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Tuesday, 20 April 2010
 While the small car market is still hot in India, there is something else that is getting the full attention of the car manufacturers. Yes, we are talking about the emergence of electric cars in India. Indian customers are slowly warming up to the idea of an electric drive, global car manufacturers are trying to gain an early entry in the segment. So far Maini Reva has been the one to satisfy the electric car needs of the Indian crowd. The latest one to announce its plans of launching electric cars in India is Volkswagen. The largest car manufacturer in European market has decided to enter the Indian electric car market much ahead of its competitors. And if you think that Volkswagen will have just a single launch, think again, because it is planning to penetrate the segment with a range of electric car launches. As per the German Press Agency DPA, Volkswagen’s electric version of Golf will be launched in India in 2013. The German automaker is following a very comprehensive strategy which would likely make it the leader in the electric car segment in India. Earlier the company had decided that it will bring its electric range with the city car Up with E-Golf, and the E- Jetta would follow soon. But now things have taken a different turn and plans have been modified. Now the company will commence with the E-Golf. VW believes that Golf is one of the most important models for the company and it will help establish the company’s position in the segment. Volkswagen's Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn has announced that the company is looking to produce an electric car that can be easily affordable by every user from all segments. ‘We want to attain an electric vehicle market share of three percent within our entire range of products. We will take the hybrid out of its niche status with our high-volume models. In the future, the heart of the VW brand will also beat with electricity,’ Winterkorn added. Volkswagen is collaborating with Japanese companies like Toshiba and Sanyo as well as Chinese battery and car producer BYD. Volkswagen believes that the key to making an electric car is the powerful and affordable lithium-ion batteries.  Apparently Volkswagen is also planning to bring the LPG version of its recently launched Polo. The Polo BiFuel will be equipped with a 1.4-litre 84bhp engine that can run on both petrol and LPG and you can switch between the two fuels with the push of a button. And that is not all; you can switch between the fuels while the car is still in motion. In the LPG mode, the Polo’s emissions become considerably, about 10%, lower compared to when it’s running in the petrol mode. Judging by the way things have been planned out, VW has got everything in place to beat the heat from competitors. Let’s just hope that everything goes the way it has been planned by the German carmaker. Labels: E-Golf, E-Jetta, Volkswagen, Volkswagen- E-Golf, Volkswagen-E-Jetta, Volkswagen-Jetta, Volkswagen-Polo, Volkswagen-Polo BiFuel, VW, VW-Electric-Cars
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
 Well, the new Euro IV emission norms will come in effect from April 1st and while most of the car manufacturers are busy hiking their car prices, Volkswagen is a planning to do something different. In order to comply with the new emission norms, is ready with Passat and Jetta flaunting all new BS IV compliant engines Along with the new 16-valve 2.0 liter common rail turbo diesel engine, the new Jetta will also feature some new cosmetic changes including new grille and bumpers. The new engine will have a power of139bhp, as compared to the 105bhp produced by the previous 1.9 Pump Duse engine. The new engine, which is compatible to the new Bharat Stage IV emission norms, is claimed to provide better fuel efficiency and at the same less noisy compared to the previous one. However, in order to keep the price tag of Jetta competitive, VW will not pair it with DSG twin-clutch transmission and will be available with manual transmission only. On the other hand, the VW Passat will continue with the 2-litre common-rail diesel. But, here is the news, it will, for the first time since its launch in 2007, also get a petrol engine. Volkswagen Passat will get the same turbocharged direct injection 1.8-litre petrol, which currently powers the Skoda Laura. With the new petrol engine Passat, VW is planning to give a tough competition to Honda Accord. While the Passat’s 160bhp is not much compared to Accord’s 177bhp, its direct injection powerplant has a massive 25.5kgm of torque from a low 1500rpm. This will enhance the performance of Passat and the 0-100kph could be achieved in less than nine seconds.  In an effort to outdo the Honda Accord, Volkswagen will price the Passat very aggressively. It is, indeed, talking about a Rs 20 lakh price tag for this car. And this comes at a time when major car manufacturers are grabbing the opportunity to hike their car prices, all in the disguise of the new emission norms. Volkswagen is definitely setting an example to all the other car manufacturers. Labels: Euro-IV-emission-norms, Honda-Accord, New-BS-IV-Emission-Norms, Skoda-Laura, Volkswagen, Volkswagen-Jetta, Volkswagen-Passat, VW-Jetta, VW-Passat
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Volkswagen India is on a roll. First they launch the Jett and Passat and than after judging the sentiments of us Indians, they again launch the iconic Beetle and Touareg SUV. Now that they have a significant portfolio in their kitty, they have already promised India with their Polo and Up!. Now Volkswagen going a step further in their conquest of India dream, now plans to double the number of workers at its new factory in India to 2,500 by the end of next year. Great News for us. As now we know Volkswagen is here and here to stay. Volkswagen, which also is Europe’s biggest car maker has even more grander plans like that of taking over Suzuki Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Corporation. This comes after its boosted purchase of Porsche brand. The plant Volkswagen is talking about is located in Chakan near Pune, which already employs about 1,200 people at the cost of $860 million. This is plant where the Skoda Fabia is being produced since May. The production of Volkswagen Polo also will commence in this week in the same plant. Volkswagen predicts that the Indian automotive market will grow at the rate of 2.2 million cars and SUVs by 2014 from 1.4 million this year. The Polo will compete head on with the models built by Maruti Suzuki India, the maker of half the cars sold in the nation, as well as models from Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan. VW plans to expand its Indian distribution network to 120 dealers by 2012 from 14 last year so that VW can target selling of more than 100,000 cars, than the 16,000 vehicles it sold this year through January-October. Volkswagen is introducing a hatchback Polo first at the Chakan plant and will add a sedan version in mid-2010. Hatchbacks account for more than 70 percent of all cars delivered in India. Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker, started selling the Jazz hatchback in India in June. The German company is also considering making the Up! city car at Chakan though a final decision still has not been made. Volkswagen also assembles Jettas, Passats and Audi A4 and A6 models at a Skoda factory in Aurangabad in western India, where it employs 1,000 people. Labels: Touareg, Volkswagen, Volkswagen-Beetle, Volkswagen-Jetta, Volkswagen-Polo, Volkswagen-PVolkswagen-Touareg
Thursday, 22 October 2009
 Watch out Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata and others so called major players in the game. Volkswagen, The German Car maker and the largest car maker in Europe is all set to bring in the most popular cars from its portfolio, Volkswagen Polo and the iconic Beetle to India followed by a slew of other models. VW will be launching the hatchback model of Polo in the first half of 2010 followed by the sedan version of Polo later in the second half of the year. Well-camouflaged test mules of the car is being tested for Indian conditions and is all geared up for the proper launch of the car in the Indian market. Volkswagen Polo will be available in India in both petrol and diesel models which will be manufactured at the 500-acre manufacturing unit at Chakan near Pune which has an annual production capacity of 110,000 units. The company has so far invested around Rs 3,800 crore in the plant. Besides this, 50 per cent of Polo’s components and parts will be sourced from the domestic market which might be later increased provided the quality of the materials are of superior standard. Volkswagen which currently sells premium sedans like Passat and Jetta also sells Touareg SUVs in India will be launching the Beetle sometime by the end of this year or early next year. Volkswagen would also be expanding its network in cities like Nagpur, Nashik and Vijayawada. Looks like Volkswagen is taking the competition to the extremes.  Labels: Volkswagen-Beetle, Volkswagen-Car, Volkswagen-Jetta, Volkswagen-Passat, Volkswagen-Polo
Monday, 10 August 2009
 The Volkswagen Polo is expected to be in the Indian car market by the end of next year. Indians have been long expecting the launch of this supermini car. But the wait just a little longer. It has been reported three years back that the car will be available to the Indian car customers by 2009 and it will be competing against the Maruti Swift, Hyundai Getz and Tata Indica. But when the promised time has just arrived the wait is extended by another one year and the car will have a new set of rivals in the Indian market by the end of 2010. Let us hope that the wait will finally end this year. The bookings have already begun in Europe for this fifth-generation of Polo. For the European customers, the Polo is a very familiar model and a much loved one also. But for us Indians, we have to wait until Volkswagen plans to deliver this cute hatchback to our shores by sometime in 2010. For the Indian car customers, there will be modifications in the car so that it will meet their needs the best. But from the master car builder it will be surely some great features, as the Indian customers also have now learned the trick of not getting settled for what has been offered but asking for more. The exteriors of the car will match its siblings the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat, but mocks at the more serious look of these models with the dual indicators, which gives the car a sportier look. As for the engine options, the base model of the car will be available in a 1.2-litre petrol and there will be a more powerful engine option of 1.2 TSI petrol motor. The price is expected to be between 4 lakh and 7 lakh which looks quite tempting, but wait and see, what this long wait has in store. Labels: Volkswagen, Volkswagen-Jetta, Volkswagen-Polo
Friday, 20 March 2009
It is long been known that the competition between the cars under the Volkswagen group has always been an issue. Now the all-new Superb launched recently is set to take over its sibling, the Volkswagen Jetta. Though the group has shared its innovations and technologies with all its brands including Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi, yet the three of them possess different ideologies and behold their authenticity in the market. The Superb is ready to take a head-on-battle with the Jetta with the help of its enticing features comprising captivating style, distinctive exterior adornments, and refined interiors. The sibling rivalry will go stronger with the price disparity between the two models. The new Superb is comparatively priced within the segment where Jetta is much cheaper than its predecessor. When compared to the Jetta, the new Skoda Superb delivers a comparatively stronger visual emotion. The sharp styling lines, the expressive profile, and the elegant chrome glint make the car more imposing on road. Even the interior of the car boasts of innovative technologies and features. Paying around Rs 2 to 3 Lakh for elegant styling and host of innovations is worth the extra expense made on the new Superb. The company has high expectation with the car and has target to sell around 1,000 cars by the end of this year. Let’s see to what extent the new car live up to the expectations. Labels: New-Car-Launch, Skoda-Superb, Volkswagen-Jetta
Friday, 16 January 2009
Volkswagen has proved its brand position in the Indian car market with the flagship model Jetta, a car that is admired for its excellent quality, drivability, and performance. This high-end beauty on wheels has been recently honoured with the title of 'Executive Car of the Year 2009' by the Indian automotive magazine, Autocar India. Autocar's awards are widely accepted and considered as a benchmark for excellence in India. People related to automobile industry including consumers, car manufacturers, and auto experts recognize Autocar awards as the most trusted word on automobiles. The Jetta has experienced a successful presence in the country winning hearts of Indian car buyers. You would be amazed to know that since the inception of Jetta in India in July 2008, the company has successfully sold 1,000 Jettas. This high number within a few months and at a time when the Indian car market was severely hit by recession is mind blowing. There were sixteen cars and eight bikes that were nominated for the award. But the award was bestowed on the Jetta. And there is nothing strange in it. This great car having global standards with respect to all automotive aspects suitably deserves this respected award. Labels: Car-Manufacturer, Indian-car-market, Volkswagen-Jetta
Friday, 22 August 2008
Chevrolet’s fans now get ready for the latest model of Optra, which will hit the India roads by 2009. The new Optra will carry the name Chevrolet Cruze and will be expensive than the Chevrolet Optra with the price tag of Rs.12-13 lakh. The Chevrolet Cruze expected to fall in the Civic and Jetta category in terms of build as well as performance level. Coming to its size, this car is larger than the Volkswagen Passat or Hyundai Sonata. The car will be available in both petrol and diesel version. The petrol version will be powered by a 1.8 litre engines, whereas the diesel engine will be propelled by a 2 litre engine. The diesel variant is anticipated to be the best performing version in its class offering mind blowing drive. The Cruze will also bag the credit of being the first car model to roll out from the General Motors's new plant at Chakan near Pune. Labels: Chevrolet, Hybrid-Cars, Sonata, Volkswagen-Jetta
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While the small car market is still hot in India, there is something else that is getting the full attention of the car manufacturers. Yes, we are talking about the emergence of electric cars in India. Indian customers are slowly warming up to the idea of an electric drive, global car manufacturers are trying to gain an early entry in the segment. So far Maini Reva has been the one to satisfy the electric car needs of the Indian crowd.
Apparently Volkswagen is also planning to bring the LPG version of its recently launched Polo. The Polo BiFuel will be equipped with a 1.4-litre 84bhp engine that can run on both petrol and LPG and you can switch between the two fuels with the push of a button. And that is not all; you can switch between the fuels while the car is still in motion. In the LPG mode, the Polo’s emissions become considerably, about 10%, lower compared to when it’s running in the petrol mode.
