Indian Car News

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

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 cha

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

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 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 var

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 die

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 (pri

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, versa

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 positionin

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.

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 o

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 design

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 dr

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 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 t

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, Kronschna

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 bri

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.

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 t

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 ca

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 availabl

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, 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 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 ph

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 prod

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 whic

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 number