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Friday, 26 February 2010
 It is official now. The new Porsche Cayenne range will make its grand appearance at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show and the absolute show stopper would be the Cayenne S hybrid. Everyone is waiting for the unveiling of the new Cayenne hybrid which is poised to prove the green credentials of Porsche. Cayenne S Hybrid brings the power of an 8-cylinder engine with the fuel economy and emission rate of a 6-cylinder. It features a highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive with fuel consumption of just 8.2 litres/100 kilometres, which means CO2 emissions of just 193 g/km. This again means that the Cayenne S Hybrid is the cleanest in the history of both Cayenne and Porsche. The new Porsche Cayenne range is going to set new fuel efficiency and performance standards. Compared to the former Porsche models, fuel efficiency has improved in the new Cayenne by 23%, thanks to the “Porsche Intelligent Performance” principle which strives on more power with less fuel and lower CO2 emission. The agility and handling has been improved with the new active and extra-light all-wheel drive concept which has brought the weight on Cayenne S down by 180 kilos. These features and new technologies will increase the driving pleasure of Cayenne, both on road and off-road. The wheelbase of the 2011 Cayenne is now 40 mm or almost 1.6” longer which makes it more spacious. Nevertheless, the new generation Cayenne is far more compact and dynamic that its predecessor. The Cayenne diesel Turbo comes with a 3 litre V6 engine which reduces fuel consumption by 20 per cent, down from 9.3 to 7.4 ltr/100 km. Fuel consumption has significantly gone down on the very torquey Cayenne S with its 4.8-litre V8 power unit. Cayenne S is even more powerful with its 4.8-litre V8 power unit and generates 400 bhp instead of the former 385 bhp.  With the intelligent combination of the three-litre supercharged V6 and the electric motor, Cayenne S Hybrid brings out maximum efficiency and performance. Depending on the driving conditions, the vehicle shifts between either one drive unit operating or both the units operating simultaneously. Shortly after its Geneva debut, the Cayenne is likely to hit the UK market in May. India will be certainly on the list after India proves it is ready for the Hybrid technology. Labels: Geneva-Motor-Show, New-Porsche-Cayenne, Porsche, Porsche-Cayenne, Porsche-Cayenne-2011, Porsche-Cayenne-S-Hybrid, SUV
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
 Nissan Motor Corporation aims for its new Juke crossover to at the very least, match the success enjoyed in Europe by its top-selling Qashqai. The Juke will premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next month and will be launched in Europe at the end of September. Nissan Design Europe in London created the car with intent to merge the ruggedness of an SUV with the looks and lines of a sports car. Pierre Loing, Nissan Europe vice president of product planning, described the Juke to be “roomy yet compact, robust yet dynamic and practical yet playful.” Loing said that these seemingly contradictory qualities come together in the Juke. Nissan’s factories in Oppama, Japan, and in Sunderland, northeast England, will create the Juke. The Nissan Juke raises the question: is this an SUV..? Especially since the lower part of the new model gives it the looks of an SUV, with bold shapes, large wheels and black moldings around the wheel wells and on the door sills. Its off road image is enhanced by big round head lights, that might make you think the Juke is bound for the Monte Carlo Rally. Alfonso Albaisa, vice president of Nissan Design Europe, based in London, said: “We did not want to do something that is evident in this segment, like a copy cat. What we wanted was to create a design that is not common in this segment, bold and sporty. Something that people will like at first sight.” So, the bottom part of the Juke was combined to a sporty upper part with a dropping roof line, broad shoulders and boomerang tail lights, that all hint to Nissan’s popular 370 Z. So in total, we can just sum it as a crossover. Albaisa points at the upper section of the doors with their somewhat convex shape and says: “This is not only a styling cue taken from the Z, but it also provides more interior space. The interior looks fresh and the materials used for the seats are contemporary with mesh in a contrasting color on the outsides of the seats and back rests. The new thing in is the soft cover for the luggage compartment that is attached to the hatch and moves upward when the hatch is opened. The advantage of using soft material is that it will not rattle when the trunk is completely full. Another new feature is de luggage floor: you lift it up and by moving it vertical, it slides out of the way between the back rests of the rear seats and the trunk. That way you can use the depth of the luggage space that under the floor panel is divided in smaller compartments.  The official premier of the new Juke will be at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2, while the North American debut will be at the New York Auto Show in April. The Juke will hit the European markets in September and can be expected in North America in fall. During our first test drive, we will find out if the driving experience is as exhilarating as Nissan promises. Well, Nissan Juke might take a while to make an entry to the Indian shores if at all it’s coming. Labels: Crossover, Geneva-Motor-Show, Nissan-370-Z, Nissan-Juke, Nissan-Qashqai, Sports-Car, SUV
 The image you see here is of the all new 2011 Nissan Patrol which was unveiled recently and is bound for the Middle-East to begin with. It clearly shows the shift of the design directions of the Japanese manufacturer, Nissan. The Nissan Patrol name is synonymous with ruggedness and is considered a legendary off-roader capable of going anywhere, anytime. Under the banner of “The Hero Comes Home” the Patrol is back as an all-new seventh generation model built on a new platform, showing a radical new design, an enhanced interior comfort and luxury, new V8 engines, a 7-speed automatic transmission and a new 4WD system. According to its design director, the new Patrol is not as edgy and hardcore as its predecessor, it shows softer surfaces that add a sense of modernity to the design equation but still maintaining a ruggedness and commanding road presence. The interior of the car features now some generous amounts of leather, polished aluminum and wood grain paneling. Nissan decided that customers need a better higher quality interior for the whole family because the car is driven off-road only 15 of the time. The new Patrol offers now over 100mm more legroom for second row passengers and a roomier third row of seats as well. According to Nissan, the new SUV is now the most powerful vehicle in its class. Why is that? Because the newly developed ‘VK56VD’ 5.6-litre V8 engine with VVEL (variable valve event and lift) and DIG (direct injection gasoline) technologies delivers an impressive 400 hp and 550 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to the new 7-speed automatic transmission with a wider range of gear ratios than its predecessor which gives the off-roader the ability to deliver power faster. The new Partol also employs a Hydraulic Body Motion Control System (HBMC), which keeps the car flatter with less body roll during lane-changing and cornering, while delivering a comfortable ride in city driving and superb stability on rugged and sandy tracks. The new suspension system, employs now 4-wheel independent suspension and is being upgraded from the previous rigid axle setup. The newly developed ALL MODE 4×4 system incorporating a variable 4×4 mode package and it allows the driver to switch between four drive modes: sand, on-road, snow and rock, with the flick of a switch. Also, the car features a new Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control which can also be selected easily with the touch of a button. The new model employs a revised Tyre Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) with tyre inflation indicator which beeps the horn softly to inform drivers that a suitable tyre pressure has been reached. The car also offers a new braking system thanks to its new hydraulic brake booster and a 4-piston opposed front caliper setup with larger 358mm front discs.  Well, the all-new 2011 Nissan Patrol seems to be a true contender and competitor for the Toyota Land Cruiser. As mentioned earlier, the Patrol to begin with is just offered in the Middle-East where the rich oil-sheiks can have their part of the fun dune-bashing with this hulk and let’s just hope that Nissan also sees a lucrative market for its Patrol here in India so that Nissan brings it in here for us to write more on this beast in detail. Labels: All-New-2011-Nissan-Patrol, Automatic-Transmission, Nissan, SUV, Toyota-Land-Cruiser
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Porsche Cayenne has always been a favourite off roader for the headstrong, luxury loving, SUV freaks. But this has been a thing of concern for many green peace and ecological workers around the globe as this gas-guzzling SUV from Porsche though majestic in nature has a tendency of spitting noxious smoke into the nature. Well, it’s about time that we all come out of trance of the smoke spitting image of Porsche Cayenne circling our heads and come back to reality. Now thanks to a small German company RUF, which specializes in conversions of high-powered sports cars, has built what it calls the first Sports Utility Vehicle(SUV) running purely on zero-emission electric power and based on the Porsche Cayenne. Yes, you read it right. Zero-emission from a Porsche Cayenne.   This Porsche Cayenne called as Stormster is a e-vehicle driven by Siemens electric motor with an output of 270 kW/ 367 hp. With a total weight of 2,670 kg, RUF lists acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in just ten seconds. The top speed is electronically regulated at 150 km/h to give the car a range of 200 kilometers on one charge. How cool is that? The lithium ion accumulators are supplied by Li-Tec Battery GmbH. Li-Tec is the first manufacturer of lithium ion battery cells in Europe, designed for the automobile industry using ceramic storage technology. Hankook developed the winter tyres for the all wheel drive Stormster which is fitted to RUF classic five-spoke lightweight wheels. The Stormster made its first public debut at the European Climate Change Conference held in the Danish capital Copenhagen last month. We hope that Volkswagen heeds to this and takes its newly acquired Porsche company to a all-new level by bring out as many e-Cayennes aka Stormsters to the car markets as an answer to the queries of the eco-soldiers. Labels: Electric-Cayenne, Porsche, Porsche-Cayenne, Porsche-Stormster, SUV, Zero-Emissions
Monday, 11 January 2010
The cars that we have seen from Renault until date in India seems to very much in contrast from what the French car maker decided to show at the Auto Expo 2010 held in New Delhi. Renault, which trying to gain the foothold of the Indian car market with its JV with Mahindra and Mahindra to produce the Logan here in India showed the stunned visitors what it had in its kitty other than the drab looking Logan. Renault displayed the models which it will be launching in India some time in 2010-2011. The Renault pavilion at the Delhi Auto Expo was abuzz with activity. They showcased cars like the Renault Fluence, legendary Megane, Laguna, Koleos, eco-car Twizy and Formula One car. Need we say more? Lets talk about Fluence. This is the car which is yet to be launched in India, but this car will mark Renault’s independent entry to the sedan segment in India. This car should make the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and the Skoda Laura worry for their position here in India for the sheer presence of flowing design and classy looks of the car. The company though did not specify the engine options it would come with or the price. The other car which attracted a lot of eyeballs towards it was the unique copper red coloured Renault Megane. The interiors of this Megane looked stunning with interiors dine in grey though it carried a simpler tone. This car will be the second offering to India after its entry level sedan Renault Logan. Renault Laguna was also a hit amongst the visitors to the Renault pavilion. This car carried class from bumper to bumper. This premium sedan could be imported to India via CBU kits. This car competes with Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and VW Passat in the international markets. We hope that the competition is also stretched to the Indian shores. Other car from Renault that stunned the onlookers was the Koleos which was shining in dark black. This SUV will soon make inroads to the Indian car market to take on other counterparts in the SUV segment. Also in display was Renault’s eco-friendly Twizy Z.E concept which left the visitors awestruck. This unique looking car was undoubtedly a star of the Renault Pavilion. But the main attraction in the Renault stand was the 2009 Formula One car and the V6 Megane sports car. The F1 fans were in for a treat when the R8 F1 2009 car that was raced by Nelson Piquet junior was kept as a part of display. Labels: Delhi-Auto-Expo-2010, Formula-One, Renault, Renault- Koleos, Renault-Fluence, Renault-Laguna, Renault-Megane, Renault-Twizy, SUV
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
Friday, 8 January 2010
Mahindra and Mahindra gladdened by the success of its Scorpio has made elaborate plans to develop a brand new SUV platform that will eventually replace its flagship SUV Scorpio. Mahindra has hit the right pedal in this step and will invest close to Rs 700 crore in this ambitious project. This SUV might be Mahindra’s attempt to go global and target the international markets such as U.S, European countries and the Middle East. Mahindra has been eying for a international product ever since the inception of its now flagship product the Mahindra Scorpio. Pawan Goenka, President, Mahindra and Mahindra was stated saying that “We are developing a new SUV platform, which will replace Scorpio. This platform will be compatible with the markets abroad and will be exported from India. We are looking at investing around Rs 600 crore-Rs 700 crore in the project.” This new SUV will be manufactured at the company’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra and will be positioned at a higher segment than the flagship Scorpio. The investment in the new SUV platform development is the part of Mahindra and Mahindra’s $ 1 billion capex plans, which includes half a billion investment on the chakan plant alone. The Chakan plant will also produce the Maxximo mini truck which was unveiled on Tuesday at the 10th Auto Expo. Mahindra Maxximo will be pitted against the Tata Ace, which is currently the market leader in its class. Mahindra has invested close to Rs 350 crore in developing the Maxximo mini truck which is powered by a2-cylinder CRDe engine. Mahindra hopes to sell 10,000-20,000 units in the light truck market in India. The company had showcased the cargo version of the Maxximo but a pick-up version on the same platform is also under development. A battery-operated version of the Mahindra Maxximo was also showcased at the Auto Expo. The company plans to introduce the compact pickups from its stable in the US market by the first quarter of 2010 and the mini trucks will be built on the Scorpio platform with a modified engine. Labels: Delhi-Auto-Expo, Mahindra-and-Mahindra, Mahindra-Maxximo, Mahindra-Scorpio, Mini-Truck, New-Car-Launch, SUV, Tata-Ace
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
German luxury car maker Audi will be displaying a concept car which also is one of its heritage model along with the Indian product range at the ongoing 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi. Audi still has not disclosed the details of the concept and the heritage models it will be displaying in the show. Audi which is celebrating its centenary year will also launch its newly launched brand logo in the Auto Expo. It has to be taken into consideration that Audi India has shown consistent growth in its sales which indicated a greater and wider acceptance of the brand here in India. Audi launched new models such as Audi A6 sedan and SUV’s such as Audi Q5 and New Audi Q7 in 2009 and also introduced three new engines to its existing range of Audi A4 sedan and also opened up new dealerships in Mumbai, Kochi and Ahmadabad. Apart from these, Audi also announced the limited edition offer on Audi A6 2.7 TDI which is priced at Rs 37 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) from January 1. The existing portfolio of Audi India comprises of sedans such as Audi A8, A6 and A4 while SUVs like Q5 and New Q7 adorn the Audi stable as well. Audi also has sports coupes such as Audi R8 and Audi TT in its portfolio. Labels: Audi, Audi-A4, Audi-A6, Audi-New-Q7, Audi-Q5, Auto-Expo-2010, Sedan, SUV
Monday, 4 January 2010
 On the wake of the Auto Expo 2010 which commences tomorrow, Mercedes has launched two new models in India. The first of these two Mercs is an SUV, the GL 350 CDI. The GL 350 CDI features the Mercedes’ BlueEfficiency Technology and has a fuel efficiency of 10.75 km/litre and is priced at Rs 64.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The other model that was launched today is the Mercedes S 500 L which also is the new version of its luxury sedan, the Mercedes S Class. Mercedes S 500 L gets a 5.5 litre V8 petrol engine that can deliver a power of 388 bhp and is priced at Rs 95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The S500L Limousine, when launched, will be the most expensive car to be built in India. The German carmaker has fallen behind its compatriot competitor BMW in India in its yearly sales in 2009. While Mercedes-Benz sold 3,247 units in India in 2009, a decline of 10.4 per cent compared to the previous year’s sales, BMW sold 3,619. Wilfied Aulbur, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said that the company was confident of attaining a double-digit growth in 2010. Its focus, he said, is not on leadership but on profitable growth.  Wilfied Aulbur said that the sales were lower in 2009 as they had replaced their existing E-class with a new model, and there was a waiting period on the new cars. But the guys in Mercedes India were contemplating the company’s sales to grow in “double digits” in 201 with the launch of newer models. Labels: Mercedes- GL-350-CDI, Mercedes-Benz-India, Mercedes-BlueEfficiency-Technology, Mercedes-S-Class, New-Car-Launches, SUV
Thursday, 24 December 2009
 Bollywood movie 3 Idiots will hit the screens today and Volvo XC90 R-Design SUV will become a star overnight. Ahem…What’s the connection you might ask? Well, Volvo India has never until now been associated with the Hindi Cinema industry but with this new movie 3 Idiots starring Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi produced by Vinod Chopra Films and directed by Raj Kumar Hirani, a passion red coloured Volvo XC90 R-Design SUV certainly has a pivotal role to play in the plot. Volvo India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Volvo Car Corporation had launched its new variant of its luxury Sports Utility Vehicle XC90 in October 2008 costing Rs 58 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), equipped with 32 valve V8 4.4 L petrol engine that produces 315 bhp. The Volvo XC90 R-Design comes in five colour options of which Passion Red is exclusive to the variant. This model which stands on 19” wheels, will feature a host of sporty features like sport-tuned chassis, sports calibrated steering, sophisticated stability control techniques and quad tailpipes. The interiors of the SUV are equally breath taking with the new instrument cluster with blue backlighting and quality seats. Paul De Voijs, Managing Director of Volvo India is quite elated with Volvo XC90 R-Design playing a prime part in the movie and says Bollywood being a cult in itself in India, the movie and its lead characters emanate vibrancy, energy and sportiness; exactly the qualities represented by XC90 R-Design. He also is happy that there has been a ideal integration of the Volvo brand and the movie and stated that "Artistic integrity is crucial for successful brand placements and the utility of the product has to be woven properly into the script. The placement should be a natural fit". The flick revolves around a plot about the journey of two friends in search for their long lost third companion played by Aamir Khan. The backdrop of the movie is along the length and breadth of India, covering the scenic beauty of the mountainous region of Ladakh. The film has been shot along the world's highest-altitude road, at 5,590 meters or 18,340 feet above sea level. The landscape is dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful. Volvo Auto India, which was erstwhile called as Volvo Car India is trying hard to tap in the fast-growing and most competitive Indian Auto Market. Volvo’s presence in India backs to just couple of years but has since worked intensively to market the Swedish brand. Volvo India has launched two of its models in India namely the Volvo XC90 and Volvo S80. But Volvo India has planned to launch their new models in the coming years. The first one to roll its tyres in India in 2010 from the company would be the Volvo XC60. Volvo S60 also might follow suit after it is officially launched in the Geneva Motor Show to be held in March 2010. Volvo India, though has confirmed its non-participation in the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo of 2010, will focus on positioning the brand in the luxury car segment. Labels: Bollywood-Movie-3-Idiots, Delhi-Auto-Expo-2010, SUV, Volvo-India, Volvo-S80, Volvo-XC60, Volvo-XC90, Volvo-XC90-R-Design
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
 Toyota Kirloskar Motors has finally done what it should have done a while back. It has launched the New Land Cruiser Prado in India today. We in Carazoo.com had blogged on this SUV a couple of months back anticipating Toyota to launch the Prado Diesel next year. But we are in for a pleasant shock that Toyota has kept the launch programme at the fag-end of 2009. This new beast of an SUV certainly looks bold and stylish at the same time. Prado Diesel combines the rugged dominance of its Land Cruiser heritage with the revolutionary technology and sophistication for which Toyota is renowned in this SUV. The New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado comes with a 3.0-litre D-4D turbo-charged common rail diesel engine coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission which produces 171bhp at 3,400rpm and churns out a maximum torque of 410Nm between 1,600 and 2,800rpm.This SUV fitted with imposing 18” alloy wheels also has a full-time 4x4 drive to take on the extremes. With a host of features like that of downhill assist control, hill-start assist control, Vehicle Stability Control and Adaptive Traction Control, the new Land Cruiser Prado is all set to be one of the most comfortable SUVs that has been around in India for quite some time now. On the interiors’ front, the New Land Cruiser Prado is no let down. With three row seats that can comfortably seat eight adults without any hassles, this SUV can put any luxury sedans into shame. The highlights of the features present in this SUV are power adjust with memory function on the drivers’ side, 3-automatic climate control options and seven SRS airbags for that extra protection in the event of collision. The second row seats provide ample luxury with center armrest and cup holders and can be folded to increase the cargo space just in case the cargo is more even after you have folded the third-row seats. The third row seat comes with 50:50 split and power-fold-down at the touch of a button. The New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado comes in five exciting colours such as White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Metallic, Greyish Blue Metallic and Black. This beast of an SUV costs 62,50,000 in Delhi (Ex-Show room). Labels: Land-Cruiser-Prado-Diesel, New-Car-Launch, New-Toyota-Land-Cruiser-Prado, SUV, Toyota-Kirloskar-Motors
Friday, 18 December 2009
 Guess what, Black and White is back and how? No, not the number played by the King of Pop Michael Jackson. No, we’re not even talking about the premium blended Scotch whisky… Well, this guessing certainly is giving us a high. Allow us to break the suspense. Land Rover owned by Tata Motors has come up with a special edition aptly named “White and Black” for its Freelander 2. As far as the information that we received goes, this special edition will be launched as an entry level to the Freelander 2 range for the year 2010. The special Edition will be priced around £ 19,500 approximately and to begin with will be available in the UK only. This special edition Land Rover Freelander 2 promises to come with standard features that includes six-speed manual 2.2 L diesel engine, keyless starter button, privacy glass, 17” alloy wheels, load space cover and of course Land Rover’s very own intelligent Stop/Start technology which delivers a overall fuel economy of 42.2mpg. The colours in which the special edition is supposed to hit the road is in the Alaska White and Santorini Black. This is how John Edwards, Managing Director of Land Rover UK said about the special edition Freelander 2: “With a price less than £20,000 and the economical yet powerful diesel engine, the Freelander 2 ‘White & Black’ Special Editions represent exceptional value for money in the compact SUV sector. Couple this with the vehicle’s enhanced styling and specification, the ‘Special Editions’ not only offer the Freelander 2’s trademark ever-ready versatility, but are pleasing to the pocket and to the discerning eye.” As one of the best selling model on its stable since its launch in UK the company has sold more than 44000 units and dominates 16% of market share in its segment. Labels: Freelander-2- White and Black-Special-Edition, Land-Rover, Land-Rover-Freelander-2, Special-Edition-Freelander-2, SUV, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 10 December 2009
 The news is out and official. Porsche, which has kept in wraps the information about the new Cayenne has now been leaked. Spy pictures of a test mule of the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne has been spotted with minimal camouflage. This new Porsche SUV that we are talking appears to be leaner, meaner and fitter and looks much more desirable than the current Cayenne. The stand out feature in this SUV is the LED daytime running lights which are almost a must for the European car these days and four tailpipe exhaust system hinting that it could be the top of the line Turbo version. The prototype also showed that the new Cayenne will come with black plastic body cladding, recessed fog lights, ‘power dome’ hood, wider grille and ‘Panamera’ style headlamps. The interiors have also been inspired by the Porsche Panamera with almost the same central console with larger shifter and a large LCD screen which would be used for the entertainment system and satellite navigation. Engine options will include a naturally aspirated 4.8 litre V8 with 400 bhp and 369 lb-ft of torque, a force inducted version of the same engine with 500 bhp and 516 lb-ft of torque for the Cayenne with the Turbo S moniker. The engine range will also include two Audi sourced power trains, the 3.0 litre V6 supercharged with 300 bhp and 310 lb-ft of torque and 3.0 litre turbo diesel V6 with 240 bhp and 405 lb-ft of torque. Porsche may also introduce a hybrid version with the 3.0 litre V6 petrol with combined power output of 333 bhp and 324 lb-ft of torque. The takeover by Volkswagen of Porsche seems to have done some trick as the all new Cayenne shares the platform with the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg and might adopt the same street focussed setup. This would mean that Porsche may strip the current model’s heavy off-road equipment in favour of a lighter and more responsive overall drive which to us is a bit of a downer. The ‘Off-roadbility’ of the first SUV from Porsche is one of its USP. An SUV which can do a four wheeled drift just as well as a four wheeled mountain climb is what we know and love the Cayenne for. We will have all the information once the new Cayenne is officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. Labels: 2011-Porsche-Cayenne, Geneva-Motor-Show, Porsche, Porsche-Panamera, SUV, Volkswagen-Touareg
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
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Who says stars do not guide the future? Audi has proved to the world that stars do play an important part in determining the fate. Our stars, our dear Bollywood stars, are responsible for Audi’s sales in India. As a result, Audi is now looking at a 50 per cent growth in India this year. Audi has been a favourite among the in the Mumbai film industry. Mega stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Bipasha Basu, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and many more are in favour of the German luxury car maker. Moreover, Audi has many other clients in India too which are not a part of the big Indian cinema company. But, the marketing head of Audi in India vouches that Mumbai filmdom is still an important market for Audi as it gives that extra boost for Audi’s market in India. Salman Khan is the latest star who bought an Audi A8 for himself, while Neil Nitin Mukesh owns Q7, a recently launched SUV by Audi. Audi Q7 can cost anything from Rs 63 –Rs 76 Lakh while an Audi A8 starts from Rs 71 Lakh and can go up to Rs 1 Crore in India. The company currently offers a bouquet of seven cars, including sedans, SUVs, coupe and sports cars. It is considering launching more models in the coming years. To promote the brand, Audi India has been partnering with Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) for the last four seasons. WIFW provides an ideal platform for Audi to meet “right and influential” people who can become potential buyers. Earlier this month, Audi organised an amateur golf tournament called Quattro Cup. This was the second tournament sponsored by the company and the finals were held in Hyderabad and the winners will be taken to Sydney in December. Labels: Audi-A8, Audi-India, Audi-Q7, SUV
Friday, 9 October 2009
Our cricket skipper MS Dhoni will have to face the rage of the law. The Indian skipper is fined Rs 100 for delay in the registration of his Hummer H2 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). It is a rule in India to apply for registration within a week of purchasing the car. The rule applies to all. Dhoni too applied for the registration of his Hummer H2 but has submitted an incomplete form. Dhoni was away at that time on India duty. Paying a fine Rs 100 for an Rs 1 Crore SUV is pittance for Dhoni. Dhoni accompanied by his teammate R.P. Singh had driven the Hummer from Lucknow to Ranchi on July 30. Besides Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh too owns a Hummer H2, made by US auto giant General Motors. This is the second time Dhoni has faced penalty in connection with cars or for flouting driving rules. Three years ago, he was fined by a traffic policeman for driving a car with tinted window panes, which is banned in his hometown Ranchi. Moreover, the skipper is also on a sticky wicket with his Harley-Davidson bike. He is yet to submit a “road worthiness certificate” by the makers of the bike which is necessary to have it registered. Dhoni had opted for a number of his choice, a combination of his lucky number 7. Till now he didn’t get his favourite number on his license plate, but there is a high possibility that he would get it soon. The registration number could not be issued till the road-worthiness certificate was furnished. But Dhoni could burn a hole in his pocket if he continues to drive around in the numberless luxury muscular bike. He may have to pay Rs 4,500 after the initial fine of Rs 100 for his Hummer H2. For people like us, this is a huge amount, but not a person like Dhoni, who can own a one-Crore-rupee SUV. Labels: H2, Harley-Davidson-Bike, Hummer-H2, Hummer-India, MS-Dhoni, Sports-Utility-Vehicle, SUV, SUVs
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Riding high on the runaway success of the Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Kirloskar Motors(TKM) wants to bask in the glory of its success by introducing the diesel variant of Prado by mid next year. This step of Toyota’s might be to keep the luxury SUV segment all for itself by strengthening its position in the category. Being greedy Eh? The upgraded version of Prado diesel will be launched in Japan by this December and might make inroads to the Indian market six months later. TKM desperately wants this SUV to be marketed in India sensing a steady growth of popularity for SUVs in India and is on the verge of wooing the parent company to bring the vehicle here to India. Looks like India has truly arrived in the scene if being a SUV country. And since Indians still have a soft corner towards diesel versions of any cars, Toyota surely will bank upon this sentiment and bring the diesel version of the Prado to India so that they can sell more units of the same, contrary to the petrol version which sells about 50-60 cars a year. Prado diesel will certainly be dearer and will cost higher than the petrol variant which is available at Rs 45 lakh. But we assume that Toyota is sane enough to price the SUV right so that the sheen of the vehicle is not lost owing to the price tag that it would carry. Toyota Fortuner, which in a month's span received 7,000 bookings, and sold over 1,000 cars in less than two months, has the ball rolling for TKM. Lets all hope the same happens with the launch of Toyota Prado diesel in India. Labels: SUV, Toyota-Fortuner, Toyota-Kirloskar-Motors, Toyota-Prado, Toyota-Prado-Diesel
 This Diwali, Premier Auto, the erstwhile Premier Automobiles Limited or PAL is bringing us a gift. Believe it or not, it is going to be a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Known for the once-ubiquitious Premier Padmini, Premier Auto is making a comeback in passenger cars segment after nine years. The comeback will be marked by price of the SUV, as it is going to be India’s cheapest SUV. Another ‘cheapest car’ after the world’s cheapest Tata Nano. With this compact SUV, a Chinese four-wheeler company Zotye Auto is foraying in the Indian automobile industry. It is for the first time a Chinese automobile maker have tied up with an Indian car maker. This little-known Zotye will partner Premier in the venture. Zotye Auto will supply vehicle kits to Premier to be assembled at Premier’s Pune facility which has a peak annual capacity of 20,000 units. Zotye will export completely knocked down (CKD) kits from China and Premier will provide a diesel powerplant for the vehicle along with its assembly line in Pune. Zotye Auto will be paid by Premier for providing the CKD kits. But it’s going to cost Premier virtually nothing as Premier Auto can make profits even by selling a handful of the compact SUVs. Moreover, Premier already has its existing dealers to sell the mini-SUV. Premier Auto will fit its own four-cylinder, 1.5 L diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that can produce a power of 65 bhp. The SUV will have rear-wheel drive. The mini-SUV will be named either Rio or Terra. The base variant of the mini-SUV will be priced at Rs 5 lakh, making it 30 per cent cheaper than its nearest competitor, the Mahindra Scorpio. But it will be smaller than the Mahindra Scorpio in terms of length and width. The top-end variant is likely to be priced at around Rs 7 lakh. The top variant will come with safety features like air bags and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). The top-end model will stand on 15-inch alloy wheels. The mini-SUV looks cute. It has hatchback-sized dimensions and a distinctive SUV appearance. Premier Auto’s upcoming SUV will be no bigger than the Maruti Suzuki Swift. Let us just wait and see till this SUV is launched. Labels: Comapct-SUV, Mini-SUV, Premier-Auto, Premier-Automobiles-Limited, Sports-Utility-Vehicle, SUV, Zotye-Auto
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
 It seems that the heart of Indians does skip a beat when it comes to diesel cars. Riding on this sentiment of Indians is the German sportscar major, Porsche. Porsche which is encouraged by the rocking response to Porsche Cayenne diesel, is all set to bring in the whole range of engine options to the Indian automobile market with a big emphasis on diesel. With the fast growing fan base for the Porsche brand in India, Porsche plans to boost its diesel portfolio with diesel version of its Panamera sedan. It will also expand its overall portfolio of cars by launching super fast cars such as the new 911 Turbo and 911 GT3 RS by next year. On the anvil are hybrid and electric versions as well. Porsche seems to be in the right track of reading the changing moods of Indians car enthusiasts. The flagship SUV from Porsche, Porsche Cayanne, has been well received across the world in its diesel avatar. Porsche Cayenne Diesel has also been a hot favourite of the Indian luxury SUV lovers as it is very popular in India. And while all this happens, the company would have spread out to six different cities from two at present. But the question is whether such a wider product portfolio required from a company who sells only 150-200 cars a year. And we ask why not? Porsche currently is facing increasing competition from Audi and Lamborghini, which only proves a point that it is sane of Porsche to bring in the whole spectrum of products. The market for these luxury vehicles is relatively small at the moment, but in a longer run Porsche will certainly yield its benefits of bringing in the entire product portfolio. Right now, over 70 per cent of cars sold by Porsche are SUV's and limited volumes coming from the sports car portfolio. With the new four door Porsche Panamera, the company is hoping the additional volumes kick-in. For now, despite the downturn the company is eying 20 per cent growth this calendar year but with a bigger product portfolio, more engine options and a wider reach, it is hoping to double the growth rate in 2010. Labels: Diesel-Engine, Porsche, Porsche-911-GT3-RS, Porsche-911-Turbo, Porsche-Cayanne, Porsche-Panamera, SUV
Monday, 5 October 2009
Mitsubishi’s soft-roader SUV Mitsubishi Outlander extends its portfolio. Mitsubishi Outlander after proving it’s capabilities on and off road by fossil fuel is now ready to get a blue powerhouse too. Mitsubishi is all set to show a concept model of a plug-in electric vehicle, Mitsubishi PX-MiEV based on the Outlander. The interesting point is that we need not wait for its arrival keeping our fingers crossed for long. Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is expected to grace the upcoming Tokyo Autoshow scheduled to start on 24th October this year. Mitsubishi promises none before fuel economy figures for this plug-in hybrid SUV. The hybrid version of Outlander will be powered by a 1.6 litre gasoline engine and 60kW electric motor. The gasoline engine can deliver maximum power 85kW at peak while the electric counterpart will deliver 65kW. The mileage of Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is 50km/ltr, (read it once again) and we are talking about an SUV with this unbelievable mileage figure. During normal running PX-MiEV will utilize power from electric source but if additional power is required the gasoline engine will boost the output. All other basic Mitsubishi SUV features like Mitsubishi’s all-new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) and luxurious interiors are part of the offering. Sounds interesting right? Stay tuned for further updates coming further… Labels: Electric-Vehicle, Mitsubishi-Outlander, Mitsubishi-PX-MiEV, Soft-roader, SUV
Thursday, 17 September 2009
The third-largest Japanese car major Nissan Motors have unveiled the facelifted Teana and X-Trail in India.  Nissan has much hope for its luxury sedan with a makeover in India. The new Teana carries a sweeping arch along the bodyline that reflects it’s graceful and distinguished image. The new Teana has bigger front grilles that impart a 3-D image. A sharp line climbs the fender from the wraparound headlamps to grab attention. The stylish integrated fog lamps on the bumpers add élan to the sedan. The exterior mirror contours are crafted to reduce wind noise. The Teana stands tall on 17-inch alloy wheels. The new Nissan Teana sports retractable stylish glass sunroof with UV protection, which lets the rear seat passengers enjoy the sun, filling the cabin with an open air ambience. The sophisticated interior comes in convincing wood finish and simply laid-out, easy-to-use controls. The cabin gives a suite-like experience with supple leather seats, sofa-like armrests, wood grain trim and pampering ottoman-style leg-rest to support the lower legs. The rear seats can rival any high-grade sofas with massive shoulder and back support and the space is more than adequate. There are rear air-con vents and the cabin has an airy feel. There is an LED indirect illumination on the center console that shines softly to create a more welcoming interior ambience. The soft-touch buttons and the LED indirect Illumination on front passenger and rear door grips take driving luxury to the next level. The Nissan VQ engine series has made into World’s 10 Best Engines list for 15 years in a row. The new Teana is endowed with this reputed high performance engine. The 2.5-litre V6 DOHC engine is bigger than the old Teana's 2.3-litre version. The engine can churn out a power of 180bhp. The new 2.5L, V6 engine provides quick response, smooth acceleration and abundance of low and mid range torque and high-end power. Moreover, the enhanced performance of the intake/exhaust system and a six-point engine mounting help to minimize noise. The second generation model of the Teana comes in two variants in Indian market. The 2.5XL variant is priced at Rs. 21,03,000 and the 2.5XV comes with a price tag of Rs. 25,40,000 (Ex showroom, New Delhi) The new Nissan X-trail SUV flaunts a tough, masculine, individualistic stance. The Open Window graphic with lower waistline ensures good visibility and the High Ground Clearance makes the SUV secure from all road conditions.  The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) comes with a roof-rail with lamp that accentuates the body design of the X-Trail. The SUV sports a large sunroof that allows fresh air and bright light to come in. Coming to the interior, the new X-Trail is highly luxurious. The cabin comes in high quality beige interior finish with soft touch dashboard in chrome/silver that conveys a high quality finish. The interior is quite practical with a lot of cubby holes and cup holders and a bigger boot space with a removable drawer for added convenience. The renovated X-Trail is fitted with the new M9R Diesel Engine under its hood. The 2L 4-cylinder in-line, turbocharged engine can tap 150 bhp. The engine ensures a smooth drive without vibration or strain like a petrol engine. The X-Trail can sprint 100 km in quick 10.88 seconds. Even though the X-Trail has been designed mostly for road use the intelligent four-wheel-drive system gives the X-Trail off-road capability too. The new X-tail comes in three editions: LT, SLX and SLX. The LT and SLX come with a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox and the SLX AT is equipped with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The facelifted X-Trail is priced at Rs 20.81 Lakh for the LT, Rs 23.18 Lakh for the SLX variant and Rs 25.08 Lakh for the SLX AT (Ex-showroom, New Delhi). With a combination of a punchy and refined engine, practicality and good off-road ability, the new Nissan X-Trail is a very good buy. Labels: Luxury-Sedan, New-Car-Launch, Nissan, Nissan-India, Nissan-Motors, Nissan-Teana, Nissan-X-Trail, SUV
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
 Now Ford India has a new Endeavour. The refreshed Endeavour comes in a new avatar with a wide array of contemporary features. The new Ford Endeavour comes with both automatic and manual transmission variants and will be launched across the country in a phased manner. Bookings for the new SUV from Ford have started from today in the north and the west regions with launches scheduled in the south and east markets in the next few weeks. The new Ford Endeavour can boast of many new design cues. The robust Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) displays a major overhaul in the front fascia with a multi-bar chrome grille and chrome-accented lower grille combining with wraparound headlamps, in an effort to create a distinctive style. The facelifted Endeavour will set new benchmarks in its segment with its contemporary new design look. The revamped grille appears in stylish horizontal bars that seem to float in the grille opening with the Ford logo in the middle and the top edge of the grille features a wide header bar with the Endeavour embossed boldly into its surface. The side mirrors of the new Ford Endeavour are full of functionality and style. The mirrors are clothed in a matte black with chrome with power folding convenience and turn indicator repeater lamps with a puddle lamp feature, which illuminates the ground around the door of the vehicle as the driver approaches the SUV and unlocks its doors by remote control. The SUV from Ford India stable stands on new 16-inch alloy wheels which are fitted with 245/70R16 tyres. In the interior, the new Endeavour is spacious and comfy. It can seat seven persons on the ergonomically crafted leather seats. The door panels of the Endeavour come in premium material that reveal a distinctive chrome scuff plate with illuminated Endeavour branding on opening. The new Ford Endeavour comes with two new engines. The 2.5 Litre Duratorq TDCi with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) engine is coupled with 5 speed manual transmission that generates 141 bhp. The 3.0 Litre Duratorq TDCi with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) engine is mated to a 5 speed automatic transmission gearbox that can deliver a powerful 154 bhp and features an electronic shift-on-the-fly system for the convenient selection of 2WD or 4WD mode. Both the turbocharged engine provides outstanding torque output plus impressive levels of smoothness and refinement. The Endeavour has established itself as an undisputable leader in the premium SUV segment. The 2.5L 4X2 manual transmission variant is available at Rs. 15,99,000 variant (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi) and the 3.0L 4X4 automatic transmission edition comes at Rs. 17,99,000 (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi). Labels: Ford-Car-India, Ford-Cars, Ford-Endeavour, Ford-Endeavour-Automatic, Ford-India, Indian SUV, SUV
 It seems like Maruti Suzuki has mastered the art of reading the mass psyche. India’s leading car manufacturer surely knows to put bring in the right things at the right time like no other car manufacturer. We are here speaking about the new Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara which was launched in July amidst much fan-fare, the company’s luxury SUV will soon come with a new heart. The new Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara comes only as a petrol variant in India and elsewhere. But this stylish SUV will be getting a heart transplant and a change of blood in it. Confused? Read below for more info. Beaming in pride with the success of its revolutionary K-series engines and the new series of DDiS diesel engines, Suzuki Motor Corporation has plonked the new diesel engine in its new Grand Vitara. The diesel variant will have the revolutionary 1.9 DDiS engine. The reloaded Grand Vitara was launched with the new 1.9 DDiS engine in the UK and it is on its way to the Indian sub-continent. How cool is that? The powerful and torquey engine option puts the revised Grand Vitara in a league of world class diesel off-roaders with colossal 300Nm of torque right from 2000rpm and 127bhp of power available from 3750rpm. The existing Grand Vitara is powered by Grand Vitara is powered by a 163 bhp 2.4-liter VVT petrol engine. A diesel variant for the Grand Vitara will lure more customers in and will make it a lucrative product in Maruti Suzuki’s current line-up. A powerful diesel engine like the 1.9 DDiS coupled to the 4x4 system will certainly give the new Grand Vitara an outstanding off-roading capacity and the massive 300Nm of torque means that the Grand Vitara can gladly take on any rough terrain. The Indian car market will surely welcome the diesel variant of the SUV, Grand Vitara. Of course we will. Labels: Maruti-Suzuki, Maruti-Suzuki-Grand-Vitara, SUV
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
 Toyota Kirloskar Motors is getting fortunate with the launch of the Toyota Fortuner. The Toyota Fortuner is just two days old in India, but has managed to have a huge fan-following. The Fortuner got over 2,500 bookings against the sales target of 2,000 units for this year. The car company has stopped bookings for the time being. The Indian arm of Toyota Motor Corporation is hoping to roll out the booked cars by December. The company has decided to drive in 500 cars every month. Though Toyota is the global car leader, it ventured into the Indian market only recently. Now it can be inferred that the Indian unit of Toyota is doing good in spite of the ongoing global economic meltdown. The Fortuner is a massive Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that has an outstanding performance. The SUV comes with a 3.0 L DOHC engine which is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission gear box. Moreover, the SUV comes with an All-Time Four Wheel Drive. The Fortuner has high-ground clearance, long wheel-base, climate control air-conditioning, steering control switches, third row seats and dual tone interior. The SUV will come in five scintillating colours. They are white, silver, grey, black and light blue. The Toyota Fortuner is priced at Rs 18.45 Lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Overwhelmed by the success of the Fortuner, Toyota Kirloskar Motor is planning to open more dealerships across the country. The car company has 90 dealerships at present and will increase the number of dealerships to 150 by 2010-end. Labels: SUV, Toyota-Fortuner, Toyota-Kirloskar-Motors
Thursday, 6 August 2009
 Yeti, the new attraction from Skoda, will be unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Auto Expo and will be subsequently launched in India. The launch of Yeti, in India, is expected sometime in the early 2010, and will be at the 2010 Auto Expo. Yeti is a crossover, the missing link between Fabia and Octavia in India. Yeti will be a good choice for the Indian roads. It is neither an SUV nor a car and thus a crossover. It has integrated the good qualities from both an SUV and a car. The Yeti, though carries the qualities of an SUV, is not as bulky as one and has a very trendy look. In spite of being a two-wheel drive, the Yeti has high ground clearance and long suspension. The Yeti is built based on the Volkswagen Golf platform and borrows mechanics and features from Skoda Laura, Skoda Fabia, and Skoda Roomster. The looks of the Yeti resembles more of Skoda Fabia, with its grille, which can be easily recognized, and it has the suspension of the Fabia. And it is also expected to have the brakes and transmission of Roomster. The Yeti has a very intelligently designed interiors and it also has a very interesting option of a bike carrier. Both the petrol and diesel versions of the Skoda Yeti are expected to be launched in India. The petrol variant will be powered by a 1.6-litre to 2.0-litre engines and the diesel version comes with a 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine. The competitors of Yeti in the Indian car market would be Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Indicruz, and Tata Safari. The car is expected to carry a price tag of Rs 10 lakh, which is slightly on the higher side. The Skoda Yeti will be brought as CKD to India and will be assembled at the Skoda’s Aurangabad plant using the kits from Skoda’s Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic. Labels: Skoda, Skoda-Yeti, SUV
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Maruti Suzuki India is all set to re-launch its high end Grand Vitara SUV with a new powerful engine. The new Grand Vitara will feature a 2.4 litre engine and will be called the GV 2.4 in India. It is expected to hit the markets next month. Currently the Grand Vitara is fitted with the 120 bhp, 2.0 litre inline-4 cylinder engine. The details of the power output are not yet revealed. The sales of the 5-seater SUV has been on a downward swing ever since the economic slowdown started in 2008. Despite the SUV market size being 25,000 units per annum, sales of Grand Vitara has been less than satisfactory. Almost all of Maruti Suzuki’s small cars are doing well in the Indian car market. It has eight small cars, one MPV, a mid-size sedan SX4, and two SUVs Gypsy and Grand Vitara. The pricing of the new Grand Vitara has not been revealed although the previous model carried a price tag of Rs 13.80 lakh. Despite its decent performance, the SUV has not matched up with record sales like its smaller siblings. By re-launching the SUV, the manufacture wants to highlight that the car stills exists. Auto analysts are skeptical about the sales of the re-launched SUV and keeping their guesses close to their heart. Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara has been rivaled by Chevrolet Captiva, and Hyundai Tucson. These SUV’s are doing extremely well in the Indian car market. Labels: Chevrolet-Captiva, Hyundai-Tucson, Indian-car-market, Maruti-Suzuki-Grand-Vitara, Maruti-Suzuki-Gypsy, Maruti-Suzuki-SX4, small-cars-India, SUV
Friday, 5 June 2009
French car manufacturer Renault is no more an unfamiliar name to the Indian motorist. Their joint venture with Mahindra has proven extremely successful after the launch of the Mahindra-Renault Logan mid-size sedan in April 2007. The team now has plans of launching more models to build on the success on the Logan in the Indian car market and the Renault Sandero Stepway SUV is first in queue. The car was initially designed for Brazilian roads and is currently being readied for India. Two basic qualities of the compact Sandero make it a good “urban sport” vehicle - roominess and robustness. It carries a 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine similar to the one on the Logan and comes with stylish bumpers and grille, chrome-finished exhaust pipe, cozy and spacious interiors with seating capacity of five adults, and roof rails. The high-set position of the driver’s seat is an exclusive feature which makes driving extremely comfortable especially for women. It not only helps short drivers by aiding them in seeing the road better but also gives them a feeling of superiority in any urban road condition. The Sandero Stepway is expected to be priced at around Rs 5 Lakh. Unlike other Renault cars, this revolutionary SUV is all set to invade the mid-size SUV segment and repeat the success of the Logan. Labels: Mahindra-Renault, Renault-Sandero-Stepway, SUV
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Ford is planning to introduce a facelifted Endeavour for the Indian car market. The car manufacturer desires to do some cosmetic changes in the car as it wasn’t touched since the time it is launched. It seems as if the car manufacturer is preparing its leading SUV to compete with the forthcoming Toyota Fortuner. The highlights of the new Ford Endeavour are the all new chrome grille and a new bumper with chrome accent. Moreover, the redesigned headlights, stylish taillamps, plastic deflector on the hood, and a sparkling badge on the front fenders enhance the visual appeal of the SUV. In the interior the car will have plush interiors with an automatic transmission system. There are speculations that the facelifted variant will replace the existing engine with the common rail diesel engine offering a generous increase in power output. Endeavour is the perfect off roader that shines on the Indian roads. And the new looks with the automatic transmission will further increase the demand of the SUV in India. Labels: Facelifted-Endeavour, Ford-Endeavour, SUV, Toyota-Fortuner
Friday, 8 May 2009
The stunning Mitsubishi Pajero is all set to arrive in an all-new avatar. The SUV will get a new design as well engine. It is said that the car will carry a Paris-Dakar Raid car looks, interior similar to Outlander, and the Tiptronic-like INVECS II automatic gearbox. Just like Toyota Fortuner, even the Pajero is based on a truck called Triton. The upgraded version of Pajero will come with a choice of two diesel engines powered by a 3.2-litre engine with an output of 165 bhp and a 2.5-litre engine that delivers 140 bhp. The car was launched in India in 2002 and is available as completely built unit in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Chandigarh. The vehicle recently got a facelift which is available worldwide with a 3.2-litre diesel engine. The present third generation Pajero is powered by a 2.8L turbo-diesel engine that generates 117 bhp. It seems the company wants to upgrade the car both in terms of design as well as power to tap the highly competitive Indian car market. Labels: Mitsubishi-Cars, Mitsubishi-Pajero, SUV
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Since most of the companies are experiencing a slowdown due to the financial crisis, they have withdrawn most of the facilities including cab services. Cabs are used to ferry employees of IT, IT enabled services, and for tourism sectors. But now cab services are increasingly seeing a decline. Well, the overall situation has also affected the car manufacturers. It is observed that sales of popular cab models like the Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Indica and the Toyota Innova have fallen drastically. Obviously, this has resulted in loss on sales slump for the car manufacturers. Toyota has admitted that at least 20 percent of Innova sales are contributed by cab services. But it is now declined to 10 percent. The demand from the taxi segment has fallen and so is the demand for financing the vehicles. The cascading effect of the slowdown has also touched the banks. They have found that many taxi operators have started defaulting on their loans due to lower income. Currently, the banks do not have any rules to confiscate the vehicles and release their loans. The effect of slowdown is clearly visible everywhere which has tremendously impacted all the sectors including car industry. Labels: Car-Sales, Car-Services, SUV
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Audi is successfully stepping forward in the car industry and has big plans to further engulf the market share with the introduction of new car models. It has planned a program to launch superfluous 40 car models by 2015. The company is in full swing with its plan and is continuously launching new car models. The latest model which will soon join the Audi’s product portfolio is Audi Q3 from SUV segment. In Audi’s Q range of cars, the Audi Q5 and the Q7 have already bagged success in the global market. It is speculated that the Q3 will make its debut in the European markets by 2011 and is expected to hit the Indian shores either by 2011 end or by early 2012. Anyways, the launch of Q3 is pretty confirmed for the Indian market. It is said that with the launch of Q5, the SUV segment will see a new revolution. Gone are the days when SUVs were treated as huge and aggressive vehicles. Now we also get to see the SUVs that are small and downsized but still represent their old siblings. Audi Q3 will surely rock the SUV segment with its striking looks, powerful engine, and luxurious features. Though small in size, it is certainly going to have a great impact in the car market especially in India. Labels: Audi-Cars, Audi-Q3, New-Car-Launch, SUV
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Ford Endeavour is an undisputed leader in the SUV segment of the Indian car industry. It proves its supremacy by achieving the highest sales record in the segment during the first quarter of this year. In the Indian car market, Ford Endeavour is available in two variants, 2.5-litre XLT and 3.0-litre Thunder Plus. And both the variants behold a perfect combination of style, power, and performance that continues to generate interest amongst car buyers across the country. In January 2009 the car manufacturer even launched an Endeavour leadership advertising campaign with the “No. 1 SUV” tagline. The advertising campaign featured the Bollywood celebrity Sunil Shetty and this may have contributed to the high sales of the car. There are many car buyers who love the structure, appeal, and outstanding off-road capabilities of the car. Due to its attractive and powerful characteristics many hold their confidence in the Endeavour. And with this confidence Ford actually succeeded to maintain its leadership position in the SUV segment. Labels: Car-Buyers, Ford, Ford-Endeavour, Indian-Car, SUV
Monday, 13 April 2009
There is a talk in the town that premium rates for non-life insurance companies are falling by at least 30-40 percent and the auto sector too is enjoying its benefits. While every car segment is enjoying this bounty, SUV owners have only a little to cheer. Insurance companies have reduced tariff rates for SUVs only by 15-20 percent. Their reason is that generally SUVs are high risk vehicles and command higher claims. Their maintenance is less and they are used for rougher purposes. The general estimate is that for every Rs 100 collected as premium from a SUV, Rs 120 is paid as claim settlement. SUVs are meant for tougher jobs than any other car model styling. They owners stand to pay more from their pockets than any other car in the same price segment. The higher premium rates are not going to deter consumers who have come to love the SUVs more as every year passes by. Their rough utility and good quality of comfort is liked by urban and rural masses. These vehicles are here to stay and a little reduction in premium rates will go a long way in making them more popular among younger generation. Hence, those waiting to buy Toyota Innova or Mahindra Scorpio will also have to pay more. 
Labels: Car-Insurance, Car-Insurance-Premium, SUV
Friday, 10 April 2009
Cheers! The iconic BMW X5 is now available at an incredibly low 0.1% interest rate. For all those who love this scintillating and powerful SUV this is a perfect time to drive away the car with pride. The BMW X5 is a creatively designed mid-size luxury crossover SUV that is penetrated with beauty and elegance in every detail. The powerful engine, efficient transmission, and the intelligent all-wheel drive system along with the dynamic stability control, brake fade compensation, and start-off assistant makes the car win the SUV race. Offering the best of off-road capabilities and outstanding performance the BMW X5 takes you on an incredible journey. When this incredible journey can be experienced with an easy car financing scheme at an incredibly low interest rate then the joy gets doubled. And this offers you a perfect opportunity to experience the ultimate performance of the BMW X5. Labels: BMW-Cars, BMW-X5, Car-Finance, Car-Manufacturer, SUV
Monday, 6 April 2009
Automatic cars have taken the latest trend in the Indian car industry. Automatic transmission is one of the best features a car can have it as its make the driving a stress free. Many car manufacturers are introducing the car with automatic gear shift. The automatic SUVs are becoming very popular now and there is a speculation in the Indian car industry that even Ford is planning to introduce the automatic version of Endeavour. The new version of Endeavour would have a have a 5 speed automatic transmission and will be based Ford’s patent technology Transmission Control Module (TCM). This technology can automatically sense and quickly adjust to the changing speed of the engine speed as well as the driving condition. There is no confirmed data about its engine specification but it said Endeavour is expected to be powered by a 2.5L and 3.0L engine option which is same as the existing model of Endeavour Thunder. Coming to its price tag, Endeavour AT is expected to additional cost of Rs 50, 000. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Ford-Endeavour, Ford-Endeavour-Automatic, Indian-car-industry, SUV
Monday, 30 March 2009
Porsche presents the Porsche Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3, a SUV that exudes elegance as well as power. The new Cayenne version carries the design trend set by the Cayman S and the Boxster S. The special dark striping on the doors and the hood along with contrasting Lava Grey Metallic paint colour gives a sporty and inspiring look to the car. Adding expression to the exterior beauty is a roof spoiler, bi-xenon headlamps, 21-inch SportPlus wheels, tinted glass, and the special badge of “Porsche Design Edition 3”. Moreover the special “Cayenne GTS” designated in black and “S” in red enhances the aesthetic appeal of the car. In the interior, the car is even more appealing and impressive. Exclusive black leather upholstery contrasts the red the instrumentation and doorsills. The front headrest of the car boasts of an embossed Porsche logo and the Bose 5.1 Surround Sound System add a touch of elegance and class. The car is powered by a 4.8-litre V8 engine that generates an awesome output and enables it to run efficiently from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds. The new series of Cayenne also reflects the unique tradition of Porsche Design Edition with exclusive Porsche Design accessories. For the Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3, the Porsche Design Studio has created a Type P’6612 automatic chronograph that features a light titanium casing which is further enhanced by a metal strap with DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. This elegant design is carries the striking design features of the Cayenne’s interior. The new series also boasts of the four-piece luggage set bearing the Porsche Design Edition 3 label. Labels: New-Car-Launch, Porsche-Cars, SUV
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
HM-Mitsubishi Motors has launched its premium SUV 2009 Montero in Mumbai. The mega-launch ceremony of 2009 Mitsubishi Montero was coincided with HM-Mitsubishi’s inauguration of their second fully-owned showroom “Autodrome” in Mumbai. This aggressive and intelligent SUV is the crowned winner of the Dakar rally for an unprecedented twelve times. The exterior of this commanding SUV beholds a refreshingly new chrome-plated front grille and seven spoke alloy wheels. To add to the sporty image and character of the car, Mitsubishi has fitted Montero 09 with Yokahama tubeless radials that allow the car to maneuver smoothly over rocks, mud, snow, and river. This also adds to the superior off-road capabilities of the car. The interior of the Montero 09 reflects classy ambience with features like the Rockford Acoustic Design premium audio system, 5.1 Channel theatre surround, and multi-information display. Furthermore, premium leather interior in dual tone adds to the intimate ambience of the car. Under the hood, this powerful SUV is powered by a 3.2-litre turbocharged intercooled CRDi engine that generates around 161 bhp. Hindustan and Mitsubishi has never compromised on safety and so the new Montero has the best of safety features. Some of the significant safety features include anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, engine immobilizer, airbags, and cruise control. The car is available in six dazzling colour options. Both the manual transmission and automatic transmission variants of the car are priced at Rs 41.94 Lakh based on HM-Mitsubishi’s philosophy of “One Country-One Price”. Labels: Mitsubishi-Montero, New-Car-Launch, SUV
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Porsche 911 GT3 and Cayenne Diesel made a grand entry at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. These stunning models made their first appearance to the public portraying both tradition and the future – dynamic performance and superior economy of the sports car legend Porsche. 
The new 911 GT3 turns more powerful, faster, crisper with more dynamism compare to its predecessor. With the same six-cylinder engine the new version now delivers 435 bhp which is upgraded with extra 20bhp against its old model. Extra power means better performance and vrooms from rest to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds with the top speed of 312 km/h or 193 mph. Besides the power, the GT3 gets high-tech aerodynamic modifications enhancing the new look. It is also attributed with PSM (Porsche Stability Management). The second highlight of the show Cayenne Diesel is the most versatile SUV outstanding driving dynamics, safety and off-road qualities. The popularity of the Cayenne is visible wit the Porsche recently rolling out the 250,000th Cayenne from its Leipzig plant in Germany. The diesel version of Cayenne carries the same look Cayenne V6 petrol engine. Under the hood of Cayenne diesel we get to see 3-litre refined V6 with an output of 240 bhp. The striking SUV accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds with the top speed of 214 km/h or 133 mph. Highest and impressive fuel economy is the limelight of the SUV. 
Cayenne Diesel also features an exclusive Porsche’s six-speed Tiptronic S automatic PSM Porsche Stability Management that is well tuned with description the diesel engine. Labels: Porsche, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche Cayenne Diesel, SUV
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It is official now. The new Porsche Cayenne range will make its grand appearance at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show and the absolute show stopper would be the Cayenne S hybrid. Everyone is waiting for the unveiling of the new Cayenne hybrid which is poised to prove the green credentials of Porsche.
With the intelligent combination of the three-litre supercharged V6 and the electric motor, Cayenne S Hybrid brings out maximum efficiency and performance. Depending on the driving conditions, the vehicle shifts between either one drive unit operating or both the units operating simultaneously. Shortly after its Geneva debut, the Cayenne is likely to hit the UK market in May. India will be certainly on the list after India proves it is ready for the Hybrid technology.
