. The simple technology of electrical starters is used for running light vehicles. The company is mainly into producing transmission components, only 14% is dedicated to its automotive sector. Bringing pride to the country, Eaton is now willing to explore the market and produce qualitative components for both IT sector and automotive sector. UPS with 94% power efficiency is planned for the IT sector in India and automated transmissions and digital prototypes of engines for the automotive sector. In short, Eaton is planning to bring success to two major and leading industries of the country. Labels: Eaton-India, Electronic-Technology
Friday, 27 June 2008
Magna Expanding in India
Good to know that major car makers and auto suppliers are entering the Indian market and making the industry more competitive and winning. Magna, North America's largest auto parts supplier, is now planning to open a new factory in India. This plan is implemented with a desire of boosting car sales in Asia. India being the cheapest resource for production and manufacturing is targeted by the company. The factory is expected to start next year in Pune and will produce powertrain parts for Indian car industry, cutting its dependence on North America. Do you think the expansion plan of Magna will be successful? We definitely think so because so much efforts and investment can never go waste. This factory will definitely bring a win-win situation for the Indian car industry. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Magna
Power Chair Car for the Disabled
A big hand of applause for those students who have developed a power chair car for the disabled. Everyone in the car industry is racing to produce a car with a blend of luxury, comfort and fuel economy. But have any car maker thought about those who don’t have legs to drive a car or are handicapped? No. None of the car manufacturers thought about them but some engineering students from Durgapur has created a car for handicapped. They together have designed and developed a power chair car for those who can’t manage to start a car, press clutch or apply brake. Though a car can move only short distances within the campus, airports and hospitals, it is a big achievement for the developers and a big source of joy for the disabled who are otherwise dependent on others to drag their wheel chair. We feel proud to know that we have so many intelligent and winning students in our country. Labels: Car-for-Disabled, chair-Car
Ford Fiesta will be Costly
Wake up folks! If you like the appeal, comfort and performance of Ford Fiesta, then go and grab one before the price lets you fall.
The rising input cost with the hike in steel prices has pushed Ford India to review the price tag of it’s recently launched car, the Ford Fiesta. The current price of the Fiesta is Rs 6.57 lakh for the petrol variant and Rs 7.44 lakh for the diesel. Even the small car expected to launch in 2010 is proposed at a price higher than 1 lakh. Wondering how much price would the company raise for the Fiesta after raising the price of its SUV, Ford Endeavour by Rs 30,000. Keep your fingers cross and wish that the increased price tag is affordable. Labels: Car-Price, Ford-Fiesta
Old Conventional Cabs are in the verge of extinction
The journey of the traditional black and yellow taxis is now coming to an end. The era is over and today people are switching over from normal taxis to high-end cabs. People are now more willing to have comfort and luxury wherever they go, including the cabs they travel. Some of the cabs providers even have a tie-up with corporates and multinationals that requires high-end cabs for their employees. Even the tourists in India don’t prefer normal taxis. They often ask for cab with an air condition, music system, power windows and other luxury amenities. All these features are not integrated in the tradition taxis and this is one of the main reasons why the blacks and yellows are moving off the Indian roads. Not only the car features play a role but also the driver of the cab. All the companies into the cab business are now recruiting educated chauffeurs with good personality and enhanced communication skill.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Car Manufacturers Encountered by Input Costs
How much do you think is the input costs of manufacturing a passenger car? Yes, the input costs of manufacturing a car has increased tremendously followed by the increase in steel and fuel prices. This rising costs is hurting the core of all car manufacturers. Steel is believed to account 60% of a car’s weight and apart from that plastic, aluminum are also used in the manufacturing process. Followed to the increasing steel prices, plastic, aluminum and rubber are also facing inflationary pressures. All together increases the total input costs of car production and eventually becomes a leading cause of worry, dismay and distress for the manufacturers. You’ll be glad to know that even under heavy pressures these manufacturers are trying to absorb the maximum increase and pass on affordable cost price to car consumers. Labels: Fuel-Prices, Input-Cost
New variants added to Mercedes’s E-Class
In India, Mercedes-Benz itself means ‘luxury’. No cars from Mercedes are devoid of luxuries and comfort.
Luxury car segment in India is growing upwards with more and more cars entering the segment. Mercedes-Benz has now introduced two new variants of E-Class, E220 CDI and E230, to add to the status and attractiveness of the E-Class luxury cars introduced in 1995. E220 CDI is loaded with a 2.2L four- cylinder diesel engine and a price tag of Rs 38.99 lakh, whereas E230 gets 2.5L V6 petrol engine and a price tag of Rs 41.14 lakh. The company is expecting more growth potential with the introduction of these variants. Rest all is up to us how we deal with these cars and the loaded luxuries. Labels: Car-Launch, Mercedes-Benz
Delhi gets its Electric Car
Join for a ride with Reva. Delhities will now have the opportunity to drive the wonderful, cute little Reva car. There are many people in India who wear a green conscience and attracted to the electric car model manufactured by Reva. Unfortunately, this model was launched only in Bangalore but now the cards of fortune have opened. Maini Revai has launched the advanced version of the Reva for Delhi roads.
Seven years ago when Reva was launched in Bangalore, the company was not sure of its performance and success. That time Reva was not able to make further launches because of the absence of subsidy but now Delhi is putting forward hands to support Reva in all aspects including subsidy, VAT exemption, refund of road tax, low registration charges and much more. This has eventually reduced the price tag of Reva from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 2.99 lakh in Delhi. Such a low price tag will definitely make a stronger move towards Revai. Labels: Electric-Car, Maini-Reva, New-launch
Toyota’s New Cars coming soon
Six new cars are coming to lure the Indian consumers from Toyota’s portfolio. The expected models will belong to different car segments including compact sedan, hatchback, diesel and SUV. Toyota is willing to have its car battle with other car models in their respective segments. The first launch among the six models would be a compact sedan powered by a 1.3L engine has a desire to compete with Tata Indigo CS and Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire. Other models would be hatchbacks and sedans in competition with Suzuki’s Swift and Hyundai’s Getz. The next generation of Corolla is expected to roll in by September this year and diesel corolla in 2010. The company also has plans to drive Fortuner SUV, with a price tag of Rs 16 lakhs, to the Indian market in 2009. So many cars! It would be really difficult to judge the best car in this portfolio. Labels: New-Cars, Toyota-Cars
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Volvo Drives to India with RTI
Wake up folks, its time for us to drive! There are many people who love driving but have a very poor road sense. Volvo Car India has come up with an innovative technology, Road Traffic Information (RTI), for helping such people to enjoy a hassle free drive. The company has produced a navigation system, which helps in travelling to a predetermined destination through unfamiliar roads and traffic environments. The navigation information is stored in the hard disk of the car that further communicates with the satellite system and helps the driver to find the right path to the defined destination. The company sells this RTI at an additional cost of Rs 1.5 lakh. It not only helps people with poor road sense but also those who often get lost on roads while driving. Buying a RTI at an additional cost is a good investment to save time, fuel and money. Labels: Navigation, Road-Traffic-Information, Volvo-Cars
Free Fuel with Santro and i10
 Go Hyundai Go Fuel!To increase the sales of cars, Hyundai Motor has come up with offers that provide fuel vouchers for every purchase of Hyundai cars, Santro and i10.
It’s good that the company gave a thought over the increasing fuel prices and made it easier for the consumers to drive a car home. This is a good deal for both the consumers and the sellers. For consumers, it is easy to cope up with the increasing price hike and for sellers it’s a good way to boost sales. The company officials have calculated the fuel used for driving 50km. With an assumption that a car is driven approximately a distance of 50km every day, the company gifts a fuel voucher of Rs 2,700, just enough for six months. The offer is valid between June 20 and June 30. So, rush and grab the offer, it’s a good deal! Labels: Free-Fuel, Hyundai-cars
Maruti’s ‘A-Star’ is ready to take the Indian Market by Storm
Wow! A car with the title ‘A-star’ is ready for immediate launch in the Indian car market and will definitely hold the best ratings. Because ‘A-star means A-rating’! Maruti Suzuki has put across an innovative concept to manufacture its new car, ‘A-Star’. The company has great expectations from the car and has a strong belief that A-Star will establish a strapping and successful platform for Suzuki. A-Star is a replacement for Alto and will hold attractive features that made Maruti Swift a big success in both domestic and international market. It’s Maruti, so the price will also be competitive. Falling somewhere between Alto and Swift, this car will have a tough competition with Nano and other small cars expected to launch in India. Which one will you buy? Nano, i20 or A-Star? Labels: Maruti-Cars, New-Car
Mercedes-Benz is also Environment Conscious
Desire for luxury is a desire for all! And now when luxury comes with green tag and cheap running cost, no one will like to keep themselves away from the tempting pie. The luxury car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz has introduced its luxury sedan equipped with CNG-complaint engine.  CNG being the cheapest fuel is becoming the cynosure for the manufacturers as well as users. This has also inspired the company to come up with something innovative that can be a complete blend of comfort, luxury, performance and fuel efficiency. Trust, the new variant of Mercedes-Benz meets all the above. The company also has plans to launch its B class B170 NGT and the E 200 CNG sedans, already launched in the US and Europe. A long term plan of producing cars that ply on CNG technology is also banking on the company’s industrial platform. Even the affluent class people are affected with the increasing fuel prices. Any one will go for an option which provides luxuries for less cost price. CNG variant of Mercedes-Benz is definitely a good luxury choice. Labels: CNG-cars, Mercedes-Benz
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Drops of Relief for Nano Vendors
The increasing steel price has pinched all the car vendors. All of them are pushing the manufacturers to absorb a portion of the cost increase and relieve them. Realising the aftermath of about 50-60% increase in steel prices, Tata Motors has decided to absorb a major portion of the cost increase for its Nano vendors. The Nano was expected to be launched with a higher price tag due to the high input cost. But, with the vendors renegotiating the contract, the company has poured a few drops of relief. The Nano itself is a 1 lakh car, and amazingly the input cost is coming out to be very high. The auto component company supplying parts to the Nano is also battling against 40% increase in oil price. Labels: Car-Sales, Tata-cars
India Rolling for Hybrid Cars
Racing and Racing! Where will the road end? Earlier, Indian car manufacturers were racing for the cheapest cars and now speeding for hybrids. After the launch of Honda Civic Hybrid, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have also made a high jump on the hybrid bandwagon. Tata and Mahindra are with head and heart involved in producing exclusive hybrid cars using indigenous technology at a very low tax burden. It is believed that these homegrown hybrids will come at a comparatively low cost price. Tata Motors is planning to launch a hybrid of petrol and diesel in its flagship model Indica. The improved version of electric technology will be also seen in a range of Indica and Indigo cars. Simultaneously, Mahindra is working on innovative technology of blending electronics, battery, powerdrive and software to produce a completely new range of hybrid cars. All these cars of Tata and Mahindra are expected to roll out in the next three years – So get ready to wear the green conscience. Labels: Hybrid-Cars, New-Cars
Hyundai Ready to Roll Out Avante
One more luxury sedan to glitter the Indian roads! Hyundai cars have always been affordable and reliable. The small segment car manufacturer twisted the turn from hatchbacks to mid-size sedans and now desires to run with the luxury sedan. Hyundai Elantra launched in 2003 is now replaced by Avante and is ready to launch next month. The cost of the car is announced to be somewhere around Rs 10 lakh. Avante is expected to be the best in its own segment with awesome ride quality, attractive body structure and pleasing interiors. Many believe that this reincarnation of Elantra, powered by a 2.0 litre petrol engine and 1.6 litre diesel engine, will be a tough competitor for Toyota Corolla. It is also expected to stand against Honda Civic, Chevrolet Optra and Skoda Octavia. Labels: Hyundai-cars, New-Car-Launch, Premium-Sedans
Ford Doubts Industry Growth Due to Inflation
 Indian car industry had witnessed a major growth in the previous year. But this year car manufacturer Ford doubts the growth level because of the inflationary pressures.
Ford, while launching the new variants of Ford Fiesta, was worried about the sale and growth of the car. Everyone associated with the manufacture, design and production of the cars are sure that an increase of almost 10% in the inflation is going to have a great influence on the industry's growth. Rising inflation has also pushed up the interest rates, delivering disappointment and doubts to car manufacturers. It has also deterred new and used car purchases. Now what? Will India beat the high growth figure of the last few years? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Car-Sales, Ford
Monday, 23 June 2008
DZire Competing with Logan
Maruti Swift DZire and Mahindra-Renault Logan are two popular mid-size entry level sedans leading the Indian car market. Most of the people across the country are confused with which is the best sedan, DZire or Logan?  Both the cars are widely found on Indian roads as they are good with respect to engine performance, fuel efficiency, fantastic suspension, smooth riding and much more. Even on the hard and bumpy roads, the cars hold a good grip and make the ride comfortable. Both DZire and Logan are equally good with latest technology, attractive and classy interiors. DZire is all about curves while Logan is known for edges and angles. Logan is the only car in its class that has three head-rests in the rear seat. The significant difference between the two is of course the name of the manufacturer. Just because these cars belong to different companies, they are competing with each other to create a benchmark. So, which one will you choose? Labels: Mahindra-Renault-Logan, Maruti-Dzire
Ford Launches Sport Variant of Fiesta
All sports car lovers can now pamper themselves with the new sport variant of the old model Ford Fiesta, Fiesta S. The new car also known as Fiesta 1.6S carry a price tag of Rs.7, 15,000. The car is believed to clock 0-100 kilometers in 11 seconds and is adorned with style, uniqueness and high-tech spare parts. The company acclaims that it has the best steering and suspension control. Along with this, a series of upgraded Fiesta SXI variants are also launched. The car is priced at Rs.7, 00,000 for the petrol version and Rs.8, 14,000 for diesel version. This is the ex-showroom price in Delhi and is worth the price for those who are fond of racing cars. The car offers luxuries, elegance and status coupled with variety of classy interiors and reliable safety features. Ford has kept open choices for sports lovers! Labels: Ford-Cars, Sport-Car
Indian Cars – Soon to Become an Extension of Digital Home
Where will technology finally land? There is no answer to this question because with the moving wheel of time, cars are running faster and technology too has gain the speed. There is news in the air that very soon Indian cars will be able to dial phones, play DVDs and be a complete extension of digital home. Intel has already prepared a prototype of the digital console with Bluetooth, a USB drive and speech recognition that can further be used in high-end Indian cars. It is believed that these functions will be controlled on voice commands and will definitely bring out a breathtaking revolution in the Indian car industry. The initial version of electronically-governed cars in the form of automatic transmission and adaptive cruise control has already hit the car market and now its time for digitized car. Cool! Will this be the end to innovation, technology and digitization? Labels: Digital-Car, New-Technology
Hyundai to Add Three More Cars under I-Series
 Hyundai is gearing up for the release of three new cars under the i-series category. Hatchback i10 had a huge success in the market and to grow it further, the company has planned to introduce few more cars in the same class. The new entrant in this category comprises the i20, i30 and i40 models. i20 is expected to debut during the festive season in October whereas the other two models are expected to roll out in next few years. These cars will get the flavour of both Indian as well as overseas market. i30 and i40 cars will belong to the premium car segment and will entirely grip the Indian market. Even the current series i10 is expected to hit the market with rejuvenated and powerful features including a new engine and an automatic transmission. Labels: Hyundai-cars, new cars
Friday, 20 June 2008
Cheap Car but Expensive Loan
Nano ready to roll out with expensive loans! Tata’s newest and cheapest car is ready to roll out on Indian roads. The car has brought a great threat to car financers. It is believed that for a car of Rs 1 lakh, none of the well-off people will apply for car loan. The loan applicants will include people with much lower incomes and the number would definitely be high. Most of the private financers have decided not to finance the Nano. The interest rate of the Nano car loan is expected to be about 18%. The company proposed the design and production of this car for the people who can’t afford high priced cars. But the increased loan interest is compensating for the low cost price. Don’t you think it’s again a big demarcation between the rich and poor? This is an expected delinquency during the launch. Rest, let’s wait and watch! Labels: Car-Loan, Nano
Honda Rolls Out the First Hybrid Car in India
 Cheers! Finally, the long waited Honda Civic Hybrid has launched in India. The ex-showroom (Delhi) price of the car is announced to be 21.5 lakh. Even though the price is almost double of the original Honda Civic, the company has a strong belief that this car will win success for them in the long run. Isn’t’ the price worth the money? Getting a longer life, durability and reliability is worth the announced cost price. The car is equipped with a 1.3 litre engine and is expected to deliver almost 50% enhanced fuel efficiency than the 1.8 litre engine of the old Honda Civic. Car Lovers, wake up! Forget the price, forget the fuel. Go and grab the Honda Civic Hybrid! Labels: Honda-Cars, Honda-Civic-Hybrid
Bajaj and Renault Plans to Drive Further
Bajaj and Renault-Nissan had signed a joint venture to produce small cars to compete with the Nano. But, now the Joint Venture has decided to drive further, beyond the reach of small and low-cost cars. They are now planning to widen their platform and produce a portfolio of different cars ranged at different prices and characteristics as well. It has realised the fact that there is no gain in just competing with one single car simply on the basis of price. Good, they are moving ahead with a desire to make their ultra-low cost (ULC) platform flexible and produce something better. They have announced that their new range of cars may cost over Rs 1.50 lakh, but it will not compromises with quality – engine performance, transmission, unique interiors, style, fuel economy and emissions. Life is costlier than Rs 1 lakh! So, don’t just go for price, look all aspects and then decide for one. Labels: Bajaj, Nissan, Small-Cars
How Far is Chevrolet Volt?
Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in-hybrid car proposed to compete with Toyota Prius hybrid. This shift of General Motors from fossil fuels to electric vehicles is attributed to the cutting edge of the fuel saving technology. Unlike Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius Hybrid, this car runs only on charged batteries and cannot be switched over to petrol engine. It is equipped with a petrol engine of 1.0 litre that is used only to charge batteries and provide enough power to run the car. Another significant feature of this hybrid car is the option of converting gasoline engine to any other types of engine like diesel, biodiesel or hydrogen. This will help people to switch over engines. The company promises to launch Volt in November 2010. Wait a second, don’t be overjoyed. This launch date is for the US market. Well India is also not far to get the car. Labels: Chevrolet-Cars, General-Motors
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Honda Market Going Down
 Honda Motors have always refused to accept the use of diesel in cars and this ignorance has brought down its own market. Honda’s has always pursued in making petrol cars and with such a high petrol price, who is going to buy Honda? This has also affected the sale of new cars.
Honda was very proud about all its car models and their resale value. But the scenario has completely changed after the increase in fuel price. The resale value has reduced to almost 30%. It’s hurting! It has now become difficult for Honda to keep going. Even Honda Civic could not make up for the loss. The second hand market is more popular with models of Maruti and Hyundai. Let’s see what wonder the recent Honda Civic Hybrid does!
Chrysler’s Car Plant in India
American auto maker Chrysler has made up its mind to enter into the Indian car market with its new car plant in Chennai. Chrysler is in talk with the Tamil Nadu Government to set up a green field facility in the state. Chrysler being one of the global car companies still does not have its presence in the Indian car market so this can be a good start. Chennai will beat the Mumbai port in getting one more foreign investor. Both the ports are country’s upcoming business destination. The state government has thought of signing a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for this project valued Rs 30,000 crore in this financial year. Hope the project gets the green signal, which will surely boosts the Indian car Industry. Labels: Car-Industry, New-Car-Plant
Premium Cars are Now Dearer
Luxury car fans will now keep themselves away from using them. The government has recently imposed an additional excise duty on cars with larger engines – those with a capacity of above 1500 cc. This move is taken to encourage the use of small cars in the face of rising fuel costs. All car segments other than the small cars were already affected by the excise duty imposed previously after the announcement of the 2008 Union budget. Luxury car models are definitely affected by this. However, in the under 20-lakh range of models, the most affected segments are the SUVs and MUVs. The cost of these car models could go up by Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. This step will particularly makes a difference in sales of these cars in the remote markets where they are more popular. Car manufacturers such as Hyundai and Maruti will not be perturbed about this new change because they mostly deal in small cars. But manufacturers like Skoda, Honda, Toyota, Mahindra, and Chevrolet could find sales go down because of this. Small cars are anyways more favourite among price conscious Indian buyers. Labels: Excise-Duty, Luxury -Cars
Is India Fit for Hybrid Cars?
Honda Motors has launched its first hybrid car in India. This launch was inspired by the increasing environmental pollution. Honda did not accept diesel for its line up models but have accepted the advanced green technology. The company has spent a large sum of money on this innovative technology but is the expenditure a worth? Will Honda get the returns? Will Indian buyers go for hybrids? These questions are swaying in and out of people’s minds because ours is a developing country and commercially India is not yet prepared for such high-technology cars. Running the car on electricity means more power for charging but do we have continuous supply of electricity in the cities. Do we have smooth roads to run the car? Do we have charging facilities at petrol stations? Do we have enough spare parts for these hybrids? Is government ready to relief tax on such cars? The answer to all is No. Apart from that, the car price is also a concern. With a cost price of Rs 21.5 lakh, only affluent class can afford to buy this car but unfortunately these people are more attracted to class, status and elegance. Nobody can compare the elegance of BMW with Honda Civic sedan, a completely different connotation. The cost price has outraged the advantage of green. It will take time for all Indians to wear a green conscience. Labels: Honda-Cars, Hybrid-Cars
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Maruti Ready to Compete with the Nano
Cheers Maruti Lovers! Good news for all those who have been loyal to Maruti cars. With major car companies heading ahead to manufacture small cars, Maruti also plans to foray into the small car segment. 
After the announcement of the Nano, Rs 1 lakh car, it was speculated that Maruti is secretly planning a car to compete with the Nano. Though the report was denied earlier by Maruti Suzuki officials but now the same rumors are in everyone’s ear. The company is planning to strip down the standard Maruti 800 and produce a small car with an estimated ex-showroom price of Rs 1.2 lakh, about Rs 75,000 cheaper than the current version of Maruti 800. Are all companies willing to compete with the Nano? Or willing to foray into small car segments? Guess…… Labels: Maruti-Cars, Small-Car
Small Cars Cost May Go Up
Small cars going higher! Tata is still uncertain about maintaining the cost price of the Nano at a tag of Rs 1 lakh because of the hike in crude and steel prices. With this uncertainty of Tata, Bajaj Auto and Renault-Nissan also announced a further increase of their small car that is about to roll out on Indian roads in 2011. Most of us were glad when Bajaj announced the launch tag price as Rs 1 lakh. But now the price is expected to increase to about Rs 1, 20,000 during the commercial launch. Everyone is waiting to drive one low-cost car but now dreams are shattered because no car will launch with the ex-showroom price of Rs 1 lakh. Wish the prices could reduce but again that’s a dream. Labels: Car-prices, Small-Cars
Santro Wins Success for Hyundai
 Congratulations! Santro has bagged the number one position for being the most dependable and reliable compact car. Number one rank in the Vehicle Dependability Study conducted by JD Power Asia Pacific 2008 is appreciable.
The car was judged on the basis of various parameters including vehicle exterior, car performance, specific features, control and displays, seating comfort, fuel efficiency, emissions, engine, transmission and safety standards. New cars were not taken into consideration. The evaluation was done completely on cars that have been on Indian roads for 30-42 months. All proud owners of Santro are deeply satisfied with the ranking of this car across various segments like premium compact, mid-size, premium mid-size and luxury. What a feeling! This endorsement of Santro by JD Power Asia has eventually enhanced the reliability of Hyundai cars. The commitment to quality during the launch of Santro now gets confirmed. Labels: Car-Awards, Hyundai-Santro
Good Discounts in Monsoon
Go rain, go gain! With the season of monsoon hitting the country, most of the car manufacturers are offering free on-the-spot check-ups and heavy discounts on spare parts. Maruti Suzuki is already over with its monsoon campaign. We still have Hyundai and Toyota monsoon offers left. Hyundai is coming up with a week long monsoon campaign to offer free check up with various car spare parts. Car owners can avail a discount of 5% on spare parts and 10% discount on labour charges during the campaign. Toyota is undergoing a 45 day long campaign, "Rain Gain,” offering a free check-up and assured gift in return. Labels: discounts, Hyundai-cars
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
More Hurdles in the Way of Nano
Everyone is eagerly waiting to see the Nano rolling in the roads. But the commercial launch of the car may face obstacle from West Bengal's resurgent opposition Trinamool Congress. It seems that the party is not supporting the launch. The company is almost at the verge of completion and such a hurdle at this stage is heartbreaking. We came across this news in a local newspaper and noticed that everyone associated with the launch is with head and heart ready to face this non-cooperative movement. What if the company is unable to fight the cause? What if the launch is delayed? What if….? There are many questions and confusions waving in people’s minds. But it’s true that if the launch gets delayed, almost 150 car dealers who have set up new shops for selling the world’s cheapest car will have to face a heavy loss. Labels: New-Car-Launch, Tata-Nano
Renault Goes Deep into the Indian Heritage
Excellent! It’s good to know that people are doing research on Indian tradition and cultural. The biggest French auto major, Renault, is driving down to Indian roots to learn the cultural considerations of the country. This step is taken by the company in order to grab the domestic market. Students from top notch management and engineering colleges of France are sponsored by Renault to visit India and learn the cultural legacy of the country. Students are visiting cities and analysing the cultural diversity. This learning is definitely a part of a big business plan by Renault, but still it’s a superior feeling that people are taking interest to learn the core of the country you are living in. The age old belief now gets confirmed, ‘Prosperity is hidden in the Indian roots’. Labels: Expansion -in-Business, Renault
Cheap Electric Cars Running to India
Car manufacturers are going electric now. With rise in fuel price, a race of creating eco-friendly has engulfed the car industry. Electric cars from Tata’s factory are on the way to hit Indian roads. It is believed that these cars will run at an average cost of Rs. 0.40 per kilometer. Unbelievable! One of them is the Tara Titu which will run on 4 batteries of 12 V. It will be a 2 seater car with a maximum speed of 55 kmph. The price of this car is announced to be Rs 99,000. Wow! Cheaper than the Nano. The other one is the Tata Shuttle, a 14 seater car, will be produced for commercial use with a maximum speed of 30 kmph and at a price of Rs. 5, 00,000 only. Labels: Electric-Cars, Tata-cars
Proton Set to Drive in India
Good news for car lovers! Proton, a Malaysian national carmaker, is planning to launch three of its models, Savvy, Saga and Persona in India. These models are expected to enter the Indian car market next year. Currently, these models are undergoing trials and technical evaluation to meet the demands of Indian roads. Savvy is a 5 door mini car with an engine of 1.2 liter, Saga is a sedan with an engine of 1.3 liter and Persona is a mid-size car with an engine of 1.6 liter. Falling between the price range of Rs 3.7 lakh and Rs 6.5 lakh, these cars are expected to compete with the highest selling cars of Tata, Maruti, Hyundai and General Motors. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Launch of new car in India
Monday, 16 June 2008
CNG & LPG Vehicles from General Motors Coming Soon
 The recent hike in fuel prices has moved the car industry towards LPG and CNG. After the launch of Maruti 800Duo, General Motors is also switching over to the production of gas variants. Three of its models, Chevrolet Spark, Aveo U-VA and the Aveo are likely to hit the Indian roads with their LPG and CNG variants.
The launch date of these gas variants are not disclosed but are expected to be there in the upcoming year. Among the three launches, Spark LPG will be the first one to be seen in the showrooms. The CNG variant of the Chevrolet Optra has already been launched and is sold in Mumbai, Baroda and Delhi, the cities where the alternative fuel is easily available. This variant has received a halfhearted response but is expected to get buyers attention due to increase in fuel cost. Labels: CNG-cars, General-Motors
Car Loans Rates Goes Up
The car industry is already facing a credit crunch. Now, Car loans have become costlier. Earlier, the banks had raised interest rates by 75 basis points, after the RBI increased the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). Again, the RBI has raised the repo rate (the rate at which RBI lends to banks) by 25 basis points. This has added pressure on the banks to hike interest rates on loans. This move will affect the whole of the banking sector as well as the car industry. However, the apex bank has resorted to this hike to control inflation in the country. Labels: Car-Industry, Car-Loans
Car that Runs on Water
The Japanese have pioneered the concept of eco-friendly cars in the world. They already have the best hybrid cars – Toyota Prius Hybrid and Honda Civic. Now another Japanese car manufacturer, Genepax has unveiled a car that runs on water. It has a mileage of 80km per liter of water. The car also runs on petrol. Sounds interesting! This might solve the problem of fuel crisis in future. It is basically an electric power car that use hydrogen dioxide. The car requires only 1 liter of water to run at a speed of 80 kilometers or 50 miles an hour. The car manufacturer has applied for a patent. If the technology becomes a reality, in future people will not have to queue in front of petrol bunks. Labels: eco-friendly-cars, New-Car
India’s first Plug-in Hybrid Car
Students from the R.V. Engineering College, Bangalore has developed India’s first plug-in hybrid car in collaboration with Reva and National instrument and Bosch. Named as chimera, the car is capable of running on both electric energy and bio-diesel. Its come fitted with a 440cc diesel engine. The car is equipped with NI CompactDAQ-a USB data acquisition system, which will aid the driver to control the temperature, battery voltage, and rpm. Though the actual mileage is not specified, it will definitely beat other cars in the segment for fuel efficiency. Labels: Hybrid-Car, New-launch
Carazoo Wins 2008 Best Designed Auto Website Award
Carazoo bagged the PC World Web 2008 Award for Best Designed Auto Website on June 16, 2008. Carazoo is a one-stop website for all car buyers and sellers. This prestigious award was received from PC World - a leading technology magazine with bigger circulation and the largest read computer or business magazine. Carazoo.com is a division of Logix Microsystems Limited, a BSE/NSE listed IT company, and was launched on August 21, 2007. It flaunts itself as India's First and Only car portal with interactive animations. It’s good to aim for the sky and there will be many more stepping stones for Carazoo during its journey to the top! Labels: Car-Portal, PC-World-Award
Friday, 13 June 2008
Indian Buyers Racing for CNG Cars
The recent unprecedented hike in fuel prices has increased the demand for CNG kits. Manufacturers and retailers of CNG in Delhi have reported a 100% increase in the number of cars owners switching over to CNG kit. The extraordinary spurt in the increasing demand of CNG is understandable but it has created a great chaos for the companies that fit these kits. They are attending countless phone calls and enquiries related to the fuel prices and conversion procedure. Cost price of CNG has recently dropped down from Rs 19.20 per kg to Rs 18.90 which eventually brings down the car running cost. Around 30,000 new cars are hitting the Indian roads every month and this increase in the number of cars will definitely reduce the availability of CNG. The government has to take in some action to improve the infrastructure and sort out the mess at the CNG stations. Labels: CNG-cars, Fuel-Prices
Hyundai i10 is Running Fast
Hyundai motors now have one more reason to smile. It has set a momentous record by receiving 1 Lakh export orders for its Hyundai i10 model.
 Hyundai i10 has achieved 10,000 units of export order in less than 7 months from across the globe. It has made its entry in October 2007 and reached its progressive export volume in very short period of time. The demand for the car even in the domestic market is huge and has made it won the ‘Car of the Year 2008’ award.
After such a fabulous response from both domestic as well as international market, the company is now planning to increase the production of i10 model. The car is on the way to rule the global market in its segment. Labels: Huyundai-Motors, Hyundai-i10
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Countdown Begins for Nano
The countdown for the smallest low-cost car, Tata Nano, begins now. Singur plant is underway of rolling out the Nano and bringing it on to Indian roads.  Not only the company, but also the consumers and car dealers of Tata are eagerly awaiting the launch of this car. It’s great to know that the bookings for this car will start in mid-September. Tata dealers in Kolkata and New Delhi are more excited with the launch of this car and are pursuing consumers to check out the final booking dates in the first week of September. The launch will be coinciding with the holy festival of Durga Puja. Both the celebrations together would be a great day of fun, entertainment and enjoyment for all the people across the country. Labels: Low-Cost-Car, New-Car-Launch, Tata-Nano
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
A Diesel Honda is on the Map
Though diesel cars arrived much later than petrol cars in India, they have always been more popular in the Indian market due to the high fuel economy they deliver. Very few car manufacturers in the country have shyed away from introducing diesel car variants or models. One of them is Honda. Honda has clung on to petrol engines over the entire decade that they have been in the country. Recently, there have been rumours that Honda is planning to introduce a diesel variant of one of its existing models. It’s supposed by many that the model could very well be their popular SUV – the Honda CR-V. Labels: Diesel cars, Honda, new car launch
Hyundai Accent CNG is Out
With the hike in prices of petrol and diesel, leading car manufacturers are in the process of introducing more fuel economic variants (such as LPG and CNG) of their existing car models. Hyundai Motors has introduced a CNG variant of its popular midsize sedan ‘Accent’. The 1.5-litre petrol engine of the Hyundai Accent is now available with a CNG kit in the new CNG variant. The driver can easily switch between petrol and CNG modes using the manual selector switch in the car. The CNG kit comes with a Lambda control system that ensures Euro III emissions on the car. The new variant is very promising and could give the Accent a boost in sales. Hyundai has also been planning to launch LPG variants of almost all its car models with the Hyundai Santro Xing LPG being the most awaited of them all. Labels: CNG cars, Hyundai, new car launch
Reva Felicitated in Europe
India’s lone electric car, the Maini REVAi, has won its manufacturer a coveted European award. The Reva Electric Car Company has bagged the prestigious ‘2008 Frost & Sullivan European Automotive Powertrain Company of the Year’ award after being recognized for excellence in customer satisfaction, superior penetration of the market and high sales volume. Costing just 9000 pounds in the UK, when most electric cars are priced 17,000 pounds and above, the REVA is rated the world’s cheapest electric car. While the tiny Reva has not been very popular with the Indian public, it sees impressive sales in the European market. The Reva sells one electric car every day in the UK. Labels: car awards, Car sales, Electric Cars, Maini
Maruti is well known throughout the World
Maruti Suzuki has ranked 4th in the new list of the ‘World’s Most Popular Automobile Companies’. It’s probably the first Indian car manufacturer to come within the top 5 in the list. Maruti went past its Japanese collaborator Suzuki Motors that had managed the 4th spot in the previous list. This news comes in on a year when Maruti is celebrating its silver jubilee in India. Maruti has always held on to the top position in the list of popular Indian car manufacturers. Over the years, it has catered to the masses in a way that no other car manufacturer in the world has. The new ranking on the world list is well deserved by Maruti. Labels: Maruti Suzuki
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Maruti 800 gets a New Variant
The Maruti Suzuki 800 LPG variant has been launched. A welcome relief amidst anxiety caused by rising prices of petrol and diesel. The most fuel efficient car in India just got a lot better and a lot cleaner. Like the Maruti WagonR Duo, the new version is being called ‘Maruti 800 Duo’. The LPG option is available on both the AC and Non-AC variants of the car. The new variants are currently priced between Rs. 2.05 Lakh and Rs 2.26 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).  Maruti has previously sold a large number of LPG variants of the WagonR and the Omni. The new Maruti 800 Duo will be even more popular. Afterall, the 800 is without a doubt India’s most popular family car. Labels: CNG cars, LPG cars, Maruti Suzuki, new car launch
Maruti Dealer Holds the Car Manufacturer’s Flag High
Just how much difference does a good car dealer make to a car manufacturer? A big one if we see what a Maruti Suzuki dealer based in Kerala and Tamil Nadu has achieved. Indus motors has sold nearly 26,833 new Maruti cars in the last fiscal year. This dealership alone contributed to 55 percent of Maruti’s national sales volume! And this feat is not restricted to just new cars, Indus Motors has also achieved the highest sales in certified used cars through Maruti’s ‘TrueValue’ program. That was Maruti. But achievements of dealers haven’t been restricted to just low cost cars. Tai-Pan Motors is a Mercedes-Benz dealership based in Punjab and Delhi and it has been creating quite a stir with its high sales of luxury cars. A good car dealership is truly an asset to a car manufacturer and the above is exactly the amount of difference it makes. Labels: Car dealers, Maruti Suzuki
Monday, 9 June 2008
Another ‘Bang’ in Motorsports
Car rallies have been the possession of few people in India. It has remained a classic sport of the rich. After Narain Karthikeyan becomes India’s first formula 1 driver and millionaire businessman Vijay Mallya formed the Force India team with buyout of the Dutch Formula 1 team Spyker, Indians are more associated with the car racing sport.
Now motorsports is attracting more people. Not only as contestants, but also as teams to promote brands and sell the F1 merchandise. Bangalore based Sidvin Core-Tech has launched the Team Sidvin India. The team made its debut at the Greece Acropolis Rally and was headed by driver VK Naren Kumar. He finished 10th position at the rally. Now the company has set its eyes on World Rally Championship (WRC). The Indian company Saatchi & Saatchi is assisting to create media products for the company to promote the brand.
Labels: car rally, Formula One, motorsports
HUMMER for Sale
Several big car brands are being off-loaded by American car manufacturers. Ford recently handed over the iconic brands Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors. Car manufacturing biggies such as Ford and General Motors have a large number of popular brands under their wing. In the ever changing global market of cars, these large car corporations have found it difficult to sustain a vast spread of car brands and models and have resorted to unloading a few of those that have been pulling them down. 
General Motors has decided to sell off the popular ‘Hummer’ brand. In the glory days, Hummer has rolled out several bad boy SUVs across the world. These mean machines have been quite popular with the US army and have seen a lot of action in battle. They have even starred in quite a few hollywood war movies.
General Motors is putting the Hummer up for sale. Both Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, who were front runners for the Jaguar and Land Rover dealer, have shown interest. Labels: Acquisition, Hummer, Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata Motors
Cars to get Labels for Fuel Efficiency
In India, buying a car sans a fuel efficiency rating is common. Car manufacturers do not provide the actual statistics of car mileage. The lid on fuel efficiency was recently blown when it was revealed after a study that new cars (post year 2000 models) give lesser mileage than older car models.
The Indian bureau of energy efficiency has begun the process of setting up mandatory fuel standards for cars in India. It wants car manufacturers to pass the verification tests and get a certification before their cars reach the buyer. The bureau will issue fuel efficiency labels for every car model. The process is likely to take shape by the end of this year. No more needless waste of time trying to get necessary fuel economy information of cars.
Labels: car buying, Fuel economy, Fuel efficiency
New Models Coming Soon from Fiat
Fiat is trying hard and going around to change their image worldwide and in India. They have already announced many new models for India such as the Linea, Grande Punto, Bravo and 500. In addition to these models, Fiat is planning to introduce a microcar that is based on the same platform as the Fiat 500. The low cost car is expected to come out some time in 2009. 
A replacement for the Fiat Palio Stile is also on the cards. The new car is expected to be classier in design and more comfortable. The Grande Punto and the Linea are ready for launch in late 2008. Labels: Fiat, low cost car, new car launch
Saturday, 7 June 2008
High End Logan Coming Soon
The Mahindra-Renault Logan is considered as an entry level cars by many. With a smart pricing strategy and large body, the Logan has been only second to Swift Dzire in sales. It is the only entry level car that comes with a typical European design. The sedan matches the fuel efficiency of small cars. It is also one of the cheapest sedans that promise a lot of comfort and convenience for buyers.
So far, it was a car for the people who wanted to move from small car to sedan. But now the company is launching a limited edition of Logan for the high end customers. Expected to launch in July, the car will come with a new music system and better quality upholsteries along with other high end luxuries and safety. Labels: Mahindra-Renault, new car launch, Sedans
Friday, 6 June 2008
Bio-fuels attract Huge Investments
The international crude oil prices are going up and does not seems to ebb down. The effect of this price rise was such that petrol/diesel prices have been raised to a significant amount. The price hike of crude oil is affecting the Indian economy to a large extent. As India does not have sufficient production of oil, it has to depend on external sources for oil.
Thanks to Bio-fuels! Now Indian corporate like Tata Group and Reliance Industries are making huge investment in the research & development of Bio-fuels. Jatropha plant cultivation is gaining popularity among farmers too. The plant yield non-edible seeds, which is used to extract bio-fuels. It is estimated that around Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore will be invested in bio-fuel sector over the next five to eight years. These efforts will surely reduce pressure on the Car Industry which is witnessing downfall due to fuel price hike. Labels: Bio-Fuel, Fuel Prices
Maharashtra Cuts Sales Tax on Petrol
The hike in fuel prices is adding pressure on the common man’s purse. The petrol price has gone up by Rs 5 and diesel is up by Rs 3 per litre. Travelling is no longer cheap. The middle class is now opting for local transport rather than personal cars to cut down travel cost.
The government earns most of its revenue from taxes on petrol and diesel. Though all the states have revised the values of fuel, Maharashtra has done the opposite. It has decided to cut down sales tax by 2 percent. This will reduce the price of petrol by 80 paise and diesel by 60 paise per litre than the pre-hike value of fuel! The Maharashtra government has adopted a populist measure ahead of the central polls, which is a year away.
Labels: Fuel Prices
One More Hybrid Car to Hit Indian Roads
The Indian car market does not have any hybrid cars as of now though they have been around for over two decades in the US and Europe. Hybrid cars consume less fuel and have lower emission levels. Despite all these merits, they have not been popular with the masses because of their exorbitant prices. But now hybrids have become hot favourites with the issue of global warming and energy consumption.
After Honda’s announcement of a launch of the Civic Hybrid in India, the world’s No. 1 hybrid car Toyota Prius is set to arrive too. Prius is the most fuel efficient car in the US. The car is likely to be available at a price tag of Rs 18-20 Lakh.
Labels: Honda, hybrid cars, Toyota
Nissan to Enter the Small Car Race in India
India has become a hot destination for several foreign car manufacturers. Luxury car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi already have their presence in the country and manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Hyundai have been around for a long time. A recent entrant into the Indian car market has been Nissan. It’s planning to shift its small car manufacturing facilities to cheaper places like India and Thailand. This will not only improve the price positioning of Nissan’s cars in existing markets but will also provide a foothold in the Indian market. Nissan plans to bring its small car Micra to India and wants to develop two more cars based on the same platform. While these cars are being developed with richer markets such as Europe in mind, India will not lack behind in consumerism. The Micra is expected to cost somewhere in the range of Rs 3-4 Lakh.
Labels: new car launch, Nissan, small cars
Tata reiterates commitment to JLR
Jaguar and Land Rover have held their identities even under the ownership of Ford Motors. They have managed to keep their British image intact. Jaguar and Land Rover are well know brands. After all the speculations, it has been clarified by the company that Jaguar and Land Rover will retain their identities. They will continue to pursue their independent businesses.
It was noticed that West Midlands which houses a lot of popular automotive companies were apprehensive about Tata Motors. The take over by an Asian company has not been considered favourable by some quarters of European automotive sector. With this declaration, the European companies might get happy.
Labels: Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Month of May Brought Woes to Indian Car Industry
While car companies rejoiced in the months of March and April when car sales were high, the succeeding month of May left them in tears. After April, car sales started dipping. While the car industry posted a growth of 22 percent in the month of April, the record for May was a mere 13-15 percent.
Maruti continues to lead as always followed immediately by enthusiastic Hyundai. But General Motors which has being doing well over the last couple of years has witnessed a sudden slowdown.
With input costs for car manufacturers being ever on the rise and as the world crude oil will continue to price $120 plus per barrel, the Indian car industry needs to come up with a new strategy to arrest falling car sales.
Labels: Car sales, General Motors, Hyundai, Maruti
Old Cars Were More Fuel Efficient
It’s shocking to know that old cars were more fuel efficient than the ones being produced nowadays. With the growing air pollution and fuel price hike, the issue of fuel efficiency has gained importance among buyers. Now, consumers are taking special interest to know the mileage of a car they wish to buy. CSE (Centre of Science and Environment) has estimated that cars manufactured post 2000 with 1.4-litre engines emit 143 gm/km of carbon dioxide which is much less compared to 173 gm/km emissions by 2005 models with the same engine. Overall, the fuel efficiency has dropped from 16 km/litre to 13 km/litre.
The number of car buyers has increased several fold across the country. Consumers have become conscious of what they want to buy and desire to know the exact technical details of car models. Fuel economy is now a top priority when it comes to buying cars.
Labels: car buying, Fuel efficiency, old cars
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Petrol prices up again
The fuel prices are really going to scorch the car owners. Taking car leisurely for a long drive will be a costly affair. The uncontrolled international rise in oil price to 135 dollars a barrel has put pressure on the government to think of raising the fuel price. Earlier, the hike of Rs 10 for petrol and Rs 5 for diesel was set, but now it seems that was too low. The petrol prices are likely to go up by Rs 16-Rs 17 per liter. Diesel will continue to sell under controlled price. With this huge hike, people will opt for fuel efficient small cars rather than going for large SUVs. Public transport will be another option for travellers. Labels: Increase-in-petrol-price, Small-Car
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Hyundai i10 is more powerful now
After Hyundai i10 has been awarded as the Indian Car of the Year 2008, the company is now looking at making the car more attractive to its customers. Hyundai is not satisfied with the report of i10 sale. It is planning to add a 1.2 liter engine to the car, which will puffs 15 bhp more power than the existing model. The existing car is already generating a power of 66.7 bhp. This little change will make the i10 as one of the fastest cars in the small car segment. It will then could be pitched against the performance oriented Palio Stile.
Hyundai, the second largest car manufacturer in India has a very successful portfolio and is aiming to gain the No. 1 position. With a high power vehicle it can make a powerful rival to Maruti. Labels: Hyundai cars, small cars
New Prices for Honda Cars
Honda is a leader in premium car segment in India. It has successful models like City, Civic and CR-V which makes its powerful portfolio. Honda, which manufactures most of its components in India, was under the market pressure due to the hike in raw materials price. It could not escape the rise in input costs of the raw materials like rubber and steel.
After having raised the prices of its car in the range of Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 in May, it has now taken a U-turn. Honda Siel Cars India is cutting down rates of all its sedans by Rs 5000. The new price has been introduced from 1st June. The price cut is also in response to the central sales tax cuts by 1% from the existing 3%. The price of the City will be cheaper by Rs 3,000 and the Civic will be available at Rs 5000 lesser cost. The company is in the right tract to attract its customers. Labels: Car prices, Honda Cars, Sedans
Fuel Efficient Cars on Demand
As fuel prices are increasing at alarming rate, the new cars buyers are postponing their purchases. Indians are blamed for being price sensitive. The Indian car market now wants fuel efficient cars. Maruti Suzuki is experiencing more sales of small cars like Alto, Swift and Dzire as compare to other brands.
Many car companies are offering freebie with the cars to keep their business floating. It is suspected that car sales may fall by 30 percent in May as compared to the April and March. These two months were considered lucky. Car dealers are saying that the proposed massive fuel hike keeping the buyers away. In this situation small fuel efficient cars are more in demand than fuel guzzlers SUVs. Labels: Fuel efficiencient Car, small cars
Mercedes with CNG!
With the growing demand of green cars, most car manufacturers are trying to trim their engine displacement and bringing in eco-friendly variants. Luxury car manufacturer rarely go for technology change. They assume that changing from petrol to fuel efficient technology will result in loss of power. They are afraid of loosing the tag of powerful engine car.
But that myth seems to have been broken by luxury car maker leader Mercedes. Mercedes-Benz has come up with two new CNG sedans in India. The variant will more fuel efficient than the Maruti Suzuki 800 which runs on petrol.
All luxury car manufacturers should go for this as more car buyers are opting for fuel efficient cars. The alternative fuel will change the image of Luxury cars for forever. Labels: CNG cars, eco-friendly cars, luxury cars, Maruti Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz
Monday, 2 June 2008
Tata own Financing House for it Cars
As car financing become costlier and interest rates keep going higher, aspirant car buyers are moving away from car showrooms. Financing a car requires a lot of documents and taxes. The duties and taxes are calculated based in the cubic capacity of the car and its market rate. Second time car owners may drop the idea to buy a new car, if the financing issue becomes too complicated. In order to stem this problem, Tata Motors will be using its own financing company for buyer service. The finance wing will expand its operation to assist customers. Many banks treat car financing as just one of the smaller departments. Tata Motors will focus on car financing and related areas, including providing finances to it vendors and distributors. With this intelligent step, the company will surely become the cynosure of all car buyers. Labels: Financing-House, Tata-Motors
Tata & Pininfarina to make Electric Car
The enterprising spirit of Tata just never stops. Whether it is joint venture with Jaguar and Land Rover or launching the world cheapest car Nano, the company has tried to tap every door available to make it big in global car industry. Tata wanted to buy a stake in the Italian auto design house Pininfarina, but things did not seem to work fine. Tata again wants to be ahead of other car manufacturers. Now Tata along with Pininfarina and Bollore, a French industrial group has come together to develop a mini electric car. It is still to be seen if the Nano’s mini car concept will be replicated in the electric car too. Will the big business house be able to help the big car design house in making the car for future? We will have to wait and watch. Labels: Electric-Cars, Tata-cars
Hyundai’s Ultra-Low Cost Car coming soon
As the bug of ultra-low cost car has bitten several car manufacturers in India and abroad the race to launch it first becomes hotter. After Tata launched the Nano in January, many others are following the same. Most of the small car manufacturers of India are into the fray like Toyota, Bajaj-Renault-Nissan and others. India’s second largest small car manufacturer Hyundai too had expressed interest in launching a car smaller than the 1.0 liter capacity Santro. Hyundai has dwelled on the feasibility of such smaller car. It has now announced the date for launch of ultra-low cost car. Hyundai Motors India will be launching their first ultra-low cost car worth 1.4 lakh by 2011. Labels: Hyundai-cars, Ultra-low-cost-Cars
Airbags save Lives
The car companies for a long time were not concerned of the driver or passenger safety. In India people want low priced cars and the car companies in order to attract customers have left aside the safety aspect. Even now cars like Ambassador and M800 do not come with any driver or passenger safety features. It has been proved, that car drivers who has fitted airbags and seat belts fastened to their body, suffer the least injuries on face, spine and chest. Now low cost car like Nano is likely to have airbags which is rare in the cars of such price range. Today the air bags are being offered as an option and are standard in premium small car segment. The scenario is slowly changing, as Indians are ready to pay more and want more from car companies. Labels: Airbags, car safety
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When all car manufacturers are taking move towards making the environment greener, why should Fiat lack behind? The company is coming up with the CNG version of Palio model by 2009.
