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Monday, 18 August 2008
SUVs Glorious Days are Over
Gone are the days for SUVs when they were highly appreciated and liked by Indian consumers. But rising inflation and high fuel prices have now put an end to the production of SUVs. Car manufacturers across the country especially the ones like Mahindra & Mahindra who are mainly into the production of SUVs are facing a tough time. These huge cars are numbered as high fuel guzzlers and have a bad eco-image. This has reduced the sale of Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Innova, Maruti Gypsy and other cars in segment. With a keen desire to fight the battle and raise the market for SUVs, car manufacturers are now hunting for better and reliable alternatives that can drive the sale of these cars. The Mercedes, BMW, Audi and the Porsche are also planning to enter the SUV segment and produce compact cars in the segment with the combination of off-road qualities and luxury comforts. Will the past days come back for SUVs? Labels: Audi, BMW, Mahindra-and-Mahindra, Mercedes, Porsche, SUVs
Monday, 11 August 2008
Humvee and Cadillac is not in 2008 Launch list
Luxury car lovers were excited when there was news of Hummer and Cadillac coming to India by 2008. But it seems that the launch of the SUVs has been postponed. The further launch is not decided but looks like there will be a delay as the General Motors will be concentrating more on manufacturing small cars. General Motors aims at increasing the production of its popular small car the Spark. This cool looking model has clicked well especially among the younger crowd. It carries style and performance. Following Spark's success, the company will be rolling out another small car that will be cheaper than Spark. It is little disappointing for the SUV lovers who were waiting to own Hummer or Cadillac but the good thing is that the launch of these sturdy vehicles is still on… though little delayed. Labels: General Motors, Humvee and Cadillac, Luxury-Cars, SUVs
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Sonalika’s Group Ambition
The Sonalika Group's ambitions cannot be measured until the ambition is implemented to action. The group is determined to produce world cars by 2010 in collaboration with Pininfarina. Sonalika is known for the Rhino RX SUV and now ties up with Pininfarina to develop a portfolio of cars in both petrol and diesel version. The initial plan is to introduce a 5-seater high-end luxury car and a 7-seater luxury SUV which will develop a strong platform for future cars. These world cars will also be exported to European countries and therefore the company is putting in hard efforts to make the car engines comply with Euro emission norms. The company is ready to take the first step towards its determined ambition with an investment of Rs 700 crore. Many car manufacturers are laughing at this ambition of the Sonalika but their focus and strong determination will definitely reap the fruits of success. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, New-Car, Rhino, SUVs
Friday, 2 May 2008
Scorpio in Chile
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
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Outlander is no more an outsider
The Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the much awaited SUV’s in 2008. The company has already upped its preparations to welcome the beast to India. They have now released the prices of the SUV. The prices will start from Rs 15.5 lakh to Rs 16 lakh. So all those who wanted to take home the ‘tough guy’ can now make arrangements for finances. Set to hit the roads in India in August, the muscular SUV will take upon existing big players like the Maruti Grand Vitara, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Captiva. Pitched against them Outlander will be one of the cheapest SUV’s to buy. But it will have more sophisticated features than any SUV has, so far. It will come with a 2.4L MIVEC petrol engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters. The SUV will move on the electronically controlled four wheel drive system. Isn’t that amazing?
The Outlander comes in when the size of the SUV market has grown by 32 percent in the last one year. Hence, the market is prepared for more sophisticated utility vehicles. This is the real SUV that one should look for. Labels: Mitsubishi Outlander, SUVs
Friday, 18 April 2008
Palio successor soon
Fiat has always been making attempts to keep its customers a happier lot. Now with a line up of new modes slated to be launched in India, the Italian car maker is also planning a successor to its biggest selling Palio model. The Palio’s successor will be based on Panda platform but will have a bigger body. This is a part of companies plan to introduce low priced car in India markets by 2010. The car is expected to be ready by the end of next year. Therefore, with the growing interest of Car makers in manufacturing small cars depict that the trend is moving away from big cars and SUVs due to rising fuel costs and growing concern about pollution. Labels: Fiat, Palio, SUVs
Friday, 11 April 2008
Automatic Captiva
Chevrolet Captiva the most appealing SUV will be soon seen in an automatic transmission version without compromising on performance and fuel economy. The rocking SUV has won millions of hearts and is doing well on Indian roads. Presently, its available only with a diesel engine. Captiva carried pretty impressive sales by selling nearly 200 units last month which is second only to the Honda CR-V. Now with the automatic transmission option, it’ll definitely attract more buyers. Another plus point is that this model will be enhanced by a four wheel drive feature. The new features on the Captiva might add to the cost of the car but spending a little extra is worth it for such good features. Labels: Chevrolet, Honda, new car launch, New variant, SUVs
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Volkswagen will participate in Olympics
Volkswagen has become the official car company for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China, starting this August. Volkswagen will use its luxury cars, SUVs, sedans and other vehicles to ferry players, guests and officials. The company will also involve its subsidiaries Skoda and Audi cars for this purpose. It will supply as much as 6000 of its vehicles for this event.
Car manufactures in India could also be shipped for the event. Volkswagen has already established itself in India and has an impressive line up of cars in India. By involving itself with the Olympic Games, Volkswagen will surely receive a huge boost in all over the world especially in India where large number of people will closely follow every Olympic event. It is time that Volkswagen launched a new car in India to mark the spectacular event. Labels: Compact luxury sedans, Expansion in business, luxury cars, Skoda, summer olympic games, SUVs, Volkswagen
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Pay-per-usage insurance
With the new Insurance premiums rate, it’s good news for both mass of people who use cars occasionally and those who use more than one car. The Insurance Company has planed to introduce pay-per use model of coverage for cars which is already in use in Europe. The new concept works with the help of GPRS system which tracks the car and the rates are charged accordingly. The users will have to pay much lesser charges compare to what they pay presently. The charge will depend on the number of usage, thus reduce the burden on users. In India, this will be helpful for cities like Mumbai and Bangalore where people don’t use cars including small cars, SUVs, sedans and luxury cars much due to traffic problem. Hope it would suit a lot of small users and reduce premiums. Labels: auto insurance, Cars in India, luxury cars, new concept premium rate, Sedans, small cars, SUVs
Mitsubishi wants more
Has India become a decisive factor in Mitsubishi’s business strategy? It does looks like that if you see at the new products planned for India. The Japanese company is planning to introduce the i–MiEV, an electric car and the very stylish SUV Outlander next year in India. It seems that the company does not want to rest on its laurels gained in past. The company is already selling Lancer, Cedia, Monetro and Pajero. The company is now eyeing luxury SUV segment by launching Outlander and is also planning to introduce the first international brand electric car in India. The company has re-defined luxury cars in India. It can do the same in future. It is clearly targeting other Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Maruti-Suzuki who have already established themselves in India. Labels: Electric Car, Expansion in Indian auto industry, Growth in Indian auto industry, Honda, luxury cars, Mitsubishi, new cars, SUVs
60% of cars don’t meet fuel efficiency specifications
If the new government norm on fuel efficiency is introduced, 60% of the Indian cars including small cars, SUVs, and luxury cars being sold in showrooms will never see Indian roads. As per new standards, most of these cars consume a lot of fuel and are pretty low on mileage. It’s high time that these fancy sets of wheels got fancy numbers for fuel economy.
Only 40% of the car models today qualify. None of the SUVs meet the new fuel efficiency norms and aren’t suitable to off-roading anywhere in India. If enforced, the new norm will bring the current car bonanza to an abrupt end. To discourage low fuel efficiency cars, the US government has levied a gas guzzler tax on such models. Though not exactly same, this is something on similar lines from the Indian government. We don’t know when the new norm will be enforced but this news should get all car manufacturers working feverishly on newer engines and technologies. Labels: Fuel economy, fuel efficiency norms, Indian cars, luxury cars, SUVs
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
India Shining?
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
Sumo Grande Capturing Indian Hearts
The Tata Sumo Grande is the next generation Sumo. It hit the market carrying a lot of expectation from its manufacturer and from people who like SUVs but can’t really afford an expensive one. Its predecessor was one of the first SUVs to reach the Indian market. I remember that the demand for the Tata Sumo was more than Tata Motors could supply. Now it is more popular as a cab because of its tough and rugged body.
The new and improved Sumo Grande has many more features and has an exciting and fresh appearance. I know its too early to say, but this new dynamo may just make a lasting impression on the Indian market and in Indian hearts.
Article Submitted by Harsh Kanuj Labels: New launch, SUVs, Tata, TataSumo
Friday, 29 February 2008
Toyota should bring in small cars
Toyota has had a long successful run in India since its arrival. I am surprised that even though small cars constitute to a major percentage of the Indian auto market share, Toyota has not ventured into this segment in India. Toyota has a partnership with Daihatsu Motors, which is a leading mini car manufacturer in Japan and Toyota holds 51 percent stakes in this partnership. Toyota’s products have usually been universally accepted. Even the SUV Qualis (which I really thought was a Tin Drum) was in high demand when its production stopped at the Indian plant. Maybe India will get a taste of Japan’s favourite small cars in the near future. After all, Indian narrow roads and crowded streets will make these small cars feel perfectly at home! Article Submitted by KnowAutos Labels: New Car, Small car market in India, SUVs, Toyota
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Cricket to Cars – the Race is On!
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
The Scorpio Meets the Hawk!
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
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Captiva ruling Indian SUV hearts!
General Motors are pampering their ‘ Captiva’ in a big way. After its launch in Delhi and Kolkata, GM launched this premium SUV in Kochi (Kerala). It looks like the Captiva is picking up the Indian car market with unique styling, power, comfort, and last but not least best-in-class safety. This SUV is best suited for urban driving because of its sleek and elegant body and smooth handling. The interior flaunts classy features, smart technology, and cutting-edge design cuts. Captiva is going to be competing against the Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan X-Trail, Endeavour, Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V. I can’t wait to get my hands on this beauty. I have been following its progress for some time now and will be the first in-queue to get behind the wheels and be captivated when it reaches Bangalore. Article Submitted by AshokLabels: General Motors, Submitted Article, SUVs
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Captiva-ting Competition
Big is big! The 2008 Auto Expo saw the launch of a new SUV from Chevrolet into the Indian market.
Over the past two years, SUVs have gained a lot in popularity. From Tata’s Safari to Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara or from Honda’s CR-V to Mitsubishi’s Pajero, almost every car manufacturer has one or more SUV models to boast of. Even the luxury brands haven’t left anything to imagination. BMW with its X3 and X5 models, Audi with Q7, Mercedes-Benz with M-Class and Volvo with the XC90 are a few examples.
Chevrolet has brought in the Captiva at a time when the competition in the SUV segment is really rough. With a price tag of around Rs. 18 lakh, the Captiva is pitted against popular models such as Honda CR-V, Ford Endeavour, Hyundai Tucson, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan X-TRAIL. And those are just the models already present in the market. A lot of new SUV models are being considered for launch by many manufacturers and will arrive in the country soon. Hyundai has already showcased its new SUV - the Santa Fe at the Auto Expo and Volkswagen is eager to launch the Tiguan SUV.
Though loaded with a good array of features, the Captiva is priced a little too high at Rs. 18 Lakh. It’s more expensive than many of its competitors and is priced nearly equal to the very popular CR-V and Pajero. The Tata Safari with its good list of accessories and standard features and attractive price tag of Rs. 11 Lakh has lured many SUV buyers. GM hopes that the Captiva’s captivating looks, thoughtful interiors and new generation diesel engine will see it through. Labels: Auto expo, Chevrolet, General Motors, New launch, SUVs
Monday, 14 January 2008
Chevy’s new SUV ‘Captiva’ launched
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