Indian Car News

Nissan is planning to launch three new small cars in India.

2011-01-12T10:03:00.002+05:30

Nissan is planning to add three new small cars to its product portfolio in next 3 years to tap into the demand for small cars in the India.

In a report says, Nissan to develop three small cars, code named K2, I2 and K11. The K2 will be launched in December 2012 and will take on the Maruti Wagon R and A-Star and will be priced at around Rs. 3.5 lakh. Nissan will use the same 1.2 litre petrol motor in K2 that already powers the Nissan Micra and the company is also considering a 1.0 litre petrol engine for better fuel efficiency. The K2 is expected to be manufactured with two wheelbases, the shorter version for India and the longer version for export markets.

Nissan is also planning to launch an K-based MPV for the Indonesian market. As per sources in Nissan, the company can save upto Rs. 50,000 by using the K11 platform which will be critical in meeting the stiff target price.

Nissan’s upcoming I2 is expected to lock horns with Maruti Suzuki Alto, which is now the World’s No.1 small car. I2 is developed by Defiance Testing & Engineering, a company based in the U.S. and acquired by Ashok Leyland (AL) in 2007. It has to be noted that Ashok Leyland & Nissan have forged a joint venture to develop small car and now we know that it is I2.

We can expect AL to develop the I2 with major engineering work carried out in the homeland so as to keep the development cost down. As the I2 will target Maruti Alto customers, expect this car to be priced around Rs. 2.5 lakh and could be launched in 2013.
nissan micra sedan photo

Nissan also has a JV with Bajaj and a low cost car will be born out of this. Generally known as the Ultra-Low cost car or ULC, we are yet to know if Nissan will include this car under its product portfolio. But, even without including the ULC, the Japanese carmaker is planning well ahead to enter the mass market with its Micra, K2 and I2. Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors, better watch out!

Nissan also has the option to use Bajaj’s ultra-low cost car (ULC) though it’s not clear if the ULC will form a part of Nissan’s India range. However, with the Micra, K2 and I2, Nissan will have completely covered the budget end of the Indian car market and could pose a formidable challenge to Maruti’s stranglehold.

Meanwhile, the company is likely to reduce prices of its Nissan Micra sedan. It also working to beef up its sales and distribution network in India as that has become a constraint when it comes to maximising sales. Nissan has also launched a diesel variant in December 2010 as diesel cars have been quite popular in India.

Maruti to make Dzire shorter and cheaper

2011-01-07T10:25:00.001+05:30

A price war is in the offing in the entry-level sedan segment with Maruti Suzuki looking to downsize the Dzire to under four metre to fit the car in the small car definition and avail lower excise benefits, a move that will give it elbow room to be more price-competitive .

The Dzire, leader in the entry sedan segment , is a hot seller for Maruti and accounts for about 8,000-9 ,000 units monthly. However , the entry of Toyota Etios at a highly competitive price (Delhi ex-showroom price just under Rs 5 lakh for the basic model) has prompted Maruti to go for this rejig.

While company officials refused to comment , it is believed that the Maruti’s R&D team is working on reducing the length of the car to under four metre. In its present avatar, the Dzire has a length of 4.16 metre that puts it in the category of a big car, thus attracting excise duty of 22%.

The length reduction will cut excise by more than half to 10%. The Delhi ex-showroom price of the car is between Rs 4.88 lakh and Rs 7.07 lakh and industry analysts said the duty reduction could result in a benefit of approximately 8% or between Rs 40,000 and Rs 56,000. However, it is not clear how much of this benefit the company will pass on to the consumer.

When contacted, a spokesperson for the company said, “We do not comment on future products and refreshments.”
The Dzire is currently available on 1200cc petrol and 1250cc diesel engine, both of which are appropriate to give it lower excise duty if the length gets reduced.

In reducing the size of the Dzire, Maruti seems to be following the industry trend of downsizing vehicle size to avail of lower excise duty. Tata Motors was perhaps the first one to do this when it reduced its Indigo sedan to under four metre to make the Indigo CS, a car that looked like a sedan but came around the pricing of an upper compact car.

Mahindra is also believed to be doing the same with the Logan sedan and the multiutility Xylo. Maruti is also doing it for competitive reasons. The runaway success of the Etios would be a concern for the company’s marketing bosses as it hits directly at the Dzire.

While low production numbers of Etios (currently 35,000 annually) means that the model may not be an immediate threat to the Dzire, it could impact the model in the long run once Toyota starts churning out more units.

Merc mini may drive into India soon

2010-03-27T11:18:00.000+05:30

Luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz is planning to launch its small car, the A Class, in India in a couple of years. Peter Trettin, president and CEO of Daimler, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, said the company would position the A Class as its entry- level car in the country. “This will be lower priced in line with competition,” Mr Trettin said.

However, auto experts feel that even the entry level Mercedes will be priced in the range of Rs 16-20 lakh.

Mercedes Benz officials have been talking about introducing this car in India for over a decade, but they kept delaying the launch. Experts say this may be due to doubts over whether a high-priced entry-level car would find enough takers here. BMW too has deferred introducing the MINI in India.

However, Mr Trettin sounds positive. “In the region I look after, India is a growth market and demand is growing because the economy is growing,” he said.

Mercedes Benz India managing director and CEO, Wilfried Aulbur, said sales have picked up since December. “In 2010, our segment grew 80%, but Mercedes Benz has grown 157% and this is without the GL launch,” he said. The Mercedes Benz GL Class is a cross-over sports utility vehicle and it matches, size wise, Audi’s Q7 and BMW’s X5.

Mr Aulbur said the company’s bus order book was full till September. “Demand in the market is very good,” he said.

Mr Trettin said markets in central and eastern Europe have begun to show some recovery in passenger car sales although the commercial vehicle segment was still smarting from the 90% fall in sales.

“We had to buy back vehicles from our distributors, to give them liquidity. We have also offered bridge finance to our dealers since we have to support them. It will take time to grow back but we have cleaned up stocks,” Mr Trettin said.

Daimler’s commercial vehicle sales have been hit in the Middle East too, since the construction industry there faced problems.

BMW plans new art car

2010-02-05T10:57:00.005+05:30

BMW has commissioned artist Jeff Koons to produce the 17th BMW art car.

The project is now in its 35th year and previous artists to produced art cars include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Frank Stella.

Koons has been keen to produce an art car since 2003 and has been a fan of BMWs since living in Munich 20 years ago.

"I always thought it would be an honour to work on a BMW art car,” said Koons at the launch of the project at his New York studio. “I look forward to participating in a tradition set forth by such great artists as Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella and Warhol."

BMW art cars have been regularly produced since 1975 and have been on display at the firm’s Munich museum since 2006. Models that have been given the art car treatment include the BMW Z1 and BMW M1.

Koons' art car will be revealed later this year. Full details of the car he will use will be announced in due course.

Volvo sedan S80 car for price Rs. 39 lac in India

2010-02-05T10:57:00.003+05:30

Volvo India will be launching S80, a premium luxury car in the Indian car market in next few months. Volvo sedan S80 will be at price Rs. 39 lac. Volvo sedan S80 will be sold through 12 dealers of the Volvo India. The company has 7 dealers currently and will increase the dealer base to 12 soon. With Volvo sedan S80, company want to improve its market share in luxury car market and also establish itself as a major auto player in India for long term. The car S80 is branded as most youthful and powerful ever.

Volvo sedan S80 is equipped with personal car communicator which allows to get all information about THE CAR. To ensure better safety, the car communicator provides alerts and other related information. Volvo S80 car has

special feature of collision warning which helps to improve safety while driving. Interesting feature of Volvo S80 car is its steering which is dependent on speed. It is very smooth in slow speed and more stable in high speed.

Volvo sedan S80 has two turbo engine having high performance. The car delivers mileage of 13.1 kmpl. The car has diesel engine which makes it economic car from operational cost point of view.

Volvo India will also launch XC90 car in 2011. With the launch of 2 model, the company has shown its interest in Indian car market. India is second biggest market for Volvo in Asia Pacific region.

Volvo sedan S80 is at price Rs. 39 lac in Mumbai and Rs. 37 lac in Delhi (ex-showroom price).

Luxury sports car from Aston Martin quite certain in India

2010-02-05T10:57:00.001+05:30

A resolving move from the British car maker Aston Martin Lagonda for instilling the sports pleasure into India seems certain. With the model for India yet to be decided, negotiations are on with the local dealers for the formal launch of the car, said an official spokesman over phone.
Amidst the downfall in the industry in 2009, luxury cars shone bright giving hope to the makers better fare in the Indian market. BMW secured a growth of 28% during the fiscal year(2627 units) Audi 977 units @ the growth of 61%. Mercedes-Benz India met the dismal show with the fall in its sale to 2% by selling 2478 units. Observers see the mind set among the buyers who switch their loyalty to the brands and the new comers take advantage of this.

Luxury sector in two wheelers too promised a lot as Harley-Davidson launched new ranges of its bikes as well as Ducati furthering its flock to the areas of the country. With the opening of second showroom in Gurgaon, Ducati sketched its operation to other cities like Kolkata, Bangalore.
The luxury car segment oscillates towards the new ones because the customers look forward for exclusivity. This paves way for the new comers in the industry to thrive on more potential. This where Aston Martin forges ahead, targeting the new buyers who shift their brand stature. Aston Martin had been with Ford Motor till 2007 until it was taken over by David Richards and John Sinders (businessmen) in a joint bid with Investment Dar and Adeem Investment (Kuwait) for $848 million. India is a part of the company’s expansion activity by which it has already made presence in China, Russia and West Asia.

BMW launches limited edition Gran Turismo

2010-02-05T10:56:00.004+05:30

BMW India will be investing $50 million on its wholly-owned subsidiary, BMW Financial Services India.

Speaking to reporters at the launch of the limited edition BMW Gran Turismo here on Wednesday, Peter Kronschnabi, President, said the finance company would become functional by mid-2010 and have a car insurance adjunct in collaboration with Bajaj Allianz. Also to be introduced this year will be the pre-owned cars showrooms.

While BMW India sold 3,619 cars of all variants in calendar year 2009, it was difficult to hazard a guess about the company’s prospects in the fragmented pre owned cars market, he said.

“In the premium cars segment, with around 10,000 cars sold annually, BMW can claim a 40 per cent share. This segment is expected to grow 20 per cent this year after a dull period last year” Mr. Kroschnabi said.

Asked about the probable date for the debut of BMW X1, he said it would be made at the Chennai plant, the existing capacity of which was 3000 units in a single shift. “We have invested $30 million in the Chennai plant and more investments are planned to enhance capacity for building newer models. We are right now working on the capital investment and additional manpower needed and will announce fresh investment in Chennai after we know the cost factors involved” he said.

Maruti to make its first Made-in-India small car by 2012

2010-02-05T10:56:00.003+05:30

Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest carmaker, recently outgrew its Japanese parent in sales. The company, whose products have been driven by Japanese engineers for quarter of a century, now plans to do one better than Suzuki Motor Corp in research and development (R&D).

Maruti, 54.2% owned by Suzuki, aims to grow out of its parent’s lingering R&D shadow by propping up an ambitious project that it hopes will earn it independent manufacturing capability. The company will turn its upcoming R&D facility at Rohtak — Suzuki’s only such significant centre outside Japan — into a self-reliant setup by 2012 to coincide with the introduction of its first Made-in-India small car, said a senior executive.

The target is to make the R&D capability independent and self sufficient by 2012, said SY Siddiqui, head of administration, HR, IT & finance at Maruti.

Indeed, Maruti has been spiking the Indian engineering and product development content in new cars. The A-Star and Eeco, which was showcased at last month’s Auto Expo, represent the growing expertise of Maruti Suzuki engineers to develop vehicles in India.

“The idea is that the development of small cars particularly for India should be done more and more in India,” said Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava.

Maruti sees an expenditure of up to Rs 1,500 crore at its R&D centre over 3-4 years, though the company is yet to fix the investment details.

The company, which sells every second car in India, sold 9,67,581 vehicles in 2009. But global rivals such as Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen are gnawing at its dominance in the small car market. The R&D unit forms a vital link in Maruti’s strategy to retain its competitiveness in the segment.

“If you develop a product closer to the market you can get the requirements of the customer into the design quicker, faster and more accurately,” said Mr Bhargava.

Still, the Indian R&D centre will collaborate with Suzuki’s product development cell to make the Made-in- India cars meet global standards. “When we design cars for India, they will need major modifications to be acceptable for, say, the European markets in safety, emissions and left-hand drive. That’s where Suzuki inputs will come into play,” said Mr Bhargava.

Maruti will aggressively start hiring for the Rohtak R&D centre locally as well as from the US and Europe, said Mr Siddiqui. The company plans to hire around 1,000 engineers this year and has set up a separate HR cell for the R&D centre.

The R&D ambitions are a perfect fit with Suzuki’s vision of turning India into a global hub for small car design. Made-in-India cars will target select export markets, particularly right-hand drive ones.

Virgin unveils first F1 car

2010-02-05T10:56:00.001+05:30

Virgin Racing has unveiled its debut Formula One car as it prepares to become one of four new entrants in the 2010 championship.

The VR-01 missed the first all-team test in Valencia, Spain this week, but will be at the second Jerez test later this month for its public testing debut.

The first stage of Virgin’s on-track evaluation program will take place at Silverstone on Thursday and Friday.

Technical director Nick Wirth said that “the chassis design implications created by the refuelling ban were obviously considerable.”

Virgin’s drivers are Timo Glock of Germany and Lucas Di Grassi of Brazil.

Maruti Suzuki Cervo, next small car unveils soon

2010-02-05T10:55:00.000+05:30

Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) has declared to stop the production of India’s first economy car Maruti 800 by the year 2012. The Maruti Cervo will take the place of Maruti 800 in the cheapest category. The sources revealed the price of Maruti Cervo will be somewhere around Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh (approx).

Maruti cervo is planned to give a toughest fight to Tata people’s car Nano. Although ,Maruti cervo will be little higher than Tata Nano in price but it is expected that the car will be the replacement of wagon R, Alto and Maruti 800. It is true to believe that this will be India’s next small car soon.

Maruti Suzuki Cervo will be equipped with an engine capacity of a litre. Considering the trend flowing in the Indian market, 60-65 bhp is a realistic estimate of the power that will be sent to the front wheels.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has revealed its January Month sales for the year 2010 on Februry 1st 2010 via press release. The company has sold a total of 95,649 vehicles in January 2010. This includes 14,562 units of exports. This is the highest ever domestic as well as total sales for the company.

The company had sold 67,005 vehicles in the domestic market in January 2009.

Seven Ways to Increase Fuel Efficiency

2009-10-22T12:24:00.002+05:30

If all you have is a car to fill up, consider yourself lucky. Airlines, truckers and boat owners are feeling the gas price pinch even harder than the vast majority of Americans. That isn’t to say $4 a gallon isn’t hard on the wallet, however. Below are some tips you can use to increase fuel efficiency. Every car or truck is different, and some of these tips may not apply to all. Remember, applying as many tips as possible will give you greater fuel economy, as they have an accumulative effect.

1) Keep your vehicle properly maintained. Taking your vehicle in for regular maintenance as described in it’s manual will ensure that you keep your driving machine in fine working order. Dirty oil, old air filters, etc. make vehicles work harder to go the same distance, thus reducing efficiency. Also, learn to do basic maintenance yourself. Doing your own basic maintenance will save precious money you would otherwise pay for a mechanic. It is simple to do and learn, and if you aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get a bit dirty, you’ll find that extra cash can be spent in better ways. Here’s an excellent guide to changing your vehicle’s oil.

2) Keep your tires inflated to their recommended air pressure. This increases your vehicle’s efficiency by reducing the friction between your vehicle’s tires and the road. Pressure gauges are cheap and can be found in practically any gas station store, and it usually takes less than 5-10 minutes to check all the tires.

3) Reduce the wind resistance your vehicle has. Here’s some common tricks:

* If your vehicle has a roof rack you don’t use, take it off. It will help your wallet.
* Keep your windows rolled up whenever possible.
* For truck owners, keeping the tailgate UP will reduce resistance. Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters proved this sometime ago.
* Do the speed limit. Seriously, wind resistance grow exponentially the faster you go and higher speeds reduce fuel efficiency. You’ll also save lots of $$$ by not getting a ticket.

4) Use regular gas unless your vehicle’s engine requires premium gas. This kind of information can usually be found in the vehicle manual. If you only need regular, spending that extra 5 bucks for premium could be better spent on your morning latte. Or better yet, saved in your wallet. Over the course of a year you’ll probably save over $100.

5) Got junk in your trunk? The heavier your vehicle is, the more fuel it uses. If you’ve sports bags, lumber or whatever else laying around in the back, consider taking them out when you’re not using them. By lightening the load of unnecessary stuff, you can help increase your fuel economy a few percent.

6) Accelerate slowly rather than slamming the pedal. Sure revving the engine is fun, but it also burns through gas faster than gradually getting up to speed.

7) Check to see how your vehicle fares in fuel efficiency charts. If it is lower on the list and you don’t need the extra horsepower or weight of your current vehicle, consider trading it in for a more efficient one. If you use your vehicle to simply commute to work, consider buying a smaller, more efficient car.

Or if your in the position, buy a cheap used commuter car and save your current one for fun drives or excursions. Using a more efficient commuter car for going to and from work, errands,etc. is one of the more effective ways to increase fuel economy. Just park the commuter car in the garage when you’re wanting a fun ride and take out your prized vehicle.

Car sales hit record high in Sept on festive fervour

2009-10-02T22:00:00.000+05:30

Hyundai, Honda, General Motors and Ford sold record number of cars in a month in September as buyers — more confident of jobs and bonuses than last year — lapped up cheap financing schemes offered by banks flooded with deposits. But Maruti, which accounts for about half the cars sold in the country, missed the monthly record as it suspended production of the SX4 sedan.

Total car sales surged to over 1.53 lakh in September, from highest monthly sales of 1.29 lakh units reported in March this year, provisional numbers released by companies showed. “Money is coming into the system and the higher liquidity could result in even better volumes in October and set a bigger sales record in the domestic auto market,” said Ramnath Subramaniam, director (research) at capital market firm IDFC-SSKI Securities. Final numbers could be higher as some, like Toyota, are yet to report the numbers.

South Korea’s Hyundai posted its best sales in 11-year history in the country. Domestic sales grew 25% to 27,803 cars, from 22,311 cars a year ago. Exports grew 9% to 26,001 cars.

“The car market behaved differently this year with consumers purchasing even during shradh — that is considered an inauspicious period in the Hindu religion,” said Arvind Saxena, senior VP (marketing & sales) at Hyundai Motor India. “But sales actually spiraled up in the last ten days, with many of our models going off the shelf.”

Maruti Suzuki, which sells Swift and Alto, said sales rose 11% to 71,594, a six month high, against 64,682 cars a year earlier. Its exports surged 85% to 11,712 units. Maruti missed its previous best of 73,855 cars that it sold in March as sales of its once best-seller model M800 fell 8% to 3,207 from 3,467 a year earlier.

The launch of Fiat’s Punto and Linea boosted Tata Motors’ car sales. The company, which also sells Fiat’s models, said sales rose 23% to 20,743, including 2,567 units of Fiat from 16,829 last year same month. Nano, the world’s cheapest car, sold 2,524 units. Others whose car sales rose are: Mahindra & Mahindra’s 37% domestic sales to 21,961, General Motors’ 49% to 7,654, Honda’s 87% at 5,794, Ford’s 50% at 3,405, Skoda’s 53% growth at 1,854. Sales of motorcycles also jumped.

Hero Honda sold 4% more at 4.01 lakh units, TVS Motors 4% higher at 1.42 lakh, Yamaha Motor doubled to 26,394, Suzuki Motorcycle gained 26% to 15,719 units. Bajaj Auto is yet to announce its sales figures for last month.

Reva to roll out two new electric cars soon

2009-10-02T21:58:00.000+05:30

The maker of India's sole battery-run car, Reva Electric Car Co., is setting up a second plant in the country's tech hub to roll out two new models next year for domestic and export markets, a top company official has said.

"We are investing Rs 300 million (Rs 30 crore) in the second plant that will eventually have an installed capacity of 30,000 units per annum," Reva co-founder and deputy chairman Chetan Kumar Maini told IANS.

The 14-year-old firm has raised $20 million (Rs 960 million) from global investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Global Environment Fund for this.

The company displayed prototypes of the two models at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) Sep 15-27.

The first model - Reva NXR (next revolution) -- is a four-seat, two-door hatchback family car.

The second model -- Reva NXG (next generation) -- is a sporty two-seater with a targa roof, designed by renowned automotive designer Dilip Chhabria.

"We plan to roll out NXR by mid-2010 and NXG a year later (mid-2011)," Maini said on the sidelines of a conference.

"Export version of NXR will run on a Lithium Ion battery, with a top speed of 104 km per hour and a range of 160 km on a full charge. The lead acid battery variant, with 80 kmph speed and 80 km per charge, will be sold in the domestic market," he added.

The 14-year-old firm, a joint venture with AEV LLC of the US, has a greenfield plant in the Bommasandra industrial area on the outskirts of the city, with an installed capacity of 6,000 electric vehicles (EV) per annum.

"We have exported about 1,500 cars to 24 countries across Europe, Asia and South America over the last five years. Global auto dealers have shown keen interest in the new models at the Frankfurt auto show," Maini asserted.

Though Reva has been pitching hard to sell its electric cars in the domestic market since 2003, lack of awareness and absence of an official policy to encourage eco-friendly cars, as in Europe and lately in the US and China, have proved to be obstacles.

As a result, sales of Reva cars in the domestic market have been stagnant unlike in the case of petrol/diesel passenger cars, which have registered double-digit growth over the years, with a range of models across segments.

"The new plant will have one of the lowest dust-to-dirt carbon footprints of any car in mass production," Maini said.

Reva has formed a joint venture with global automaker General Motors India to roll out an electric version of GM's Spark compact car platform next year for the domestic market. The tie-up will also enable Reva to market its vehicles through GM's distribution network.

The joint venture will work with the central and state governments to build infrastructure for electric vehicle charging and providing incentives to consumers.

"To fight global warming and reduce carbon emissions, electric vehicles cars are an alternative to fossil fuel-driven cars. Though awareness of impact of climate change is growing, pro-active policies and incentives by the government will encourage people to go for eco-friendly transport system," GM India managing director Karl Slym said.

Skip That Traffic; Fly Your Car Soon

2009-07-04T00:47:00.001+05:30

America's Terrafugia Transition is planning to uncover its car-cum-plane vehicle called 'The Flying Car - Transition'

If you wish you could own one of the slick vehicles that turned into robots in the 2008 movie 'Transformers' - well, dream on. However, you could hope to hop into one of those cars that can fly!

In a couple of years, when you're stuck in traffic, you'll have the option to fly off in a two-seater vehicle to reach your destination. An American company called Terrafugia Transition is planning to uncover its car-cum-plane vehicle called 'The Flying Car - Transition.'

The car commenced its historic first flight on March 5 with 27 additional flights to be completed over the next several weeks.

That's right. The Flying Car will let you take a spin on the roads where it will be capable to fold up its wings after you've vroomed pass the stratosphere.

Apparently, 'The Flying Car' can travel up to 725 kilometres in the air at a speed of more than 115 kilometres per hour.

Do you have it in you to fly a car?

The Flying Car Transition requires a Sport Pilot certificate to fly. The two-seat aircraft is designed to take off and land at local airports and drive on any road.

Transforming from plane to car takes the pilot less than 30 seconds. The Transition will cruise up to 450 miles at over 115 mph, will drive at highway speeds on the road, and fits in a standard household garage.

The vehicle has front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. Both modes are powered by unleaded automotive gasoline.

By giving pilots a convenient ground transportation option, the Transition reduces the cost, inconvenience, and weather sensitivity of personal aviation. It also increases safety by incorporating automotive crash structures and allowing pilots to drive under bad weather. Refundable airframe reservations are currently being accepted.

Fuelled by gasoline, it has front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight.

With its wings folded, it can be parked in your ordinary car garage.

Its initial cost is expected to be around $200,000 (nearly Rs.1 crore), says the company which has already orders for 60 vehicles.

The company says that work is underway on Stage 2 of The Flying Car, the Beta Prototype. First delivery is expected in 2011.

Tax cut pays, car sales on fast track

2008-12-26T16:01:00.001+05:30

With the government playing Santa and reducing the central value-added tax rate by 4%, sales of small cars have risen smartly, giving beleaguered automakers just the Christmas gift they needed. In just over a week since the rate cut, rebates by car companies have resulted in more customers walking into showrooms, enough for a 20-25% increase in sales this December over last month, top auto financiers said. Inventories with dealers, too, are down from 45-50 days in November to around 30 days now.

Ashok Khanna, executive vice-president and head of the auto loans unit of HDFC, said the discounts resulting from the lower tax rate have improved buyer interest, particularly in the past five days. But it is only the small-car segment, accounting for nearly three-fourths of sales, which appears to be benefiting, said Sumit Bali, CEO of Kotak Mahindra Prime, the vehicle financing unit of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The country’s top two carmakers, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, which get bulk of their revenue from small cars such as the Alto and the Santro, are obviously pleased — both companies have cleaned up inventory with dealers on the back of aggressive discounts.

Among the makers of sedans, only Honda has done well, riding on the success of its just-launched new City. Premium and luxury cars are the worst hit despite hefty discounts: the Mercedes Benz E Class is being offered with a 20% rebate and the BMW 7 Series at a 25% discount, auto financiers said. Although interest rates haven’t softened much and hover between 12.5-16%, it is the rebates which have caused the improvement in sentiment. The big auto financiers are also reporting significant increase in business this December. HDFC, which did just Rs 636 crore in November, is expecting business of Rs 720-730 crore this month.

Ravi Narayanan, the head of the car and commercial vehicle loans unit at ICICI Bank, said the country’s largest private sector lender’s average interest rate has only dropped marginally to 15%. He attributed improved sales to price cuts, promotions and discounts. Kotak’s average lending rate is around 13.25%, down 75 basis points down from last month, while HDFC provides loans at 14.5% although select customers get it at 12.5%.

What hasn’t improved is the interest from taxi operators, who form a substantial market for companies such as Tata Motors and Toyota. The big financiers are chary of financing sales for cab fleets and as a result, models like the Tata Indica, Toyota Innova, Mahindra Renault Logan and Chevrolet Tavera have been badly hit.

Compact car for India our own: Toyota

2008-11-04T19:49:00.000+05:30

Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation Tuesday said the compact car that it plans to roll out in India in 2010 will be its own and not from the stable of Daihatsu Motor Co. "No. This (the small car) is very much Toyota's...," Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said. He denied reports that the small car was proposed to be launched in association with Daihatsu, in which Toyota holds 51 per cent stake.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor - a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group - is the Indian arm of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Nakagawa said the compact car project is on track and that TKM plans to produce 100,000 units in the first phase, after which it may be doubled. TKM had announced an investment of nearly Rs 1,400 crore for its second unit at Bidadi near here, for which a foundation stone was laid in July this year.

Asked if the proposed car would carry a price tag of around $5,000, Nakagawa said, "That's a tough question for me". "(Tata's) Nano is a different type of car compared to our line-up," he added.

Nakagawa and TKM's Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh said there would be no layoffs at its Bidadi plant. Even though it faced "some difficulty" now, it has to maintain its business, capacity and employees as the company expects things to improve in the future.

Nanos foreign jaunt likely to be licensed

2008-07-16T18:47:00.001+05:30

Tata Motors, which has been awash with Nano-related queries from across global markets, is mulling the licensing route for mass manufacturing the Nano overseas. The company has received enquiries from undisclosed car makers in the US, Latin America, Europe and South-East Asia for manufacturing and marketing Nano in these countries.

Tata Motors circles indicated that the company might consider issuing licences to a particular car maker in offshore markets, who would manufacture the Nano there. Technology-transfer and associated manufacturing expertise issues would be shared by Tata Motors.

Tata Motors vendors would also supply auto components to licenced foreign manufacturers. Sources said: “In lieu of the Nano licence, Tata Motors will get a fee. Existing auto-component makers of Nano will also benefit in the process.” The international manufacturing strategy is slated to crystallise once the Nano is physically available in India.

When contacted, Tata Motors head (corporate communications) Debasis Ray told ET: “We continue to receive proposals from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America for marketing Nano. But Tata Motors is yet to decide the mode of sourcing and in which countries it is going to market Nano. This is because our near-term focus is India, and international marketing will take place after a few years.”

Tata Motors spokesperson, however, did not respond to ET’s specific query on whether the company would licence the manufacture of the Nano to overseas car makers. Interestingly, Tata Motors managing director Ravi Kant had recently indicated: “We’ve received many enquiries from other countries to set up Nano plants. We’ve also received enquiries from people to distribute Nano in overseas markets. Whether it’s the US, Latin America, Europe or South-East Asia, the response for the product has been tremendous.”

Tata Motors vendors, who’ve scaled up activities at their upcoming facilities in Singur, Nano’s international foray will create enormous opportunities for them. Incidentally, some 55 vendors are setting up facilities adjacent to the Nano factory in Singur.

An official of Rucha Engineering, a Nano vendor, said: “Foreign auto makers, including Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda Motor, Toyota Motor, DaimlerChrysler AG, Hyundai Motor Co and Renault are all looking at increasing their presence in India and use it as an export hub. It becomes cheaper for foreign companies to source auto components from India. Whoever manufactures Nanos abroad, it will be cost competitive for him to source auto components from India.

Incidentally, according to auto-component industry officials, the sector is set to grow at a CAGR of 15% till fiscal 2012. With India estimated to have the potential to become one of the top five auto component economies by 2025, the pace is expected to pick up even further.

Soon, cars with wireless Internet connection

2008-06-24T00:03:00.000+05:30

American automobile manufacturer Chrysler has plans to equip its cars with a system that will enable people to surf the Internet while driving.

The UConnect Web system is what the company says can bring wireless Internet access to cars' dashboards.

Frank Klegon, the company's vice-president, says that they wants to gain a reputation for high-tech cars.

"In today's market, Chrysler's mission is to bring innovation to market more quickly," Wired News quoted Klegon as saying.

Officials at the company have revealed that UConnect Web uses cellular and WiFi technology to provide "instant access" to the internet.

According to them, anyone in the car will be able to check e-mail, download music, play games and even upload photos from an SD card directly to Flickr.

They claim that all wireless devices and " major gaming systems" will work with UConnect.

The company says that the new system will be competitive with laptop wireless cards, and that customers will not be tied to long contracts.

It, however, is still unclear as to which models will be equipped with UConnect, and how much it will cost.

It also remains to be seen whether consumers want such a system, as there is no evidence suggesting that car buyers want to surf the web behind the wheel.

"There could be some opportunity there, but we constantly see that internet access in the car is pretty much at the end of the priorities for consumers. The car is not being seen as an internet-browsing platform," says Thilo Koslowki, an IT analyst with the tech research firm Gartner.

Pointing out that automakers are "leapfrogging consumer demand", Koslowski stresses the importance of making cars compatible with iPhones, BlackBerrys and other devices.

"I don't think the industry is looking at it from that perspective. Right now most of the emphasis is on replicating what you do at home on your desktop or laptop," he says.

Some of the experts behind the project believe that enabling cars to communicate wirelessly with each other may help increase safety, relieve congestion, and manage traffic.

Such a system may also allow cars to track everything around them, and respond accordingly to avoid collisions.

Cars with wireless communication systems may also help provide real-time traffic information so that drivers could avoid backups, as well as create a national system for paying tolls electronically

New V10 boosts Gallardo to 552bhp

2008-06-23T23:21:00.002+05:30

Lighter, faster and more powerful - this is Lamborghini’s facelifted Gallardo, the LP560-4.

It takes its name from the 560PS (552bhp) power output of the new 5.2-litre V10, up by 40bhp. The engine, developed with Audi, is new and uses the VW Group’s FSI direct injection, which Lamborghini is calling Inienzione Stratificata. Torque is up by 3kgm to 54.2kgm.

The extra shove fractionally improves the Gallardo’s 0-100kph time — now 3.7sec and a match for Ferrari’s 430 Scuderia — but it should also improve midrange performance with more torque available at 4000rpm than the old car had at its peak output. And it should make an even better noise with a new exhaust system.

On the outside there’s a new Reventon-style front bumper and an entirely new rear designed to make the back end look more horizontal. Some of the changes are aimed at cutting costs. The engine has plastic covers, and the accerartor pedal is now plastic with a clip-on alloy cover; it was solid aluminium.

Automatic Captiva to drive in

2008-06-23T23:20:00.001+05:30

General Motors India is gearing up to launch the Captiva SUV with an automatic transmission. The Captiva has been well received, and presently is the only diesel soft-roader in its class.

Last month, the Captiva managed to sell nearly 200 units, second only to the Honda CR-V. However, the lack of an automatic transmission option has turned away some customers, and it is these potential buyers that GM is targetting. The car was initially launched only with manual transmission and front-wheel drive, but the automatic version comes with four-wheel drive as standard. The auto ’box has five forward ratios, and is geared to provide similar levels of performance and fuel economy.

One such car is currently undergoing homologation in India. An important factor will be cost; the auto ’box and the four-wheel- drive system will add to the cost of the car, and the company will be keeping a keen eye on this.

As yet though there is no clear indication of when the car is expected in the market.

i10 to get new engine

2008-06-23T23:19:00.001+05:30

Hyundai will launch a more powerful version of the i10 this month with a bigger 1.2-litre engine. This new motor called ‘Kappa’ is the latest powertrain from Hyundai not just in India but worldwide and boasts the latest engine technology from the Korean Giant.

The Kappa is an all-aluminium 1.2- litre motor with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder and develops an impressive 77bhp, which will make the i10 Kappa the most powerful hatchback in its class. The Kappa will supplement the existing 1.1-litre ‘Epsilon’ motor in the i10. The plan is to have five variants of the i10, the base D-lite and Era will continue to be sold with the Epsilon while the Magna variant will get the Kappa. Two additional variants above the Magna will also be introduced. The Asta will get some of the features that are optional in the current Magna (sunroof etc) as standard while the range-topping Sport will get jazzed-up interiors and a body kit.

Hyundai plans to price the Kappa aggressively and for the same set of features will be only Rs 10,000 more than the Episilon-powered i10. The i10 Kappa will also be launched with automatic transmission as an option. The four-speed auto is a carryover from the Santro.

Car navigation systems get smarter

2008-06-23T23:18:00.000+05:30

IN-CAR navigation systems are about to make the leap from being a back-seat driver navigation aid to an essential tool for the commuter.
Car navigation systems get smarter

Such systems, whose sales have been booming in the past few years, are poised to offer features far beyond their initial applications as electronic adjuncts to road atlases for those venturing on to unfamiliar roads and highways.

Functions such as real-time traffic flow information, digital logbooks and image-based navigation are among the tools manufacturers hope will turn in-car GPS systems into tools for everyday use, rather than assistants for those in unfamiliar places.

"For a while now, the market has been going crazy. It's like the digital camera market was about five years back," says Chris Kearney, Australian marketing manager for GPS specialist Tom-Tom.

"With the things that are in the process of being introduced here, it's set to go up even more."

GPS system makers such as Tom-Tom, Navman and Mio have enjoyed remarkable growth in Australia, which has been slow to embrace in-car GPS, which has been around in Europe for many years longer.

In the past few years, the market here has enjoyed more than 100 per cent year-on-year growth. This year alone, some 1.1 million in-car GPS systems are expected to be sold in Australia.

Already, in-car devices have developed beyond the basic map replacement gadgets they were when they first started appearing in Australia.

As well as becoming cheaper and having bigger screens (a common theme for all digital devices), they are becoming smarter and more reliable.

"The devices we deliver now are actually better navigation systems than when we first came to market," Navman business development manager David King says.

"They're not just for finding your way around strange areas any more. They give you information such as speed cameras or school zones - all quite topical features from the consumer point of view."

Probably the biggest change afoot is the incorporation of real-time traffic flow information to help drivers avoid road congestion and plot the most time-efficient route for their daily commute.

SUNA Traffic Channel, a service provided by Melbourne-based Intelematics, a subsidiary of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, uses Real Time Data Signal Traffic Management Channel (RDS TMC) to provide automatically updated information on traffic conditions to in-car GPS systems via FM radio data packets or Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones.

Launched in Melbourne late last year, the service was last week extended to owners of compatible devices in Sydney and Brisbane, and is being prepared for release in Perth, Adelaide and Canberra in the next few months.

"This will extend navigation systems beyond going to places where you are not familiar with. They will become something you would use every day," Intelematics chief executive Adam Game says.

"It is essentially making sure the navigation systems are aware of changing traffic conditions.

"The Pope's visit next month to Sydney, for example, is providing us with a major challenge, but it's also about things that change from day to day."

The system takes a number of approaches to collecting real-time data.

Chief among them is data gathered by traffic light sensors provided under agreement with state traffic authorities.

"We take that as our raw data to gauge traffic flows and congestion," Game says.

"It's the defining feature, but we also augment and confirm that with road monitoring cameras, toll road operators and direct advice from traffic authorities.

"We aggregate all these sources of information to improve the comprehensiveness of the system."

On the manufacturer's side, new-generation devices are being lined up to take full advantage of the service.

Navman, for example, is touting the Bluetooth connectivity of its range of devices as an entry for new and existing users into the real-time traffic advice arena.

"Our GPS systems deliver data to your device with advice about matters such as slow traffic, accidents or blockages," King says.

"Our device will then let you change your route or direction and travel by another route by pressing a single button. The idea is that the device gives you the option to re-route. "Going through Bluetooth via your own mobile phone, which is connected hands-free to the navigator, it is available through all devices using our software."

Tom-Tom, for its part, will use the FM radio-packet version of the service, accessible via antennas fitted to new generations of the company's products.

"Using the FM band means that if there is a problem or delay, on top of the best map you get the best route," Tom-Tom's Kearney says

Services such as the SUNA Traffic Channel are only the first generation, he says.

Already in the Netherlands (Tom-Tom's home), a more capable system known as High Definition Traffic is in use.

"We will have High Definition Traffic here eventually. It is slowly being rolled out across Europe," he says.

"High Definition Traffic uses mobile phones and cell switching data to automatically detect the way traffic is moving on all roads.

"Nearly everyone carries a mobile phone with them, and the system detects where cars are, where they're going, and how fast they are moving.

"It then automatically updates everybody's maps to reflect what is happening. It essentially puts a probe in every car."

Real time traffic data is not the extra function in-car navigators are taking on.

Navman's King says the marriage between GPS systems and Bluetooth connectivity means navigators can be an adjunct to mobile phones.

"Your device literally becomes like a larger screen on your mobile phone, so you can search your contacts, dial and so on."

Navman also has a feature called Mileage Reporter - basically a digital logbook that automatically connects to a spreadsheet.

"That lets you seamlessly work out your mileages for expenses, mileage claims or tax purposes."

One of the newest, and perhaps most innovative, areas of convergence in navigation systems is with digital photography.

Many systems have offered in-built cameras for some time, but some are going a step further and using images and geodata to aid navigation.

"It lets you navigate via a photograph rather than an address," King says.

"Our S90 premium device for example, has a digital camera on board, which lets you capture and geocode a photograph.

"That means you could pull up, say, to a restaurant, and if you really liked it and wanted to go back again, you could snap its pic and get its geocode rather than have to enter a street address."

Such applications have also spread to the web. "There is a website, Flickr, which has literally millions of geocoded pictures on it that you can look at and download," King says.

"If you're going to Melbourne and want to go to the MCG, Victoria Markets and on to Torquay, you don't need to know the addresses. You can just download the pictures and the system will set it all up for you via the geocodes.

"You can even plot them to Google Earth to get a full map done."

Tom-Tom's Kearney is less convinced about the advantages of image-based navigation. "We do not do geocoding at the moment. People navigate more by maps than by pictures. We are focusing on getting navigation right, rather than have nice pictures on the screen."

Of more use, he says, is enabling users to update their own maps to reflect their personal experiences and preferences.

"We have Mapshare, so people can update maps when they've seen that the provided maps aren't up to date," Kearney says. "At the moment we use Sensis maps, which has a big update once a year, and maybe lesser ones throughout the year.

"Mapshare, however, is like Wikipedia for mapping. Changes such as road closures, changes to speed limits or new points of interest can be added by the user.

"Like Wikipedia, these are used to update the map database once they have been thoroughly verified and confirmed."

Worldwide, Kearney says, 1.5 million changes were made via the mapshare service in the past year.

"Real changes and updates are happening to our maps on a day by day basis," he says.

Small cars, Hybrids and EVs get Budget sops

2008-06-23T23:17:00.000+05:30

The Union Budget has been tabled, and the auto industry has received its share of sops and benefits. Of course, while some within the industry might argue that these benefits aren’t what they were hoping for, the fact of the matter remains that the buying price of vehicles has come down, particularly small cars and two-wheelers which have received a reduction in excise from 16 percent to 12 percent. In hard cash, this would translate to a saving of Rs 2000 for a bike buyer to about Rs 10,000 for someone looking at a hatchback. Hybrids on the other hand have received a 10 percent reduction in excise from 24 percent to 14 percent. For Honda and M&M who are keenly looking at this niche with their Civic hybrid and Scorpio hybrid respectively, this is indeed good news. Electric vehicles like the Reva, Hero Velociti and TVS Scooty Teenz enjoy a tax reduction from 8 to zero percent. For vehicles using alternative fuels such as biodiesel or gasohol however, there remains a grey area as to how much they will be taxed. We’ll keep you updated as we get a clearer picture.

Taxes on recycled scrap steel and aluminium and steel melting have been reduced to zero from the previous five percent. This definition is ambiguous however, and open to interpretation, and whether this will also contribute to lower car prices remains to be seen. A fact of the matter though, is that auto makers who until now were lamenting rising material costs can look at ways of leveraging this reduction in raw material costs to widen their margins.

Motorsport enthusiasts can also seek succour in the knowledge that “encouragement to sports” has been exempted from Fringe Benefit Tax, and raw materials for sporting goods have been exempted from duty. So now you can get that carbon fibre monocoque cheap!

Mercedes set for hydrogen drive in 2010

2008-04-09T14:59:00.001+05:30

Mercedes has given the B-Class a design makeover with more economical engines and a special fuel-cell hydrogen drive version available in 2010, the car maker has announced.

The four-cylinder engines are up to seven percent more economical than the predecessor with exhaust emissions that undercut current European Union (EU) emission standards by as much as 90 percent, Mercedes said.

A new start/stop function will be available for the B 150 and B 170 models. The engine switches off automatically at traffic lights. Additional new developments include a bi-fuel petrol/natural-gas drive in the B 170 NGT, along with active parking assist.

The B-Class continues to be available with a choice of six engines two direct - injection diesel units (80 kW/109 hp and 103 kW/140 hp) delivering up to 300 Newton metres of torque, as well as four petrol engines with a peak power output of up to 142 kW/193 hp and a maximum torque of 280 Newton metres.

Depending on the model and engine output, the four petrol variants of the B-Class return fuel consumption figures of between 6.6 and 8.1 litres per 100 km. Consumption for the diesel models, the B 180 CDI and B 200 CDI has dropped to 5.2 - 5.4 and 5.4 - 5.6 litres per 100 km, according to Mercedes figures.

Among the design modifications is the restyled radiator grille with its three chromed cross fins painted in metallic grey and the Mercedes star integrated into the centre. The bumper emphasises the large air intake at the lower end.

In another development the carmaker said a fuel-cell version of the current model would be available from 2010.

Combined with a lithium-ion battery and brake regeneration energy, power can be boosted from 70 kW/95 hp to 100 kW/136 hp. The vehicle has a range of 400 km and technology has been improved to allow cold starts at minus 16 degrees Celsius, Mercedes engineers said.

BMW 325i v BMW 325i

2008-03-20T22:57:00.002+05:30

Safety features, a raft of new technology and Chris Bangle. In spite of all that's changed in 20 years, the E30 and E90 3-series still share the same spirit.

Inevitably, the drive back home ends with Mrs Sorabjee slamming the door and storming off in a huff, muttering something to do with irresponsible behaviour. It’s hard to explain to my wife that the only way my 20-year-old E30 325i likes to corner is with its tailing hanging out. That’s the problem (for her) with my pride and joy. Age hasn’t dampened my Bimmer’s enthusiasm and, true to the DNA of the marque, it simply yearns to be driven in a fashion that might not qualify for mere A-to-B motoring. The handling is so crisp and predictable, the chassis so finely balanced and that creamy in-line six so responsive, that you can’t help but toss it around with gay abandon and full knowledge that it won’t snap back at you.

Ever since I bought MFC 977 from my dear, late friend Jangoo Nicholson in 2002, I have never sat in any seat except the one behind the meaty, yet minimalist three-spoke steering wheel. I honestly can’t tell you what it feels like to sit at the back and couldn’t care less, but the driver’s seat is a very special place. For a person who has suffered lower back problems for 20 years, I know a thing or two about seats and the embrace of this snug-fitting bucket is what really does it for me. But it’s not just the perfect contours and bolstering of the seats that gives you that special feeling. The E30’s interior design maybe simple and old-fashioned, but it gives the driver a delightful sense of control, which is an intrinsic part of the BMW aura. The centre console is angled towards the driver, the gear lever sprouts up from the high tunnel to fall perfectly to hand and it is impossible to fault the position of the steering wheel, pedals and other controls. This driver-focussed approach holds true for the rest of the car too, which makes it so entertaining to drive. The definitive bonding point with the car is the incredible steering. It’s light, yet accurate and with loads of feel through the chunkily-rimmed wheel. There’s no slack at all, nor any sogginess to dilute the driving pleasure. And when you couple a brilliant steering with a chassis that has near-perfect weight distribution, every corner becomes a joy. Be it the wrongly cambered sweeping left-hander down Hanging Gardens at Malabar Hill, the tight U-turn under the Kemps Corner flyover or one of the 90-degree rights onto Marine Drive, the 325i is ever eager to change direction with a poise and fluency that makes the driver feel like he’s Nick Heidfeld. A smooth, twisty road in some deserted corner of the country would be the perfect playground for this Bimmer, but my car is too old and not quite in perfect nick for long-distance jaunts. But the wonderful thing about this three-generation-old 3-series is that you can enjoy it without having to go bonkers. Even at moderate speeds, the whole driving experience is so precise and involving. This is a car I enjoy on Sundays or late at night; at a time when I don’t have to suffer its heavy clutch in bumper-to-bumper traffic or worry about the temperature needle inching towards the red (got to get the electric fan fixed). The high-profile tyres (70-series) make light work of Mumbai’s potholed roads and this is the only reason I haven’t gone back to the standard 65-series profiles, even though they would greatly improve the car’s looks.

The 325i wouldn’t be even half the fun it is if it weren’t for its 2.5-litre motor. The ‘straight-six’ or in-line six-cylinder layout, to which BMW has traditionally stuck, has played a strong role in building the charisma of the marque. The M20 motor has a simple, belt-driven, single overhead cam and two-valve-per-cylinder architecture, but it is so smooth that you feel it’s lubricated with Amul butter instead of multi-grade oil. As the revs rise, it sounds absolutely fabulous, and it’s hard not to make quick visits to the 6500rpm redline where, thankfully, a stern rev limiter cuts in. But it's not just the velvety smoothness that is enthralling but a linear shove this 170bhp motor belts out from 1000rpm all the way to the redline. The engine is incredibly responsive through the rev range and this only adds to the amazing driving experience. The E30 325i is still quick by any standards, and though I haven’t strapped our VBOX onto it yet, I am sure it’s not far off the company-claimed 0-100kph time of 7.7 seconds. But these figures are only academic. No numbers can quantify the sheer magic this two-decade-old car conjures. The E30 3-series is an important chapter in the history of a company that has focussed on producing the greatest sporting saloons the world has seen.

Sadly, Indian car owners have missed out on the previous generations of 3-series but it’s never too late. The latest iteration of the 3-series (E90) is a giant leap forward and is now assembled in India. In less than a year we have got to know this car only too well. The brand-new 320i impressed us with its awesome handling and the 320d saw off the A4 and C-class diesels in a shootout, but it’s the 325i, with its legendary straight-six motor updated to produce 214bhp, that caught our hearts. But does the new 325i have the magic of its predecessors? Can it entertain and bewitch you in the same measure? Or has the increase in weight and size and the lack of a manual transmission option blunted its appeal?

Parked side-by-side, the three-generation gap is glaringly obvious. The E30 looks like a bread box, wearing gumboots for tyres, next to the E90 with its swooping, muscular frame and rubber-band-thin, 45-profile 17-inchers. However, the E30’s square shape still has an old-world charm and its simple design exudes the sort of confidence that can only be found in a BMW. The interiors are light years apart as well. The E30’s dashboard looks prehistoric compared to the futuristic, flowing surfaces inside the E90, but sadly the slight tilt of the centre console towards the driver — BMW’s subtle way of letting you know who’s in charge — is missing in the new car. With every successive generation (the E36 and E46 followed the E30), the 3-series has grown up and now, in its latest E90 guise, it is more than a class larger than the E30. Wider, longer and taller than its predecessor, the E90 is also a significant 165kg heavier, despite substantial use of weight-saving materials. That’s because with each successive model, the demand for better crash-worthiness and safety features (The E90 325i has 8 airbags and a sophisticated stability and traction control system, while in contrast the E30 has none) and more features grows. Apart from central locking and power windows and mirrors, the E30 is quite basic. There are no powered seats, no complicated iDrive, no 10-speaker audio system and no TV. It’s nowhere near as well insulated either. So while the E30 feels raw and more exposed to the elements, the solid thud of the E90’s doors cocoons from you the outside world. Fire up the engine via the Start/Stop button and you are instantly reminded of the latest 325i’s lineage. The two 325is maybe several generations apart but the core ingredients of both these cars remain the same. The straight-six motor still has that delightful growl, but feels more mellow and refined. Though the basic architecture of the engines are similar, it’s the high-tech bits and pieces and years of tweaking that have taken the smoothness and fantastic flexibility, a legendary characteristic of BMW’s straight-sixes, to a completely different level. The engine spins like a turbine to 6900rpm and, though the six-speed auto doesn’t quite give the immediate response of a manual transmission, you just can’t miss the eagerness of the motor.

True to its pedigree, the E90’s handling is phenomenal and, like its forebears, rewards the driver with neutral handling that is derived from a perfectly balanced chassis. The way this latest 325i dives into corners with unflappable poise and grip means you need a wide and empty road to truly exploit its full potential. The steering, too, is razor-sharp, with zero slack around the straight ahead position. However, the steering isn’t as light as the E30’s, which calls for fingertip control and not the heavy wrists (especially at low speeds) the E90’s rack demands.

Driving the two cars back-to-back, it’s fascinating to see how far the game has moved on. The 325i is faster, smoother, far more refined, comfortable and safe. However, the raw, unbridled appeal of the lighter E30 is missing. Modern technology and a raft of electronic gizmos keep the new 325i pointing in the right direction, and that’s no bad thing. But, as a result, it’s difficult to exploit the limit at sane speeds, and this makes it hard to get intimate with it. What I really love about my E30 is that it is unhinged from today’s demands of all sorts of electronic controls and offers a purer driving experience. Best of all, after all these years, it's still an absolute hoot to drive. Just wish the Missus would agree.

Factfile
BMW e30 325i BMW e90 325i
Price - Rs 10 lakh# - Rs 32.2 lakh*
Top speed 219kph** - 235kph
0-100kph 7.7sec** - 9.03sec
L/W/H -4325/1645/1380mm - 4520/1817/1421mm
Wheelbase 2570mm - 2760mm
Kerb weight -1293kg - 1460kg
Engine - 6 cyls, in line, 2494cc - 6 cyls, in line, 2497cc
Power -170bhp at 5800rpm - 214bhp at 6500rpm
Torque - 22.7kgm at 4300rpm - 25.08kgm at 4000rpm
Gearbox - 5-speed manual - 6-speed auto
Front suspension - MacPherson struts, coil springs - Independent, double-joint, spring struts
Rear suspension - Semi-trailing arms, coil springs - Independent, five-link suspension
Fuel tank - 55 litres - 63 litres
Tyre size - 195/65 R14 - 225/45 R17

Drive Volvo S80 and XC90

2008-03-20T22:54:00.002+05:30

Volvo wants to take on the might of the Germans with these, the S80 saloon and the XC90 SUV. We drive them on home soil.

Volvo’s design philosophy goes like this: If it isn’t functional, it can’t be beautiful. In this sense, both the S80 and the XC90 are the automotive equivalents of Ingrid Bergman. Like the Swedish actress, these Volvos certainly aren’t the most beautiful cars around. But their inherent talent more than makes up for this.

The last time we drove these very same Volvos, it was in Sweden. The cooler temperatures, organised traffic and almost blemish-free roads of Volvo’s home country makes one wonder how the cars will handle the chaos that prevails in the warm tropics. We got a chance to find out on the drive from Delhi to Jaipur organised by Volvo. Both the S80 and the XC90 have their work cut out for them here. The S80 faces some serious competition in India. The formidable armories of the Mercedes-Benz E-class, the BMW 5-series and the Audi A6 are what it is up against. Can the friendly Swede beat cold, German precision?

Step inside the S80 and everything feels well-built, with all the switches working with a nice tactile feel. It doesn’t feel plush, but you notice that the seats are fantastically supportive and comfortable; maybe even more than those in the E-class. You also notice that the steering has a huge range of adjustment and that the dials are very clear. There is one button too many on the centre console, but the main dials for the audio and air conditioner are within easy reach.

The S80’s cabin is functional. Classy? Yes. Understated? A bit too much for its own good though. Beautiful? Not really.

The same goes for the XC90. There are too many buttons on the centre console and some are quite small, making them hard to use on the move. But, there are a lot of practical touches, like the 40:20:40 split/folding rear bench, and the supremely comfortable seats. All the seats except the driver’s fold flat, liberating a huge amount of interior space, and the split tailgate makes it easy to access the luggage area too. The S80 and the XC90 are each available with the same choice of three engines — a five-cylinder diesel, a six-cylinder petrol and a range-topping V8 petrol. The smaller petrol and the diesel are going to make up Volvo’s biggest sales in India, so we’re going to concentrate on them.

Start the D5 diesel engine in the S80 and a surprising bit of noise enters the cabin. More than in a Mercedes Benz E-class. The growl from the engine becomes more audible when you give it the beans, but is surprisingly silent when cruising. What impresses is the linear power delivery from the 2.4-litre diesel. It pulls strongly all the way up to its 5,000rpm redline. This is particularly good in traffic, because you know exactly how much pressure to apply on the nicely-sprung throttle to shoot into that open gap.

The petrol in-line six is not as good. It has to be revved hard to extract the best out of it. As a result, the engine is always buzzing in your ears. Once you are cruising however, this motor gets quieter. It is quite responsive, no doubt aided by the six-speed auto ‘box. The 6-speed auto works best with the D5 motor. The linear power delivery and the well-matched gear ratios work very well to make overtaking on our roads a very simple exercise.

Once you breeze past that lumbering truck and build speed, you find the Volvo is very very stable; even on the wrong side of 150kph. Body movements are very well controlled and the suspension simply pummels uneven surfaces into submission — silently.

Only the sharpest of bumps elicits a thud from the suspension. The ride isn’t as cosseting as that of a Merc E-class, but isn’t as firm as a BMW 5-series either. The S80 doesn’t get the Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept suspension as standard. The Four-C system gives you three suspension settings to play with — Comfort, Sport and Advanced and is available as an option, but the self-levelling suspension that is standard worked just fine on our drive.

The Delhi-Jaipur highway has a tall hedge running along the divider. It is from behind these that nonchalant villagers step out without as much as a thought of the diesel-powered missile heading towards them. That’s when you realise that the brakes are simply incredible. You can control stopping power right from the first millimeter of brake pedal travel. And if the worst does happen, you can rest assured that you are in one of the world’s safest cars. Volvo places all its engines transversely to improve the crash structure of the car. If you drive off without wearing your seatbelts, the car starts beeping. The beeping gets louder and more insistent till you plug the belt in. ABS, eight airbags, emergency brake assist, emergency brake light flashing, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control and whiplash protection system are standard for all S80s. The XC90 even gets Roll Stability Control, which can brake and accelerate individual wheels, so that it will understeer rather than become unstable and roll over. But, India doesn’t get some of the features that Volvos abroad get. The blind spot warning system (BLIS) and the Adaptive Cruise Control have been left out. The lane departure warning system has also omitted from the spec list, this for more obvious reasons; most roads here don’t have lane markings.

The diesel S80 costs Rs 40 lakh in Mumbai and the top-of-the-line V8 petrol comes in at Rs 46 lakh. It is slightly cheaper than a Merc E-class, but not by much. The XC90 is priced from Rs 47- 54 lakh, also substantially less than the competetion. Both the XC90 and the S80 come with a 24-month/unlimited mileage warranty, which we think is quite a good deal.

The base line is this. Both the Volvos don’t have the same street presence that a BMW or a Mercedes has. The overly-understated design sees to that. But if you like being different and don’t need to shout to let everyone know you have arrived, then the Volvo is for you.

Factfile
Volvo s80/XC90
Price Rs 40-46 lakh/ Rs 47-54 lakh*
Length 4851mm/4807mm
Width 1860mm/1909mm
Height 1490mm/1781mm
Wheelbase 2835mm/2857mm
Engine 5-cyls in-line, diesel, 2.4-litre
6-cyls in-line, petrol, 3.2-litre
8-cyls in vee, petrol, 4.4-litre
Installation Front, transverse,
front-wheel drive,
V8’s are all-wheel drive
Power 185bhp/238hbp/315bhp
Torque 40.8kgm/32.6kgm/44.8kgm
Gearbox 6-speed auto
Front suspension Independent, MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension Independent, multi-link, anti-roll bar

First verdict
Practical and safe cars at a good price. Require a bit more panache though.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class was launched

2008-01-27T22:26:00.003+05:30

Mercedes-Benz C-Class was launched in the city on Friday by Sanjiv Sahajwala, Head-Marketing & Sales, DaimlerChrysler India Private Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion, Sahajwala said: "To date around 6 million C-Class vehicles have been sold all around the globe. In fact, the C-Class is the worldwide leader in its segment and has been an immensely popular vehicle since it was first launched. The new CClass is more power-packed, more spacious and enjoys even greater street presence."

As pioneers of the luxury car segment in India, Mercedes-Benz has the widest product range and the most extensive sales and support network spread across 28 cities, Sahajwala said.

"The result of close and continuous engagement with customers is reflected through our growing sales figures as well. This year, we achieved record sales of 2491 units from January- December 2007. This marks a growth of 18 per cent over 2007."

With a length of 4596 millimetres, the new C-Class is 68 millimetres longer than its predecessor. The body width has been increased by 42 mm to 1770 millimetres and the wheelbase by 45 mm to 2760 millimetres.

These dimensions create the conditions for a generously sized interior, and therefore more comfort.

The design of the new C-Class is based on the modern Mercedes idiom, which reflects the technical superiority of automobiles bearing the star with taut lines and large, tranquil surfaces.

The pronounced wedge-shape of the front end serves to emphasise attributes such as agility and performance.

Dream on Wheels: Cars that fly, run on air

2008-01-27T22:26:00.001+05:30

Think cars fly only in the movies? Well, meet the Skycar. A cross between a Ferrari and a Batmobile, it takes off vertically just like advanced fighter aircraft and is just one in a series of personal flying machines being developed around the world.

Cars this cool are still some way off. But driverless cars? Those you can get. For the past few years, robot cars have raced against each other, navigating deserts and city roads on their own, in contests backed by the US Army and private manufacturers.

Using easily available technology like GPS tracking, Intel computer chips and laser censors, they still aren't quite as good.

But in few years, they could replace our friendly neighbourhood taxi driver.

Robots or not, cars need gas and gas costs money. Then there are cars that run on air. Compressed air moves the pistons, which in turn drives the wheels. Result: absolutely no emissions and speeds up to 150 km per hour.

Tata Motors and French company MDI are already readying such a vehicle for Indian roads.

Maruti To Launch All-New Small Car In 2008

2008-01-27T22:21:00.000+05:30

Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced today its plans to launch an all-new car to be built in India. The car called the A-star will be showcased in concept form at the Auto Expo in Delhi in January next year.
The company plans to sell the A-star with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, which will be Euro-V compliant. The carmaker will be following Hyundai’s footsteps (which, makes the i10 in exclusively in India and sells it in Europe) and will manufacture the car in India at its Manesar plant, and will sell it in Europe and India. Production at the facility is being bumped up and the plant is expected to roll out 150,000 A-stars annualy along a similar number of Swifts and SX4s. The car will also be sold under the Nissan badgeing in certain markets and will be on sale by autumn of 2008.
The company refused to divulge details about the price and specifications but said that the car would be a size smaller than the Splash, which was launched internationally recently.

Fiat 500 and Bravo coming to India

2007-12-28T16:08:00.000+05:30

Fiat is planning to give its image a much needed boost in India by launching the 500 and Bravo hatchbacks in early 2008. These models won’t be assembled in India, but will be imported directly from Italy, so they will be ridiculously pricey. However, Fiat is not looking at large numbers and is using both these hatchbacks to make a statement about the company. The idea is to inject some zing into the Fiat brand — which has languished in India for the past several years — in the run-up to the launch of the Linea and Grande Punto.

Style Statement
The cute little 500, or Cinquecento, is a national icon in Italy and this latest model launched exactly 50 years after the original Cinquecento, fondly called the ‘Mighty Mouse’, has gone on to become a smash hit. Fiat can’t ever hope to replicate the Cinquecento’s success in India but this cheeky little car has the potential to become the style icon of 2008. Fiat is targeting Bollywood stars and celebrities as potential customers who would think of the Cinquecento as a style accessory to flaunt. Besides, its small and compact dimensions, along with fuel-efficient motors, give it the politically-correct and eco-friendly tag that makes it cool to be seen in one. The 500 can be infinitely customised too. Myriad options for the exterior colour and upholstery, over a hundred accessories and three engines can give the 500 the exclusivity celebs expect. Engine options include 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrols and the 1.3 Mutlijet that is currently powering the Swift. The little Fiat reeks of class with its classic styling and interiors that exhibit true Italian flair. It’s incredibly safe as well, for a small car. It comes equipped with seven airbags and scores a top-class five-star Euro NCAP crash rating. The price of the Cinquecento, after paying 120 per cent in taxes and duties, will be north of the Rs 10 lakh mark. In fact, a fully-loaded Cinquecento could even hit Rs 15 lakh. That may seem a ridiculous price to pay for a two-door car that’s smaller than a Swift but factor in the style, exclusivity, funky interiors, safety and the fact that the 500 was elected European Car of the Year, and perhaps to a rich few this car could make sense. Perhaps.

Hot Hatch
If the Cinquecento is aimed at those who want to be seen looking cool, the Bravo is for those who want what could possibly be the hottest hatchback in the country. The Bravo slots in above the Grande Punto in Fiat’s range and the family look is quite evident. This five-door hatchback, which was launched in mid-2007, comes with a wide range of engines, but it’s likely that India will get the 148bhp, 1.4-litre T-jet petrol and the 118bhp, 1.9 diesel. Performance, as a result, will be terrific and a top speed on the far side of 200kph is what you can expect. The interiors reek of style and the mock carbon-fibre-finished dash, contrasting upholstery inserts and classy piano black and chrome detailing look great. A chunky three-spoke wheel and stubby gear-lever, plus the angled dash, all point to a driver-focussed car. The Bravo is pretty spacious, even though it’s a hatch, and you can expect space and comfort to match a premium saloon car. The underpinnings are tried and tested, with the Bravo featuring MacPherson strut front suspension and a twist-beam axle at the rear. This non-independent rear setup, however, features hydraulic axle anchorage bushes for better wheel location and less noise. The Bravo also managed to score a 5-star crash rating, but pedestrian crash ratings were not as good.

Again, the Bravo will be an import so it will attract crippling customs duties, which could push its price to more than Rs 20 lakh in Indian showrooms. However, like with the Cinquecento, Fiat isn’t looking for large numbers and is targeting only those people who aren’t too bothered about price, but simply want exclusivity. But for snob value will the rich and famous buy a Bravo?

Drive against global warming: Solar taxi comes to India

2007-10-27T00:04:00.000+05:30

The world's first solar taxi is on a trip around the world and has made a stop in India. It’s a car that is spreading awareness about global warming, the fun way.

It’s a taxi with a difference. There is more to this sleek three-wheeler than what meets the eye. The compact electric car runs purely on solar energy.

And how do you get a solar powered car? It’s simple. Just attach a solar cell panel to the car. This ingenuous idea took birth in the mind of taxi driver Louis Palmer a long time ago and he decided to stretch it to the limits by travelling around the world. He drives his electric car which runs purely on solar energy around the world to spread awareness about global warming and its causes.

He says, "This idea came to me when I was 14. I wanted to travel the world and not pollute it so I designed this taxi.”

The car's gearless electric motor runs on twin 380 volt batteries that are charged from solar cells that allow it to accelerate up to 90 kms per hour.

And that's not all. If the driver is tired he can just slide the steering wheel to the passenger.

Palmer says, “I hope that with this car people realise that they can use alternative sources of energy.”

Louis, who has driven from Switzerland through Turkey all the way to Dubai has also been posting his experiences on the we and the solar taxi is now all set to conquer India's tough roads.

Dolby drive: Turn your car into a movie hall

2007-09-21T20:02:00.000+05:30

Cars are becoming mobile cinema halls. Indian car users are increasingly redesigning the interiors of their vehicles with television sets, going up to screen sizes of 17 inches, with sub-woofers, amplifiers, Dolby Digital surround sound and bluetooth technologies - everything that allows them to see their favourite movies and get their adrenalin pumping.

"Some spend close to Rs 5 lakh to put in place the best in-car entertainment systems, a few spend more than the price of their car on such technologies," says Michael Khare, CEO of Sebastian and Sons India, nation-wide dealers in car audio and video systems. On an average, a person is seen to spend about 4% of the cost of a car to install an in-car audio and video system. Today, the basic audio system is a CD/MP3 player, unlike the ordinary cassette/radio player that was the norm five years ago.

The systems help to get people's minds off the maddening city traffic. And are seen to be particularly useful during long drives away from the city, a trend that's fast catching on. Travel operators are tapping into this to offer the option of a ‘video coach' - a Toyota Qualis, Chevrolet Tavera or Tata Indica - at just 50 paise per kilometre more than the regular rate.

Carazoo.com, an online interactive car portal, says they receive over 150 customer requests per month on car entertainment gizmos. Sanjay Soni, MD of Logix Microsystems, which runs the portal, says the growth of in-car entertainment over the years have been between 30% and 40%. "Soon, audio will be the minimum requirement for a consumer and video will be a standard feature in all cars," says Khare.

At present only luxury cars such as a BMW and Mercedes come built with a video option. Tata Motors offers video entertainment in high-end variants of the Tata Indigo and Tata Safari.

Ashok Kumar Chandak, director in NXP Semiconductors, suppliers of chip sets to audio and video manufacturers, says most premium segment cars will come fitted with high-end video systems in their rear seats by next year. He estimates that the in-car entertainment video market, which is at $75 million now, will grow to $300 million in the next four years.

"Over 40% of customers who buy small and mid-size cars invest in high-end audio and video systems," says Ajay Sahney, country head (car multimedia), of Blaupunkt India.

Automotive experts say in-car entertainment will soon become a necessity rather than a premium option. Competition among manufacturers will not be on price but on what car entertainment gizmos they can offer the consumer, says an auto analyst.

Radical all-new Accord revealed

2007-09-21T20:00:00.000+05:30

European looks Variable Steering system V6 gets cylinder de-activation

Honda has revealed its new eighth-generation Accord in the US, that will go on sale there in the middle of this month. As we in India share the same Accord with the Americans, ours can’t be too far away either.

Yes, at first it looks like a Sonata. The high nose, long rectangular headlights and the strong shoulder line remind you of the Hyundai but that’s only at first glance. Unlike the current car, the new Accord is far less sporty in its outlook, and Honda has consciously gone for a more upscale and grown-up look. Bits like the strong ridgeline running the entire length of the car and the sculpted lower body lend the design a certain heft lacking in many Japanese cars. There’s almost a European heaviness to the design here, and that’s a good thing.

Being five inches longer and an inch wider than the Camry, it is much bigger than before and looks one size up compared to other competition as well. The lowered floor and re-positioned seats have liberated even more space for the passengers too and as a result you can expect a massive amount of useable space and comfort.

The cabin is large and it looks like Honda has kept quality high. The combination of leather, wood trim and soft feel plastic carries over the sophisticated looks of the current Accord’s. The bottom half of the central console houses the neatly laid-out controls for the music system and aircon, while the top half houses the Sat-Nav screen. In non-Sat-Nav models, the screen serves the purpose of displaying information from the music system, and there is even an i-drive-like scroll button.

The engines are now more powerful too. The 2.4, Honda’s mainstay in India, will get approximately 15bhp more taking the figure to an estimated 157bhp. The new motors have brand-new injectors that improve the manner in which the fuel is atomised. This along with other changes optimise the motor for improved performance on lower octane fuels like our regular 91 octane. Good news indeed.

The bigger V6 is now even larger. Displacing 3.5 litres now and producing a massive 268bhp running on full spec, this motor could make the new Accord the fastest saloon car in India, yet again. And for all those of you disappointed by the fuel economy of the current car, Honda’s new Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), cylinder de-activation system is sure to save you a tonne of fuel. The system allows the engine to run on four or even three cylinders when only limited power is called upon, and this makes a big difference to the overall economy. The de-activation of the cylinders is done by making full use of the the Vtec system’s flexibility. The valves of the de-activated cylinders are shut and fuel supply is cut as well.

Honda has also tweaked the suspension. The rear suspension has been re-designed and now gets a new more compact multi-link set-up with nitrogen gas-filled dampers. On the V6 Accord, the front suspension towers also get a strut brace for greater resistance to the additional torque steer. This coupled with a longer wheelbase, wider tracks and lower centre of gravity means that the new Accord should roll less and handle better than the outgoing car. Also on offer is a variable ratio steering that promises to provide a solid ‘on centre’ feel and less effort at the extremes. As ever with every new generation, a lot more Accord for your money.

Logan tops in mid-car segment for 1st time

2007-08-04T08:26:00.000+05:30

It may not be the biggest segment, but it's a very competitive one.

Since May, the first month of sales for Mahindra Renault's Logan and Maruti Suzuki's SX4, there's been a tussle for the top spot.

In May, SX4 overtook Honda City at the top with sales of almost 3,000 units, and Logan got 3rd spot with 2,584 units.

In June, City wrested back the top position with 2,656 units, while Logan moved to number two with 2,380 units.

The addition of 15 cities to its retail network helped Logan, but M&M says there were no discounts.

Says president, Auto Sector, M&M, Pawan Goenka, “No, we haven't done any aggressive pricing. It is the same launch price. With interest rate movement, in some markets we may have had to do some subvention of interest rate. Other than that we have not done anything.”

Except, that is, to work hard to get to the top of the segment without playing the discount game.

However, the coming months will not be easy as Honda is set to add a loaded variant, which might be out by October.

Fiat plans shock pricing for Grande Punto, Linea

2007-07-24T18:02:00.001+05:30

High localisation levels will result in ultra-competitive pricing

Fiat plans to price its new Grande Punto and Linea models very aggressively when they are launched in India in mid-2008. While the Grande Punto should be priced at par with cars like the Getz 1.3 at Rs 5 lakh, the Linea would give the Maruti SX4 a run for its money at a Rs 6.5 lakh sticker price.

The Fiats should have an edge over their rivals since they will be the largest in their class, offering solid build quality, spacious interiors, as well as the option of a diesel engine, all at a very competitive price.

Key to this aggressive pricing is their very high localisation, with the engines themselves being 85 per cent indigenised at the time of launch. Currently, Fiat is building its huge new Ranjangaon plant near Pune, which will be the production base for the two cars. Production of the Palio Stile is already underway on a new assembly line here. Among the engines Fiat will make in India is the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel, which currently powers the Swift Diesel. In fact this engine is all set to become one of the most popular and widely used diesels in India, with other carmakers like GM and Tata also planning to use it in their future models.

Fiat’s localisation plans would get a boost since many component suppliers are already making parts for this engine in India. Bosch, for example, already makes the critical common-rail injection system in India. Other engines which will be made at Ranjangaon are the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines, as well as manual transmissions. While Fiat won’t be stamping the body panels for these models in India, it will have a body shop for welding the panels as well as a paint shop, engine shop and assembly line at its new facility.

Volvo plans two new cars every year in India

2007-07-24T17:57:00.000+05:30

Expressing optimism over the Indian automart, Swedish car major Volvo said it planned to introduce two new models every year, while it sets eyes on gradually expanding its dealer network in the country.
"By the end of the year we will be introducing our sedan S80 and SUV XC90. These vehicles have been undergoing homologation in India and almost all the tests are coming to an end," Volvo Car India Managing Director Paul de Voijs told PTI.

Kicking off the India plan, the company today announced appointment of three dealers in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

"The idea is to have about 7-9 dealerships by next year. We will be beginning discussions with potential partners for the purpose early next year and depending on how it goes our dealership will be expanded accordingly," he added.

Voijs said the company planned to launch two additional models every year in order to expand its offering in the Indian market.

While the S80 will be pitched against BMW's 5-series (priced around Rs 37-42 lakh), the SUV XC90 will compete with the likes of Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes M Class (in the Rs 60 lakh plus category).

"Recently, we have taken our Indian dealers to Sweden and they have expressed interest in expanding the product offering through models such as the S40, C30, C70 and XC70. Once we launch our first two products (S80 and XC90), we will look at gradually other models as well," he said.

Both the S80 and XC90 will be offered in petrol as well as diesel variants.

Ford launches diesel version of Fusion, plans small car

2007-07-19T00:57:00.000+05:30

Ford India's Fusion has become even more attractive with the launch on Tuesday of the Fusion Diesel, with its Duratorq TDCi technology.

The Fusion diesel, combining distinctive styling and versatility, costs Rs 6,59,000.

The model is available in new introductory colours of Brush Steel and Mystic Wine, along with other popular colours such as Moon Dust Silver, Panther Black, Diamond White and Paprika Red. Arvind Mathew, Managing Director and President of Ford India, said, ``We are very enthused by the overwhelming response from Indian customers to Ford's technology. The increasing preference for Ford's TDCi badge bears testament to the superior performance of our diesel products. And now, with the launch of Fusion diesel, we are offering this next generation diesel technology to an extended set of customers.''

Scott McCormack, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service of Ford India, said that Fusion diesel would be a practical mix of international design, versatility, spacious and comfortable interiors with Ford's renowned Duratorq TDCi diesel engine.

``We will further enhance our share in the mid-size segment with this launch,'' he said.

Some of the key exterior features of the model include high ground clearance of 198 mm, 'lozenge' shaped headlamps and 15-inch wheels. The interiors offer a higher seating position, easy entry and exit and larger luggage space.

The US-based company is also planning to come up with small car for the Indian market. "We know that we need to be in more segments than we are today if we want be a major player in the Indian market," Scott said.

However, the launch of the small car would not take place in the current calendar year. Ford India sold around 40,000 cars in India in the calendar year 2006 and has setup a manufacturing plant near Chennai.

Audi to sell 3000 cars by 2010

2007-07-13T01:05:00.001+05:30

It is the latest from Audi. The new T-T Coupe is now available. The Volkswagen group company hopes to see a five-fold jump in sales in India by 2010. And the Audi R8 and A5 could be the next set of hot wheels to hit Indian roads, reports CNBC-TV18.

If you have got Rs 40 lakh lying around, then you could consider driving home the latest Audi TT Coupe. The Volkswagen group company, Audi has so far sold 600 cars in India since it debuted three years ago. But now, the company is hoping to cash in on the India economic boom.

Audi hopes to see a five-fold jump in sales to 3000 cars by 2010. The company has set up an indepepndent marketing and sales office in India and has appointed Benoit Tiers as Managing Director. Audi's most popular model the A6 will be assembled at group company, Skoda's Aurangabad factory by October. The A4 may also be assmebled in India at 'alter' stage.

Benoit Tiers, MD, Audi India says, "We are different from our sister concerns as our positioning is different. When we see the growth of market coming in, Audi will be the first company to set up its own production facility to cater to our customers."

After the launch of A6, A4, A8, Q7 and now the new TT, which is priced at about Rs 40 lakh, Audi is ready to bring in its popular models R8 and A5 to India.

Audi will employ 40 people in its Indian office by 2010 and triple its dealer network to at least nine by the end of the year. And, the Rs 600 crore luxury car makert in India is expecetd to become a Rs 5000 crore one, with 5000 units by the year end.

New Honda Civic V --New violet colour, leather seats available

2007-07-13T01:02:00.000+05:30

The Honda Civic is a global best-seller, and has enjoyed success in India too, selling over 20,000 units since its launch in July last year. To celebrate this success, and on the basis of customer feedback, Honda has launched the V variant, which includes additional features like leather upholstery, fog lamps, door mirror-mounted turn indicators and chrome accents on the interior trim. These embellishments augment the car’s luxurious character and are in keeping with current customer demands. Honda has also introduced two new shades — Misty Violet, and Carbon Bronze Pearl — of which Misty Violet is exclusive to the V. These additional features have resulted in a considerable price jump. The 1.8V costs Rs 11.51 lakh for the manual, and Rs 12.21 lakh for the paddle-shift auto, (ex-showroom, Delhi). The extra Rs 60,000 for this new version is pretty good value considering that you would have to spend as much or possibly more to retro-fit these goodies.

BMW’s future starts with the M7

2007-06-14T10:57:00.001+05:30

Concept CS shows new design direction - Bigger than a Bentley, lower than an Aston DB9 - Production version could get 6.0-litre V12

We were expecting a two-seat sports car, but instead BMW pulled off a major coup by unveiling its new design language in a saloon concept at the recent Shanghai Motor Show. And it could also be a pointer to a forthcoming M7.

The Concept CS is a large four-door, four-seat sports saloon in the mould of the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera. But there’s more to it than that. It gives us a look at the beginning of a new design direction for BMW as it starts to move away from the look pioneered by design director Chris Bangle and first featured on the current 7-series.

The car’s heavily sculptured look will set the tone for the next generation of BMWs. “We wanted to do a big, sporty car without making it appear heavy,” said BMW design boss Adrian van Hooydonk. BMW puts a lot of emphasis on the car’s sporting potential, saying it “combines the qualities of a luxury saloon and a high-performance sports car”.

BMW has often said it wouldn’t do a straight M version of the 7-series because getting a large saloon to handle and perform to M division standards wouldn’t be possible. But last year then-chairman Helmut Panke raised the possibility of an M7 model, adding that it wouldn’t just be a 7-series with a big engine.

He also said the company was looking at a new flagship model for the BMW range as a replacement for the Z8 roadster. This car would seem to fulfil both of those criteria.

Concept CS is big; at 5.1 metres long and 1.98 metres wide it’s larger than a 7-series and has a longer wheelbase. It’s also bigger than a Bentley Continental GT and almost as low as an Aston DB9 (1.36m), pushing it into a new market for BMW. Underneath, it will be based on a modified version of the next-generation 7-series platform.

The most significant new features are the blunt front end, dominated by an oversized version of the BMW kidney grille, and the way the roofline runs into the rear wings, echoing the Jaguar C-XF concept. There is also an unusual depression that divides the rear of the roof, creating a channel above the rear window.

The CS rides on a set of complex 21-inch wheels, behind which sit drilled and grooved brake discs, more often associated with cars such as Porsche 911s. Other fast-car touches include large intakes in the lower front spoiler to channel air over the brakes.

Inside, the layout and detailing of the dashboard point towards a new format for BMW cabins. The centre of the dash is angled towards the driver, reviving BMW’s trademark interior feature from the 1980s, but it now sweeps down into a high centre console that wraps around the gear lever. It also creates a cockpit feel by separating the driver and passenger. That console runs the length of the interior into the rear, dividing the individual rear seats. BMW claims elbow room in the rear is as good as it is in the front.

Much of the car’s interior lighting is provided by light strips in the dash and the roof, running from the windscreen to the rear glass. BMW claims this creates an ambient lighting effect, currently one of the most fashionable trends in concept car interior design.

While touches like the ceramic switches for the iDrive system are pure concept, plenty of parts have production potential. The dash top mouldings and centre console are clearly more realistic than many concept car interiors.

There’s no guarantee that BMW would badge a production version of the CS as an M car. Such a large car would be at odds with the current philosophy of the M division, and that would also mean it wouldn’t use an M Power engine. Instead, a less highly strung V12 powerplant is more likely. It would be possible to add a pair of cylinders to the M5’s V10 to create a 6.0-litre V12, which could have up to 600bhp.

New Toyota Corolla a mini-Camry

2007-06-14T10:55:00.001+05:30

All-new 10th-generation Toyota Corolla coming to India in August 2008.

Toyota is likely to launch the all-new 10th-generation Corolla in India in August 2008. Built on an all-new platform, with new objectives and goals in mind, the saloon version of the world’s most popular car has, this time around, been given special treatment from the world’s most successful carmaker.

A car that was sent back to the drawing board, this all-new Corolla sedan showcases Toyota’s new-found love of class-leading and forward-thinking design. A trend that began with the new Camry, the strong acceptance of its car in global markets has Toyota very bullish on the design front. Differing considerably from the hatchback version sold in other markets, the saloon will be targeted at emerging economies as well as markets where compact saloon cars are finding greater acceptability, like Europe.

The new Corolla’s silhouette is much sportier than the current one. The overall height may be the same, but Toyota designers have worked hard to give the new car a crouching, sporty look. The A and C-pillars that hold up the roof have been moved forward and back respectively, so as to meet the body of the car at a much more acute angle. The design is much more cab-forward than the earlier car and Toyota has tried hard to come closer to a ‘one-form’ flowing look that blends the boot and bonnet more seamlessly into the overall design of the car.

The styling of the nose is bold and uses a low-mounted grille. Other design elements like the bonnet V, long sharp-edged headlights and the bumper all swoop down to meet it. Looking like the Camry’s younger sibling, the new Corolla uses a lot of the larger sedan’s successful design language. Its headlights and tail-lights bulge out for that 3D effect. The rear, especially the tail-lights and boot lid, however, look very evolutionary.

The wider track of the front and rear wheels has also liberated more space in the passenger compartment. There is more shoulder and hip room, the very comfortable seat height is similar to the current Corolla and the underbody has been engineered to provide a flat floor. There is also more legroom for rear seat passengers. Expect class-leading comfort here. “We wanted to develop an interior that portrays a sense of spaciousness beyond actual space,” says chief engineer Toshi Ezaki. They paid attention to everything, from expanding the door trim to optimising the size of the seats, even lowering the upper surface of the facia. The pictures of the interiors you see are for the European version, but the Indian car will have a lot of light colours.

Toyota also claims to have paid great attention to not just delivering visually-appealing interiors but also ‘a high quality tactile experience’. The surfaces have a soft-touch feel, panel gaps and fit are improved, and quality of switches has been improved too. The design of the dash is very neat and integrates the doorpads as well. A ridge that starts from the door handles on the doorpads goes all the way around to the other side of the car.

Power will come from a new version of Toyota’s very torquey and tractable 1.8 motor, with a significant improvement in refinement expected. Toyota also has an all-new 1.6-litre motor that uses variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust valves. Known as the 1.6 dual VVT-i, this motor has been specifically designed to deliver very high torque at low engine speeds. This will help both acceleration as well as economy.

Developing 124bhp, this new motor could provide Toyota an opportunity to bridge the gap between the Honda City VTEC and the Civic. It won’t be slow either — Toyota claims a 0-100kph time of 10.4 seconds and a top speed of 195kph, and that’s plenty.

But the real trump card will be an all-new 125bhp aluminum common-rail diesel, which we understand will be sold in India. Using a low-compression ratio but sufficient turbo boost, this motor will offer very strong performance as well as fantastic refinement. Capable of 200kph as well as economy as high as 15 kilometres a litre, this new 2.0-litre motor is one of the most modern diesels to be put to market by Toyota. This motor will also be available with a self- cleaning particulate filter for better emission control. Time for Skoda to rethink its Laura pricing.

Toyota will also have the option of using a six-speed manual gearbox on its cars. The new Corolla will also drive better, claims Toyota. Tuned for greater driving pleasure, the updated strut suspension and electric power steering will deliver a sporty performance, claims the carmaker. The non-independent rear suspension, however, remains.

Toyota will raise the suspension for Indian roads and conditions, as it has on the current version, but this time around we’re quite sure they’ll sort out the suspension fully.

If the reaction to the all-new Camry is anything to go by, the radical looks of the new Corolla are sure to go down well in India. Add in the new diesel motor, a sorted-out suspension and more comfort and space and the new Corolla has enough ammo to take on the wildly popular Civic and the diesel Skoda in one shot. A battle royale is about to ensue, but the winner has already been decided — it’s you the customer!

A black box for cars to help reduce fatalities

2007-06-14T10:40:00.000+05:30

By 2010, all cars in the UK will be fitted with 400 pounds worth aircraft-style black boxes which will automatically call emergency services after a violent crash.

The palm-sized electrical devices will activate an SOS distress signal only if the crash is serious enough to trigger an air bag release or flip the car.

The device will dial 112 - the pan-European emergency number - and send a digital text message with details of where and when the accident happened.

A voice link to the driver will allow paramedics to find out details about injuries, while a "panic button" linking the driver to a central control room will also be installed.

Authorities have said investigators could use the information to work out the causes behind crashes and to ensure that emergency services reach victims sooner.

EU Commissioner Viviane Reding has claimed the eCall scheme could save about 2,500 lives every year across Europe.

But motoring groups fear the technology could be developed to spy on drivers' movements.

Edmund King, of RAC Foundation, said: "If this black box is used purely as an SOS safety alert system, I don't think motorists would have any objections. If however, it is developed later into a spy in the car, there would be problems”.

"We do not want to see motorists checked electronically every second of the day to see if they are parked on a double yellow line or driving somewhere at four in the morning,” he said.

There is also fear that the technology could be developed to track vehicles or pave the way for "pay-as-you-drive" congestion charging.

According to the Daily Mail, the British government is already considering proposals to make drivers pay up to 1.50 dollars a mile.

As of now, British mobile phone maker Telit Communications has signed up to the eCall scheme with Germany's Siemens and Wavecom of France.

The technology, though, is not new, and is already available in some cars. Vauxhall's parent company General Motors has a system called OnStar, which includes an automatic SOS option.

Volvo to hit Indian roads by year end

2007-06-02T01:00:00.000+05:30

Ford-owned premium car brand Volvo is planning to drive into India the S80 and the SUV XC 90 by the end of this year, reports CNBC-TV18.

Volvo Car India may have lost time in the homologation process, or road worthiness test, but it is now gearing up to entice Indian customers with the S80 and the SUV XC 90 by the end of this year. These models will have six engine options, with two petrol and one diesel for each model. And then, the S60 or the smaller S40 might follow.

Paul de Voijs, MD, Volvo Car India, says “It looks like a sedan will be the next car.”

In addition to its current three dealerships, Volvo plans to add another 7 to 9 in 2008, almost all of them in the South. Volvo is building the infrastructure as it sees strong growth in the premium segment.

Voijs adds “Normally in developing markets, the premium segments grow faster in terms of percentage. We expect this segment to double in 2-3 years.”

Of course, as the new German brigade of Audi, BMW and Volkswagen make its way on the Indian roads, Indian traffic will never be the same again.

Safety buzz hits Indian car market

2007-06-02T00:59:00.001+05:30

The Indian car market is now manufacturing and producing cars with more safety measures. A growing number of cars, even the low end ones are being souped with global safety measures. It is great news, not just for the common man but even for the IT companies.

Safety features that earlier only came with high-end models are now being introduced in small cars. The recent introduction of factory fitted engine immobilisers in Maruti cars and anti-lock brakes in an entry-level car like the Chevrolet Spark are examples.

The electronic content in a car in western countries that are safety obsessed could be as high as 40 per cent and Indian Indian companies are trying to catch up to that level.

President of Automotive Sector M&M, Pawan Goenka, says that the Indian car companies will move up the value chain and though they may not be able to reach 40 per cent in two years time, they will definitely move from the level that they are in today.

Indian Software giants like WIPRO are doing what they can to help the Indian Automobile Industry. The company already has a team of 1,500 dedicated people working on safety systems like advance collision detection.

Senior Vice President Manufacturing Solutions, WIPRO, N S Bala, confirmed that the advanced collison detection systems are going to catch up in India from a safety standpoint very fast.

WIPRO and others like KPIT-Cummins are working hard to comply with Autosar, an open standards organisation created to provide a standard for vehicular software, user interfaces and management.

Says Vice President KPIT-Cummins, Anup Sable, "We are working closely with tier ones, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and semi conductor companies to get these components out, validated and tested so that they will be ready when the commercial application starts."

An estimated $300 million worth of automotive embedded software is sourced from India by various global OEMs. By serving them, the IT companies have already gathered world class capabilities and as cars in India climb up the value chain, IT companies they are well prepared to make your drive safer and more enjoyable.

SAFETY DRIVE: IT companies are well prepared to make your drive safer and more enjoyable.

BMW to set up IPO in India for ancillaries

2007-05-30T16:57:00.000+05:30

Following suit of global auto companies that source components from India, BMW, the German luxury car maker announced on Tuesday that it will open its international purchasing office in India to cater to its worldwide ancillaries requirement.

"We will be setting up an international purchasing office (IPO) which will be headed by an expat to take care of sourcing components for BMW's global operations," said BMW India President Peter Kronschnabl. By August this year, the office would be operational.

In Chennai, BMW already has a purchase unit for its India operations. The new purchasing office would be independent of the India operations. It would directly report to Munich headquarters.

Presently, BMW sources some IT components from India but with the setting up of the new international purchasing office, it is looking to expand the basket of products sourced from India.

BMW India's purchase office and the international purchasing office could work in tandem, Kronschnabl said, adding that the two may individually approach vendors or together depending on products.

Kronschnabl, however, did not comment on the quantum of components that BMW was looking to source from India. The auto major has also revised its sales target for 2007, after the commendable performance by its recently launched '3 Series' sedan.

"Initially, we had planned to sell about 1,000 cars in India in the calendar year, now we have scaled it up to 1,200 units," Kronschnabl said, adding that the company would roll out its '5 Series' models from the Chennai plant by June.

BMW is also expected to launch two SUVs X3 and X5 by late 2007 after completing the homologation process to ensure suitability to Indian driving conditions.

For the month of April, BMW sold 107 units of cars, of which 76 units were '3 Series' and the rest from its imported models such as the '7 Series' and SUVs.

Volvo, Ford join hands in India

2007-05-24T18:30:00.000+05:30

Europe's top-end car maker Volvo is planning an onslaught on the Indian market on the back of Ford India Ltd. Ford India's parent, the US-based Ford Motor, owns Volvo's car business.
The Indian subsidiaries of the two companies are planning a joint strategy under which Volvo will cater to the high-end market, while Ford will feed the mid-size segment, as it did with the Ikon earlier and does now with the Fiesta.
"Future launches in India could be a part of our global synergy with Ford Motor," Volvo Car India managing director Paul de Voijs told Business Standard.
He indicated that the two companies would work on a common platform to launch their cars in the country. "We could bring in vehicles having shared technologies (platform) with Ford Motor to increase our presence in India," de Voijs added.
Ford India President & Managing Director Arvind Mathew said, "Common platform models with Volvo cannot be ruled out in India."
Volvo plans to bring in its C30 and C70 cars, which share the platform with Ford's Focus range of cars, to India sometime next year.
Automobile analysts said a joint strategy could be an effective long-term growth plan for the two companies in the highly-competitive Indian market. "It seems to be a prudent strategy. Both the companies would leverage common technologies and resources to maintain their competitiveness," said Arvind Jain, an analyst with Religare Securities.
The platform-sharing strategy stems from the growing luxury car market in the A4 segment, which grew by 49 per cent last fiscal -- to 40,964 units in 2006-07 from 27,529 units in 2005-06. This segment is being targeted by leading players like DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Audi and Porsche.
Meanwhile, Volvo will make its debut in India with a sedan (S80) and a sports utility vehicle (XC90). Priced between Rs 45 lakh and Rs 60 lakh (Rs 4.5 million and Rs 6 million), these are expected to be launched later this year.
As both the vehicles will be imported as completely built units (CBU) and attract a customs duty of about 110 per cent, their pricing will place them at the top end of the A5 segment.

Maruti Cars Will Be Rolling Out With The Immobilizer iCAT Device

2007-05-21T18:19:00.000+05:30

India’s largest automaker Maruti has revealed that their cars would now cost a bit more as they are now equipping them with the immobilizer device branded as iCAT (intelligent computerized anti-theft system).

Maruti said that the cars fitted with this advanced device are currently reaching Maruti showrooms across the country.

The price hike due to this enhancement varies from Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,300 (ex-showroom) for the various models.

MUL Managing Director Jagdish Khattar spoke about this feature edition: “With this initiative, we have equipped our cars with a feature found in advanced car markets like EU and Australia.”

The company said that the insurance companies too are offering a rebate of Rs 500 on insurance premium for cars equipped with iCATs.

Maruti said that the system would ensure that the car cannot be opened using a third party key. If the owner lost both the keys provided at the time of delivery, they would have to request a new key from the company itself.

NRIs can gift cars online, no extra charge for blessings!

2007-05-14T12:23:00.000+05:30

When an NRI buys his first new car on returning to India, he knows that he has made it.
Most NRIs arrive without any savings and have to put in a few months if not years of gruelling work before they can buy the basic household furniture and appliances for their rented homes. All this time, they have also to send money back home to support their relatives and repay the mountain of debt left behind.
So they do not have the deposit or 'the down payment' for a car. Since a car is a necessity for many NRIs to work and to relax, it becomes a priority. A start is made with a second-hand car but its maintenance is so high that an NRI soon opts for a new one.
Before buying a new car on instalments, an NRI must have legal stay and a job to satisfy the financing company. Once he has saved enough to make the down payment, he selects a suitable new car depending on its model and customisation required. Taking delivery of the new car is a happy event with the smiling car salesmen offering tea or coffee and even a bouquet for his wife. This becomes a landmark in the family saga of settling abroad as the gleaming vehicle is driven home and later to the homes of friends. Clicking photos is mandatory to send to India for his relatives and friends who would perhaps be jealous as they drool over them.
Not any more. Back in India, it is different now.
Impressions of India's car industry with just two brands and a waiting list for many years must be deleted. Indians bought over one million - yes, over a million - cars in 2006-07. And what's more, sales of passenger cars are increasing by over 20 percent a year. No wonder several big players have moved in to manufacture cars in India and to export them as well.
From the original two marquees - the Premier Padmini or Fiat 1200 and the Ambassador or the Morris Oxford - from the 1950s that ran until the early 1980s, the market expanded with the entry of Japan's Suzuki that signed a joint venture with Maruti. That was a revolution over a quarter of a century ago when the first Maruti Suzuki 800 rolled off from its plant near Delhi.
With the opening of the economy in the early 1990s came the South Koreans, Japanese, Czech, American and German carmakers who set up shop in India. An Indian can pick and choose from cars made by BMW, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Skoda, and Toyota - all made in India.
Very soon, Volkswagen and Nissan will join them. The 'cherry on top' is the top two German luxury carmakers - BMW and Mercedes Benz - that make world-class models in India. The super-rich Indians can import any car in India - a Maybach, a Rolls Royce, a Bentley or a Ferrari. And they are doing just that these days. At the same time, two Indian manufacturers, Tata and Mahindra, provide tough competition to these global giants in the domestic and export markets.
Waiting for years to take delivery of your car in India in the dark decades from the 1950s to 1980s is a bad memory for the older generation. The young, upwardly mobile Indians are wooed no end by car companies with heavy discounts and gifts to lure them. Taking delivery of a new car has some surprises as the distributor gives you a bouquet of flowers, a box of sweets, full-tank fuel and some car accessories as freebees. The typical Indian touch at this happy event is the on-the-spot holy ceremony for safe motoring. After taking delivery, most Indians drive straight to a temple or a shrine to obtain divine blessings for their new asset. Now many big car distributors have employed a fulltime priest to perform this ritual!
The suitably dressed priest draws holy symbols on the bonnet and the engine with yellow sandal paste. A red thread is tied to the steering wheel and a red cloth with silver borders wrapped around the rear view mirror. For the driver, a yellow mark is applied on the forehead, a red thread tied on the right wrist and petals are showered as some 'mantras' are chanted. It climaxes with sweets given to the driver and family.
Now NRIs can get this ceremony for their loved ones by gifting a car to them online. Maruti has targeted NRIs in an innovative approach to sell cars online. In this scheme, NRIs get a special price, vehicle delivery, after-sales service, easy transaction and even financing to gift any Maruti model to their parents or siblings - with free blessings!

Give Your Car, Take Back A LIMOUSINE!

2007-05-10T07:51:00.000+05:30

Are you bored of your luxury car? You want a more luxurious and spacious vehicle? Like a Limousine! But you do not have the required amount. No worry. Help is at hand. A Chennai – based firm says it can transform your four-wheeler into the super-luxury Limousine in Just a matter of 45 days! For a cost half that of the original Limousine. Yes, Rs. 30-35 lakh!
Now doesn’t that sound exciting? Executive Coach Builders, a Chennai- based firm with headquarters in the United States, claims to transform cars according to your wish. “Any small car cannot be converted into a Limousine. If the vehicle is spacious enough and has sufficient pulling capacity, it can definitely be changed,” says Shibu Kizhakkevilayil who has floated this firm, Shibu a young computer engineer from TVM, owns many business enterprises in the US.
So what spurred Shibu to launch this firm? Limousine is a fantastic car. People dream of travelling in it. But unfortunately not many can afford it. Shibu wanted to take the car to more people in more corners of India. And that’s when he came up with the big, bright idea of conversion.
“I have been in the US for years and I knew people who were technically brilliant. They can do wonders with any vehicle”. One such friend was Alfred. Shibu contacted Alfred and constituted a team under him. He then floated the Limousine manufacturing unit in Chennai in January this year. The take-off was a bit tough, But now we are sailing smooth, he says. The interiors of the new Limousines are prepared using a mix of imported and indigenous spare parts.
Ask why Chennai was chosen for the project and Shibu laughs. “We just chose the place for the availability of human resources and land”. “And we got ample support from the Tamil Nadu Govt.” adds Jayasankar, director, marketing Executive coach Builders.

Rolls-Royce offers armoured version of the Phantom

2007-05-03T18:47:00.000+05:30

Goodwood, England - Rolls-Royce has announced that a new armoured version of the Phantom will be launched, offering substantial security benefits for those customers who require the highest levels of personal protection.
Engineered to VR7 level, the highest current international protection rating, the Phantom Armoured features high-tech fibre composites and special purpose steel for the bodywork.
The glazed area is made from sheets of thickened glass. In addition, a polycarbonate layer is fitted to the inside for extra passenger protection.
The Phantom's aluminium spaceframe chassis and suspension components have been strengthened to cope with the additional weight of the modifications. The exterior makes the car virtually indistinguishable from the ordinary version and has the same engine with 453 hp.
Customers will be able to order Phantom Armoured from all Rolls- Royce dealers and can tailor every aspect of the car to their individual requirements. The new model will be available initially in Europe and the Middle East, according to the car maker.

Daimler may launch more Merc models

2007-05-02T22:09:00.001+05:30

The increasing preference for Mercedes Benz models by Indian customers may see the company roll out more models in the near future.

"We are evaluating the launch of new models. But I would not be able to give you the details because our competition will also be eager to know about our plans," Wilfried Aulbur, managing director and chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler India said at the launch of S-Class diesel, the S 320CDI L on Saturday.

The demand is being fuelled by the software professionals and entrepreneurs from the real estate business. "Sales between January and March 2007 grew 17 per cent to 690 vehicles. The sales growth was 30 per cent in the C-and S-class segments," Aulbur added.

Porsche launches official VW bid

2007-05-02T22:05:00.000+05:30

Porsche, the German maker of luxury sports cars, said on Monday it had launched an official bid to acquire Volkswagen, Europe's largest auto manufacturer.

Stuttgart-based Porsche announced in late March that it would exercise an option to buy an additional 3.6-percent stake in VW.

The additional shares raised Porsche's interest in VW to 30.9 percent, effectively obliging it under German law to launch a public takeover for all outstanding VW shares.

Under an offer to run until 29 May Porsche said it would propose €100.92 per ordinary share, which is well below VW's current share price of around €112, and €65.54 for priority dividend shares.

Analysts have predicted that few shareholders were likely to take up Porsche's offer, adding that Porsche in effect has no intention of buying all of VW's share capital just yet.

They see the move as a clever way for Porsche to increase its stature in VW without being forced to pay for any additional shares.

Audi in top gear with new super sports car

2007-05-02T21:55:00.000+05:30

AUDI has bundled its racetrack experience into the new super sports car, the R8, that goes on sale this month in an arena where it faces tight competition from cars such as the Porsche 911 and Jaguar XK.

“Audi is filling the important segment of exclusive sports cars,” the carmaker’s new CEO, Rupert Stadler, said at an official presentation in Las Vegas.
According to market analyst Nick Margetts it is a logical step by the Audi to fill what it sees as a gap in this exclusive segment because “the classical car segments are breaking up and society is becoming more divided financially. Car-makers are reacting by building more niche vehicles such as these super sports cars.”
Apparently they are very successful in the process.
Sales of high performance super sports cars in the Jaguar XK and Porsche 911 segment have soared in recent months.
Mr Stadler says that all the carmaker’s racing experience has been put into the R8 development process.
The V8 motor positioned behind the seats has a phenomenal output of 309 kw/420 hp. This gives it an acceleration of 4.6 seconds from zero to 100 km/h.
Audi product manager Jens Meier said that the top speed has not been electronically regulated at 250 km/h as in other cars in the segment. The R8, fitted standard with four-wheel drive, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and spoiler has a top speed of 301 km/h.
Audi has apparently done its homework well in market researching the super sports car sector.
Mr Meier confirmed that the
idea of a middle-engined sports car offered much room for fantasy such as a 5.2 litre engine from the S6 or a Roadster.
There has also been much speculation that Audi would bring out a diesel sports car, especially after Audi won the 24-hour Le Mans race last year in a diesel racing car. But Mr Meier denied that there were such plans.
“We are still in the early stage of the model range and the developers are not under any time pressure,” he says.
Meanwhile, the entire R8 production run this year has already been sold out, according to Mr Meier.
The factory in the south-western German city of Neckarsulm produces 20 of the sports cars per day, mostly by hand.

DaimlerChrysler records 17 percent growth in sales

2007-04-29T22:14:00.000+05:30

Top automobile manufacturer DaimlerChrysler is upbeat over registering a 17 percent growth in sales of its luxury cars in the first three months of this year.
Wilfried Aulbur, managing director and CEO, DaimlerChrysler India, told a news conference here that the company recorded sales of 690 vehicles in this period.
Presenting Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI L and Mercedes-Benz CL-Class at the brand showcase here, he said the company had sold 2,121 vehicles during 2006, a growth of 11 percent over 2005.
'We are expecting higher growth this year,' Aulbur said, refusing to give figures.
While the S320 CDI L car costs over Rs.7 million, the on road price of the CL-Class is Rs.13 million.
According to the CEO, south India was a significant market, accounting for 30 percent of their total sales in the country. 'Hyderabad is a hotspot for us. Not because of just information technology but also because of good infrastructure,' he noted.
'There is incredibly high demand for our products in the country. India shining is happening as people want to have luxury, comfort and safety. The young entrepreneurs, IT professionals and successful businessmen are increasingly fascinated by Mercedes-Benz,' he said.
While pointing out that the Indian automobile market, especially in the luxury segment, was behind countries like Russia, China and Brazil, Aulbur was confident that the Indian market would grow fast in view of the boom in sectors like IT and real estate.
The foundation stone for DaimlerChrysler's new plant at Chakan near Pune is to be laid on May 9. The plant, coming up on 120 acres of land, will be commissioned in the beginning of 2009.
'Diesel is also emerging as a preferred fuel for passenger cars. We are very optimistic of the demand for the new S-Class diesel for Hyderabad and the south Indian market,' he said.
Also on display at the event were locally built S-Class, E-Class, C-Class and the completely imported SLK-Class, CLS-Class and M-Class cars.
The company has its presence in south Indian cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Cochin.

GSM tracker traces stolen cars

2007-04-29T22:06:00.000+05:30

A new anti-theft device known as the GSM car tracker is helping car owners recover cars that are stolen.Rambhoopal is one such victim whose seven-month old Scorpio was stolen outside his home in Munirka in Delhi on Friday.The tracker helped trace the car to a parking lot in Hissar within 24 hours.''It is definetely value for money,'' says Rambhoopal about the car tracker he installed at a cost of Rs 9000.''I saved Rs nine lakhs with the help of the device,'' he said.

It was introduced in Indian markets eight months ago. Its a small box thats concealed in the bonnet, dash board or under the car seat.The box has a mobile SIM card configured to the cell phone number of the car owner.The SIM is tracked by GSM towers. The owner can activate the device and recieve the car's location in 40 seconds by sending a pre-defined text to it.It can also give 3 other locations the car passed through along with the time.The tracker is not connected to the battery which makes it difficult to detect.

A premium car number worth a million

2007-04-29T22:02:00.000+05:30

What is there in a car registration number? If it is DLS – 1, then it could be worth a million.
Industrialist Lalit Kumar Bagla of Hindustan Adhesives claims that his family has had a right over the number since 1970. Bagla’s father Satyanarayan Bagla had obtained DLS-1 registration number for his Fiat car. The same number was subsequently transferred to a Honda Accent.
When Bagla went to the transport Authority for transfer of the number from the Honda Accent to a newly purchased Ford Fiesta in August 2006, the authorities refused to budge.
Bagla field a petition in the Delhi High Court asking it to direct the transport authorities to make the transfer. He prayed that he was prepared to scrap the Honda City car if the number was given to the new car.
After deliberations for six months the court dismissed the petition saying the authorities had expressed their inability to allot the number due to security reasons.
The Delhi transport Authority stopped interchange of registration numbers from October 2004, counsel for state transport authority said.
Bagala claimed that he had spent Rs. 10 lakh to get the number for his car.
Apart from DL-S 1, he has a Mercedes Benz with number DLO-1, a Chevrolet Optra with WBH-1 and Honda city with WBG-1 said the petition.
Bagla claimed that his father, in his registered will, transferred the numbers to him (Bagala) and his wife Parbati.
Bagla also fought two litigations in the Calcutta High court in February 2004 and September 2006 to transfer number WBH-1 from a Maruti-800 to a Chevrolet Optra and WBG -1 from Maruti to a Honda city.
Lalit Kumar Bagala’s counsel permit Roy submitted that if the West Bengal Transport authority could transfer the number from an old car to a new one, they why could the Delhi authorities not do it? A crestfallen Bagla is contemplating filing a revision petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High court order.