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Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Smaller than Jazz
Currently, Jazz is globally considered to be the smallest car in Honda’s portfolio of cars. Now with high inflation, the company feels the need to produce cars smaller than its Jazz. Aimed at reducing environmental emissions and shortage of fuel in near future, the company is also in progress to design and develop small cars that will take on less fuel and will be lower in CO2 emissions. The way forward, Honda plans to launch small and affordable hybrid engines. It also has plans to add more number of diesel engines in its car portfolio. Honda Jazz will hit the Indian shores by next year and the company will launch another small car in a couple of years, a global car with an improved engine technology and better performance. Expectations are high that Honda will now enter the core of Indian car industry and establish a stronger niche with a range of small cars. Labels: Honda, Honda-Jazz, Indian-Car, Small-Car
Monday, 29 September 2008
Honda Accord Gifted
Honda recently gifted the Honda Accord to Mr. Digvijay Singh, winner of the Order of Merit List for gold tournament held in India. Digvijay, a happy owner of the Honda Accord must be smiling with the car keys in his hands. Obviously, he has a reason to smile. Honda as a brand is a super success in the country and people love to own Honda cars like City, Civic, CR-V, and Accord. The new Accord is a perfect blend of unmatched performance, inspiring style, high-end safety, and refined comfort. Who will not love driving a classy car like this? By gifting this car to the winner of a sport event, Honda is making an attractive move towards branding. Indian car manufacturers are going hand in hand with sports events because of the huge crowd following sports activities. Even Volvo tried to brand its car model by gifting it to the first Indian individual winner of Olympics. Labels: Honda, Honda- Accord, Honda-City, Honda-Civic, Honda-CR-V, Indian-Car, Volvo
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
A Diesel Honda is on the Map
Though diesel cars arrived much later than petrol cars in India, they have always been more popular in the Indian market due to the high fuel economy they deliver. Very few car manufacturers in the country have shyed away from introducing diesel car variants or models. One of them is Honda. Honda has clung on to petrol engines over the entire decade that they have been in the country. Recently, there have been rumours that Honda is planning to introduce a diesel variant of one of its existing models. It’s supposed by many that the model could very well be their popular SUV – the Honda CR-V. Labels: Diesel cars, Honda, new car launch
Friday, 6 June 2008
One More Hybrid Car to Hit Indian Roads
The Indian car market does not have any hybrid cars as of now though they have been around for over two decades in the US and Europe. Hybrid cars consume less fuel and have lower emission levels. Despite all these merits, they have not been popular with the masses because of their exorbitant prices. But now hybrids have become hot favourites with the issue of global warming and energy consumption.
After Honda’s announcement of a launch of the Civic Hybrid in India, the world’s No. 1 hybrid car Toyota Prius is set to arrive too. Prius is the most fuel efficient car in the US. The car is likely to be available at a price tag of Rs 18-20 Lakh.
Labels: Honda, hybrid cars, Toyota
Monday, 19 May 2008
Honda to Launch Civic Hybrid
Few cars companies have been able to maintain a strong brand image over a decade as Honda. The Japanese car company Honda is associated with premium sedans in India. The product portfolio is short with only four models: the City, Civic, CR-V and the Accord. The company will be celebrating 10th year of its presence in India. On the decennial anniversary, the company plans to roll out the eco-car Civic Hybrid. Since the car will be imported, it could cost higher in India, than in US or Japan. The Civic Hybrid is 60 percent fuel efficient. The car will be a complete solution to greenhouses gases in India. However, its price could be a factor that can affect sale in India, which is the hub of low-priced cars. Labels: Honda, Hybrid Car
Friday, 16 May 2008
Accord is Also a Hybrid
The 8th Generation Accord is a kind of hybrid vehicle in India. It gets an E10 engine which is fueled by 10 % ethanol and 90 percent petrol run. This car will be manufactured in India at Honda facilities. Thus, the car will also be eligible for benefits given for hybrids as announced by the Union Finance Minister in the Budget 2008. The 8th Generation Accord is also costlier by Rs 2 lakh compared to its previous models. The cost is increased due to the introduction of new engine which saves petrol when idling and at traffic signals. The much awaited Accord will hopefully herald the hybrid range of cars in India. The car cannot be positioned against the more powerful Honda Civic hybrid, but is in the same line as it is run by the combination of fuel (Petrol and Ethanol). Honda needs to bring in many more of such cars to India. Labels: Honda, hybrid cars
Thursday, 15 May 2008
The Next Generation Accord Arrives
Finally, the 8th generation Accord has arrived in India. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the officials of Honda Siel Cars. According to initial reports, the car will be available in three variants – Accord 2.4, Accord 2.4 Elegance and Accord 2.4 Inspire. The prices would start from Rs 16.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and go up to Rs 18.14 lakh. The new accord is Rs 2 lakh costlier than its earlier versions, but it also comes packaged with latest interior and exterior features. Honda has tried to make the 8th generation car looks radically different from its predecessor. The new car comes with a lot of goodies like the new i-VTEC engine, advanced gearbox and hybrid fuel combination of ethanol and petrol. The fuel efficiency has also improved by 8 %. May be the car proves to be the best saloon to enter India before the Fiat Linea does later in this year. Labels: Honda, new car launch
Friday, 11 April 2008
Automatic Captiva
Chevrolet Captiva the most appealing SUV will be soon seen in an automatic transmission version without compromising on performance and fuel economy. The rocking SUV has won millions of hearts and is doing well on Indian roads. Presently, its available only with a diesel engine. Captiva carried pretty impressive sales by selling nearly 200 units last month which is second only to the Honda CR-V. Now with the automatic transmission option, it’ll definitely attract more buyers. Another plus point is that this model will be enhanced by a four wheel drive feature. The new features on the Captiva might add to the cost of the car but spending a little extra is worth it for such good features. Labels: Chevrolet, Honda, new car launch, New variant, SUVs
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Mitsubishi wants more
Has India become a decisive factor in Mitsubishi’s business strategy? It does looks like that if you see at the new products planned for India. The Japanese company is planning to introduce the i–MiEV, an electric car and the very stylish SUV Outlander next year in India. It seems that the company does not want to rest on its laurels gained in past. The company is already selling Lancer, Cedia, Monetro and Pajero. The company is now eyeing luxury SUV segment by launching Outlander and is also planning to introduce the first international brand electric car in India. The company has re-defined luxury cars in India. It can do the same in future. It is clearly targeting other Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Maruti-Suzuki who have already established themselves in India. Labels: Electric Car, Expansion in Indian auto industry, Growth in Indian auto industry, Honda, luxury cars, Mitsubishi, new cars, SUVs
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Honda Accord is going to be late
If you are looking forward to buying the new Honda Accord for Ugadi or Gudi Padva in March, its time to change your plan. You don’t have to entirely give up on the car though. You are just going to have to postpone your plans of buying it.
Honda has put a stop to the production of the new eight generation Honda Accord. The car will be available only in May. The new date is also not fixed. Honda is re-designing the car and making it longer by 2.5 to 3 inches. A new car model could be stuck in the car design phase for a long time and nothing is certain until it’s over with. So, the launch date can’t be fixed with certainty yet. But one thing is for sure - The new Accord is going to be a real treat to the eyes and well worth the wait! Labels: Car Design, Honda, new car launch
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Logan is on top
It’s a story of Tortoise beat the Hare in a “car race”. Last month, the Mahindra-Renault Logan suddenly sold out in large numbers to overtake Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Maruti Suzuki SX4. The Logan has always been appreciated for being a good mileage car. But for a long time, its price wasn’t helping sales. Promotional campaigns weren’t going its way either. The ‘most spacious sedan on Indian roads’ was unable to make much space for itself in our highly competitive car market. It was slowly drifting into oblivion.
A new price strategy from Mahindra-Renault has come to the Logan’s rescue. The family sedan now comes cheaper at Rs 4.5 lakh for petrol and Rs 5.75 lakh for diesel variant. Now, the car is most probably filling Mahindra Motors’ balance sheets alongside the Scorpio. We thought the new union budget might encourage Mahindra-Renault to come out with a smaller version of the Logan but that’s not what they have in mind. It will remain just the same. We hear there’s a new brand campaign in the works though. Labels: Car discounts, Car sales, Honda, Hyundai, Mahindra-Renault, Maruti Suzuki
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Go Hydrogen for a Greener Tomorrow
The hydrogen revolution has come to India. Tata, Honda, and Toyota are already conducting research on hydrogen-run buses, trucks, and cars. The First hydrogen fuelling station for these vehicles is said to open in the last quarter of 2008. The Indian Oil Corporation is likely to base this fuel station in Delhi as part of a government policy to convert 20 % of vehicles to natural gases. These 20% vehicles could be either public transport like buses or private transport like cars (mainly luxury cars). The fuelling station will supply hythane and hydrogen to all vehicles powered by natural gases. This is a positive move from the Indian government to save the environment before it is too late. In the near future, if small cars also join the hydrogen vehicle line-up, then pollution could soon be a topic of the past! Labels: Environment friendly cars, Honda, Hydrogen fueled vehicles, small cars, Tata
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Hyundai is tops
In JD Power’s list of car manufacturers based on customer satisfaction for the year 2007, Honda, Hyundai and Tata Motors have hit bottom. It’s totally unbelievable that they have dropped to the end of the list on the sales satisfaction index. Shockingly, Hyundai has lost the most points and dropped to the eighth position from last year’s third position.
I find that Hyundai has good after-sales service and I’m sure they have very happy customers. Their small cars are also very decent. I don’t think the customer satisfaction list is accurate. Article submitted by Gaja Labels: Auto market competition, Car sales, Honda, small cars
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Honda Bring E20 Cars to India
Honda has always been known to be an environment-friendly car manufacturer. With a whole range of hybrids and eco-cars, it is a model car maker. While the Indian government is thinking of making 10 percent ethanol (E10) blends with petrol mandatory to hold in every petrol bunk in India by October, Honda has announced it will come out with its E20 cars by December 2008 if this is the case. The Honda manufacturer stands as a favourite for many in India. Many car manufacturers are struggling to bring in hybrids and many luxury car owners want to stick to petrol guzzling engines, but a little help and nudge from the Indian government will go a long way in the acceptance of Hybrid machines on Indian roads. Article Submitted by SattyLabels: eco-friendly cars, Environment friendly car, Honda, hybrid cars, Upcoming Cars
Friday, 1 February 2008
Hurrah for Green Cars - Ethanol can get cheaper!
I just read that the oil ministry has decided to give Ethanol a declared goods status, which means that its cost could go down compared to its current cost of Rs 28 per litre. I have been following up the news about the launch of the Hybrid green cars that Honda and Toyota are suppose to launch this year. Naturally, I am an eco-friendly guy and I like the idea of my kids growing up in greener city than what I get to see now!
Ethanol is the favoured fuel for these hybrid green cars and if this policy goes through, then ethanol will become the cheapest fuel for cars. So, like nowadays, Diesel cars cost more than Petrol cars because diesel is cheaper than petrol, similarly these Hybrid cars may be the most expensive of the lot, but the fuel and daily expenditure on the car will be comparatively the least. These green cars keep sounding better and better! Labels: Environment friendly cars, Honda, hybrid cars, Toyota
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Hydrogen-driven vehicles to be tested
The government should stress on research for Hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen is abundantly available in the world. Harnessing this energy for vehicle consumption will free the world not only from pollution but also the green house gases. The Scandinavian country, Norway, will be testing Hydrogen-powered vehicles sometime this summer under the project named ‘Hynor’. The test will be conducted over a 580 km route from the national capital Oslo and Stavanger. The cars will be supplied by the Japanese car manufacturer, Mazda Motor Corporation. Other car makers who are already researching in this field are Honda Motors and Toyota; both of these manufacturers have already churned out successful Hybrid cars. If the project becomes a success, then such tests can be conducted worldwide and replicated. This will ensure a greener tomorrow for the future generation and Indian car manufacturers should start thinking about developing these factions in their upcoming R&D facilities. Article submitted by Rajiv ShuklaLabels: Honda, hybrid cars, Submitted Article, Toyota
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Honda Accord: A Cool Sedan
In India, one of the most impressive models from Honda is the ‘Accord’. It’s a nice and sturdy car with classy interiors. It’s also ahead in terms of performance and technology. The 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine is one of the best from Honda and luxury features on the car are unparalleled. To a certain extent, the car can even be compared with the Mercedes-Benz ‘C’ class and the BMW 3 Series.
The Honda Accord is definitely a blast with features like G-Force control technology, adjustable steering with volume control buttons and automatic headlights. The car redefines safety, luxury and comfort in its segment. It’s one of the coolest sedans around. Go ahead and pamper yourself with the Accord. Submitted by Gopal M. Labels: BMW, car comparison, Honda, Mercedes-Benz
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Robots vs. Humans
While reading a recent interview of Honda Motors’ chief operating officer for South Asia, I came across him saying that they have brought robots from Europe for their Indian facility. The ultra modern and sophisticated robots are engaged in the painting division. No doubt Honda has able robots. Honda is credited with having created the most advanced humanoid robots popularly called ASIMOs. The latest ASIMO is capable of providing uninterrupted service to office guests. So Honda has brought in robots to replace their painting division. But what needs to be highlighted is that when unemployment runs so high in the country and the automobile sector being one of the largest employment sectors, a company like Honda Motors thinks it’s fine to let robots do some work too. In contrast, Tata and Maruti are fine examples of employee recruitment and satisfaction. A recent study has revealed that car buyers were inclined to choose Maruti products because of high employee satisfaction within the car company.
I am of the opinion that Robots are fine where labour shortage is a problem. But it’s impractical to engage in such moves where there is surplus labour available. I own one of Honda’s cars and am impressed with the quality of their engineering. But when i ponder over the effect of such tactics from employers in all manufacturing facilities and domains, I can’t help but worry. It would please me greatly to know that skilled Indian hands are at work at Honda Motors’ plant in Manesar. Submitted by Ramesh H. M. Labels: Honda, Jobs, Maruti, Tata
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Cheap car drives expensive competition
Tata’s cheapest car is certainly not giving cheap competition. Suzuki Motor is facing threats to its 50 percent of share on India’s auto market. Market analyst hints that it may cut the price of Maruti 800, the car that was first to bring motorization within the reach of the middle-class. Though, recently there were reports stating Škoda, Maruti and Honda may raise cost of its few models in India, as prices of car components are on a rise. However, prices of Honda CR-V and Maruti’s Grand Vitara would stay put. As we know, manufacturers hike car prices twice a year, in January and June respectively. So, we shall reserve all out comments till then. It’s time to see |
