Luxury Cars

Nissan Sunny comes with Rs 5.78 lakh and 3 variants in India

2011-09-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

Like every other international auto major Nissan too has big plans for India and implementing its plans rather fast. Its Micra, a hatchback was launched recently and has got great response in the Indian market.
But that was just the beginning and Nissan is introducing a bigger car, a mid-sized sedan in the market. The new car named Sunny should be on Indian roads pretty soon. The company says it is expecting the new car to be sold more than eleven thousand units before the end if this fiscal year.

Nissan Micra has got great appeal in the Indian market. Despite its non-traditional looks the car is being called one of the best in its segment, despite some questions being raised about its pricing. Many say it is priced rather higher than what would have been appropriate for the Indian car bazaar.

The new Nissan Sunny is 1.5-litre petrol engine car and it comes with a price tag Rs 5.78 lakh for the base model and Rs 7.68 lakh for the top-end model .

The company is planning to sell more than 40000 cars in the Indian market. A top company official while detailing their plans for the Indian market said, “We are planning to sell 40,000 units across all models available in India by the end of this fiscal. Of this, we aim to sell around 12,000 units of the Sunny”.

The new car is being manufactured along with Micra at Nissan’s car plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The new car from Nissan is available in 3 variants – XE, XL and XV. The car comes with great antilock Braking System with EBD and Brake Assist. Another great feature of the car is that driver airbag are available with all the three models.

Renault Koleos

2011-09-16T01:06:00.000-07:00

The upgraded Renault Koleos is due in Australia late in 2011. The new model benefits from a refreshed exterior design and some serious efficiency gains for the diesel engine.

The 2.0-litre dCi diesel engine comes in two tunes: the first with 110kW and 320Nm, and a more powerful variant with 127kW and 360Nm (4×4 six-speed manual only, not available in Australia).

Renault has reduced combined cycle fuel consumption to as low as 5.7 litres/100km for the 4×2 manual model, although this variant is unlikely to find its way to Australia.

Currently, the only diesel model in Renault Australia’s Koleos range is the 4×4 six-speed automatic. New car shoppers will be happy to know its combined cycle fuel consumption has dropped more than 14 per cent – from 8.3 to 7.1 litres/100km. CO2 emissions are also down considerably from 221g/km to 186g/km.

The 2.5-litre petrol engine maintains its 126kW/226Nm maximum output. Combined cycle fuel consumption figures also carry over unchanged, ranging from 9.3 litres/100km for the 4×2 CVT model (front-wheel drive, continuously variable transmission) to 9.9 litres/100km for the 4×4 six-speed manual.

Attention to detail has been paid to the interior, with a focus on material and surface quality. Subtle changes have been made, including revisions to the instrument cluster and a more refined centre console layout.

Practicality and versatility are strong suits for the new Koleos, with 70 litres of cabin stowage space, 450 litres in the boot (1380 litres with 60:40 rear seats folded down), and a clamshell split-opening tailgate.

The five-star ANCAP safety rating will carry over, with the standard package including six airbags and ESC with understeer control.

2012 Hyundai i30 revealed at Frankfurt Motor Show

2011-09-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

One of the more relevant releases at this year’s Frankfurt motorshow is the next-generation Hyundai i30, which will see the Korean brand revitalise the model that brought it into its current good fortune.

82,900 first-generation Hyundai i30s have been sold in Australia already and more than 360,000 in Europe, so the succes of the new model is paramount to the company’s ongoing success story.

From a design perspective Hyundai has stuck with its current ‘fluidic sculpture’ design DNA, which means the new i30 is now firmly in place amongst the i45, ix35 and the i40 wagon family. It’s also hard to miss the familiar hexagonal-shaped grille.

Europeans will have a choice of four engines with six different power options to pick for their Czech built i30s, details for Australian delivered models (likely to be soured from South Korea) are to be decided before the car’s arrival mid 2012.

The new Hyundai i30 has increased in size, now measuring 4300 mm long and 1780 mm wide, but its height has been reduced to 1470mm which sees it sit wider but with a lower centre of gravity.

The European delivered models will have the option of Hyundai’s new Flex Steer™ which provides three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – to help fine-tune your driving experience.

The system actively changes the level of steering assistance and feedback to allow for a more engaging drive (sport) when needed or for maximum usability when you’re stuck in traffic (comfort).

A 7-inch touch-screen with Satelite Navigation will be available for European markets and we suspect it will flow through in one shape or form to the Australian market as well.

Hyundai will fit all the expected active safety features (ESP, ABS, VSM) as well as Emergency Stop Signal and six airbags as standard kit. A driver’s knee airbag is available as an option. The Korean giant expects the new i30 to retain the same maximum five-star safety rating as the model it replaces.

All new Hyundai i30s will have their power delivered via a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, which is a major improvement over the current model’s five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

It’s very likely that we will see both high output 1.6-litre diesel (94kW – 260Nm) and petrol (99kW – 164 Nm) engines for the Australian market with a potential entry model powered by a 1.4-litre petrol (which is only available as a manual).
Technical specifications – 2012 Hyundai i30 (final figures for Australian-spec vehicles to be confirmed at time of launch)
Diesel engines
1.4-litre 66.0 kW
Type / capacity U-II, WGT, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1396 cc
Power / torque 66.0 kW @ 4000 rpm / 220 Nm @1500~2750 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 75 x 79
Compression ratio 17.0
1.6-litre 81.0 kW
Type / capacity U-II, VGT, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1582 cc
Power / torque 81.0 kW @ 4000 rpm / 260 Nm @ 1900~2750 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77.2 x 84.5
Compression ratio 17.3
New 1.6-litre 94.0 kW
Type / capacity U-II, VGT, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1582 cc
Power / torque 94.0 kW @ 4000 rpm / 260 Nm @ 1900~2750 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77.2 x 84.5
Compression ratio 17.3
Petrol engines
1.4-litre 73.2 kW
Type / capacity Gamma 1.4, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1396 cc
Power / torque 73.2 kW @ 5500 rpm / 137 Nm @ 4200 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77 x 74.99
Compression ratio 10.5
1.6-litre 88 kW
Type / capacity Gamma 1.6 MPI, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1591 cc
Power / torque 88 kW @ 6300 rpm / 156Nm @ 4850 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77 x 85.44
Compression ratio 10.5
1.6-litre 99 kW
Type / capacity Gamma GDI, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1591 cc
Power / torque 99 kW @ 6300 rpm / 164 Nm @ 4850 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77×85.44
Compression ratio 11
Suspension and damping
Front Fully independent subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, with coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers. Anti-roll stabiliser bar.
Rear Fully independent subframe-mounted multi-links, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers.
Steering
Type Motor-driven power steering, with Flex Steer™
Steering wheel turn 2.85 Turning circle 10.6 metres
Brakes
Front 15 / 16 inch ventilated discs
Rear 14 inch solid discs
Dimensions (mm)
Exterior

Overall length 4300
Overall width 1780 (excluding door mirrors)
Overall height 1470
Wheelbase 2650
Front overhang 880
Rear overhang 770

Interior Front Rear

Leg room 1067 880
Head room 1018 963
Shoulder room 1420 1395

Capacities (litres)

Fuel tank 53 litre
Luggage 378 with rear seats upright

Toyota Etios Liva diesel coming on September 9th

2011-08-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

Toyota Etios Liva, the recently launched compact hatchback, is speculated to be launched in a diesel variant in the Indian auto market on September 9th. The move of launching a diesel variant of the car in the country has been taken after a sudden rise in the buyers opting for diesel variants of cars in the country.

In recent months, the price gap between petrol and diesel fuel has broadened-up considerably. The industry has witnessed a major shift of the buyers towards diesel variants due to their high fuel economy and low operational cost. The launch of new Etios Liva Diesel bears importance considering the availability of most of its rivals in both petrol and diesel versions. The major competitors of the car in the country include Chevrolet Beat, Ford Figo, Maruti Swift, Volkswagen Polo and Nissan Micra. All of these Liva competitors have been offered in both petrol and diesel variant, out of which diesel variants are scoring more in terms of sales. Moreover, the availability of a diesel variant will enable the car to compete more promptly with its arch rival Honda’s upcoming Brio hatchback.

The Etios diesel is expected to be powered by a 1.4 liter 75 bhp fixed turbo geometry engine with a high fuel economy of 21 kmpl. A five speed manual transmission is expected to be coupled with Liva diesel’s engine.

New BMW 6 Series Coupe version coming next month

2011-08-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

BMW India seems to have decided to leave no stone unturned in the Indian market to be ahead of rivals like Audi and Mercedes Benz. The company is planning to launch new coupe versions of its 6 Series and 3 Series sedans in the country, over the period of remaining four months of this calendar year.

The first among these is 6 Series coupe that is expected to hit the Indian roads in September 2011. This will be followed by 3 Series Coupe by this year end. Even after having a price tag of Rs 60 lakh, the BMW 6 Series model has clocked sales of 60 units in the country, since March 2011.

In a recent statement given by Dr. Andreas Schaaf, president BMW India, at the occasion of the launch of all new BMW X3 luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Pune, BMW said that it has 40 percent of market share in the last two years. The company aims to sell up to 10,000 units of its cars this year, accounting for a staggering share of 49 percent of the Indian luxury car market.

In the first seven months of this calendar year, BMW has sold a total of 5364 cars in the country. The German auto giant is currently the largest luxury car maker in the Indian market, followed by Audi and Mercedes Benz at second and third spots respectively.

Maruti R3 MUV

2011-08-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

Maruti’s much awaited multi utility vehicle – R3 – is all set to hit the Indian roads by the end of this year. The upcoming MUV was recently caught testing on the Indian roads for a number of times. The latest spy pictures of the R3 model give a clear indication of its being smaller in dimensions as compared to segment leader Toyota Innova. The white color Maruti R3 shown in the spy pictures gives a clear view of all three profiles including side front and rear. With increased activity in the Maruti camp, the R3 model is expected to be in the final process of its launch in the country.

The MUV shows a number of similarities with other popular Maruti portfolio models as far as design in concerned. From the front, the car looks somewhat similar to Ritz model, while the side profile matches to Wagon R up to some extent.

The R3 is expected to further raise competition in the crossover segment where Toyota Innova’s supremacy is unchallenged, so far. Besides Innova, the car will be taking on with the likes of Tata Aria and Mahindra Xylo in the same segment. Maruti R3 could be shelved in the price segment of Rs 8 to 10 lakh. However, Maruti Suzuki is yet to make any official statement regarding the launch date and specifications of this vehicle.

The R3 concept was first unveiled in the Indian market in January 2010, at the Delhi international auto expo. The concept had received an overwhelming response from the car enthusiasts and visitors at that time.

Tata Safari Merlin SUV to be launched around end September!

2011-08-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

With the Force One SUV already launched and the Mahindra W201 World SUV set for a launch around the end of September, Tata Motors Limited is all set to usher its own challenger in the Indian premium SUV space with the Tata Safari Merlin SUV. According to reliable sources, this SUV is all set to be launched at the end of September and from the sheer timing of the launch, Tata seems to ensuring that the Mahindra W201 World SUV gets some stiff competition.

As has been the trend with Tata cars recently, The Tata Safari Merlin SUV might be christened as Tata Merlin to ensure some differentiation for the new SUV model from the Tata Safari brand. This practice was followed for the Tata Manza and then for the recently launched facelift of the Tata Vista. Similarly, the Tata Safari Merlin, which essentially is an upgrade to the Tata Safari SUV, might be called the Merlin. Coming to what is new on the Tata Safari Merlin, first of all you get completely worked on looks.

The Merlin SUV will feature a lot of cues from Land Rovers including the flatter front end with flared headlamps. The rear end too is a marked departure from the Safari along with the disappearance of the spare wheel, which perhaps finds it way into the boot. The engine though will continue to remain the tried and tested 2.2 Liter DICOR turbodiesel unit producing 140 Bhp and 320 Nm. On the inside, the interiors are said to be a significant step up from the Tata Safari to make for a more premium look and feel. A few of the Aria’s interior bits might just make an appearance in the Merlin SUV.

The Merlin will be loaded with all the other bells and whistles along with ABS, EBD and Airbags being the de-facto safety bits on the SUV. The pricing of the Merlin will just begin where the Tata Safari SUV’s range ends and being typically Tata, expect it to be very competitive at just a shade under or over INR 10 Lakhs. The Merlin SUV is expected to be available both in 2 wheel drive and four wheel drive options although an automatic gearbox is still not a part of the equation.

2012 Toyota Camry

2011-08-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Toyota Camry, one of the best selling cars in the world market since a period of over 15 years, was on Tuesday unveiled in a new generation version – 2012 Toyota Camry. This is the first time in last five years when the company has redesigned the Camry model. The new Camry has been made more competitive with a lower price tag and higher fuel economy as compared to its predecessor.

The car was unveiled at events held in California and elsewhere on Wednesday. While the exterior of new Camry has been made sharper with a pointed hood, the interior has been made quieter with a silent engine. The interior space has also been increased along with a larger trunk.

In addition to this, a new system – Entune – has been offered with the new Camry that lets the driver access internet services through mobile phones, with the help of voice commands and in-dash touch screen.

The new Camry has been rolled-out in a bid to keep its competitiveness alive in the segment where the likes of Nissan, Hyundai and Kia are giving a tough fight to the car. The base model of new 2102 Camry is offered at $22,000 in the US market. It offers a mileage of 35 mpg on the highway.

So far, about 1,50,000,00 Camry models have been sold worldwide, since the launch of the car in global market in year 1983.

Tata Motors launches Tata Vista for 3.88 lakh rupees

2011-08-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Tata Motors has finally launched the facelifted Indica Vista. Tata Motors have now adopted ‘Vista’ as the name for the car. The new refreshed hatchback from Tata Motors will be available for a very reasonable Rs 3.88 lakh for the base Safire petrol and rs 4.79 lakh for the QuadraJet diesel .

The new Tata Vista gets the dashboard from the Tata Manza and its a similar story on the exterior. The new car has the front end from the Manza while at the rear are a few new bits added to make the car look fresh and appealing. At the rear, a black strip of plastic has been added to the lower edge of the rear windshield. Apart from that, the Vista is instantly recognizable from the neat edge that runs along the side of the car.

Inside, a nice two-tone interior greets you. The four-spoke steering wheel is also carried over from the Manza and so is the center console. The 2-DIN music system is also from the sedan. The Vista also has Tata Motors’ Blue 5 technology. Not much has changed under the hood with 1.3 litre direct injection, common-rail diesel engine with 75 PS of maximum power and a 1.4 litre MPFi Safire petrol engine with 90 horsepower on tap.

The new Tata Vista delivers a mileage of 22.3 kmpl for diesel and 16.7 kmpl for petrol. Good fuel economy and a spacious interior has been the USP of the Tata Indica family and by adding an upmarket interior to mix, Tata Motors hopes to capture more hearts. Other features include:

Lower pedal clutch effort and smoother clutch operation.
Improvement in braking efficiency by 15% owing to the bigger brake booster.
Lighter and more responsive steering
Smoother gear shift due to improved shift mechanism.

The new Vista also comes with added safety & security features like ABS with EBD, dual airbags, crumple zones and side intrusion beams, engine immobilizer and remote keyless entry. The new car will be available at showrooms from September 1, 2011.

Bollywood heartthrob John Abraham buys muscular Audi Q7

2011-08-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

Popular Bollywood actor John Abraham, on Monday bought a brand new luxury sports utility vehicle – Audi Q7. As per the media reports, John has purchased the top end variant of the Q7 SUV (4.2L V8 TDI) that comes blessed with Quattro technology. The car currently carries a price tag of Rs 69.5 lakh.

Earlier this week, John Abraham was seen at the Audi outlet in Mumbai for buying the car. As per the people present there, John smashed a coconut in front of the car before receiving the keys and driving the all new muscular SUV. Audi Q7 is one of the most powerful luxury SUVs in the Indian market that has been appreciated for its unbeatable performance throughout the world.

John Abraham has been known for his ultimate passion for cars and bikes since the early days of hit carrier. He owns a range of premium segment bikes and cars.

This is not the first time when a Bollywood actor has bought this powerful looking SUV, as earlier last week Salmaan Khan was seen driving Audi Q7 in a promo of upcoming Bollywood blockbuster – Bodyguard.

Maruti Alto Car Price Comparison

2011-08-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

Maruti Suzuki, which is a leading car manufacturing company, has set its roots in the Indian market from the very past and has been able to conquer the market for a long time. This company basically came up with an idea of offering economical cars to the Indian masses, which came into shape with the launch of the Maruti Alto. This car is mainly popular due to its budgetary pricing and phenomenal fuel economy, which is around 20.2 kmpl.

Targeting the middle class group of Indian society, this care turned out to be the best selling car in the market. The car is appreciated for its efficient performance, fuel economy and stylish designing. Priced around Rs.2.8 lac, this car comes within the budget of most of the families. After the launch and success of Maruti Alto, several companies launched cars in this segment. This included the likes of Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10, TATA Indica Vista and many more.

Chevrolet Beat, renowned for its expressive design and spirited performance, was launched as a competitor to Alto. Beat was launched in all fuel variants, namely Petrol, Diesel, LPG and Electric. This car possessed various features, including integrated control panel and Advanced Smart Tech technology. Beat has a leading edge in the performance and fuel efficiency, but pricing of this car was structured between Rs.3.5 lac and Rs.5.45 lac, which was quite high if compared to the price of Alto.

Another competition to Maruti Alto was Hyundai i10, which was launched by the second largest car maker in India, the Hyundai Motor India. Powered by Kappa engine that uses an aluminium cylinder block, this car excels in its performance. This car is priced between Rs.3.39 lac and Rs.3.98 lac, which is again higher than Alto. TATA also launched its all new TATA Indica Vista, which was certainly very good news for the car lovers.

Empowered by Eurotech gearbox teamed up with the Vista Drivetech4 Quadrajet diesel and Safire petrol engine, this car was expected to set automotive industry in India on fire. However, this car also got priced more than the Maruti Suzuki Alto, near about Rs.3.8 lac to Rs.5.9 lac. Hyundai Santro Xing, one of the most popular hatchbacks in India, proved the biggest competitor of Maruti Alto. Powered by 1.1 litres, SOHC, 4 cylinder, 1086cc, petrol engine, this car was known for great power and mileage. The price of this car was structured between Rs.2.8 lac and Rs4 lac, almost similar to Alto.

Renowned for advanced MPFI engine that generates maximum power of 70 PS at 4800 rpm and maximum torque of 12.4 kgm at 2600 rpm, Tata Indica V2 Xeta also gave tough competition to Maruti Alto. With standard features like leather seats and power steering, this car was priced between Rs.3 lac and Rs.3.6 lac, which was again higher than Maruti Alto.

The only small car, which was able to beat Maruti Alto in terms of price, was Tata Nano, world’s cheapest car. This car was priced between range of Rs.1.2 lac and Rs.2 lac, which was much less than Maruti Alto. However, Maruti Alto won over it in terms of power and mileage.

Range Rover Evoque likely to come to India by this year end

2011-08-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

Range Rover Evoque, the much awaited luxury sports utility vehicle, is speculated to hit the Indian roads by the end of this calendar year. The Evoque model will be showcased at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Expo in September this year, where it is expected to attract a large number of car enthusiasts and visitors.

The Range Rover Evoque is one of the newest entrants in Land rover’s global portfolio. The crossover will come blessed with a futuristic design and a range of advanced technological features. The major attractions of the Range Rover’s design include the floating roof-line, the steeply raked rear profile, etc.

As far as pricing of the Range Rover Evoque is concerned, the crossover is expected to hit the Indian roads in the price range of Rs 35 to 40 lakh. However, the company is yet to announce the pricing figures of the vehicle for the Indian market.

Powered by a 2.2L diesel engine, the vehicle is available with two engine power options including 150 PS or 190 PS (with turbocharger). Once launched in the Indian market, the company may decide to assemble the vehicle in the country itself, so that its pricing can be made more competitive.

Land Rover is currently owned by domestic auto giant Tata Motors that had acquired it from Ford Motors in year 2008. The British luxury car brand, which was a loss making firm about 2 years back, has been performing considerably well since it has been acquired by the Tata’s.

Small Cars: Most Preferred by Indians

2011-08-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

Booming Indian automobile sector is in process to getting acquainted with numerous low cost small cars from top manufacturers. The reason behind this is the swiftly growing economy that is enabling majority of the middle class Indians to easily spend on small cars.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. that boasts of selling one out of two cars is currently ruling the auto market. The models offered by the company also account for the maximum number of search inquiries among internet surfers, regarding forthcoming new models. Maruti Alto K10 small car that was introduced last year is an advanced variant of Alto, which was in vogue amongst Internet users. Maruti left behind Ferrari and Maserati, which were brought forward at the same time.

Between January 2010 and May 2011, 25 new car models were ushered in India, out of which seven small cars made it to the bulletin of the 10 most searched car models, according to Google India search data. Amongst all passenger vehicles sold in India, more than two-third are compact cars. The survey also revealed that Indian Internet users want to search for mid-level cars that cost between Rs. 2 lacs and 6 lacs.

Maruti Alto has been the best selling small car model in India. The Suzuki Motor Corp. unit on an average sells 30,000 Alto and Alto K10s in a month, as compared to Hyundai Motor Co.’s i10, for which the monthly sales number is around 14,000 units. In India, Maruti is also the most searched car firm, followed by Honda and Hyundai.

The small car business experienced a boon due to Tata, which launched Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car. After seeing the success of Tata Nano, other prominent Indian manufacturers like Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki are also concentrating on designing and manufacturing vehicles that would cost around Rs. 2 lacs. Besides, Tata Motors too is focussing on increasing the sales of Nano and is planning to produce a car that would cost between Nano and Indica. Likewise, Hyundai is manufacturing a model which will be one step ahead of Nano and more affordable than its own Santro.

The reason behind the increasing hype towards small cars can be the prolonged inflation in India. The rising cost of fuels has also contributed heavily in inclining customers towards diesel-driven vehicles. Indian Government subsidises diesel because most of the goods are transported by diesel-powered trucks. Therefore, automobile companies are launching both petrol as well diesel versions of the cars in the small car category.

The sales of small cars are attracting more and more customers in India, which is why models like Maruti Alto K10, Ford Figo and Maruti Swift have locked horns in the race to become the No.1 small car in India. Moreover, Maruti Suzuki is contemplating an 800 cc car to take the place of its precious popular Maruti 800, which is on its way out. However, Ford, Renault and GM are planning to launch premium cars and are not thinking of venturing into the small car arena.

Maruti Suzuki has launched the new Swift for a price of 4.22 lakh rupees

2011-08-17T02:33:00.000-07:00

The petrol and diesel cars have three variants each (LXI, VXI, ZXI and LDI, ZDI and VDI).
Key features of the new Maruti Swift

New Maruti Swift LXI/LDI features

Parcel tray, lane change indicator, fuel consumption display, tilt steering, low fuel warning lamp, Head light ON reminder, key in slot reminder, seat belt unfastened reminder, Power steering, manual AC, Immobilizer and body colored bumpers.

New Maruti Swift VXI/VDI features

ABOVE +
Electric ORVMS with Indicators, Keyless Entry with Security alarm, chrome door cabin side handles, four power windows, central locking, fog lamps front and rear, body colored ORVM, body colored door handles, wheel caps, day night in-cabin mirror.

Maruti Swift ZXI/ZDI features

Both the ABOVE +
Height-adjustable driver seat, rear wiper washer and defogger, Dual Airbags, ABS with EBD, Steering wheel controls, Integrated Audio system, Auto AC, 15 inch alloys, six speaker audio with four speakers and two tweeters.

New Maruti Swift general features

New Swift has wraparound silver accent in dashboard, sporty three-spoke steering wheel with silver accent, center console has a waterfall design, premium sporty fabric on the seat, storage pockets on all the doors, retractable cup holder on dashboard, rear sporty antenna, dynamic grille design and unique vertical headlamps.

Other features on the new Maruti Swift

Instrument panel with MID (Multi Information Display) – Shows Fuel efficiency and temperature.
Single touch lane changing indicator
16 inch alloy wheels with low profile tires (option)
New wheel cap design
Improved NVH; Noise lowered by 3dB compared to the earlier model
Steering mounted controls with illumination (ZXI, ZDI)
Automatic climate control (ZXI, ZDI)
Increased rear legroom, knee room and foot space
Front seats are larger offering more support
AUX and USB slot
Tilt steering wheel and height adjust
Three new colors – Blazing red, Torque Blue and Glistering Gray
DETENT technology for smoother gear shifts
Next generation ABS technology with engine drag control (ZXI, ZDI)
Increased rigidity in the body
Dual front SRS Airbags, including knee bag in the top-end variants (ZXI, ZDI)
Auto unlock in case of an accident, auto unlock when the key is removed
Keyless entry (ZXI, ZDI variant)
Rally based suspension for smoother ride and improved handling
Speed sensitive audio volume

The new Swift has a 1.3-liter DDIS diesel engine that returns a fuel economy of 22.9 kmpl. The 1.2 K Series engine returns 18.6 kmpl. Both engines accelerate quicker.

Maruti Suzuki RIII MPV’s undisguised images revealed!

2011-08-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here are the first images of the upcoming, Toyota Innova rivaling, Maruti Suzuki RIII. The new MPV from Maruti will be the Indian automakers foray into the MPV segment which was until now being dominated by the Toyota Innova. Recently, Mahindra has joined the race with the Xylo which will also rival the Maruti Suzuki RIII. If speculations are to be believed, the Maruti might launch the RIII MPV by the end of 2011 or during the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.

The launch of the RIII could be the second biggest launch of the year after the Maruti Swift which will roll into showrooms on August 17. As speculated earlier, the Maruti RIII might get a 1.4 litre K-Series engine capable of pumping out 87 bhp and 130 Nm of torque. Also, a diesel engine borrowed from FIAT might also be offered on the MPV in the form of the 1.3 litre Multijet Diesel.

The interior of the new MPV does resemble that of the new Maruti Suzuki Swift. The beige colour scheme does look appealing and also adds an airy feeling to the interior. Also, Maruti could also offer modern safety features including ABS and airbags on the top-of-the-line variant of the RIII. That said, the RIII could be the next big launch in the making for Maruti Suzuki after the new Swift.

The MPV segment in India where there is still room for competition. The Innova has been at the top for a long time now. The Mahindra Xylo did manage to claw back the advantage to an extent but, the new Maruti product could well storm into the lead. We know how popular the brand ‘Maruti’ which has the potential to dethrone in Innova from its top spot.

New Yamaha R15

2011-08-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

The new Yamaha R15 apparently has hit the Karivardhan race track in Coimbatore, for an Ad film of the new model. From these images, it can be clearly seen that the new motorcycle is the Yamaha R15, based on the badging on the exhaust muffler of the new R15. From certain angles, the fat rear tyre of the R15 now gives the motorcycle enough rubber to look like a proper sportsbike along with the raised rear, and this is something that many prospective R15 owners will particularly love.

From the front though, the new Yamaha R15 sees no change when compared to the current version. The only change discernible is the alloy wheel upfront which has a ten spoke design. One nice touch we’ve not noticed thus far was the faux carbon fiber insert on the muffler. Also, the exhaust’s outlet is quite unique and distinctive in its shape.

Going by the looks of it, expect a pony or two extra on the new Yamaha R15 along with a little more torque at the bottom end to compensate for the fatter tyre at the rear.If this doesn’t materialize, the new Yamaha R15 could be slower due to more rolling resistance of the wider section rear tyre and this is something Yamaha India wouldn’t want to happen. So, a little more power and torque is highly likely.

Also, the larger section rear tyre might reduce fuel economy a bit even though most prospective Yamaha R15 buyers won’t be too bothered about this aspect as the R15 is an out and out sportsbike tuned straight for the track. Now that the new Yamaha R15′s commercial is said to have been shot, it is only a matter of time before Yamaha India launch the new R15 for the Indian market, thus ending the year long wait after the first few spyshots of the new R15 doing the testing rounds surfaced.

REVA NXR Electric Car coming in early 2012!

2011-08-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

The REVA NXR, will be launched in early 2012, perhaps at the upcoming 2012 Indian Auto Expo. The car, which is a major upgrade from the current REVAi will begin commercial sales soon after its 2012 launch. Now, although the REVAi delivers a hassle free driving experience, ridiculously easy parking and a very economical ownership experience, it is still not a very practical car for many as it cannot seat more than 2 adults and has a limited range of 80 kilometers per charge of its lead acid batteries.

Addressing all these issues, the REVA NXR will have a seating capacity for four adults although it will continue to be a two door model. The range also sees a dramatic two fold improvement to 160 kilometers per charge of the lead acid batteries. Along with this, the REVA NXR’s top speed too will improve to a fast 104 Kph, which will make driving this car on faster stretches a veritable breeze, quite unlike the previous REVAs which were painfully slow and thus a potential hazard when surrounded by faster traffic.

Apart from looking and feeling much bigger than the current REVAi, the REVA NXR will also come with better interiors. The key however will be the price at which the REVA NXR will be made available in the Indian market. Currently, the figures doing the rounds are INR 4-5 Lakhs for the car. We think that a price tag between the 4-5 Lakh Rupee mark would mean that plenty of city hatchback buyers would consider the REVA NXR for their city commuting needs if the car’s range and performance meets the claims that the makers of this city electric runabout are making.

Toyota introduces all new Innova Crysta Limited Edition at Rs 13.12 lakh

2011-08-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

While the Toyota Innova MPV’s facelift might be due only in the middle of next year, here’s a minor update that the Innova has received, in the form of a limited edition model called the Crysta. Toyota Kirloskar Motors has just unveiled the limited edition model for the Indian market, priced at INR 13.12 Lakhs ex-showroom Delhi.

The Innova Crysta MPV features a new paint shade called the “Super White” and the only major visual differences are the smoked alloy wheels, new graphics on the sides of the MPV, a roof spoiler at the rear and the muffler which gets a chrome tip to wrap up the changes on the exterior.

On the inside the Innova Crysta gets dual tone leather seat covers, new wood paneling on the dash and floor mats. Justifying its limited edition moniker, only 1,000 units the Innova MPV will be on sale, starting today till October 2011. The Toyota Innova Crysta MPV will be available with the 2.5 Liter, 102 Bhp D-4D turbo diesel engine.

With this limited edition model, Toyota seems to have taken a leaf out of the Mahindra Xylo’s book, when it comes to launching “limited edition” car models. The Innova MPV is one of the most successful models in Toyota’s portfolio with very strong sales despite being more than half a decade old in the Indian car market.

For the limited edition moniker and the other features listed above, the Innova is pricier than the top end 2.5 VX model by close to INR 50 thousand rupees.

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Price in India - Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Review Features & Specifications

2011-02-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Price in India will be announced near to Rs 8,96,088/- The Check out Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel’s review with its amazing features and specification. This car is one of the favorite car among the young Indians and is covering and hitting the sale of competitors of the same segment.

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Features & Specifications

    * Engine:- Type : 16V DOHC DDiS, Number of Valves : 16, Piston displacement : 1248cc, Cylinders : 4, Bore x Stroke : 69.6x82mm, Maximum Output : 90PS @ 4000 rpm, Maximun Torque : 200 Nm @ 175 rpm
    * Wheels : 15-inch inch Steel wheel (VDi) and 16-inch Alloy wheels (ZDi)
    * Fuel Tank capacity : 50 Litres
    * Weight : MT – 1225 kg (VDi) , 1245 KG (ZDi)
    * Dimensions : LxWxH : 4490x1735x (1550mm (VDi) , 1560 (ZDi))
    * Transmission : 5 gears Manual Transmission
    * Steering : EPS
    * Tyre Size : 195/65 R15 (VDi) , 205/60 R16 (ZDi)

MARUTI SX4 Diesel Price in Delhi

SX4 ZDI (LEATHER) - Rs.8,96,088
SX4 VDI – Rs.7,73,999
SX4 ZDI - Rs.8,61,999

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Price in India is Rs. 8,96,088/- that is not a big deal according to the features of the model. We recommend all of our readers before purchasing Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel please read the market trends that there may be a better model available in the market

Toyota's Small Car Etios Now For Indian Market

2010-11-26T02:21:00.000-08:00

Toyota is all set to launch its extravagant small car named Etios in Indian market on 1st of December in Bangalore. The booking will most probably initiate in December month and in January the car will be seen in showroom first. At present in India Toyota is introducing Etios Twins with petrol engines only. But in years to come they expect the diesel version in the market.

All new Etios is designed seeing the Indian consumers taste and will give remarkable boost to the big brand of Toyota. The race in small car segment will be getting tough as Toyota is all set to give tough competition to its competitors. Etios was first seen and was highly appreciated by everyone in Delhi auto expo in the month of January 2010.

Toyota is on high success with its MUVs like Innova and sedans and recently the SUV Fortuner. According to some agencies reports Etios is targeting a sale of 65,000 units next year. Toyota’s second plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 70,000 units, which could be expanded up to two lakh units. To roll-out its first small car in India Toyota is investing Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility in Bangalore. The second plant will first cater to the needs of Etios.

Toyota Etios is all set to be launched in India, and will be priced at a relatively low Rs.5.25 lakhs only. The reason the we are saying the price is low because this vehicle is an entry level sedan and has the top of the class features in it.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sports Car Launched in India

2010-10-29T02:14:00.000-07:00

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is set to launch in the Indian market. World’s most costly and fastest car, Bugatti Veyron will hit the Indian roads with 12 Crore price on 28th October, 2010. After Bentley, Lamborghini and Rolls Royce, Bugatti will be the next super luxurious brand to enter the Indian market. The decision is motivated from the success of super luxury cars, Maybach and Rolls Royce in the country which were launched earlier. It will sale through its sole dealer Exclusive Motors, New Delhi. This is the first car to surpass the speed barrier of 430km/hr with an average top speed of 431.2 km/hr.

According to Satya Bagla, the managing director of Exclusive Motors, which is the official dealer of the legendary car brand in India, “The car is slated for launch soon but we cannot disclose its price and other specifications. There are a few customers for Bugatti, but again their identities cannot be revealed now.”Bugatti Veyron is designed and developed by the German Volkswagen Group and produced by Bugatti Automobiles SAS.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 comes with a 8.0L, 16 Cylinder, 64 Valves turbocharged engine that delivers maximum torque of 1200 Nm. Top whack is measured at 407 kmph, receiving it be one of the fastest production hyper cars to roar the roads. Its engine belts out a massive 989 hp and 1,200 Nm of peak torque. The mammoth engine is mated to a computer-controlled, seven-speed dual clutch direct-shift automatic transmission that takes a mere 150 milliseconds for gear shifts.Managing director of market research firm IHS Global Insight, Deepesh Rathore said that the high net-worth individuals in India are getting younger and they want to enjoy their money with the huge legacy associated with legendary brands. He also said that Bugatti will surely catch up in the country, particularly among the well-traveled Indian millionaires.

Bugatti Veyron specification: The car has huge power of 1001 BHP which helps it arrive at the 0 – 100 km/h in a jaw dropping 2.5 seconds with a limited top speed of 407 kmph. It features permanent Four Wheel Drive (FWD) and equipped with specially made Michelin run-flat tyres. The car engine has been joined with a computer-controlled, seven-speed dual clutch direct-shift automatic transmission that takes a mere 150 milliseconds for gear shifts. It also comes with number of stunning specifications, such as the twin clutch gearbox with seven speeds, the extraordinarily specific driving performance in bends and excellent stability when braking and accelerating. Including a number of 10 radiators, for the engine cooling system, for transmission oil, a heat exchanger for the air to liquid inter-coolers, for engine oil etc., the car has a power to weight ratio of 529 bhp/tonne.

Brammo Enertia Plus: Release Date, Price and Review for Electric Motorcycle

2010-10-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Enertia is an eco-friendly motorcycle and has all the characteristics of a traditional motorcycle but without some of its ‘old’ features. Enertia takes out all the difficulty of riding a motorcycle and gives you a fully automatic smooth ride. No shifting gears or clutches, and no need of gas. It runs on electricity, powered by lithium-ion technology that you can plug and charge at any wall outlet. This motorcycle has the character of simplicity and user-friendly. It is easy to use, fun, and will bring you to places.

FEATURES:

6.0 kWh Brammo Power Battery Pack Lithium-Ion Technology
Powered by an AC motor with over 30pound-feet of torque
Over 60 MPH of Top speed
450 MPG equivalent
80-mile range in single charge
Plugs into any wall outlet
Charges in about 4 hours
Simple to operate, easy to ride
Premium components
No gears, shifting, or clutch
Comprehensive 12-year warranty
No emissions, Noise Free, No Gas
It’s Practical, Affordable and Fun

The Brammo company at Oregon began taking pre-orders for the Enertia Plus, their fifth and latest model. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $8,995 and can qualify for federal and state tax rebates. Comparing the environmental impact of Enertia Plus to a current classic motorcycle model, Chief executive Craig Bramscher said “Our ‘wells to wheels’ calculations show an Enertia being 92% more efficient, and that’s assuming the dirtiest electricity in the U.S. — coal generated electricity — was used to charge it.”

Brammo is conducting an electric vehicle battery take back and recycling program that Bramsher promised would be applied by the time the Enertia Plus begins to ship to costumers. Brammo has attained $12.5 million as part of a series B round of venture funding and they are targeting a total $30 million of raising the second tranche of the series B round. Their financial backers include Alpine Inc. Chrysalis Energy Venture Capital and Best Buy Capital.

According to a company press statement, Enertia Plus will sell at dealerships including Best Buy stores. Go to BRAMMO.COM to learn more and order Enertia Plus online! Shipping delivery starts on 2011.

Volkswagen to launch second generation Touareg in Feb 2011 in India

2010-10-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

German auto maker, Volkswagen will launch the second generation of Touareg in the Indian market by 2011 February.

The company claims that that new version will offer better performance and fuel economy compared to older versions. The large sized Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) has not sold large volumes in country even as it is one of the best in its segment.

The new versions will be 208kg lighter than the existing versions and might be powered by a 4Motion all-wheel drive and advanced Stop-start technology. The vehicle claims to offer a smooth drive on road as well as off the road terrains.

The company has revealed technical information about the vehicle but it is likely to feature V6 petrol, V8 petrol and the V8 diesel engines. The company might also release a hybrid variant, which can run at a speed of 50kmph in full electric mode.

The company has not released the pricing details of the vehicle yet.

Toyota Corolla Altis diesel

2010-08-05T03:52:00.000-07:00

Toyota Kirloskar Motors Limited has launched its first diesel sedan in India. The Toyota Corolla diesel, priced at Rs 12.73 lakh, (middle trim), but its base variant starts at a shocking Rs 10.95 lakh, while the top variant goes up to Rs 13.75 lakh, ex-showroom, New Delhi for the mid-variant is the first foray by the Japanese company in the diesel saloon market in India.

Powered by a 1.4-litre D-4D diesel engine, it produces about 89 bhp of peak power and 19.4 kgm of peak torque. Currently available in other markets in South-East Asia, the Corolla diesel sports a six-speed manual gearbox and is tuned more for efficiency and driveability rather than outright acceleration and performance. The car delivers a staggering 21.43 kmpl under ARAI test conditions. The Corolla has been quite a success in the fleet segment and with this engine variant it's expected to expand its lead.

Toyota's new diesel saloon will compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Laura and VW Jetta in the Rs 12-15 lakh entry D-segment.

The Corolla Altis Diesel gets a differentiating sporty mesh grille, to distinguish it from the regular Altis. The car is available in seven colours - Silver Mica Metallic, Champagne Mica Metallic, Dark Red Mica Metallic, White Pearl Mica, Light Blue Mica Metallic, Super White and Black Mica.

The Corolla Altis Diesel comes in three manual transmission grades D-4D J, D-4D G and D-4D GL with competitive price tags between 10, 95, 000 and 13, 75, 000, ex-showroom Delhi.

Find below a comparison list of prices of Toyota Corolla's rivals (ALL EX-SHOWROOM, NEW DELHI):
Skoda Laura 2.0TDI Ambiente CR MT - Rs 13.86 lakh
Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 TCDI (manual) - Rs 11.52 lakh
Volkswagen Jetta 2.0TDI (manual) - Rs 15.92 lakh

Honda VFR launched

2010-08-05T03:46:00.000-07:00

Honda has launched the VFR1200F sports tourer in India. The bike comes priced at Rs 17.5 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi.

The motorcycle comes powered by a 1237cc, V4 engine which is fuel injected and liquid cooled. The bike produces more than 90 per cent of its maximum torque at 4000rpm and has a fuel tank capacity of 18.5 litres. It is also the first bike to feature Honda's Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) technology. The bike also features the throttle by wire system, which ensures seemless acceleration across the engine's rev-range. And in order to ensure the rider stays firmly in place under intense deceleration, the bike has a 'slipper clutch'.
The VFR is available in two colours - Candy Prominence Red and Seal Silver Metallic. And you'll see these bikes on road by the third week of August.

Alto K10 launched

2010-08-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

Maruti Suzuki has launched a new Alto, named the Alto K10. The launch happened across 3 cities simultaneously in a rather unique fashion through video conferencing via satellite.

Alto K10 priced Rs 3.19 – 3.32 lakhs

The Maruti Suzuki Alto has been the company’s best-selling small car for a decade or more. The Alto has a very good sales record with close over 20,000 cars sold each month (25,340 cars sold in May 2010). The new Alto K10 is expected to take up the mantle now. The current Alto would continue to sell while the new K10 is specifically targeted for the buyer who wants more power and performance and also much more features.

The new Alto K10comes with price tags of Rs 3.19 lakhs for the Lxi and Rs 3.32 lakhs for the top-end Vxi ex-showroom Mumbai.

Alto K10 – engine and specs

The Alto is well known for being a very efficient and reliable car. The K10 is meant to better the earlier Alto. Efficiency figures of 20.2 kmpl kmpl which is the highest in the A2 segment cars is what the K10 is capable of, according to Maruti Suzuki. This mileage figure is thanks to the new K series 998 cc engine that also makes this one of the quickest cars in its segment.
This engine pumps out 68ps @ 6200rpm and has 90Nm of torque at 3500rpm. The K10 can do a dash to 100 in 13.3 seconds according to Maruti-Suzuki. That makes it comparable to some of the upper end of the small car segment.

Design changes

The overall design of the Alto K10 is also revamped to some extent. The new Alto K10 is 125mm longer than its predecessor which has increased the legroom for the rear seats. The new hawk-eye headlight design looks smart, while fresh-looking front grill and body-colored bumpers are standard across all variants. The Alto K10 gets a new set of wing mirrors that are internally adjustable and body colored as well. A new three-spoke steering is introduced, and you can find the Suzuki Swift’s gear knob on the cable-operated shifter. Seats have unified headrests now and the fabrics on them are nice and light colored. Front power windows are standard on the top end Vxi.
The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 also has a really small turning radius of of 4.6 meters which should make it very maneuverable in city traffic conditions. The K10 is BS 4 norms complaint.
The Alto K10 is available in 6 colors.

Sunlight Copper
Midnight Black
Fire Brick Red
Ecru Beige
Silky Silver
Superior White

With slight increase in overall length, a more powerful engine and great fuel efficiency, the new Suzuki Alto K10 sure would give other cars in its segment (and those a segment higher) a run for their money. Its closest competitor is the Chevrolet Spark, Tata Nano and the Hyundai i10. But with improved comfort and more in cabin options the K10 would now also compete with the Maruti Wagon R and Estilo which are from the company and possibly eat into market for the Nissan Micra (base model).

Alto K10 new features at a glance

Powered by the k10B 998cc K-series engine
Hawk eye headlamps
All new boot and tail lamps
Tinted glass
Body colored bumpers
Larger 13 incher tyres
Remote boot opener
Internally adjustable wing mirrors
Front power windows (Vxi)
New 3 spoke steering
New sporty gear knob
Fabric on door pads (Vxi)
Integrated headrests on front and rear seats.
Key off reminder
Front Fog Lamps (Vxi)
Central Locking
Immobilizer

Yamaha SZ | Yamaha SZ-X Price in India | Yamaha SZ Specifications

2010-08-05T03:17:00.000-07:00

Yamaha launched a trio of motorcycles, Yamaha SZ, Yamaha SZ-X and Yamaha YBR 125 and in attendance was the Bollywood star and company’s brand ambassador John Abraham.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr Yukimine Tsuji, CEO and MD, India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd said, “The launch of SZ, SZ-X and YBR 125 is in line with Yamaha’s true commitment to provide world-class products to its customers. SZ, SZ-X and YBR125 models have been designed and engineered down to the finest details for maximum comfort of the rider. Ideal combinations of Power, Comfort and Style, SZ and SZ-X have been designed with a strong focus on quality and performance. YBR 125, on the other hand, is stylish and has good ergonomics for comfortable day-to-day commuting. We are confident that these bikes will capture the imagination of a whole generation of bikers who are looking for something extra”.

SZ and SZ-X have an all-new 4-stroke air-cooled, SOHC single cylinder with 153cc engine that has been tuned for optimum performance. The bikes are equipped with AI System and a large-capacity muffler with catalyser for cleaner exhaust. The bikes also have some new design structures like the headlight cowl with 3-dimensional slanting linen, a sporty fender with split look and 14L fuel tanks. SZ-X is also equipped with an electric starter and a windscreen to cut inward air swirl.

SZ will be available in two colors – Black and Red while SZ-X will be available in three colors – Black, Red and Grey Metallic.

The new YBR 125, on the other hand, has chiseled looks and is targeted towards executive segment customers. The bike is equipped with 123cc engine and 4-speed gear box. YBR 125 will be available in three colors – Red, Black and Black-Red colors.

Yamaha said that the bookings for the three bikes would start immediately. While YBR 125 will be available at an ex-showroom price (Delhi) of Rs 47,000, SZ and SZ-X will be available at an ex-showroom price (Delhi) of Rs 49,000 and Rs 52,000, respectively.

Yamaha SZ-X Specifications

153cc, 4-Stroke, Air Cooled Engine
Max Power: 12.1 PS @ 7500 rpm
Max Torque: 12.8 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Electric Start
Five speed Transmission
Front & Rear Alloy Wheels
Front & Rear Drum Brakes
Improves Suspension
Available in 3 Colors (Black, Grey & RED)
Fuel tank capacity: 14 Litre
Wheelbase: 1320mm
Dimensions: 2050×730×1100mm

Difference Between Yamaha SZ-X Vs Yamaha SZ

SZ-X looks little better (totally subjective)
Electric Start in SZ-X, Manual in SZ
SZ-X is little taller
More color options in SZ-X

Yamaha SZ-X Price in India: Ex-Showroom 52,000/-

10 Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage

2010-03-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

How often do you have to stop and fill up your tank? Frequent trips to the gas station may be a sign that you’re not maximizing your car’s fuel efficiency. As it turns out, trading your ride in for a hybrid isn’t the only way to improve your gas mileage. Here are some simple pointers to get started.

1. Lighten your load. Take out your golf clubs, toolbox and other heavy items when you don’t need them. Any extra weight reduces your car’s fuel efficiency.

2.Use cruise control as much as possible because driving at a constant speed increases your gas mileage. Plus, it sure makes that daily commute a little more bearable.

3.Switch into overdrive to decrease the engine’s speed and save gas.

4. Keep the idling to a minimum. Instead, turn off the engine while you’re waiting for your pals to pick up something from the store or finish getting ready.

5.Gradually accelerate to waste less gas.

6.Maintain your tire pressure to ensure that your tires are always properly inflated. In addition to better gas mileage, it will help your tires last longer.

7. Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car’s manufacturer, whether it be 5W-30, 5W-20 or 10W-30.

8. Give your engine a tune up on a regular basis.

9. Only turn on the air conditioning when you’re dripping sweat and threatened by heat stroke. Okay, maybe that’s a bit extreme, but you get the idea. Use it sparingly.

10. Take off bike or luggage racks when you aren’t using them. They interfere with the aerodynamics of your vehicle and cause drag, which causes your car to expend more energy than necessary.

2011 Kia Optima a next generation sedan and mid size car

2010-03-15T02:04:00.000-07:00

Kia Motors has been the South Korea’s second largest automobile manufacturer and has its headquarters in Seoul and as a matter of fact, it is owned by the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. Kia has been manufacturing cars like Kia Forte, Kia soul, Kia Sportage, Kia Borrego and some concept cars like Rondo, Slice and many more and now is up with its new attraction, the 2011 Kia Optima.

The 2011 Kia Optima is a next generation sedan and comfortably fits in the bracket of mid size cars. The man behind the design of this beauty is Peter Schreyer, giving the 2011 Kia Optima a sporty, stylish and all that aggressive looks. The car is known as Optima in the US, Lotze in Korea or Magentis anywhere else.

This version of the car will hold more sporty looks than its previous version and is definitely ahead in design, style and technology. The 2011 Kia Optima will be giving a tough competition to all the mid size cars in the market and holds the potential to capture the market for a greater span of time.

The ride height of the 2011 Kia Optima is pretty much impressive and the car is fabulously sleek in terms of design. The car has a pretty huge grille with a flat nose and comes with that stylish LED lights on the bumper. The 2011 Kia Optima is more spacious and is fitted with all world class safety and luxury equipments to ensure safety and style.

Although the details regarding the mechanism of the 2011 Kia Optima still remain unrevealed but according to certain revelations and analysis on certain basis, we can expect the 2011 Kia Optima having more or like same specifications as of the Sonata 2011 and so the Kia 2011 Optima will be offering four and six-cylinder versions.

The 2011 Kia Optima would be provided with 2.4-liter engine generating 200 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft of torque, 198-hp and six-speed transmission. The car has a longer wheelbase. This data is all based on present models that the company has been manufacturing and could differ.

The 2011 Kia Optima is a car which would be surprising many hearts and would stun many minds with its superb design and would definitely be a car that people would not expect from Kia Motors. The car is expected to hit the market in the second half of 2010.

Honda Accord 3.5L V6 with sunroof

2010-03-15T01:56:00.000-07:00

Honda Cars India added an Electric Sunroof and some additional luxury features the Accord 3.5L V6 to its luxury sedan.

Honda found from their customer feedback that potential buyers wanted a sunroof, and the Accord did not have one. The company has fixed that complaint now.

Apart from the sunroof, the new Honda Accord V6 will also have an ambient light and a footlight. Also added on are 2 sets of keyless entry which has become a very necessary feature and is found on many cars in this segment.

The footlight and 2 sets of keyless entry will also make their way to the Honda Accord 2.4L MT/ AT variants. Also added on is a Bluetooth interface for mobile phone connectivity.

The Honda Accord 3.5 L V6 is the flagship model currently of Honda Siel Cars India. Other cars Indian market sold by Honda are the CR-V crossover, Civic upper mid-size sedan, the new Honda City and the Jazz premium hatchback car. The Japanese giant also has plans to launch a small car later in the year or early next year to compete against the upcoming Toyota Etios small car.

For all you petrolheads, the Accord’s V6 3.5-liter i-VTEC engine pumps out a brutal 275 PS, makes it the most powerful Accord ever built and competes with the likes of the Skoda Superb V6 and the just-launched Corporate Edition of the BMW3 series.

The upgraded Accord 3.5 L V6’s ex-showroom Delhi prices are:

Rs.18,52,000 for 2.4L MT

Rs.19,27,000 for 2.4L AT

Rs 26,15,000 for 3.5L V6

Honda Jazz Select Edition

2010-03-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

For all you Honda Jazz fans (all of whom are right now in the Himalayas and just can’t wait to buy the Jazz the moment you come down), Honda SIEL has launched a special model called the ‘Select Edition’.

The Select Edition of the Honda Jazz is to signify the celebration of ‘Car of the Year’ award which it won recently

Honda Jazz was adjudged the ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Small Car of the Year’ at the NDTV Profit – Car India and Bike India Awards 2010.

The Jazz Select Edition also comes with rear parcel shelf, front and rear mud guards and alloy wheels.

Just to recap, the Honda Jazz comes loaded with ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution System), Dual SRS airbags and pre-tensioner seat belts. The Jazz is powered by a 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine which is E10 and Euro IV compliant, this engine has an power output of 90 PS (66 kW) @ 6,200 rpm and Torque of 110 Nm (11.2 kg-m) @ 4800 rpm while returning a fuel economy of 16.1 km/l, as per ARAI test data.

The Honda Jazza Select Edition is priced at Rs. 7.21 lakhs Ex Delhi and will be reaching Honda dealerships by early next week.

Ford Figo prices announced

2010-03-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

Ford prices the Figo very attractively at 3.49 lakhs for the base petrol and 4.48 lakhs for the base diesel.

Ford India has finally officially announced the prices for its newest hot hatch, the Ford Figo, at its Delhi launch today. Prices for the 1.2 liter petrol Figo start at 3.49 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi and 1.4 liter diesel at 4.48 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi.

Pricing the Figo

The petrol models of the Ford Figo have the Duratec nomenclature which Ford customarily uses for its petrol variants, and the diesel models are called Duratorq, as usual.

You can scroll all the way down to see our recent stories on the Ford Figo.

The cheapest Ford Figo is priced at Rs 3.49 lakhs, just a little bit more than the Rs 3.34 lakhs of the recently launched Chevrolet Beat base variant.

Ford Figo Duratec Petrol 1.2 Litre prices

LXI – Rs. 3,49,900

EXI – Rs. 3,81,900

ZXI – Rs. 3,99,900

Titanium – Rs. 4,42,900

Ford Figo Duratorq Diesel 1.4 Litre prices

LXI – Rs. 4,47,900

EXI – Rs. 4,72,900

ZXI – Rs. 4,96,900

Titanium – Rs. 5,29,900

The other players in this segment include the Maruti Suzuki Swift which leads in the number game and the Suzuki Ritz, Hyundai i10 which is priced similarly.

The top-end Ford Figo models (petrol one, priced Rs 4.43 lakhs and diesel one, priced Rs 5.29 lakhs) come pretty close and overlap the price of even Hyundai’s premium hatchback i20 – whose base petrol models are priced at Rs 4.9 lakh (even though the diesel models cost around Rs 7 lakh).

The Tata Indica Vista, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo, GM’s Chevrolet Beat and Chevy U-VA, Skoda Fabia are some of the other small cars in India which might be threatened by some variant or other of the Ford Figo.

Ford had recently created a stir in the industry by opening 28 new showrooms and service centres across India just to gear up for the Figo. Attractively priced the Ford Figo holds the key to success for Ford in India.

Ford Figo’s petrol and diesel engines and fuel efficiency

The new 1.2-litre petrol engine of the Ford Figo delivers 71.35 PS @ 6250 rpm and 102 Nm @ 4000 rpm.

Fuel efficiency claimed by Ford for the Figo’s 1.2-litre engine is 15.6 kilometres per litre – very satisfactory for a car in this class.

The diesel Figo’s 1.4-litre Duratorq diesel engine is has a claimed fuel efficiency of 20 kilometres per litre. Horsepower is rated at 69 PS @ 4000 rpm. Torque is equally impressive with 160Nm at 2000 rpm.

Colors

Diamond White
Chill (greyish light brown)
Colarado Red
Moondust Silver
Sea Grey
Squeeze (the green color you can see in the photos here)

Nissan unwraps new Micra

2010-03-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

The much awaited Nissan small car has been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Boasting breakthrough packaging and small-car engineering, the all-new, fourth generation Nissan Micra is on course to create a whole new set of industry standards. A cute little city car with well rounded curves and a prominent waistline, the new Micra will be manufactured at Nissan's upcoming facility in Chennai. Sales of the new Micra will start in India in July.

Developed and built on Nissan's all-new V-platform, which was developed under a comprehensive new production engineering process, the new Micra was designed and tested in Japan to be built in at least four overseas locations, and fine-tuned to meet the differing tastes and needs of customers in 160 countries worldwide. Breaking with traditions that focused on launching production in established markets like Europe and Japan, Nissan will base production of the new Micra at overseas manufacturing sites such as Thailand, India, Mexico and China.Retaining its compact dimensions, the new car is slightly longer and marginally lower, while its longer wheelbase enables a 'wheels-at-each-corner' stance, the main reason behind the Micra's roomier interior. The boomerang-shaped grooves on the roof have a clearly defined purpose too, continues Yamane. Aiming to create the same sense of exterior style inside the car, Nissan has employed a 'connected cocoon' design featuring a dashboard design which takes on a 'twin bubble' theme. This refers to the circular instrumentation binnacle and the similarly shaped glovebox compartment on the passenger side.

In Europe, a simple engine line-up sees just two engines options both are variations on Nissan's all-new naturally aspirated HR12 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine. Inheriting its DNA from the HR16 4-cylinder engine powering the Note and Qashqai, the new engine employs valve-timing control (VTC). Power is rated at 59kW (80ps, while torque output is 108Nm. At only 115g/km, CO2 emissions for this version are world-class.In addition to the new normally aspirated engine, Nissan will also offer supercharged 1.2-litre direct injection iteration with a start-stop system fitted as standard in Europe. These technological innovations - stop-start reduces CO2 by six per cent - combine to offer spirited performance, with outputs of 72kW (98PS) and 142Nm of torque. Emissions will be just 95g/km, an exceptional achievement for a petrol engine.

It also offers an Intelligent Key, Nissan Connect, Nissan's accessible touch-screen combined audio and satellite navigation system, glass roof, automatic wipers, speed sensitive volume on the audio, a push button start-stop system in addition to a drive computer which supplies drivers with real time fuel economy information, cruising range and outside temperature. On the security side, the car is also fitted with a speed-sensitive automatic door locking system.

Tata Nano Electric Showcased at the Geneva Motor Show

2010-03-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Tata Motors showcased the Tata Nano Electric Vehicle (EV) at the Geneva Motor Show 2010.

Tata Motors first participated in the Geneva Motor Show in 1998, and has ever since been a regular participant showcasing several production and concept vehicles.

From the photos of the Tata Nano EV, it looks quite similar to the Tata Nano Europa – which is the export version of the Nano which meets European safety standards. There was no mention of the exact size of the Nano EV, it will be the same as that of the Europa as Tata Motors plans to sell it internationally in the future.

Mr. Ravi Kant, Vice Chairman, Tata Motors commented on the Nano EV launch, “Electrification will be an integral part of our initiative to launch environment-friendly vehicles. The Indica Vista EV will be introduced in select European countries, beginning this year. We will progressively introduce electric vehicles in all relevant markets.”

Remember that Tata has been working on the Tata Indica EV for a while in Netherlands.

The EV Nano has a seating capacity of four same and the cabin is same as the Petrol Nano. Tata Motors claims a maximum range of close to 160 km on a single charge. Acceleration numbers of 0-60 kmph in under 10 seconds is also quite acceptable.The batteries on this Tata EV are made using super polymer lithium ion batteries, same as in the Tata Indica EV.

Lithium polymer ion batteries are a lot more efficient than lead acid batteries used in the last generation of electric vehicles, and offer faster charging and better maximum range per charge.

Tata Motors had displayed the Tata Nano Europa last year at the Geneva Motor Show, and expects to launch it in select European countries in a couple of years from now.

Also on display at the Tata stall are the Tata Aria which premiered in January in India at the Auto Expo 2010 and first shown as a concept at the 75th Geneva Motor Show, and the Tata Indigo Manza.

Tata has plans for the Nano EV to be launched in India too – and the market response to the upcoming Hyundai i10 EV and the Chevrolet Spark’s electric version, the e-Spark, might hasten the process.

Ford Figo Prices Out, Deliveries To Start From The 16th Of March

2010-03-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

Ford India has finally declared the prices of its newest offering – the Figo hatchback.

It was always going to be a tough call for Ford to price the Figo correctly, after the excellent Volkwagen Polo pricing.

Probably Ford has been prepared for that – and the prices of the Ford Figo variants are very competitive indeed. The base variant of the petrol engined Figo is available at a price of Rs 3.6 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi. The base diesel variant on the other hand is priced at Rs 4.5 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. The top-end petrol variant of the Figo would cost Rs 4.5 lakh, while the top end diesel Figo is priced at Rs 5.45 lakhs.

Bookings of the Ford Figo are already underway, and many prospective buyers have started getting SMSes from Ford Dealers here in Mumabi, inviting them to book the Figo. The SMS also says that the deliveries will start after the 16th of March.

Ford Figo petrol Duratec Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Ford Figo 1.2L Duratec LXi – Rs. 3.6 Lakhs
Ford Figo 1.2L Duratec EXi – Rs. 3.85 Lakhs
Ford Figo 1.2L Duratec SXi – Rs. 4.20 Lakhs
Ford Figo 1.2L Duratec Titanium – Rs. 4.50 Lakhs

Ford Figo Diesel Duratorq Prices

Ford Figo 1.4L TDCi LXi — Rs. 4.5 Lakhs
Ford Figo 1.4L TDCi EXi — Rs. 4.75 Lakhs
Ford Figo 1.4L TDCi SXi — Rs. 5.15 Lakhs
Ford Figo 1.4L TDCi Titanium — Rs 5.45 Lakhs

The company currently sells the Ford Endeavour SUV, Fiesta small sedan and the Ikon budget sedan in India. The last small car from the company was the Ford Fusion hatchback which was priced uncompetitively and consequently never took off. The Figo is the company’s first serious attempt to capture a substantial share of the booming small car market in India, currently dominated by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, with new entrants Volkswagen Polo and Chevrolet Beat making their intentions very clear.

Jabra Stone Bluetooth Headset: Stylish Looks, Handy Charge

2010-02-26T21:09:00.000-08:00

It's not often that a product lives up to its name, but the Jabra Stone ($130, price as of February 10, 2010) does so quite literally. This sculpted black Bluetooth headset fits so neatly into its charging base that the combination looks like a smooth, black, plastic stone--albeit one with a micro-USB socket and a Jabra logo.

However, the "stone" isn't just a storage case or a pass-through connection base for a charger. It has its own battery, which, when fully charged, can completely charge the headset--a boon for folks on the go. This means that you always have extra headset charges in your pocket even on long business days when you can't get to an AC outlet or a USB charger.

While the headset's battery alone provides up to 2 hours of talk time and 2.5 days of standby time, traveling with the charging base increases available talk time to 8 hours and standby time to 12 days, according to Jabra. The base takes 2 hours to charge with its AC adapter. As a traveling companion, the base makes the headset easy to find in a cluttered pocket, and it provides some protection for the headset as well. The headset and its 0.67-ounce, 1-inch-thick base measure just 2.3 by 2 inches together, which hardly makes a dent in a jacket pocket.

The concept of a travel case equipped with its own battery isn't new: Plantronics uses a different style of travel-size battery case with some of its units, such as the Discovery 975.

The Jabra Stone supports the Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (enhanced data rate) standard and can pair with up to eight devices, two of which can be in use at the same time. Two small LEDs on the inside of the headset provide feedback on battery status and Bluetooth connectivity. A single LED on the base lets you know if it has enough juice to charge the headset fully.
Jabra's penchant for simplicity is reflected in the Stone. Like the company's other headsets, such as the earmuff-style Jabra Halo, the Stone has no on/off switch. Removing the unit from its base activates it, and pushing it back in turns it off. Instead of a volume-control button or switch, the Stone has a touch-sensitive area where sliding your finger up or down will raise or lower the audio. The volume slide area lacks tactile feedback, however; in my use, getting the right touch took a little practice. You can also adjust the headset volume from your phone, if you prefer.

Pushing down on the wide end of the headset activates the single button on the Stone, which you use for making or taking calls and for pairing the unit with a cell phone. Since the Stone's molded earhook is part of the device, the unit is designed to fit only on the right ear. Though the earhook is flexible, it is still somewhat rigid and may not fit tightly onto your ear, as was the case for me. A colleague, in contrast, noted that the earhook stayed put on her ear, and felt quite comfortable. The quarter-ounce headset comes with extra earbuds for a better fit if necessary.

The Stone, which has two microphones, uses Jabra's Noise Blackout Extreme technology to enhance your voice while blocking out other noises. The unit also has the company's Audio Shock Technology, which arrests sudden spikes in volume. In my tests, callers had no problem hearing me even when I was in a noisy household with televisions and radios running in the background.It's hard to fault the Jabra Stone on style--it certainly looks good inside or outside its "stone" base. But this Bluetooth headset will certainly feel and sound better if you can get it to fit well on your ear.

Pros

Power-switch-free design gives quick access

Take-along charging base provides extra talk time

Cons

Fits right ear only

Touch-sensitive volume switch requires practice

Bottom Line

This pocket-friendly headset with a travel-size charging base offers convenience, high-quality audio, and extra hours of talk time when you’re away from an AC outlet.

BMW 320d and 330i launched in India

2010-02-26T21:01:00.000-08:00

BMW has launched the 320d, priced at 23.95 lakhs and the 330i priced 33.40 lakhs (ex-showroom New Delhi).

BMW India has added two new variants to its 3-Series lineup, the 320d Corporate Edition (for individuals) and the 330i petrol.

The BMW 320d Corporate is now the base 3-Series model in India and was previously just available to fleet owners with a minimum order of 3 units. Now the 320d would be available for single buyers as well, with an added features like semi-electric driver seat. The 320d CE misses out on the sunroof, CD changer and wood garnishing but the buyer would be saving about Rs. 10 lakhs as compared to the Highline.

The BMW 330i is now the top-end variant of the 3-Series in India and is priced at Rs. 33.40 lakhs whereas the 320d is priced at Rs. 23.95 lakhs.

The BMW 330i boasts an in-line six-cylinder petrol engine with High Precision Injection featuring a lightweight magnesium / aluminum alloy crankcase. It powers the saloon from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The BMW 330i has a 2996cc six-cylinder engine with the maximum output of 190kW at 6600 RPM and maximum torque of 300Nm at 2500-4000 RPM.

While the BMW 320d’s four-cylinder diesel engine displaces 1995 cc with the maximum output reaching 130kW at 4000 RPM and maximum torque of 350 Nm at 1750-3000 RPM.

The BMW 3 Series will be available in six paint finishes – Alpine White, Sapphire Black, Monaco Blue, Space Grey, Platinum Bronze and Titanium Silver. Individual upholstery designs in Dakota leather will be available in four colours – Beige, Black, Oyster and Saddle Brown for BMW 320d Highline, BMW 320i and BMW 330i. Upholstery design in Sensatec Beige or Black is available on the BMW 320d Corporate Edition.

BMW has been trying hard to keep its slim advantage in the high-end car market in India – at this prices, the 320d is quite capable of tempting potentialVolkswagen Passat, Skoda Laura, and even Honda Accord buyers to take a look at the entry-level BMW sedan. We can certainly expect Mercedes Benz India to try to counter the price war – this is going to be interesting to watch!!!!!!!!!!

Chevrolet Cruze LTZ

2010-02-25T03:53:00.000-08:00

General Motors India launched the automatic transmission variant of the Chevrolet Cruze in Bangalore. The 6-speed automatic transmission would only be available on the top-end LTZ variant of the Cruze.

The Chevrolet Cruze LTZ is already loaded with a host of features like PEPS, Push Button Start, Cruise Control, Smart Screen and Electric Sunroof. The automatic variant will also be available in a special 3 coat paint called White Diamond in addition to the six colors already on offer. The Cruze AT is priced at Rs 13.45 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi).

Considering the price of its competition – the Honda Civic – that really is value for money. Okay, its not a Honda – but you get a bigger, newer, stronger highway brawler automatic at a price that will make all curent Civic owners brood. The Cruze is clearly the top dog in the segment as of now.

The Chevrolet Cruze LTZ AT also has a triptronic gear shifter which can make the drive on the Cruze more sportier as the driver can control the gear changes if he wishes. This new gearbox also has something called as the Clutch-to-clutch shift operation for added precision and smoother shifts between gears, says General Motors. One of the key benefits of this model is that it uses premium fluids in the transmission that does not need replacement during normal use.

The Chevrolet Cruze has already won the following awards

NDTV Car & Bike Viewers Choice Car of the Year
Autocar Bloomberg UTV Best Saloon Car of the Year
ET Zigwheels Midsize Sedan of the year
Car & Bike NDTV Executive Car of the Year
BS Motoring Best Value for Money Car of the Year

Mercedes Benz launches S-Guard armoured cars in India

2010-02-25T03:50:00.000-08:00

Mercedes Benz India on Monday launched its armored limousine S-Guard with a price tag of around Rs 6 crore (ex-showroom) making it the most expensive car to hit the Indian market.

The Merc S- Guard armoured, bullet-proof car is is built on the S600 chassis. The limo is powered by a 12 cylinder 5500 cc petrol engine which churns out 517 hp and 830 Nm of max torque. It touch a maximum speed of 210 km per hour, says Mercedes Benz.

Mercedes-Benz India board member Suhas Kadlaskar said the S- Guard is engineered to provide effective protection against the threats posed by terrorist attacks. ”The armor is designed to resist rifle-launched projectiles from military weapons, which have a velocity almost twice that of bullets fired from a revolver. They also offer resistance to shrapnel from hand grenades and explosive charges,” he added.

The armoured limousine is targeted at corporate and political leaders, government officials and celebrities and incorporates all the luxury features of Mercedes limousines. The S- Guard now surpasses the Maybach in price, also manufactured by Mercedes. The Maybach comes with a price tag of Rs. 5.5 crore.

Incidentally this is the 8th launch from Mercedes India in in the last fe months, and it looks like they want to make their presence felt in a big way here in the Indian market.

Honda CB Twister 110cc motorcycle

2010-02-25T03:43:00.000-08:00

Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India (HMSI) has launched its first 110cc bike in the Indian market, the Honda CB Twister.

The Honda CB Twister motorcycle will be available in three variants, Kick-Drum, Self-Drum, and Self-Alloy.

The three variants will be available at a price of Rs. 51150, Rs. 44870, and Rs. 48000, (ex-showroom Mumbai) respectively, starting end-February 2010. The Honda CB Twister will be available in Delhi at a price starting Rs. 42,000, for the Kick-Drum version.

The Honda CB Twister, based on Honda’s CB 1000RR superbike, easily wins in the quality and style departments. Typical Honda fit finish and quality are easily visible. Infact, in the style department, this bike can very well put many of the 150-180cc bikes to shame.

Colors available on this smart looker are also handpicked, keeping in mind the buyers mostly the 22-35year olds. As the punch line says – Wake Up To A Dream – the Twister sure is a dream to the economy-hungry buyer, who until now had to settle down for a plane jane looking 100-125cc bike.

The Honda CB Twister is a serious competitor to the likes of TVS, Yamahas, Bajaj and their very own Hero-Honda all of who have motorcycles in the 100-110 cc segment. Time will tell us how well Honda plays its cards and gets its numbers right in the mass motorcycle segment. As of now we can surely say that the Twister is an excellent product from Honda and this would change the way other Companies look at the entry level motorcycle segment in India.

Honda CB Twister motorcycle key specifications:

Unique design styling on the lines of the Honda CB 1000R
Tubeless tyres for the rear and the front a first for this segment
An all new 110cc Patented Honda Engine which HMSI claim gives an milage of 70 KMPL
Dry Battery which is maintenance free
Viscous airfilter element
BS-III Norms ready
Short Style muffler
Screenless layered front cowl
Floating side cowl
Half chain cover
Muscular shaped fuel tank
Short tail giving a sporty stance

The bike has an super smooth Honda engine which churns out 9 bhp of power and a class leading pickup compared to any other 110cc bike in India. Available in five bright colors – Pearl night star black, Pearl Fuji blue, Pearl amber yellow, Candy sonic green, Pearly Siena red – the Honda CB Twister is sure one hot looking motorcycle among the current breed.

A new version of the Honda CBF Stunner with a new under cowl and the dry battery and a new tachometer was also unveiled at the event.

BMW limited edition of Gran Turismo

2010-02-25T03:20:00.000-08:00

German luxury carmaker BMW is expanding its business in the Indian market eyeing a double-digit increase in sales this year. The company launched a limited edition of BMW Gran Turismo, priced at Rs 63 lakh.

The limited edition of the Gran Turismo comes with a 3.01 litres diesel engine and only 100 units of the car will be available. It will be brought as a completely built unit (CBU) from the company's plants overseas.

The BMW Gran Turismo is a completely new vehicle concept, adding a unique and distinctive model variant to BMW's product line-up. The BMW Gran Turismo combines the benefits of a prestige sedan, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo (Grand Touring).

A coupe-like, stretched and sleek roofline, proportions typical of BMW, four doors with frameless windows and a two-piece tailgate determine the stylish and elegant body design of the BMW Gran Turismo.
The generous interior offers luxurious comfort, a slightly elevated seating position for comfortable access to the vehicle, clear and superior all-round visibility of road conditions, and truly impressive variability.

Powerful and efficient engines, as well as the eight-speed automatic transmission featured as standard, guarantee a supreme driving experience both dynamic and comfortable all in one.

No other vehicle can support business, leisure and sports activities with such natural ease. BMW is investing 50 million dollars in its Chennai plant to increase its production capacity, which is at present 3,000 units per year.

Volkswagen launches Polo priced at Rs. 4.34 lakh

2010-02-25T03:13:00.000-08:00

Europe's largest car manufacturer Volkswagen has launched its maiden small car Polo. Offered both in petrol and diesel engine options and priced between Rs 4.3 lakh and Rs 6.7 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi), Polo will compete with the likes of Maruti Swift, Ritz, Hyundai i20, Fiat Grande Punto and Skoda Fabia. The petrol variant is equipped with a 1.2 litre engine with an output of 75HP @ 5400 rpm and a Torque of 110NM @ 3750 rpm.

The diesel variant is also equipped with the 1.2 litre engine with an output of 75HP @ 4200 rpm and torque of 180 NM @ 2000 rpm. It will be available in three trim levels including Trendline, Comfortline and Highline and is paired with a 5-speed manual gear box.

The interior is equipped with storage compartment in front doors for 1 litre Bottles, sunglass storage inside glove box, single folding rear seat backrest and the dashboard are proof of the sure instinct of high design quality which interprets the classic elements of the Polo in a contemporary way.

In exteriors too, the new Polo offers body coloured bumpers with green tinted heat absorbing glass, halogen headlights and galvanized Body with 6 years Anti Corrosion Warranty. The Polo highline has large 15" alloy wheels, ensconced in their flared arches; give it a higher and more commanding stance.In safety it is equipped with Advanced occupant safety with Dual airbags, driver and passenger side, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and electronic Anti theft immobilizer. On comfort the car has a number of unique, thoughtful touches. It is equipped with CD MP3 Player changer with 4 speakers, power steering for better drivability, central locking with unique boot opener in company logo, height adjustable driving seats with a steering wheel tilt which improves the drivability of the passenger.

The new Polo will establish a leadership position in its class with category defining attributes of space, style, comfort, safety and fuel efficiency. It will be manufactured at Volkswagen's Chakan plant with an annual capacity of 110,000 cars and will be available through Volkswagen's 40 dealerships across the country.

VW debuts hybrid drive compact coupe

2010-01-24T04:17:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen revealed at the Detroit Motor Show a hybrid drive compact coupe concept positioned between the Scirocco sports car and the CC with a fuel consumption of 4.2 litres per 100 kilometres, emitting 98 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Marking the start of a year in which VW said it would introduce more models than ever before in the company’s history, the New Compact Coupe is fitted with a TSI engine with an output of 110 kW/150 hp combined with a 20 kW/27 hp electric motor and a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG).

The car maker said the New Compact Drive Coupe envisions the front-wheel drive hybrid for the compact class that would be implemented in the near future. Volkswagen’s first hybrid, an all-wheel drive Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), is scheduled for launch during the first half of the year.

Ford Mustang V8 power package

2010-01-24T04:12:00.000-08:00

Despite the trend toward smaller and more fuel efficient cars, Ford has given a nod to performance enthusiasts in presenting at the Detroit Motor Show a Mustang with a 5-litre V8 engine with an output of 418 hp.

The all-new power unit of the 2011 Mustang GT has a four-valve Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It also comes with a modified Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) for quicker steering response and less effort for low-speed parking manoeuvres.

The engine hood emphasized a more muscular form with smaller headlights, a flat roofline and wider wheel arches.

Ford also showcased a Boss 302R Mustang racing version fitted with a modified cooling system, race exhaust, rollover cage, a Brembo braking system with race-ABS and a Koni racing chassis. Ford Racing is planning to build only 50 Boss 302R versions with prices starting at 130,000 dollars.

Audi shows “baby version” of e-tron electric super sports car

2010-01-24T04:07:00.000-08:00

Audi showcased at the Detroit Motor Show a second electric sports car concept bearing the same nameplate as the e-tron that made its debut at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show but with a more compact coupe-like design.

The Detroit show car is a two-seater with two electric motors driving the rear wheels with a combined output of 150 kW/204 hp and 2,650 Nm, accelerating the coupe from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds.

Audi claims that the short wheelbase and weight distribution gives the car the agility of a go-kart, especially on bends and at the handling limit.

Lithium-ion batteries are located behind the passenger compartment and ahead of the rear axle, making an effective energy content of 45 kilowatt-hours available and a range of 250 kilometres. The top speed is electronically limited at 200 km/h.

The distinctly wedge-shaped front end is flanked by two large air intakes. They are closed flush under normal circumstances and opened by retracting slats when additional cooling air is required. The slats above the drive unit then also open to provide a better through-flow of air. The top of the grille merges into the flat strips of the adaptive matrix beam headlight modules with clear glass covers.

LED headlights are at the core of a fully automatic light assistance system that reacts flexibly to any situation. The new technology recognizes weather conditions and adapts the illumination to rain or fog.

Purist design features are also carried forward to the interior with a tidy overall impression. The dashboard has a curve that extends laterally into the door panels.

With no need to allow for a transmission, shifter and cardan tunnel, the designers took advantage of the opportunity to create a particularly slim and lightweight centre tunnel and convex, arching centre console. The flush gear selector, with which the driver chooses between the modes forward, reverse and neutral, emerges from the tunnel when the vehicle is started.

Ford Ikon Plus Price

2010-01-24T03:35:00.000-08:00

Ford Ikon Plus Features:

Available in Both Petrol and Diesel
13 inch Alloys Wheel with anti-theft alloy wheel nuts
Leather vinyl seats
New MP3 player (Compatible with iPod)
Remote keyless entry
Rear spoiler
Chrome exhaust tip

There is no change in Engine but new Ikon Plus now offers more Comfort, Style and Security @ attractive Price.

”The new variant is a follow up to the terrific response witnessed on the Ikon iKool last year. We believe that the new plus pack is further reinforcement to push the limits to give our customers more style, safety and comfort features,” said Nigel Wark, executive director, marketing, sales and service, Ford India.

Ford Ikon Plus Price in India: Rs. 5.17 Lacs for Petrol and 5.77 Lacs Indian Rupee (INR) for Diesel One

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

2010-01-21T03:53:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Genesis Coupe, another sporty member of the Genesis family represents an exemplification of Hyundai's design evolution: a modern sedan with perfect proportions and aspirational appeal.

This model has substance to match its style. With the same flexible rear-wheel drive architecture of the Genesis, the Genesis Coupe is a purposebuilt coupe, featuring two performance-focused engines - a 210 ps 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 303 ps DOHC 3.8 L V6 engine.

Both engines are mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. The Genesis Coupe with 2.0 L 4-cylinder turbo offers an optional five-speed automatic transmission while the 3.8 L V6 offers a six-speed automatic transmission for easy drives. Genesis Coupe employs a McPherson Strut multi-link front suspension and a five-link rear suspension setup.

The exterior of the vehicle features an aggressive silhouette, with sharply distinctive headlamps, and a sporty rear view with dual square-shaped exhaust tips. Genesis Coupe's arching roofline and tapering greenhouse highlight the exterior profile and emphasize the car's broad shoulders and wide stance.

Genesis Coupe rides on standard 18-inch alloy wheels or optional 19-inch wheels, both of which deliver a bold attitude and aggressive handling.

Tata unveils new crossover car 'Aria

2010-01-21T03:48:00.000-08:00

The much-awaited crossover from the Tata Motors stable, called Aria is showcased at the ongoing 10th Auto Expo and is scheduled for launch in the next three months. It's expected to be priced around Rs 12.5- 14.5 lakh in the market.

The Aria crossover has three rows of seating, 3D surround sound, dimming roof lamps, an in-dash GPS, multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone air-conditioning, cruise control and six airbags.

There will be three variants of the Aria and will have both all wheel (4x4) as well as two wheel drive options (4x2). The car will be compete against vehicles like Honda CR-V, Toyota Fortuner and GM Captiva in the market.

Tata Aria is powered by 2.2 litre direct injection common rail (DICOR) diesel engine, delivering 140 PS power and 320 Nm torque.

The Aria, which is Tata's most expensive model, is at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Tata Nano and combines the features of a luxury sedan with those of an SUV.

Nissan introduces 370Z coupe in India

2010-01-21T03:38:00.000-08:00

Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL) as part of its growth strategy to introduce nine models in India by 2012, on Wednesday launched its widely acclaimed and iconic sports car - Nissan 370Z in India. The Nissan 370Z enables the discerning performance car enthusiasts in the country to live fast with its breath-taking performance, cutting edge technology and seductive design and at a very attractive price. The Nissan 370Z 6-speed M/T with Synchro Rev Match is priced at Rs 53.50 lakhs (ex-showroom New Delhi) and Nissan 370Z 7-speed A/T with Manual Shift Mode is priced at Rs. 54.50 lakhs (ex showroom New Delhi).

The character of Nissan 370Z is immediately apparent in the crisp design, which is sportier, simple yet sophisticated. Nissan 370Z, renowned worldwide for its superior performance and design, has been designed to deliver optimum performance in any and every driving situation around the world. A perfect blend of sharp styling and timeless design creates a high-performance car that exemplifies the famous quality of "Z-ness", meaning a rear-wheel drive configuration and an emphasis on user-friendly considerations.The 370Z's dynamic styling offers dual benefits - a more aggressive appearance and a lighter, compact structure for enhanced performance. The design features of 370Z with is signature Z elements - the long nose, canopy cockpit, muscular fenders, vertical door handles is a more wheel-oriented, organic design with a sense of precision and agility.The 370Z features a front aluminum sub frame, aluminum-alloy engine cradle, aluminum door panels, an all-aluminum hood, and an aluminum hatch. Rigidity to the Front body torsion is provided by an extensive body structure which includes a new front suspension cradle to reduce front body lateral bending, rear structural reinforcements, and an underbody "V-bar" to help reduce rear lateral bending. Additional enhancements include the use of a carbon fiber composite radiator housing and strengthening of the rear fender and hatch areas.

The interior design of the 370Z enhances driving pleasure, no matter what the road or traffic conditions offer. Designed as an Everyday Sports Car, every aspect of these interiors addresses the needs of support and enhanced driver performance during spirited driving and offer high levels of comfort and utility for normal commuting and around-town activities.

The 370Z is also equipped with other interior comfort and convenience features that includes Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Start, power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature, power door locks with auto-lock feature, a center console box with a new non-intrusive cover design, automatic climate control, rear window defroster with timer, two 12volt power outlets, four cup holders (two in door panels, two in center console), dual overhead map lights and a AM/FM/CD/AUX 8-speaker BOSE audio system with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls..

Nissan 370Z is powered by a standard 333 PS and 363 Nm Torque, VQ37VHR 3.7 L DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL) The award winning VQ series Nissan engine provides customers with an unprecedented balance of better response, better torque, better fuel efficiency and cleaner emissions. DOHC features makes the engine run cooler and more smoothly, quietly, and efficiently.

n the area of safety technology, Nissan pursues innovation as part of its "Safety Shield" concept, an advanced, proactive approach to safety issues based on the idea that cars should help protect people. The Nissan 370Z's long list of standard safety features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; roof-mounted side-impact air bags; seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, Active Head Restraints, Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System and Vehicle Security System.

Honda CB Twister, CBF Stunner, Unicorn Sports concept, VSR 1200F unveiled

2010-01-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India unveiled six new motorcycles at the Auto Expo 2010, namely, the 102-cc Dio scooter, 110-cc CB Twister, 125-cc CBF Stunner, VSR 1200F, and the 2010 CBR 1000RR Fireblade. It also displayed the Unicorn sports concept motorcycle.
The company has yet to reveal detailed specifications of the Honda CB Twister that was launched in December 2009.

Some features of the Honda CB Twister include a prominent front cowl, front disc brake, chrome-tinted rear view mirrors, alloy wheels, dual-tone seats, and golden handlebars.

The motorcycle is said to offer 9 bhp at 8000 rpm and a maximum torque of 9 Nm at 6000 rpm. Fuel efficiency is pegged at 70 kmpl.

The Honda CB Twister will be available in a basic kick-start with drum brake variant, a self-start with drum brake variant, and a self-start with disc brake variant.

The kick-start CB Twister will be available at a price of Rs 41, 850 (ex-showroom Delhi). The self-start version with drum brake will go on sale at a price of Rs. 44, 850, while the self-start with disc brake variant will be available at Rs. 47, 850. The Honda CB Twister will go on sale in February 2010.

Honda has also put on display the facelifted Honda Dio scooter, Honda CBF Stunner, the new Honda VFR1200S fun bike with dual-clutch technology, and the Honda 2010 CBR 1000RR Fireblade.

Then there is the Honda Unicorn sports concept 150-cc motorcycle that features side body panels, dual-tone style, tank scoops, side body panels, rear disc brake, heat shield, and split grab rail.

HMSI also unveiled an experimental mobility vehicle, the U3X, a one-wheel segway.

The company has said that it plans to launch a couple of new motorcycles in 2010-2011 and aims to sell 15 lakh unit during the year.

Toyota’s new car launches and concepts at Auto Expo 2010

2009-12-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

14 cars in all, for Auto Expo 2010 from Toyota.

Toyota plans a grand pavilion this Auto Expo 2010 at New Delhi. The company announced that they would be bringing a total of 14 production and concept vehicles at the Auto Expo. Whatever Toyota does in India will be of much interest – after all, as said several times before, Toyota Kirloskar has never made a mis-step in India with their cars.

Toyota EFC entry family car, their first small car launch at Auto Expo 2010

This is the most crucial launch for the company. Considering that this Auto Expo is going to be one dominated by small cars, and that the market for the entry level car segment is exploding in India, all eyes would be on the small car launch. What we see will be a prototype – the final product is at least an year away. Would Toyota show something that is close to the production version, and give some hints as to the price of the small car? It is not the Toyota Yaris. The engine is likely to be 1200 cc.

The EFC small car will battle for attention with other small cars such as the one from Hyundai, the Chevrolet Beat and the Ford Figo. This is Toyota’s most ambitious venture in India, and the company is targeting 70,000 units production in the first year. Hatchback and sedan versions of the EFC small car will be displayed by Toyota. The car is also planned for export to the BRIC countries, but India will be the main market. This car would be priced at around Rs 5 lakh, and positioned against the Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai i20.

New Toyota MPV launch at 2010 Auto ExpoThe new MPV might even be an all-new vehicle. The price would definitely below than that of the Innova, targeting the Mahindra Xylo market. There is precious little information available about the new launch though. Guess we will have to wait for the Auto Expo to begin. Other interesting MPV launches planned for the 2010 Expo are the Nissan NV200 and the new Suzuki Eco. Whether all these would be positioned directly against each other or target different markets is not clear. The Suzuki Eco will possibly be a bit cheaper, as it is a replacement for the Maruti Versa – while the guess is that the Nissan NV200, considering that it is an award winning van, might be priced higher. Then there is the new MPV the Tata Indicruz / Xover, which will also be launched at the Auto Expo. 2010 is going to be interesting for the large people-carrier segment for sure.

Toyota Prius launch

If there is a hybrid car which car buyers in India already have heard about, it is the Toyota Prius. The Prius has been the top hybrid car in the United States for years, and even the recent launch of the Honda Insight hybrid failed to dethrone it. The Prius will now be launched in India as a technology flagship model. The car will be launched in the Indian market at Auto Expo 2010, and will come to India as a CBU. That means a price in excess of Rs 25 lakhs in all likelihood. This is the only hybrid car planned for a launch in 2010 in India.

Other Toyota production and concept cars at Auto Expo 2010

This is where things are a bit hazy. Toyota can bring a bunch of concept vehicles to the 2010 Auto Expo – but what would they be? I think we can expect some electrics, hybrids and some semi-supercars.

Production cars from Toyota that will make an appearance in the Auto Expo will include the Camry, the super popular Toyota Fortuner SUV and the Innova (maybe face-lifted). Other vehicles will be the Prado, the new land Cruiser and the Corolla Altis.

Among Toyota concept cars at the 2010 Auto Expo, expect to see some of these interesting cars: the Toyota iQ, the Yaris and some fuel cell or electric cars.

Tata Indicruz launch at Auto Expo 2010

2009-12-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

The company would be launching the Tata Indicruz MPV in India at the upcoming Auto Expo 2010.

Tata Indicruz will compete against the Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva and Volvo XC90. Just wait a minute, dudes. Really?

All this while, the impresson that the Indicruz will compete against the Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo and the likes.

The Tata Indicruz will come with airbags, ABS, automatic climate control and cruise control. All this, at a price of just 20 per cent above that of the recently launched Tata Sumo Grande Mark II.

Something is really off here. You do not talk about competing against the Volvo XC90 and the CR-V and then price the vehicle below Rs 10 lakhs. Again, the XC90 is a regular SUV, the CR-V is a cool crossover, and the Captiva is an SUV.

The current version of the INdicruz that is nearing seems to be a bit more rounded, more Innova-like, than the original concept. Sad, take a look at the photo below – there is something very attractive about squarish lines, especially from the back. In the photo of the front, though, it looks too much like a Manza for our liking. The flanks and rear of the Indicruz, still sort of maintain those lines.

Sumo Grande MK II, Price cut

2009-12-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

The Grande Mark II is Tata Motors’ attempt at grabbing a substantial share of the MPV market which has it has lost since to competitors such as the Mahindra Xylo and the Toyota Innova, and before them, the Qualis.

Still not sure exactly which market Tata is targeting with the Sumo Grande Mark II. They have made major improvements in the NVH levels, drivability and handling, suspension, interiors and looks have been freshened up too. Plus, there is a reduction in prices to tempt the fence-sitters. But the problem is, who exactly is on the fence?

The taxi market which the original Tata Sumo once ruled has long gone to the Toyota Innova and the Xylo. Interestingly, both have been very popular both with families as well as the taxi market. And the original Sumo Grande lost out in both the segments. Which of them would come back to the new iteration of the Sumo Grande in its Mark II avatar remains to be seen.

As far as changes go, on the outside, there are not many – but much has been changed for the better. There is no ABS on any of the variants. You get front discs and rear drums. There is a new strip running on the doors which serve to reduce the slab-sided look. Revised gear ratios mean better driveability both in the city and at speed. Suspension has been tweaked for better handling, and overall comfort levels have gone up too.

The diesel engine is a 2.2 L direct injection common rail (DICOR) engine, fitted with a variable geometry turbocharger and engineered with 16 valve double overhead camshaft, producing a very satisfactory 120 bhp at 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1500-3000 rpm. Nothing to complain about the specs there – pretty much adequate for a vehicle in this class.

The top end Sumo Grande MK II GX gets ORVM (outside rear view mirrors) with electrical adjustments and indicators, Alpine ACM MP3 player, keyless entry and multi stage height adjustable driver’s seat. The rear seats in the GX can be folded flat as well as removed.

There is seating for either 7 or 9 passengers, with both front facing and side facing seating options available for the third row.

Rear wash and wiper, engine immobiliser, intelligent rotary door lock mechanism which avoid automatic door locking when car is stationary, clear lens front fog lamps.

Tata Sumo Grande MKII specifications

ENGINE
2.2 L 16 Valve DOHC DiCOR

Capacity (cc)
2179

Max. Output (PS) at rpm
120 @ 4000

Max. Torque (Nm) at rpm
250 @ 1500-3000

GEARBOX
5 Speed, G-76-,4.1 – Synchromesh with Overdrive

SUSPENSION
Front: Independent, Wishbone with Coil Springs. Rear: Parabolic Leaf Springs.

STEERING
Power Steering, Tiltable & Collapsible

BRAKES
Vacuum Assisted Independent Hydraulic.
Front : Ventilated Disc brake with Twin Pot caliper.
Rear: Drum brake, Auto Adjusting Type

TYRES 235/70 R 16

DIMENSIONS (mm)
Length / Width / Height (mm)
4421 / 1780 / 1940

Ground Clearance 180

TURNING RADIUS (m) 5.25

Gross Vehicle Weight (Kgs) 2625

FUEL TANK CAPACITY (Ltrs.) 65

Price

The Sumo Grande MK II comes in 3 versions / trim levels. The top end GX Grande MK II is priced lowest in Thane district in Maharashtra at Rs 7.3 lakh ex-showroom, Rs 7.5 lakh in Delhi and Rs 7.66 lakh ex-showroom in Mumbai.

The EX is priced Rs 6.83 lakh Delhi, Rs 6.64 Thane and Rs 6.97 lakh Mumbai.

The low end LX Grande Mark II is priced 6.25 lakh ex-showroom Thane, Rs 6.43 lakh in Delhi and Rs 6.56 lakh ex-showroom in Mumbai.

Nissan 370Z launch in India in Jan 2010

2009-12-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

Most of us are stuck with cars that cost around Rs 5 lakhs, a few of us can buy a Rs 10 lakh car, an extremely small number can go to Rs 20 lakh. The Nissan 370Z costs Rs 14,36,640 in the US – imported to India as a CBU, the normal import duties apply. Not sure exactly how much it is, but it is around 100 %. That would mean a price of Rs 30 lakh or so in India. On the road price would be even higher. Nissan already brings two cars into India through the CBU route – the Nissan Teana and the X-Trail. That price mentioned above is still cheaper than some of the other comparable import cars in India.

Anyway, none of that means that the 370Z is not an amazing car. It is the successor to the iconic 350Z and is called the Fairlady Z in Japan. The 3700 cc engine of the 370Z produces 332 bhp, and a maximum torque of 374 Nm at 5200 rpm. The car is available in both roadster and coupe versions. You get a 7 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters or a 6-speed manual transmission. Top speed is limited by drag to 160 mph, or 257 kmph. Does anyone remember the maximum speed on our roads? Just asking…Nissan has announced that they would be launching the 370Z next month – that is January 2010, the month of the Auto Expo. Expect to see the 370Z near the upcoming Nissan Micra compact car for India which would be the most important car launch from the company.

Nissan 370Z specifications

DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 226 cu in, 3696cc
Power (mfr’s claim): 330 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque (mfr’s claim): 270 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm

6-speed manual, 7-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

Wheelbase: 100.4 in

Length: 167.1 in

Width: 72.6 in

Height: 51.8 in

Zero to 60 mph: 5.0 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 13.0 sec
Top speed : 160 mph (257 kmph)

Fastest & most expensive car Bugatti set for India drive in 2010

2009-12-14T06:25:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen AG will drive in the fastest and most expensive car in India with the launch of legendary French car brand Bugatti next year.

Bugatti Veyron, which can hit a top speed of more than 400 km per hour for the sports and coupe models, will cost anywhere between Rs 5 crore and Rs 12 crore when it hits the Indian roads by the mid-2010.

Volkswagen, which has become the world’s largest carmaker with its takeover of Porsche, will import Bugatti cars.

The German carmaker, which has a dozen brands in its portfolio including Scania and Man, is keen on bringing its high-end products such as the Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini into India. The company is looking at ways of using its existing networks and systems to support these brands.
Currently, brands like Porsche and Bentley are imported by independent dealers.

Its not viable for global carmakers to import completely built vehicles of high-end cars because of the high cost involved in homologation and the small number of sales. Homologation, or checking its roadworthiness and adapting to local conditions, is mandatory for every model that comes into the country as a completely built unit (CBU) and it’s a time consuming and expensive process.

But given Indian consumers growing liking to luxury products and the country’s high growth rate, many marquee carmakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Volkwagen (Beetle and Touareg) are importing vehicles.

India, the world’s second fastest growing car market, is expected to see premium car sales touch the 10,000 mark in 2010.

Volkswagen has of late become very aggressive in the Indian market by driving in a number of its models including the Beetle and the soon-to-be-launched Polo hatchback, backed by a high-decibel advertisement campaign across all media.

The German carmaker has also bought close to 20% stake in Suzuki Motors and is expected to work together with the Japanese parent of India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki on low-cost small cars for Indian and global markets. The original Bugatti company was set up exactly 100 years ago by Italian Ettore Bugatti in the town Molsheim, then part of the German Empire and a region of France since 1919, and started rolling out high-performance cars known for their engineering as well as artistry. Molsheim became the birthplace of some of the most exclusive and fastest cars in the world.

But the brand was hit when the World War II started. In 1963, Bugattis sold the company to Hispano-Suiza that was primarily interested in Bugatti’s airplane parts business.

In 1982, Romano Artioli, a finance broker and auto dealer, brought Bugatti trademarks rights and set up Bugatti Automobili SpA. But after rolling out only one model -- EB 110 in 1991 on the 100th birthday of Ettore Bugatti – the company filed for bankruptcy in 1995.

Volkswagen bought the brand name in 1998 and founded Bugatti Automobile SAS in the very next year. Over the last decade, it has rolled out a number of models including Bugatti EB 118, EB 218 and Bugatti 18.3 Chiron. In 2004, it launched two-door super sports car Veyron 16.4, named after French racing driver Pierre Veyron who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Bugatti Type 57 in 1939. The Veyron debuted in China and Russia in 2007.

The carmaker recently unveiled the Bugatti Galibier 16C concept, which will be launched globally by 2013. The Galibier, touted as the most powerful four-door automobile in the world will be far more expensive that the Veyron at around $3.5 million.

Volkswagen-Suzuki small car for India to replace Maruti Alto, to be priced Rs 2.5 lakh

2009-12-14T05:20:00.000-08:00

Maruti Suzuki would replace its Alto small car with – a new small car, priced at Rs 2.5 lakh (5200 $) jointly built by both Volkswagen and Suzuki. A new small car from VW and Suzuki would be built to replace the Alto.

The news comes immediately after the announcement of Volkswagen picking up a 19.9 per cent stake in Suzuki.

The new small car from Volkswagen and Suzuki would also be sold in the global market – especially Europe – and it would be cheaper that the cheapest car from Volkswagen so far, the VW Up! Meanwhile, the Up! is also considered for an India launch.

The interesting thing to note is that this new small car is not going to be competing against the Tata Nano, India’s cheapest small car, from Tata Motors.

Neither Maruti Suzuki, nor Volkswagen has said anything about when the new small would be launched. All we have for now is the expected price. Our guess is that a 2011 launch is most likely for this car.

Both the companies are expected to work jointly on small cars and electric cars. Half the amount Suzuki has received from Volkswagen would be invested back by Suzuki into Volkswagen shares – that is a clear declaration of intent to work together.

Volkswagen is currently the top car manufacturer in Europe, and a strong entry into the small car market in Asia would help it dethrone Toyota as the world’s largest auto manufacturer.

The European car major is close to introducing its small car Volkswagen Polo in India, possibly unveiling it at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo at New Delhi, starting on January 5 next year. Commercial production of the Polo has already started at Chakan plant in Pune. Pre-series production of the VW Polo started in April 2009. The 2010 Auto Expo is likely to see both hatchback and sedan versions of the car, with a 1.2 liter petrol version a definite possibility. The company has not said anything about the price of the Polo in India, but rumours are that the price would be a shocker.

Now that Volkswagen and Suzuki have announced their intention to launch a small car in India, it looks like the Indian automobile market is going to boom in 2010 and 2011, with a number of small cars being announced by pretty much every automobile manufacturer to capitalise on the second fastest growing car market in the world.

Chevrolet Cruze Automatic launch after Auto Expo 2010?

2009-12-14T05:10:00.000-08:00

This news, if it is true, is really exciting for Chevrolet Cruze fans in India. The car is going to be available soon with an automatic transmission.

An automatic was what was missing when the Chevrolet Cruze was launched to much fanfare recently. Not many cared that there was no petrol version, but an automatic – that was missed. A large percentage of cars priced above Rs 10 lakhs in India are sold in automatic versions, and among luxury cars, the ratio of automatic to manual is even higher. So, time to welcome the Chevy Cruze Automatic at the Auto Expo 2010?

Not so fast. According to the thread in AutoCarIndia Forums, the launch will happen only after the Auto Expo 2010 is over. That means the third week of January 2010. This apparently is because General Motors does not want the focus to move away from their star of the show, the upcoming Chevrolet Beat small car. Does the launch of an automatic priced above Rs 11 lakh take away much from the attention sure to come to a small car from GM? I don’t know.

Anyway, as far as price of the automatic version of the Chevrolet Cruze goes, there is no official information but guess is that it would be priced some Rs 1 lakh above the manual variant. That is pretty much par for the course as far as prices of automatic vs manual cars go. The manual versions of the Cruze are priced Rs 11 lac to 12.5 lakhs in India.

Don’t expect any changes lookswise – the Chevrolet Cruze is is quite a handsome car as it is, and there would be an AT moniker or something similar added to the name on the car.

Tata Sumo Grande MKII launch

2009-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Tata Motors will launch the the Sumo Grande MKII in India . Much information about the MKII is already available; don't know if bookings would open immediately or Tata would wait for the Auto Expo 2010 to be over before it starts actively marketing the Grande MKII.

Most of the improvements in the Sumo Grande MKII would be under the skin – the overall shape is unchanged. Suspension is improved resulting in better handling and driveability. Noise levels and vibrations are much lesser. The leaf springs at the rear stay, but they work better now. There is no ABS in the Grande MKII yet. Steering wheel is different now, interior colours are better and there is a bit of black to balance the beige, gear lever is better now, there is a new MKII logo, and there are indicators on the outside rear view mirror, at least on the top model. Thanks to slightly modified transmission ratios, the Sumo Grande MKII feels much smoother too.

Price is not known yet; Tata to announce the new prices at the unveiling . Considering the stiff competition – the Innova, Xylo, upcoming Nissan NV200, Toyota’s new MPV, even the Maruti Suzuki Eco and Tata’s own Indicruz / Xover – pricing of the Sumo Grande MKII would be critical.

It was at the 2008 Auto Expo that we came across the Sumo Grande; it looked much bigger than the earlier Sumo / Spacio it was expected to replace. And at first look, considering Tata’s success with the Sumo till the Toyota Innova came long, people thought the Grande would be a winner. But that did not happen – sales were sluggish, while later entrant Xylo, new variants of Innova and Mahindra Scorpios all continued to sell well.

Automobile enthusiasts were quick to blame the looks of the Sumo Grande, but this hardly matters to the market – after all, the Xylo is not exactly a catwalk queen either.

Overall build quality, interior plastics and market positioning seem to be the reasons for the sluggish sales of the Sumo Grande in hindsight. Most of that, apart from targeting the appropriate market, could be solved by the new Sumo Grande Mark Two.

Positioning of the Tata Sumo Grande MKII, however, is still going to be a bit of a problem. The first ever Sumo was brilliant value for money and it became the taxi market’s favourite till the Qualis came along to displace it. Then the Innova did it again. If Tata wants to target the taxi market, low maintenance and overall brilliant value is what works – not nice interiors or good looks or new colours. If they want to target the family market, they have to make it reasonably sophisticated compared to the Xylo or Innova. And the name Sumo which is thoroughly identified with the taxi market – they would probably have to get rid of that too. But that is not happening with the Sumo Grande MKII.

Is Tata Motors trying to sell the Indicruz as the MPV for families – stylish and sophisticated – and reposition the Grande MKII as a vehicle for the taxi market and rural families? Possibly. Let us till the official launch is over to get a bit more info.

Hyundai Santa Fe or ix35 at 2010 Auto Expo

2009-12-14T04:54:00.000-08:00

Chances are, both would be displayed at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo, and only one would be launched here. Hyundai’s experience with its Tucson in India was not very encouraging. The design of the Hyundai ix35 is much more dynamic that the quite bland-looking Santa Fe – but no one in India buys vehicles purely on looks, and Hyundai would know what would be a better fit for the Indian market.

Hyundai had displayed the Santa Fe at the last Auto Expo and had plans to launch it in 2009, but later decided not to launch the SUV / crossover due to the slump in the automobile market. The Hyundai Santa Fe was planned as a CBU, and that would mean high prices. It was not going to be successful in the market. On the other hand, we know that a locally manufactured SUV such as the Toyota Fortuner was immensely popular, hitting the sales of Honda CR-V and Ford Endeavour instantly.
Our belief is that if the Santa Fe comes to India as a CBU, then the company is bound to repeat the failure of the Tucson.

We would probably get to see the Hyundai Santa Fe at Auto Expo, alongside the new ix35 as well as the new Sonata / i30 and Genesis sedan which are being reasonably well received in international markets.

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS launched, price Rs 51k

2009-12-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

After a couple of months of rumours and leaked spyshots, Bajaj Auto has launched a new motorcycle – the Bajaj Pulsar 135LS. Available at a price of Rs 51,000 ex-showroom Delhi, Bjaj hopes that the new motorcycle will help it take the battle to the mass segment of the two wheeler market in India.

Bajaj Pulsar models so far started at Rs 60,000 – the 135 cc LS is positioned well below that price.

A low-end Pulsar is not exactly to the taste of Pulsar enthusiasts, however. From the very first Bajaj Pulsar 150 and 180 motorcycles, Bajaj has positioned the motorcycle as a high performance bike. That continued through the 200 and 220 cc Pulsar introductions. The fact that the name is now going to adorn the flanks of a 135cc motorcycle.

The 135 cc engine of the Bajaja Pulsar 135LS produces (LS stands for Light Sport) produces a very acceptable 13.5 PS at 9000 rpm and has looks that clearly put it in the Pulsar family. Weighing only 122 kilos, it offers DTS-i tech in the four-valve engine and a very high top-end RPM limit of 10,500! A 240mm dic brake at the front and drum brake at the rear should provide adequate stopping power for the LS 135. The Pulsar 135LS is the first Indian motorcycle engine that offers four valves. Torque is 11.4 Nm @ 7500 rpm.

Instrument cluster consists of a digital speedometer with a fuel guage and a tachometer. Clip on handlebars provide a sporty grip. The headlamp is a 35/35W unit, with two pilot lamps. As far as style goes, the bike does well in its category with LED tail lamps, split grab rail, split seat and a bikini fairing. The Pulsar family look is very much there as you can see from the photos.

The bike offers both kickstart and electric start. A 1325 mm wheelbasse should keep the Bajaj Pulsar 135LS firmly on the road.

Front suspension is of telescopic front forks with anti-friction brushes, and the rear suspension consists of trailing arm with co-axial gas-filled adjustable shockers.

Tyres

Front tube-type unidirectional, 2.75 x 17″
Rear tube-type unidirectional, 100 / 90 x 17″

Fuel tank has a capacity of 8 liters, with reserve coming to another 1.5 liters.

Pulsar 135LS Mileage / fuel efficiency

The Pulsar LS135 offers an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 68.1 kmpl.

The Pulsar 135 LS is currently available in two colours – wine red and midnight black.

Bajaj’s other bike models in India currently include the Discover line, the Platina, Boxer and XCD series.

Toyota to unveil new compact car concept next month

2009-12-09T23:01:00.000-08:00

Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it would unveil a concept model of the long-awaited compact car code-named EFC (Entry Family Car), in India next month.

The car, under development for production and sale in India and Brazil for starters, will debut at the Delhi auto show on Jan. 5, the world's biggest automaker said in a statement.

Toyota has said it plans to begin production of the car, expected to cost well under $10,000, at a new Indian factory from late 2010. Production in Brazil is due to start in 2011 at the earliest.

Cheaper insurance for young drivers who don’t get behind car window wipers at night

2009-12-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

Young motorists can get cheaper car insurance if they do not get behind their car windscreen wiper blades and drive at night.

Car insurance company Young Marmalade has launched the new scheme, which aims to cut down the number of insurance claims made by young people.

Vehicles of Young Marmalade customers are fitted with GPS devices so that their car use can be monitored and an automatic charge of £45 is imposed if they use their cars between 23:00 and 05:00 GMT.

Young Marmalade co-founder Nick Moger explained that premiums are a lot cheaper if cars are not driven by young motorists in these high risk hours.

Nigel Humphreys, spokesperson for the Association of British Drivers, said: "If it reduces the number of claims it will help insurance premiums for other drivers."

He added, however, that if the scheme did not work then it would "push up the cost of normal insurance for young drivers".

Volkswagen Diesel Hybrid Gets 70 MPG

2009-12-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

A new diesel/electric hybrid city car capable of carrying four people but travelling 115 miles on a single gallon of fuel is the star of Volkswagen's stand at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The concept car, called Up! Lite, is constructed from lightweight materials including aluminium and carbon-fibre, making it nearly 30 per cent lighter than the firm's Fox city car.

With a drag coefficient of only 0.237, the Up! Lite emits just 65g/km of CO2 thanks in part due to aerodynamically efficient measures such as a radiator grille that shuts off completely for extra streamlining when it's not needed. Tiny cameras replace conventional door mirrors, which create a lot of drag.

The Up! Lite is powered by an 800cc, twin-cylinder common-rail diesel engine producing 50bhp at 4,000rpm and 88lb ft of torque between 1,800 and 2,250rpm.

It is also fitted with a 14bhp electric motor, which gives a "useful boost when overtaking", in the manner of Honda's existing Integrated Motor Assist hybrids, says VW. Alternatively, the electric motor can be disengaged entirely from the diesel engine for low-speed manoeuvring. Gearchanging is via a seven-speed, twin-clutch DSG automatic gearbox.

The concept car is claimed to accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.5 seconds and has a top speed of 100mph.

VW says that the Up! Lite debuts a new styling direction for the firm, with fresh rear end and window lines. At 3,840mm, the concept is slightly shorter than a Polo.

For large loads, the rear seats as well as the front passenger seat can all be folded flat into the floor.

Toyota Cars to Get Expensive From January 2010

2009-12-05T04:03:00.000-08:00

Toyota Kirloskar Motors has announced that prices of its popular models like Innova, Fortuner, Corolla Altis will be hiked by at least 1.5-2 percent. New prices will be effective from January 01, 2010. “So far, we have absorbed the increase in total costs – owing to the unfavorable exchange rate and increasing input costs – however, now we are compelled to pass on, a part of it, to the customer. We will continue to provide value for money and quality products to our customers, in line with our philosophy of “Customer First,”' said Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director, Marketing, TKM.

Apart from price hike, Toyota also plans to unveil its new concept model of its compact car for the Indian market. Toyota intends to unveil both the hatchback and sedan model of its concept car at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo in January. "It's a concept vehicle coming from Japan. Production will start by December of 2010. First year production plan is 70,000," said Singh. It will also be showcasing the new hybrid model Prius which will not be a volume product. TKM has not revealed technical or price details of India bound Prius hybrid model.

Maruti Suzuki giving shape to small car

2009-12-05T03:50:00.000-08:00

Maruti’s eighth hatchback, slated for the Auto Expo in January 2010, is getting final touches. The new small car will roll on for a display for the feedback from the customers said its MD. The car, developed in the existing platform, is likely to consolidate its platforms- from 8 to three , Wagon R, Alto and Estilo, in the coming years. In addition there are two small car projects- YR9 and YE3, under perusal by the company.

YR9 may be the next generation Wagon R to be ready by next year while YE3 will be a new model in place of the outgoing M800(due to the emission norms). M800, on the roads since 1982, will be withdrawn in 11 cities from April in compliance with the Bharat II norms. Though the upgrading of M800 is possible, it will be too expensive and time consuming, said the engineers in Maruti. Both YR9 and YE3 will be fitted with new mileage prone KB series engine.

The 8th hatchback will add Maruti’s stint in retaining 50% share in the market. Hyundai has got only three versons along with i20. Maruti will gradually withdraw some of its cars from its platforms and such cars will be those who do not comply with the emission norms. New models will be replacement for them with fresh design and performance. With Wagon R, Estilo, Alto, Swift, Dzire, A-Star, Ritz, SX4 , M800, Omni and Gypsy, Maruti consolidated its net sale of 429291 small cars during April- November against 356320 units last year (an increase by 20.5%). Maruti has a chunk of 65% small cars in its category.

Volkswagen Beetle launched in India; costs Rs 21 lakh

2009-12-05T03:41:00.000-08:00

Beetle is a very popular car. It has finally been launched in India. It will give competition to the Fiat 500, which has received with quite a good response with the consumers now. We were expecting the Beetle to be priced anywhere between Rs 15-20 lakh. It is priced at Rs 21 lakh for Delhi. However, it would costlier in Mumbai.

The company Volkswagen has also surprised with another launch which is of the Touareg SUV. It will cost about Rs 52 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. Hence, there are two big launches coming in from Volkswagen. They are betting big as far as the numbers are concerned.

While the company is tight-lipped, they are hoping to do about 500 units a year. This is quite an ambitious target as far as Beetle sales are concerned. Right now, it has manufactured only in Mexico from all over the world. The company says that if they touch about 2,000 units a year, they will look at a possibility of assembling it here in India.
Volkswagen Touareg SUV
Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle

Audi A3 TDI is 'Green Car' of the year

2009-12-05T03:26:00.000-08:00

Green and performance luxury needn't be mutually exclusive concepts. That's a core belief at Audi. Today, that philosophy paid off with the all-new A3 TDI earning the prestigious title of 2010 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto show.

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI arrived at U.S. dealerships last month and initial sales have been promising. The A3 TDI is the latest example of the fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions benefits provided by the critically acclaimed TDI clean diesel product line, following the wildly popular Q7 TDI, which launched in June 2009The revolutionary TDI 2.0 engine available in the A3 delivers 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, yet achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy that is the best of any luxury car sold in America. That means the Audi A3 TDI achieve 50 per cent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.

TDI clean diesel technology was first developed by Audi 20 years ago and has come to signify the brand's commitment to trailblazing automotive performance executed in an environmentally responsible way. In addition to setting the new industry standard in fuel efficiency, the 2010 A3 TDI remains a stylistic pacesetter as well.Toyota Motor Corp's market-leading hybrid was widely seen as the front-runner for the prize by virtue of its huge commercial success and its status as the most fuel-efficient mass-market sedan on the road. But Ron Cogan, editor of Green Car, said jurors were impressed that the Audi A3 with TDI, which stands for turbo diesel direct injection, achieved "50 percent better fuel efficiency than the gasoline-engine (A3 model) without sacrificing anything." "The Audi A3 TDI really defines what a 'green' car should be," added Cogan.

Toyota EFC small car sedan and hatchback concepts at Auto Expo 2010

2009-12-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

It is now confirmed that the much-anticipated Toyota small car for India would make an appearance – at least as a concept – at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010.

The company said that hatchback and sedan versions of the small car would be showcased at the Auto Expo. It is interesting that the company is working on both together – although it is no guarantee that by the time the small car is ready for production, the sedan would still remain. Much will depend on the reaction of car buyers when it is displayed.

At this point, the small car is variously referred to as the “Entry Family Car,” “Emerging Family Car” or EFC.

The course of 2009 is a clear indication that all car companies have now fully accepted that the small car market in India is where the volumes and big money is. Maruti Suzuki still rules the Indian small car segment, but things are not going to be very easy for them, say, in 2011 or 2012.

Other companies which are planning small car launches in India sometime during 2010 are Fiat, Ford with its Figo, Hyundai with a small car… and Honda. Remember that Honda and Toyota are two companies that never made a mis-step in India. The sales of the Honda Jazz are low, but it was expected anyway.

Apart from the small car concept, Toyota would also display its upcoming Prius hybrid for India at the Auto Expo. Another product expected is a low-end MPV, positioned below the Toyota Innova, which will compete against the Xylo and the Chevrolet Tavera.

The so-called EFC small car will be manufactured in India, but is likely to be exported to Brazil and China, and possibly to even more cost-sentitive markets across the world. Vietnam and Indonesia are also likely candidates along with more Latin American countries. The EFC will be the cheapest car from Toyota anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, Dentsu Communications has been given the advertising contract for the Toyota small car as well as the Toyota Prius.

Nissan NV 200 launch in 2010 likely

2009-12-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

The Nissan NV200, when it comes to India, will be positioned as an MPV even though it is a bit smaller than the current market leader Toyota Innova. In that case, it will be competing squarely against the Suzuki APV which is also being planned for 2010. Another competitor would be the new low-end people carrier from Toyota (This is rumoured to be the Toyota Avanza. Maybe, maybe not.)

the Nissan NV200 will be powered by a version of the Renault Logan’s 1500 cc diesel engine. The re-tuned version of the engine would produce 85 hp, transmitted through a 5-speed gearbox. Torque is 200 Nm. The Nissan NV200 is 4.4m long, 1.86m, tall and 1.69m wide. Nissan claims that the NV200 is quite aerodynamic too to aid in fuel efficiency, but we cannot find any figures. Gear lever is fixed in the center console to free up space. ABS, Brake assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) are standard in Europe, and it is possible that in India, it is at least available as an option.Will Nissan try to place a value for money game against its competitors? Or would it try to position it as a sophisticated people-carrier? Considering that the van version of the NV200 was recently awarded International Van of the Year 2010, I don’t think it would be possible to price it extremely cheap in India. But pricing it higher than the market leader is not going to work either. A price slightly above that of the Suzuki APV from Maruti.

The Nissan NV200 will be produced in India though the company’s joint venture with Ashok Leyland.

Other features of the NV200 include power steering, rear leaf springs (in the Indian version) and massive cabin space, thanks to its height. The Nissan van is actually taller than an Innova. The seven seater version is what we can expect in India.

Vespa scooters in India soon

2009-12-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

The news that LML (Lohia Motors Ltd.) was planning a relaunch of the Vespa scooter in India has been doing the rounds for a while.

Piaggio sort of could not handle the competition though. Kinetic went from strength to strength, and so did the new entrants. Even Honda entered the scooter market in India.

LML will now bring some Piaggio models to India, possibly in 2010. Exactly which models, no one is sure.

Vespa now has several models in Europe starting from 50 cc and going up to the 278 cc Vespa GTS Super. Unlike most other scooter manufacturers, Vespa has managed to stick to classic / retro designs for their range. This makes them very popular in the European market which appreciates those kind of lines and shapes.

Will it work in India? Generally India has not seen enough modern vehicles for us to appreciate classic designs. However, the new Vespa models are very well put together, have great finish – and if LML can replicate that manufacturing quality and offer some fuel efficient engines, there is no reason why Vespa’s relaunch in India should not be a success.

Price and fuel efficiency can make or break a scooter in India and that is what LML will have to ensure it gets right when it finally launches Vespa models here.

Tata Motors plans hybrid Nano

2009-12-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

Tata Motors is planning to make hybrid versions of its small car, Nano.Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, told the daily Maeil Business Newspaper, published in Seoul, South Korea, in an interview that India would respond to low-priced goods in a better manner than it does to high-end products that would spread across the world slowly.

The Nano car, made by Tata Motors, the biggest vehicle-maker in India, has been described as the cheapest car in the world.

Ratan Tata did not disclose how much the hybrid versions of Nano would cost or when they will be launched.

Typically, a hybrid vehicle uses two or more different sources of power – usually petrol or diesel, and battery.

The basic model of the first Nano car, which was released to the Indian market in July 2009, was priced at Rs 100,000 ($2,155; £1,306).

Ratan Tata, 71, told Maeil Business Newspaper that Tata Motors was planning exporting Ace, its light truck, to South Korea.

The company also will look at chances of assembling or manufacturing the Ace truck in its plant in South Korea.

Ratan Tata said that he has, for growth in new areas of its business, opted for bioengineering and biotechnology.

Tata added that he is exploring chances of entering the field of nutrient-enriched foods.

He told the South Korea newspaper that the Tata Group is interested in starting ventures in Vietnam, and also “evaluating the US market,” where the group has not yet made considerable investments.

The Tata Group also is also examining the possibility of investing in businesses such as software, hotel, automobiles and biofuel in South American countries like Argentina and Brazil.

Suzuki APV launch in India soon

2009-11-30T01:48:00.000-08:00

As we near the Auto Expo 2010, more information about upcoming vehicles for India is coming in. The latest is the so-called Suzuki APV, which will be a replacement for the now-discontinued Maruti Suzuki Versa in India.

A lot of us remember the Maruti Versa only when we see it as a taxi, like in Delhi with Easycabs or Megacabs. The vehicle was always a good people carrier with two major deficiences – it did not have a diesel engine, and people carriers need to have a diesel engine in India. Secondly, while it was a MPV for all practical purposes and offered all the space you needed, it still had small wheels which meant not as much comfort for passengers as a full-fledged MPV like the Toyota Innova, or more recently, the Mahindra Xylo. There is a chance that it will be the new MPV from Toyota (maybe the Avanza) which will be a direct competitor than any other vehicle.

The expected launch date for the Suzuki APV is March 2010, but you will quite likely see it unveiled at the 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010.The Suzuki APV is already being sold in several countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines and Australia, and the global Suzuki website lists the vehicle too. We can see two engine options being offered abroad – 1500 cc and a 1600 cc petrols. In India, the market for a petrol Suzuki APV would be small – we will probably see the tried and tested Fiat Multijet engine plonked into the Versa too. The Suzuki APV being sold in Pakistan is the 1500 cc version, with 5 gears – there does not seem to be an overdrive gear, though.

Top 10 SUVs in India

2009-11-30T01:22:00.000-08:00

Audi Q7

A new breed of SUV, the Audi Q7 continues to set new standards in the segment. It cleverly combines sportiness and versatility, urbane technology and the luxury of a premium-class vehicle. Enhancements for 2008 will make an already gorgeous SUV even more popular. The Q7 brings the new design language of the Audi brand to the premium SUV segment. The Audi Q7 is available with a 4.2-liter V8 FSI engine or 3.6-liter V6 FSI engine. Both power plants work with performance-enhancing, efficient, direct-injection technologies. Prices range from Rs. 52,00,000 to Rs. 73,01,771.

Chevrolet Captiva

GM forayed into the SUV segment with the Chevrolet Captiva, a sturdy and elegant monster with bold look. The Captiva truly captivates your eyes with its elegant exterior and a roomy interior with a commanding driving position. Powered by 2.0-litre inline-4 turbocharged diesel engine with VCDi fuel injection technology, the car can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.7 seconds. The Chevrolet Captiva LT costs Rs 1,746,241.00 and LTZ, Rs 1,917,563.00.

Toyota Fortuner

The internationally acclaimed Fortuner, which offers an unequalled mixture of power and luxury supported by cutting-edge technology, has been introduced in India recently. Available with 5 speed manual transmission, the Fortuner not only offers unshakeable durability with high ground clearance, long wheelbase, full-time 4WD and excellent drivability on all terrains, but is also loaded with comfort features like Climate Control AC, Optitron meter, Multi-information display, steering control switches, Space-up type 3rd row seats and leather interiors. This gargantuan of a car is very competitively priced at Rs 18.45 lakhs.

Honda CR-V

The hunky Honda CR-V is synonymous with SUV practicality. But reflecting growing customer demand for quality and premium products in the compact SUV market, the CR-V comes with more car-like driving dynamics and styling, greater comfort and a more luxurious interior. The Honda CR-V is available in 2.0 L - MT 2WD (Rs. 21,92,000) and 2.4L MT (Rs. 23,37,000)/AT Real-time 4WD (Rs. 24,12,000). Passenger safety has been further boosted as the 2009 CR-V comes equipped with six airbags - Dual SRS Airbags, Side-Curtain airbags and Side Airbags with Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).

Ford Endeavour

The all new 2009 Ford Endeavour adds contemporary design coupled with technology touches to its proven SUV capability. The all new 3.0L 5-speed automatic transmission has been introduced in India with shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive, touch-enabled SATNAV system with reverse parking camera. The new Ford Endeavour pioneers a suite of new design elements, led by a new-look front design with a classy multi-bar chrome grille and chrome-accented lower grille combined with sleek, wraparound headlamps to create a distinctive signature style. The new Endeavour is priced aggressively, at Rs. 17, 99, 000 for the 3.0L 4X4 automatic transmission and Rs. 15, 99, 000 for the 2.5L 4X2 manual transmission variant.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Outlander, the compact crossover SUV, symbolises the marque's approach towards the industry-wide trend for retaining the all-season and off-road abilities coupled with a high ground clearance and four-wheel drive, still offering car-like levels of emissions, economy and size. Under the hood of the Outlander is the 3.0-litre V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Sports Mode sequential style shift change and INVECS Smart Logic. The stunner bears a price tag of Rs 20.20 lakh in India.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV range has always been loved by the customers for its style and handling as well as its off-road capabilities. The new Grand Vitara 2.4 answers the customer's need for more power, as it comes reloaded with a 2.4 litre VVT engine that delivers a maximum power of 163.5 bhp. It is also packed with many new features that add style and a bold look. The stylish new front grille and front bumper gives the Grand Vitara a sleeker look while the 17 inch alloy wheels add dynamism. It is priced at Rs.16.67 lakh for manual transmission and Rs.17.97 lakh for auto transmission.

Hyundai Tucson

In a marketplace demanding better fuel economy, the 2009 Tucson delivers. The fuel economy on Tucson GLS automatic equipped with the 2.0-liter DOHC "Beta" in-line four-cylinder engine has been improved by 5 percent in the city. Hyundai's approach to combining state-of-the-art safety and affordability is clearly evident in the Tucson. Tucson is loaded with life-saving standard safety features including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), six airbags and active front head restraints. Tucson's five-passenger interior is a handsome blend of thoughtful features and utility. Tucson is priced at Rs 15 lakh.

Mahindra Scorpio

With the Scorpio, Mahindra joined a handful of other Indian companies which have designed and produced world class vehicles on their own. The Scorpio is India's first indigenous SUV to be successfully accepted in international markets across the globe. The iconic Scorpio now has more sting. In its latest avatar in 2009, 'the new mighty muscular Scorpio' with a fresh new look that enhances its sporty and adventurous image, has taken the market by storm. Prices range from 7.2 Lakh to 9.99 Lakh for the VLX Automatic BS3 variant.

Tata Safari Dicor

TheTata Safari is one of the first SUVs which were introduced in India long before the imported vehicles came to the country. The new Safari Dicor is fitted with the new generation 2.2 L Dicor (Direct injection common rail) engine that is operated by a 32-bit electronic control unit and incorporates state-of-the-art technology. While lowering emission and fuel consumption by a few notches, the new engine delivers an incredible peak power of 138 bhp. Price starts from Rs. 7.59 lakh.

Save money on your car insurance

2009-11-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

Having car insurance is a must – it’s an offence under the Road Traffic Act to drive your car on public roads witout it. So here are our 5 steps to help you save money on your car insurance.

1. Think about the type of car insurance you need

Do you need Third party only, Third party fire and theft or Comprehensive car insurance cover?
Third party fire and theft car insurance will be cheaper than Comprehensive – which do you need? Can you save money already?

2. Get the best car insurance deal to meet your needs by shopping around

Use a car insurance comparison website

You can quickly and easily compare quotes from a range of companies and see what’s best for you and how much money you can save for just a few minutes effort.

3. Consider how you will use the car

Do you used your car for Social, Domestic & Pleasure, Commuting, Business Use or Commercial travelling are the categories used by car insurance companies.
If you are only using the car for Social, Domestic & Pleasure, you don’t need to buy cover that includes commuting which would cost you more. Can this help you save money on your car insurance?

4. Save money on your car insurance cover by only taking out the cover you need

Keep the car off the road, in a garage or at least on a drive way.
Opt for a higher excess
Is there a no claims discount? (Can this be protected?)
Reduce your annual mileage – perhaps you can do some car sharing to help this
Do you need breakdown cover?
Do you really need a courtesy car if your car is off the road?
Do you need overseas travel included?
Save money by using discounts and special offers – car insurance companies often offer these to get your new business
Is there a discount for purchasing online?
Is there a discount if you insure multiple cars?
Is there a discount for holding another insurance policy with the company e.g. Home Insurance?
Will the company promise to beat you car renewal quote from another company?
Is there a discount fro Pass Plus or Advance drivers?
You can often save money if you’re a younger driver by adding an older driver – don’t ‘front’ though as this is illegal
Add a partner can help the premiums too
Do you need to spread you monthly payments? if there is a cost you may want to avoid this option to save money.

5. Compare car insurance quotes

Make sure you do compare quotes and get the best deal to meet your needs – you’ll be surprised just how different the premiums quoted from the different car insurance companies are.

Car Insurance

2009-11-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

You also need to understand the type of car insurance you need as if you get comprehensive insurance it will be more expensive but provides much more cover.

When you get a car insurance quote, the premium or the cost of the insurance will vary from company to company. This is because each company will base their quote on a set of risk factors and increase or decrease the premium depending on how your rate against these factors.

It might sound complicated but it really isn't. Basically the car insurance company is assessing the likelihood of you making a claim and if you do the level of payment that will have to be made. From this they determin the price they want to charge you, the car insurance premium.

Common risk factors or variables used by the car insurance companies are:

Vehicle type -Number of doors and seats etc
Engine size - More powerful engines are generally more expensive to insure due to their faster acceleration and top speeds
Annual mileage - The more miles you do the more you will expect to pay because the more often you are on the road the more chance there is of you getting into an accident.
Where you park your car at night -If you park your car in a secure garage it may be cheaper than if you park your car where it is more venerable to theft or accidental damage such as on the street.
Where you park your car during the day - The price of your policy may vary depending on whether you leave your car at home or whether you park it in an office car park during the day.
Alarm, Immobiliser and tracker systems - Having above standard security systems can help you achieve more affordable insurance quotes.
How often and at what time you commute - Most accidents occur when people are commuting to and from work during busy periods. This may be reflected in your policy depending on when you commute on a regular basis.
The number of drivers on your policy -; Having multiple drivers on your policy can drag the price of your insurance quote up. So only add essential drivers enless you can afford to pay the extra cost.
Age - Older drivers are considered to be more careful drivers than younger ones. Your age will be reflected heavily in the price of your policy. There are younger driver insurance schemes who specialise in new and young drivers.
Gender - Statistically in the UK male drivers are said to cause more accidents than female. Specialist female car insurance companies often offer cheaper quotes for woman.
Driving experience or Qualifications - People who have held their licence for longer and have more years driving experience will often be given cheaper quotes than less experienced drivers.
Occupation - Depending on your occupation you may be considered to be a higher risk to insurers. Builders, Barman, and entertainers can sometimes pay more.
No Claims Bonus - More no claims bonus = more savings.
Motoring convictions and Major accidents -If you have had any major accidents, points on your licence or drink driving offences these will be seen in a bad light by insurers.

Are you paying too much for your car insurance No Claim Bonus?

2009-11-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

With the rising costs of car insurance, many drivers choose to protect their No Claims Bonus, but if you do are you paying too much?

Over 70% of crivers are looking at how they can save money on their car insurance. The question of protecting a No Claims Bonus is being seriously questioned by many as it widely understood that this discount equates to some 60-75% off the car insurance premium.

But it’s not simply a case of the insurer taking 60% off the calculated premium figure as each insurer calculates their premium differently, using different criteria for assessing a driver’s risk.

So what is the value of the No Claims Bonus (NCB)? An interesting question. There is nothing to stop an insurer reassessing a driver’s risk in the event of an accident and raising a premium accordingly, regardless of how many years no claims the motorist’s record shows.

The cost of protecting a NCB must also be carefully watched. Some car insurance providers will allow drivers to protect it for no additional charge, others will ask for up to a massive 33% of the premium.

Head of Motor at Confused.com, Will Thomas comments: “Whilst NCB can be a valuable asset when it comes to keeping car insurance costs down, it needs to be seriously considered if motorists are looking to cut costs.

It appears that there is currently no consistency in the motor insurance industry when it comes to putting a price on guaranteeing a clear claims record. It is a mystery as to why some providers offer this extra for free and others want almost a third of the policy price for the privilege.’

With this in mind, it is important that you do compare car insurance quotes carefully to make sure you do get the best deal that suits your needs – and don’t end up paying more than you should for such as protecting your NCB.

8 Ways to Cut Car Insurance Costs

2009-11-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

Car insurance premiums have been climbing steadily upwards and are now rising at a faster rate than at any time in the last decade. That said, even though car insurance is compulsory, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some easy steps you can take to drive down the cost of cover.

1. Shop around online

Tempting as it may be to simply settle for a renewal premium with your existing insurer, you must do your research, as there's no reward for loyalty when it comes to car insurance. Shopping around online to compare prices from a range of car insurance providers is a good way to try and find a lower quote. Moving to a new provider is straightforward, stress-free and can save you a considerable sum.

2. Higher excess

A simple way to knock pounds off your premium is by opting for a higher voluntary excess. However, do be aware that you will have to cough up more of your cash in the event of a claim. Follow the link to learn more about car insurance voluntary excess.

3. Keep it safe

Insurance providers look at the risk every driver presents, so you could get a better deal if you can reduce that risk. Improve your car security by installing an alarm and immobiliser, and keep premiums down by parking your car in safe area - preferably in a garage, a driveway or in a secure parking zone.

4. Reduce mileage

There are savings to be made by opting to only drive at certain times of the day (e.g. not during peak traffic), and by reducing the mileage you do each year. But while this is positive for both the environment and your wallet, don't underestimate your mileage in the hope of tricking your insurance provider, as this could invalidate your claim.

5. Think small

As bigger and faster vehicles will cost you more to insure, why not go for a small car? Also, it’s sometimes a good idea to avoid models with sporty letters after it – such as i, sxi or gti – as they usually signify a more powerful (i.e. a more expensive to insure) version of a standard model. And don't be tempted to modify your car with, for example, side skirts or tinted windows, as modifications will often bump up your premium.

6. Change the way you pay

If you pay for your motor cover in monthly instalments, then you could be paying through the nose for spreading the payments across the year. Pay your premium in one upfront lump sum instead, and you could see your costs slashed. Make sure you do your sums though... If you’re considering paying on your plastic, it’s worth considering the APR of instalments versus the APR of your card.

7. Pass Plus

If you're a new driver than you're going to be worst hit by rising prices, so invest some time and money in taking the Pass Plus course designed to give young drivers additional practical driving experience. This demonstrates to insurers that you are a safer driver and, once completed, could reduce your premiums by around a third.

8. Be Honest

Don’t try to get away with not telling the whole truth in a bid to reduce costs. If you mislead your insurance provider, you may be committing insurance fraud. This could invalidate your cover, and if you caused an accident, you would be responsible for all the costs yourself. Insurance fraud also means you will have a lot of difficulty finding car insurance in the future.

Tyre Safety Tips

2009-11-26T06:09:00.000-08:00

Keep tyres in top condition for safe driving

Tyres are one of the most crucial parts of your car in terms of safety, and as your only contact with the road, it’s vital they’re kept in the best condition at all times.

Getting to grips with your tyres

Sidewalls: This is the side of the tyre, between the wheel and the tread where the tyre name and size details are stamped. Sidewalls are crucial to the structure of the tyre.

Although they can’t go bald, sidewalls are susceptible to parking damage: scuff them against the kerb and you can cause significant harm, enough to cause rapid deflation.

Tread: This is the most crucial part of the tyre and directly affects how your car performs.

The tread transmits the car’s power from the engine to the road, provides grip, and disperses water when driving in the wet. As the tread wears down, the tyres’ ability to effectively and safely do all these things is diminished.

Top tips for maintaining your tyres

1. Tyre pressure

The right tyre pressure will not only keep you safe, it’ll also save you money through reduced fuel usage. For optimum safety and performance, check your tyre pressure weekly or every time you fill up. Always take care not to under or over-inflate car tyres.

Under-inflated tyres: You’ll see excess wear on the shoulders of the tyre while the centre remains less worn. This can cause the tyre to overheat and fail. It also creates extra drag, which reduces fuel economy.
Over-inflated tyres: You’ll get heavy wear in the centre of the tread and not on the shoulders. This is even more dangerous as it reduces the size of the contact patch (the area of tyre which actually touches the road), which can dramatically reduce the grip your tyres have on the road.

2. Tread depth

The legal tread depth is 1.6mm. If you have less than this across three-quarters of your tyre’s width, it’s illegal.

If you’re caught without enough tread you can get a fixed penalty and three points – possibly more if you have more than one illegal tyre. This will affect your car insurance premium. Measure the tread depth with a tyre gauge, available from most car accessory shops.

Top tip: Many modern tyres have wear indicators - little blocks in the grooves of the tyre. When the surround tread is level or close to these blocks, it’s time to change.

3. Tracking

Check your tracking, or wheel alignment. Every car has specific settings to ensure the best handling and braking performance, but general driving, and the odd kerb nudge, can put your wheels out of alignment.

You’ll notice your wheels are out if the car pulls to one side, or the steering wheel doesn’t line up when you’re driving in a straight line. If your wheels are out of alignment you can wear through them very quickly. It’ll also decrease the amount of grip and stability you have.

Top tip: Get your wheel alignment checked by a garage every few months – particularly after fitting new tyres.

4. Spare Tyre

Last but not least, always keep a spare tyre in your boot in case of accident, plus the appropriate tools to fit them. And don’t forget breakdown cover so you’re not left stranded on the hard shoulder.

TVS Jive motorcycle launched

2009-11-26T05:55:00.000-08:00

TVS Motor launched two vehicles. One was the TVS Wego automatic scooter; the other, the Jive motorcycle.

The Jive is a 110 cc motorcycle positioned at the low end of the market, and naturally, it is no Fazer 150 when it comes to looking good – by today’s standards, of course. But it is very acceptable for a bie in this class, and definitely does not look like a cheapo design from any angle.

There is adequate power at 8.1 bhp @ 7500 rpm and a maximum torque of 8.1 Nm @ 5500 rpm, pretty much standard for motorcycles in this class and enough to propel the JIve which weighs only 110 kg. However, the TVS Jive has a USP.

The Jive features an automatic clutch. This means that while you have 4 standard gears, there is no clutch for the rider to apply. The bike takes care of that part. Your left hand just sits there feeling all happy, while you shift through gears with abandon.

The TVS Jive also features a rotary gear technology. There is an anti-stall mechanism to boot – which means that even when you try to ride along in a high gear at low speeds, the motorcycle does not sputter and stall. Also, the rotary gear system means that you can shift directly from a high gear to neutral. Convenience-wise, the Jive is going to please a lot of new riders or people have to ride a lot in heavy traffic. Less stress all around.

The TVS Jive has an electric start (and kick start), and you can start the bike in any gear. There is a bit of uderseat storage space for knick nacks too. Black alloy wheels, drum brakes front and back, and wheelbase of 1260 mm complete the package.

Overall, the price of Rs 41,000 ex-showroom Chennai looks quite value for money for a motorcycle with such conveniences, we think.

Fuel efficiency, naturally, is of serius importance at the low end of the market, and the Jive offers a mileage of 65 kmpl (claimed). The bike is available in red, blue and black.

Bullet Classic 500 and 350 motorcycles

2009-11-24T06:23:00.000-08:00

Bullet Classic 500 EFI and Classic 350 have been launched by royal Enfield in India. The new motorcyclists come with the so-called Unitary Construction Engine and fuel injection-a first for Royal Enfield in India. Unitary construction of the engine means that the engine and transmission, which their previously separate, have been combined into a single unit.

One major visible change is the introduction of 18 inch wheels. Many Bullet fans are not going to like that – however, those who have seen the Classic 500 and 350 report that it does not look bad at all.

The new 500 CC Bullet Classic produces 27.2 BHP at 5250 RPM and a maximum torque of 41.3 NM at 4,000 RPM. The Bullet Classic 350 on the other hand produces 19.8 BHP at 5250 rpm and a maximum torque of 24 NM at 4000 RPM. Apart from electronic fuel injection, the motorcycle also features electric start.

The two new Bullet Classic motorcycles are not cheap, however. The cheaper Bullet Classic 350 comes at a price of Rupees 98,800 ex-showroom Delhi while the more expensive Bullet Classic 500 EFI is priced at Rs. 124000 in Delhi.

The Bullet Classic motorcycle is score very highly on aesthetics with the look screaming retro. If riding a motorcycle that has vintage looks while being modern is your thing, then the new motorcyclist will fit you perfectly. The price of the motorcycle, however, places it just a little bit out of reach of the average motorcycle enthusiast in India.

The first Bullet motorcycle was produced in India in 1932. However, the latest Bullet Classic looks so retro that you mistake it for an immaculately preserved vintage motorcycle.

The 500 CC Bullet Classic has been selling reasonably well in European markets since 2008 October. Ever since the launch of the motorcycle and the Cologne International motorcycle show in 2008, Indian Enfield enthusiasts have been waiting eagerly for the launch of the motorcycle in India.

During the launch of the Bullet Classic, the company said that it plans to expand production capacity to 100,000 units in the next three years from the current 50,000 units. Royal Enfield has already invested Rs. 65 lakhs in the existing manufacturing facility.

The company expects that 90% of its sales would come from the domestic market in India, while the rest of its sales would come from exports to countries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

It was also revealed that the company plans to phase out one of its models, the Machismo.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R price is Rs 3 lakh on-road

2009-11-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

Bajaj Auto has officially launched the Kawasaki Ninja 250R in India today. The Ninja 250R is a 250 cc four-stroke motorcycle, with a DOHC, liquid cooled parellel twin engine churning out 32 bhp @ 11,000 RPM. 17 inch wheels, Kawasaki’s UNI-Track rear suspension, full fairing and 290 mm frnt and 220 mm rear disc brakes complete the package. Low and mid-range torque is good enough to carry the rider even in typical traffic situations – it is not like you have to scream all the way up the powerband to get the Kawasaki Ninja 250R to do your bidding. Gentlemen, this is the Yamaha RD350 for the new generation!

0-60 kmph comes up in 3.42 seconds, and 0-100 kmph in 8.1 seconds. Top speed is 169.1 kmph.

The Ninja 250R comes with a six-speed transmission. The 172 kg little sporsbike from Kawasaki is 2085 mm long, 715 mm wide and height is 1115 mm. It is not exactly a light motorcycle at that weight, but not too heavy either. The fairing protects the rider sufficiently from the wind, and the riding position is reasonably comfortable on long trips.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R will be offered in the standard green colour of Kawasaki, as well as black.

Interesting, for a sports motorcycle, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R offers a fuel consumption of 42 kmpl according to Bajaj Auto. Not that it would matter much to those who are willing to pony up the price of Rs 2.69 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. At a price of 2.69 lakh, the target market of this motorcycle would be a little less

Bajaj Auto would mind, considering that the Nnja 250R would be positioned as a flagship motorcycle. It was believed that as the Ninja 250R was imported as a CKD from Thailand, prices would be under control. Sadly, on the road, it would cost close to Rs 3 lakhs, putting the little Ninja out of reach for most of us.

On the other hand, enthusists also have something to rejoice about – the motorcycle that is coming to India is the 2010 version of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, and not the 2009 version as originally expected.

Kawasaki Ninja 250R basic specifications

Twin-cylinder

Liquid cooled

Fuel injection

4-valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts

33PS at 11,000rpm

22Nm at 8200rpm

Six-speed gearbox

172kg

17 inch wheels

0-60 kmph in 3.42 seconds

0-100 kmph in 8.1 seconds

Top speed – 169.1 kmph

Kawasaki patented Uni-Trak rear suspension

Reva NXR set for Iceland launch

2009-11-24T06:07:00.000-08:00

Northern Lights Energy has signed a deal with Bangalore-based REVA Electric Car co. for the exclusive rights to distribute REVA electric car models in Iceland.
Northern Lights Energy is the initiator of Iceland’s project 12 and provider for the infrastructure of services for Electric Vehicles in Iceland.

As per the NLE-REVA agreement, NLE will have the rights to distribute not just the Reva NXR model, but all later REVA electric car models, including the REVA NXG Sports Coupe.

The REVA NXG Sports Coupe will be launched in 2011.

The new agreement, REVA has signed with NLE, opens the path for REVA to further increase its presence overseas.

Recently, in October 2009, REVA had signed a deal with Long Island-based Bannon Automotive LLC to manufacture the REVA NXR electric car in Central New York.

Reports say that the two companies will invest $26.5 million into the plant, that will come up in Clay, Syracuse, while the state will pump in $3 million in Empire State Development Corp. grants and $3.76 million in tax incentives and breaks.

Earlier, in 2009, the REVA Electric Car co. had showcased the REVA NXR and the Reva NXG electric car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The REVA NXR electric car will make its debut in 2010; sales and marketing of the car will begin in the early 2010. The first batch of the 2010 REVA NXR electric car will be delivered to customers in Iceland, by the end of 2010.

REVA NXR, the four-seat, three-door hatchback family car, is basically a city-oriented car, which offers great infrastructure support in terms of charging port outlets and is extremely eco-friendly.

The car has a top speed of 104 kmph and can go up to 160 km on a single charge.

REVA is also considering setting up a plant in Iceland to cater to the growing European demands.

Fiat Linea T-Jet to launch at Auto Expo 2010

2009-11-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

Fiat Linea is a much-loved car – but not by automobile enthusiasts. Reason: Not powerful enough. The 1400cc petrol engine is just not enough to give you driving pleasure. The car definitely offers a lot else, but sheer driving pleasure is not what you get from the Linea. Even the diesel version is not close.

That complaint will be over when Fiat launches the Linea T-Jet at the upcoming Auto Expo 2010 at New Delhi in January. The 1400 cc petrol engine now gets a turbocharger, and that means a stupendous boost in sheer horsepower. What the Linea T-Jet offers you is 120 PS @ 5000 rpm. That takes to to the same level of power output as the all-new Honda City, which is the flavour of the year since it was launched. Max torque is believed to be 206 nm.

Top speed, 0-60 acceleration timing and overall drivablity are all expected to go up with the arrival of the Fat Linea T-Jet. Price would go up too, and the Linea T-Jet would be priced at least Rs 1.5 lakh more than the current petrol Linea top-end version. Almost one year after the launch of the Fiat Linea in India, it gets an engine it deserves.

There is also much talk online about a rumoured hill-holder function in the Linea T-Jet. Essentially, this makes sure that the car does not roll back when you take your foot off the brake to move it to the accelerator. That is a welcome addition – the less riding the clutch, the better for your car. And less stress on the driver, obviously.

At the Auto Expo pavilion, Fiat will also show off the flagship model the Fiat 500 alongside the new Linea T-Jet. Also rumoured is a 1.9 liter diesel version of the Linea, but this is a rumour that is dying off – so it may not happen at all.

Fiat recently announced that the company is planning a small car for India for a 2011-2012 launch. Fiat currently sells the Punto medium hatchback car and the Linea in India. A new facelifted version of the Fiat Palio is also planned, and even this might make an appearance at the Auto Expo. 2010 is going to be an interesting year!

Rolls Royce's 'Ghost' ready to haunt Indian roads

2009-11-22T00:53:00.000-08:00

After 'Phantom', Rolls Royce is ready to drive its most technologically advanced car 'Ghost' into India and hoped that at least 45 people with crores in disposable income would be charmed by the vehicle''s simplistic design. The company today previewed Ghost, the super luxury sedan with a whisper-quiet engine and a price tag of Rs 2.5 crore, in the country and expects the first delivery to happen in quarter one of next year.

The 6.6 L twin-turbo car is charged with a V12 engine. "We expect to sell 75 units in 2010 in India, of which ''Ghost'' will comprise 50-60 units," Roll Royce Regional Director Asia Pacific Colin Kelly told reporters.

Last year, the company had sold about 15 units in the country, comprising cars from the 'Phantom' family. He said the company might witness a slowdown in its global sales this year because of the global recession. The company had globally sold 1,212 units of its cars last year. This year, the company is looking to more than double its global sales.

units globally in 2010, of which two-third is expected to come from the yet to be launched ''Ghost''," Rolls Royce General Manager (South and East Asia Pacific) Brenda Pek said. She added that in India the company expects to sell 14-16 units this year and increase it to 75 units next year.
The approximate price of Ghost in India is US$ 510204.

Top 10 Small Cars in India

2009-11-22T00:36:00.000-08:00

Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo

Replacing the era of the old Maruti Suzuki Zen, the Estilo was launched with roomier interior and a powerful engine. Built on a Monoform Aerodynamic design that allows it to zoom through air current, this trendy and smart car has an ergonomic interior, too. The all new 2009 Estilo comes with the KB10 series, 998cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine. Prices for the new Estilo range from Rs.3,12,000 to Rs.3,96,000 for the Estilo VXI with ABS.

Tata Indica Vista

Whan Tata launched the Indica in 1998, the model was hit by some flaws and was infamous for breaking down. Later, the carmaker came up with an improved version in the form of Indica V2 and the Xeta. Built on a completely new platform, the all new, facelifted Indica Vista sports superior interiors, better quality, and improved performance. Prices range from Rs 3,53,000- Rs.4,99,000.

Hyundai Getz Prime

The Getz Prime looks like a curvaceously redesigned Getz and is being vaunted as Indiaâ€™s first car that can be called 'truly global.' The Getz Prime offers an estimated fuel efficiency of 12/15 kmpl (city/highway). In short, the Getz Prime is a unique blend of sophistication, performance, lavish space, and implausible comfort. The prices start from Rs 3,80,000.

Maruti Suzuki A-star

Produced exclusively in India, the Maruti Suzuki A-star is an elegant car with low and wide grille, large bonnet, and eye-shaped headlights. Highlights of this stunner include a spacious cabin with an aero-dash and well integrated audio system. Price starts from Rs. 3,48,000 for the LXi to Rs.4,14,000 for the Zxi.

Chevrolet Spark

A come-back vehicle to the long forgotten Matiz, the Chevrolet Spark is handsome, sturdy, and sports solid looks. The most arresting feature in the Spark is its eccentric interior layout with an elegantly designed instrument panel placed in the center of the dashboard. The starting price tag is from Rs.3,25,000.

Hyundai Santro Xing

Definitely one of the most sought-after cars in India, the Hyundai Santro is known for its tempting look, superb handling, and well-appointed interiors. Available in nine variants, Santro Xing is built on eRLX 'active intelligence' technology engine that churns out remarkable power and performance. The starting price tag is Rs. 2,56,000, which can go upto Rs.3,97,000.

Fiat Punto Grande

The first child of the Fiat-Tata alliance was the Punto Grande. Based on the same platform as the Linea, the Grande Punto is an attractive and spacious car. The car is preceded with 'Grande' to indicate its larger size. The marque claims the interior epitomises Italian design. Prices range from Rs.3,99,000 for 1.2 Petrol (Active) to 6,11,000 for the 1.3 Diesel (Emotion PK).

Hyundai i10

The wide and smart i10 is fun to drive, but is slower than the Santro in a straight line. This small car steals the hearts of many car aficionados with its dazzling design. i10 is available in two major choices: iRDE and Kappa. The price starts at Rs 3,41,000.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

The Maruti Suzuki Swift is an elegant upgrade for small car owners and the price of the car makes it incredible value for money. The Swift is extremely enviable, fun to drive, and super cool. The Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi, VXi and LDi models range from Rs.4,17,000 - 4,78,000, however, the higher end models can cost up to Rs.6 lakh.

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

The Chevrolet Aveo U-VA offers outstanding comfort and great fuel efficiency. Abundantly spacious and powerful U-VA comes with a host of cool and captivating features while offering great driving experience. The 1.2, 1.2 LS range from Rs.4,24,000- 4,68,000, meanwhile the 1.2LT and 1.2 LT go up to Rs.5.5 lakh.

Fiat CNG Punto for India in 2010

2009-11-20T22:55:00.000-08:00

There is going to be a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) coming from Fiat India in 2010. While initially it was not clear which model this would be, it was later confirmed by the Hindu Businessline that the new car would be a CNG variant of the Fiat Punto hatchback.

The company is considering a CNG variant of the Punto small car, possibly for a launch in the second quarter of 2010. The Fiat Punto has been reasonably well received in the Indian automobile market, with the Punto selling more than 5000 units till September 2009.

Interestingly, CNG works as a good option for small cars and hatchbacks. A couple of months back, Mercedes Benz had decided not to introduce any more CNG models, as buyers of their cars preferred not to wait for gas alongside taxis and buses at CNG stations. CNG stations are still not as common as necessary even in the metros, so the market will nto be very large for Fiat in the near-term.

CNG as a fuel has generally been as economical as diesel cars, if not better. However, things may change, as Delhi is all set to go in for ultra low sulphur diesel from April 2010, and this may see an increase in the price of diesel, thus driving up the demand for CNG vehicles.

The company would likely display its CNG variant of the Fiat Punto at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi in Janaury.

Fiat is also planning a more powerful petrol engine for the Fiat Linea, and possibly a power boost for the diesel Linea too.

TVS Flame DS125 twin spark, 3 valve motorcycle

2009-11-20T22:50:00.000-08:00

After much controversy and bare knuckle fisticuffs with Bajaj Auto and finally permission from the Supreme Court to sell while keeping records, TVS Motor Company has finally be launched its Flame DS125 twin spark, 3 valve motorcycle in India.

The 125 cc TVS Flame DS125 motorcycle produces 10.5 bhp at 7500 rpm.We are not sure about the maximum torque of the Flame DS125. During its launch 2 1/2 years back, it was reported that the 10 Nm at 6250 rpm. The TVS press release announcing the Flame DS125 did not mention torque figures. While 10.5 bhp looks good on paper for a speed beyond 100 kilometers per hour, sadly, the motorcycle touches only 95 kmph. Sadly, the TVS Motor Co website has not yet realised that their company has started selling the Flame DS125, and therefore have not updated their products section either.

According to the Economic Times, the company said that the motorcycle will initially be launched in the south and would be sold in the rest of India later. The motorcycle is available in two dual-tone colors – red and black – and is priced at Rs. 49,200 ex showroom. (Again, ex-showroom where? Timbuktoo? Anywhere in the South? No clarity in the press release there too.)

The TVS Flame DS125 motorcycle is reasonably stylish, but not too exciting in the looks department. It is squarely targeted at the executive segment. Executive segment motorcycles account for 40 per cent of the Indian motorcycle market. You get disc brakes in front, a good looking silencer, and analog speedometer and digital odometer, mileage meter, digital clock and fuel gauge in the main console. All photos of the Flame DS125 show the bike with black alloy wheels, so maybe that is default. No mention of any variants or trim levels either.

Bajaj Auto had filed a suit two and a half years back against TVS Motor Co claiming that the twin spark technology was patented by the company. As the court case dragged on, TVS introduced a Flame motorcycle with a single spark plug. This single spark Flame will continue to be manufactured by TVS and will be sold at a price of Rs 1500 less than the price of the twin spark flame DS125.

Luxury Car Audi A8

2009-10-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

A modern classic, Audi A8 is the German marque's flagship model. The latest generation of A8 redefines all the cliches. The car is priced from $74,050 - $120,100. It may not be the most desirable luxury car in the world, but the Audi A8 takes Audi a big step closer to that goal.

Luxury Car Cadillac CTS

2009-10-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

One of the best cars GM has built in years, the Cadillac CTS is competitive with the best entry-level luxury cars in the world. Compared to the original CTS, the second-generation 2008 Cadillac CTS sedan model is more refined and powerful. The uprated interior and lively powertrains have put the CTS into top-tier status for a luxury sport sedan. Price ranges from $36,730 to $51,820.

Luxury Car Lincoln MKS

2009-10-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

The MKS fills a giant chasm in Lincoln's lineup. The 2009 Lincoln MKS sports a distinctive styling and a new 275-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6. The MKS' fine blend of clean lines, luxurious materials, and lighter trim colors inside plants it squarely in the Lexus idiom of luxury. Price ranges from $40,870 to $47,760.

Luxury Car BMW 750Li

2009-10-30T06:50:00.001-07:00

BMW has always been legendary for comfort, luxury and unmatched performance. So, naturally the 2009 BMW 750Li, the flagship of BMW's starfleet, delivers exciting tech features on all fronts, helping justify its high price range of $84,200.00. The twin-turbo 4.4L DOHC V8 under the hood accelerates the 750Li to 100 kmph in just 5.5 seconds despite the avoirdupois.

Luxury Car Mercedes-Benz S550

2009-10-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

A living room on wheels. That describes all about the stunning Mercedes-Benz S550. Resembling a long, sleek, low-slung limousine, the monster is over 17-feet long. Step into the car and an embarrassment of riches awaits you. No wonder the S550 is favorite of wealthy dads and heads of state alike. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S550 bears a base price of $86,950.

Luxury Car Jaguar XF

2009-10-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

Stepping away from the conventional Jaguar design, the XF is Jaguar's new four-door sports sedan with a fresh, modern look. The XF has it all - stylish looks, a spectacular cabin, amazing handling, an agile motorway ride and top refinement. Jaguar's 4.2 liter V8 is the XF's standard-fit powerplant, with 300 horsepower underfoot. This gargantuan of a car comes with a base price of $51,150.

Luxury Car Maybach 62S

2009-10-30T06:45:00.001-07:00

The Maybach 62S gets the same massive 6.0-litre twin turbo V12 as 52S, which delivers a barely believable 612bhp at a very low 4800rpm. With this abundant power to rocket from 0-60mph in just over five seconds, the 2,855kg Maybach will zoom on to a top speed of 155mph. The rear compartment is still the most luxurious cabin ever to travel on the road. All this can be yours for a whopping $448,500.

Luxury Car Maserati Quattroporte

2009-10-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

The new Maserati Quattroporte stands out from the crowd. It is a car that excels in terms of technology and craftsmanship. The Maserati Quattroporte means opulent interior of a super-luxury car coupled with the performance and beauty of an exotic sports car. The result is a car with a personality all its own. Maserati's flagship luxury performance sedan Quattroporte has been simplified to base and S trims in 2009. The base trim is powered by a 400 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine, while the S trim's 4.7-liter V8 puts out 425 horsepower.

Luxury Car Rolls-Royce Phantom

2009-10-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Rolls-Royce is as synonymous with state-of-the-art luxury and safety features as it is with prestige. Phantom has a rare sense of scale and occasion that makes it a truly modern interpretation of a Rolls-Royce. The grille and Spirit of Ecstasy immediately mark out Phantom. The Phantom has a base price of $400,000. Just as Phantom's presence is quietly authoritative, the delivery of power from the direct-injection V12 engine is equally impressive.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

2009-10-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

he name Bentley conjures up images of fast and deluxe saloons rolling down a highway towards St Moritz or Monte Carlo. The Flying Spur is a four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupe, and the Bentley Continental GTC convertible. New for 2009 is the Bentley Flying Spur Speed, a model that ups the output of the engine to 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet, achieving 0-60 times of 4.5 seconds and a 200-mph top speed.

Suzuki GSX R125

2009-09-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

If you are into 125 cc motorcycles with some power and style, perhaps this little Suzuki would impress you.

There is the chance that this bike could make it to our shores in India. Personally I don’t think so – the motorcycle is not officially launched yet, and even after the launch, manufacturers would normally take at least an year to launch it in India – if they do so at all.

But if the Suzuki GSX-R does come to India, it can provide some tough competition to the Yamaha YZF-R15, the little racer in India (Yes we know there are faster motorcycles like the Bajaj Pulsar 220, but the YZF-R15 remains our best racer.)

It is believed that the Suzuki GSX-R125 would produce around 15 bhp from its tiny four-stroke 125 cc engine. That is nothing great, but it will be the way the motorcycle is put together and quality of design and construction that would make a difference if it is launched in India.

The frame of the GSX-R125 will be a pressed steel frame, much like that of the Yamaha YZF-R15. The dials are supposed to be an analogue-LCD combo. Disc brakes front and rear are certain.

Overall, the GSX-R125 looks like a little brother of its superbike siblings, much like the YZF-R15.

Ford Endeavour Automatic for India soon

2009-09-09T00:41:00.000-07:00

Ford Endeavour Thunder top end-model in India
After the much-anticipated launch of the Toyota Fortuner and seeing the very welcoming market for it, Ford India has decided to launch an automatic version of its popular SUV the Ford Endeavour in India.

Speaking to the media, Ford India president and managing director, Michael Boneham, Ford India president and managing director said that the company plans to launch the Ford Endeavour in India in the week of 7 – 15 September 2009. That is next week.

Automatic vehicles are growing in popularity in India as the stigma of bad fuel efficiency figures and ‘not macho enough’ vanishes. Among SUVs, Mahindra Scorpio and the Chevrolet Captiva already offer AT versions. The the top end of the Indian car market, automatics are selling exceedingly well, often taking up the lion’s share of the market for some luxury car models. Hyundai has launched an i10 automatic too, and increasingly automatics are accepted by the market.

Ford hopes to capitalise on this new-found acceptance of automatics by introducing an automatic version of the Endeavour. It would also help them stand out as the Toyota Fortuner does not have an automatic version yet.

It is expected that the Ford Endeavour Automatic would be priced some Rs 50,000 higher than the manual version.

It is believed that the automatic version of the Ford Endeavour would be equipped with a shift-on-the-fly Borg Warner system to shift to 4WD or back, up to a top speed of 100 kmph.

Currently, Ford Endeavour is priced at Rs 15.01 lakhs for the low end 2500cc version, with the 2500 cc 4×2 version priced at 15.89 and the top end 3000 cc Thunder version priced at 17.38 lakhs ex-showroom New Delhi.

The new Ford Endeavour AT is also expected to have some minor visual enhancements.

REVA NXR, REVA NXG to be unveiled at 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

2009-09-09T00:37:00.000-07:00

Reva will launch the REVA NXR and REVA NXG at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show
Reva Electric Car Co. has said that it will display two new models, REVA NXR (next revolution) and REVA NXG (next generation), at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

“The REVA NXR and REVA NXG will redefine the Indian consumer car market. The unveiling of NXR and NXG at the Frankfurt Show is a tremendous step forward in what is sure to be a fascinating journey for EV users across the globe – Affordable and stylish electric vehicles will finally be available to consumer,” said Chetan Maini, deputy chairman & chief technology officer, REVA Electric Car Company.

The REVA NXG, with a Targa roof, is a sporty two-seater designed by DC Design’s Dilip Chhabria.

The electric car will have a top speed of 130 kmph and a range of 200 kms, Reva has said.

The REVA NXG will go into production in 2011.

The REVA NXR will go into production in early 2010. Customers can book the four-seat, two-door hatchback REVA NXR starting from the day the car is revealed at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The company has said that the REVA NXR car will run on a Lithium Ion battery and will have a top speed of 104 kmph and a range of 160 kms on a full charge. In India, the NXR will be available as a lead acid battery variant with a range of 80 km per charge and maximum speed of 80 kmph.

The REVA NXG and REVA NXR will be equipped with Reva’s new REVive technology that will be showcased at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new technology, according to the company, addresses ‘range anxiety’ and acts like an invisible reserve fuel tank.

With the new technology, customers who run out of charge can call or send a text to the REVA 24/7 Customer Support Centre and a remote charge will allow the REVA NXG and REVA NXR to keep driving.

The company has said that the REVA NXG and REVA NXR will be manufactured at its new green manufacturing plant in Bangalore, which will be built on LEEDS guidelines with new capabilities, such as rainwater harvesting, solar charging, solar heating, and natural ventilation.

The new Reva models will receive their first charge from solar power at the new plant in Bangalore.

Price details and technical specifications of the REVA NXG and REVA NXR electric cars will be revealed at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.