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Friday, 23 April 2010
The Beijing Auto Show 2010 has already begun and we bring to you the latest info from the auto show. There were around 2,100 companies from 16 nations and regions exhibiting their products. Today is the day. Yes, today, the event is open to the press. The auto exhibition area's 200,000 square meters are literally adorned with cars, including plenty of concept cars. A new variant of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class will be launched after this China auto show in Beijing. Car makers have already begun targeting emerging markets like Brazil and India. How can China be left behind? The new vehicle launches have already begun at the Beijing auto show in a race to capture China's fast-growing market among loose sales elsewhere. Till around 1995, there were hardly any private cars in China. But now, the scenario is different. The explosive sales growth in the emerging markets has become the highest. Watching the new long-wheelbase sedans from leading luxury brands like Audi and BMW at the Auto Show 2010 is sure going to be a treat to the eyes. An all-new high-powered Ferrari 599 GTO and a V6-powered Porsche Panamera are also going to add excitement.
Lamborghini is all set to showcase the special model that it has made exclusively for the Chinese market. Ford is not going to stay behind. It will present its all-new global concept that could be sold in China, Europe or the US. We will wait for this car to make an entry in India. Chinese home brands like BYD, Chery and Geely will also geared up with their new models for an international audience. The show is going to enhance their confidence too.
Chinese auto makers have come up with plenty of hybrid, electric and fuel cell models. While SAIC Motor Corp has come up with the Roewe 550 plug-in hybrid, Roewe 750 hybrid and E1 electric concept car, FAW Group is showcasing its EV electric concept car, the Besturn 70 and Besturn 50 hybrid cars. Changan Automobile Group will be displaying its Benben electric car, S469 hybrid minivan, Zhixiang and the Yuexiang hybrid car. Chery Automobile is all set to flaunt the S18 electric car, the electric version of QQ compact car, the hybrid version of Riich G5 sedan and the M11 hybrid car. BYD Co is geared up to show off the E6 electric car, F3DM and F6DM plug-in hybrids. Brilliance Auto, Geely Automobile Holdings and Lifan Group too will be displaying their innovations. China's auto market tore down the global economic disaster and sales shot up by a huge difference of 45 per cent last year to 13.6 million vehicles. This goes to say that China is quite ahead of the 10.5 million vehicles sold in the United States last year. This year has been great too. Sale of the units in China has increased rapidly and growth has accelerated to 11.9 per cent in the first quarter. A conference is also going to take place to discuss the growth and other factors. GM will be unveiling its all new electric Volt MPV5 concept car, a Chinese-made minivan and a compact sedan at the auto show. Whoa! That’s quite a lot from the world's largest automotive manufacturer. Meanwhile, Ford's latest Focus sedan gets an Asian debut and the company is unveiling a new concept car. Toyota too is on the same page and will be showcasing fifty vehicles including the new stylish gas-electric hybrid concept car. Toyota is trying its best to leave its footprints on the market by providing numerous vehicles. The car recalls will soon be forgotten and the launches will probably last longer in everybody’s mind. Labels: Audi, Beijing-Auto-Show, Beijing-Auto-Show-2010, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, New-Cars, Toyota
 Ford Motors will unveil their Start Concept at the Beijing International Auto Show. It took almost three years for the American manufacturer to design this car. The design study focused at designing a car that was small chic and affordable. The Start Concept boasts of Ford’s Drive ONE strategy pillars of Drive Smart, Drive Quality, Drive Safe and Drive Green. The Ford Start concept will feature the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine which addresses the sustainability needs of the present world. This engine will provide the power and drivability which is typical of a more powerful engine while still maintaining CO2 rating under 100 g/km. This yet EcoBoost engine will go into production very soon. The new engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. “In an era of constant visual noise, we have created a car that conveys visual purity and harmony, in which every line has meaning and purpose. The Ford Start delivers a dynamic, personality driven design that stays true to the global Ford brand,” said J Mays, group vice president, Design, and chief creative officer. Like any other concept car these days, Ford Start concept also focuses on one theme, environmental sustainability. Start concept’s body panels are made from recycled composites, while recycled fibres have been used to design the interior panel. The exterior sloping and curving bring down the drag and enhance fuel efficiency levels. High strength steel and aluminium has been used to bring down the weight of the car. Low-rolling-resistance Michelin Green X tyres have been used to bring down the weight further. And guess what, all this weight saving strategies have helped Ford to 308 pounds from the Start concept’s weight So far so good. But the good streak of the Start concept continues to its interior features too. The interior allows for quite a bit of customisation. There are snap fittings which allow for change of colour of the seat inserts. Ford also claims that the dashboard can easily be adapted for production of left- or right-hand-drive vehicles. The six-inch touch screen in the center console offers an Apple-style interface called MyFord Mobile Concept, which resembles apps on an iPhone or iPad. This also allows for easy access to the climate-control system, engine diagnostics, and various warning readouts. There is a voice command technology which allows the driver to control all his phone’s features. However, the system automatically disables text-messaging features while driving  Ford has said that it was built to get responses from customers and that it does not plan to build the car. But even if this car does not make it to the production, we can still see some of its components in Ford’s upcoming cars. Labels: Beijing-International-Auto-Show, Concept-Cars, Ford, Ford-EcoBoost-Engine, Ford-Motors, Ford-Start-Concept-Car, MyFord-Mobile-Concept
Thursday, 22 April 2010
 Tata Motors’ Sanand plant is all ready and will start producing the Nano by April 30. With this starts another thing which we would like to refer as a new rivalry between Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor Co. The Sanand plant will manufacture up to 250,000 units of Nano per year, which is about 80 percent of Hyundai’s India sales last fiscal year. Hyundai holds the second spot on India’s largest automaker list. Tata is trying to fill-up 100,000 advance orders for the Nano. Those sales added to the new output may assist the Indian carmaker to regain the second place, after being stuck on the third place for three consecutive years. The Nano project would prove to be profitable only if the volumes are significant. Meanwhile, Tata Motors also has to find out the causes of the recent Nano fire accidents and clear the confusion and doubt that it has created among the Indian masses. And as the “small wonder” from Tata, of late, is getting a lot of global attention, it becomes imperative that they launch a massive damage control campaign. Tata Motors sold 30,350 units of Nanos from July through March. And according to a survey done by CSM Worldwide Inc, Indians may buy as many as 1 million low-cost cars a year by 2016. Tata Motors would definitely want to help fill the rising demand for small cars. Hyundai, South Korea’s biggest carmaker can produce up to 600,000 vehicles a year at its Chennai factory. “We have no intention of getting into the Nano segment at all,” said Arvind Saxena, a director of Hyundai’s India unit. In the initial sales period in April, Tata received a whopping 206,703 Nano orders and the first 100,000 customers for the 624-cc model were chosen by lottery. The entry level Nano costs about 123,360 rupees ($2,800) in New Delhi. Tata started selling cars in 1999 and boosted vehicle sales by 26 percent to 201,399 units in the fiscal year ended in March, and got 13 percent of Asia’s third-largest passenger- car market. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Suzuki leads the show with 50 percent and Hyundai controls 21 percent of the Asian passenger- car market. Tata, which started selling cars in 1999, boosted vehicle sales 26 percent to 201,399 units in the fiscal year ended in March, giving it 13 percent of Asia’s third-largest passenger- car market. Suzuki led with 50 percent, and Hyundai controlled 21 percent, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Demand for new cars in India has increased at its fastest in six years during the last fiscal year. Global automakers like Ford and Volkswagen are targeting the Indian drivers as the disposable income rises to new height and India becomes the second largest car market. Labels: Ford, Hyundai-India, Tata-Motors, Tata-Motors-Sanand-Plant, Tata-Nano, Volkswagen
Monday, 5 April 2010
 With the launch of the new Figo, sunny days have finally dawned upon Ford India. And the sales figure has been equally unbelievable. Yes, so brace yourself for the truth. Ford India sales for the month of March more than tripled when compared to the same month last year, rising 203 per cent. No prizes for guessing the magic mantra that uplifted the sales numbers of Ford India. Ford launched its compact car, Figo, and that seems to have done what other Ford cars could not do in India. Ford Figo has set records of a sort, with over 10,000 orders booked in the very first month after it went on sale. And with this kind of a customer response, Ford India will launch a second production shift at its plant in Chennai. Thanks to the growing popularity of Figo, Ford India sold a total of 9,478 vehicles in March, 2010. The big number, obviously, includes strong sales of Ford Ikon, Ford Fiesta, and Ford Endeavour, but the Figo numbers are the icing on the cake. "We are delighted at the initial response to Figo, and are incredibly proud to have struck such a positive chord with Indian consumers," said Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India. "The launch of Figo is the start of a transformed Ford in India, and a true reflection of our commitment to delivering world-class products that allow Indian customers to feel the difference.'' Figo, which was designed & engineered for the Indian customers, has set a lot of things on fire and when we say that we imply not only Ford India sales figures, but the peace of the top guns in the small car segment. Figo has not only established Ford’s competitive position in India’s growing small car market, but also brought in the much needed sales volume. “As we remain committed to redefining the Ford brand in India, we expect this momentum to continue,” said Boneham. “Factors such as the initial price of the car, fuel efficiency and cost of maintenance are critical in determining affordability for a new car buyer. Indian customers are confirming that Figo solidly delivers on all of these.” With the competitive pricing and lower maintenance costs, Figo had to become popular. Figo has been placed among the top leaders with scheduled service over a 5 year/100,000 kilometre period. Ford India does not want to drive away the customers with longer waiting period and, hence, has announced the opening of 28 dealerships in India, bringing the total number of Ford outlets to 164 facilities in 97 cities. The company plans to have an exclusive network of 200 facilities by the end of 2010. Labels: Ford, Ford-Dealerships-in-India, Ford-Figo, Ford-India, Ford-India-Sales, Ford-March-Sales
Thursday, 1 April 2010
 Everybody wants to contribute towards creating a green environment. Ford Motor Company and Microsoft Corp. recently announced that they would make electric vehicle ownership easier and more affordable. Isn’t that great news? The two companies are coming together to execute the Microsoft Hohm energy management application for Ford's electric vehicles. Ford is the first car manufacturer to announce the use of Hohm, beginning with the Focus Electric in 2011. Hohm, an Internet-based service, will help customers avoid unnecessary expense by providing insight into their energy usage patterns and suggesting recommendations to increase conservation. With Ford electric cars, Hohm will also help drivers determine the best time to charge their vehicle. Smart recharging habits will help utility companies understand and better manage the increased demands placed upon the electric grid because of electrified vehicles. Hohm will support Ford's forceful global electrification plan. The car maker plans to have five new electric cars in the U.S. and Europe by 2013. The Transit Connect Electric later this year, Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and two next-generation hybrids in 2012 will be seen on the roads in the U.S. Hohm will help car owners find out when and how they can recharge their battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) more efficiently and affordably. It will also help utility companies manage the added demands of electric automobiles on the electric grid. Ford and Microsoft have both taken a major step in working together and leading the way for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. For Ford, this is a much needed step in the development of its infrastructure. The project is going to make electric cars more feasible. Both companies nod their heads in approval that efficient management of the energy ecosystem is significant for electric vehicles to be successful and for the consumer base to grow. Studies show that around 42 percent of consumers are likely to buy a hybrid or electric cars by 2012. Growing numbers of electric cars, however, will have a major impact on energy demand. The addition of an electric vehicle to a household will effectively increase home energy consumption twice over while the car is getting charged. The production of electric vehicles will improve energy efficiency and address the issues of climate change and sustainability. With Hohm, Ford and Microsoft make it easier for car owners to make well turned-out decisions about the most affordable and efficient way to recharge their electric vehicles. It also gives utilities better tools for administering the expected changes in energy demand. In the U.S., four Ford hybrids, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid are already on the road. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, expected to be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America, will also come this year. Ford and Microsoft's participation in the Hohm program builds on the success of their 10-year partnership to offer customers better in-car experience. The Ford SYNC communications and infotainment system, built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, has been installed on more than 2 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles since its launch in 2007, helping drivers connect and voice-control their mobile devices while driving.  Ford and Microsoft also plan to continue work with service partners and municipalities to help further develop the energy ecosystem. Ford's work includes association with 12 U.S. energy companies to road-test 21 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid cars. The research has gathered over 160,000 miles of real-world data, which has provided the foundation for the new Hohm application. Labels: eco-friendly-cars, Ford, Ford-and-Microsoft, Ford-Electric-Cars, Ford-Electric-Vehicles, Ford-Green-Cars, Ford-Hybrids, Ford-Plug-in-Hybrid, Ford-Vehicle-Recharge, Microsoft-Hohm
Friday, 12 March 2010
 Good news for all those Ford Fiesta fans. The latest scoop from Ford is that it is planning to launch a face-lifted version of its C segment sedan, Fiesta. The new Fiesta sedan, which is already being sold in the Chinese market, is likely to hit the Indian roads either by the end of this year or in the earlier months of 2011. Ford India had earlier revealed its plans of rationalising and upgrading its product portfolio in India and Fiesta sedan and hatchback may come pretty soon in India. Though the price range of Fiesta sedan is a matter of speculation, it will be competing with Maruti Suzuki SX4 and Honda City. Ford has, however, refused to comment on the story. When asked about their plans to launch the Fiesta sedan in India, Michael Boneham, president of Ford India said, “Right now we are focusing only on Figo, which is expected to be the game-changing model for us and the company. Having said that, we’ll not restrict ourselves with only one model and many global models are expected to add to the company’s pipeline. As far as the new Fiesta models (both hatchback and sedan versions) are concerned, I’m not ruling out its possibility. This is primarily because, India, China and Brazil are emerging markets for us and every new model is important for us in the long run.” The new Fiesta sedan was unveiled during the Ghangzou auto show held in China last month, during which Ford had revealed that the new sedan will be built across Asia - India, China & Thailand. The new Ford Fiesta will be equipped with a variable valve timing 1.6-Litre VVT (Variable Valve Timing) engine in both petrol and diesel versions, so has been claimed by a number of leading auto magazines. Recently launched Ford Figo is already receiving rave reviews, and to say that the very competitive pricing of Figo has made it an instant favourite of Indian car buyers, would be an understatement. Figo has already revived Ford’s spirit in India and the launch of Fiesta hatch and sedan should help Ford re-establish its roots in the Indian car market. Labels: Facelifted-New-Ford-Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta-Sedan-India, Figo, Ford, Ford Figo, Ford-Fiesta, Ford-Fiesta-Hatchback, Ford-Fiesta-Sedan
Monday, 8 March 2010
Ford has entered the small car segment in India with its super-cool hatchback Figo. Bookings have already started and the response from the customers has been great. That’s not all, Ford Motors wants to cash in on the growing euphoria and bring its Fiesta hatchback, which has already been launched in the European markets, to India.
Considering that Ford had earlier an+nounced its plans to launch a new product every 12 or 18 months, it only seems logical to speculate on hatchback Fiesta’s arrival in India. If launched in India, it will face strong competition with the likes of Honda Jazz, which happens to be positioned in the same segment.
The hatchback version will be very similar to the existing Ford Fiesta sedan, but with a trimmed back and new styling. The Fiesta Hatch is likely to feature two petrol DURATEC engine options: a 1.4-litre 79 bhp and a 1.6-litre 99 bhp along with a 1.4-litre/1.6-litre DURATORQ diesel engine.
The details of Fiesta Hatch have not been announced officially. However, if Ford brings Fiesta hatch to India, it will add a new dimension to the small car options of Indian customers. Most of the manufacturers in India, including Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, have multiple small car offerings.
Ford Fiesta is a subcompact/super-mini car featuring a front-wheel drive system. Currently, it is marketed by the Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa. The sixth generation of Fiesta has been made available in the United States (starting January) and Canada (starting March), which makes it the first Fiesta model to be sold in North America since 1978–80.
It is interesting to know that Ford’s overseas Fiesta model is one of the most successful small cars sold in the world. Since its launch in 1976, Fiesta has sold more than 12 million units. Amazing, isn’t it!
Labels: Fiesta-Hatch, Ford, Ford-Fiesta, Ford-Fiesta-Hatchback, Ford-Figo, Honda-Jazz
Friday, 5 March 2010
New 2011 Ford Mustang V6 has finally got the EPA certification for its unprecedented fuel efficiency and powerful performance. Yes, the all new Mustang will give you an efficiency of 31 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city.
The new Ford Mustang powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 engine achieves 305 bhp with available six-speed automatic transmission and it is the very first production car ever to achieve 300-plus horsepower while maintaining an efficiency quotient of 30-plus mpg. The standard six-speed manual transmission has got an EPA rating of 29 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city. Unbelievable, isn't it!
"The Mustang engineering team aimed high and, through hard work, achieved fuel economy numbers that elevate Mustang into a class by itself," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.
"At no other time in Mustang's history – for that matter, in automotive history – have we been able to talk about 305 horsepower and 31 miles per gallon. The Mustang truly is a no-compromises sports car," he added.
Here is the second shocker, new Mustang already has more than 11,000 orders, half for the new V-6.
The high performance and economy in the new Ford Mustang is courtesy to the lightweight, all-aluminum 3.7-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering. Depending on the driver inputs, the twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valvetrain in microseconds and further enhances the efficiency.
The new record achieved by the Mustang brings another shift in the usual wisdom. The newly engineered six-speed automatic transmission has a well calibrated gear ratio and shift programs which maximize economy while still maintaining high-horsepower driving fun.
2011 Mustang has got an Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system. There have been a few changes in the aerodynamics segment which include a new front fascia, tire spats on the rear wheels, modified underbody shields, a taller air dam and an added rear decklid seal. Labels: 2011 Ford Mustang, Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS), First Car with 300+ bhp and 30 MPG, Ford, Ford Cars, Ford Mustang, new cars
Thursday, 3 December 2009
It seems like Hyundai is on a roll. One year after promising to become the leading manufacturer in fuel economy, Hyundai delivered by topping the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy report. Hyundai passed all major manufacturers in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) including traditional leaders like Honda and Toyota.
The report demonstrates the effectiveness of Hyundai's value-driven fuel-efficiency strategy, which focuses on the intelligent application of cost-effective technologies. The report also substantiates Hyundai's leadership in the race to achieve the US government-mandated 2016 CAFE standard of 35.5 miles per gallon.
"Our thoughtful application of cost-effective, fuel-efficient technologies has helped us achieve our goal of leading the industry in fuel economy ahead of schedule," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. He also added that Hyundai hoped to extend that leadership with the launch of our new direct injection, turbocharging and lithium-polymer hybrid technologies, all of which will be a part of the 2011 Sonata lineup launching early next year.
Hyundai is aligning global R&D resources at its engineering centers in California, Michigan, Korea, India and Germany to develop the Blue Drive technologies needed to achieve fuel efficiency goals. Under the Hyundai Blue Drive strategy, technologies such as direct injection, turbo-charging, hybrid drive systems and a number of others will all play larger roles in powering future models to offer consumers lower emissions, enhanced performance and more miles per gallon.
Carazoo.com here gives the list of car makers who have scored high in producing fuel-efficient vehicles according to Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Reports :
Group Fuel Economy (mpg)
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Manufacturer Overall (Cars/Trucks)
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Hyundai 30.1
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Honda 29.7
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Volkswagen 29.6
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Toyota 29.4
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Kia 28.0
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Nissan 27.2
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BMW 26.9
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Ford 25.7
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General Motors 24.5
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Chrysler 23.2
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Labels: BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Monday, 23 November 2009
 The Autocar Performance Show (ASP) is acknowledged as the leading auto show for high–performance automotive products in India. ASP 2009 is a happening that will last for four days. And it offers a brilliant platform for the exhibitors an excellent platform to launch and display their latest cars, auto accessories, bikes and other products. The exhibitors will also get a chance to interact with thousands of visitors. The exhibitors consider the show as the best way of cost-effective marketing for the exhibitors. The APS is back this year with yet another brilliant range of power-packed machines. The inauguration of this 4 day power packed show was held today at the MMRDA grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex. The fastest diesel engine car of the world, the JCB DIESEL MAX, made its grand entry for the first time ever in India, at the APS '09. The Limited Edition White colour - Suzuki Hayabusa Bike too was on display for the first time in India. Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota participated for the first time along with the long list of reputed car companies such as Mercedes, Skoda, Honda, Hyundai, Suzuki Super Bikes, Lamborghini. The exhibitors at Autocar Performance Show 2009 include manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of High Performance and Sports Cars, Competition Vehicles, Exterior and Body Accessories, Car Audio, Chassis, Suspension and Brake Products, Car Care Products, Electrical Products, Exhaust System Products, Lubricants and Additives, Filters, Intake and& Fuel System Products, Safety Equipment, Mobile Electronics, and Designer Cars. Labels: Car-Exhibition, Ford, JLR, Skoda
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Volvo Cars, the Swedish auto maker, has released the first official pictures of the production-ready S60. The S60 is sportier and more vibrant than any previous Volvo model. The S60 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. And it will be produced at Volvo’s plant in Ghent, in Belgium.
The Volvo S60 is expected to be equipped with Pedestrian Detection. And it is groundbreaking safety feature that can sense pedestrians in front of the car and brake mechanically even without any reaction from the driver.
Volvo Cars India (VCI) is looking at the possibility of launching its compact executive sedan S60 in the country by next year. And this will be after its reintroduction in the European car market. In case if its annual number touches 2,000 units, the company is also looking forward to set up a car assembling unit in India.
The company has established its charisma in seven cities in India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, and Pune. And now the company is planning to further develop its strategies and stretching its dealership base to Goa, Coimbatore, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.
S80 a luxury sedan and luxury seven-seater SUV XC90 are the options the company is currently offering its customers. Volvo will also launch a diesel variant of the S80 next month. Other than the S60, Volvo is also intending to bring in compact crossover SUV XC60, which is currently undergoing road testing it at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT). Even though the C70-coupe is also on the company’s list of to be launched cars, it will be available to the customers on an individual basis depending on the demand. Labels: All-New-Volvo-S60, Ford, Geneva-Motor-Show, New-Volvo-XC60, Volvo, Volvo-Cars-India
Monday, 2 November 2009
Ford Motor Company has developed a new technology which helps them to identify unwanted sounds and eliminate them during the development of automobiles. This new technology will ensure that all new cars from Ford Motors stable have the quietest interior cabins.
The new 'Noise Vision' technology is a part of Ford’s drive to lead the industry with top quality cars and customer satisfaction.
The key to world-class interior quietness is to pinpoint the source and location of every unwanted sound, no matter how subtle it is. The 'Noise Vision' technology of Ford is able to identify the source of all car noise and the result is evident in the new 2010 Taurus, the Fusion, the Flex and the F-150 as these cars can boast of the quietest interiors in their class.
The 'Noise Vision' is a small sphere that is placed inside the cabin of the car. It is equipped with more than thirty highly sensitive microphones and twelve special cameras. The software in the Noise Vision reads data and creates a computerized image showing interior noise "hot spots," including wind noise, a squeak or rattle, or unwanted feedback from the engine or the road.
Ford began using the Noise Vision technology, known as the Noise Source Identification Tool, to develop new vehicles for the 2010 model year. The high-tech tool's thermal imaging is similar to the kind used for military work and medical research.
In the past, Ford engineers worked long and hard to identify unwanted rattles, squeaks or knocks. Spotting these unwanted sounds and eliminating them often took days or weeks. The Noise Source Identification Tool streamlines the process to hours and it's saving money, too. The technology has allowed Ford engineers to reduce 200 hours of wind tunnel testing time a year, saving more than $300,000 in testing costs.
Today, Ford's initial vehicle quality is equal to Toyota and Honda. The interior silence of Ford cars rivals many luxury brands. In fact, Ford has the fewest car noise issues of any full-line car makers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. Ford cars also have higher interior quietness customer satisfaction scores than their Asian counterparts, according to the RDA Group's Global Quality Research System. Labels: Ford, Ford-Car-India, Ford-Cars, Ford-Motor-Company, Noise-Vision-Technology
Thursday, 15 October 2009
 The decision of buying a car does not come overnight. An intelligent buyer will research well before he takes the plunge of buying one. You might have all made plans for the ongoing festival season. And it also includes the plan of buying a car, and you are just blessed with so many new options. And these new cars will surely push you off into a deep sea of thoughts where it might take a few more weeks for you to make a peaceful and satisfied decision for which you will not regret about later. There are a whole range of new car models that is being presented to the Indian car audience. And this has happened in a short span of one to one and a half months. To add on to the list of car launches are cars that has been launched with a minor facelift, or an upgraded version or new variant of the existing model. For those who have settled their thoughts to buy an SUV has the large number of choices. As we have mentioned in a previous blog of ours, it was raining SUVs in India for the past few months. There was an upgraded Discovery 3 and Range Rover launched on September 23. And this launch was soon followed by the launch of Freelander 2, Ford Endeavour, facelifted Nissan X-trial, and the new Audi Q7. The two most acclaimed models of Honda, City and Civic, came as new offerings for the Indian car crowd. The Honda City gets a new variant and a facelifted version of the Civic was launched. The two top luxury car makers of the country Mercedes-Benz and BMW also had gifts for its customers this festival season. Mercedes-Benz launched its new 2010 E-class and BMW launched a new Roadster, Z4. The facelifted version of the existing Teana was also launched by Nissan. Porsche also made its presence through Porsche Panamera, a four seater sports sedan. Chevrolet also launched its sedan Cruze this week, just days before Diwali. Finally yesterday, Tata launched its mid-size sedan, Tata Manza. And we are still waiting for the launch of the re-launch of Maruti SX4 and the new SUV from Premier motors. Well, what do you think? A whole lot of cars, right, now it is up to you to take a clever decision. Labels: BMW, Ford, Honda, Maruti, Nissan, Porsche, Tata
Friday, 9 October 2009
Now you need not have to predict or guess the plans of the US car maker, Ford Motor, for the Indian car market. The company has already made it public. And it seems that the company has a vivid and fruitful plan that will be beneficial both for the company and the Indian car market. To start with the company has plans to launch new car in India every 12-18 months. And this, the company thinks will help it to enhance the market share of the company. The company now has a market share of about 2 per cent and the company does not want to remain the same position, but it wants to grow along with the growing Indian car industry. Now you can do a bit of guess work here as the company has not let out any information about what sort of market share is the company is planning to accomplish in the long run. The company has also set a target of selling over 30,000 units this year, aiming at selling 1,000 units extra this year compared to 2008, where the company was able to sell 29,000 cars. The company is also a marking an increase in sale on a monthly basis. In the month of September this year, the company was able to send 3,500 cars, a 50 per cent increase on year-on-year basis. Ford has been exporting car that it has manufactured in India to South Africa. And the company is also planning to work on exporting more cars this year. The company has high hopes on the launch of Ford Figo and the relaunching of Ford Endeavour. Labels: Car-Export, Ford, Ford-Endeavour, Ford-Figo, Indian-car-market
Thursday, 24 September 2009
The Australian arm of Ford Motors has assisted the parent company in bringing out the small car, Ford Figo, in India. (Maybe, this is Oz’s redemption after all the racial abuses!) The word is around that Ford Australia has taken a lead role in the development of the multi-million dollar project in India for the Figo. The Ford Figo is the fourth big international design job undertaken at Ford Australia, a lead design and engineering centre for the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. The Ford small car was unveiled yesterday and will go on sale next year. The Figo is based on the previous generation Fiesta hatch but has undergone significant engineering changes in accordance to the Indian market condition. Ford's rendezvous with India has been neither warm nor cold. Ford’s existence in the Indian car market has taught the company the baffling ways of how the Indian car market works. The car major has learned that price is the king and small cars mean big volumes. To secure its presence in the country, Ford India has come up the Ford Figo. The Ford Figo is aggressively priced below the Ford Ikon. The Figo will be standing against the Hyundai i20, Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Tata Indica Vista. Labels: Ford, Ford-Figo, Ford-India, Ford-Motor-Company, Ford-Motors, Ford-Small-Car
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
The much-awaited small car from the US auto major Ford has been unveiled in New Delhi. The car has been christened Figo. Ford Figo is a four-door hatchback that will be available in both diesel as well as petrol engines. Figo has the main elements of Ford’s kinetic design language such as modern headlamps, grille shapes and sculpted bonnet of its distinctive face to the subtle integrated spoiler and chamfered window shape at the rear, which the company has used in world renowned vehicles such as Ford Mondeo, Ford Focus, and the Ford Fiesta. It also has very contemporary features, with a completely new look that is very different from the usual Ford models. Figo is a synonym of car that has essence, superiority and intelligent designing, which is truly Italian inspired very similar to the name of the car which in Italian means cool. It also has a solid posture and a very spacious and elegant interior. The Figo is designed to best suit the urban driving conditions. The Figo also has a molded body side with chiseled front fenders, a “comet tail” undercut in the doors and additional light-catching sculpting in the lower body side. The Figo has a bold graphic with large side window shape and spaciousness awaiting occupants’ front and rear and the side window graphic has a blacked-out B-pillar. The engine specification or transmission details are not available. The production of the car will begin in the early months of 2010. The company has also not yet unveiled any details about the pricing of the car, but it is expected to be priced at something higher than Rs. 3 lakh.  Labels: Ford, Ford Fiesta, Ford-Figo, Small-Car
Thursday, 17 September 2009
The Indian car market is now in a glorious period. There is also a fast emerging luxury car market but the most expanding segment is that of the small car. Many companies, realizing the flowering love for the small cars in the country are coming up with new models or introducing new variants for the existing models, and so there is never a scarcity in this segment. The next in the queue is Ford with its small car, codenamed B517. The company has been long working on the project and this seems to be the right time to make it public. The company is expected to showcase its small car in Indian this month. But the car will not hit the roads this year, it will be at least March next year for the car to get launched. After B517 gets launched in India it will also be exported globally including the African and Asia-Pacific countries. The B517 will be available in both petrol and diesel variants. It was said that the diesel version of the car will have a 1.5-litre engine, but now it is expected to be launched powered by a 1.4-litre Duratorq engine, similar to the one used in Ford Ikon and Ford Fiesta. The other option will be a 1.2-litre petrol engine. Chiefly designed for the Indian market, the car once launched will pose a good completion to models like the Volkswagen Polo, and new Chevy Spark. The pricing of the B517 is not yet revealed. This small car is expected to enter the Indian car market with really big promises. Labels: Ford, Ford-Fiesta, Ford-Ikon, Small-Car
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
What would you think is the possible time that the world car market will take before it wakes up from its slumber? If you think the answer is one year or two years or perhaps three or four years, well you may be right as you still would be guessing as there is no specific answer for this question. But it will take a considerable amount of time before it swings back to the good old prosperous days. Though no one really knows how much time will it take, foreseeing the future, we can take a wild guess and beat around the bush saying that the golden days of the past will soon be back. The car market that we are speaking about is the American car market which is trying hard to regulate itself with the global car market. And the American car market seems to not have a glorious time. It was the most thriving market in the world but before the “Motown meltdown” last year which turned the whole car industry upside down. American car market is now in a stage of rebuilding itselves from a very steep fall. The fall of the American car market was best utilized by the Indian and the Chinese car markets. Both the markets, especially the Chinese car market, have grown really big and they even have able to mark a strong base in the American car market, which is very evident in a recent study that shows the growing demand of Indian and Chinese cars in the American market. The Chinese car market, for the first time, is expected to be emerged as the number one car market of the world. And the growing Chinese car market is the reason why the world car market did not fall into a disastrous phase, but it will not be able to stand holds the global market for a long time. The only car market that will push the global car market back to its normal self is the American car market. And this will certainly take some time. The American auto majors, Ford and General Motors, does not expose a favourable condition and this could be a reason for further trouble in the American market, but whatever may the once majestic American car market will regain its past glory and together with it the global car market too. Labels: American-Car-Market, Ford, General-Motors, Indian-car-market
Monday, 14 September 2009
 The legendary Ford Capri is celebrating its 40th birthday. The car was incepted in 1969 as the European version of the American Ford Mustang. The Ford Capri sold nearly two million units in just eighteen years and achieved iconic status with its target audience. The Capri was one of the greatest muscle car of the Swinging Sixties. The Sixties was an era of irresponsible excess and flamboyance and the Ford Capri was aimed at a style-conscious generation. The Ford Capri was available in a range of engines for the economist and the enthusiast; in fact it was the choice of a wide range of customers. The car was initially called the Colt when it was introduced for the first time at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1969. Ford began selling the Capri outside Europe in April 1970, in the North America, South Africa and Australia. The Capri proved highly successful, with 400,000 cars sold until 1970. Ford revised the Capri in 1972 with new and more comfortable suspension, rectangular headlights, enlarged tail-lights and new seats. Ford Motor Company witnessed the highest sales of the Capri in 1973 with a total of 233,000 units. The global oil crisis of 1973 failed to hinder the sales of the Capri and in 1974 the Mk II was launched. The new version of the Capri had smoother design lines and simplified option packs. The Mk III was rolled out in 1978, with several special editions such as the Calypso and Laser. The last Capri, limited edition Capri 280 also known as the Brooklands Capri, was made on 19 December 1986 and 1,886,647 cars had rolled off the production lines from Ford. The Capri is remembered for the classic advertising slogan "The car you always promised yourself". Labels: Ford, Ford-Motor-Company, Ford-Mustang
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
What do you think is the most commemorated word these days in the automobile world, it is nothing else but Green. In fact it is not only the automobile world that is now emphasizing the green technology but the world around has understood the emergency of the situation to go green. Indian car industry also thinks along the same line and is planning to be more eco friendly than ever, not only to save the earth but to meet the growing customer interests. More and more customers are now opting eco friendly cars and now it has almost become a trend in the country to use cars that is less harmful to the environment. Another growing demand in the country is that of small cars, and this segment has been aimed at by many major carmakers of the country, where most of them have already announced the launch of their small car. Ford India is smart enough to combine the both; the company will produce a small car with an eco friendly engine technology. Doesn’t it look like the right mix for the Indian car industry, it certainly does. Ford is planning to use the EcoBoost engine technology in the new small cars. Though the company has not introduced the EcoBoost engine technology in Indian cars before, it has been used in the compact cars and large trucks in the United States. The new engine, compared to the other diesel and petrol engines, emits less carbon dioxide (CO2) and thus is nature friendly. Though this is a plan that the company will not implement in the near future, it certainly appears to be a much welcomed thought from the Ford. The company will initially produce the small car with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines and will come out with the EcoBoost engine technology only later, this must be because that the company needs to monitor the acceptance of its new small car before it is given a costlier heart. Labels: eco-friendly-cars, EcoBoost-Engine-Technology, Ford
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
The alternative fuel vehicle seems to be the “in” thing now. Everybody wants to have a chunk of electric car market. Ford Motors also have jumped into the bandwagon with gusto and to prove a point in the electric car segment. But Ford Motors have a different way of producing things and currently Ford is highly future focused on technology in the electric car and wants it to talk and communicate with the power grids. Sounds awesome right? A talking car in the making. This futuristic feature will in reality be very helpful to car owners as it permits them to charge the vehicle at a given time limit. Transit Connect, the first battery electric vehicle from Ford is due for the release in America and this new facility will only strengthen the sales of their electric commercial van. The company seems to be very concerned about the comfort of its customers; as it has signed two-year collaboration with almost 10 utility companies and Department of Energy to develop a system that would be very beneficial to the alternative fuel customers. Even though the grid is now ready for use, the company is working on further developing the technology. It can be of a slight issue that most of the customers are not equipped for a latest technology like this, but in the next one year’s time the stage will be set for a successful launch of the system. GM’s Chevrolet Volt can be a great competitor for the Ford’s Transit Connect, but the company still hopes high. The Transit Connect will not be equipped with a combustion engine and mileage of the car will depend on the size of the battery Ford installs in the car. Let us wait for a better tomorrow with more eco-friendly cars that are user friendly too. Labels: Eco-Friendly-Car, Electric-Car, Ford
Monday, 1 June 2009
Customer is King and every industry focuses on building a good rapport with customers. Recently, Ford India launched its newfangled service plan for its customers entitled ‘Scheduled Service Plan’ or SSP. This plan offers Ford car owners a lower maintenance cost. The car service package includes maintenance of vehicles such as engine oil change, air/fuel/oil filter cleaning/replacement, spark plugs, etc. at regular intervals. Besides this, for a limited period, the service charges will be discounted on car maintenance and part replacement will be done. The Service Plan is available across the country in 15 cities - Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad & Secunderabad, Delhi & NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Cochin, Kolkata, and Surat. The SSP is available in a variety of plans to match the customer’s requirement. According to the new scheme, customers are requested to turn their cars in to Ford dealers for servicing by experts and well trained technicians certified by Ford India. This program will allow customers to drive in with their cars for maintenance without the hassle of billing in the regular periodical maintenance service." Besides SSP, as a part of customer service, Ford India also presents a complete package of service products which include car maintenance including Extended Warranty (EW); Total Maintenance Plan (TMP) which will cover all the possible mechanical & electrical failures; wear & tear of the car parts. Labels: Car-Maintenance, Car-Service, Ford
Thursday, 28 May 2009
The world’s largest automobile market of the United States has dramatically changed in the past year due to global economic recession. The automotive industry in Amercia has collapsed after the recession brought leading car players GM and Chrysler at the verge of bankruptcy. And, even other car manufacturers were forced to ask for cash support to keep their businesses live. Many of the U.S. auto companies are finding it hard to recover the losses. Chrysler has already succumbed to its losses and now the Italian car manufacturer Fiat plans to take over the company. General Motors has already taken a huge fund from the government to support its business. It is believed that at present Ford is the only manufacturer in America that has successfully retained its independent position in the auto market. The car manufacturer refuses to take financial aid from the government but then till how long will the company carry on with the losses? The situation in American car market has become so serious that in the future months even Ford may need to borrow money from the government to support its successful business. Car manufacturers there are worried that the number of car buyers will decrease as days go by and the investments made on them will go down the drain. But in India, the situation is not the same. The Indian car industry is climbing the positive track with more and more car manufacturers rolling out new cars to spark a new excitement in the market. All the new cars launched in the market are designed with best of cues and packed with host of technologies to entice waning car buyers. Many Indian car manufacturers like Maruti and Hyundai are witnessing positive curves on the sales graph. However, the severe loss faced by GM in the U.S. has put its impact on GM cars in India as well. Despite of GM’s aggressive marketing strategy and promotional campaigns, the car manufacturer is not successful in regaining its lost position. Maybe the future has something good for GM. India has given a new hope to many car manufacturers and GM may also find its way out of recession. Labels: Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM, Indian-car-industry, Maruti, U.S.-Car-Market
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Ford Endeavour is an undisputed leader in the SUV segment of the Indian car industry. It proves its supremacy by achieving the highest sales record in the segment during the first quarter of this year. In the Indian car market, Ford Endeavour is available in two variants, 2.5-litre XLT and 3.0-litre Thunder Plus. And both the variants behold a perfect combination of style, power, and performance that continues to generate interest amongst car buyers across the country. In January 2009 the car manufacturer even launched an Endeavour leadership advertising campaign with the “No. 1 SUV” tagline. The advertising campaign featured the Bollywood celebrity Sunil Shetty and this may have contributed to the high sales of the car. There are many car buyers who love the structure, appeal, and outstanding off-road capabilities of the car. Due to its attractive and powerful characteristics many hold their confidence in the Endeavour. And with this confidence Ford actually succeeded to maintain its leadership position in the SUV segment. Labels: Car-Buyers, Ford, Ford-Endeavour, Indian-Car, SUV
Thursday, 18 December 2008
We all know that the wind of recession had severely hit the global car market. Big U.S car manufacturers like the General Motors, Ford, and the Chrysler were on the verge of bankruptcy and had asked for financial help. It was a big amount that these three major players in the industry required. They applied for a 14 billion dollar bailout package. But unfortunately, after weeks of long debate and discussions, the Senate refused to provide the said amount to the struggling U.S. auto manufacturers. The General Motors and Chrysler required billion of dollars to forestall a collapse in their business while Ford desired a hefty line of credit. Shockingly, the proposed bailout is rejected. And this has further raised the fear of a deeper economic downturn along with heavy financial crisis. In U.S one out of ten jobs is linked to the auto sector. And any kind of hurdle on the automotive sector would have a direct impact on the job market, which would further jeopardize the persistent efforts to ease the economic recession. With the loss experienced by the Ford, GM, and Chrysler, over ten thousands of jobs are at risk. Adding to that, further financial shocks and disruption in the global auto industry are the most aspirated challenges to overcome. Even the dollar, Asian stocks, and commodity prices have started tumbling in response to the immediate effect of the rejected bailout. General Motors, Ford or Chrysler failure would also aggravate the market situation in India. The Indian auto industry is gradually making efforts to revive its future. But, a bankruptcy in U.S would definitely endanger the Indian car industry. This is because these car companies have a good market share in India with General Motors and Ford accelerating at a faster pace. Even the auto component industry in the country would get affected by forced production shut down of the U.S. “Big Three”. Now, it’s time to analyze and study how the collapse of proposed bailout would influence the Indian car market and to plan strategies to overthrow the challenges in the recent times. Labels: Car-Industry, Ford, General-Motors
Monday, 15 December 2008
Deeply affected by the impact of global recession, the Ford is planning to sell its unit Volvo car Corp. The company is set to dispose of its assets to cope up with the challenges brought by the slowdown in the global markets. Volvo being a big brand in itself has received tremendous response from bidders in the international market. Earlier, it was reported that the Mahindra & Mahindra is bidding for Volvo, which is now clearly denied by the company stating the news as a mere speculation. Media reports unveiled that the Ford is in talks with the Cerberus Capital and Texas Pacific Group to have a joint bid for its Volvo brand. Ford claims this move as an essential survival strategy in the falling car market. Along with Ford, the General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC are seeking for multi-billion-dollar US government bailout as they are suffering from a severe downturn in the domestic market due to recession. Though Mahindra was also looking for the acquisitions to cope up with these turbulent times. But then the company is now looking out for better measures and strategies. To build up its brand reputation in the international market, Mahindra has plans to introduce its popular SUV in the US car market in the upcoming year. Labels: Ford, Mahindra-and-Mahindra, Volvo-Car
Monday, 4 August 2008
Influenced by Tata, Maruti and Fiat, Ford also plans to roll out some interesting and exciting small cars to India. Ford Motor has shifted all its focus towards the production of small cars with desires to target all the sections of car buyers. The company has plans to roll out a portfolio of small cars in various countries round the world including India. Ford also desires to realign its facilities and factories to manufacture more fuel-efficient engines. The company is also in a mood to make its Mercury brand an essential part of the small car production strategy. This clearly states that Ford plans to imitate some of the attractive features of Mercury and place them in its line of proposed small cars. So many small cars are entering the market. Will this hamper the market for huge sedans and luxury cars? Labels: Ford, Maruti, Small-Cars
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
 Indian car industry had witnessed a major growth in the previous year. But this year car manufacturer Ford doubts the growth level because of the inflationary pressures.
Ford, while launching the new variants of Ford Fiesta, was worried about the sale and growth of the car. Everyone associated with the manufacture, design and production of the cars are sure that an increase of almost 10% in the inflation is going to have a great influence on the industry's growth. Rising inflation has also pushed up the interest rates, delivering disappointment and doubts to car manufacturers. It has also deterred new and used car purchases. Now what? Will India beat the high growth figure of the last few years? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Car-Sales, Ford
Friday, 6 June 2008
Jaguar and Land Rover have held their identities even under the ownership of Ford Motors. They have managed to keep their British image intact. Jaguar and Land Rover are well know brands. After all the speculations, it has been clarified by the company that Jaguar and Land Rover will retain their identities. They will continue to pursue their independent businesses.
It was noticed that West Midlands which houses a lot of popular automotive companies were apprehensive about Tata Motors. The take over by an Asian company has not been considered favourable by some quarters of European automotive sector. With this declaration, the European companies might get happy.
Labels: Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors
Thursday, 10 April 2008
The small cars are grabbing most of the attention in the Indian car market. All car manufacturers are now following the trend and launching small car models. Ford India is planning to launch a small car in India by 2010.
They are planning to increase the installed capacity of its manufacturing facility in Chennai from the present 1 lakh units to 2.5 lakh units by 2010. The expansion includes the small car programme and a new engine plant. Labels: car plant, Ford, new car launch, small cars
Monday, 31 March 2008
Is any one know that how much Ford spent initially to buy luxury car brands-Jaguar and Land Rover? Ford bought these two high end brands in 1989 at a whooping $10 billion. Ford has invested such a big amount in Jaguar and Land Rover but failed to reap profits. Ford suffered a huge loss by selling its luxury brands to Tata for merely $2.3 billion. As far as global players are concerned, they are firmly committed to make their vehicle more appealing and luxurious than their rivals. It is still not known as to why Ford failed to make these brands profitable. Big wigs of world’s auto industry are now thinking of revamping their brands to avoid selling of their brands to any other company after Ford’s failure in Jaguar brands. Labels: Economical buy, Expansion in Indian auto industry, Ford, JLR deal, luxury cars, Tata Motor
After getting downgraded by rating agencies, Tata Motors is now hopping for a better rating after announcement of a new refinancing plan. But this may take a few months altogether. The refinance plan is expected as Tata Motors clinched a major acquisition deal with Ford to own the Jaguar and Land Rover. Tata Motors have paid 2.3 billion dollars for the deal. Eventually, the deal will be financed through a mixture of debt and equity.
Last week, Crisil, a rating agency, downgraded ratings on the auto major's cash credit facilities from 'AA+' to 'AA-/stable'. But the agency has removed Tata Motors from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications' list. The auto major has taken a USD 3 billion bridge loan to take over the two iconic brands and meet the working capital requirements with a combination of debt, liquidation of existing investments. The company also plans to raise a fresh equity of USD 1 billion. Labels: Auto market competition, Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors
Monday, 24 March 2008
Think of the ultimate muscle car in India and you will immediately think Ford Endeavour. It is not just its excellent driving dynamics but its rugged looks which has captivated many car enthusiasts. Muscle SUVs have become the latest fascination for all those who want to live life king size. But did you know that the men in blue also had a passion for SUVs. While Ford Endeavour comes first is owned by Bhajji and Kumble and newcomer Praveen Kumar, Hyundai Tucson is owned by Rahul Dravid.
Labels: Endevour, Ford, Hyundai Tucson, SUVs enthusiasts, SUVs in India
Thursday, 20 March 2008
The process of acquisition of prestigious British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover is finally nearing completion. It seemed to drag on forever. Ford is finally signing on the dotted line to hand over the brands to Tata Motors. They hope to wrap the whole thing up by 26th March. The JLR deal has generated much interest in the global media. Tata Motors got very bad press coverage from US and UK. Inspite of it all, they have finally closed the deal. There were a series of hurdles in Tata’s way towards these acquisitions. After clearing these hurdles one at a time, the company is finally set to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover completely. Labels: british cars, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Tata Motors
Friday, 14 March 2008
The month of March has so far been the most exciting for car buyers. Buying a car this month has been like going to a restaurant and finding out that someone else has ordered something better. There’s so much on the menu to choose from. The number of car models on sale is unbelievable. The price cut on small cars after the new union budget has unleashed a car shopping spree. Ever since Maruti, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Tata and Fiat cars have become cheaper, there has been a mad rush at car showrooms.
Now, Ford too has entered the race. Ford’s new March Masti programme is really interesting. Read this - you can get a loan at an interest rate of just 7.5 % and a whole lot of interesting accessories worth Rs 22,000 completely free with a new Ford car! Labels: car buying, Car-Discounts-India, Car-Sales, Ford, small cars
The good old Ambassador car from Hindustan Motors is slowly moving out of government patronage. It was like the ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of the car industry. It was always there when younger and newer car models kept hitting the roads and it hung around for a very long time.
Over the years it came to symbolize bureaucracy. The government has now decided to replace the fuel guzzling ambassadors with the more stylish and fuel efficient Ford Ikon Flair. This comes after a recent approval for the Hyundai Accent. The golden age of the Ambassador is finally at an end. Labels: Ford, Government, Hindustan Motors, Hyundai
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
The Chevy Spark sold over 2000 cars in February 2008, a majority of which are owned by women drivers. Spark has charmed its way into women’s hearts posting an 80% increase in sales and topping the list of highest-sold cars for the month of Feb. The other car that has women swooning is the cute Chevy Aveo U-VA.
The sudden rush to buy the Spark has increased GMs market share beating that of its US rival Ford. This may very well be the first step towards women turning into major car market swingers – something that was pre-dominantly considered to be “a guy thing”. Labels: Car-competition, Car-Sales, Chevrolet, Ford, Spark
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Ford showcased the Verve sedan at the Detroit Auto Show and now Verve could be our new Fiesta, which will style the popular Mondeo looks. There is no official news, but it is a probable and definite assumption. However, this could take as long as two years! And with the rapid growth of the auto market in India, 2010 is a long way off! With the SX4 biting fast into the sedan market sales with its bold looks, the Fiesta has taken a hard beating in the last quarter of 2007. The Verve sedan is a well designed concept car with sporty and handsome looks; and classy and modern interiors. I would have shown more interest if it was coming out next month, but I think 2010 is just too far away! Labels: Ford, New launch, New look, Upcoming Cars
Friday, 1 February 2008
I never knew that you can convert a car part into a musical instrument. Don’t be amazed, I recently came across news that Ford is exploring with innovative ideas as a part of promotion and that is why they converted the part of the new Ford Focus into musical instruments. Two creative designers from the US were the brains behind this mechanical musical instrument.
They created musical instrument like Door Harp, Clutch Guitar, and Fender Bass using car accessories. The ad campaign will hit viewers by performing a stage show using this unique instrument. Isn’t it a fabulous way of promotion? Can we expect Indian car makers to come up with this kind of promotion? I doubt. Maybe not this much but Indian car makers can definitely come up with creative ideas. I hope they try. Article Submitted by Divya G Labels: Car-Accessories, Car-Designs, Ford, Promotional campaign
Thursday, 31 January 2008
The sale process of Tata buying Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) is almost done. Throughout the process, the entire auto industry analysts have unanimously said that the $2-billion reported bid price by Tata is too high and that JLR would be difficult buys at any price looking at their past history. Ford Motors acquired Jaguar in 1989 and Land Rover in 2000. Both companies are now valued at $2 billion. Ford had paid $2.5 billion for the Jaguar and around $2.7 billion for the Land Rover from BMW. It still remains to be seen if Ford will decide to sell these brands to Tata Motors for a loss. The fact that even though these brands saw major losses in 2006, the year 2007 has seen a major turn around. These brands have churned out a profit margin that not only made a mark in 2007, but also covered their losses in 2006. This recently revealed fact is definitely not a good sign in favor of Tata if they are looking for a good bargain. On the other hand, this could encourage Tata to go all guns blazing and acquire the two brands at any cost. I just hope that one of my fav Indian car companies who has seen so much success in the last few years, does not get blinded by the big names that Jaguar and Land Rover represent and dig a hole for itself in the coming year. Article Submitted by J C BoseLabels: BMW-Cars, Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
I am completely excited about the Jaguar and Tata scenario unfolding in the US. Get set going for the Jaguar-Tata production plan. As per media reports, Jaguar has displayed its new models to the Tata Group, its new parents.
Tata Motors was named as preferred bidder by the car giant Ford for sale of its two Brit luxury brands, Jaguar and Land Rover, after evaluating interests by Mahindra and Mahindra and the private equity firm OneEquity.
This definitely looks like the Ford Group in the US has made up their minds and that soon Indian roads may be swarming with Land Rover and Jaguar brands! Labels: Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Tata
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Your NRI uncle’s son can tantalize you no more with his latest gadgets. You probably already have better ones! As the Indian economy is booming, value gap between the US dollar and the Indian rupee is narrowing. The influx of so many foreign car brands in such a short time is nothing short of revolutionary. American and European auto majors are making a beeline for Indian shores. But it’s not restricted to just the car makers. We hear Canada’s second-largest automotive component company Linamar Corp. is exploring opportunities in India and may set up a manufacturing facility here to supply powertrains and industrial components to the local market. This $2.4-billion company is an original equipment supplier to auto biggies like General Motors and Ford. It has 37 manufacturing centres in North America, Europe and Asia. Nice to see growing western interest in the Indian market! Labels: automotive, Ford, General Motors, Linamar, Powertrains
Friday, 7 December 2007
The Fiat 500 won the car of the year award for 2008. Fiat is the only automobile manufacturer in the world that has won the coveted European Car of the Year award nine times. It was voted the best by a large contingent of 58 journalists from 22 European countries. The 500 was voted ahead of the Ford Mazda II and Ford Mondeo. It is Italy’s national icon, with the original 1957 version selling close to four million units, until it was phased out in 1975. After its re-launch, Fiat decided to regain its coveted place in the European car market and is offering the largest possible offer of 500,000 different ways to configure the car with its myriad options. It is also offering the electric fragrance diffuser for those who love the smell of fresh morning air in the cabin. The available engines include a 1.3-litre multi-jet diesel that churns out 74 bhp (which also powers the Swift diesel in India) and two types of petrol: a 1.2-litre that produces 68 bhp and a 1.4-litre that generates 100 bhp. Fiat comes with a five-star safety rating and is packed with the latest safety equipments including an ABS with electronic stability program. The interiors have a funky design with high quality elements and a digital instrumental panel. India operations: As far as Fiat India’s plans go, the company plans to turn India into a centre for its Asia operations. Indians have a long association with Fiat, but will have to wait for sometime longer for the Fiat 500 compact car to tread on Indian roads. Labels: Auto-Shows, Award winning car, Compact cars, Driving imported cars, Fiat, Ford, Foreign cars
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Ok, am sure that we all know Maruti Suzuki is the top leading automaker in India. It’s a pretty exciting fact that no matter where you go in India, you can see a Maruti vehicle. From the last seven years Maruti Suzuki is the top ranked in JD Power’s India Customer Satisfaction Index study. Continuing in the first position this year Maruti scored 838 points out of 1000 and the most interesting thing is that Maruti was the only carmaker to score more than the industry average of 777 points. According to the JD Power’s India Customer Satisfaction Index study the factors contributing to overall satisfaction are the percentage of problems experienced in a car, service quality, and the user friendly service. Take a look at the maintenance services that Maruti is providing. I would say it is truly instant, easily accessible, and affordable. Also the problems experienced in Maruti cars are less. I personally have the opinion that Maruti Services have a very user friendly attitude. The brands that follow Maruti in the ranking are Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and Ford. These automakers scored 765, 745, 740, and 737 points respectively, making themselves fit in the top four positions after Maruti. Compared to last years score these automakers showed vast improvement in their scores. Honda, Skoda, and Hyundai showed the highest improvement. Labels: Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Indian car market, Maruti, Maruti Suzuki, Ratings on JD Customer Satisfaction Index, Skoda, Toyota
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Indians love their small cars. In India small cars go well with the urban living conditions. Fulfilling the growing demands for small cars, Ford in collaboration with Mazda wants to launch a small car in India. However, Ford is still confused about the appropriate model for India. The options it is considering are KA and Mazda2. As the story goes, Ford is considering plans to import the Mazda2 kit from Thailand. Rumors say if it is the Mazda2, Ford will either use the existing Ikon or Fiesta platforms. The new KA is expected to roll out in Europe next year under the Fiat-Ford signature. Fiat’s 500 made under the platform of KA has formally launched recently. Mazda2 got more Wows when it was formally previewed at the Geneva motor show than the Honda Jazz and Fit. From Fords new plans, we can expect either the KA or Mazda2 or both swarming on Indian roads soon. Labels: Fiat, Ford, Honda, Imported cars, Mazda, New launch, Small cars market in India
Monday, 12 November 2007
Ford Ikon turns cool with its new Ikool music edition. It comes with an I-Pod compatible Sony X-plod MP3 player with high wattage rear oval speakers. That’s not it; this limited music model also spoils you with a few other chattels like a Nokia Bluetooth hands free kit, sporty leather vinyl seat covers, and an anti-theft system with remote entry and Ikool decal on front fenders. This ‘Josh Machine’ has dynamic and dashing looks and is one of the first cars in India to come up with different variants. This sedan comes in beautiful color choices such as Copper Rust along with popular colors like Paprika Red, Jeans Blue, Panther Black, Platinum, and Diamond White. This ‘Ikool’ model offers the most desired gizmos especially for music lovers like me giving it a cool and trendy appeal for youngsters. The sedan is attractively priced at close to Rs. 5.08 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). This handsome sedan with an alluring price can be yours as you rock and roll through the trance that is traffic! Labels: Cool cars in India, Ford, Ikool music edition, Improved interior features, Indian car market, New limted edition variant, Reasonably priced
Monday, 5 November 2007
Scheduled to be released sometime next year Ford is likely to facelift the Fiesta with a new look probably in the first quarter of 2008. Even with strong rivals such as Honda and Toyota, Ford is a rising hit in the Indian market. The Fiesta is a comfortably luxurious car that won Ford a record market in India. The Fiesta will get more and better standard features and a new exterior styling. Ford announced the Indian auto market as its first target. The global automaker gurus agree that the Indian vehicle market is the perfect place to compete. Definitely a right decision from Ford. The next Ford model to get a facelift is the Endeavour. Labels: Ford, Honda, Indian car market, Leading manufacturer, New Car, New look, Toyota
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
What you say about used cars? How will it be if you buy a used Mitsubishi Lancer or a used Ford Icon and alter it with sporty designs? Will it look sporty if you put a nice spoiler on the rear of your car and cut short the ground clearance? Go Vroooom. The Indian youth needs more designs rather than the usual black or white or red. It’s time to get your dream cars in India’s used car market at an affordable price. The global auto majors are looking for potential buyers of their vehicles in India’s used car market. India’s used car market has had a lone voyager in Maruti and its TrueValue program. Now, Honda’s Auto Terrace, Toyota You Trust brand, Hyundai’s Hyundai Advantage, and Ford’s Ford Assured used car programs have entered the Indian car market. Statistics say that the used-car market counts for one million units across India. This industry is expected to grow bigger faster than in past years. Here is the current scenario of the pre-owned cars industry in India. Toyota’s You Trust venture is all set to roll out at leading dealerships across the country by October end 2007. Honda is ready with their new team trained to focus only on its used-car program called Auto Terrace. The company’s used-car program is currently running in a small way and is expected to be a success soon. Ford Assurance and Hyundai Advantage programs are also doing competitively well in the industry. Last, but definitely not the least, our car guru Maruti is at the top with more than 90,000 used cars units sold through its True Value network. Labels: Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Programs for used car sales, Toyota, Used car market in India, Used cars
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