|
|
|
|
| 
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom] |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Thursday, 29 April 2010
 Are the wedding bells going to ring soon? Wondering what car to hire? We would say, go with the latest trend. How about a Rolls Royce Phantom? Nothing can beat this car. A leading limousine hire company just conducted a poll for identifying the most popular wedding car. Which car do you think stood on top? Yes, we’ve already said it. The Rolls Royce Phantom emerged as the clear winner for the title. This car’s Rolls Royce name has for long been synonymous with magnificence and glamour. So, it's certainly not surprising that the Rolls Royce Phantom is the vehicle of choice for couples on the most important day of their lives. In the UK, the car is so popular that a brand new website had been set up, dedicated to the provision of these vehicles. It offered the best selection of the finest Rolls Royce Phantoms in the country. From vintage models dating back to the 1920's to the latest sleek coupe models fully fitted with the latest gadgets, new cars or the old ones, Rolls Royce Phantom cars will never lose their splendor and radiance. Rolls Royce Phantom – the evergreen car for celebrations! Not just weddings, the Rolls Royce Phantom can be the ultimate for any occasion including corporate events, red carpet functions, anniversaries, luxury shopping trips, and birthday celebrations. A customer may be just another customer while renting out a car. But just ask for the Rolls Royce Phantom and the magical effect will soon appear. You will surely be treated to a fully suited chauffeur who will assist you with every detail of your journey, from opening doors, to popping open your bubbly, to lining up your favourite tunes on the sound system, nothing is too much trouble. The latest models of the Rolls Royce Phantom are loaded with the best-in-class onboard features which make sure passengers enjoy comfortable, entertaining, and relaxing rides. With the state-of-the-art entertainment system complete with DVD player, plasma screen, and the high-tech sound system you would want to keep travelling all the while and never reach the destination. The air conditioning, opulent leather seating with the provision of the champagne bar in the car add to the car’s luxury. In India, the Phantom is available in two variants; the Base and the Extended Wheel Base (EWB). The luxury car has been royally designed and sports a 6.7-litre V12 engine that stirs up 453 bhp. Power is passed on to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Just like its noble exteriors, the interior gives a feeling of extravagance which is embellished with premium quality leather hides that perfectly match the wood styling. The instrumentation is well placed with classic gauges and simple audio and climate controls. It also offers iDrive-like interface with a mouse-style controller veiling inside the centre console. So, have you made up your mind to have the royal Rolls Royce Phantom hired for your special day? The Rolls Royce Phantom – the synonym of sophistication and finesse. Labels: Luxury-Cars, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce-Cars, Rolls-Royce-Phantom, Wedding-Cars
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
 The rumours are all around. Shilpa Shetty had been recently spotted sporting her brand new Lamborghini. That was the team spirit. Wondering how? It was a blue Lamborghini, the official colour of the Rajasthan Royals, her IPL cricket team. Shilpa Shetty and her hubby Raj Kundra took their brand new, blue Lamborghini for a spin in Bandra, Mumbai. They drove by their own restaurant and club, Royalty. The couple sure made quite an impression in their dashing, blue ride. Shilpa Shetty couldn’t find a better idea to show off her 'Rajasthan Royals' Lamborghini at her nightclub. How appropriate! The actress and businesswoman was intelligent enough to explore this new way to support her cricket team wholeheartedly. The "Dostana" item girl had been following the Rajasthan Royals until the very end, hoping they would make it to the finals of this year's IPL season. Shilpa put in an appearance at pretty much every IPL game her team played to cheer them on. She had regularly twittering her feelings, so fans could follow.  One of her last tweets before giving up on a chance to go to the finals looked like the actress had still not lost hope. She knew that the chance of the semi-finals was over but still thought that there could be a divine chance. It was the 20-20 after all and anything could happen. As Shilpa took off to Mumbai she was still smiling and trying to be positive. She wasn’t happy with her team’s performance. It wasn't up to the mark and RCB had played real well. It deserved the win. She also apologized to all her RR fans. Her dream of winning this IPL season was shattered. But that hadn’t put this hardcore cricket fan down. She was showing off her brand new 'Rajasthan Royals' ride. That’s why we say ‘team spirit’. The imported four-wheeler was a gift from her husband, Raj Kundra, who bought it for his wife after attending a game in Jaipur. He presented the new car to Shilpa saying that there was Rajasthan Royal’s merchandise waiting for her. The hot car finds a hot owner.  Raj who is a car fanatic is believed to have several luxury cars in London. Last year, in South Africa he had hired a bright red Lamborghini to ride around in. Lamborghini has achieved widespread recognition for its sleek, exotic designs, and its cars have become symbols of performance and wealth. Image courtesy: Desihits.com Labels: Blue-Lamborghini, IPL, Lamborghini, Luxury-Cars, New-Car, Rajasthan-Royals, Shilpa-Shetty
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
 Towards the end of last month there was speculation about the launch of the Mercedes A-Class in India. We had said that this entry level luxury car would finally be adorning the Indian roads and that it would be priced at Rs 16-20 lakh. Till date, 1.6 million units of the three or five-door hatchback have been sold worldwide and we hoped that all went well for the company in India too. What did you think? Would there be any buyers? Well, right now, there’s a twist in the story. Mercedes-Benz India denies introducing the A-Class in India. Mercedes Benz has positively denied media reports which claimed that the company is planning to launch its A-Class models in the Indian market. The Indian arm of the German luxury carmaker says that it has not set timelines for any new cars in the entry-level A-Class and B-Class models in the country. The question remains, if the cars are launched, will there be any buyers? Had Mercedes-Benz not considered the launch of the car in India at all? The company must have thought over the loss and profit possibilities after the car gets launched in our country. Then, it must have occurred that conditions at this point of time were sure unfavourable for the launch of an entry-level car with a luxury car price. The launch of both, the A-Class and B-Class models from the German luxury car maker would not be conducive for Indian aspiring car owners. A company official said that the company firmly denies any such plans and all speculation surrounding the A-Class model’s rollout in India was untrue. Not long ago, a couple of media reports had claimed that Mercedes-Benz India was looking at the possibility of introducing the A-Class in the Indian market, quoting Peter Trettin, president and CEO of Daimler, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. As of now, Mercedes-Benz India calls it speculation. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a small car produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. The first generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class was the W168. It was introduced in 1997 and the second generation model was the W169. These were launched in most of Mercedes’ worldwide markets except China, North America and India. The A-Class is available as a three or five-door hatchback. The B-Class is the entry model in China, Canada, Australia and Mexico, and the C-Class is the entry model in the U.S. In the A-Class, seven types of motors compliant with the Euro 4 emission norms are available. All are four-cylinders: four petrol (gasoline) (A150, A170, A200, A200Turbo) and three diesel (160CDI, 180CDI, 200CDI) mated with either 5 or 6-speed manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission system called Autotronic Constantly Variable Transmission or CVT is an optional feature. However, we now know that none of these variants are going to garnish the Indian roads. The car is designed according to Mercedes-Benz concept of ‘touch and feel’. The car can be controlled with a thumb’s touch on the multi-function power steering. It comes with the Mercedes COMAND APS, a navigation system for directions via GPS. The Parktronic system offers signals indicating how far the car is from an obstacle. When the car enters a tunnel or underground space, it goes into the tunnel mode, where the windows and panoramic sliding sunroof get closed. Amazing car, but the features are not quite affordable to Indian car buyers. Labels: A-Class, Entry-Level-Cars, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-A-Class, Mercedes-Benz-India
Monday, 1 March 2010
Any guesses about the Mercedes-Benz car sales figures of February 2010 in India? If you were not aware, the numbers are going to surprise you. Yes, the company sold 439 cars in February alone. Compared to February 2009, the company has shown a 78% increase in February this year. Mercedes-Benz India had sold 246 units in February 2009. The total number of units sold this year is 842. Isn’t that great? So many cars have been sold in just two months. Last year, Mercedes-Benz managed to sell 328 units in the first two months. So, this implies that the company showed a 157% increase in car sales. So, what is the secret behind the magic? Indians have shown their favouritism towards the all-new Mercedes-Benz luxury cars; the E-Class and the new-generation S-Class. The new SLS AMG was showcased at the Auto Expo 2010. The car has not yet been launched and Mercedes fanatics have already shown their blind faith in the company’s luxury cars as there have been 6 confirmed orders already for the SLS AMG in India. The S-Class received a boost with the S 350L and the S 350 CDIL joining the top-of-the line S 500L. Towards the end of February, Mercedes India launched the S 600 Guard. This is the most expensive vehicle to be available in India and also the only factory-incorporated special protection vehicle found in India. The C-Class too witnessed a surprising rebirth with 172 units. Last year during the first two months, the cars were sold to 155 people in India. Out of this, 109 had been sold in the month of February. However, this year, the C-Class has surprised the makers. 302 C-Class cars have left the showroom in the first two months. The top-of-the-line C 250 introduced in January was the image driver for the existing models C 220CDI and the C 200 Kompressor. The same follows with the E-Class. While the company barely sold 105 E-Class vehicles in Jan-Feb 2009, this year a shining 406 figure was announced. 79 E-Class cars were sold in Feb 2009 and this year, Mercedes-Benz sold 161 cars of the same model. The S-Class showed a rise from 34 cars in Jan-Feb 2009 to 59 in the first two months of this year. The new E-Class continued to rush forward with introduction of the E 250V6 and E 250CDI to the existing line-up of E 350 and E 350CDI. Not just this. Mercedes also has its imported cars. Jan 2009 saw the sales of 5 cars while Feb 2009 sold 29 cars. This year, in Jan and Feb, the company sold 53 imported cars in India. 47 cars were sold in February alone. There surely seems to be some magic. Mercedes has introduced 10 new products this year. The Mercedes lifestyle percentage has been toughened with the 10th edition of the Mercedes-Trophy. They have not left the fashion industry behind. Manish Arora always guarantees thrilling fashion evenings with his exceptional designing “Fascination Collection”. So, are you wondering, “Where does Mercedes come in the picture”? Well, these exciting fashion evenings are inspired by Mercedes. With its network expansion and improvement programs, Mercedes-Benz is now present in 25 cities with more than 50 touch points. This is considered as the largest for any luxury player in India. To add to all this, Mercedes says that it still has a few projects pending. It is in the process having a 12-car display showroom in Hyderabad, a 16-car display showroom in Chennai and a 26-car display brand center in South Delhi. Mercedes plans to complete these projects in a few months and then set standards in their segment. Reaching a goal of any height can never really be enough, right? Mercedes-Benz proves it. Labels: C-Class, E-Class, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-India, Mercedes-India, S-Class, SLS-AMG
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
It very much seems like that the expensive luxury vehicles, priced over Rs 15 lakhs and above, including sport utility vehicles and luxury sedans have caught the fancy of car enthusiasts in India. This comes in the time when major car manufacturers in the country are working on the low cost cars. These luxury cars are so much in demand that the new products are actually overselling the actual estimated units to be sold in India, signaling a huge growth potential in the segment in India. Another interesting thing about this trend is that the once traditional markets for the segment, the US and Europe are fast turning in towards small and fuel efficient cars. BMW India has already sold 63 units of X6 since its launch in July and another six units of Z4 in October. Thanks to this trend, BMW India’s new products are helping the company exceed its earlier set target of 3,000 units in India in 2009 against 2,908 units in 2008. BMW India is on cloud number nine, thanks to its newly acquired position as the leader in the segment and attributes this trend to its strong product line up, market expansion and brand building exercise it has done in a while since its advent in India. While the above mentioned cars are the cars belonging to the high-end luxury segment that revolves around Rs 50 lakh, the demand for the cars in the lower end of the segment like the Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Fortuner and Honda CR-V is also reaching new levels that were beyond expectations. Toyota Fortuner, which was launched in August, saw a backlog of 3,100 units that were to be delivered in seven months as Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s manufacturing plant could assemble 550 Fotuners a month. Meanwhile Volkswagen India may end up selling more Passats as against earlier target of 1,000 units. This certainly comes as a welcome note for the luxury car manufacturers who have always have had high expectation from the emerging new Indian car market as well as the general public who are bored looking at the drab looking small cars plying around in India. Labels: BMW-India, BMW-X6, BMW-Z4, Honda-CR-V, Luxury-Cars, Toyota-Fortuner, Toyota-Kirloskar-Motor, Volkswagen, Volkswagen-Passat
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
 German luxury car maker Audi will be unveiling two new cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The suave 2010 Audi S5 Sportback will have a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine under its bonnet. The supercharged engine will churn out 333 bhp of power and feature seven-speed S-tronic gearbox, Quattro all-wheel-drive and sport differential as optional feature. The 333 bhp V6 pushes the S5 Sportback from static to 100km in just 5.4 seconds and can hit an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. The Audi S5 supercharged V6 engine can take 9.7 liters of petrol to travel 100 kilometres. The car will run on 18-inch alloy wheels and 19- and 20-inch wheels are also available as optional. The “5-door coupe” (We don’t understand how a ‘coupe’ can possibly have more than two doors?!?) comes with LED daytime running lights and rear lights, electrically adjustable sports seats upholstered in Silk Nappa leather, leather multifunction steering wheel with aluminium-finish shift paddles and a choice of carbon, wood or stainless steel mesh trim. The Audi A5 Sportback is set to be launched in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The price of the coupe starts at Rs 41 Lakh (€57,900). The enchanting Audi R8 Spyder is all decked up to make its first public appearance at the 63rd IAA Cars in Frankfurt, Germany. The 2-door convertible will be powered by a 5.2-litre V10 FSI engine that can deliver a robust power of 525 bhp. The engine is mated to Quattro all-wheel-drive. The gorgeous R8 Spyder is the best in open-top motoring from Europe. Audi makes uses of carbon fibre to build the body parts and the electro-hydraulic foldaway top is made of leak-proof cloth to reduce weight without having to compromise on structural integrity and stiffness. The Audi R8 Spyder can sprint from inertia to 100 km in only 4.1 seconds and from zero to 200 km in 12.7 seconds as well as can go on to a top speed of 313km/h. The R8 Spyder is adorned with 19-inch wheels, full-LED headlamps, a rear spoiler that deploys automatically at high speeds, electrically adjustable seats, Bang & Olufsen audio system, climate control system and Audi’s MMI controls with navigation system. The base version of the Audi R8 Spyder comes with a price tag of Rs 1.11 Crore (€156,400). This breathtaking car will be launched in Europe early 2010. We expect Audi to roll out some of the units of the S5 Sportback and the R8 Spyder in India by the end of next year. Labels: Audi, Audi-R8, Audi-R8-Spyder, Audi-S5, Frankfurt-Motor-Show, Luxury-Cars, Quattro
Friday, 7 August 2009
 Car manufacturer majors one after the other are withdrawing from the Formula One legion. Honda was the first, in December last year and it was followed by BMW just last month and there are speculations that the Mercedes Benz is also planning to quit the F1. These withdrawals are very shocking news for the F1 management, Formula One fans and to the world in general. Indian business tycoon and Force India owner, Vijay Mallya too is worried about the recent Formula One debacle in his own way, particularly his collection of Formula One cars. Mr. Mallya who owns a collection of F1 cars wants to house his collection of cars in a museum. He has approached the US state of California for the approval of his dream museum to be built in the city of Sausalito in California. As per the plan, Mr. Mallya will be commissioning a huge 6,600-square-foot car museum designed to look like a wave. The constructional design of the building will be such that it will be using only natural light for illumination and the whole building would be using solar energy and green technology and would have seven car parking slots. The general public would not have access to the building but people can walk around the museum probably to be constructed using glass panes. Apart from the collection of Formula One cars, he also has a mammoth collection of 260 luxury and vintage cars. This collection of his does not include his collection of speed boats. Maybe we probably can write on his museum for these beauties also. Just keep a watch on this space for more!!! Labels: F1, Force-India, Luxury-Cars
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
With car buyers becoming aware of the environmental impact, the carmakers are manufacturing new cars that run on natural gas and electricity. However, many buyers on a budget are discouraged by the price tags associated with these automobiles. But, cars that run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) come with a minimal raise in price compared to their conventional counterparts. Of late cars running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are gaining popularity in India. It has been found out that the number of CNG-driven car has risen to 43% in Delhi. It has been revealed that 3,700 cars continue to be added every month to the fleet running on the bio-fuel. A survey was carried out by the city’s sole CNG supplier, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL). It has found that there are 175,313 private CNG cars against 122,485 of the last year for the month of March. The survey, conducted in the April-May period, sees the number of private vehicles running on CNG exceeding 2.5 Lakh by the time Delhi hosts the Commonwealth Games in October next year. The survey found that over 91% of private CNG cars are registered in Delhi, while 5% are registered in UP and around 4% in Haryana. Total 297,154 vehicles of all categories at present run on CNG. The sudden rush for CNG among private car owners can be attributed to reduction in price of CNG kits, introduction of CNG variants by leading carmakers, acceptability of CNG as a safe fuel by the masses. CNG is 66% cheaper than petrol and 36% than diesel. With its acceptability in almost all segments of transport, CNG has established itself as a people’s fuel. The survey also inferred that conversion has not been limited to small cars, it has been happening in luxury cars too. The CNG fleet of Delhi and National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) comprises 12,918 buses, 5,780 Rough Terrain Vehicles (RTV), 9,343 taxis, 93,400 three-wheelers, 175,313 private cars and 400 vehicles classified as others. Labels: CNG, CNG-Powered-Cars, Luxury-Cars
Thursday, 23 July 2009
 The Indian subsidiary of the Swedish Volvo Cars company has suddenly stepped up its activity in India. The company plans to increase its presence in the Indian luxury car market and thereby increase its market share in the Indian car market. Volvo now has set its eyes on rich cities like Ahmedabad, and Bangalore for its venture in India. Currently, Volvo has a dealership presence in seven cities across India, but the number will soon increase to 12 dealerships by early 2010. The company now plans to gear up its product portfolio by introducing new models. It has already queued up the luxurious XC60 for the country. It is already marketing three cars – the Volvo C70 convertible, Volvo S80 and the sporty Volvo XC90 SUV. All of these cars come with a price tag of over Rs 30 lakh. The company is keen on creating a consumer base in the country. As such, all attempts will be made to increase visibility of their cars in the country. Right now, the most visible luxury cars are the BMW and Mercedes. Volvo is far behind in terms of visibility and sales figures. However, it is upbeat about the growing Indian economy and wants to increase its market share in India. The luxury car market has been largely insulated by the economic slowdown and has sold nearly 8,000 units in the last fiscal year. In the year 2009, the numbers are likely to go up to 10,000 to 12,000 units. Even though the total market size for luxury car market is small compared to China, luxury car manufacturers are making all attempts to win more customers. Even though, Volvo entered India in 2007, it has been a low key player so far. Volvo cars offer a great value for money in the luxury car segment. They offer satellite navigation system covering 200 cities across India. All its models in India have the latest safety technologies like the collision detection and pedestrian safety systems. Volvo cars also offer adaptive cruise control which helps prevent collision by automatically slowing down the car speed. Labels: Luxury-Cars, Volvo-Cars, Volvo-S80, Volvo-XC90
Monday, 20 July 2009
The King of Pop, a legend in himself, Michael Jackson is famous for his flamboyant fashion sense in every which ways. His car collection also matched his style. From ultra luxurious cars, buses, cult vehicles, SUVs, Motors cycles, you name it and he had it all. Now that many of the vehicles he possessed is likely to under the hammer soon to settle his debts, here are some sample of the vehicles that filled his garage at his abode Neverland. Michael Jackson owned at least four limousines, including a 1999 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph adorned with 24 carat gold interior that was designed by Jackson himself. This Rolls Royce limousine was fitted with a 322bhp 5.4-litre V12 engine made from aluminum alloy and was expected to sell for £100,000. He also owned a 1990 Rolls Royce Silver Spur II, trimmed in contrasting white leather and black fabric. His white 1988 Lincoln Town Car had a much more subdued interior that used gray leather and fabric. The fourth limo is the 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood that was used in the Oscar winner ‘Driving Miss Daisy’. It was expected to fetch more than £20,000. Apart from luxury cars, he also owned a 1997 500bhp ‘Neoplan’ tour bus that includes leather sofas and recliners, granite surfaces, a full-sized shower stall, kitchen, intercom system and an upgraded audio-video system including a large, flat-panel television. Michael Jackson’s fleet of cars also include a 1993 Ford Econoline van complete with superior leather seats, individual television screens, and an old-school video game console; a 1986 GMC High Sierra fire truck and a replica of a 1909 Detamble Model B Roadster. He also owned blacked-out full-size 1988, GMC Jimmy, The collection also counts an electrified horse-drawn carriage and a 2001 Harley Davidson touring police bike, outfitted in police livery complete with lights, and a fuel injected twin 2-cylinder engine. Labels: Luxury-Cars, Rolls-Royce-Cars, SUVs
Monday, 6 July 2009
 How many cars is it possible for any body to own? Three? Five? Seven? Alright, you want the guessing number to be dragged a bit more? Ok, How about Ten? Ok, a pretty realistic number, But if we say there is a bloke who has taken the delivery of his 135th BMW? Yes, the man actually did that. This 73 year “young” German who goes with the name Herr Hammerschmidt has bought 135 cars in his lifetime. Call this heights of loyalty to the brand (or craziness), as all the 135 cars bought by this man are from the German luxury car maker, BMW. Yes, this guy bought only BMWs. The 135th BMW he picked up was a brand new BMW M6 Coupe. The Munich based Herr Hammerschmidt, started his love affair with cars at the early age of 12, when he used to drive the car while his father worked on the pedals. He bought his first car, a BMW 1800ti in 1963 and there was no looking back for him who has brought at an average 3 BMWs a year. Hammerchmidt’s has had variety of BMW luxury cars such as 25 M-series cars, 29 Alpinas and 80 other standard coupes and sedans. He almost spent his entire life’s earnings on this passion of his. So far we do not have details of which BWM car he liked the most or why did he stick to BMW and not go for other brand of cars, and also how did he mange to raise that much money to keep buying new cars. But we know ‘he did it’. He continues to do it in style even at the age of 73.
German car manufacturers like the BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi are already setting new records in India in luxury car ownership. There is no dearth of vintage car collectors in India and the world. But a passion like the one seen in Hammerschmmidt is unprecedented! Labels: BMW-Cars, German-Cars, Luxury-Cars
Friday, 3 July 2009
The impending new budget, plans to pull back the 4 per cent waiver on excise duties that was introduced last December. This comes as a virtual blow to the Indian car buyer who would have to shell extra bucks on his new car. When the waiver was in effect, even luxury cars were offered at Rs 50,000 less than the actual price tag of the car. If this excise duty is restored car prices will spike up and car ownership will become very difficult. The Indian Government had offered a 4 percent waiver as a part of its stimulus package to the auto industry when economic slowdown was at its peak. The package helped many car companies in India remain buoyant in those hard times. Even the big players like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motors thanked the government for extending such a generous incentive and had requested to continue it. The car manufacturing lobby is working hard to pressurize the government to continue with this incentive for another year. Infact, the magnificent performance of Auto Inc in June is attributed to the rush to buy their favourite cars at lower prices. People would be saving money if they bought the car now than later. The government is adamant on restoring the excise duty at all costs and if it is bought back, the car industry in India will be hit the hardest. It may go back to days of slowdown and even post negative growth. On the other hand people buying cars later in the year will be paying more for the same car compared to their peers who buy it before the budget. This is unfair on new car buyers later in the year. The government needs to rethink about the practicality about bring back a law that would scare way new car buyers in India. Labels: Indian- Car-Buyers, Luxury-Cars, Maruti-Suzuki
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Incredible India! The Ministry of Tourism spends crores of rupees on advertisements highlighting the exotic nature of the country to woo foreign tourists. The nation boasts of a rich heritage and ethnic luxury and is now growing at a brisk pace in almost every sector be it technology or corporate business. It’s leading the world on almost all fronts. These factors make it a hotspot for foreign nationals who make trips to India sits either at regular intervals or at least once in their lifetimes. The rise of the IT industry and the corresponding BPO/KPO boom has warranted a great influx of foreign delegates to attend conferences, trade shows, and to discuss business proposals. Their transport requirements are of a different level and need to be met with higher standards. It is here that hotels and attached travel agencies have gone an extra mile with services such as luxury taxis and renting cars. The changing scenario has revolutionized the concept of taxi service in the country where mostly Ambassadors and Premier Padminis plied our roads about a decade ago. Now, big car brands have waltzed in and world class luxury cars are doing the job of our "erstwhile taxis". It's exciting to watch Mercedes-Benz S320s, E220s, and even the new S500s & Viano Vans ploughing Indian roads with yellow-coloured number plates. The long list of Indian limousines also includes cars from BMW, Audi, Porsche, and others. Also, businesses and institutions with lower budgets have settled for lower luxury with cars such as the Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana, Skoda Laura & Superb, and Honda Accord to name a few. Also, our usual taxi-walas have had to upgrade their skills to fit into this newly formed business of luxury taxi-cabs in India. English-speaking chauffeurs are a worthy mention in every travel catalogue offered to foreign tourists. The trend of luxury taxis was until recently limited only to the better developed countries in the world. As such, it’s truly a treat to watch India taxiing in luxury. Labels: Luxury-Cars, Luxury-Taxis
Monday, 8 June 2009
Ever since their arrival to the Indian car market, German luxury car manufacturers have locked horns with each other to grab a share of the lucrative market. This time, BMW has gone one up in the battle of titans by beating Mercedes-Benz in sales. BMW sold 466 cars compared to Mercedes’ 371 in the month of May. Despite economic recession and slowdown in the auto industry, the market has remained profitable for luxury car manufacturers which have posted handsome sales figures over the past few months. BMW’s surging success can be attributed to lacklustre performance of Mercedes-Benz when it comes to new car launches. Though the latter has introduced renewed and refreshed versions of its top selling car models, no new models have been brought in over the last six months. Compare that with BMW’s four new model launches this year the innovative X6 sports activity coupe, Z4 roadster, and the very expensive upgraded 7 Series. Mercedes-Benz also failed to effectively combat BMW’s innovative marketing strategies like zero percent schemes, loyalty programs, and exchange programs. Though Audi’s car sales aren’t far behind in the race to conquer the Indian car market, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are almost head to head. BMW started off in the lead at the start of the year but then lost out to Mercedes-Benz in subsequent months. After the brief lull, BMW has taken the lead again with astounding sales last month. Labels: BMW-Cars, Car-Sales-India, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
BMW is all set to bring the Z4 roadster to India this Diwali. Last Diwali people were awaiting the launch of Tata Nano that got delayed due to various controversies and hurdles. But this Diwali is definitely going to be glorious with the German car manufacturer gifting the luxurious Z4 to the Indian car market. The BMW Z4 is coming to India in its second generation that flaunts a fully retractable hard top that opens and closes in just 20 seconds. Moreover, the fascia beautified with the kidney shaped grille and stylishly designed headlamps adds to the visual appeal of the car. Under the hood the second generation Z4 roadster carries the same front-mounted engine as available in the first generation Z4. In the global market, the BMW Z4 is available in three variants comprising the 2.5 litre 201bhp sDrive23i, the 3.0 litre 258 bhp sDrive30i, and the 3.0-litre 306 bhp sDrive35i. These engines are available with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic transmission. Till now there is no confirmation as to which variant will make its way to India. But the speculations reveal that the 3.0-litre 306 bhp sDrive35i is likely to hit Indian shores. Labels: BMW-Z4, Luxury-Cars, Roadsters
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
All prospective car buyers can now think for luxury and mid-size cars as these segments is likely to see a price slash. It is said that popular sedans like the Maruti SX4, the Honda Civic and luxury car may become cheaper by up to Rs 50,000. Nothing is confirmed but the ministry of heavy industries and finance ministry is on discussion to waive off the specific excise duty charged on mid-size and top-end cars last year. Cars with engine sized between 1,500-2,000cc were forced to pay an additional tax of Rs 15,000, whereas it was Rs 20,000 on all vehicles above 2,000cc engine. But as the tax was forced on ex-factory price of vehicles, the car manufacturers transferred the burden to the consumers with sales tax and other taxes. Now it is realized that such kind of tax planning does not make any sense and is unfair for some car segments. Because of such tax structure even the sales were affected as it discouraged the consumers from buying cars like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. After the implication of the light tax structure, the price on these cars will come down by Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000. If this rule is put into practice, it will be a great offering for the buyer as well as the car manufacturers. It will attract more buyers that will in turn help the car industry to revive. Labels: Car-prices, Luxury-Cars, Mid-Size-Cars
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
A few years ago, car modification was completely unimaginable. But now car lovers can get any used car with considerably less price compared to a new car. Furthermore, the modified cars can be customized to suit individual tastes. Interestingly, this trend is gaining popularity in most of the metros. Surprisingly, the trend is prevalently seen in the luxury car segment. Modification gurus intelligently customized a dull and shabby car into a stylish and appealing vehicle. They then restore the cars as completely new one imparting them with entirely new attire with re-designed interiors, new upholstery and fresh designs on the dash, new set of wheels, new lighting system and a new coat of painting. The most striking thing is that the old luxury cars like BMWs, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and even some top-class Mitsubishi cars can be owned by spending only Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 6 Lakh. The expenses involved in the modification of these cars are cost of acquiring an old car and cost incurred for the modification. Car styling gurus reveal that earlier customers usually did not prefer to opt for car customization as the costs were very high and there were scarcity of modification experts in the country. But nowadays many car studios in metro cities provide this service at a very cheap price. And when the customers have the freedom to choose the design according to their taste at their budget, this concept will definitely attract masses. Labels: Car-Customization, Car-prices, Luxury-Cars
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Luxury car manufacturers don’t seem to be affected much by the global recession. We had also informed in our earlier blogs how luxury cars are selling like hot cakes. Every luxury car brand has something new to offer to the car buyers. BMW is also in the race with a slew of new car models for future release. This year it is all set to launch the upgraded version of its model 760Li by September. The car which is said to be more powerful and efficient than its predecessor would be powered by an all-new turbo V-12 engine that generates an output of 544 bhp. The powerful engine would be complimented with an eight speed automatic gearbox. The new model will also feature a wider chrome frame around the kidney grille, a V12 badge on the side gills, and twin rectangular tailpipes at the rear. The latest BMW 760Li will come with latest technologies to offer supreme ride comfort along with a dynamic driving experience. Drive Dynamic Control featuring Variable Damping Control comes as standard which enables the driver to customize the driving characteristics as par his convenience. It also boasts of other features like Dynamic Stability Control, and self-leveling air suspension on the rear axle ensuring the comfort of the rear passengers. The car with all these amazing features and innovative technologies will be available with a price tag of £70,000 that is around Rs 51 Lakh.
Labels: BMW-Cars, Luxury-Cars, New-Car-Launch
Monday, 13 April 2009
Hurrah! Interest free loans are being offered on big cars by big players like Mercedes-Benz, BMW India and Audi AG. Volvo’s models come with an interest rate of just 6 percent on its entire line up. Some of the best selling cars like Mercedes E-class, the new BMW X5 and Audi A6 are bundled off to buyer’s homes with interest free loans. The models also qualify for several other benefits- financial and freebies included. This is done in a bid to keep the momentum of sales going up this year. In the last fiscal, luxury cars segment, with cars priced over Rs 20 lakh, posted a rise of 34 percent after selling 8,313 cars. This has been the highest growth rate among all car segments in India. These companies want to keep the sales high and beat recession heat with some attractive incentives. Not only that, Mercedes, which has been pushed to the second position, is trying to better its record this year and wants to maintain its post as No. 1 luxury car manufacturer of India. Indian car buyers are in for a bonanza, as cars are cheaper than ever before and new launches like Audi Q5, BMW 7 series diesel, Nissan Murano, Toyota Land Cruiser and others are reaching Indian shores pretty soon this year. Labels: Car-Discounts, Luxury-Car-Sales, Luxury-Cars
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Looks like Mercedes is working very hard to get back its number one position from BMW in the Indian car markets. To further strengthen its stand and give its rival a hard blow, the luxury car manufacturer has come out with the limited edition of its E-class. As known to all, E-class is the most popular model from Mercedes stable in India and has made impressive sales. The limited edition which is powered by a 3-litre diesel engine would be produced in only 192 units. 
The limited edition comes in a different style and feature giving the E-class a special touch. The additional features it boasts new headlights, and grille, double-spoke light alloy wheels, LED technology tail lights and also swathed in six different but attractive colours. The interior is also complimented luxuriously interiors with the special detailing of the bird’s eye maple wood trim, all new multi function wood/leather steering wheel and an all new instrument panel design. 
With the price of Rs 43.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), hope the limited edition of E-class would bring some good luck to the three pointer star. Let’s wait and watch if BMW would roll any limited edition of its 5-series to the India. Labels: Indian-car-market, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Cars, Mercedes-E-Class, New-Car Launch
Thursday, 19 March 2009
BMW is experimenting rocket science in cars to go with the advancing modern age of science and technology. What we would see five years down the line is clearly portrayed by the car manufacturer that has joined hands with the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to use their technology in order to boost fuel efficiency and lower harmful greenhouse emissions. The theory that NASA uses to send their rockets to space involves the use of thermoelectric generators that transform thermal energy into electricity. BMW desires to bring the same concept to earth and use the thermoelectric generators in its range of luxury cars. When these generators will be equipped in cars, the transformed electrical energy will be used to charge the batteries of the hybrid or electric cars. This will tremendously help improve fuel efficiency and drastically reduce level of emissions. Presently, the skilled engineers of BMW are experimenting on the use of this technology at the company’s high-tech experimental lab in Palo Alto, California. The company is expecting to introduce the rocket science in their cars in the next five to six years. It is believed that a BMW sedan will experience about 13% reduction in fuel consumption with the car running on rocket science. The generators powering the space rockets are very expensive. And so BMW is also trying to introduce better strategies to pass on least price increase to the buyers so that the technology can be commercially viable. BMW feels that in the next 20 years the NASA technology is sure to take over other alternative fuels. Labels: BMW-Cars, Car-Manufacturer, Fuel-efficiency, Luxury-Cars
Monday, 16 March 2009
Though the global recession has affected the new luxury car sales, the pre-owned luxury cars are still rejoicing their sales. The used car market is experiencing high scale growth grabbing buyers of small cars as well as mid-sized premium sedans. Seeing the great potential of luxury cars in the used car market, car brands like Merc, BMW, and Porsche are planning to try their hands in the used car segment. Porsche plans sales target of 200 new cars this year but for the used car it is likely to plan a higher target. Likewise, BMW who carries a high brand vale in India is also looking forward for a good sales number from the used car market. However, German Mercedes-Benz is planning to foray the used car market by 2010. New cars must be envying the pre-owned cars as they are really making impressive sales. It seems the competition is growing aggressively robust in the used car market compared to the new car market. Labels: Luxury-Cars, New-Cars, Used-Cars
Friday, 27 February 2009
Volvo S80 being the first Volvo car in Indian car market heralded a completely new beginning for the car manufacturer. Since then, the car has rejoiced a respectable niche in the market but has not been able to surpass the winning cars from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. To beat the rising competition and enjoy a higher sales figure, Volvo is soon going to roll out a facelifted version of its S80. The proposed car designed by Steve Mattin is to make its first international debut in the Geneva Auto Show that is just round the corner. The car will have a completely new design complemented by stylish cues, a larger grille featuring a prominent Volvo logo, and chrome trimmed front air intakes. These significant modifications will give a lower, longer, and wider stance to the existing Volvo S80. The interior of the car will reflect exclusivity and refinements with a host of luxurious features. The key highlights of the interior are soft leather seats, aluminum dials on the instrumentation, super-slim floating center stack, and decor trim with Silk Matte metal-effect finish. Under the hood, the S80 facelift is speculated to be blessed with a twin-turbo five-cylinder 2.4-liter turbo-diesel engine that churns out 204 bhp. Volvo is sure to beat the tough competition in the luxury car segment with its facelifted S80. Labels: Luxury-Cars, New-Car-Launch, Volvo-Cars, Volvo-S80
Monday, 9 February 2009
Bentley carrying the gene to craft the world’s most respected high performance cars is gearing up to unveil one more speed giant in the global car market. The latest entrant from the Bentley’s stable the Flying Spur and the Continental GT Speed are considered to be among the most winning and fastest cars in the industry. Though Bentley Continental GT is one of the fastest luxury cars in the market, it lacks a green conscience. Unpredictably, now the car manufacturer is planning to unveil its fastest car ever along with the desire to embrace the green agenda. Yes, this time Bentley urges to build a green portfolio with the launch of its new car. Known to be driven by biofuel, the new Bentley car would obviously give environment conscious car buyers an extra amount of peace and satisfaction. And the most exciting thing is that there are no compromises made on power, performance, and luxury. Expecting to see a 40% reduction in its carbon dioxide output, the proposed Bentley's car would bring a new revolution in the car industry. Sadly, the fastest Bentley’s car is still under veils and there are no specifications revealed except that the car would be completely based on its successful Continental GT foundation. It is said that even the leading fast car manufacturer Shelby SuperCar (SSC) is also set to unveil its 100% clean, green, and super-fast machine. Its Ultimate Aero TT is still one of the fastest cars in the world. And now the introduction of Bentley’s green supercar would definitely spark a tough competition between the two companies. Labels: Bentley-Cars, Luxury-Cars, Supercar
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Luxury Cars have always fuelled the senses and desires of every car buyer tempting them to enjoy the ownership of these high-end cars. Luxury coupled with customization is something that is capable of making a car the cynosure of the crowd. Contessa, the classic luxury car from Hindustan Motors, is still a beautiful memory of the 80s. Though the presence of the Contessa on Indian roads has faded away with the introduction of modern luxury cars, there are still people who have a passion for classic cars. Speed Bug, a Delhi based car designer has modified the car giving it a completely new look and converting it into a Mustang. The restyling has been limited to the exterior whereas the interior gets only minor changes. The new Contessa turned Mustang comes with stylish frameless doors, four sporty headlamps, an individual brakelamp to the rear, and turn indicators that match the original Mustang. The engine is also modified with twin carburettors, iridium spark plugs, and a cold air intake for boosting power. The Contessa is a perfect reflection of luxury cars belonging to the year 1986. Now, with the new attire, it's ready to take your breath away. Why discard old memories when you can give them a new face to make a difference? Labels: Contessa, Hindustan-Motors, Luxury-Cars
Monday, 8 December 2008
We all know that Hyundai is set to launch a generation of i-series in the Indian car market. After the success of i10, i20 rolled out with enthusiasm, Hyundai Motors is looking forward to add a new model in its i-series in India. Named as Hyundai i40, the car will fall in the premium segment and is expected to replace Sonata in India. It is speculated that the new i-series will roll on style and raise desirability when it actually goes on sale somewhere in 2010. In 2010 it will hit the Indian showrooms as estate and as a premium saloon. Another interesting fact about the new i40 is that it is based on the Genus concept, a concept that had won appreciations for its attractive styling in the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The design of i40 will be based on fascinating European style and powered with Hyundai‘s new 181 bhp, 2.0-litre common-rail diesel, 1.6-litre diesel and petrol units, and a 2.0-litre petrol motor. This in turn will add value to the appealing style of the car. With admiration and appreciation, Hyundai i40 is billed to compete with the high-end premium luxury cars including the scintillating Mercedes-Benz 3-Series. Labels: Hyundai-cars, Indian-car-market, Luxury-Cars
Monday, 1 December 2008
Punjab is always known for its culture and colourful traditional customs. The state now seems to be the 'hot' market for cars and it is the luxury segment that is scoring high compare to other class. In the present time, when the car industry is facing hurdles due to global recession, it is enjoying good car sales in Punjab. The demand and sales of premium cars has seen a good growth in Punjab. Yes it's true, and the recent launch of all-new Ford Ikon in Chandigarh also proves the aforesaid. The people of Punjab have a great passion and love for cars. They are the true fans of the latest technology, car features, and all elements that are present in luxury cars. Interestingly, this state is gradually turning into a luxury car hub with the increasing number of luxury car brands like BMW, Skoda, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. Looks like the present global crisis has not affected Punjab, as buyers are still investing money to purchase their dream cars. The mode of payment is also a factor that has not affected the prospective buyers in the state. Most of them make solid payment without depending on any financial schemes. Punjab has given a new vision to the car manufacturers amid the slowdown eventually boosting their confidence and compelling big players to target the state for new car launches. But only one state cannot bring a change to the huge car industry. The growth and boom can only happen with the development and expansion of the sector in the entire nation as whole. Labels: Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz-Cars, New-Car-Launches
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Anyone who has the passion for gold now has an opportunity to enjoy the golden moments with ‘Gold Porsche’. Awesome Gold Porsche is the first gold plated car. Not only the exterior, the steering wheel, wheels, door panels, door knobs, alloy rim and other control keys are also exclusively wrapped with 22 carat beaten gold.  It’s really difficult to believe that a car is completely enveloped with gold plates. But that’s the fact! The best part of the car is that you can customize your requirement as to which car part you want to be goldenized. The German luxury car manufacturer, Porsche, has introduced the limited version of its Gold Porsche Boxster. If you really have a heavy bank account that can bare Rs 9 million and the burning desire to be wrapped in gold then buying a Gold Porsche would be a great choice. If yes, then Gold Porsche would be a complete blend of outstanding luxury, pure lifestyle, and unmatched aesthetics. Labels: Car-Manufacturer, Luxury-Cars, Porsche-Cars
Monday, 13 October 2008
 The scion of Mysore Royal Family, Srikanta Datta Wadiyar, has a deep obsession about cars and it is wonderful to know that he owns15 luxury cars. This big count is surprising but is true. Even more amazing is the fact that he registers all his cars with a registration number 1953, the year he was born. Among a fleet of 15 luxury cars in his collection, he owns five BMW and one Mercedes-Benz. This clearly reflects his passion for BMW cars. It is bound that the passers by will stop in reverence each time when one car from the fleet is zipped on Mysore roads. There are few among us who used to feel that high-end luxury cars would have a comparatively lower demand in India due to its very expensive price tag but looks like the trend is changing. The luxury car passion of Wadiyar is a proven example for the growing demand of premium cars in India. Labels: BMW-Cars, Luxury-Cars, Luxury-Cars-Collection, Mercedes-Benz
 Car manufacturers are rolling ahead with dissatisfactory sales figure and a drowning smile. This fiscal has seen a great variation in the sales graph due to ups and downs in the fuel prices. But…Mercedes-Benz takes a toll above all. Yes! Mercedes has showcased an accelerated growth with the car sales figure crossing about 3,000 so far this year. The Mercedes-Benz car range including C-Class, E-Class, and S-Class dominates the high sales growth. Doesn’t that dictate the changing face of the Indian car industry? Car customers being least concerned about the high fuel prices are increasingly buying luxury cars. As it is the people who can afford Mercedes can easily manage to pay for the high fuel prices. Infact, we feel that the luxury car market has nothing to do with inflation. Does it? Mercedes still has many more plans behind the veil to strengthen its foothold in India. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz Car-Manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz-Sales
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
A year back, there were rumours about the fall of Ambassador but is this true? Has the old Amby really made it’s exist from the country? The old Ambassador has undergone various modifications and alterations to comeback on Indian roads with tough competition. Though the car has not succeeded in competing with high-end luxury cars and other techno dazzlers, it still has a prominent place in the history of Indian car industry. Infact, in the international market, Amby is back to be the king. The yesteryear Indian king is now ruling the streets of London. Tobia Moss in London has proved that the Indian-built Hindustan Ambassador can be a beautiful place to reside if adorned with creativity. Most passionately embellished the car interior with red velvet upholstery, red and white embroidery on door panels, roof mirrors, ethnic music, silkscreen prints embroidered on seat back, and an illuminated Ganesha idol on the dash. It’s hard to believe that an old cart can be a marvel on wheels with creative minds thrown in. Labels: Hindustan-Ambassador, Indian-Car, Luxury-Cars
Friday, 12 September 2008
Driven by high inflation and rising fuel prices, Indian car manufacturers are being forced to cut down their expansion plans. But the super luxury car manufacturer, Rolls Royce, is immune to such a fall down. The time for luxury is now in! That’s what Rolls feel during this era of sluggish car market. The company is scaling up its operations and activities in the country to strengthen up its presence. The first step towards expansion caters to the demanding need of luxury cars. Rolls plan to roll out few more luxury car models in the country. Since the time, the company has reintroduced itself in the country in 2005, the sale of Rolls Royce cars have improved to a great extent. Even though the number of buyers have not increased much in numbers, the revenue the company has made in the past few years is commendable. This is mainly because of the high price tag of Roll’s cars which falls in crores. The company is planning to roll out 40 cars of the new and advanced Phantom in India by the end of this year. Going forward, Rolls Royce also has plans to drive in the Phantom Coupe to the country. This car is expected to come with a price tag of Rs 4 crore. Following the trend, the company also has plans to launch an affordable model, codenamed RR4 in 2010. The plan for expansion continues and the company still plans to invest more in the growing Indian economy. What’s the secret of Roll Royce’s success? Any guesses as what is making the company immune to slow-moving Indian car market? Labels: Luxury-Cars, Phantom, Rolls-Royce, Royce
Monday, 8 September 2008
Small car lovers, get ready to row with luxury! Global automotive major Mercedes-Benz has introduced a number of luxury cars to the Indian car market. All the cars have been a good success in the luxury segment of the industry. Now, as the small car race is becoming faster, Mercedes Benz evaluates the possibility of introducing small luxury car to the Indian market. The company plans to drive its small car A-Class car in India. The Indian market is very dynamic and promising but still Mercedes Benz feels the need to evaluate the Indian car market with respect to
price and overall perception of the company. Depending on the study and research, the company will decide when to launch the car. In India, the luxury car market is growing 30-40% per annum. This annual growth is expected to change with changing generation of people as well as the cars. Will the A-Class small car be as successful as the Mercedes Benz S, SL, and C class luxury cars in India? Labels: Indian-car-market, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes Benz, Small-Cars
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
The German car manufacturers like BMW, Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz are dancing on the Indian continent. These manufacturers have spread their wings wide in the Indian car industry and are gradually emerging as renowned luxury brands. Today, if you take a survey of all ardent car lovers, then 99% of the fans will speak praises and verses of the German technology installed in Indian cars. At some point or the other everyone must have dreamed to own high-end luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz C Class, Mercedes-Benz M Class, BMW 530 D, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Audi A 4, Porsche Cayenne, and Porsche Cayman. Indian buyers have a range of these cars when it comes to luxuries and comfort. The range also includes some incredible athletic cars, magnificent sedans, sport coupes and excellent convertibles. Many Indian car buyers are so much fascinated with the in-built German technology that they are not bothered about the high price tag for the extent of luxuries and comfort they are getting. That’s the place of ‘German’ in India! But do you really think that German technology have overpowered the Indian car industry? Or is it only a part of the entire industry platform? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, Luxury-Cars
Thursday, 28 August 2008
The 2008 Beijing Olympics saw a grand finale bringing pride and cheers to India. Shooter Abhinav Bindra made our country proud by winning a gold medal and for the first time in Indian history, the country bagged an individual gold medal in Olympics. As a token of appreciation, Abhinav was gifted with a Volvo car worth Rs 39 lakh. Volvo-India Managing Director, Mr. Paul de Voijs handed over the keys of Volvo S-80 to Abhinav. The Volvo started its direct sales in India last year and incidentally A. S. Bindra, father of Abhinav Bindra was the first buyer of a Volvo car. Among the Indian states, the demand for high-end luxury cars is high in Punjab and that is the reason why Volvo chose Chandigarh to launch its cars in India. Labels: Luxury-Cars, Volvo-Cars
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Audi R8 is scheduled for launch in November this year. The car is priced at Rs 1.3 crore in India and there are many who are waiting for the launch of this car. The car will be imported from Germany for the Indian market. The imported volume is low and so it will not go through any approval by the authorities. Audi R 8 bears a weight of around 1,560 kg and is an excellent car with a mid-engine, delivering a horsepower of 420. The car has created a benchmark in the global car industry. Audi's sports car is doing wonders throughout the world and soon going to make its debut in the Indian market. In India, there are many people who are ready to pay this big amount for the luxury, quality and superiority the car delivers. It is believed that the bookings for the car started in June 2008 and the company has almost registered 15 orders in its bag for the super luxury car. After bagging 15 orders, the company states that the imported car model is sold out for this year. Sold out! What does this means? This sounds to be strange. The car model has not yet launched but the targeted sale volume is over for this annum. Yes, that's right. Audi R8 has not yet launched but is sold in India. Currently, there are two to three Audi R8s on Indian roads that were bought through direct import. Labels: Audi-Cars, Luxury-Cars, Sports-Car
Monday, 11 August 2008
Luxury car lovers were excited when there was news of Hummer and Cadillac coming to India by 2008. But it seems that the launch of the SUVs has been postponed. The further launch is not decided but looks like there will be a delay as the General Motors will be concentrating more on manufacturing small cars. General Motors aims at increasing the production of its popular small car the Spark. This cool looking model has clicked well especially among the younger crowd. It carries style and performance. Following Spark's success, the company will be rolling out another small car that will be cheaper than Spark. It is little disappointing for the SUV lovers who were waiting to own Hummer or Cadillac but the good thing is that the launch of these sturdy vehicles is still on… though little delayed. Labels: General Motors, Humvee and Cadillac, Luxury-Cars, SUVs
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Luxury car manufacturers are continually lining up new cars for India. Even after such a high inflation, the luxury car segment is not affected. This segment is constantly growing in India. Earlier, the Indian luxury car market was headed by Mercedes-Benz. It was the only brand name in luxury segment. But, now many models and makes have emerged. Some of the popular and leading luxury car makers today are BMW, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Audi. All these manufacturers have come up with unique, stylish and elegant cars like Audi A4, Porsche 911 Carrera, BMW 5 series and Mercedes E class. Mercedes-Benz is also planning to roll out its spruced up M class and SLK models. All the models are priced between Rs 37 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore depending on the make and luxury features. Most of the car manufacturers are moving towards small car segments and hybrids but luxury car manufacturers are still happy with the sale. Even the car dealers emphasise more on luxury cars. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Luxury-Cars
Thursday, 19 July 2007
These days, our streets are full of imported cars, luxury sedans, and big vehicles laden with more advanced technologies, which paralyzed the market for the grand old ambassador. The youth drive the car market and the Ambassador does not even make it into the list of choices. “Amby” is a four door sedan that was manufactured during late fifties. Tough body, magnificent grille, and protruding headlights were the main features of the once popular Ambassador. It also posed as an official vehicle in all government departments. But, lately, after India experienced a booming market for luxury cars, this old classic car has received less attention. All the government officials prefer commuting in cars like Corolla, Lancer, and Benz, bringing down the Ambassador from its notable state. This Hindustan Motors child dominated the roads for a few decades and is quietly fading away. With cozy cars overloaded with highly developed engines and other advanced technologies ruling the market, there is absolutely no scope for the Ambassador’s comeback. Though the Ambassador has succeeded on Indian roads for decades and is still seen in abundance in the form of Taxis (visit Calcutta), it is making a slow but progressively steady exit from Indian roads. Labels: Ambassador, Imported-Cars, Luxury-Cars
|
|
Are the wedding bells going to ring soon? Wondering what car to hire? We would say, go with the latest trend. How about a Rolls Royce Phantom? Nothing can beat this car. A leading limousine hire company just conducted a poll for identifying the most popular wedding car. Which car do you think stood on top? Yes, we’ve already said it. The Rolls Royce Phantom emerged as the clear winner for the title.
