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Thursday, 11 March 2010
 While it is already confusing for car buyers to choose from among the small cars in India, here is something that will add to your choices or woes, whatever you might want to call it. Mahindra and Renault Joint Venture is coming with a new hatchback for India called Mahindra Renault Sandero. Sandero will be available in both diesel and petrol variants. While the petrol version will be powered by 1200 cc engine, the diesel one, equipped with a 1500 cc engine, will be more powerful. The five-door Mahindra Renault Sandero hatchback is very spacious when compared to its counterparts in the small car category. Sandero is about 4.02 meters in length, with a storage capacity of 320 litres. The rear doors, which open at an angle of 67 degrees, add to the spaciousness of the car. Pawan Goenka, head of Mahindra’s automotive division, said he was not in a position to make any immediate comment on the matter. “Nothing has been decided as yet. Talks are at a preliminary stage,” he said. Considering the current scenario in the Indian small car market, the Sandero seems like just the perfect deal for Mahindra and Renault. Sandero would give Renault an entry into the small car segment, without making any fresh investments. And Mahindra, which has so far ventured in the utility vehicle category only, should be as much happy to bring a small car.  Mahindra Renault Sandero would be built at the Nashik facility. Since the Mahindra Renault Sandero is built on the Logan platform, it would be much easier to assemble the car at the Nashik plant. Mahindra’s existing network, which also distributes Logan, will be distributing the Sandero. Mahindra and Renault formed a Joint Venture in February 2005 with a 51:49 partnership. Later they lined up an initial investment of about Rs 700 crore for their Nashik production facility. Labels: Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault, Mahindra-Renault-Joint-Venture, Mahindra-Renault-Sandero, Sandero, Sandero-Small-Car
Monday, 22 February 2010
A little bit of inspiration does not really hurt, does it? When most of the leading car manufacturers are running to the Indian automotive industry with their small car offerings, why should Renault be the one lagging behind? Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of both Nissan Motor Corporation and Renault SA, recently announced that a small and cheap car would be launched for the Indian customers. Ghosn also said that they are looking at manufacturing a car as cheap as $3000 and this time again their partner of choice would be Mahindra and Mahindra. This super low-cost car will not be competing directly with the Logan, which is currently priced between Rs. 428,000 to Rs 547,000. Ghosn said that Nissan and Renault are speeding up their negotiations with suppliers in India and are already in the process of analyzing all aspects of producing their super low price car. “If it makes sense, we’ll be ready to start it,” he said, but declined to give a timeframe. And that’s not all. If they decide to go ahead with the manufacturing of their small car, they will be rolling out two cars from the same platform, one from the Renault and another from the Nissan stable. The upcoming cars are likely to sport trusted parts like the Nissan strut mount, engines and stylish accessories but will be made available at a much cheaper rate. Ghosn wants to be prepared for any kind of surprises that may come from competitors launching small and cheap cars in India. He also said that though they have not finalized the deal yet their obvious choice would be Mahindra. By the end of the year 2010, annual car sales in India are likely to double and reach an all-time high of two million, with small cars making almost two-third of the contribution. And that’s exactly the reason that major car manufactures are shifting the gear to small cars. Labels: Low-Price-Car, Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault-Logan, Nissan, Renault, Renault-Small-Car
Monday, 11 January 2010
Guess what? In a classic case of role reversal when the Americans are shunning their big, large SUVs in favour of smaller fuel-efficient cars after the global recession, Indians are vouching for these gas-guzzlers. Owning an SUV in India always was a status-symbol and now with the just concluded Auto Expo 2010 at New Delhi, it has become evident that both the car makers and Indians are paving way for the SUV genre to take hold of India. The fact that leading car makers of the world are launching their SUV’s in India just boosts the claim. Global biggies like BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Toyota, Skoda, Volvo and Volkswagen are launching over half-a-dozen SUV’s in the next six months. How does that sound. Raid of the SUVs? India’s potential as a growing car market is unrivalled and these auto makers are just cashing in the trend with their pricey SUVs. Take a look at these stats. Indian automobile industry for the month of Dec 2009 has posted a whopping 68 per cent growth in sales at 10.05 lakh units, while the passenger car sales grew 40.27 per cent at 115,268 units. Posting a straight ninth month growth trend in a row, the northwards movement has seen similar activity in the Sports Utility Vehicles or the SUVs market both at the manufacturer as well as the consumer level. SUV market, the once niche segment contributing just 15 per cent of total vehicle sales in India is threatening to blow over the top and become a major contributor to the passenger car market. In a way to enter this niche segment in India, car makers are planning to manufacture most of the new products locally to reduce cost, rather than relying on imports as they have done in the past. German car maker, BMW has launched its flagship SUV model X6M with a price tag of Rs 1.3 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) and has drawn big plans to capture market share in the segment. BMW has brought its entire SUV portfolio at the Auto Show speculating that SUVs soon will become the next big thing in the Indian car market. With BMW’s compact SUV X1 hitting the Indian market soon, BMW hopes that its vehicle sales in India will double from the now 15 per cent later this year. The company will start assembling the X1, priced more competitively at around Rs 25 lakh making it the cheapest SUV from BMW, at its Chennai plant in the next few months. Compatriot Audi India also has the same story to tell. Audi has reported 58 per cent rise in SUV sales in 2009 and would commence local production of its compact SUV Q5 soon. It will also bring its most powerful SUV, the V8 4.2 Litre Q7, in limited numbers. SkodaAuto India which unveiled its Skoda Yeti SUV at the Auto Expo 2010 held in New Delhi is also upbeat on Yeti’s sales in India. SkodaAuto will locally produce the Yeti with all top-end luxury features to sell the Yeti at a highly competitive price. Skoda Yeti might roll out from the Aurangabad plant. Volkswagen also has been weaving a similar story. VW has brought its flagship Toureg SUV into India at the price of Rs 60 lakh and has planned to bring in its smaller Tiguan SUV also. Toyota, the Japanese player in the Indian market with its Indian subsidiary Toyota Kirloskar Motor also sensing the demand for SUV’s in India launched its Fortuner which has a six-month waiting period due to an unanticipated rush for bookings and the new Land Cruiser Prado diesel to appeal the diesel-crazed Indian luxury SUV customers. The Korean car maker Hyundai Motor India on the other hand is also getting ready to bring in the Santa FE by mid-2010. The Santa FE is a crossover SUV based on the Sonata platform and is expected to take on the Chevrolet Captiva, Honda CR-V and the Nissan X-Trail. If you think only global biggies are eying this niche SUV segment, don’t be fooled. Even Indian car makers like Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Motors also have been doing their homework. The SUV market from Indian companies like M&M and Tata Motors, grew 21 per cent to 1.04 lakh units in April-December 2009 over the year-ago period. These home-grown giants are trying hard to cater to the growing SUV market by bringing in their SUV models. Tata Motors which recently unveiled its Tata Aria is slated for release in Feb 2010 while Mahindra and Mahindra is also gearing to roll out its premium SUV which will be positioned above Scorpio and will be built on a all-new platform with a different design, architecture and specifications. Another Indian company ICML also is planning to bring in their SUV which will debut in first part of 2010. Labels: Audi, Auto-Expo-2010, BMW-X1, BMW-X6-M, Fuel-Efficient-Cars, Land-Rover, Mahindra, Skoda, Skoda-Yeti, SUV, Tata-Arai, Tata-Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo
Monday, 4 January 2010
The Auto Expo, which will be flagged off tomorrow, is going to be another big event in the Indian motoring history. This auto fair will be a platform for the car makers to show off their creations. This Auto Show promises much more than car debuts, it will also play host to over two lakh visitors and promises to be bigger and better than before. Maruti Suzuki will display a total of seventeen cars at the 2010 Auto Expo that begins tomorrow. Some of these cars are the Suzuki Kizashi sedan, the R III MPV concept, the Eeco MPV, YR9 small car and the Y3 small car concept to start with. The Kizashi will be the car company’s first attempt to enter the D-segment sedan in India. It will be powered by a 2.4-litre petrol engine borrowed from the Grand Vitara, but with more power and a six-speed sequential auto gearbox. The upcoming Eeco is a facelift of the Versa with a Euro-IV 1.2-litre K Series engine. The R III concept will be an all-new MPV to take on the Xylo. The R III will be based on the SX4 platform and will boast a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel and a 1.4-litre K Series engine. The YR9 is the replacement for the Wagon-R, with more comfort and space on the inside and a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The YR3 is Maruti Suzuki’s first indigenous product to be designed, developed and manufactured in India. It is being designed as an 800 replacement. Mahindra and Mahindra will display the new Xylo D2 variant that comes with a 2.5-litre, 95 bhp common-rail diesel engine, the Thar which an off-road lifestyle vehicle, the Bolero concepts and possibly its World SUV concept. Tata Motors will finally let the world get a peek at the Indicruz, Nano Europa and the Prima sedan. Korean Hyundai will buzz in the i10 Electric and the Genesis coupe. The i10 electric will be unveiled at the Expo by none other than Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan. Toyota will launch its small car, known as the EFC800L. It is based on an all-new platform and will be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol three-cylinder engine and a 1.4-litre diesel engine taken from the Yaris sedan. Toyota will also bring in the Prius hybrid and will also showcase the new Land Cruiser Prado diesel and the i-Real concept. On the other hand, Toyota’s arch rival Honda will drive in its small car concept. The Honda small car will be powered by a new 1.0-litre petrol engine using VTEC technology. Apart from the small car, Honda will showcase the CR-Z hybrid. General Motors will display the Beat, which it has launched in the country today. To add some colour and muscle to the show, the car behemoth will expose its Chevrolet Camaro, the Cruze WTCC, the Chevrolet Volt and the electric version of the Spark. The three-pointed star has unleashed the GL 350 CDI and a new variant of the S-Class, the S500L, in the Indian car market today. Along with these two new cars, Mercedes-Benz will showcase the E-Class Coupe that might be going on sale in 2010 with petrol and diesel engine options. The SLS AMG will also grace the German luxury car maker’s stall. India’s number one luxury car maker BMW will be launching an all-new car that is in a class of one, the 5 Series GT. BMW India will offer both the petrol and diesel variants and only 100 units of the vehicle will be made available in 2010. The other big showcases will be the BMW X1, the BMW X6 M, a 760 Li, BMW’s flagship car along with other BMWs that are currently available in India. Audi will come out with the A7 concept. The other big displays will include a vintage Horch, the Audi R8 and other Audi cars currently on sale in India. Volkswagen is planning to splash the Polo. VW’s Touareg and Beetle, will also share space with the Polo as will the Jetta and Passat. Labels: Auto-Expo, Mahindra, Maruti-Suzuki, Tata-Motors
Friday, 20 November 2009
What are the models that would come into your mind when you think about the perfect SUV that you will get to buy in India. The list could be long. And especially when there are many new SUVs that has been launched in the country, including Toyota Fortuner, the facelifted Honda CR-V, the low cost SUV Premier Rio. Indian auto industry has almost become an SUV destination! Talking about the list of SUVs that would come to one’s mind, the mighty Scorpio from the Mahindra stable is sure model. The Scorpio is an SUV that fulfills all the dreams of an SUV customer. And the company, Mahindra, was able to record huge sales with this single model. And now the company is launching a whole new SUV, of course expecting the same success and acceptance of its previous model. Another model from Mahindra, Bolero, was also a synonym for SUV in India. And now about our hero, the topic of discussion, Mahindra W201. Mahindra has codenamed its next SUV W201. This would be the first M&M car that is to be build with a monocoque construction. And another peculiarity of the W201 is that it is the first front wheel vehicle from the Mahindra stable. The W201 will be powered by a transversely placed mHawk engine. And this engine, the W201 is sharing it with Scorpio. The W201 will be available both in manual and automatic transmission. The new SUV from Mahindra is expected to grace the Indian roads by the end f next year. The car will be priced at Rs. 10 lakh, again estimated price. Labels: Mahindra, Mahindra-Bolero, Mahindra-Scorpio, SUV
Monday, 14 September 2009
 Mahindra and Mahindra, being an Indian company, is thinking all the outlets that will make the Indian auto industry a more vivid one. The company is now out with a new, and of course the first in the series, armoured vehicle for the defense sector of the country. Mahindra earlier had come out with its own Mahindra Axe, a desi version of the humungous GM Hummer for defense purpose. And now Mahindra again has made inroads to defense sector with its Mahindra Marksman Armoured Vehicle which will be a complete defense vehicle. The Marksman will not be available to the civilians and the reason is very clear, the features available in the Marksman are not for a common man’s use but exclusively for the use of the Defense. But need you worry, the big man will be also be readied for a layman’s use and will be launched later. The Marksman is based on the light bullet proof vehicle which has a very close resemblance with a German bullet proof vehicle during the 1940s. The Marksman has a very tough attire and with a 5 speed manual gearbox, 4 wheel drive, and power steering it is equipped with a 2.5-litr CRDE engine which is BS3 compliant. This six seater also has extinguisher, loud speakers on the front bumper so as to make announcements, and air conditioning, which is optional. The most important features that should be available in the defense vehicles, without disputes, are the safety features and the Marksman is loaded with the most essential. Some of the safety features of the Marksman being outward facing configured rear seat and wide bulletproof windows that will allow total operational orientation of the crew sitting at the rear, can withstand three direct hits of 7.62 X 51mm NATO Ball M80, 7.62 X 39mm Ball PS, and 5.56 X 45mm Ball M 193 at a distance of 10m at 90º angle attack at its sides, and camera and a TV screen for rear viewing both for the driver and co driver. There are also other counter terrorist and conventional features such as the mobile check points, convoy protection and escort, and armed reconnaissance counter terrorist counter terrorist and conventional. With all its features, Marksman will surely make an extremely enormous defense vehicle. Labels: Indian-Company, Mahindra, Mahindra-Marksman-Armoured-Vehicle
Friday, 24 July 2009
Mahindra and Mahindra got an unexpected shot in the hand after its Mahindra Scorpio pick-up notched a much deserving third place at the tough Rally dos sertoes in Brazil recently. Mind you Mahindra Scorpio pick-up was racing against the mighty Mitsubishis, Fords and Chevrolets! Before you fall off your seats, read this. Mahindra was not even an official entry in the rally. In fact a Brazilian Motors enthusiast, Ricardo Augusto De Souza Campos better known as Rasc in the Brazilian motoring fraternity purchased a Mahindra Scorpio pick-up in Brazil. Having been in rallies for over 25 years, this rally veteran knows a machine inside out. The Rally dos Sertoes was the only rally he was yet to win. Rasc founded the Jeep Club of Brasilia (his home town) and so it was not lost on him that Mahindra vehicles have descended from this great brand. The Rally dos Sertoes of Brazil is considered one of the toughest car rallying events in the world and comes second only to the legendary Dakar rally. This year the rally was spread over 11 days, 5045 km long distance. A total of 128 vehicles participated in the rally including 66 cars and seven trucks. The Mahindra Dealership in Brazil, Govesa Mahindra helped Ricardo Augusto De Souza with service support and he soon got sponsorship to participate. The stock vehicle was completely prepared taking into consideration the regulations and mandatory safety and structural modifications demanded by the Motor sport association. The vehicle was fitted with rally seats, a special safety cage as per FIA guidelines, a snorkel air intake, a plastic windshield, electrical safety gear plus, a sump and transmission guard. The chassis was strengthened to make the vehicle more stiff. A larger 220 litre fuel tank was mounted on the vehicle to give it unlimited supply of fuel. The result of the rally stumped everybody including the hardened experts. Everyone except the Campos and his son Rasquinho, who was a navigator, were surprised by the results. Maybe we can now expect Mahindra to officially enter the Dakar rally for 2010. If that happens, it will be the first indigenously Indian built vehicle to participate in a world championship rally. Labels: Mahindra, Mahindra-Scorpio-Pick-Up, Rally-Dos-Sertoes, Rally-Event
Friday, 17 July 2009
Mahindra and Mahindra is in full swing to toughen its position in the competitive Indian car market. The car manufacturer is always seen with some new launches or strategies for its customers. This time the muscular car brand is in news for introducing pick-up version of the well accepted model Bolero from the SUV segment. Initially the new Bolero pick-up is launched only in Pune but very soon this new model will make its occurrence across the country pretty soon. This butch pick-up truck is christened as Bolero MaxiTruck; it will be a replacement of the MaXX MaxiTruck which is currently seen in the market. The old model will be phased out in a month as soon as the Bolero MaxiTruck hits the sales charts. The new version will be seen with the price tag of Rs 3.52 Lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). Bolero MaxiTruck is powered by a 61 bhp 2.5-litre engine with micro hybrid technology which results in higher fuel efficiency. Produced at the Kandivli plant, the model comes with the capacity of 1-tonne payload. Besides this the Mahindra and Mahindra is also planning to introduce the CNG version of the same model. After Pune, the next designation for the Bolero MaxiTruck includes Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal. The new model will be available across the country in 350 sales outlets. Labels: Mahindra, Mahindra-and-Mahindra, Mahindra-Bolero- MaxiTruck, New-Car-Launch, Pick-Up-Trucks
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Mahindra & Mahindra has rolled out an improved version of Bolero, christened as Bolero VLX CRDe. The new Bolero is propelled by a 2.5-litre CRDI engine that delivers 97 horsepower and 255Nm of torque. This high power and torque eventually gives the car improved drivability both on city roads as well as on highways. It also delivers an advanced level of sophistication with reduced levels of noise, vibration, and harshness. Apart from a good powertrain, the new variant is also adorned with elegance and class comprising power windows, keyless entry system, central locking system, and CD/MP3 player coupled with a two-year/100,000 km warranty. Available at a price of Rs 6.90 lakh (ex-showroom Jaipur), the new variant is a perfect blend of power and performance. The basic feature attributed to this wonderful combination is the electronic computer controlled engine management system. Besides this new version of Bolero, M&M has also launched a special edition of the basic Bolero, priced at Rs 6.49 lakh (ex-showroom Jaipur). This special edition is artistically designed with a sporty appeal adorned with plush interiors and attractive colour options. Labels: Mahindra, Mahindra and Mahindra, Mahindra- Bolero, New-Bolero
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
The small car race in India is coinciding with the electric car race. Along with many other car manufacturers, the Mahindra & Mahindra also plans to roll out an electric car in India soon. The production of the proposed electric car is at the commencement stage and is expected to hit the Indian car market by 2010. The company promises to make this car bigger and more effective than the currently running electric car in India. Yes, obviously talking about the great Maini Reva. The car will run on lead acid battery during its initial year and later might be replaced by the nickel metal hydride. Mahindra & Mahindra plans to launch this car first in India and then in overseas. The motive behind launching the car first in India is to establish itself in the car segment and also to analyse the market before making a move in the global car market. That’s a good thought, learning the market before venturing the market! Labels: Electric-Cars, Mahindra, Maini, Small-Cars
Friday, 2 May 2008
With the success of Scorpio in India, Mahindra & Mahindra has now launched the model in Chile. This is the second model that has been launch in Chile by M&M. The company is not only expanding its wings nationally but also internationally. The successful launch of the sports utility vehicle Scorpio SUV in Chile will add up to its product portfolio in the Latin American market.
Mahindra Scorpio SUV offered a strong value proposition and would emerge as the diesel off-roader of choice in the Chilean market. In addition to Mahindra, Automotores Gildemeister also represents Hyundai and Ford in Chile. Tata motors are also trying its hand in the international market. The present scenario depicts that the days are not far when Indian car manufacturer will rule the global automotive Industry like Toyota motors, General Motors, Ford Motors and other big players. Labels: Mahindra, new car launch, SUVs
Friday, 4 April 2008
Renault made its debut by launching Logan in India through a joint venture with Mahindra a few years ago. After it’s entry into India, Logan has somehow managed to give good competition to its rivals in mid-size segment but it failed to impress and attract more customers as expected by Renault. Now, Logan is being revamped and presented with new style.
It’s not so impressive performance and heavy price tags have forced many customers to opt for other cars than Logan. When people are going crazy for small cars in countries like India, it will be really challenging task for car manufacturers to increase the sale of mid-size sedans like Logan. So, Renault has determined to revamp and add some more frills to Logan. It will launch revamped version of Logan in next few months to take on its competitors mainly Maruti Swift Dzire. Let’s hope Renault will achieve success this time. Labels: Auto market competition, Car-Sales, Logan, Mahindra, Maruti Dzire, midsize cars, Renault, small cars
Monday, 24 March 2008
It seems that old partner have become new foes. Mahindra and Chrysler are locked in a battle over an advertisement of jeep. Now it all started when Mahindra in its ad published in a newspaper in South Africa used a jeep picture. Nobody in India would make a big fuss about it knowing that Jeep was being assembled and marketed by Mahindra in India. Mahindra has been associated with Willy’s Jeep, for India operations since 1945. Even today Jeep is much sought after vehicle by off road enthusiasts. But outside India, when Mahindra is making a foray into foreign lands, it's a different ball game. Labels: Auto market competition, Car market, Chrylser, jeep, Mahindra
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Mahindra is going from strength to strength as every year passes by. Many international car manufacturers are eyeing Mahindra as a partner for their South Asia operations. A lot of are coming Mahindra's way. Development of new cars with great styling has given Mahindra an edge over the others. In recognition of this fact, they have been bestowed with the ‘Excellence in Innovation’ award Mahindra is the first company to unveil a Bio-diesel SUV and is the only Indian company to come up with a hybrid SUV. The Scorpio hybrid beats off the costly technologies on Honda Civic hybrid and Toyota Prius. Labels: Car-competition, Hybrid technology, Indian SUV, Mahindra
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
The Indian SUV manufacturer launched the Mahindra Scorpio SUV and the Getaway pick-up range in Peru, a country in the South American continent. Mahindra is aggressively promoting itself in the overseas market especially in the Latin American countries. This Indian manufacturer is thinking of quadrupling its exports and doubling its domestic market share in the next two years.
Mahindra has only recently seen market success in India that started with its Scorpio. Neglecting the domestic market for greener pastures overseas may not be a very wise move, but it definitely makes a statement to the world that India is stepping onto their shores and rising to become one of the world’s greatest economic power in a few years. Labels: car export, Indian SUV, Mahindra, Mahindra Scorpio, SUVs
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Renault, the French car manufacturer who brought out the car Logan along with Mahindra, and Nissan are holding a series of talks with Bajaj Auto on creating an ultra-cheap car like the Tata Nano. That’s all I keep hearing these days.
Renault keeps saying that it’s interested in a joint venture with Bajaj for creating a small car that will compete with Tata’s Nano. The news of this alliance has been just news for a long time now. Doesn’t look like the talks are getting anywhere. Bajaj Auto had displayed their one-lakh concept car at the Delhi auto expo in January but it’s not known if anything happened after that.
Article submitted by Frenchbeard Labels: Bajaj, Mahindra, One Lakh Car, Renault, tata nano
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
I was happy to read that Indian goods are more agreeable to the western market consumers than Chinese stuff. I hope this extends to cars made in India as well. I went to Malaysia for a trip and my gang of friends had this Toyota Qualis pick us up. I didn’t get a look at the name of the SUV when I was getting in, but the ride was so comfortable and spacious that I looked at the name tag at the back and it said Qualis! This model was NOT like the tin cup we get in India. This made me realize that India is still treated to low-quality products. Indian car manufacturers have received little support from big players before, but the fast growing economy has made foreigners look at Indian companies seriously. Today, it is Mahindra and Tata Motors that are slowly penetrating these foreign markets. I wish that these guys start manufacturing international standard products like Maruti is trying to do and then sell these quality products within India as well. Prices be damned – I want quality for a change! Article submitted by SwamiLabels: Car market competition, Mahindra, Maruti, Quality of car products in India, Tata, Toyota
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Off late the demand for SUVs in India is growing at a fast pace. I can even see women opting for an SUV now – my daughter just got the Mahindra Scorpio. Indian and foreign car makers have come to India with a plethora of SUVs and now the ball is in Sri Lanka’s court. Micro Cars Ltd, a Srilankan car company will be exporting SUVs to India from next year (2009). These are locally assembled in South Korea. The body, mirrors, seats, and tyres and the rubber component are manufactured in Sri Lanka. Though the price of the SUV is not revealed, it is going to be less than that of a directly imported vehicle. Earlier the competition with the Lankans was seen only in cricket and now has moved to the Indian streets. This will be a good exposure for the Indian car market to see what their neighbours can throw at them. Labels: Imported cars, Mahindra, New launch, Scorpio, SUVs, SUVs in India
Saturday, 9 February 2008
I just saw the new Scorpio ride by my house with its hawk power and all I could say was wow! It’s like the tall-dark-handsome guy in the neighborhood coming to knock on your door. This new Scorpio 2.2 VLX sports an mHawk engine and the word mHawk is plated in silver on the side. I was looking for an SUV and have been considering the Scorpio for some time now – yes an SUV is no longer just a “guy thing”! I picked up the brochure from a nearby dealer that gives details about the mHawk. It is an aluminium engine that is small, sturdy, and lighter than most and also MORE fuel efficient! And the best part is its price tag – I mean if I put in an LCD screen and the works, it still comes to about Rs 12 Lakh total with taxes and everything. Anyway, I just wanted to know if anyone can tell me whether there is any other SUV option that I can compare this one with. Is there anything else out there? My max budget is Rs. 15 Lakh and not a paisa more. Article Submitted by RTLabels: Mahindra, New technology, Scorpio, SUVs
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Friday, 23 November 2007
Buying a car is no more a luxury for Indians, it’s a necessity. For the global automotive industry, China is now a passé, India grabs all their attention. Last year, car sales in India totaled in 1.1 million with compact hatchbacks accounting for nearly three quarter of that. Time for Maruti, Tata, or Mahindra to pull up their socks, foreign automakers like Nissan, Hyundai, and Renault are aiming big in India. A recent auto survey says that the car market in India is growing at an average of 20 percent a year, outpacing even China. Nissan already made its entry to the Indian market with Renault SA of France and Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and sold its Logan like hot cakes early this year. Japan’s carmakers are not behind in this race, the biggies like Toyota and Honda have already pronounced their presence here loudly. Maruti 800, Alto, or Santro says small car is always a big hit in India. Incited by Tata's super-cheap People’s Car next year, Nissan and Renault are projecting a car that may sell for as little as $2,500. And now India’s two-wheeler giant Bajaj and Renault are discussing the possibilities of ultra inexpensive cars. With this pace, bicycle and two wheelers may look like extinct products of the auto world. Labels: Bajaj, Car manufacturers in India, Car-competition, Honda, Hyundai, Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault, Maruti, Nissan, Renault, Tata, Toyota
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
The Indian SUV market is so competitive that the big boys make no delays. Tata has recently launched the new Safari to keep the existing demand of Safari going and the answer for that from Mahindra was quick, announcing the launch of the Scorpio 2.2L Eagle before the end of this year. Now it’s time to see GM defend itself in this hard core competition. GM has announced plans to launch the new Chevrolet Tavera. While competition is heating up, GM is right in the firing line as ever before with this limited edition Tavera. As reports say GM has no plans to launch an all new Tavera with a new engine. It will be a face-lifted version of the existing Tavera with additions in the exterior and interior features. This new Tavera will come out as a limited edition. This new Tavera has all sort of unique features. Despite the existing features of Tavera the face-lifted Tavera offers a larger grille with a bigger Chevrolet bowtie and an elongated air dam. Inside, a three spoke steering wheel replaces the existing two spoke and it gets a new instrument panel and a projected central console. The space above the glove box is now covered and is made as an additional glove box. I am sure the other SUVs in the market will line up soon with their new versions to continue to keep themselves in the market. Labels: Chevrolet, Improved interior features, Limited Edition launch, Mahindra, SUVs, Tata
Thursday, 15 November 2007
People often ask me “What type of a car is your dream car?” The answer is usually “A car with elegant looks and luxury and a brand name that does not need an explanation.” I think it’s the same with most people. Now here comes my question “What comes to mind when you think of Infiniti?” Luxury! Infiniti is one of the most luxurious cars that people dream about. These imported Infiniti models will soon assault the Indian market by the in-time idea from Nissan Motors. Infiniti, the Nissan-owned company, is planning to debut its Infiniti brand of luxury cars in India. Watch out Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volvo, and Volkswagen. Upon introduction, the Infiniti will be presented in the luxury, small car, mid-sized sedan, and the commercial vehicle segments. The Infiniti versions are priced in the range of Rs. 15,30,000 - Rs. 23,40,000 in the US market. The Infiniti price tags for the Indian market are yet to be announced. Nissan is happy with the Indian market and its local partners. However there is no information about who the local partner will be for Infiniti. After the joint ventures with Bajaj Auto, Mahindra&Mahindra, and Ashok Leyland, who will be the next? Labels: Ashok Leyland, Audi, Bajaj, BMW-Cars, Imported cars, Launches in India, Luxury car segment, Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen, Volvo
Friday, 2 November 2007
Mahindra, the Indian automaker, is considering exporting its SUVs to the US Market. In the US market, Mahindra is already a well established automaker. Speculations say the company is planning to launch two-door pickups, four-door pickups, and a sport-utility vehicle in the US by 2009. These plans are based on the growing market popularity of M&M in the US. Also rumors indicate that the company is planning to rename its compact SUV, the Scorpio, and pickups, one of which will be called the Appalachian. M&M quotes the Appalachian’s fuel efficiency as 30 miles per gallon in the city and as much as 37 on the highway. I can’t say I’m not a little surprised, because personally I like the name Scorpio rather than the new Appalachian. A sporty SUV that gets 30 miles per gallon in the city is going to be a big hit in US. India, in this process, may become the testing ground for M&M and it’s new SUV launches – that would be great! Labels: Exporting cars, Global market, Mahindra, SUVs, US Market for SUVs
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Liked the news of coming 20 models in India for the year 2008? Maybe you’ve been following the filter of information flowing out of our portal about the coming 2009 models also. The world of automakers has booked the year 2009 as well. Let’s check the year 2010 now. We're finally starting to list out some solid information on the 2010 year models. Hooray, here’s the first one. The car majors Nissan and Renault, along with their local partner Bajaj Auto have confirmed the plan to launch a US $2500-car in India. Howz that??? We have seen Renault’s strong relationship with another local partner Mahindra. I think it’s from M&M that they learned the importance of working with local partners. Now it’s Bajaj to ride Nissan and Renault’s new car in India in 2010. The names of the cars are yet to be known. The rumor is that the talks have been going on among them on the car from early 2007. The trios dream to manufacture a $2500 (1 Lakh) car felt possible in India. But they encountered major hurdles in exporting the vehicle to markets such as Europe, China, Brazil, Mexico, and United States. As India is turning to be a die-hard play ground of global automakers for small cars, the trios decided to fully concentrate on making the car for India and making it competitive. Will catch up with you with more 2010 launches in India. Check out our Blogs and Articles section at Carazoo for auto news before it happens. Labels: Bajaj, Launches in India, Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault, New Car, Nissan, One-Lakh Rupee Car, Renault, Small Car
Wide body is the proud Mahindra-Renault Logan’s trademark and slogan. After its successful market launch of Logan in India, Renault found Mahindra as a perfect partner to sell more models. Sometimes it’s more interesting to hear that Indian automakers can bring more output for foreign automakers like Renault. As a response to its success Renault recently announced that it will stick to its agreement with M&M during for the entire duration of its expansion in India. Renault’s continuing quest to completely dominate the Indian market will see the launch of second generation car models from Mahindra-Renault like Kangoo, Megane, Lagune, and Clio in the 2008 model year in India. Logan is currently posting record profits month over month. Watch out the upcoming models from Renault you can see a Mahindra-Renault signature on the rear. Labels: cars-India, Growth in Indian auto industry, Indian car market, Launch of new car in India, Leading manufacturer, Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Right from when I laid my eyes on Mahindra Scorpio, it has stayed as my most favorite affordable SUV. Its macho looks with wide headlamps and tough tyres, and a most interesting taillight design that climbs-up all the way to the roof changed the way people looked at SUVs. The ad which shows the vehicle wading without any hassle in all terrains is really magnificent. On the inside it has plush interiors that would rival any sedan. It has a tilting steering column, an air conditioning system, power steering, power windows, an audio system, and safety features including tubeless tyres, fire resistant upholstery, anti-roll bar, and a collapsible steering column. The 5-speed manual transmission along with the SZ CRDe 4 stroke engine helps the vehicle attain a power of 115 hp on India roads. The performance is complemented by independent front and rear suspensions. What more can one ask to cruise on Indian roads. Labels: Indian car manufacturer, Indian car market, Mahindra, New look, Scorpio
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Do I need to say more about the whole so-called Formula One, the global auto racing event? Maybe you’ve been following the trickle of information flowing out ever since the 1998 Indian Grand Prix attempt when the Indian government started its attempt to get a F1 racing event in India. Tata, Mahindra, Maruti, and many other Indian Manufacturers are following this event closely. Here's another effort to bring F1 to town. Even if the Indian roads are not that much advanced for a F1 race, we have a huge number of racing enthusiasts with Narain Karthikeyan on to race and Vijay Mallya to support. The Indian Olympics Authority is also on the ground to get the race to India by the October 2010 Commonwealth Games. Critics say that the Grand Prix will meet serious infrastructural and environmental challenges in India, but there’s no denying that India is one of the fastest growing economy in Asia with a horde of Young Indians who have high incomes and F1 enthusiasm. Reports indicate that the Formula One architects have visited New Delhi and seen several sites in the National Capital Region and have handed India a race promotion contract and a circuit rights agreement contract. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope to see the first Indian Grand Prix in 2009. Labels: Formula 1 racing, Global market, Imported cars, India, India Trail, Mahindra, Maruti, Tata
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Tata Motors Limited, India’s largest automobile company, is likely to launch its upgraded Safari on October 4. Safari, the big and handsome SUV from Tata, owns eight variants currently that include 5 diesel and 3 petrol variants. The new variant is expected to be a diesel version. The upgrades include an all-new 2.2-litre twin-cam 16-valve diesel engine that churns out 140 bhp, a grille and bumper that gives its front appearance a face-lift, and new seat fabrics. The rest of the vehicle will remain unchanged. A few safety updates are also expected in the new variant to help it compete in the current market. The highlighted update is the all new 2.2 litre twin-cam 16-valve diesel engine which will meet Euro IV emission standards. The price would be higher than the existing variants. This new variant may compete with the likes of Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra Bolero, and Ford Endeavour models in the market. Labels: competition, Ford, Indian car market, launch in India, Leading manfacturer, Mahindra, New variants, Tata
Thursday, 27 September 2007
After the success of Mahindra-Renault Logan, Renault is speculated to enter the market in the second half of 2008 with another Logan-based model called Megane. The seven-seater MUV Megane will join the Mahindra-Renault family is also expected to produce a hatchback in the not-so-far future. The booming MUV market in India is expecting more multi utility and sports utility vehicles in the coming year. The technologically high-end Megane stands out from the crowd with its pronounced, bulbous exteriors. The Megane is the top selling MUV in the Australian market. Its interior has plenty of storage space and a generous dose of standard equipments that can be expected from a European car. The Global sales of Renault have seen a significant growth of 11.4 percent in the past two months. New models, like Kangoo, Megane, and Clio have contributed to this success. Renault's Megane is expected to release both its two and four-wheel drive options in India. Labels: competition, Imported cars, Indian car market, launch in India, Mahindra, Mahindra-Renault, Renault
Mahindra & Mahindra is looking to launch its semi-hybrid and full-hybrid versions of its Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) - Scorpio by next year. The primary focus of Ingenio would be on diesel engines. The first prototype of Ingenio will be running on Indian roads by January next year. Mahindra & Mahindra is believed to be working on a combination of diesel and battery-operated hybrid engine for Ingenio. It will combine both the common rail diesel technology and the fuel-saving technology of an electric motor. This will provide the vehicle a better fuel economy and a lower transmission, while giving the benefit of a full hybrid performance. Ingenio will build on a new platform and M&M has discarded the idea of utilizing the ageing platform of the Bolero. The Ingenio is likely to have a monocoque platform rather than a conbody-on-frame chassis. Labels: Car-manufacturers-in-India, cars, Indian car market, launch in India, Mahindra
Friday, 21 September 2007
Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) is all set to roll out its first high mobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicle or the Humvee in India and Israel. Axe comes with amazing off-road capabilities and inspired military design cues borrowed from the popular Hummer model in the U.S. M&M has made Axe as per the Indian army specifications. Axe will soon be tested by the Indian defence team. Mahindra’s Indian Axe is a diesel version that is well suited for Special Forces. The engines of the Axe will initially be imported and then later built in a plant in India. The diesel version of the Axe is mounted with a 2.7-litre CRDi engine. The highlight of the Axe model is its high-tech all-wheel independent suspension system. Finally the time has come when the Indian Army’s Mahindra Jeeps will see replacement in the form of the new sporty Axe – a definite necessity for a country which has its automobile industry growing everyday by leaps and bounds! Labels: Army, cars, Indian car market, Mahindra
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
International Cars and Motors Ltd, has rolled out its first product Rhino RX in India. ICML is formed by Sonalik Group, the well recognized tractor manufacturing company. After Tata and Mahindra, this Himachal based company ICML is the next to turn out an MUV from India. The current Rhino RX is powered by an Isuzu 2.0-litre diesel engine. It has a five-speed transmission and a direct turbo charged inter-cooled engine. It is available in three variants - S1, S2, and D1. Fitted with a Rover diesel engine, the new Rhino RX can attain a speed of 100 km an hour in less than 16 seconds. In styling cues it mostly resembles the Toyota Qualis. The Rhino variants are available in both single AC and double AC models and come in a price range of Rs. 585,000 - Rs. 695,000. Labels: Imported cars, launch in India, Mahindra, Rhino, Tata
Monday, 17 September 2007
The revamped version of the Honda City ZX is finally launched in India in-order to reclaim the topmost position in the mid-size car section. The refurbished version of the City is upgraded in comfort and safety fronts. This overhauled Honda City is sure to pose a strong competition to the other competitors in the market. Though Honda Siel Cars India (HSIC) is on the verge of replacing the model next year, it still wanted to smarten-up the existing model to regain its old status of top mid-sized car. This new version is priced between Rupees 6.80 lakh and Rupees 8.65 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), which is less than the price of the City ZX VTEC. Honda City ZX VTEC Plus now comes standard with leather upholstered seats, an anti-lock braking system, dual-stage SRS airbags, and a new steering wheel. This is the tenth anniversary gift from HSIC to the Indian customers. Since its launch in 1998, the Honda City is sold over 1,90,000 units in the Indian market. Since the entry of Maruti Suzuki’s SX4 and Mahindra-Renault’s Logan, the Honda City was pushed back to the third position with a sale figure reduced to 2,465 units a year. According to the company release, HSIC is also planning to roll-out hybrid cars in the Indian market. Labels: cars, competition, Honda, India, Mahindra, Maruti
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
One of India’s auto firms, Mahindra&Mahindra (M&M), is geared to launch bio-fuel-power-driven Scorpio and Bolero SUVs. These vehicles are said to hit the Indian roads by the end of this year. The firm is thinking of replacing the engines of the existing models with this new engine. The prototype is ready and has covered a few thousand kilometers. However, the company is waiting for it to traverse a few more kilometers and check its performance before it is officially launched. The vehicles are powered by a bio-diesel form of combustion and are expected to boost fuel economy. According to a company release, these vehicles will not undergo any price hike and will adorn the price tag of the existing models. Labels: Bio-Fuel-Powered-Cars, India, Mahindra
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While it is already confusing for car buyers to choose from among the small cars in India, here is something that will add to your choices or woes, whatever you might want to call it. Mahindra and Renault Joint Venture is coming with a new hatchback for India called Mahindra Renault Sandero.
