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Friday, 30 January 2009
Fiat Contingent on Linea for Revival
The latest sedan Linea is launched by Fiat India solely with a view to strengthened its presence in the Indian car market. The company has tied high hopes with the car and is completely relying on it to bring good sales.It also targets to sell 24,000 cars in the first year and export around 3,000 cars to international markets like South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and UK. The recently launched Fiat Linea boasts unmistakable Italian design, aesthetic glaring lines with modern features. The impressive design with a smooth body shape, elongated dual-parabola headlights, and a steeply raked windscreen improves aerodynamics. Welcoming and bright environment in the interior accentuated with a host of interior elements delivers a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality. There is nothing left behind to roll a beauty on wheels. With such an elegant design and high quality interiors, the Fiat Linea is sure to attract a large number of car buyers across the country. If this new car succeeds to win hearts of Indian car buyers, it is sure that the impact of slowdown on the company will be nullified. Fiat expects to increase the market share and aims to sell about 40,000 cars during 2009. The Linea is surely going to coup over leading sedans like the Honda City and the Ford Fiesta if its gains car buyers’ confidence. This would then definitely help to revive Fiat's business in India. Labels: Fiat-Linea, New-Car-Launch, Sedan
Indian Car Industry Moves Up the Value Chain
There was a time when India was learning from the West and was picking their expertise, knowledge, and talents to graduate from the low technical profile. But now the trend has changed as the West is smitten by the ideologies and talents of India. India is gradually moving up the value chain in all areas. Today, the country is proudly known for its calibre to produce technological marvels as well as the low-cost cars. India is even supplying its expertise and engineered car components to the international car market. A glance back to January 2008 reminds us of the day when Ratan Tata unveiled the world's cheapest car in the Delhi Auto Show. Though the car has not yet rolled out but it has created several lucrative opportunities for auto engineering and designing as majority of the vendors are based in India. A significant milestone in automobile engineering is marked by Tata reportedly filing 34 patents with regards to design innovations of the Nano. Going further back down the line about two decades ago, we could see only the Fiat Premier Padmini and the Ambassador with restricted number of component manufacturers in the country. The actual race that took India towards a brighter future began in 90s. It was a time when component manufacturers started jostling for space and signing partnership with leading global players. Counting on the present state of the global car market, big players like General Motors and Ford take their car components from India. Infact some of the foreign car manufacturers even outsource engineering and designing talents from the country. Some of the leading cars like the Hyundai i10, Tata Indica Vista, Mahindra Scorpio, Reva Maini, Maruti Suzuki A-Star, and the Hyundai i20 are also manufactured in India utilising country’s best expertise. Labels: Indian-car-industry
Maruti in Search for India's Best Young Driver
Maruti Suzuki is in search for India's best young driver in association with Autocar. To complete the search Maruti Suzuki and Autocar is holding a contest. The winner of the contest will have the opportunity to rejoice the victory with an award of 'Maruti Suzuki – Autocar Young Driver 2009', a free ownership of Maruti Suzuki A-Star, and will also be appoint as an ambassador for promoting safe driving in India. This competition will test a contestant’s knowledge of traffic rules, awareness on road safety, and the driving skill. Any individual between the age group of 18 – 30 years with a valid Indian driving license are eligible for participation. But those who have the learner's license are not eligible. For selection of the final winner, the contest will undergo three phases. In the first phase, participants have to register themselves online and give an online theory test and those who get the top scores will be selected for the second phase. In the second phase all the selected contestants have to give a simulator test at one of the eleven Maruti Driving Schools situated in Mumbai, Delhi (Gurgaon), Delhi (Faridabad), Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Jamshedpur, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Cochin. Top 33 finalists will be selected on the basis of simulator test and then in the third phase the selected 33 finalists will be taken to Delhi for the Grand Finale of the event on 28 February 2009. If you enjoy an adventurous and thrilling ride and willing to participate in the contest then click here. Labels: A-star, Maruti-Suzuki
BMW X3 Glowing on German Roads
The BMW X3 rides high on a wave of style and luxury with its elegant design, superior agility, and exemplary efficiency. The car is doing very well in the German market which is clearly reflected by its achievements in the country. The BMW X3 has been declared as the most reliable vehicle on German roads for the second consecutive year based on German breakdown statistics on over 2 million cases, and customer satisfaction study on the assessment conducted on 43,000 participants. The car has been also crowned by German Automobile Association in “Quality” category. Not only this, the car has even experienced a sales jump of up to 9 per cent in 2008. Though the car have impressive features like ornamental twin-kidney grille, sophisticated bumper, sleek headlights, and a high-end roomy interior, it fails to lure Indian buyers. The BMW X3 is not able to win over other cars in its segment perhaps due to absence of diesel version and may be also because of the high cost. The reason may be anything but the fact remains that Indian roads are don't witness such huge numbers of X3 like the German terrain. Labels: BMW-X3, Car-Sales
Thursday, 29 January 2009
The Jaypee Vintage and Classic Rally
Vintage cars carrying the legacy of cars manufactured during the vintage era are adored by most of the car enthusiasts. Car fanatics desperately wait for the opportunity to take a glimpse of these rare cars. Therefore, car rally events showcasing vintage cars are known to attract large crowd and hold a great significance. Many car rally events are frequently organised in India that not only offer an eye feast for car lovers but also a platform where they can buy unique and classic cars. A vintage car rally recently held in Delhi reflects the zeal and curiosity of masses to get familiar and own these cars. The vintage car rally was organised by the Heritage Motoring Club in association with the Jaypee Group on 25th Jan. under the banner 'The Jaypee Vintage and Classic Rally'. The event witnessed the presence of 250 car enthusiasts who bagged the chance to travel in 68 vintage cars and 46 two-wheelers. Classic cars that glittered the event are Jaguar, Graham-Paige, Rileys, Oldsmobiles, Plymouths, Austin of England, Morris Minor, Fiat, Buicks, Studybakers, Mustangs, Cadillacs, Fords, Chevrolets, Beetles, and Mercedes Benz. Celebrities like Bishen Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, and Charu Sachdev who either came as a chief guest or simply to experience the event also added charm to the show. Overall, this event was an ultimate destination for car enthusiasts, car collectors, and spectators who were seeking for an opportunity to get close to the vintage era. Labels: Car-Rally, Classic-Cars, Vintage-Cars
Chevrolet Mini to Arrive Soon
GM’s Chevrolet brand has rejoiced its victorious presence in the Indian car market. Seeing the winning success of its leading car models like the Aveo U-VA and the Spark, the company now plans to add an new car model in the portfolio of Chevrolet brand. Both the Aveo U-VA and the Spark have embarked a success story for the brand receiving accolades and appreciations from consumers as well as experts. These cars have been tagged with the tile of best quality cars in their respective segments by J.D Power Asia. The car manufacturer is thinking over the new car launch to dominate the small car segment of the Indian car market. The Mini is designed on the platform of Chevrolet Beat that demonstrates the flexibility, creativity, and innovativeness. Like Chevrolet Beat, the Mini will also display an eye-catching design that is sure to evoke a temptation to own the car. Speculated to be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine or a 1.4-litre diesel engine, the new Chevy will be pitted against the Hyundai i20 and the Skoda Fabia. Labels: Chevrolet-Cars, Indian-car-market, New-Car-Launch
Honda Civic Hybrid Stars in a Hollywood Flick
Honda Civic Hybrid is not only spreading glamour on roads but also in the film industry. This seductive green car has taken a starring role alongside Keanu Reaves and Jennifer Connelly in the latest Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’. Earlier Mustangs, Camaros, and Ferraris were mostly seen starring in Hollywood movies but now the new eco-friendly car has taken their place. The futuristic movie ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ is a science fiction and the use of the latest green Honda Civic Hybrid completely compliments the theme of the movie. Six Honda Civic Hybrid are utilized in the movie which was shot in Vancouver, Canada. The filmmaker chosed the Honda Civic Hybrid with a thought that it will convey the message of the movie to the audience as it is a fuel efficient and eco-friendly car. The car has perfectly performed its job adding style element with its distinct screen presence. The movie in turn has helped the newly launched car to get fame across the globe. Labels: Eco-Friendly-Car, Honda-Civic-Hybrid
New Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss
At the time when Mercedes-Benz and McLaren were nearing the end of the SLR exotic car range, Mercedes announced a final-run edition dedicated to the legendary British racer Sir Sterling Moss. And excitingly it is the second devoted to Moss, the first being the Stirling Moss 722. Stirling Moss is considered to be the most unfortunate driver of the Formula One race. This is because he never won any championship but is arguably the greatest all-round racing driver of all time. Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are now delightfully adding a new car named as SLR Stirling Moss to the SLR supercar range. The new car has no similarity in style and look with the SLR range. Unlike them, the new SLR has no roof or windscreen protecting the occupants and also carries two deflectors that provide some sort of protection to the car passengers. It is developed using sophisticated technology and designed with a legendary style. The SLR Stirling Moss is powered by a powerful V8 supercharged engine that generates 650 bhp. The top speed reaches 350 km/h and makes it one of the world's fastest open top cars. Production is limited to 75 cars and is scheduled to end by mid 2009. Labels: Formula-One-Race, Mercedes-Benz
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
New Innova on Indian Roads
The new version of the leading MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) Toyota Innova has finally arrived in the Indian car market. Innova rejoices a successful presence in the country due to the best-in-class ride quality and luxury coupled with versatile space, world class safety, advanced styling with solid durability. The name ‘Innova’ itself symbolises innovation and this represents that the car is continuously being innovated to provide all that a buyer aspires. The new Innova comes with redesigned exterior and slight modifications in the interior. Unmatched expertise and experience is wisely combined to build the new Innova. A glimpse of the new car will acquaint you with a new bonnet that slopes to ensure better visibility, easy parking, and even contributes to driving safety. Highlighting the external appeal is the new taillight, impressive 3-dimensional grille, and front fog lamps. Interior gets an automatic air-conditioner and multi-information display. The new Innova is available in new vibrant colours complimenting the visual appeal of the car. Labels: Indian- Car-Market, New-Car-Launch, Toyota-Innova
Audi Plans to roll out 1000 units of A4 and A6
Despite the existing recessionary affect in the car industry, Audi India being optimistic has decided to assemble 1,000 units of the A4 and the A6 in 2009. These cars would be assembled at the Aurangabad plant of Audi. Though the car industry is mourning over the pain of drowning car sales caused by economic slowdown, it is said that the luxury car segment was least hit compared to the other segments. Inspiringly, car manufacturers did not lose their spirit and continue to go ahead with their proposed plans. Audi remains stiff with its expansion plans for India and still aims high to spread its network in the country. The energy to drive out 1000 units of A4 and A6 in the uncertain market condition is fuelled by Audi’s excellent threefold growth in car sales in 2008. This is an appreciated result as Audi succeeded in achieving a decent sales volume amid downturn compared to other car brands. Looks like it is the time for Merc and BMW to tighten up their strategies! Labels: Audi-Cars, Car-Sales, Indian-car-industry
'Audi Top Assist' Programme
Here’s a reason for all Audi car owners to cheer as Audi has introduced an exclusive roadside assistance programme in India. As this kind of service ensures a sense of relief and satisfaction to car owners while driving their cars anywhere, car manufactures are gradually introducing this type of programme to hold existing customers as well as to attract new car buyers. With the introduction of road side assistance programme, car drivers can enjoy a safe, relaxed, and hassle-free drive with a thought that their car will get serviced anywhere and anytime in case of an emergency breakdown. Last year, similar programme was launched by the Ford India to provide its customers a tension-free driving. Few days back, Porsche has also announced the inauguration of a roadside assistance programme in India named as ‘Porsche Assistance’ which is known as world's best designed roadside assistance programme. Porsche Assistance helps car owner in case of any breakdown in the middle of the road or experience a starting problem at home. It also provides additional services like organizing onward travel management, provide replacement car, and even arrange hotel accommodation for the owner if required. Even the newly introduced roadside help programme by Audi will provide emergency road side services across 95% of the main routes in India for an uninterrupted journey. The service is associated with a team of expert professionals to provide world class service to all Audi customers almost anywhere across the country. All Audi car owners can avail this service 24*7, 365 days a year for two years starting from the date of car purchase completely free of cost. Two toll-free numbers will be provided by the company for customers to contact the service centre in case of emergency. Synonymous to the Porsche Assistance, Audi Top Assist programme will also provide special facilities like hotel accommodation in case of immobilization, dispatch of motorcycle riders at instant, safe towing or storage, safe transportation of luggage, on-site repairs, delivery of fuel, delivery of spare keys, and also transmission of urgent messages to family and friends. So, if you own an Audi car, you can now enjoy an uninterrupted journey free of cost and obstacles. Labels: Audi-Car, Roadside-Assistance-Programme
Pay More for Your Favourite Maruti Cars
Maruti cars will be now heavy on pockets as the company has hiked prices of all its high-end cars including the Swift, SX4, and the Swift Dzire. The beginning of the year 2009 is witnessing car price jump across many car models. Car manufacturers like General Motors, Honda Seil India and Mercedes-Benz have already announced to increase their car prices. The increase in car prices is basically in response to the pressures of high input cost and fluctuating currency exchanges. Many might have a question waving in their minds as to how fluctuating currency exchanges affect car prices. Simply because many car components are directly imported and any fluctuation in the dollar value in turn impact the car prices. The price of recently launched A-Star hatchback has been increased by Rs 10,000 while prices of all SX4 variants have been hiked by Rs 9,000. The new prices of the Swift Dzire for both petrol and diesel variants is now raised by Rs 7,000 and the base version of Swift petrol will be available with an additional cost of Rs 5,000. If you are planning to buy higher variants of diesel counterpart of the leading hatchback Swift, then you have to pay an additional amount of Rs 6,000. But if you have plans to buy the Maruti 800, Omni, Alto, WagonR, Zen Estilo, Gypsy, Versa or the Grand Vitara, then you can relax as the company has not changed the prices of these car models. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Car-prices, Maruti-Suzuki
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
San Motors Storms the Indian Car Industry
At the time when only a few conventional car models were available in India, no car manufacturer thought of bringing a convertible to the Indian car market. Indian car industry during that time only comprised of cost effective car models. When globalization happened in the country, it witnessed a plethora of car models covering all shapes, sizes, designs, and price range. But the convertible segment was completely ignored which was though prevalent in the overseas market. Interestingly, during the early 90s, Mumbai based car manufacturer San Motors Ltd. ventured into this segment. The company launched the model San Storm with all the qualities that give a sense of ownership pride. This convertible model comes with dynamic style, unmatched comfort, and good performance. It was designed by the world famous Le Mans Design Group which is known to sculpture the French supercar Venturi and a number of cars for many renowned car manufacturers like the Peugeot and the Renault. With affordable price tag the car suits well in the price conscious Indian car market. The standard version of the car comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels, central locking, and leather seating. The 1149cc engine generates a maximum power of 58.5 bhp. The company exports Storm to countries like Nepal, Cyprus, Malta, Bermuda, and UK. Its Bangalore plant is also an auto component supplier to many automobile companies in India and abroad. Currently, they are in the process of designing their next model that is a Sport Re-Creationary Vehicle (SRV) expected to arrive within a year’s time. Labels: Convertibles, Indian-car-industry, San-Motors
Chevrolet Captiva Goes Automatic
Chevrolet Captiva is a leading SUV in the Indian car market with a perfect combination of aesthetic integrity and amazing performance. It is proudly known as the cocoon of comfort with finest quality leather upholstery, driver friendly LCD screen, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and detailed storage options accentuating the interior appeal of the car. Even the 2.0-litre engine technology has greatly contributed to the success of the car. Adding value to the already competent and leading SUV, comes the Automatic Captiva. The automatic transmission in the new Chevrolet that features a five-speed gearshift associated with the existing 2.0-litre diesel engine. Also, an adaptive AWD (All Wheel Drive) is mated to the new transmission system for better drivability and handling. The AWD features torque sensing electrically controlled couplings that are used for automatically re-directing the engine torque to individual axles with respect to the driving conditions. The new Automatic Captiva will rival leading SUVs like the Honda CR-V, Ford Endeavour and the Mitsubishi Outlander on Indian roads. Labels: Chevrolet-Captiva, Indian-car-market, SUV
New BMW 3-Series Rolls Out With Elegance
The new BMW 3-Series has made its entry in India with striking new design and engineering excellence. Set to create a new benchmark in performance and style, the car boasts of responsive engine, redefined physical contours, luxurious interiors, and commanding BMW innovations. The new features promises to deliver better power, agility, and performance. Available in an assortment of dynamic colour range, the new 3-Series is broader, sleeker, and sportier with redesigned double headlights, sportier kidney grille, flowing shoulder lines, and elegant profile. With world class technologies and exterior adornments, the exterior epitomizes a true sport sedan. The underlying excellence of the car can further be felt in the interior which is innovatively crafted comprising elegant Dakota leather upholstery. Adding to the dynamic character of the car's interior are the attractive features that include electrically adjustable seats, new HiFi loudspeaker system, huge storage compartments, expressive surfaces, innovative lighting technology, sports leather steering wheel with multifunction controls, advanced CD player with aux-in and USB port, and snap-in adapter for mobile connection. The new BMW 3-Series is available in two petrol variants - 320i and 325i, and with two diesel variants - 320d and 320d Highline. Both petrol and diesel variants are powered by refined engine technologies to deliver unparalleled dynamism, performance, and efficiency. Even the safety features are designed with state-of-art technology to ensure high level of safety. Some of the advanced features include dynamic stability control, cornering brake control, intelligent airbags, and Runflat tyres. Introduced with highest standards of quality, safety, comfort, and perfection, the new BMW 3-Series is sure to compel discerning Indian car buyers to possess this luxury on wheels. Labels: BMW-3-Series, New-Car-Launch, Sedan
Winning Honda Car Models
It is the celebration time for Honda Siel India as its car models have swept away many awards from other car brands for being the best in different categories. Surprisingly, Honda cars bagged four awards in a single award ceremony, the UTVi Autocar 2009, held at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai. Honda Accord grabbed an award for ‘Best Luxury Car 2009’ whereas the popular model Honda City received two awards- one for ‘Best Design and Styling’ and the other for ‘Viewers Choice Award’. Following these was the India’s first hybrid car Honda Civic Hybrid that was honoured with a Green Award 2009 in the same occasion. Not only was these, Honda’s flag held high in the Business Standard Motoring award with Honda City being crowned as Car of the Year '09. The same car also clinched ‘Viewers Choice Car of the Year’ - CNBC TV-18 Overdrive Awards. These accolades have added more jewels to the Honda’s crown. This celebration will also boost up the energy meter of Honda which was little down due to the present global crisis. Labels: Honda-Cars, Hybrid-Car
Friday, 23 January 2009
Bentley V8 Engine Completes 50 years
Five decades of Bentley’s V8 Engine lifespan in the Indian car industry delivering outstanding performance is worth praising. It recently turns 50 complimenting the proverb ‘old is gold’. Since when it was first introduced in the model 1959 Bentley S2 Continental, it has witnessed many generations and keeps getting better with the passage of time. With continuous development and modifications, it’s still used in Bentley models like the Arnage, Azure, and the Brooklands. The V8 carries an amazing engineering story over the generations and sets an example of how an original engine has survived and evolved under the right care. It has accomplished increased power and torque of over 150 per cent through the skilful introduction of fuel injection, turbocharging and intercooling in compliance with the emission norms. 50 years of presence of a car engine is really remarkable but will it be able to continue the history with stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations is an answered question. May be the new engine that Arnage is expected to get could answer this! Labels: Bentley-V8-Engine, Fuel-Economy
Mercedes Cars will be Heavy on Pockets
The Indian car market is still struggling with credit crunch and is far away from making a complete comeback to revival. In this time of financial meltdown, it has become difficult for car manufacturers to sustain in the uncertain market condition. They are increasing prices across their respective car models to survive in the recession infected car market. Leading players like Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, General Motors, and Honda have already announced a hike in their car prices nullifying the discounts offered earlier in response to the excise benefits. For a long time car manufacturers have absorbed significant level of cost escalation. But now, none of them are able to intake them depreciating their own profit margins. Even Mercedes-Benz is not able to face the challenge posed to the company's margins and decided to raise prices of its entire car models available in the Indian market. The decision to increase car prices is purely against an unavoidable pressure from the combined effect of global recession, fluctuating input prices, and adverse exchange rates. Till now, the rate of hike has not been decided by the company but it’s confirmed that the increased prices will be effective from mid-February. Labels: Car-prices, Indian-car-market, Mercedes-Cars
BMW Cars with Wireless Communication System
Till date we have witnessed the advent of various new car technologies in the Indian car market. Now it’s time to welcome world's first networking system between your car and the service centre. Performance Motors Ltd., an authorized BMW distributor, has introduces its innovative technology called BMW TeleServices in the car market. Interestingly, this technology utilizes wireless communication between a BMW car and the BMW service centre. There is a continuous transmission of service-related information between the two. Almost 70 control units in the car monitor all crucial elements and ensure proper and smooth running of the car. If in case, the control unit detects any fault, a toll free call to the service centre is automatically initiated without any intervention of the driver. Further for the convenience of car owners and to reduce servicing time, customer care executives from the BMW service centre call car owners to fix service appointment and discuss about all the repairs required. Whether it’s an accident, an emergency breakdown, or a fixed appointment, you don’t need to remember the service appointments or worry about inconvenience at the roadside in case of a breakdown because with the new BMW TeleServices, your car will automatically do these jobs. All BMW lovers can have the opportunity to use this interesting innovation in the recently launched all-new BMW 7-Series. Labels: BMW-Cars, Indian-car-market
Audi A4 Celebrates its Success in Germany
Audi is rejoicing victory everywhere with its stunning car models. Audi’s popular model ‘A4’ has become one of the most successful premium cars in its home ground, Germany. It is found that 98,714 Audi A4 was registered in 2008 which is the highest number in the premium segment. Audi’s flagship model A6 which is tagged as 'the most successful business sedan' in Germany is in the second position with 45,304 registrations topping its segment. While the second generation Audi TT was registered 10,630 times thereby getting the title of Germany’s most successful sports car. The company has a very strong market in Germany and it has also laid a good market presence in Western Europe. Being a leader of premium car brand in Germany, it’s experiencing stronger growth than ever and the credit for this goes to its technologically advanced and dynamic new car models. Excitingly, in India too Audi has proved it superiority by winning five awards from country’s esteemed media houses like Business standard, CNBC Overdrive, UTVi Autocar, and Auto India. All these accolades will add charm to a perfect birthday celebration for Audi on July 16, 2009 when it will herald a glorious presence of 100 years in the car industry. Labels: Audi-Cars, Car-Industry
Thursday, 22 January 2009
A Testimony to Audi's Excellence and Quality
Audi has become the most awarded luxury car brand in India by bagging five awards in the annual honours bestowed on outstanding automobiles by the discerning auto media in India. Surprisingly, Audi left behind other global players by receiving five awards in different categories. It was honoured by renowned media houses like - Business Standard Motoring and Zig Wheels for “Premium Car of the Year”; CNBC Overdrive for “Performance Car of the Year”; UTVi Autocar Award for “Best Driver’s Car”; Auto India Best Brand award for “The Best Brand for Advanced Technology”. Audi has always fulfils its promises and commitment to create masterpieces with flawless designs and technological excellence. All its cars have been appreciated by car buyers as well as auto experts in the Indian car market. The company has proved its excellence and edge over leading luxury car manufacturers in the Indian car market with these awards and it still promises to continue delivering new cars with world-class technology and high performance. Labels: Audi-Cars, Luxury-Car
Tata Motors Enters Used Car Biz
The Indian used car market is in an exponentially growing stage and the credit for this goes to the increasing car prices. Following the footprints of Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Ford, and General Motors, Tata Motors also enters the used car business. Tata feels that the used car market is in developing stage dominated by an unorganized sector and thus introduces 'Tata Motors Assured' certified pre-owned car programme that will offer reliable and quality pre-owned cars. The new certified programme is commenced with a desire to provide one-stop solution to all its valued customers who are willing to exchange their cars for new Tata cars. All the used cars will then undergo stringent inspection by skilled and highly trained engineers to ensure quality and reliability of the cars. They will be available with one year/20000 km extended warranty along with three free services and will have less than 5 years old, non accidental and with not more than two owners history. But at present, Tata's pre-owned car programme is introduced on a pilot basis in 10 major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Vapi. It will subsequently spread across the country in a phased manner. Labels: Car-prices, Tata-Motors, Used-Car
New Brand Ambassador for Ford Endeavour
In today’s world of glamour and show, top companies invest colossal amount to hire well-know face for promotional activities. In India, most of the business houses appoint popular Bollywood actors and cricketers as their brand ambassadors for advertising. The trend of celebrities endorsing products started in United States and this gradually made a move to India. Following the same custom, many car manufacturers today have appointed famous celebrities as their brand ambassadors. We have a live example of Hyundai's brand ambassador, Shahrukh Khan. If you go down the memory lane, you will recollect that the Hyundai Santro was not so successful in the market initially. After Shahrukh was brought into picture for promoting Hyundai's ‘Sunshine Car’, it suddenly took the sales speed in the market. Since then, there was no looking back for the car. Now it is considered as one of the best compact cars in India. It won’t be wise to say that it only became successful on the words of its ambassador but then this definitely adds a reason to ponder. Moving in line with Hyundai, Ford also introduces a new brand ambassador for its leading SUV, the Ford Endeavour. A SUV that symbolizes style, power, success, and performance need to have an ambassador who embodies these key attributes. All these special Endeavour characteristics were found in a proud customer and renowned Indian celebrity Sunil Shetty. With Sunil Shetty as a new role model for the car, the company expects still higher sales with a key desire to beat recession and win over other SUVs on Indian roads. Labels: Ford-Endeavour, Hyundai-Santro, SUV
Hyundai Eyes New Sonata to Beat Downturn
All car manufacturers today are making efforts to overpower the cutthroat Indian car industry. Some are making new car launches while others are introducing new strategies to revive their business. Even Hyundai follows the same trend. Hyundai had experienced good car sales in 2008 with a cumulative growth of 49.6% over 2007 and now it is eyeing on 2009 to bring more profit. The success in 2008 is entirely credited to ‘i10’ which swept away a huge number of small car buyers from other car manufactures. Car models like the Getz and Santro also contributed largely to the sales figure. Hyundai being a smart player is always ahead in offering innovative schemes and discounts and introducing upgraded products. These business strategies are always fruitful in delighting customers. The company has again utilized this policy by bringing the all-new Sonata, named as ‘Sonata Transform’. The new car carries all the key attributes of a premium sedan from top notch comfort to advanced safety features. Hyundai aspires that this new car will bring an excitement in the Indian car market with its inspiring style, premium features, and performance. The 2.4-litre petrol engine and the 2.0-litre diesel engine add more worth to the new Sonata by delivering improved performance and fuel efficiency. With such an inspiring style and a bunch of versatile technologies, the new Sonata may prove to be a commendable launch by Hyundai. But only time will tell if the new Sonata Transform will take the market by storm. Labels: Hyundai-cars, New-Car-Launch, Sonata-Transform
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Discover the New BMW 7 Series
The sparkling new BMW 7 Series has made a grand entry to the Indian car market with inspiring style, electrifying driving dynamics, and pioneering innovations. Mr. Peter Kronschnabl, President of BMW India, unveiled the new car at the BMW Car Studio at Janpath in Delhi. With the new generation 7 Series, BMW proudly sets new benchmarks in automotive style, driving experience, and the art of engineering. The 7 Series is available in three variants - 730Ld, 740Li and the 750Li – all with a visual appeal that is highlighted by dynamic proportions, stretched side views, sculpted surfaces, and a low-slung signature BMW twin-kidney grille. The same elegance, style, and aesthetic appeal continue in the car’s interior. 
Peep into the interior and you'll feel the freshness of novel and pioneering innovations. The interior spells some really classy technologies such as Dynamic Damper Control, Integral Active Steering, Heads-Up Display, Black Panel technology, and a state-of-art entertainment system. The damper control enables the dampers to adjust automatically to suit varied driving and road conditions. Active steering improves agility by controlling the steering angle of both the front and rear of the car. The new ‘Heads-Up’ display uses a thermal imaging camera to provide a video picture of all moving and stationary objects on the road. The black panel technology is again a new technology introduced for the first time and gives a high resolution colour display of all motoring information on the impressive instrument cluster. The 7 Series hosts several other impressive technologies that ensure unimaginable levels of comfort for the driver as well as the passengers. Though the 7 Series comes in three variants, only the 750Li is currently available. It comes with a hefty price tag of Rs 93,30,000 (ex-showroom price across India). The other two variants will be unveiled soon. Labels: BMW-Cars, New-BMW-7-Series, New-Car-Launch
Future of Nissan in India
Future of Nissan in India seems to be bright with a portfolio of new car ready to enter the Indian car market. Today, we have only two cars from the Nissan's stable in the country, the X-Trail and the Teana. But now the car manufacturer makes big plan for the country. Along with its global alliance partner the Renault, Nissan has signed a joint venture with Bajaj to introduce its ultra-low-cost car. Though the car is yet in the realm of imaginations, it will soon crack the Indian car market. In near future, Nissan also plans to introduce new versions of its X-Trail and Teana. The new X-Trail will hopefully be a CBU from Nissan's Kyushu plant. It will be built on the platform of Nissan Qashqai and will have a new four-cylinder, 2-litre turbo diesel common rail engine. It also plans a new Teana for India with similar dimensions and significant interior modifications. Even the design will be modified to contemporary European styling. The new Teana will be powered by an extremely popular 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Then in line, Nissan also has the Murano that is again in association with its alliance partner Renault. It will thankfully be introduced with new design, features, and technologies to suit the taste of Indian car buyers. It will be powered by an advanced VQ-series 3.5-litre, DOHC, V6 mated with Xtronic CVT and Adaptive Shift Control for smoother driving experience. Labels: Indian-car-industry, New-Car-Launch, Nissan-Cars
Spark LPG and Aveo CNG Coming Soon
Scarcity of fossil fuels has left the car industry in grief. At the time when the global recession is mocking at the troubling economy, the issue of fuel deficiency around the globe is alarming the car industry of future cyclone. The fuel prices are fluctuating now and then. No one knows when the economy will get stable and so are the fuel prices. Once it regains its normal stage, the prices would definitely go high with extra burden on pockets. As a solution to this, many car manufacturers are rolling out cars that run on fuel other than conventional petrol or diesel. Manufacturer’s concern over fuel depletion has given birth to many new technologies that support the use of alternative fuels. To overcome the future trouble, the auto industry has invented alternatives like the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), CNG (compressed natural gas), hybrid cars, electric cars, bio-fuel (ethanol, bio-diesel), hydrogen-and air-powered cars. Among these, CNG and LPG cars are getting attention due to their low running cost. Also, these cars rejoice Government’s interest as they are light on environment. Therefore to take advantage of these, car manufactures are fast developing and introducing these cars in the car market. Car manufacturers like the Maruti, Tata, and Hyundai have already released CNG and LPG version of their car models. Now, General Motors is all set to add the LPG version of Chevrolet Spark and the CNG version of Chevrolet Aveo in its car portfolio. Both these cars presently doing good business in the Indian market and the new variants will definitely increase their market share. General Motors is gradually expanding its network in the country inspite of its troubled position in the home town. With a view to capture more consumers, it has also intelligently ventured into the used car business which has a great potential in the price conscious Indian market. Labels: CNG-cars, General Motors, Hybrid-Cars
Nano in Small Numbers
The ultra-cheap car Tata Nano which has gained an overwhelming fame around the globe even before its launch will be rolled out in limited numbers. Tata’s ‘People Car’ and the dream project of Mr. Ratan Tata was first scheduled to launch in October 2008, but due the Singur issue, its launch date was postponed. This has also affected its production volume which initially targeted at 96,000 units for this year, but now the car market will be able to witness only 50,000 Nanos. The Nano is currently manufactured at Tata`s Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand which will produce only 80,000 units during 2009-10. So only 7, 000 cars would be manufactured by the end of March. Nothing is shocking about this as the Pantnagar plant was only a backup for the Nano production and the entire setup was at Singur which is now shifted to Sanand facility in Gujarat. It is believed that once the work at Sanand plant starts in full swing, initial projected numbers of 150,000 cars may turns into reality. But again if the existing slowdown continues, the project may see a downward revision. Labels: Indian- Car-Market, Tata-Nano, Ultra-cheap-Car
Green Cars from Mahindra
Signs of growing popularity of green cars in the car industry are slowly getting prominent.
And the only reason behind this is the rising mass concern on global warming. You would be shocked to know that vehicular pollution contributes about 70% to the total air pollution. Therefore, there is an immediate requirement of more environment friendly cars across the world. Earlier, car manufacturers and car owners were completely dependent on gasoline. But now, with the advent of new technologies, the dependency on conventional fuel has been reduced. No wonder why car manufacturers are heading towards the production of electric and hybrid cars. The Reva Maini and the Honda Civic Hybrid being the first electric car and hybrid car, respectively, in the country have gathered overwhelming response from Indian consumers. The success of these cars has inspired other car manufacturers to introduce green cars in the Indian car market. Presently, many car manufacturers are developing their future green cars. Mahindra after flavouring the success of Scorpio hybrid is now planning to gift more green cars to the Indian market. This time its green profile includes both electric and hybrid cars. The company has recently launched the scintillating Mahindra Xylo with the punch line ‘the era of sedans is over’. Truly, this MUV will give complex to sedans with its design and performance that are a blend of MUV and sedan. It seems Mahindra is in the process to overtake its rivals as it has also announced to launch 10 new car models in the coming time. Labels: Hybrid-Car, Indian-car-industry, Mahindra-and-Mahindra
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Santro Continues to Sprinkle Its Magic
Hyundai’s ‘Sunshine Car’ Santro which experienced slow sales for sometime is now slowly gearing up to capture the car market again. The car witnessed a slow ride after the launch of its own sibling ‘Hyundai i10’ which has grasped the market with its performance, style, and reliability. Though the car is outshined by Hyundai i10 for some duration, it received very good sales last year with overall sales number of 2.3 Lakh units. The company is also expecting same sales figure this year. Interestingly, in December when ‘i10’ was available with discount scheme, Santro too reported impressive sales. Hyundai car dealers revealed that though the ‘i10’ is more in demand due to its stylish look and superior Kappa engine, the Santro is also liked by many customers because of its spacious interior and better fuel efficiency. Santro occupied number one position for being most dependable and reliable compact car in the Vehicle Dependability Study conducted by J.D. Power Asia Pacific in 2008 which also reflects its prominence in the market. India’s family car Santro is also available in CNG and LPG versions which add a reason for its popularity among buyers. Sales figure of 7,500-8,000 units a month in 2008 against about 10,000 units of the i10 also supports the fact that Santro is still alive in the mind of car buyers’ despite the presence of modern and technologically advanced new cars. Labels: Hyundai-i10, Hyundai-Santro, New-Cars
New SUVs from BMW will Rock on Indian roads
BMW fans will have another reason to cheer this year as the luxury car manufacturer will roll out its stunning SUV X6 very soon to India. The bold and luxurious offroader will come with two engine options including a 3-litre diesel engine and a 5-litre petrol engine. The exact launch date for the car is not yet announced by the company which is expected to arrive as a completely built unit by February. BMW cars are an object of desire for many but only few can afford this expensive luxury. BMW’s X3 and X5 are already enjoying the Indian aura and a new member to the SUV family will add more stars to its fame in India. Following the X-series, the 7-series will also get a new addition called 750 li retailing at an expensive price tag of Rs 93.3 Lakh. With a view to stretch its product line in India, the company is also planning to launch another SUV by mid of 2009 which will be priced lower than X6. Meanwhile, BMW is working to expand its dealership network across the country to strengthen its position in the Indian car market. Labels: BMW-Cars, New-Car-Launch, SUV
A Fuel-Less and Battery-Less Car Engine
Fuel-less and battery-less auto engines are the actual requirements of the present time when the world is struggling with the issue of energy shortage. Practically, it’s difficult to believe or imagine of an engine which is neither powered by fuel nor a battery. But surprisingly, a fuel-less environment friendly auto engine has been developed by a couple who chose to do something new and unique. As the name suggests, no fuel is to be used in the engine. But is it the same as electric engines or air cars? No. The new engine is powered by the energy generated by a chemical reaction between zinc and oxygen that emits no harmful pollutants. This new engine also has better durability. Amazingly, a car powered by this eco-friendly engine can run up to 450,000 km. No one had ever thought that this simple reaction will be able to power an automobile. But, Kanishk and Lipika proved their mettle. The highly ambitious couple, Kanishk Sinha and his wife Lipika invented and patented the engine with BigPatents India, a body supported by the Ford Foundation. They established the company and registered in the US with the aid of Rs 100 Crore funded by non-resident Indians. After the establishment of their company, they both wore a green conscience and decided to bring the environment-friendly car engine to the global car market. With high degree of zeal, vivacity, and determination the couple has successfully launched a fuel-less environment-friendly engine that can be fitted in a variety of vehicles including cars. The fact that it can also be used in water pumps adds to their joy of accomplishment. Labels: Car-Market, Environment-Friendly-Engine
Eco-Friendly Cars Ruled the International Auto Expo
The Detroit Automobile Show is one of the largest and oldest Automobile Shows in the North America held every year in Detroit. It’s of major importance in U.S. as almost all renowned American car brands like the Chrysler, Ford and the General Motors make their grand presence in the show. Though this year the major car manufacturers like the Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Ferrari, Nissan and the Infiniti were not present in the show with their cars, but the expo was glittered by a number of electric and hybrid car. The reason behind this is none other than the fund crunch imposed by the recent economic slowdown which forced these big organisations to pullout from this event. In contrast, Tesla Motors which had initially no plans to attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit made the show exhilarating with the display of the Tesla Roadster. The Tesla Roadster is an electric car with unique in-car entertainment features. Fisker Automotive also thrilled the audience with the presentation of its electric hybrid luxury sedan by exhibiting the car in an exceptional way using rotating ramps to display the car, a coffee bar at the back, and a second floor for private conversations with buyers and investors. The company also displayed its new convertible model called Karma S. This car is powered by gas-electric drivetrain that generates 408 bhp. Additionally, brand like BYD (Build your Dreams) from China lived up the show by showcasing its BYD F6DM Dual Mode Ferrous Battery Hybrid. Moreover, a more fuel efficient hybrid version of the Prius was also enthusiastically displayed at the show by Toyota Motors. The Prius hybrid is expected to offer 21.2 km/l of mileage. Present model of the Prius already shines on U.S. roads and the new version will too mark a victory in the car market. Labels: Detroit-Automobile-Show, eco-friendly-cars, Electric-Cars
Monday, 19 January 2009
Scorpio on American Roads
After relishing the success of Mahindra Scorpio in India, Mahindra now plans to take its SUV overseas to the U.S. car market. In India, Scorpio is one of the highest selling sports utility vehicles. Since the car made its first launch, it has continuously been revamped and modified to meet the changing needs and demands of the Indian car buyers. The recently introduced micro-hybrid technology and the automatic version of the Scorpio have increased the value of the car in the market. The SUV is also in compliance to the U.S. emission and safety norms. With such a compatibility and high demand in the market, the company is sure that it will do wonders in the international market as well. American roads are already filled with a number of commercial vehicles from Mahindra. But now the company desires to roll out Scorpio on the same roads. It’s just awaiting a green signal from the homologation department in U.S. And if Mahindra gets a positive response, then it would be the first car manufacturer to roll out a passenger car in world's largest auto market. Labels: Mahindra-and-Mahindra, Mahindra-Scorpio, SUV
India’s Only Female Car Photographer
The idiom 'Fast and Furious' generally doesn’t suit a girl but it does for Shraddha Kadakia, a 25-year-old photographer, who has chosen this audacious career. In today’s world, women are not left behind in any field. They are as best as men in any career and this young photographer confirms this fact. Automobiles are always linked with men. Many assumed and still are under the wrong impression that women know nothing about cars and they cannot be passionate about it. But Shraddha Kadakia proves them all wrong with her love for car photography. This young girl loves to capture the beauties on wheels at exclusive locations like car stunts, latest launches, and auto shows. Her photo catalogue possesses coveted assignments of renowned brands in the automobile industry like the Skoda, Maruti, Bajaj, the Apollo and many more. In one of her interview, she expressed that automobile photograph is a complete new segment for women and it is also important to feel comfortable in dealing with heavy metal, heat, heavy lights and long hours of shooting sessions. It is not a glossy world and one need to be physically strong to pursue such a career. Labels: Auto-Shows, Automobile-Industry, Car-Photography
Fiat to Manufacture Low-Cost Car
Low-cost car are the latest hum in the Indian car market amid rising air pollution, traffic congestion, and fuel prices. Mobility has been redefined by Indian populace from the fuel guzzling SUVs to fuel efficient small cars. Small cars being economical and safe meet all the needs and demands of car buyers. Seeing the wind of change in the market, many car manufacturers are walking along with the new trend carrying the conscience of small concept. Following the suit, Fiat has also announced its plan to introduce a global low-cost car by 2010 and for this project India would be one of the key hubs for providing car components to the company. The brand will tap the experience of its Indian partner, Tata Motors, to get a clear picture of the kind of effort it needs to put in for establishing this venture. Tata Motors being the manufacturer of world’s cheapest car may help Fiat for implementation of this plan. It is believed that the low-cost car will be rolled out of the Tata-Fiat's Ranjangaon plant near Pune with all localized auto components. After the launch of its scintillating mid-sized car the Linea, Fiat has made a perfect decision by planning a low-cost car in the cost cognisant and green era. This new car will further help the company to get a better hold of the Indian car market. Labels: Fiat-India, Indian-car-market, Small-Cars
Mahindra Aspires to Launch 10 New Cars
Car manufactures are not restricting themselves from introducing new cars in the car market despite of being badly affected by the slowdown. They are rather banking upon new car launches to propel their car sales figure towards positive scale. Around 50 new car models are likely to hit the market in 2009. Many car manufactures believes that new cars with upgraded features and fresh look will help to infuse the zeal among car buyers to own these cars. With this view in mind, car manufactures are planning to launch more new cars in the market. Experts also think that new cars launches will aid to smoke away the prevailing depression in the industry triggered by global recession. Recently, the new models like the Fiat Linea, Mahindra Xylo and the all-new Sonata Transform had made their grand entry in the car market. Now Mahindra is ready with its plans to roll out a portfolio of 10 new car models in the Indian car market. The count not only includes passenger cars but also commercial vehicles and low tonnage vehicles (LTV). All the cars are to be built on a specified platform designed on the basis of size, strength, and body construction. The company has also revealed its interest to launch a new SUV by 2010. Following this would be three to four car models designed and manufactured on the same platform. A couple of models are expected to be designed on that Xylo platform as well. Hope these proposed new cars be able to ignite a spark of revolution with their modern designs and features fulfilling the high-end need of the changing generation. Labels: Indian-car-market, Mahindra-and-Mahindra, New-Car-Launch
Friday, 16 January 2009
Winning Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen has proved its brand position in the Indian car market with the flagship model Jetta, a car that is admired for its excellent quality, drivability, and performance. This high-end beauty on wheels has been recently honoured with the title of 'Executive Car of the Year 2009' by the Indian automotive magazine, Autocar India. Autocar's awards are widely accepted and considered as a benchmark for excellence in India. People related to automobile industry including consumers, car manufacturers, and auto experts recognize Autocar awards as the most trusted word on automobiles. The Jetta has experienced a successful presence in the country winning hearts of Indian car buyers. You would be amazed to know that since the inception of Jetta in India in July 2008, the company has successfully sold 1,000 Jettas. This high number within a few months and at a time when the Indian car market was severely hit by recession is mind blowing. There were sixteen cars and eight bikes that were nominated for the award. But the award was bestowed on the Jetta. And there is nothing strange in it. This great car having global standards with respect to all automotive aspects suitably deserves this respected award. Labels: Car-Manufacturer, Indian-car-market, Volkswagen-Jetta
Take a Glimpse of Exhilarating New Cars and Technologies
Indulge yourself in the exhilarating aura of 'Mumbai International Motor Show (MIMS) 2009' organized by the Times of India that showcases latest car brands and technologies. The inaugural day of the event was marked by the most striking car of the Indian future, the Volkswagen Beetle. The name is no stranger to anyone, it's a true iconic car that exudes style, elegance, luxury, and performance. Excitingly, this is the first public display of the elite Beetle. The significant presence of Volkswagen marque brand, the Beetle, at MIMS is attributed to the fact that the show offers a strong and independent platform that would probably rise the potential market of the car after its launch, hopefully in the next 15 months. The company also has a great belief that this would help them strengthen their presence in the Indian car market mainly in the western part of the country. The inaugural day is over but yet there are many new cars, bikes, and futuristic technologies to be displayed during the remaining three days of the show. The second day of the event is believed to witness the most scintillating new car launches of 2009. Don't get deep into your thoughts, its the latest Fiat Linea and the Mahindra Xylo, this cars that have recently made their debut in India. Adding to your surprise and excitement, the event will feature a number of cars and two-wheelers that have been a vital part of the popular Bollywood movies. And sports enthusiasts can feast their eyes with the beauty of displayed Formula One Cars. MIMS is a great platform for car and bike enthusiast who desire to have a rendezvous with exciting cars, bikes, and technologies. The show started on 15th Jan 09 at MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai and will end on 18th Jan 09. Labels: Auto-Show, Indian-car-market, New-Cars
The All New Sonata Transform is Unveiled
The severely affected car industry from the cruel recession is now trying to revive with an aid of new car launches. Beginning for the year 2009 is tasting the flavour of new car models like the Mahindra Xylo the Fiat Linea. The all-new Sonata Transform is also unveiled by Hyundai to keep its sales volume stable which saw a good growth in the fiscal year 2008 compared to other car manufacturers. The new Sonata Transform is incredibly a complete transformation of the old Sonata. Sculptured with distinctive style and designed, this car is an epitome of style, power packed performance and elegance. Redefining the concept of luxury sedans in the country, Hyundai has successfully integrated significant characteristics of a premium sedan beneath the flowing profile of the new Sonata. The car exterior is complimented with elegant enhancements like slimmer body side moldings, chrome radiator grille, fog lamps, wider front bumper and air dam, larger headlamp clusters, and the newly designed 5 spoke 16 inch alloy wheels. When steeping into the new Sonata, you will find a world of car innovations. Ranging from high-end safety features to luxurious and convenient car features, Sonata has all under one roof. Some of the most striking features in the sophisticated ambience are the smart key that incorporates keyless ignition and remote door opening, steering remote control for audio, dual tone finish, subtle touches of chrome, car audio player with USB and auxiliary port, and fine quality leather wrapped on steering wheel and gear knob. Hyundai is known to have a constant quest for advancements in terms of engine technologies. And this time also the company has not compromised in engine efficiency and safety. This is clearly reflected by the use of advanced 2.4L Theta II petrol engine and the 2.0L CRDi engine. Both these engines surpass its predecessor in terms of efficiency, performance, and perfection. Talking about safety, Hyundai assures you a safe and comfortable ride with the Sonata Transform comprising a host of car safety features like anti-lock brakes with EBD, airbags, car seat-belt with pre-tensioner, crumple zone, and side impact beams. Perfectly priced within the range Rs 14 Lakh to Rs 16 Lakh, the car is available in three variants with colour options of crystal while, black diamond, ice blue, silky beige, and space silver. With high degree of dynamism, technical precision and sterling performance, the all new Sonata Transform is sure to set a new standard in the D segment. Labels: Hyundai-Motors, New-Car-Launch, Sonata
New Chevy Spark Soon to Glint the Car Market
The popular 'winking' car Chevrolet Spark from the house of General Motors will get its facelifted version soon. The modified cute little car recently showcased at North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will be launched in the international market in March 2009, whereas it will see the Indian day light by 2011. However, the existing Spark will not be replaced and will continue to bewitch masses with its magic of style and performance. Currently under development in a GM plant in Europe, the car will be manufactured in Korea. Chevrolet has driven a successful ride with its Spark in the Indian car market. The car has won buyers hearts with its smart design, luxurious features, and flawless performance which is revealed by its top rank in the list of J.D. Power Asia rating for 'Quality Cars'. The new Spark is expected to carry a new name and will fall under the class of premium hatchback. When released, the car will spark a nightmare for hatchbacks like the Hyundai i20, Tata Indica Vista, Maruti Swift, and Skoda Fabia. Besides fresh exterior and interior design, the car will also come with improved fuel efficiency. With the launch of this car, the company will fulfil its commitment of providing fuel efficient cars to consumers while confirming its leadership in the segment. Labels: Chevrolet-Spark, General-Motors, New-Car-Launch
Thursday, 15 January 2009
In-Flight Technology for Luxury Cars
In-flight technologies are gradually taking their position in the car market in line with plenty of innovations and advancements. For the first time in the history of Indian car industry, a joint venture between DSK Digital Technologies and Taiwan-Based Funtoro have introduced a in-flight entertainment technology for luxury cars. Funtoro is tagged as a leading designer and manufacturer of impressive and functional in-car entertainment systems and car telematics. Just take a flash back and remember some of your most entertaining air journey. Aircrafts provide high-end entertainment system so that passengers can enjoy a comfortable and luxurious journey. Now, the same enjoyment and excitement can be felt in luxury cars with the new technologies designed by the joint venture. With this technology, you will be able to enjoy unlimited movies, slide shows, games, music and much more inside the cosy cabin of your luxury car. Adding a new dimension to in-car electronics, this innovative technology will soon take a flight above all other entertainment systems. Labels: Car-Market, Indian-car-industry, luxury cars
Fiat Linea Comes to India
Finally, the car we all eagerly waited for has arrived with curiosity, excitement, magnificence, and grace. The Linea is no stranger to the global car market. But in India the car is a new and a significant addition to the Fiat's portfolio that will endeavour to rewrite the laws of sedans. It was first launched in Turkey in 2007 and had received an overwhelming response. With the same degree of exhilaration, passion, and fortitude, Fiat brings Linea to India. The Linea is meticulously designed to create a masterpiece of undaunted beauty and technological excellence. The flawless design and impeccable lines accentuated with gorgeous headlamps, impressive front grille, and curvaceous rear gives the Linea an admirable, appreciable, and dynamic look. When you get behind the wheels, the air within will stuck your heartbeat. Aesthetically designed interiors supplemented with revolutionary car technologies and futuristic safety features offer a striking mélange where style meets performance and function. There is no compromise in terms of performance. The heart of the car makes a perfect power statement with highly efficient and powerful engine options. Linea is available in both petrol and diesel versions. The petrol version is powered by a 1.4-litre revolutionary FIRE engine whereas the diesel engine works on 1.3-litre advanced multijet engine. Adding to your surprise are the 'My Car' and Blue&Me technologies. The exciting 'My Car' technology gives you an opportunity to rejoice the art of car customization. With this you can customize your Linea with an assortment of features including digital odometer, clock setting, radio display, service schedule reminder, setting units for distance, front passenger airbag activation, and a variety of entertaining solutions. With Blue&Me technology, you can enjoy hand free system usage (by pairing Bluetooth mobile phone and the system), SMS reader, and voice command music system. It enables you to receive or make phone calls without removing your hands from the steering wheel. So, now you can have safe commute and easy communication during a ride without distracting your concentration from driving. Retailing at an economical price range of Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 6 Lakh and Rs 6 Lakh to Rs 8 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for petrol and diesel variants, the new Fiat Linea is nothing less than a showstopper. Labels: Car-Market, Fiat-Linea, New-Car-Launch
A New Force Indian Car For 2009 Season
After Ferrari introduced its new Formula One car the F60, new Force India car technically adorned with a Mercedes engine and a McLaren gearbox, will be unwrapped in Spain in March. Christened as 'VJM 02', the car is presently under construction and is expected to be ready before the series opener in Melbourne on March 29. This new car will undergo testing for six days before the race. Though six days for car testing is very less, Mallaya being confident convinces his team that six days would be enough for testing the reliability and performance of the car. Moreover, Force India's Silverstone factory is quite advance and will complete the manufacturing process within expected time. Like other companies, Force India is also stressing to go for a series of cost cutting measures due to recessionary affairs. The measures include limited expensive testing and use of cheaper engine for smaller teams for the 2009 session. So, the new Force India car will be soon on track. Now let’s see who wins the Mallaya's new car or the Ferrari's 55th F1 car. Labels: Force-India, Formula-One, New-Car-Launch
Suzuki Kazashi Vanishes Before its Launch
The global recession has left disappointments to many in some or the other way. We have been recently witnessing several negative impacts of downturn in every sector across the globe. The car industry is one such live example which is greatly hit by the economic pressure. The car sales have dropped tremendously leaving a deep scar on the car industry. Car manufacturers are now evaluating different ways to cover up the losses. Many car manufacturers have postponed new car launches and some have even cut down their car production. A little brush up of memory will remind you of the Suzuki's plan to launch a premium sedan baptised as 'Kizashi'. This car has many satisfied consumers in around 168 countries. Despite the global success of the car, the company is not ready to launch it in India. Suzuki's investment plans for Russia and Thailand market is also put on hold. This clearly depicts the current uncertain car market. Whether this car will ever come to India or not is still an unanswered question. May be we have to wait till the economic condition bounces back to see the car in Indian terrains. Labels: Car-Industry, New-Car-Launch, Suzuki-Kazashi
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
India to Witness Air Cars By 2010
We have been hearing about Air Cars since a long time. The concept of Air Cars were echoing a lot but the actual technology behind it was never revealed. Now again it is speculated to come in India by 2010 or 2011 through a joint venture with Tata Motors. The Air Car will be launched in various variants having the seating capacity of two to six passengers. The first release of the car will be for the Air France company which is expected before June 2009 and will be commercial launch by 2009 end. A unique feature of these cars is that they do not depend on any kind of conventional fuels like petrol, diesel or gas for their functioning. They are driven by only compressed air. Additionally, a new alternative technology has been developed by the company to generate power for the car which uses a combination of air and petrol, diesel or ethanol, just like the concept of hybrid technology. The Air Car is expected to carry a price tag ranging from Rs 2.33 Lakh-Rs 8.69 Lakh. The air compressing device can be either used to fill compressed air at home or at a filling station. The best thing about this car is that it is completely emission free. In the urban terrain, the Air Car can travel up to 180 km with compressed air filling whereas with dual energy it can travel up to 1,500 km on highway eating just 1.8 litres of petrol. The car is capable of achieving a top speed of 110 km/h when driven by only compressed air and 130 km/h while running on dual energy. Labels: Air-Cars, Hybrid-Technology, Tata-Motors
Porsche's Roadside Assistance Programme in India
Time has come for Porsche car owners to rejoice the ownership of their cars. The official Porsche importer for India, Precision Cars, has unveiled one of the world's best-designed roadside programmes in India. Named as 'Porsche Assistance', all Porsche car owners will enjoy various benefits
by this programme. If in case your Porsche cars experiences a breakdown in the middle of the road, in accordance with the newly introduced assistance programme you can have an arrangement for onward travel, hotel accommodation, or a replaced car if required. The launch of this programme is aimed at minimizing inconvenience of Porsche's car owners in case of any glitches or faults. All new car buyers will have an opportunity to enjoy this benefit upto 24 months from the date of delivery and that also completely free of cost. The question remains as to how will Porsche reach its customers if the owner's car gets immobilized outside the covered area. However, Porsche promises to provide the best solution to any kind inconvenience faced by their customers. Labels: Porsche-Car, Roadside-Assistance-Programme
The Magic of Luxury Cars
Demand for luxury cars in India is growing in a big way. Luxury cars have always magnetised car buyers with their charming appeal and aesthetics. Despite the economic crunch, the luxury cars has made good sales in the Indian car market. To attract the buyers and to sustain in the car industry many car manufacturers reduced the car prices. But surprisingly, the luxury car manufacturers did not have to throw any kind of freebies or discounts to sell their cars. Passion for luxury car drives car buyers to go ahead with their dream to buy these cars even at the time of sluggish market. One such buyer is the 'Power Star' of Kannada cinema Puneet Rajkumar who is an instant buyers of luxury cars and reveals that he goes for car shopping whenever he feels like no matter whatever the market condition is. Currently he owns a Audi Q7 and dreams to upgrade it with the Bentley Coupe and the BMW M6. Aditya, another Kannada actor too is not affected by the slowdown in the car market. Cars are his greatest passion and he considers this possession as his second home. Very soon we can see him driving his Hummer, which he is planning to import from Dubai. He is also mesmerised with the BMW 5-series and plans to buy by year-end. Car rallyist Anitha Kholay also loves car and upgrades it frequently to give new and fresh look. Unaffected by the current downturn, she plans to add a Merc C or a E class sedan in her garage along with the present Skoda Octavia Rider and a Mitsubishi Lancer. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-market
Ferrari Introduces New Formula One Car
Nothing is left unturned by the hit of recession. Even the richest sports, Formula One, is blown away by the wind of recession. The biggest hit to the sports was made by the immediate pull of Honda. After that all associated with the race were worried thinking that other car manufacturers may also pull out from F1. But, thankfully, till now no car manufacturer has taken a backward step. Infact, Ferrari has introduced a new Formula One car in lines with new rules and regulations defined by the F1 Team for the 2009 F1 season. The new F1 car is christened as F60 representing Ferrari's 60th year in this adventurous race. This new car was tested by Felipe Massa who lost the 2008 championship to Lewis Hamilton by just one point. He tested the car on the Mugello track. Usually F1 team takes test drive of all new cars in their home track in Fiorano but this year due to snowy weather conditions they were forced to drive it on some other track. The new F1 car is also tagged as Ferrari's 55th F1 car since the car manufacturer joined the sports in 1950. This new car is excitingly adorned with wider front wings, higher rear wings, and the intelligent kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). The KERS helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions without affecting the performance and efficiency of the car. With high degree of dynamism and engineering excellence, the new F1 car is all set to rock the 2009 F1 season. Labels: F60, Formula-One-Car, New-Car-Launch
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
World's First Flying Car Takes Flight
A car that keeps swinging between a car and an air plane might be sounding unrealistic but its true that this incredible concept has taken its shape in the form of World's first flying car. The first flying automobile is all set to take flight next month. Christened as Terrafugia Transition and engineered by former NASA engineers, this flying car can surprisingly transform from a two-seater road car to an air plane in just 15 seconds flying up to 500 miles at a cruising speed of 185 km/h. Even more interesting is the process of transformation. When in air, the wings of the car unfolds automatically and while on road, they get folded in one integrated vehicle design. What adds to the thrill is the fact that this car will run on normal unleaded petrol and designed with a size that can fit into any garage. But the price is exceptionally high with a tag of about Rs 9.7 million. Its still eighteen months for the car to land in showrooms. Legally, as this car will only be allowed to take off from roads of Alaska, it is too early to say when this car will actually come into the Indian car market. Now, the question arises will people spend such a huge amount on a flying car. We think they will. Because with high pace of advancement and innovation, air travel will soon become practical for car buyers at a price that would soon beat driving. Labels: Flying-Car, Indian-car-market
Hyundai Genesis Bags the 'North American Car' of the Year Award
Hyundai Genesis bags the 'North American Car' of the Year Award among the dazzling cars displayed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show from the brand names like the Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, and the Volkswagen. Under the brilliant white light of the Detroit Auto Show was showcased an inspiring assortment of fabulous cars and concepts from around the world. Cars like the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, the Audi Sportback Concept, BMW Z4, and the Volkswagen Passat CC were under the spotlight, drawing visitor's attention towards their elegance, style, and aesthetic visual appeal. The Hyundai Genesis steals the show winning the car-of-the-year award. The '2009 North American Car of the Year' is a honourable title which will further encourage Hyundai to manufacture more upscale, up-market cars in the similar platform for the US consumers. This award has marked a significant milestone in the history of Hyundai. Hyundai has plans to launch a couple of new cars in the coming years. Maybe those are a part of this winning platform and may succeed with heaps and bounds in the Indian car market. Labels: Hyundai-cars, Indian-car-market, New-Cars
Sonata Embera to Get Subtle Makeover
Hyundai has gained customer's confidence with its unmatched product quality and services. Every car that rolls out from Hyundai's plant are equipped with world class and unique features that make them hot favourite among masses. The success of Hyundai i10 is a perfect example of the fulfilment of Hyundai's commitment to its customers. Adding to the i-series is the recently launched i20, a premium hatch encompassing all possible luxurious features that individualises the cars in its class. Moving ahead with its customer centric conscience, Hyundai is planning to foray the D-segment by introducing the face lifted version of its premium sedan, the Sonata Embera. The refreshing Sonata Embera is known for its style and performance is powered with a 2.4-litre engine. The car is well complimented with luxury and comfort and the revamped version would also not upset its perspective customers. The new version of the car is expected to carry minor changes in the interiors as well as some cosmetic changes in the exterior. The exterior is expected to come with new headlamps, bumpers, wheels, and grille giving a new appearance to the car. The interiors of the Embera will flaunt with a new centre console and instrumentation. The new design that Embera will carry is said to be inspired by Hyundai Veracruz- a premium crossover that shines in the international market with its sophistication, style, and performance. Labels: Hyundai-cars, Sedan, Sonata-Embera
Mahindra Xylo's Grand Entry in the Indian Car Market
The most anticipated Mahindra Xylo has finally made its debut in India spilling excitement and enthusiasm in the car market. Designed with excellence and elegance, this new car is to surpass the desires and demands of the modern day car buyers. The tough and rugged Xylo meets an unprecedented level of sophistication and luxurious comfort. Born with powerful and novel ideas, the car sparks a revolution in its segment. It's truly a world car with every single car component sourced from finest sources across the globe. You would be surprised to know that 160 skilled engineers from around the world have used their expertise and high-end creativity to create this technological marvel. Xylo represents a perfect amalgam of performance and style with brilliant visual appeal, sophisticated interiors, and advanced engine technology. The car exterior is a combination of Bolero-Scorpio styling accentuated with bold grille, illuminated spoiler, and large head lights. As you step into the car, fresh look and welcoming interiors will fuel your senses with its charm and beauty. The plush interiors comprises the theatre style seating, flatbed front seats, doors fitted with puddle lamps, integrated foot rest, foldable flight trays, digital drive assist system, and a 2 Din entertainment system. Equipped with futuristic car features and high-end safety technologies, the car ensures high level of comfort, convenience, safety, and ride quality. With all this impressive features, the car is sure to give a tough competition to its rivals. Available in three interiors shades and eight vibrant car colour choices, the Xylo displays a high degree of aggressiveness, beauty, and power. The car is powered with a 2.49-litre mEagle CRDe engine that generates112bhp. It is available in four variants – E2, E4, E6, and E8 with price tag varying from Rs 6. 2 Lakh to Rs 7.6 Lakh. Mahindra perfectly calls the Xylo the 'Great Indian Travelling Machine' that will redefine the future of road travel in India. Labels: Car-Market, Mahindra-Xylo, New-Car-Launch
Monday, 12 January 2009
Mercedes-Benz Unveils ‘Fascination’ Concept
 Mercedes-Benz introduced the concept ‘Fascination’ at the Paris Auto Show in 2008. The dramatic new concept by the German car manufacturer explores a new car design language with vibrant and sculpted cues. The new concept draws inspiration from the classic Volvo P1800 car and a kind of crushed rear design from Aston Martin called “Shooting Brakes”. The ‘Fascination’ concept car is futuristic and elegant with a personified smooth flowing bonnet and flush-fit touch. Open door handles, dual-piece headlights, and extended rear lights add extra elegance and beauty to the car. A peep into the car reveals an amazing continuance of the V-shape structure of the car's exterior into the interior. An impressive dashboard displaying silver dials is the centre of attraction and the interior is adorned with high-quality woven fabrics and artistically crafted features. In terms of power, the concept is graced with a 2.2 litre Bluetec diesel engine that produces an impressive 210 bhp. The Bluetec engine complies to stringent emission norms of the future and it is the same one that will be introduced in the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class that is set to roll out on Indian roads this year. The fascinating concept by Mercedes-Benz is aimed at providing car designers with an opportunity to explore new horizons through an unconventional route. Labels: Concept-Cars, Mercedes-Benz-Cars
Expect a More Masculine Fiat 500 Soon
The cute and scintillating Fiat 500 has been around in India for a while now and is quite popular for its unique Italian design and styling cues. A more masculine version of the peppy 500 might be out soon as Fiat is considering building an SUV over the same platform. The reason for Fiat’s move is that the 500’s biggest competitor Mini Cooper is also undergoing a similar transformation. The original iconic concept would probably be lost in the process and the more aggressively styled SUV may even fail to win the hearts of car buyers. From what is known, the engine on the new SUV will not be brand new and will be an upgraded version of any of the existing engines on Fiat cars. Labels: Fiat-500, Fiat-Cars
BMW Unveils the New Z4
BMW has introduced the new Z4 roadster to fuel the senses of car buyers across the world. The Z4 carries everything that excites car enthusiasts and is an engineering marvel that symbolizes excellence in automotive design. The new Z4 will come with three engine options each delivering unmatched performance and impressive fuel economy that is typical of BMW’s Z-Series cars. The car will be available in three variants - sDrive23i, sDrive30i, and sDrive35i. Both the 23i and 30i will come equipped with a six speed manual transmission as standard and a six speed sports automatic transmission as optional. The top-end Z4 sDrive35i will be powered by advanced engine technology mated to a twin clutch seven speed transmission. BMW’s current model line-up for the Indian market stops at the alphabet X (X3 and X5 SUVs) and does not include the Z4 Roadster. Labels: BMW-Cars, New-Car-Launch, Roadsters
Friday, 9 January 2009
Reva on an Environmental Tour
A white Reva plastered with signs displaying positive effects of reforestation is on an environmental tour. The car is on a green journey taking along the vows of Indian Youth Climate Network. Strikingly, this white Reva along with two other cars that run on jatropha oil and waste vegetable oil are driven by 20 people to complete a journey of 4,000 km across the country. This tour is solely organised to spread awareness of environment-friendly cars. The stickers on these cars also depict the same motive - 'save the environment and combat climate change'. The cars started their journey from Chennai and would make pit stops at Bangalore, Nagpur, Mumbai, and Jaipur including various other places. Throughout the journey the drivers and the association members are educating people about the use of innovative technologies and solutions for generating clean technologies and designing green buildings. The main target of these groups are the universities across the country where they plan to encourage students to pick green jobs. They will also stress on various climate change policies. Even the economic factors will be considered because many have a myth that green concept is an expensive affair. But actually it is a healthy and a long-term saving affair that needs to reach the masses. Spreading green awareness can be best done by a car like the Maini Reva, the sole electric car in India. This is the only car in the country that generates zero emission and help us save our environment, thereby maintaining an ecological balance. Labels: Electric-Car, Environment-Friendly-Cars, Maini-Reva
More AMG Centres Across the Globe
AMG is known as the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz. These high power and super-efficient cars are tuned Mercedes cars that define the brand image of the company. Recently, Mercedes has introduced a bunch of AMG cars in India to satisfy the luxurious needs and demands of Indian car buyers. AMG cars have carved their own niche in the global car market. And the best part of these high-end super-luxurious and powerful cars is that every engine is assembled by just one engineer. That's the company's philosophy, 'One Man-One Engine'. With the increasing number of cars in the market, Mercedes also plans to establish more AMG centres across the world to provide their easy availability for its customers. As the cars are unique so would be the centres. Each AMG centre is known to be designed with distinctive surrounding that will reflect the powerful characteristics of AMG cars. About 175 centres are to be established with high quality materials, exclusive furnishings, and an assortment of colours. Labels: AMG-Cars, Car-Market, Mercedes-Benz
Mahindra Unveils the Thar Concept
Mahindra & Mahindra unveils the Thar concept in the Bologna Motor Show held in December 2008. In the Thar concept, Scorpio's CRDe engine along with a 4*4 BorgWarner is used. The company is mulling to launch this concept based car in the European market. Excitingly, it is designed on the platform of the Mahindra Classic and based on the Scorpio's powertrain. Fitting Scorpio's engine in a car like this clearly reflects the reliability and dependability of the Scorpio that is successfully running on Indian roads. Earlier there were queries whether such a concept would do well in the market or not. But Mahindra declares that retro vehicles like the Thar have established their own niche in the European market. However, in India, the car market will take some time to accept this concept. But, with the powerful engine packed with innovation, Mahindra can definitely drive the Thar to the Indian car market. Labels: Indian-car-market, Mahindra-and-Mahindra
A New Automatic Parking System For Cars
Parking a car is a irksome task for most of us. Sitting on the driver's seat many of us just struggle to fit in our cars in stuffed parking spaces. But now, to make the tedious parking job easy Ford has introduced a new car parking system. This innovative car parking system is christened as Automatic Park Assist System. You may now not have to struggle for parking spaces. You can just sit calm behind the wheel and the new automatic parking system will park the car for you. Ford has not used any new technology to support automatic parking. It has simply used the existing ultrasonic parking sensors combined with a new electric power assisted steering system. The sensors will figure out the actual distance from other cars in the parking lot and then steer itself into the parking space with only minor inputs from the driver. A driver just have to press a button on the dash which activates the ultrasonic parking sensors to scan and check the parking area in terms of space for parallel parking. The car then signals the driver to select the suitable gear. The steering job is done by the active park assist system meanwhile the driver put brakes when required. The system also comes with a visual or audible interface that warns the driver of nearby cars, objects, and people. Surprisingly, the automatic parking system is accurate and quick, proving its superiority in the car electronic market. The system will take some time to enter the Indian car market. But you can find this automatic parking system in Lincoln MKS and MKT cars in the international market. Labels: Automatic-Parking-System, Indian-car-market, New-Car
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Cars Made of Coconut
It's incredible that cars would now be made of coconut. Researchers at Baylor University have introduced a innovative way to transform coconut husk into automotive interiors. Researchers believe that the coconut husk can be used to design the trunk liners, floor boards, and car door interior covers replacing the synthetic polyester fibres. Most of the people will wonder that why only coconuts were selected among a long list of plants grown across the world. But the leading researcher, Walter Bradley, has the answer. He says that coconuts has been picked up from the long list because it is grown in abundance. And about 96% of the total coconut production is taken over by poor farmers who don't even manage to earn their basic living requirements with this plantation. The idea to utilize coconut fire to build automotive interiors will create a viable new market for these poor farmers along with making the cars more environment friendly. In addition, coconuts having better mechanical properties not only preserves natural resources but are also cost effective and comparatively reduces a car weight. Adding to the green concept, coconut do not emit toxic fumes and are thus light on environment. Though this concept is new for the Indian car industry, in the global car market Mercedes-Benz is know to be the first to use natural fibre in cars. The exterior of Mercedes-Benz A-Class Coupé is manufactured using the abaca banana plant replacing the traditional glass fibre. Labels: Car-Market, Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz
Electrifying Auto Show in Bangalore
Get ready to witness the biggest and the most electrifying auto show in Bangalore at Bangalore International Automotive Expo (BIAE) 2009. The Expo will exclusively showcase cars, bikes, motorcycles, and high-end car accessories, bringing over 500 automotive brands under one roof. The show will also caters the needs and requirements of car consumers and car fans. The event will portray the entire Indian automobile industry providing a strong platform for the growth of the auto industry especially the South Indian Automotive Industry. The list of exhibitors include leading car manufacturers like the Audi, Nissan, Maruti Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Maini Reva, and the Mahindra & Mahindra. Two-wheeler manufacturers comprising the TVS, Kinetic, Royal Enfield, and the Yamaha along with a number of auto component manufacturers like the Bosch will also exhibit a variety of their products, valuables, and services. Being supported by bodies like the ARAI, FIAA, AASI and the WIAA, the cynosure of the show will be the hot bikes, customized cars, Nitrocars, and imported vehicles. Apart from these products, this event will also organise various seminars and interactive forums to bring forth the current trend in the automotive market. The auto show will occur from Jan 9th to Jan 11th. Labels: Auto-Show, Car-Accessories, Car-Manufacturers
Amazing Discount on New Scorpio
As the New Year thrill moves ahead with a season of festivity, Mahindra offers a huge discount on its electrifying Mahindra Scorpio to give its customers an opportunity to rejoice the festival of Sankranthi. Mahindra passes the complete excise cut benefits to its esteemed customers with an an amazing discount of Rs 1,11,111 on its flagship model, the new Mahindra Scorpio. Mahindra Scorpio is one of the leading SUV in the country with winning characteristics and technologies that individualizes the car. Since the credit crunch in the market is repelling the car buyers from car showrooms. This sizzling offer by Mahindra is only a measure that is expected to attract the buyers and give them a reason to buy the car. Labels: Mahindra-Scorpio, SUV
General Motors Makes India a Hub for Engines
Not shattered by the uncertainty in global financial markets and weakening economic, General Motors is all set to make India a manufacturing hub of engines for the Asia Pacific regions. The General Motors is known for manufacturing compelling and high quality cars. Recently, its Chevrolet cars like the Spark and Aveo U-VA topped the list of Quality Cars in India unveiled by the J.D. Power Asia in their respective segments. Seeing the performance of its car models in the country, General Motors is optimistic about the Indian market. And with this perception, the company is taking various steps to strength its presence in India. It now plans to develop new and refined car engines in its R&D centre at Bangalore which will be manufactured at its Talegaon facility. The plant is expected to produce 200,000 units and the capacity can be further increased depending on domestic demand. These engines will be targeted for export to emerging car markets in the Asia Pacific and Eastern European region. To achieve the desired production capacity and meet the export target, the company also plans to hire more number of employees and workers for its R&D centre as well as manufacturing facility. About 300 employees in the Bangalore facility and 200 workers in the Talegaon facility are planned to be hired for quick and efficient design and production. Labels: Chevrolet-Cars, General Motors, Indian-Car-Markets
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Chevrolet Models to Cost More
As speculated in 2008, the car manufactures are now increasing the car prices to combat the rising input costs. Hyundai Motors has already revealed its plan to increase the car prices by 2% which will put extra an expense of Rs 1,000 – Rs 18,000 on the purchase of Hyundai cars. Honda is also set to hike the prices of all its car models. The rising input costs and currency fluctuations have compelled many car manufacture to increase their car prices. Earlier, in order to boost car sales, car manufacturers have announced various discount and schemes with their car models. These offers were also declared to pass the benefit of the lowered excise duty to the car buyers. Following the suit, General Motors has unveiled the price hike by around Rs 10,000 across all models from January 10. So now the cute little Spark will be available with an extra addition of Rs 3000 to its price tag, whereas the Optra from the sedan class will cost of Rs 10,000 more. The SUV Captiva will also witness a price hike in the same range. Labels: Car-Price, General-Motors, Hyundai-cars
Hyundai's Helping Hand for Customers
Hyundai Motors has started a customer centric programme with a view to provide a helping hand to its customers. Named as 'Hyundai Assurance Program', which allow the Hyundai car buyers to return the car within the first year of purchase if a buyer looses his or her source of income. This is an amazing step taken by Hyundai amid the prevailing uncertain economy. But sadly, this offer is only applicable for US customers. Car which always considered as a status symbol have now turned into a burden for many due the present financial crisis. Maintaining a car has become a costly affair with fluctuating fuel prices. At this time of recession, when layoffs has become everyone’s fear, this type of programme will definitely attract the car buyers towards car showrooms. The first of its kind programme in the auto industry is held in partnership with an Dallas based national performance management company called WALKAWAY USA. It is a subsidiary of EFG Companies that services the retail automotive industry. The organisation has helped many consumers to walk away from the burden of heavy automotive-related debt. Excitingly, this Buy Back Cars programme has received good response from car buyers. Hope Hyundai also introduced similar programme in India which will solve the problems of many. This will further help the manufacturer to build brand trust and confidence of customers. Labels: Hyundai Motors, Hyundai-Assurance-Program, Hyundai-Car
Mercedes-Benz to Drive New Cars in India
Mercedes-Benz is heading ahead keeping pace with other German car manufacturers like Audi and BMW. The company is planning a bunch of new car launches in the Indian car market. The first in line is the new E-Class that is speculated to be introduced in January this year. The next generation E-Class is known to be introduced with better styling, wheel-arched extension, massive bumpers, sculpted wide-frame grille, and a greenhouse. Following the E-Class would be the elite S-Class facelift that is believed to hit the successful BMW 7-Series. The proposed S-Class would be launched with new front skirt, sculpted bumpers, elegant side flashers, and a re-designed rear bumper. Additionally, Mercedes plans to introduce the fourth generation CL-Class that is expected to be launched by 2011. This new car would be designed on the platform of the E-Class and is speculated to beat the Audi A7, S-Class, and the Porsche Panamera. An innovatively designed SLK-Class and a SLR-Coupe are also significant additions in the future portfolio of Mercedes cars. Labels: Indian-car-market, Mercedes-Benz, New-Car-Launch
Logan Reflecting Indo-French Harmony
Mahindra-Renault Logan gets a completely new look. The credit for this goes to the three graffiti artists who travelled all the way from France to Mumbai to paint and transform the Logan. With a key motive to reflect Indo-French harmony in an Indian Car, the three creative and highly talented artists painted the Logan. Applying their artistic abilities and wild imaginations, the trio painted two Logans from bonnet to the rear bumper with innovative and artistic pictures. One of the artist among them has passion for Hindi music and is a die-hard fan of Bollywood legends, Kishore Kumar and Bappi Lahri. So, the two cars were painted with creative images of these legends. You can also find picture of a famous French football midfielder Zidane. With all these it gives a look as if music lyrics have been imprinted on the car along with exciting notes, phrases, and creative images. Overall, the painted Logans are surprisingly attractive. And one such Logan is found driven by the director of Alliance Francaise de Mumbai. And the other two Logans is expected to be auctioned soon. Labels: Logan, Mahindra-Renault
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Foreign Car Manufacturers Rejoices New Export Policy
2009 brings a good news for the foreign car manufactures with the renewed export policy on new cars. Now foreign car manufacturers will be able to export vehicles to India from places other than their country of manufacture. This policy implies to cars having a free on board (FOB) value of Rs 1.9 million or more with engine capacity of more than 3,000cc for petrol variants and 2,500cc for diesel variants. The flexibility of the policy has simplified the export process for the foreign car manufacturers. The policy was introduced in the Exim Policy for 2001-02, but was unfriendly and created a lot of export issues. The new policy will now help those foreign car manufacturers who were unable to export cars to India due to various restrictions. Further to facilitate the import of cars in India, Kochi has been added in the list of permissible customs ports which currently comprises the Nhava Sheva, Kolkata, Chennai, ICD Tughlakabad, Delhi Air Cargo and the Mumbai Port. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, New-Cars
Car Industry in the Wake of High Competition
The rat race among car manufacturers to rule the top position in the car industry is on. With the presence of so many domestic as well as foreign car manufacturers imparting pathbreaking models in the market, the competition among them has become very tough and rigid. Maruti Suzuki dominates the Indian car market with 50 percent share in the industry. Whereas car brands like the Hyundai and General Motors are very close to Maruti Suzuki with their small cars acting as atom bombs in the Indian market. When speaking about small cars, we can't even think of neglecting the winning model 'Hyundai i10'. The car has captured everyone's attention with its style, performance, and reliability. Wagon R standing against the Hyundai i10 has maintained the brand image of Maruti Suzuki with comparable sales score. Whereas in the premium hatchback segment, Hyundai Getz petrol variant scores higher than the Maruti Swift petrol variant. Though Maruti Suzuki could not defeat Honda and Chevrolet in sedan segment, its has rolled a new weapon in the hatchback battle field with the launch of the A-Star. The hatchback segment also witnessed the new Indica Vista, a product of Tata-Fiat alliance in India. With its improved design and performance, the new Indica Vista is known to give a strong sense of enmity to its rivals. Maruti Suzuki being the leading car manufacture of the country still dominates the small car segment. Now the company's grip is loosen due to tough competition. As the competition gets tougher, the car manufacturers are thinking of different ways to be on the top position. Only the time can tell, who will rule the Indian car industry? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki
Old Car Models Shining on Indian Roads
Old cars are still running strong on the Indian roads inspite of the presence of more advanced and attractive new cars in the market. In other words, they have saved the drowning car manufacturers against the flood of recession. When the new cars were struggling to get enough sales, old cars like the Santro, Indica and the Accent witnessed elevated sales registering more than 20 percent of the overall domestic sales. The existing models scored more in sales than the new generation cars. The popularity and the success of the old models are the reason for their existence in the Indian car market. Though some of the recent launches like the A-star, Indica Vista and the Corolla Altis have made a good entry but their elder siblings are still strongly contributing to the company's profit. This clearly indicates the demand of these models among the buyers. Hyundai Santro, the flagship model of Hyundai experienced a good sales of 37,236 units in comparison to its next generation hatchback i10, which sold 45,599 cars. The Santro remained a favourite car of many due to its incomparable mileage in its class. Honda also decided to sell its old City though the new generation of the car is launched in market. This decession is against Honda's global strategy of phasing out an existing car once its next-generation is introduced. Similarly, Tata will continue with Indica along with Indica Vista and Getz will run along with the Hyundai i20. The current credit crisis has impacted the car sales tremendously and in order to push the sales, the car manufactures are banking on the old models as well as on the new cars. The phrase 'Old is Gold' truly suits these cars! Labels: A-star, New-Cars, Santro
Tata's Green Car for Thailand
Tata Motors is all set to enter the green belt with the introduction of a Eco car. Surprisingly, the green car from the house of Tata is not for India but for Thailand. The company is working on a Eco car project for Thailand. The project implies the development of a low-cost hybrid vehicle or a platform that could spawn a range of passenger cars similar to Indica platform which was deployed to manufacture car models like the Indigo, Indigo Marina, Indigo XL and the Indigo CS. The project had received the 'go on' signal from the BOI (Board of Investments) of Thailand in the last year of April. As per the clause, the car will follow all the rigorous emission and safety norms comprising the Euro 4 emission norms and crash requirements. The design of the the Eco-car is created with bold body, spacious cabin, and comfortable seating keeping in mind the taste and demand of local population of Thailand. The increasing pollution level is a major concern in most of the country and car manufacturers are working on green projects to develop cost effective yet eco-friendly cars. Even the buyers mind set have changed seeing the rising tide of global warming. Hope the breeze of green perception spread globally making the Earth a better planet to live in. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Eco-Friendly-Car, Tata-Motors
Monday, 5 January 2009
Porsche's Toy Car
We all have heard of the saying 'Born with the Silver Spoon'. This phrase is used for a person who is born rich and have everything required to spend a luxurious life. This expression perfectly fits for the son of popular soccer player David Beckham. David Beckham being a passionate car lover has gifted his elder son Brooklyn, a ultra-small Porsche sports car worth Rs 3.5 million. This customized small single-seater car is handcrafted and powered by the diesel engine. This expensive little toy car is just used for joyride in the backyard of David's mansion. Such an expensive toy can be afforded only by high society people. In India the trend of gifting expensive cars by the renowned personalities is quite common these days. Very soon the expensive toys will be seen in India and the days are not far when we will see kids going to nursery in their mini Merc or BMW! Labels: BMW, Porsche-Cars, Sports-Car
A-star: Maruti's Lucky Charm
The year 2008 did not bring any good fortune to car manufacturers and has given them a tough time. Most of the car manufacturers have witnessed declined sales except few like the Hyundai Motors, Skoda India, Honda Siel India, and the General Motors. Along with offering several discounts and freebies with the car models to attract car buyers, they are working on different strategies to bring back the sales figure to its normal position. Moreover, car manufactures are eyeing on the New Year as their lucky mascot. If 2009 witnesses a lowered interest rates on auto loans and economy picks up assuring jobs and incomes, there are possibilities that the current melancholy in the industry would be wiped away bringing a smile to car manufactures. Talking about the Indian car leader Maruti Suzuki, is badly affected by the recession registering a overall fall of 10 per cent in car sales in 2008. It is believed that the export contract for the new small car, A-star, with Nissan is a ray of hope for the company. If not drastic, the contract is expected to bring some difference for Maruti in terms of profit. Additionally, the sales of other Maruti models are also depend on how quickly the economy bounces back. Car models like the Swift, the Dzire, and the SX4 are however doing well in the market. It is expected that the profit of Maruti Suzuki would increase by about 16 per cent on a lower base in 2009 and the same is heavily depends on the A-Star and exports. Labels: A-star, Car-Manufactures, Maruti-Suzuki
Verna to Arrive with New Attire
The country's largest passenger car exporter Hyundai Motors has maintained a steady growth even in this time of depressed market condition. The credit goes to its strong line up of products in the market as well as the new additions in its car portfolio like the recently launched Hyundai i20. Moreover, the company has successfully tide over the challenges with its various schemes and offers. Presently, the Santro which is loved by many for its mileage and performance is available at its 10 year old of Rs 2.99 Lakh for limited period. Intelligently, Hyundai has also planned to introduced the face lifted Verna with modifications in exterior and interior styling. In the exterior, a chrome striped grille along with a all new bumper are said to be the latest bits and the interior will get a integrated audio system. The new Verna will also be enhanced with a few luxury feature. Verna saw its rivals in all new looks including the all-new Honda City, new Ford Fiesta, and the awaited Fiat Linea. Eyeing the tough market competition, Hyundai has smartly decided to roll out the model in new attire. Labels: Hyundai i20, Hyundai-cars, New-Car-Launch
Nano to Get Hybrid Version
Since its debut, Tata Nano, is always in the news for its iconic character. The car is yet to be commercially launched and rumours of its different avatars have been echoing for a long time. Tata has amazed everyone with its innovative technology used in the Nano that has made the car enjoy the tag of world's cheapest car. Again the company has taken a step ahead of other car manufacturers with its plan to introduce a hybrid version of the Nano. If Tata's plans go well, the Nano could soon be seen with Bosch's micro-hybrid technology which is believed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by about 5 to 10 percent. The micro-hybrid technology is also known as 'stop-start system' in which the hybrid set up automatically turns off the car’s engine while it's not in use. This little but powerful technology will join diesel and all-electric variants of the Nano. The cost of Micro hybrid technology will be much lower than the full hybrid system. Though the exact price of the Nano Hybrid is not yet known, it's expected to cost Rs 4,000 to 6,000 more than the parent model. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Hybrid-Cars, Tata-Nano
Friday, 2 January 2009
Used Cars Win Over New Cars
The global recession has created a turbulence in the Indian car market influencing the consumers' purchasing power. New car sales has been slashed drastically shifting the wind of growth towards used car market. Seeing the current turmoil in the car industry, many car manufacturers has postponed their new car launches. At this time of financial meltdown, consumers also feels it is better time to shop for used car rather than investing hefty amount on a new car purchase. So, the used car segment is now experiencing a good demand compare to the earlier time of stable market condition. For instance, Maruti True value has experienced a growth of nearly 30 percent, whereas the sales of the Maruti's new cars has dropped by around 10 percent. The new car market is further likely to face tough competition from the used car market as there is possibility of the car prices going high this January. Moreover, certified used cars from Company-owned used-car outlet are thriving enormously in the industry because they provide a wide range of services like car finance and insurance, fitment of car accessories, assistance with paperwork, and documentation under one roof.
Labels: Indian-car-market, New-Car, Used-Car
Porsche to Introduce New Cars in India
With Audi and BMW planning a slew of new car launches, Porsche also moves in line with them. All the car manufacturers are heading for generation change and facelifts to give a completely new picture to the Indian car market. There are speculations that many of the Porsche cars have been found undergoing testing and benchmarking activities. The Porsche Panamera, a new Cayenne, new generation 911 and the new Boxster Speedster are some of the proposed cars set to be rolled out from Porsche's stable. The new diesel version of Cayenne will be propelled by a turbo-charged engine supplied by Audi. The launch of the diesel version is credited to the increasing demand of more fuel-efficient cars in the auto market. The next generation 911 would feature the flat-six engine to boost power and performance. Following the launches, the company would also launch the Boxster Speedster with a dome behind headrest, lower windshield, and modified canvas hood. The car is known to be powered by improved engine technology that would deliver 303 bhp. Porsche eyes the new car launches with heightened hopes and aspirations. These new players are expected to bring new excitement in the Indian car market. Labels: Indian-car-market, New-Car-Launch, Porsche-Cars
Toyota's Solar Car
Japanese car major Toyota Motors is secretly working on a new green project. Yes a green project! this time it is not developing any hybrid technological but a solar powered car. The electric car which will get its power from the solar cell fitted on the car can be recharged with the energy generated from the solar panels that can be fixed on the roof of homes. These panels takes up to the size of of 60 tennis courts and carries the capacity to produce enough electricity to power 500 homes. If the solar powered car takes its shape, it would be one of the best innovations that can happen to the car industry. Completely eco-friendly in nature, solar cars can have a great future. It is a unique concept initiated by Toyota which would further help the company to boost its struggling business building a brand image at the same time. The company has already started using the solar panels at its Tsutsumi plant in Japan to generate some of its own electricity. Even at this stage of downturn, Toyota being a market leader in green technology wants to proceed with its green conscience. Fueled by its passion to introduce more eco-friendly cars, Toyota is sure to come up with something exceptional and distinctive which will place the brand at top position. The project is still under development and will take some more time to implement on cars. Currently, the solar powered car is reported to roll out only in the international markets. Hope India also experience these cars soon on its roads. Labels: eco-friendly-cars, Solar-Powered-Car, Toyota-Cars
Cars Turn into Luxurious Gift
Some people really know how to make their loved ones happy in any occasion. Popular bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has gifted his adorable wife Twinkle a Bentley convertible worth Rs 3 Crore on her birthday. Wow such an expensive car! Earlier the gifts used to be simple and affordable but with today's high standard of living gifts have also become expensive. This is not the first time that someone is being gifted a high priced car like Bentley. Many celebrities are following the trend of gifting such a costly gifts to their loved ones and friends. Amitabh Bachchan gifted a Bentley car to his son Abhishek Bachchan on his 31st birthday. Big B had also received a Rolls Royce Phantom for his outstanding performance in the movie ‘Eklavya’ by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. When we are talking about Bollywood, we just can't avoid King Khan who is also fond of spending money on gifts. For his film ‘Main Hoon Na’, he had gifted Hyundai Terracan to Farah Khan. Again, after the super success of blockbuster movie ‘Om Shanti Om’, he presented her a Mercedes Benz worth Rs 40 Lakh. With changing time and fashion, cars have become more than just a commodity for commuting. Nowadays cars display social status and style. They are now become a favourite gift choice of Bollywood celebrities and business tycoons. Giving just a card or a bunch of flowers was considered the most romantic gifts but now it is loosing its charm with people turning materialistic. These costly gifts can only be affordable by the high class society. Middle class people can just dream and read about such gifts! Labels: Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce-Phantom
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