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Thursday, 31 July 2008
Car Loan Interest Rates Climbs Higher
With inflation remaining double digits for consecutive six weeks, RBI plans to tighten its monetary policy. The policy has a direct impact on the interest rates. Oops! Another setback for the car manufacturers. Car manufacturers are now really frightened with the continuous increase in fuel prices as well as the interest rates. Now all the heart goes down. Are car manufacturers still strong and powerful to face this obstacle and win over the challenge? The Indian car industry is going down with low economic gains. This is the third time in the calendar year 2008 and the second time in the current month that the interest rates have climbed up. The current repo rate, rate at which Central Government lends money to the banks, has been increased by half a percentage point and the cash reserve ratio, cash that bank puts aside, has been increased by 0.25 percentage point. A car loan amount of Rs 3 lakh for a period of three years will have a higher EMI of Rs 73. Car loan for a period of five years, will have an EMI of extra Rs 79 and the loan taken for 7 years will have an additional amount of Rs 84 in the EMI. The things are becoming worse day by day. When will this inflation end? Who will bring an end? What and when is the next hike in interest rates? Who knows? Labels: Car-Finance, Car-Loan, Car-Manufacturers
Fiat Develops Two-Cylinder Diesel Engine
The Fiat plans to develop a two-cylinder diesel engine for the global car market including India. This two-cylinder engine is mainly designed for small cars and is known as ‘Fiat’s twin wonder’. The diesel engine is expected to be manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility in India. The company also plans to sell the same cylinder to other companies across the global car industry. Fiat has an alliance with the Tata Motors and it was expected to be a confirm consumer for this engine. But Tata Motors is producing its own twin-cylinder for its ultra-cheap car, the Nano. Maruti does not have any such kind of small diesel to fit in its small cars. But do you think will Maruti approach Fiat for its requirement? Maruti is considered to be Fiat's best stake. Through the production of this twin-cylinder diesel engine, the company is planning to strengthen its presence in India. Labels: Car-engine, Car-Manufacturers, Diesel, Fiat, Nano
Super Mileage Car Ready to Beat Inflation
Garuda, a super mileage car, is finally ready to be launched! The launch of this super mileage, fuel-efficient car in this era of rising fuel prices and high interest rates is a big revolution in the Indian car industry. The launch of this car is also credited to the various issues including oil crisis, environmental pollution and aggressive search of alternative fuel sources. The new electric car is manufactured by students of Mechanical Department of RV College of Engineering in Bangalore and is expected to be unveiled in August, 2008 at the college campus. This super fuel efficient car is designed and manufactured with latest cutting edge technology. This will be the first Indian car that is completely ready to participate in the "SAE Supermileage International Competition" in USA and "Shell Eco-Marathon" in the UK. Will the proposed launch of Garuda threaten the only electric car Reva Maini in India? Reason being that both the cars have a common start, from the Indian IT hub, Bangalore. Labels: Electric-Cars, Fuel-efficient-Car, Indian-car-industry
What is the Faith of Mumbai Taxis – WagonR or Nano?
Earlier we had said that Wagon R is going to replace Mumbai Taxis. Mumbai taxi owners are in talks with Maruti Suzuki for the rights and permission to run the car as taxis on roads. But don’t you think that Tata Nano will be a better option for taxi drivers in Mumbai. The Nano is soon going to launch and it can very well replace the taxicabs. Tata Motors has outfitted the car with safety features and a fuel efficient engine. Driving the Nano seems to be more cost effective for taxi owners. The People’s Car, Tata Nano, is expected to be the next target for the daily city ride. The Mumbai Taximen Union is in a dilemma which car to choose, both are fuel efficient. Don’t you think that Nano has the power to offer more profitable gains? Low cost of the car is attracting more number of taxi owners. Replacing Mumbai taxi with Wagon R will earn them the same but the initial investment would be more. Moreover, if the Nano is outfitted with air conditioner, the price tag would be much cheaper than that of an air conditioner Wagon-R. What do you think, who will replace Mumbai taxis, Wagon-R or Nano? Labels: Cabs, Nano, Taxi, WagonR
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
BMW Launches 530d
BMW rejoices its success with the launch of 530d in India. The five series of BMW is a big threat for the age old Mercedes-Benz in India. The BMW has created a competitive platform of luxury cars in a span of two years. The f\5 series of BMW is not as old as the existence of Mercedes-Benz in India. Yet, BMW is seen to be ahead in the race. The new 530d is available with more efficient engine, enhanced horsepower, and advanced safety technologies coupled with BMW’s USP (Unique selling point), Night Vision. This premium segment sedan is powered by six common diesel rail engine (CRDi) that generates 235bhp. The company has also introduced two other variants of the car, 520d and 530d Highline. All the car models launched have the highest standards of all-round quality, safety measures coupled with highest levels of comfort and luxury. These new car models are also available in a rainbow of vibrant and sophisticated colours. Labels: BMW-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, New-Cars
Mahindra-Renault Venture Sells Renault Cars
Mahindra & Mahindra and Renault currently hold a share of 51:49 in the partnership. This partnership was signed between both the companies for manufacturing and retailing their most leading car, the Logan. But now, with the increasing pressures and challenges, the joint venture desires to extend their retailing partnership to sell Renault’s future cars. Mahindra has no recent plans to introduce more cars to India. That’s the reason why the company is willing to extend the partnership with Renault to market the upcoming Renault’s car. Mahindra is keen to make the Mahindra-Renault centre as the distribution network to sell Renault’s new cars. The new cars are expected to be launched from Chennai in the next two years. The negotiated partnership between the two companies will be used to sell those cars under the brand of Mahindra-Renault Ltd. Will Renault agree to the partnership? Will Renault share its success of the proposed cars with Mahindra? Any guesses? Labels: Cars in India, Mahindra and Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault, New-Cars
Twins Residing in Different Countries
 Maruti Suzuki SX4 and Fiat's Sedici are twins from the same platform residing in different countries. The Sedici is a sports utility vehicle designed and manufactured by the Joint Venture between Suzuki and Fiat mainly for the European market. The car was expected to launch in India as well but the success of SX4 in India has blocked the market for Sedici in the country. Sedici was expected to replace the SX4 in India. Initially, the Maruti had plans to introduce almost 60,000 units of SX4 to the country, out of which two-thirds to be sold by Suzuki and the rest by Fiat. But fortunately, SX4 has been a great hit in the mid-size sedan market. The company is also successful in attracting customers with a recent upgrade offer of Rs 25,000 exchange bonus. The Sedici is doing great in the native Italian market. Fiat was also planning to launch Sedici in South Africa but then the company changed its intention because the South African market is already dominated with the SX4. Eventually, the joint venture between the Fiat and Suzuki decided to launch the twins in different countries. Labels: Fiat-Sedici, Maruti-SX4, New-Cars
India’s Most Reliable Cars
When buying a car, most of the time people get confused while making a choice among different brands. Many questions start pondering and swinging in people’s minds. Which car is the best? Which car has enhanced safety? Which car has low cost of maintenance? Which is the most reliable car? The answer to all these questions is given by J.D. Power Asia Vehicle Dependability Survey. Earlier, it was difficult to judge the most reliable car but J.D. Power and Associates has resolved the issue with just one survey. In India, the first survey was held in January 2008 and results were declared in April 2008. The survey was based on the number of problems faced by car owners of 30-42 months old vehicles. Ranking was given on the basis of number of problem symptoms per 100 vehicles. Problem categories include exteriors, driving comfort, entertainment system, controls, displays, car engine, heating, ventilation and transmission. Based on the J.D. Power Asia Vehicle Dependability Survey, 8 Indian cars were considered to be the most dependable. The list of India’s most reliable cars include Maruti Suzuki Swift, Maruti Esteem, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Innova, Hyundai Santro, Honda City ZX, Ford Endeavour and Mercedes-Benz C Class. Now the confusion of searching a good car gets over. You can select any reliable cars from the listing and drive safely along with your chosen car. Labels: Huyundai-Motors, Reliable-Cars, Toyata
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Skoda Cars are now Costly
 Skoda increases price tags of all its car models! This is nothing new in the car industry. Recently many car manufacturers including Tata Motors, Hyundai Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Honda Seil India have increased the cost price of all their cars. With so many car manufacturers raising the car prices due to high input costs, Skoda India, Czech auto manufacturer, also announces an increase in prices of all its car models in India. The company announces a hike in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 and this hike will be effective from August 2008. Apart from high input costs, the company is also swayed by the surge in freight costs and high cost of raw materials. Inspite of the high input costs, the company is putting in hard efforts to absorb maximum costs so that the price hike has minimized impact on prospective car buyers. Will the efforts of Skoda be successful? Labels: Car-prices, Luxury -Cars, Skoda
Hyundai Opt India for Small Car Production
Many car manufacturers are invading India to make the country a hub for small cars production. The Hyundai Motors being a smart player also plans to make India its global centre for small cars. The company will use India for manufacturing and exporting small cars and earn higher margins. Cars produced in India are comparatively low in price because of the easy availability of skilled talents as well as low-cost of labour and machinery. Hyundai has rolled many small cars till date among which few were locally produced. The recognised Hyundai’s i10, launched last November, was manufactured exclusively in India. The upcoming Hyundai’s i20 model will also be solely manufactured in India. Hyundai’s i10 belongs to the ‘A’ segment whereas the upcoming i20 will belong to the ‘B’ segment. The company wishes to line up a portfolio of small cars to offer a wider choice to Indian customers. Hyundai has set a sales target of around 530,000 units for both the domestic and export market. But inflation and high fuel prices are taking a toll on car sales, thereby reducing the margin. May be by the end of this year, things get sort out and Hyundai gets a brighter era to continue the launch of its innovative models. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Hyundai, Small-Cars
Fiat Makes a Smart Move
Fiat makes a smart move in the Indian car industry. After the launch of Fiat 500 or Cinquecento, the Italian car manufacturer is planning to bring its other iconic brands like Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati to create a new individuality in the market. Fiat is now following a complete revamp plan, wherein the company will not only introduce new vehicles to the market but will also sell the excess capacity of diesel and petrol engines. The famed car engine of Fiat, 1,300cc multijet diesel, is produced at its Ranjangaon factory. The company plans to sell this engine to various other car manufactures and fill the shortage of such engines in the Indian market. Fiat implements the revival plan in India with the launch of Fiat 500. Though the cost price of this coupe is too high, for about Rs 15 lakh, the company is not worried because there is a conform belief that the unique style will showcase the Fiat brand to Indian audience. The car is built with a combination of style, safety, elegance and remarkable engine quality. The company is also in process to roll out its Linea sedan and Grande Punto. The company claims that these cars will be produced locally to suit the Indian conditions. With its revival plan, Fiat plans to compete with leading car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki Motors, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motors, and Honda Seil India. Do you think Fiat will win the race? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Fiat, Fiat 500, Hyundai-Motors
Formula Racing Cars Coming soon to India
The Indian sports industry is all set to link with the car industry with a major technological jump. Volkswagen, leading German car manufacturer, plans to roll out a series of Formula racing car soon. This plan of Volkswagen is at the budding stage and is expected to grow with the increasing number of racing drivers in India. Till now the car has only made a debut in Germany. It’s the first time that the company is driving the car out of Germany to make an embankment on the platforms of Indian sports industry. The car will be manufactured in partnership with JK Tyres. There are so many companies and car manufacturers in India to support Volkswagen in this launch but then why only JK Tyres? The reason why Volkswagen selected JK Tyres for this venture is because JK Tyres have full support of Federation of Motor Sport Clubs in India (FMSCI), a governing body for Indian motor sport. Volkswagen wishes to give the Indian sport industry an advanced and innovative technology at an affordable cost. Labels: Car-Industry, Formula 1 racing, Volkswagen
Monday, 28 July 2008
Logan Edge Comes to Edge Your Thoughts
 Here comes the car to edge your thoughts from the rising inflation! Mahindra-Renault has launched the new version of the Logan named as Logan Edge with the view to relief consumers from rising fuel cost. Driven by the highest fuel efficiency of Logan, the venture has introduced a new version of the car with higher capabilities to challenge high inflation. Priced between Rs 5 Lakh and Rs 7.15 Lakh (ex-showroom-Delhi), the Logan Edge is produced in limited edition based on the extensive customer feedback and responses. The venture has considered this launch as an endeavour to offer the best to all its customers. Limited edition is produced to test the car performance and judge further responses from the customer. The new Logan Edge comes with a blend of style, elegance and interesting features like reverse parking sensor, beige leather seat covers, Kenwood music system, wood finish center console and USB connectivity. The car is available in both the petrol and diesel variants with engine capacities between 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre. What do you say? Will the Logan Edge be successful in facing the current situation? Will the car beat its ancestor, the Logan? Labels: Car-features, Car-prices, Mahindra-Renault-Logan
Lewis Hamilton Rocks Mumbai, India!!
Lewis Hamilton was in Mumbai on 24th as a part of his sponsorship commitments to Vodafone. His driving had the spectators in a tizzy at the makeshift stands at the Hakone Go-Karting track. The spectators went mad over his one handed drifts. After showing off his skills in a special Vodafone liveried Go-Kart, he judged a race involving three Vodafone Contest winners. A very elated spectator yelled 'Lewis, beat Kimi at Monza'. 'Im working on it' he yelled back. A small autograph session followed. A slight rain hampered the full use of the track. We also got to learn the limits of F 1's new wet weather master. Hamilton slated that the Mercedes C63 saloon he was chauffeured in was not the ideal car to drive on Mumbai's rain soaked roads. Apparently, a big 450 bhp saloon on wet, Indian roads are off limits for this F1 megastar. Mere mortals, beware! Last season Hamilton came unnoticed and was just another desperate attempt to fill the slot vacated by Kimi Raikkonen. The tale of Hamilton bears lot of striking resemblances to Lightning Mc Queen's dream debut in the Piston Cup in Disney’s Blockbuster CARS. Hamilton had a dream to start his F1 career finishing 3rd at 2007 season's opener at Australia and even gave his more experienced peers a run for their money in his opening season itself which was nothing but spectacular. By the end of the season he was touted to be F1's next big thing. He has more reasons to celebrate as he had a good start to this season, presently leading the Drivers standings. His dominating victory at his home GP in the UK has left many calling him the next RAIN MASTER. I do know that it is too early to adorn him with such a big honour which was previously held by the legendary Michael Schumacher. Hamilton's Race Day schedule as follows: • Wake up at 8am. Most races are in the afternoon, so no need to peak into the day early. • Breakfast with trainer (no training as they emphasize on storing energy). • Drink as much fluids as possible. • Attending drivers meeting and also sponsors & drivers' parade. • 30 mins before race, time to get into race gear and relax. • Listens to Bob Marley and watches TV. • Race over 2-3kgs of liquid lost. • 2 hours interaction with media. Get back to hotel and freshen up. • Celebrations (if the mood is upbeat) • Briefing session with engineers - he gives as much feedback as possible and the info will be fresh in his mind • Bedtime Submitted By: Shrawan indianautosblog.com/2008/07/hamilton-rocks-mumbai/ Labels: F1, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz
Stay Stylish with the Best Premium Car
It’s really a difficult decision to judge the best premium executive cars with excellent Mercedes C class, delectable BMW 3 series and heart rendering Audi A4 leading the premium car segment. After the launch of these three cars in the Indian market, there is a tough competition between them. No one is able to decide which car is the best. All have their own specific features, appealing design and exclusive performance. Mercedes C class provides a comfortable and superlative ride along with better road stability and communicative steering. BMW offers high end models with wonderful interiors, innovative features and attractive design. The 3 series has rear wheel drive with better driving experience. The latest contender, Audi A4, is creating a revolution in the segment. The car is exclusively designed with a classic shape, super cool touches, dynamic design, and superb ride comfort. The car is perfect for Indian roads with all wheel drive to improve traction and enhance road stability. Among these three excellent and delectable contenders of premium car segment, it’s really difficult to choose one. Which one will you choose? Labels: Audi, Best Cars, BMW, Luxury -Cars
Maruti Goes Unique
 Driven by the changing face of the Indian car industry, Maruti is compelled to change the face of its pioneer car, the Maruti 800. The Maruti 800 is a hot selling Maruti car but unfortunately new entry in the car market has brought down the sales. To give a new life to 800 sales, the Maruti Suzuki Motors has rolled out a facelift model of Maruti 800, named as the Maruti Suzuki 800 Uniq. The car is launched with a keen desire to lure customers who love ‘uniq’ things. The whole new avatar of the Maruti 800 is embodied with a host of attractive features like trendy door trims with fabric patch, all-new beige upholstery, smart lower console box, rear package tray and excellent body graphics. The Uniq will be costlier by Rs 5200 over the regular model and will be available in all Maruti showrooms by August 4, 2008. The company has introduced a limited edition of Uniq to judge the response of the car consumers nationwide. Labels: Maruti-Suzuki, New-Cars, Small-Cars
Friday, 25 July 2008
Volvo Race Makes a Stopover in India
Volvo Ocean Race, formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race, is the most prestigious and impressive yacht race around the world. It is an ultimate and adventurous sport which is held every four years. It is the first time in the history of 35 years that the Volvo Race will make a stopover in India. The race will begin in next 71 days and will reach India in next 131 days. A short time left to say, ‘get set go’ and meet the racers in Cochin, India. The Race will commence sailing in October 2008 starting from Alicante, Spain. It will cross more than 39,000 nautical miles and visit 11 ports round the world. The Race will make a stopover at Cape Town, Cochin, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm, and finally end up at St.Petersburg. This unique blend of onshore glamour and offshore performance is something unique for the country. India is considered to be the fastest growing economies and gradually it is being noticed by all domains and industries. All global car manufacturers and industrialists have made a stopover in India. And today, Volvo Race, a sporting and dynamic race by Volvo is 131 days away from India. Labels: Racing, Volvo, World endurance race
Driving in the Dark
 The acute shortage of diesel has lead to unscheduled long hours of power cut. Earlier it was a misconception that shortage of petrol and diesel will only impact the car industry but unfortunately, the shortage has adversely affected the workflow and productivity of various offices and business domain across the country. Bangalore is affected the most by prolonged hours of load shedding. With such an acute shortage of diesel and long hours of power cut in Bangalore, Reva Maini car owners are facing a tough time. You need electricity to charge the car and Reva can run up to a maximum of 80 km on a full charge. And a 100% charge requires about 8 hours. Charging continually for about 8 hours is next to impossible with such kind of load shedding. Even if somehow the car owners manage to fully charge the car, what after the first 80 km? The car owners are now in dilemma of how to charge their car. Even though they own a car costing nearly about Rs 4 lakh to save on petrol price, today they are left without an option. Most of the Reva owners have switched over to public transport for daily commuting because they fall short of electricity to charge their cars. What’s the use of buying a car that is only parked as a centerpiece of your house doorway? Earlier we had mentioned that Maini, creator of Reva electric car, smiles at the future with the rising fuel prices. Will Maini still smile at the future? Labels: Electric-Cars, REVAi, Small-Cars
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