Indian Car Blog - Carazoo.com

Mahindra is going at it again. It is rumored to be one of the potential bidders for the troubled Ssangyong Motor, South Korea’s smallest automaker. Mahindra previously has ruffled its feathers during the bidding for high profile Jaguar-Land Rover along with Tata Motors in 2008.

Ssangyong Motor, currently under South Korea’s bankruptcy protection, is looking for potential buyers back home and abroad. On Monday, Indian car maker Mahindra and Mahindra reportedly joined the group of investors interested in taking over the troubled carmaker.

As per the Korea Economic Daily, Mahindra & Mahindra, the manufacturer that accounts for more than 50 percent of the sport-utility vehicle market in India, is planning to bid on Ssangyong, which mainly sells SUVs. The newspaper reported that the Indian company sent a letter to Ssangyong expressing its interest in acquiring management rights. It cited no sources for the report.

A spokesman for Ssangyong yesterday declined to comment, but said, “There are three or four companies that are showing interest in an M&A.” In December, a court approved Ssangyong’s turnaround plan, which calls for the stake of former owner Shanghai Automotive Industry to be reduced from 51 to 11.2 percent.

It also includes a plan to convert almost $1 billion of debt into new shares. New stock will account for 50.1 percent of all shares and open bids for the stake will be accepted. Also in December, Seoul Invest, a local private equity fund manager, said in interview with local media that it would bid to buy Ssangyong. Earlier this month, SM Group, a local aluminum products maker, showed interest in participating as well.

Ssangyong said it will officially announce its plan for the auction early next month and receive letters of intent from investors by the end of next month. The preferential bidder will be determined in August, with the contract to be finalized by the end of October, the company said.

Earlier in the day, Ssangyong shares rose more than 5 percent on the Mahindra & Mahindra news, but they ended 1.9 percent down from Friday. “It’s likely because fundamentals decide the stock price,” said an automotive industry analyst.

He added, “The company has not released a new car for a long time, excepting updates to its existing models.” Ssangyong does have plans to release the C200, a new SUV model, within this year.

Let’s all hope Mahindra and Mahindra comes out successfully with the Ssangyong Motor to India.

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Tata Motors’ Sanand plant is all ready and will start producing the Nano by April 30. With this starts another thing which we would like to refer as a new rivalry between Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor Co.

The Sanand plant will manufacture up to 250,000 units of Nano per year, which is about 80 percent of Hyundai’s India sales last fiscal year. Hyundai holds the second spot on India’s largest automaker list.

Tata is trying to fill-up 100,000 advance orders for the Nano. Those sales added to the new output may assist the Indian carmaker to regain the second place, after being stuck on the third place for three consecutive years. The Nano project would prove to be profitable only if the volumes are significant.

Meanwhile, Tata Motors also has to find out the causes of the recent Nano fire accidents and clear the confusion and doubt that it has created among the Indian masses. And as the “small wonder” from Tata, of late, is getting a lot of global attention, it becomes imperative that they launch a massive damage control campaign.

Tata Motors sold 30,350 units of Nanos from July through March. And according to a survey done by CSM Worldwide Inc, Indians may buy as many as 1 million low-cost cars a year by 2016. Tata Motors would definitely want to help fill the rising demand for small cars.

Hyundai, South Korea’s biggest carmaker can produce up to 600,000 vehicles a year at its Chennai factory. “We have no intention of getting into the Nano segment at all,” said Arvind Saxena, a director of Hyundai’s India unit.

In the initial sales period in April, Tata received a whopping 206,703 Nano orders and the first 100,000 customers for the 624-cc model were chosen by lottery. The entry level Nano costs about 123,360 rupees ($2,800) in New Delhi.

Tata started selling cars in 1999 and boosted vehicle sales by 26 percent to 201,399 units in the fiscal year ended in March, and got 13 percent of Asia’s third-largest passenger- car market. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Suzuki leads the show with 50 percent and Hyundai controls 21 percent of the Asian passenger- car market.

Tata, which started selling cars in 1999, boosted vehicle sales 26 percent to 201,399 units in the fiscal year ended in March, giving it 13 percent of Asia’s third-largest passenger- car market. Suzuki led with 50 percent, and Hyundai controlled 21 percent, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

Demand for new cars in India has increased at its fastest in six years during the last fiscal year. Global automakers like Ford and Volkswagen are targeting the Indian drivers as the disposable income rises to new height and India becomes the second largest car market.

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The new MPV from Tata Motors is geared up to make its first appearance. The concept car was exhibited at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show and ever since that day, it has a fan following eagerly waiting to have a glance of the vehicle or bring it home. At the New Delhi Auto Expo 2010, the Aria was the showstopper. The 2008 Auto Expo had created magic for the Tatas. The Tata Nano was revealed at the 2008 show and we know of the buzz it had created. Now, Tata Motors is expecting the same results from the Aria. Let’s see how far the Aria goes.

Maruti Suzuki used the 2010 Auto Expo for replacing its Versa with the Eeco. The Maruti Eeco comes loaded with plenty of features and has the five and seven seat options. The Tata Aria is another vehicle that has been designed to comfortably accommodate seven passengers in three rows. The car perches with ease on a special ladder-frame chassis. The Aria’s chassis has been created by an exclusive process called hydro-forming.

The Tata Aria is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine of this amazing MPV comes powered by a 2.2 L Direct Injection Common Rail (DiCOR) diesel engine that can produce 140 bhp of power and a maximum torque of 320 Nm. The Tata Aria is capable of zooming to top speeds of up to 152 kmph. Isn’t that mind blowing?

Are you wondering about the power-packed car’s price? Well, this vehicle surely has a class of its own and the market price may range somewhere around Rs 12 lakh to Rs 14 lakh. Tata must be thinking hard about the price. The Aria’s nearest competitor is the Toyota Innova which is priced quite a bit lower than the Tata Aria.

The Aria will soon be here and will come on to the roads as three variants, with both full-time four-wheel drives or all-wheel drive (AWD) and a two-wheel drive. Which variant would you like to see first? We hope your wish is granted. As of now, the company is still undecided on which variant should first see the Indian market. With the Aria being the first of its kind from the Tata stables, the company plans to burst into the segment and gain the first-mover advantage. Will it succeed? There’s just one answer. Wait and watch.

We have already mentioned that the Tata Aria is an all-new class of vehicle from Tata Motors.

The car maker has made it clear that this MPV would be sold in international markets too. Two other vehicles too which were new to their respective segments were revealed by the Tatas at the New Delhi Auto Expo. Tata Motors looks at targeting B and C segment towns with the Venture, a small MPV that runs on diesel. The Magic Iris is the second vehicle. The Magic Iris is believed to be a modified version of the Ace Magic with four doors and a rear-mounted engine. Built with unique features like Velcro-fastened windows, the Tata Magic Iris will also be targeting the small towns in India.

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Well, Tata Motors has launched the Magic Iris in Jaipur and the vehicle would grace the other cities in the following months.

Tata Motors has launched the BS III edition of the Magic Iris, which implies it can only be registered in smaller cities only. Since Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and others register only BS IV emission compliant vehicles, they would have to wait for the day Tata launches the BS IV version. So far, so good.

In Jaipur, you can buy this car by shelling out Rs.2.12 lakh and, mind it; the price is inclusive of registration fees and taxes. Bookings for the new car have started and the delivery may take a minimum of two days, given the other formalities like insurance are completed then-and-there. The image that you see in the blog is actually a news paper ad which appeared in Dainik Bhaskar.

The Tata Magic Iris features a 611-cc water-cooled diesel engine that is capable of producing 11 bhp and can do a top speed of 55 km/h. Alright guys, don’t roll your eyes over this already. The Magic Iris is aimed at competing with the auto rickshaws in India and we can claim that Magic Iris is much faster than most of the other trikes.

The Magic Iris comes as a four-wheel replacement to India’s three-wheel rickshaws. And it comes with plenty of features that would give it an edge over the Bajaj Autos that we so often come across on the Indian roads. For one, the Magic Iris has got a large passenger compartment, which can conveniently accommodate three adults. Apart from this there is a single passenger seat up front and a boot that can swallow quite an amount of luggage.

The safety aspects of the passengers have been well thought and executed in this vehicle. It has an all-weather protection and there is no door on the right hand side leading into the passenger area. Also, the magic offers a stable and less noisy ride

We have a lot of people complaining about the look of the car. But, you can’t expect a passenger car to look like a Jaguar (or even a Nano), right, even though both come from the same manufacturer. Alright, we agree that it does not look like an eye-candy sort but when you consider the usability and safety factor of this car (or whatever you want to call it); it is sure to strike a chord with the Indian crowd.

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Just yesterday, we reported that Volkswagen may launch its range of electric and hybrid cars in India. And here is another piece of equally interesting information. Tata Motors may launch its Indica Vista EV (Electric Vehicle) in India in 2011. Yes, you heard it correct. Rediff has reported that the electric version of the Tata Indica will finally be available to the Indian customers next year.

The Tata Indica Vista EV will also be exported to the European countries where the infrastructure for electric vehicles is great. However, things are different in India. India is yet to come up with a plan for the installation of proper facilities which are necessary for enhancing the popularity and feasibility of electric vehicles. In the past, we have heard many times that auto companies are working with the government to make it possible. But talk is cheap.

So far, India has not seen a proper four seater electric car. Though the Reva claims to be a four seater, it can accommodate only two children and two adults. And, if the adult happens to be a rather tall one, the car gets really cramped. When it comes to luggage space or features, Reva cannot match up to the standards of a petroleum powered automobile.

That’s the gap that Tata Motors is trying to fill up with its Indica Vista electric vehicle. General Motors is trying stay ahead of the competition that is expected to rise in the Indian electric vehicle market with its Chevrolet E Spark. These vehicles would offer the ease of having a proper four seater car which also bring the added advantage of low maintenance and running costs.

The Indica Vista EV has made its round at various auto expos including 2010 Delhi Auto expo and the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The Indica Vista EV will be available at all dealer showrooms in 2011. The EV is expected to be priced between Rs 6 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. The pricing seems to be good, considering that it is spacious and costs a fraction to run. The India Vista EV will be comparatively very silent and also have extra torque.

It is interesting to note how the electric vehicle market is heating up in India. With electric vehicles finally catching the fancy of the Indian customers, major global auto manufacturers are rushing to give the customers what they want.

Just a word of advice to Tata Motors. Tata could actually hand out a few Indica EV’s to its Indica Vista diesel/petrol customers on a trial basis. Their feedback could be used for making improvements in the car. This seems like a more efficient process than selling a car, getting a feedback and then bringing changes in the car.

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The Tata Nano. Don’t you think this car has been grabbing the spotlight for long now? For good reasons and bad, the car has been the talk of the town. This time, there’s pleasant news. We just heard that Tata Motors has confirmed that the Nano Europa would hit the European shores by next year. We are not sure though, if the little wonder would be locally manufactured or imported. But, it looks like the province of Moselle in France is welcoming the Indian car maker with arms wide open to manufacture the Nano Europa in their region.

Tata Motors should have actually been worried. But, the Moselle Development Agency was more interested in offering space to the car maker. He said that Tata Motors should take a look at the Moselle province for manufacturing Nano cars and added that the province has profitable business openings for major auto component makers. The province is already home to German firm Daimler's manufacturing unit for the well-accepted urban two-seater small car 'Smart'.

The European version of the Nano, named as Nano Europa, was unveiled at the 79th Geneva Auto Show. While the car was being revealed, the chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Ratan Tata had announced that the car would hit the European market by 2011.

We may call the Nano ‘people’s car’. But, stay informed that the Nano Europa is a lot different from the Indian Nano. Tata Motors says that the car would have to meet different safety and emissions standards. There are rumours that the world’s cheapest car is going to cost 5,000 Euros in Europe. It is also widely believed that once Nano Europa gets launched, Tata Motors would control the immense distribution network of Italian auto giant, Fiat S.p.A. Great confidence!

The Nano Europa may be petite, just 3.29 metres long and 1.58 metres wide. But the roominess and liberal legroom that it has is simply amazing. The slightly long 2.28-metre wheelbase combines admirable space and ability of movement further enhancing the standards set by the Nano. The improved spaciousness is matched by redesigned interiors, marked by smooth curves and a state-of-the-art yet gentle feel.

To meet the driving needs, the Tata Nano Europa will be equipped with a 3-cylinder sporty all-aluminum MPFI engine mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission and an electric power steering. The gasoline engine will be best in class, offering great fuel economy and low carbon dioxide emission levels, lesser than 100 gm / km so to say. These low levels help the Nano Europa meet the twin goals of being nature friendly and stylish, just like the Tata Nano.

Unlike the Indian Nano, which had a few safety issues lately, the Tata Nano Europa meets all safety regulations. The Nano Europa comes with a sheet-metal body with an energy-absorbing design. It makes use of advanced restraint systems, ABS, ESP and air bags that are sure going to enhance passenger safety.

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If February held its head high because of the record sales figures it brought for the car manufacturers, March is not sulking either. Union Budget 2010 brought the partial rollback in excise duty reduction on cars, and then there was the price hike from few of the car manufacturers, but March kept its dignity and showed good sales numbers.

Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Honda Siel, General Motors and Ford Motors represent more than 90 per cent of all vehicle sales in India, and if we take their combined domestic passenger vehicle sales into consideration, the numbers have gone up by 19.3 per cent in March, to 1,95,805 units, compared to 1,64,104 units during the same month last year.

February got lucky because consumers were expecting a partial roll back in the budget and pre-poned their decisions of purchasing a car. As a result, the February sales catapulted by 34 per cent, hitting 1,94,548 units as compared to 1,45,166 units in February 2009.

The last financial year started on a rather sluggish note but showed signs of recovery once the economic pace quickened. Consequently, passenger vehicle sales of these carmakers in 2009-10 shot up by 26.7 per cent, to 2,429,419 units, against 1,918,146 units in 2008-09.

Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director (sales), Toyota Kirloskar Motors, said: “The increase in sales for March can be attributed to the rise in prices that would come into effect from April 1 because of increase in input costs, the implementation of Euro-IV (emission norms) and the increase in local road tax and local sales tax.”

While most of the companies are still deciding on the increase in the car prices, Toyota and Maruti have already announced the precise amount. Toyota has increased the prices of Corolla, Innova and Fortuner models by Rs 5,000 to Rs 14,000 and Maruti Suzuki has increased the prices, ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 7000, on A-star, Ritz, Estilo, Omni, Swift, DZire and SX4 models. Additionally, the price of Maruti Eeco has shot up by Rs 10,000 because the introductory price has been withdrawn.

Despite all these, industry experts believe that the overall growth would continue in 2010-11, but at a relatively lower rate. “The buoyancy in Tier-II and -III towns would help the industry to grow by 15 per cent in 2010-11, despite fears of increase in interest rates and high inflation,” Ankush Arora, vice president (sales and marketing), GM India, said. GM alone would register growth of 50 per cent over 2009-10, he said.

Riding on the successful launch of Eeco, the Ritz, the new Grand Vitara, Estilo and SX4, domestic sales for Maruti went up 7.7 per cent in March, at 79,530 units as compared to 73,855 units in March last year. Not only that, Maruti Suzuki became the only Indian carmaker to achieve a milestone of a million units being sold in a year.
Export figures also improved for Maruti. Against 70,023 units in 2008-09, Maruti sold 147,575 units during 2009-10.

Hyundai’s sales jumped by 27.3 per cent last month, to 31,501 units when compared to the 24,754 units sold in March 2009. This has been the highest domestic sales for Hyundai.

Thanks to Indigo Manza and Sumo Grande MKII, Tata Motors registered an increase of 17.4 per cent, at 27,761 units compared to the 23,649 units sold in March 2009.

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We have seen and heard of the most unusual things that have happened in the auto industry. We have seen Tata Motors buying loss maker Jaguar Land Rover unit from Ford Motors to spin out some quality products to find a place in the hearts of car connoisseur and churning out huge profits in the process as well. We have also seen GM crumble from top spot in the U.S automobile market during recession that made it sell three of its top brands and phasing out a couple of brands altogether.

We have come across the mighty Japanese known for their technological prowess come to their knees when they recalled their cars citing life-threatening technical problems (Read Toyota, Honda and Nissan). Then we have also seen lesser known car companies like that of Spykar and Geely buying more prominent car brands like Saab and Volvo paying exorbitant sum of money to the amazement of other global car companies hit by global recession.

But this story below can put every other unusual car related topics to shame. Imagine a newly cropped up Chinese electric car company called BYD showing interest in buying the legendary Maybach brand itself from the mighty German owners Daimler who also own Mercedes-Benz. Cannot believe your eyes? Believe it.

In a so called rumor that’s doing rounds in the internet circles which was originally started by China’s largest auto-related websites called auto.sina.com, BYD, the electric car maker from China is interested in acquiring the Maybach brand from Mercedes-Benz within the next few years.

The site reported that an undisclosed official from BYD confirmed the company’s interest in Maybach. The source stated that BYD would "launch the acquisition" when Mercedes finalizes its decision to end the Maybach nameplate.

Mercedes and BYD have already joined forces in an effort to market electric vehicles in China, so the companies have a working relationship, but whether or not this relationship translates into the acquisition of Maybach is unknown. It seems unlikely that Mercedes would hand over the Maybach nameplate to another company, but it just might happen. BYD's expansion efforts have been strong and luxury cars such as the Zeppelin, pictured above, tend to sell well in foreign markets so it could be a fit for BYD. For now, we will just have to wait it out and see what develops.

Daimler which heads the luxury German brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Maybach, in a bid to save its face, desperately pleaded that the rumors were false.

Daimler states that Maybach is slow-selling as they could sell just 200 cars last year. They also admitted that the Maybach brand had failed to reach and achieve the appeal of the established classic ultra-luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls Royce, but it’s still important to Daimler and stressed the point that the brand was not for sale.

A Daimler spokesman told Reuters that there is no truth to the recent speculation that Maybach could be sold to Chinese automotive firm BYD. In the meanwhile, BYD also denied the claims, according to the report; with a spokesman conferring with company chairman Wang Chuanfu to reach the conclusion the whole thing is merely speculation. BYD and Daimler are, however, cooperating on electric cars for the Chinese market.


Maybach’s sale is speculation that may eventually bear fruit, however, as the brand’s product lineup is stale–though due for an update soon, according to leaked patent images–and its tiny sales figures haven’t shown any signs of growing even as Rolls-Royce is nearly doubling production plans thanks to the new, smaller Ghost sedan. Bentley is also bustling with product news, primarily its somewhat controversial plans to go green with the addition of flex-fuel capability to its entire Continental range by 2012.

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We have the news of yet another dealership inaugural. Yes, this time it is Tata Motors. Tata Motors’ Premium Car Division publicized today the appointment of AMP Motors as the new Jaguar Land Rover dealership in New Delhi. Its first flagship store is in Mumbai and now, this new dealership is the second in India.

What do you think will be available in the new outlet? Will it display all cars from the company? Well, the complete product range is going to be available. It will showcase the Jaguar XJ, XF, XK 2, Discovery 4, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover. All these and more will be available in New Delhi, thanks to AMP Motors.

AMP Motors has set up two facilities in New Delhi. The first one is a centrally located boutique showroom at the premium Janpath area across Hotel Le Meridien. The second one is an integrated 3S facility at Mathure Road. Yes, it is in the automobile high street in Delhi. And yes, it offers everything you need, sales, service and spares. Both these facilities have been designed and built as per the latest Corporate and Dealer Identity Guidelines of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover or JLR is a British automotive business. It was initially set up as a single entity to manage the businesses of both Jaguar and Land Rover cars. It was built around two great brands that designed, engineered and manufactured automobiles. Tata Motors acquired the company from the U.S.-based Ford Motor Company in 2008. Since then, JLR has been a subsidiary of Tata Motors.

The President of the Passenger Car Business unit of Tata Motors, Rajiv Dube says that the NCR region is a key market for premium cars and sports utility vehicles too. The company was very happy to set up its marks for both the iconic brands, Jaguar and Land Rover through the new dealership situated in the capital city.

Tata Motors has received an overwhelming response so far and based on this encouraging response, the company plans to branch out in other cities too. It is thinking of expanding its reach to other cities in India. Tata Motors expects combined sales of Jaguar and Land Rover in the domestic market to touch 250 in March since its launch last year.

Most of JLR’s sales come from the bigger cities and the new showroom in Delhi will enhance it further. Most luxury brands assemble cars in India itself to attract lower duties and drop prices. However, as of now, Jaguar Land Rover has no plans of assembling vehicles in the country. It feels that the esteem of luxury brands takes a dip when assembled in India. Is that so? JLR thinks, by doing so, the big brands appeal to the masses rather than classes. It feels, part of JLR’s appeal is the exclusivity that is accorded to it for not being manufactured in India.

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Tata Nano has always been in news for both right and wrong reasons. This small car which incidentally is the cheapest car of the world is celebrating its first birthday tomorrow.

But this memorable event has been dampened with a fiery incident just a day before its birthday. In a fourth of its kind, a brand new Tata Nano burst out in flames just after 45 minutes after the car was delivered from the dealership.

Tata Nano is the world’s cheapest car but wish we could say something nice (on the first year anniversary) about the safety features of the car. Last year, there were three incidents which reported Nano catching fire due to possible electrical fire. And now there is a fourth report of a Nano catching fire on its debut tour to home. Just after travelling, from the dealership, for about 45 minutes the vehicle burst into flames.

As of October 2009, Tata suffered bad publicity because of three incidents of the Nano vehicles bursting into flames. These three fires were, supposedly, caused by electrical short under the vehicle’s steering column. But in the latest incident, the fire started with the engine and not the steering column.

During these incidents Tata Motors shirked from its responsibility of recalling the Nano cars, saying that it would conduct the pre-emptive checks on cars that were to be handed over or those that were with customers. Tata Motors satisfied themselves with this low key inspection and believed that Nanos won’t catch fire anymore. But this ignorance of Tata Motors did not prove to be very blissful.

According to reports, Satish Sawant took delivery of the car and, since he cannot drive, the company organized a chauffeur to deliver the car home. On his way back, a motorcyclist on the signalled something was wrong to the rear of his car. Sawant turned and noticed fire. He and the driver immediately jumped out of the car to safety. So much for the car being the cheapest.

Sooner or later, this had to happen. In order to make the cheapest car in the world, Tata Motors sacrificed on various safety aspects, the horrible results of which would not be tolerated even by the lower middle class car buyers.
Tata Motors is planning to launch its ultra cheap, though very risqué, car in Europe and the US very soon. But with a history like this, we would suggest that Tata rather chose to keep its baby to itself than getting sued over matters of fire.

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Tata Motors Ltd, the country’s largest auto maker by value and the third largest car maker by volume seems to have woken up from sleep. It will now be improving its after-sales service as well. What exactly will Tata Motors offer?

The initiative, “Tata Motors Service Edge” is aimed at offering not just sales but after-sales services too. This would include 24/7 emergency road assistance, quick repairs, insurance and spares. General Motors India Pvt Ltd and Fiat Automobiles India Pvt Ltd were already providing branded services and it was high time for Tata Motors to catch up with the other auto majors.

The president of passenger car business of Tata Motors himself admitted that the quality of Tata cars is not that remarkable. The latest models like the Indica Vista and the Manza, however, have seen a rise in this measure. The branded after-sales service can help the company improve its rankings by providing better service for its customers. It’s a long time now since Tata Motors has an alliance with Fiat. At the moment, it is rumoured that Tata Motors is in talks with Fiat and may extend some of the services it offers the Italian car maker.

It has been long since Carnation Auto India Ltd and Mahindra First Choice Services, Reliance Autozone and Carplus entered the service and spares business. Now, Tata Motors wants to do the same. Car makers are trying hard to get even vehicles with expired warranties back into their service range. Will they succeed? We need to wait. For the car makers, however, the business seems to be doing really well. The average margin has been estimated at 17-18% for spares and 25% for services.

Now seems to be the time. The Indian automotive industry is changing. Global auto makers are targeting the Indian roads. They are coming to India with small car offerings. When the competition is so tight, what can Tata Motors do? The Tata Motors initiative gains in importance with few differentiators among competing products. The sales of entry-level models are just zooming by the day. The smaller towns and cities too are seeing the difference. At such a stage, initiating a program like after-sales services could come in handy for Tata Motors.

Total car sales in the domestic market were up by 34.98% compared to the same period in 2009. February sales outdid the previous record achieved in January this year. 115,505 cars were sold last year in the month of February, while, during February this year, 153,845 cars were successfully sold. This is the 11th consecutive month of growth in the car industry and Tata Motors has planned to do something different, something extra.

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Good news for those who were once fans of Jaguar 24-hour Le Mans car. The “Leaping Cat” Jaguar Cars will be back in the game after a 10-year hiatus and guess who’s in charge of the revival of the Jaguar brand yet again. It’s the Tata Motors. The Indian connection for the French Le Mans seems to be right in place with the entry of Jaguar in the 24-hours Le Mans endurance race in June.

Jaguar which will be celebrating 75 years on the road this year has made a mark in the motorsports, predominantly in the Le Mans where Jaguar won five straight times in the 1950s pushing the iconic and legendary C and D type models into service.

Now with Tata Motors at the helm of affairs of Jaguar after buying the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford Motors in 2008 will restore Jaguar’s rich image in motor racing by pumping in multi-crore investments. This way Tata Motors is pretty damn sure that it will promote the Jaguar brand to the hilt in the process.

As per CJ O’Donnell, Marketing Director of Jaguar Cars Global, “Motorsports has always been important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was the foundation on which the company was developed. Returning to Le Mans will reignite excitement for the marquee across the globe.”

Le Mans is the world’s oldest sports car endurance race and has been held annually since 1923 in La Sathe, France. JaguarRSR, the professional racing team of Jaguar, will race this year in the XKR GT2. The JaguarRSR team last won Le Mans 20 years ago in the XJR-12, but after that had to keep a low profile either due to superior competition or due to inadequate funding. Le Mans is very different from other big races such as the Grand Prix as it focuses on the ability of a car company to build fast machines which are also sporty and reliable. This was done to promote the idea of fuel-efficiency while running the vehicle over a race which would last for 24-hours (with pit stops).

Winning at the Le Mans will surely help increase sale of the vehicle too. The enhancement of the brand’s strength and the sales graph moving higher seem to be the major reasons behind the project. Ford had tried the same trick in 1989. It had spent an unimaginable amount over the acquisition and again spent a few more billions to bring back the brand’s rich image. To everyone’s dismay, Ford failed. Will Tata Motors succeed this time? The Ford Motor Company had miserably lost the battle then. But now, Tata Motors seems to be full of positive hope.

The Formula 1 race happens to be the only recent race where the Jaguar made a successful entry. Right after that, the exit followed. Moreover, the entry too was ten years ago, in the year 2000. Ford, under the burdening financial pressure, was forced to sell the Jaguar Formula 1 team to Red Bull. Yes, the leaping cat was sold to the Red Bull. It was then re-baptized as Red Bull Racing.

The Porsche has won 16 times at the Le Mans. Audi too has more number of victories than the Jaguar. It has won 7 times. Peugeot, BMW, Renault, Alfa Romeo and Bentley have been the other successful motor racing brands. Will the Jaguar make it this time? Patience!!! Only Time will tell.

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Tata Motors on Tuesday announced the launch of a Mine Protected Vehicle, as part of its strategy to enhance the scope of its defence business right up to frontline combat vehicles. The company has displayed the vehicle at the ongoing DEFEXPO India 2010.

The company, which has been a supplier to India’s defence and paramilitary forces since 1958, already offers an extensive portfolio of troop carriers and logistics vehicles. The launch of combat and tactical vehicles and equipment will allow it to leverage the entire defence mobility spectrum.

The Tata Mine Protected Vehicle is based on modular flexibility and integrates V shaped hull blast protection technology, ideally suited for counter-insurgency operations. The two roof-top hatches for observation, 9 firing ports and a 360-degree roof mounted rotating turret for an LMG/HMG weapon ensures maximum fire power. Its combat survivability comes from all round NIJ Level 3 BP protection and customer/mission specific underbelly blast protection.

The air-conditioned crew cabin also renders itself to multiple configurations for different combat roles, like a command post, emergency evacuation ambulance or a troop carrier. Crew and seating layouts from 8 to 12 troops can meet these varied operational requirements.

The 245 PS diesel engine generates a top speed of 100 kmph and a gradeability of 60%. The 860 mm ground clearance and fordability of 1000 mm ensures mobility even in the toughest terrain. Space for appropriate communication equipment and ADNAV system makes it operational even at night and in adverse weather conditions.

Besides the Army, Tata Motors will also offer the vehicle to paramilitary and police forces. The company has the ability to mobilise adequate manufacturing capacity, and will deploy its dealer/service network across the country for maintenance and service.

Apart from the mine protecting vehicle, Tata Motors also displayed the Tata 8x8 Weapon Platform which is a unique and versatile high mobility platform, capable of being configured to a host of military applications like missile/artillery and air defence weapons, surveillance equipment, communications and electronics warfare. It is already becoming the platform of choice to various weapon / missile system integrators in the role of a cost effective launcher, carrier, radar pedestal, generator van and command post.

Its 380/420 PS engine generates a speed of over 80 kmph and gradeability of up to 60%. With a fordability of 1200 mm, trench crossing ability of 2 metres, ground clearance of 400 mm, a compensating bogey suspension, wide wheel tracks it can operate under severe terrain conditions. The tiltable military cabin, compatible to up-armouring and NBC protection on demand, and traditional chassis frame ensures free accessibility to all major aggregates and lends itself to easy maintainability. The wide cabin windscreens ensure good all-around visibility.

Tata Light Specialist Vehicle (LSV): The LSV is a single platform to undertake diverse missions such as reconnaissance, counter-insurgency operations for special forces and even as an ambulance. It has an adaptive automatic transmission, 60% gradeability, 750 mm fordability, 300 mm vertical obstacle climbing ability, 45% approach angle, 45% departure angle, 250 mm ground clearance and a top speed of 100 kmph. The vehicle can operate in a temperature range of –20 degree to +55 degree Celsius.

Tata Light Armoured Troop Carrier (LATC): The LATC is designed for movement of troops for counter insurgency operation, with protection against small arm fire, floor protected against hand grenade blasts, and fuel tank bolstered with explosive suppressant material.

Armoured Tata Safari: The air-conditioned Armoured Safari, offering NIJ Level 3 protection for VVIPs, is equipped with features like hand grenade protection for underbelly, run flat tyres, five exit doors, explosive suppressant material in the fuel tank, extra wide footsteps for escorts and RYG (Red Yellow Green) indicator for escort vehicles. It comes with comfortable interiors, plush seating, and a fine-tuned suspension.

Armoured Tata Sumo: The Armoured Sumo can carry six troops for counter-insurgency operations especially in hilly off-road terrain. Six firing ports and a roof hatch ensure maximum fire power. It can move from 4x2 to 4x4 mode whilst on the move. It too offers NIJ Level 3 protection, with underbelly protection against hand grenades, run flat tyres, and five exits.

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Here’s some news on the Nano which was being sorely missed out for some days now.

The second round of bookings for The People’s Car has been re-scheduled. Well, some good news for the millions of eagerly waiting middle-class Indians. Tata Motors has decided to start the second round of bookings of its Nano in 3-6 months.

It is also learnt that the first set of customers will receive their new Tata Nano by September-December 2010. The car that would have brightened your outdoor space somewhere in Jan-March 2011 will now do it by the end of this year. Tata Motors that used to manufacture 150 units a day has already ramped up production and 180 units are being manufactured everyday at its Pantnagar plant.

Sanand, Gujarat will also begin putting together the common man’s car very soon. Mr. P M Telang, Tata Motors Managing Director, said that commercial production of the Nano at its manufacturing facility in Gujarat will begin in the next couple of months.

However, as announced earlier, only the first set of the Nano’s customers will be able to avail the special discounted price of Rs.1Lakh. New customers will pay a higher price. Not to worry, the car will arrive earlier than expected. The reason being, Tata Motors has re-scheduled the Nano’s bookings to an earlier date. We just have to wait for another 3-6 months. That’s it? How exciting!

Now, here’s the secret. Increasing demand of the World’s Cheapest Car may have led Tata Motors to start off with an early round-II of bookings.

Guess the major reason for the quick bookings? Well, you guessed it right! As we have mentioned it in our car news around 20-25 per cent of the Nano’s original customers have backed out. Yes, a quarter of the total bookings have been cancelled.

Wait, there is more to it! Tata Motors is expected to launch two diesel variants of the Nano in June this year. Cool, right? The variants will come with a 3-cylinder engine. Moreover, it is rumoured that the Nano Europa will be strapped with a similar engine.

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Remember we had written a blog pondering if the Jaguar XJ will be first hybrid car to be fitted with turbine jets just a couple of days ago? Well, it seems that the truth is out and Jaguar XJ will be fitted with the turbines.

In a recent development Island-based micro gas turbine company, Bladon Jets has announced a partnership with Jaguar Land Rover to develop a device fitted to hybrid petrol/electric cars that charges batteries on the go.

This is a good news for us auto enthusiast in India as the Jaguar Land Rover group is now owned and controlled by Tata Motors of India and the day may not be far when Tata Motors brings this technology to India built in their cars for us to experience the feeling in the near future.

Well getting back to the story this Ultra Lightweight Range Extender (ULRE) battery charger allows a hybrid vehicle to travel further without the inconvenience of stopping to charge the vehicle's batteries. The ULRE could be a significant piece of technology in the evolution of the next generation of electric vehicles.

Bladon Jets is leading a consortium that has been awarded funding from the UK government's Technology Strategy Board to develop the ULRE. The objective of the consortium, which includes luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover and leading electrical machine company SR Drives, is to produce the world's first commercially viable ULRE.

Backing for the project was secured in a hotly contested £15 million funding competition organised by the Technology Strategy Board to support the advancement of the mass adoption of low carbon vehicles and is a key part of its wider programme to stimulate technology-enabled innovation and to help boost UK growth and productivity.

The ULRE will incorporate a Bladon Jets' patented axial flow gas turbine engine coupled to a high speed generator utilising SR Drives' technology. Design of the ULRE's packaging for vehicle integration will be overseen by Jaguar Land Rover.

This exclusive technology if goes right in every which ways, will not only lead to the renaissance of the British automotive industry but also the global automotive scene. This could be the future of low carbon vehicle development.

Bladon Jets is a world leader in the development of micro gas turbine engines. Its patented breakthrough axial flow technology enables the production of highly efficient, small gas turbine engines that are ideally suited for use in hybrid electric vehicles. The SR Drives Group is based in Harrogate UK and comprises two operating companies which are Switched Reluctance Drives Ltd (SRDL), and SR Drives Manufacturing Ltd (SRDML).

Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Emerson Electric Co of St Louis, Missouri – the world's largest manufacturer of electric motors. The Technology Strategy Board is an executive non-departmental public body established by the UK government in 2007 and sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The activities of the Technology Strategy Board are jointly supported and funded by BIS and other government departments, the devolved administrations, regional development agencies and research councils.

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The adage “Born from the Jets” might be the slogan of the recently saved from death Swedish Saab car company, but guess what, the above mentioned adage will be more appropriate for the British car maker Jaguar.

We have a reason for that. Jaguar has been awarded funding from the U.K government to develop a small jet turbine as a range extender for a future hybrid Jaguar luxury car.

In stating the Jaguar luxury car, we mean the newly launched 2011 Jaguar XJ full-sized luxury sedan. This car which could get an extended-range electric model in its portfolio in a couple of years might also provide a platform for the innovative jet-powered range extender.

Yes, we call this innovative as the jet-powered turbine technology though was first developed by Rover Cars which developed JET1, the first-ever jet-powered turbine car, is one of the predecessor companies of Jaguar Land Rover, now owned by India's Tata Motors. So the technology fits the Jaguar cars to the T.

Rover Cars’ JET1 which is currently housed in London’s Science Museum, ran on petrol, diesel or kerosene and sped up to 88 miles per hour. This car also spawned a Le Mans racer developed with BRM Formula One that averaged more than 100 mph and topped out at 142 mph.

The cars that run on turbine technology is smaller, lighter and emits less CO2 which should be a welcome news for the green warriors. The British government awarded $1.8 million in development funds to develop the turbine-based range extender for electric vehicles to a consortium of Jaguar-Land Rover, Bladon Jets, and SR Drives. The highlights of the modern micro-turbine technology is that it saves more than 200 pounds over a petrol engine for onboard power generation to recharge an electric car’s battery pack, while slightly reducing CO2 emissions. The Bladon Jets turbine has just 5 percent of the weight and parts count of a typical four-cylinder engine.

There are a few drawbacks which come imbibed with this technology as it is not so good for direct drive. As Chrysler learned a decade later, when it released 56 prototypes of its elegant Chrysler Turbine coupe for real-world tests by roughly 200 drivers, turbine technology proved too inefficient and expensive for production-car use.

Chrysler's test cars suffered from throttle lag, lack of low-end torque, very high exhaust temperatures, and mediocre fuel economy (17 mpg) from their 97-kilowatt (130-horsepower) turbine engines, which powered the car through a standard automatic transmission.


Turbines also aren't particularly suited to the rapid acceleration cycles of varied driving. Using a turbine as a steady-speed source to generate electric power, on the other hand, lets it operate most efficiently and at close to its maximum output.

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Tata Nano always seems to amaze us in every ways possible. Just fresh after winning the Indian Car of the year (ICOTY) award recently, the Nano has followed its winning ways. This time around Tata Nano has won the prestigious Bloomberg UTV- Autocar Car of the Year award.

The Bloomberg UTV- Autocar Awards 2010 which were presented by HDFC Bank on January 15th 2010 in a glittering ceremony at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai had most of the industry stalwarts attending the show. The special guest for the evening was Formula 1 racing champion Narain Karthikeyan while the chief guest of the function was Minister of State for Road, Transport & Highways Sri. R.P. N. Singh.

Tata Nano has beaten 21 strong contenders by bagging the award. This accolade carries an authority and credibility only the Autocar brand can deliver. Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Sons, after accepting the award for Tata Nano, said the recognition is for the full team that worked on the car, and the challenge now is to exceed expectations...

The list of categories and their winners were:

Bike Of The Year - Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS
Small Car Of The Year - Tata Nano
Premium Hatchback Of The Year - Maruti Suzuki Ritz
Best Luxury Car - New Mercedes E-class
Luxury SUV Of The Year - Toyota Fortuner
Saloon Car Of The Year - Chevrolet Cruze
Best Variant Of The Year - Skoda Laura
Best Driver's Car - BMW Z4
Technology & Innovation Award - BMW 7 Series
Green Award - Mercedes E-class Blue Efficient
Car Advt Of The Year - Fiat Linea Father & Son Advt
Viewers' Choice Car Of The Year - Toyota Fortuner
Viewers' Choice Bike Of The Year- Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS
Import Bike Of The Year - Honda CB 1000R
Best Design & Styling - Fiat Grande Punto
Best Value For Money Car - Tata Indigo Manza
Manufacturer Of The Year - Maruti Suzuki India

The awards jury consisted of Dilip Chhabria (India’s leading Car Designer), Manwendra Singh (India’s leading Automobile Historian) Hormazd Sorabjee (Editor, Autocar India) Shapur Kotwal (Deputy Editor, Autocar India) Renuka Kirpalani (Editor, Autocar Show), Rajeev Khanna (former Rally Driver) and Naren Kumar (6-times National Champion). Speaking on the awards, Mr. MK Anand, CEO, Bloomberg UTV, said “The Autocar Awards honour unmatched excellence in the automobile industry. The awards are awarded after a meticulous selection procedure by some of the best names in the country.”

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The world’s cheapest car Tata Nano is now being readied for sale in the US market. The car will be ready for US distribution in about three years.

To meet the emissions and safety standards of US, the Tata Nano is going through modification.
Tata Motors has already made a European version of the Nano that will cost about $8,000 when it debuts in 2011. Hence it can be said that the US version of the Nano is expected to come in a comparable price quotation.

The reasons behind this hefty price tag are the structural changes that needed to be made, the changes required as far as emissions are concerned and additional features for the Western market.

Moreover, the Nano’s two-cylinder, 623cc engine has to be engineered to meet stronger the US pollution standards. Besides, airbags have to be added as a safety feature, the roof needs to be strengthened and the front bumper lengthened to meet US requirements.

The Spartan interior with flat bucket seats, three knobs, a horizontal switch and a steering wheel also have to be changed to comply with US safety standards that limit movement of passengers not wearing seat belts.

If the $8,000 price tag holds true, it would cost far less than the $9,970 Hyundai Accent, currently the car with the lowest base sticker price in the U.S., according to the Edmunds.com automotive website.

It should not be forgotten that the price excludes shipping!

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Fiat India has been doing their homework well since their second outing in the Indian Car market. It’s a known fact that the first outing of Fiat was disastrous and left a sour taste in the hearts and minds of Indian people.

This time Fiat has got the equation just right and has come out in the Indian car market like never before. They have launched three trend setting models in India in 2008-09 while they already had their Palio holding ground for them in India while they had left India momentarily.

Fiat India brought out their popular models like hatchback Punto, sedan Linea and premium luxury small car Fiat 500 tying up with Tata Motors. But in order to further explore the Indian car market, Fiat India has come out with new variants of the Linea and Punto at the just culminated Auto Expo 2010. Fiat also unveiled three Punto variants during the Expo named Punto Sports, Punto CNG and Punto Trendz.

Fiat Punto Sports gets its power from the 1.3L Multijet Diesel engine which produced a healthy 90 bhp and has a property of variable geometry turbo charger. The maximum torque produced by this engine is 205 Nm. The Sports edition seems to be a nice concept and is it is the livery that it carries that deserves all attention apart from the engine. Punto Sports is priced at Rs 6.5 lakhs and will be competing against the likes of Maruti Swift and Ritz, Ford Figo, Toyota Etios, Volkswagen polo and Skoda Fabia.

Fiat Punto Trendz is a interesting display in the Fiat stands at the Auto Expo. Fiat Punto Trendz sports a Limited Edition 1.2-L FIRE petrol engine and comes with a CD/FM/MP3 version and it is one of the latest updates which are available from the manufacturer. Fiat Punto Trendz is a limited edition car that might be priced on the higher side and the level of decals attached is absolutely mind-blowing.

Fiat Punto CNG also was displayed at the Auto Expo 2010 in the Fiat stands. It has now become a common amongst the car manufactures to come out with vehicles fitted with flexi-fuel optioned engines. Fiat India to tap this market has come out with their Fiat Punto CNG flexi fuel vehicle. This car can run both in CNG and petrol. Punto CNG uses a 1172 cc FIRE engine with a CNG kit which generates 68 bhp and will be pitted against the Maruti Suzuki WagonR Duo. Fiat India has priced Punto CNG Rs 5 lakh( ex-showroom-Mumbai).

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The 2010 Auto Expo has drawn the curtains on. It attracted nearly two million visitors during its seven days of display. From big machines to concepts to alternative fuel technology vehicles, the auto fair had something for everyone. The 2010 Delhi Auto Expo gave the world the message that the Indian automobile industry is fast on a full recovery mode.

The visit of Shah Rukh Khan to the Hyundai stall to unveil the i10 electric car and stopover of other celebrities to the Expo added icing to the cake. While the Volkswagen Polo, Toyota compact car concepts and Chevrolet Beat managed to pull large crowds, Tata Motors’ Jaguar and Land Rover become the photographers’ delight. The upcoming Tata Aria and luxury concept sedan Prima also fascinated the crowd. The audience appreciated the Audi Sportback and Mercedes Benz SLS AMG.

Other attractions included the Honda small car concept and the Maruti Suzuki Eeco and first indigenously designed concept car from Maruti, the R III. The Skoda Yeti and the BMW X1 too got some cheers. Toyota amazed the crowd with the launch of the Prius and Maruti Suzuki showcased its SX4 hybrid.

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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.

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Tata Motors which showcased its full-scale product portfolio at the Auto Expo with 37 vehicles from the Tata, Jaguar and Land Rover brands. Amongst the Tata cars that were displayed, three new Tata cars certainly turned more than a few heads towards it. Tata Aria, the Tata Venture and the Tata Magic Iris were all jointly posing for the flashbulbs of the cameras. Jaguar XJ which was launched also stole the thunder away when it was launched by Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors.

But there was a special someone who was certainly being noticed, The Tata Indica Vista Sport.

It seemed that the plain looking Indica Vista had gate crashed at the 10th Auto Expo held in New Delhi wearing royal garbs. This car, Tata Indica Vista Sport, a concept, which was draped in the youthful Alphanso Orange body colour, contrasted with a dark shaded roof, highlights the car's sportiness, matched with ebony black interiors and black leather seats.

The flared wheel arch trims and accentuated fog lamp slots surely exuded oodles of power. The carefully contoured bonnet flares and the black treatment on the Vista's distinctive petal-shaped headlamps assert its feline poise, made complete with a trendy aerofoil rear roof spoiler.

This car looked every bit a stunner at every angle. We hope Tata Motors makes this concept a reality to see that its sales charts go skywards. Tata Motors with this car has an ubersexual in their hands, Price it right and market it right and Tata Motors could have a fan following for this little aggressive cutie-pie.

What actually livened the Tata Motors pavilion was the two Nanos LX models which were kept on display. This was Tata Motors’ demonstration of the Tata Nano’s adaptability to customer desired look and personality. The first car a Cocktail Red body painted Nano looked very much feminine with attractive floral patterns on the doors and bonnet. This car unmistakably was for wooing women customers as the interiors of this car also replicated the outer stance of the car with floral pattern designs fitted with start-stop feature.

The second Nano was specially conceived for masculine gender as the Nano was painted in Wild Lime colour to soothe the male sensibilities added with leather seats and door pads. Both the Nanos are air-conditioned and equipped with electronic trip meter, music system, mobile charger point, central locking, tinted glasses, front power windows and fog lamps.

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Tata Motors can be rightly called as the movers and shakers of the Indian automobile market. With wide variety of products adorning their portfolio such as passenger cars for common man to luxury cars to ultra-rich, commercial vehicles like that of trucks, buses, pickups and so on, Tata Motors is very much rooted in the Indian motoring scene.

It is a tremendous feat by the Tata Motors to transform itself from a truck manufacturing company to passenger car maker. It was just last year when Tata Motors brought in their world’s cheapest car, the revolutionary Nano for the people who would want to upgrade from their humble scooters and motorcycles.

Tata Motors can feel the pulse of the people of India like no one else. Thanks Ratan for being an Indian for Indians. Now, in an attempt to reach out for the auto rickshaw wallas who would want to upgrade for a four-wheeler from a three-wheelers, Tata Motors has brought in a new pint-sized four-wheel passenger car named Magic Iris at the Delhi Auto Expo 2010.

Ratan Tata unveiled this vehicle in the Auto Expo which is a mini version of a minivan and is developed specifically for India with the company claiming that it "aims at upgrading the quality of travel for those who depend on three-wheelers". Magic Iris can seat up to five people and is “controlled by a steering that provides car-like on-road stability, while the hard roof, made of sheet metal, provides car-like safety" as per Tata Motors.

The stunning features of this mini-van are the “car-like clear lens headlamps and tail lights" and is powered by 0.6 liter water cooled diesel engine that churns out 11.3 bhp and can reach a speed of up to 55km/h. Tata Magic Iris will be expected to go on sale in India later this year.

This might be a relief for those passengers who are cautious travelling in an auto-rickshaw in India.

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Tata Motors Group displayed the widest range of products and environment-friendly technologies at Auto Expo 2010.

Tata Motors unveiled the Jaguar XJ and the 4×4, 7-seater Crossover Tata Aria. Other prominent unveilings from the house of Tata Motors include Tata Venture, a hatchback sized 8-seater MPV, Tata Magic Iris, a novel four-seater public transportation vehicle, The Tata Motors Group has unfolded the full scale of its product portfolio and the breadth of its technology capability with a display of 37 vehicles, from the Tata, Jaguar and Land Rover brands, at the Auto Expo 2010.

Among them are three new Tata vehicles – the Tata Aria, the Tata Venture, the Tata Magic Iris – and the all new Jaguar XJ, which were unveiled by the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Mr. Ratan N. Tata.

In passenger vehicles, the Group’s displayed its entire range from Jaguar luxury saloons and Land Rover SUVs to Tata Indigo Manza sedans, Tata Indica Vista hatchbacks, the Tata Safari, the Sumo Grande MK II, the Xenon XT, and two specially conceived Tata Nano cars. The Nano has been declared as the 2010 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY).

The technology capability on show includes environment-friendly hybrid and electric powertrains, conventional engines with higher fuel efficiency, lightweight vehicle architecture, all contributing to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, besides state-of-the-art drive technologies, latest infotronics, ultra-modern passenger comfort, safety and entertainment systems.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tata said, “The range of Tata, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles is representative of our technology base, and the direction our brands are taking in pursuing market opportunities. The Company is focused on meeting the full range of customer needs while being conscious of the environment.”

The unveiling of the all new Jaguar XJ marks its India launch. The all-new Jaguar XJ brings a daring new spirit to automotive luxury, with a mix of striking design, breathtaking performance and engineering. The car was premiered worldwide in London in July 2009, and deliveries across the world are beginning this year. Bookings for India too have opened, and deliveries will begin from June 2010. Displays from Land Rover, the gold standard in 4×4s, include the Model Year 2010 Discovery 4 and the Range Rover Sport, which expand Land Rover’s 2010 product range in India.

The Tata Aria, to be launched in the second quarter of 2010, blends the functionality and comfort of a mid-range MPV with the all terrain assurance and premiumness of an SUV. Its unique design and construction makes it robust, elegant and comfortable. The interiors, with three rows of theatre style seating, present a luxurious world of premium features comprising 3D surround sound, dimming roof lamps, in-dash built in GPS, a state-of-the-art infotainment system, multifunctional steering wheel, dual air conditioning with automatic climate control and cruise control. Top-of-the-line safety features include 6 airbags and ESP, offered by an Indian OEM for the first time. Besides, the chassis frame comprising advanced hydro formed members, a stiffened body cage, and dual zone collapsible steering make the Aria one of the safest vehicles.

Its 2.2 Litre Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) diesel engine, delivering 140 PS power and 320 Nm torque, is mated, in the 4×4 option, with an all-wheel drive with torque on demand, which senses and distributes torque to the wheels in accordance with the terrain.

The less than 4 metre long Tata Venture, to be launched soon, has the footprint and maneuverability of a hatchback car, but the interior space of a utility vehicle comfortably accommodating 8 passengers and ample luggage space. The interiors, with a two-tone beige and black theme, are comfortable with dual heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) with roof-mounted ducts. A glasshouse effect with plug-in windows for second row passengers makes it distinctive. Driver comfort has been addressed with power steering, power windows, reverse parking aid, keyless entry with engine immobiliser and rear wipers. Safety features include collapsible steering and side impact beams.

It is powered by a 1.4 Litre turbo diesel engine delivering 70 PS power, with best in class fuel efficiency among diesel MPVs. The Tata Venture will be available in 5, 6, 7 and 8-seater options in 3 row front facing configuration.

The Tata Magic Iris, to be launched this year, is for public transportation, offering safer and more comfortable mobility for those who depend on three-wheelers. Its spacious car-like cabin can comfortably seat four passengers – three at the back and one in the front beside the driver. With its car-like on-road stability and sheet metal roof it provides car-like safety.

The 611-cc water cooled diesel engine, backed by a 10-litre fuel tank, is capable of running larger distances with a top speed of about 55 kmph and yet higher engine life. With its bouquet of features, the Tata Magic Iris will be the ideal small passenger carrier which will upgrade both the quality of public transportation and also the income of their owners.

The recently unveiled 10-to-75 tonne, 150-to-560 PS Prima range of trucks, trailers and special applications has set new benchmarks in India and matches the best in the world in its power, speed, carrying capacity and trims. The range comprises 10 major variants of tractor-trailers, rigid trucks, tippers, mixers and cranes, and special applications. Besides India, it has already been introduced in South Korea, where it has won the prestigious Grand Prize of 2009 Good Design Selection of Korea recognising its excellence in design, functionality, quality and safety.

While expanding its portfolio, the Group is focusing on environment-friendly technologies. Jaguar’s lightweight vehicle architecture, Land Rover’s e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES SERIES, the Nano with the lowest CO2 emission among Indian cars, the Indica Vista EV, to be launched this year, the hybrid Starbus and existing CNG/LPG powered Tata passenger and commercial vehicles are all representative of how the Group is pursuing the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission and usage of conventional fuels for a low-carbon world.

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Hyundai Motors is following in the Tata Motors footsteps at least for the moment. Hyundai on Wednesday has announced that it will consider bringing in its electric vehicles into the Indian market as Hyundai is all set to capture the gradually increasing market for these cars.

Hyundai Motor India which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Korean giant, showcased its electric version of its small car i10 at the ongoing 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Speaking to the reporters after unveiling the electric version of the popular Indian small car, Arvind Saxena, Director of Marketing and Sales for Hyundai Motor India Ltd expressed hope that the the new found interest in electric vehicles would present Hyundai with a huge opportunity to bring in electric vehicles technology to the Indian market in the near future.

Though he denied giving any time-frame as to when the electric cars will be introduced in India, but we speculate that Hyundai also might study the feasibility of the Indian markets to bring in the electric cars here.

It should be noted that the i10 electric was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September last year and the company plans to produce the car in limited numbers for the South Korean market from this year. Hyundai i10 Electric is a zero-emission vehicle that reconciles motoring with the environmental aspirations of customers looking for a vehicle with the best possible ecological footprint."

Previously, in 2007, Hyundai had launched the Hyundai i10 with internal combustion engine in 2007.At present; HMIL is the country's largest car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer with a line up of alternate fuel technology in vehicles like the CNG and LPG versions of its small car Hyundai Santro. This would be followed with its sedan Accent and small car Hyundai i10.

Currently, only Reva produces electric cars for the Indian market but recently Tata Motors also announced its plans to bring in the Tata Indica Vista electric in collaboration with a Norwegian company to ply it here in India after studying the feasibility.

Hyundai Motor India's pavilion displayed its futuristic technology in the form of concept vehicles to highlight the superior and advanced technology that the company has pioneered. The company also showcased the sports variant of its luxury sedan Genesis at the auto show.

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