Honda to launch 2 new bikes in India Next Year

Honda will be launching two new bikes next year.

One will be a 110cc mass market bike which will be launched in January Next year. The 110cc mass-market bike is codenamed the KWSA with the ‘A’ signifying its nascent development status.

The Bike Maker will then launch a 250cc bike sometime in 2011. Unlike the Ninja, Honda’s 250 will be manufactured here and not imported(CBU). Hopefully, that will keep the bike’s cost below 1.5 lakhs making it affordable for quite a substantial number of Indian bikers.

[via BikeIndia]

Hyundai to remove Getz from its lineup in 2 years

Seeing the rising demand for its i20, Hyundai will be phasing out its 5 year old model Getz by the year 2011.

Earlier this week, market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd phased out the Zen brand from its fleet of products.

Getz was launched in September 2004 as the industry’s first premium compact car. It was also Hyundai's second small car to hit the roads in India after the hugely successful Santro. But its Rs. 4.5 lakh price tag, clashing with Maruti’s retro-faced Swift, came in the way of its promise of high volumes.

At its peak Getz sold over 5,000 units per month in 2006, but sales have steadily dropped since then to mere hundreds in the last one year. Swift is still selling almost 10,000 units per month and is the nation’s fourth largest selling car. The i20 on the other hand is gaining popularity.

This would be Hyundai's third major product phase-out after SUV Terracan and executive sedan Elentra in its decade-long presence in India.

Harley-Davidson to begin sales in India Next Year

Famous Indian Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni astride his Harley

Harley-Davidson Motor Company will begin selling motorcycles in India in 2010, said its president and chief operating officer, Matthew Levatich.

The company has begun the process of picking dealers in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Punjab State and is constructing a subsidiary in Gurgaon, near the country’s capital Delhi.

Matthew Levatich said his mission was to lay a strong base in India to help play a long innings in the country. He said India is a vital part of the expansion plan for the company which is seeking a “global reach.”

Just like any other auto company, Harley will spend its initial time importing bikes, accessories and other rider gear until it gets a clear picture of its demands here. India’s booming economy and rapidly evolving infrastructure has evoked interest in Harley Davidson to set shop here.

Related: Harley Davidson In India, Finally : Launch on 27th August 2009

[via IAB]

New Estilo from Maruti Suzuki Launched :Aug 25, 2009

Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest car maker, today launched a new version of its small car Estilo with a fuel efficient engine

Price

Between Rs 3.12 lakh and Rs 3.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Engine

The new 998 CC petrol car is equipped with the latest K-series engines, on the lines of the company's other small cars -> A-Star and Ritz.

Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi told reporters,

"Product upgradation is an integral part of Maruti Suzuki's business strategy and future plans. This is a way to include feedback from the customers and offer better products that match their tastes,"

Mileage

According to the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Estilo would run 18.2 km in every litre of petrol.

‘Zen’ dropped from Name

The company has dropped the very successful brand name 'Zen' from the car as it views that it does not suit the current taste of Indian youth, to whom this car is targeted.

Production

The new Estilo would be produced from MSI's Gurgaon plant, which also manufactures the A-Star and the Ritz. The existing Zen Estilo comes with a 1.1 litre petrol engine.

Harley Davidson In India, Finally : Launch on 27th August 2009

Harley Davidson is Finally coming to India. Yes, you may pinch yourself and confirm that this is not a dream, this is Reality.

Two days from now (27th of August), The Big Daddy of Royal Enfields, and other tourers, Harley Davidson will make an entry into the Indian market.

Infact, the company has already set up its Indian website.

According to sources, the Harleys will be imported to India as CBU’s (Completely Built Units) and the base model (Hopefully, Sportster 883) will be priced upwards of Rs 10 Lakhs. (courtesy the Import Duty)

More News, Photos and Videos to come on Gedi Junction, Stay Tuned!

New Revamped 2010 Honda CR-V to be launched at Frankfurt Motor Show – News, Pic

The Honda CR-V has been a huge hit in the United States. Such is the Fan Following of this car, that Honda is reluctant to change anything in it, and hence has made some mild and unnoticeable changes and calls it the “new Honda CR-V.”

• Horizontal Slabs replaced by Honeycomb Grills
• Reshaped bumper
• new fog lamp housing are additional changes.
• projector headlamps

The CR-V remains the same under the hood

Talking about interiors, you can expect some extra gadgetry but the well laid out dash and furniture would not get the nix this time.

The “new” CR-V will most likely be announced at the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show that starts next month on September 17th.

Spy Pics : Hyundai Sonata YF/ i40 at Photoshoot

  

Quite a Stunner, isn’t it? This is the New 2011 Hyundai Sonata YF/ i40 which was spotted during a promotional shoot.

For more coverage on Hyundai i40, Please Click Here.

Mercedes Axes CNG Plans for India

       The Merc Benz E-Class

Mercedes Benz India has dropped the plans of launching the CNG variants of its premium cars in India because of the scarcity of filling stations and the long queues at the CNG filling stations which mostly comprised of Auto Rickshaws & Taxi Cabs.

According to Company’s MD & CEO, Wilfried Aulbur,

Do you want to be in a long list of three-wheelers to finally get to the filling station and wait till your tank is filled? That will be long waiting for our customers”

The automaker was testing a CNG variant of its popular E-Class till last year. According to estimates, the CNG version’s mileage would have been 18-20 kilometers per kilogram of CNG costing Rs 21. Petrol sells at Rs 44.63 per litre in Delhi.

Spy Pics – W212 Mercedes Benz E-Class Spotted at Pune, India

   

This is the all new ninth generation Mercedes Benz E-Class (also known as the W212) which will be launched in India in October.

The car has been undergoing homologation for quite some time now and is currently being tested at Mercedes-Benz India’s Pune plant.

The new E-Class will be initially launched with a 3.5L, 24valve V6 petrol producing 292bhp mated to a 7-GTronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The diesel engine will join in later with the 320CDi.

The new E Class is touted as the most beautiful car in the world, it surely has the looks!. It has LED daytime running lights. If you observe the pictures closely you will notice the different set of wheels (maybe for testing purposes).

Mercedes will follow up with less powerful engines next year for the value conscious buyers.

[via Motorbeam]

The New 2010 Zen Estilo ~ The WOW Car!

Yes, that's the new campaign Maruti is running for its upcoming Zen Estilo. It is also heard that the company will strip off the Zen name from the car and will name it something new.

For our coverage of the New Zen Estilo, please click here , here or here.

Take a look at the teaser video -

Spy Pic – Nissan Micra spotted in Delhi

This pic was taken in the Delhi area, where the testing of the Micra is presently going on.

Nissan badly needs a Volume-Seller in its Stable, can this be the one? Lets wait and watch!

[via IAB]

Special Edition Mercedes Benz C-Class Launched in India

Mercedes Benz India has launched a special edition of the C-Class in the Indian market, only 60 units of which will ever be produced.

Price

• Special Edition Mercedes Benz C-Class Petrol (C200 Kompressor) Rs 28.46 Lakhs
• Special Edition Mercedes Benz C-Class Diesel (C220 CDI) Rs 31.30 Lakhs

Features

• New Sportier Avantgarde Grille (Mercedes Logo – the Three Pointed Star Embedded In The Front Grille)
• New 17′ inch Avantgarde Alloy Wheels
• Avantgarde Design Front And Rear Bumpers
• Media Interface For iPod Connectivity
• Electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors with new Indicator Shape.
• Aerodynamic Styling Package
• New Colors - Carneol Red, Obsidian Black and Calcite White

Exclusive Photos - Kawasaki Ninja 250R Spotted at Pune’s Bajaj Probiking showroom!

Bajaj is famous for showcasing its upcoming launches in showrooms before launch to gain customer feedback.

This time a Green Kawasaki Ninja 250R was spotted at the Bajaj PBK showroom, Pune. Guess the news about the slated release of the Kawasaki 250R in India around September/Diwali is true!

Some more Pics-

But according to sources, the bike was not showcased for feedback, but for knowing how much space it took in the showroom! Whatever the reason maybe, it gave bike enthusiasts like us some reason to be happy and hopeful!

Spy Pic – Tata Xenon TL Single Cab Pickup Spotted on Pune Expressway

Tata’s new Single cab pickup - Xenon, which is currently undergoing testing, was spotted on the Pune bypass road. The ‘car’ was doing speeds in excess of 100kph with its loading area filled with cans.

At present, Tata Motors sells the dual cab version of the cab - Xenon XT in India. Tata had displayed the single cab version at the Delhi Auto Expo last year.

[via IndianAutosBlog]

Coming Next Month to India : Yamaha’s 250cc Fazer (Fuel Injected)

Bajaj launched ‘The fastest Indian’ Pulsar 220 DTSi just a couple of months back and the competition has already started to crop up.

Yamaha is planning to launch a New, bigger Fazer 250cc NEXT MONTH, which, by the way, is already on Yamaha’s Global Product Portfolio.

According to sources, the new Yamaha will have a top speed of 150 Kmph as compared to Yamaha’s R15’s 140 kmph which is already on sale in India at a hefty price tag of Rs. 97K

While bike enthusiasts all over the country have mixed response to this piece of news. People feel that the bike will just be showcased at the Auto Expo next year and will be launched sometime later.

Well, we’d like to keep our version reserved till something more concrete comes out. (This news was provided by Business Standard) Till then Stay Tuned to Gedi Junction.

We’ll be following up on this ;)

Maruti to launch KB Series Engine Equipped Zen Estilo on August 25

                                      Spotted – the new Zen Estilo, [img courtesy – team bhp]

Riding on the success of the new fuel-efficient technology in its KB Series Engine, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will be launching the New KB Engine equipped Zen Estilo on August 25.

The existing Cars from Maruti that house the fuel-efficient KB Series Engine are the A-Star (1L Engine) & Ritz (1.2 Litre Engine). The cars had last month completed one lakh units of Production.

Acc. to Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI),  the A-Star gives a mileage of 19.6 km per litre, while Ritz has a milage of 17.7 Kmpl.

Rumors are alive that the Wagon R will also be launched with a 1.1L K series engine very soon. No official word on that one, though (=

Maruti Suzuki to launch Kizashi in India Next Year (2010)

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will introduce its sports luxury car Kizashi in India at 2010 Auto Expo. The Kizashi, which is Suzuki’s first big car developed in-house, has already been launched in the US.

Features

• First-all-wheel-drive luxury car in India
• Suzuki developed 2.4-litre Euro IV engine
• Standard six-speed manual transmission
• Optional automatic transmission based on continuously variable transmission (CVT) technology with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel (like those in Honda City and Toyota Corolla Altis).
• Large tyre size of a 21 inch wheel (against Honda Civic’s 15 inch.)

Price

• The Car will be come in price bracket of Rs. 10-13 lakhs

Competition

• Maruti Suzuki’s Kizashi will compete with the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Sonata, SkodaAuto Octavia and Volkswagen Jetta. Maruti engineers have already started work on Kizashi and are likely to customise the luxury sedan for rugged Indian road conditions.

Acc to Sources, the Kizashi Project is the most ambitious project by Maruti in India in the 26 year old history of the carmaker.

Maruti will pitch it as a D-Segment sports crossover — a vehicle that derives from a car platform while blends features from a sports utility vehicle.

Maruti is expected to manufacture Kazashi at its sprawling 500 acre Manesar Facility.

Hyundai Avante Plans for India Axed

A while earlier, we wrote about Hyundai Avante’s launch in India. But according to a company official, the plans of the Avante have been shelved. So no Hyundai Avante in India, atleast for now, people!

Spotted – BMW X3 at Surat, Gujarat [Photo]

This White BMW was spotted in Surat by Indiauto. The BMW X3 is priced Rs 41,90,000 Rs ex-showroom price Delhi.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Coming to India Early Next Year

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (nick-named the Evo) is probably one of the fastest cars in the world for driving on real world roads.

Recent remarks from senior management at HM-Mitsubishi have confirmed that the latest avatar of this mad car, the Evo X, will be landing on Indian shores early next year, and in most likelihood will make its debut at the 2010 Auto Expo in Delhi.

Quite obviously, this 300 horsepower, four-wheel drive, rally-inspired, road-going missile won't be a mass market car, nor will it be produced here. It’ll be imported to India as a CBU (completely built unit). HM-Mitsubishi is looking at selling less than a hundred units each year.

At a price tag of Rs 27-30 Lakhs, you get a  2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine, permanent four-wheel drive with S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) for splitting torque between all the wheels, zero to 100km/h in under 5 seconds and possibly Mitsubishi's latest six-speed twin-clutch gear box. There is no word about whether the louder and faster FQ versions will be coming to India as well or not.

This car, the evolution x might not make a dent in the market for the German made Saloons but it can surely beat the crap out of the Baby Porsches on any given day!

At Gedi Junction, We are very excited about the launch of the Evo X and will follow up on this news. Stay Tuned!

[via Zigwheels]

Beauty and the Bullet

Meet Ayesha Sharma

She is capable of riding a 35 year old Bullet and has undertaken a road trip to Devprayag, about 30 km from Rishikesh.

When considering bikes in India, its hard not to think of the Bullet. The bike has managed to become a cult brand of sorts, and in the Indian market context it shares the mind space as a decent tour bike. Nothing new there, but the bike is what we like to consider a ‘man’ bike. So when I was duly informed by a one Ms. Ayesha Sharma that she is capable of riding the bike, and has undertaken a road trip to Devprayag, about 30 km from Rishikesh, she had my immediate attention.

The bike that Ayesha came riding on happened to be a 35 year old Bullet that belongs to her friend. Except for a few modifications to the braking systems, the bike remains largely untouched. Unfortunately Ayesha lost her own ride a while ago, which she claims is a different story, and now makes do with her friend’s Bullet for those lazy Sunday morning rides. She is presently saving up to purchase her own bike sometime soon.

Easing through traffic we head out to an empty part of town in order to get the photography out of the way. Ayesha, I must say, was extremely at ease with this big bike. With her small frame perched on the Bullet, the bike actually looked larger than it is. The size and weight of the bike did not pose any threat and this fine lady was able to maneuver her way through city traffic and then cruise along some lonely stretches of road with utmost control. When we finally parked, she surprised me by being able to get the bike on its stand! I had to give her a rating of ‘two thumbs up’. This woman can actually ride a Bullet!

Ayesha, to describe her in one word would be rather difficult. She’s cute, intelligent, got a great sense of humor, dances really well, has a fantastic choice of music and movies, is game for adventure, is a self proclaimed shopaholic and has one of the best smiles in the business. In her ‘official avatar’ she anchors the late night news on NDTV Profit.

So how did this otherwise ‘chic’ woman stumble onto biking? Well, it was actually her sister who instilled this line of thought. Back in 2000, Ayesha used to ‘steal’ her sister’s Suzuki Samurai out for clandestine rides. The thought of being on two wheels and enjoying the freedom lead her to purchase an RD 350 a couple years later! She had that for all of nine days before her Dad asked her to get rid of the bike. But the story did not end there and she went on to learn how to ride a Bullet. She claims that this is the only thing out of the ordinary that she does and it sort of gels with her sense of adventure.

What appeals the most to her about bikes? The very fact that riding instills a sense of freedom is the most pleasing attribute, however the wind in the hair and the romanticized though of riding around on lonely roads in a direction only known to the rider would make it a close second.

Her dream is to do the much hyped, Delhi-Leh-Ladakh-Delhi trip astride a Bullet, and she wants to do it alone! Maybe, just maybe, an ipod churning out some of Jack Johnson’s best will accompany her as she makes her way.

[via BikeIndia]

Volkswagen’s Beetle to be launched in India around November!

Launch Date

Volkswagen’s Beetle, the world’s longest running and most-produced car of single design, will be available in India in three months time! The company is very aggressively planning its launch in India.

Features

The Beetle, also known as Bug,  will have a 1.9-litre TDI diesel engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. Its other features will include rain sensors and cruise control, along with acoustic rear parking sensors to fit into small parking spaces. Its safety features will include ABS, traction control, anti-skid system and standard front and side airbags. It is interesting to note that the Bug will offer a Nano-sized drive with all the SUV frills.

Price

The iconic Beetle will be available at a price tag of Rs 20 Lakh. This high price is primarily due to the 110% import duty and high safety specifications.

[Source of Info – Economic Times]

Money no bar for Superbike Enthusiasts in India

How many of you get a chance to catch a glimpse of a superbike in Flesh, let alone getting close and personal? The answer is - very very less.

Well I’ve been a fan of these Superbikes since ages, but unfortunately haven’t been able to buy one. The reason is obvious - the High, High price tags are associated with these powerful mean-machines!

But there is a certain segment in India, which is passionate about these niche superbikes and also have the bank balance which helps them indulge in their costly hobby!

Courtesy such enthusiasts, the niche superbiking market is growing at a very slow rate, but it is growing.

FYI Yamaha alone has sold about 125 superbikes, YZF R1 and MT01, since its launch in December 2007.

Suzuki with masterpieces like Hayabusa and Intruder has sold about 100 of them since 2006, while Honda and Ducati are others in the market.

"It's like an addiction, an adrenaline rush," says Arun Thareja, a 46 year old head and neck cancer surgeon at the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, New Delhi. "You literally feel you're a cheetah as these machines are awesomely powerful" adds Thareja

He is the President of GODS (Group of Delhi Superbikers) which has 25 members ranging from doctors like him to businessmen and students. The group has a fleet that consists of almost all major superbikes ranging from Yamaha R1, R6, Honda CBR, Hayabusa etc.

The superbikes enjoy a cult status in the country since most of them are imported. Indian manufacturers are yet to enter this elite segment as they are more focussed on delivering what is most in demand than in catering to a niche segment.

One may think it is the youth that is most enthused by superbikes. But age is no bar - owners include teens, young actors like John Abraham and middle-aged professionals like Thareja.

There is also an equally thriving grey market of superbikes as import duty is as high as 113 per cent. To avoid this, people dismantle them and import them as spare parts, which attract only 25 per cent duty. It is then re-assembled and sold.

"It's a crazy passion for crazy machines," says motoring critic Murad Ali Baig. "These bikes are for the seriously rich. I don't think India can have a very big market for such machines, at least in the near future."

The yearly sales of the Superbikes is 600-700 units and another factor that the market of these bikes isn’t expanding is lack of good, smooth roads in the country.

But all said and done, Superbiking is a hobby, a passion which can't be explained. Bikers in general, and superbikers in particular are a different breed altogether. You can't expect explanations from them. The feeling of having a powerful machine under you and the feeling of zooming away from all your worries with a single twist of the wrist is unmatchable and unbeatable.

Cheers!

Vishal Chopra
admin,
gedijunction.blogspot.com

Fiat India Increasing Reach – Exporting Linea to Right Hand Drive Countries

Fiat India is working on increasing the reach of  its Fiat Linea by exporting it to right hand drive markets.

Under this new initiative Fiat has launched the Linea in the South African market and is exploring further growth oppurtunities with sharp focus on SAARC countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and other right hand drive markets.

Fiat products have been well received in the South African market in the past and cars were supplied to the country from Fiat manufacturing plants in Brazil and Europe. Fiat expects a favorable response to its Linea 1.4 Emotion Pack in the South African market.

Acc to Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, CEO, Fiat India Automobiles Limited,

The Fiat Linea has been extremely well received by customers and auto enthusiasts in India as it has redefined the segment with its superior design, performance and precision engineering. The export of the Linea to South Africa is an integral part of our endeavour to reach out to international markets and establish our presence beyond India. We are confident that we will be able to replicate the success of this car overseas as well and thereby expand our footprint and brand identity across markets. This is a step in the direction of reaffirming our position as an international auto giant.”

The company has set itself a target of exporting 7000 car manufactured in India this year.

Coming Soon : Tata Indica Vista Ignis 1.4 Petrol with Advanced Safety Features!

Tata will soon be launching a new variant of the Indica Vista – the Indica Vista Ignis. Ignis would be the 4th Indica Vista variant in the lineup after Aqua, Terra and the Aura.

The Safire Engine in the Indica Vista Vignis

It will be having 95 PS 1.4 Litre Safire petrol engine (which also powers the Fiat Grande Punto) This will be a welcome move by Tata because earlier, many Potential Buyers of the Indica Vista rejected the option because of the smallish 1.2 Litre Engine. According to the sources, the new Indica Vista Ignis will have a mileage of about 16.5 kmpl.

Apart from the Engine, there are many new features in the Ignis which will attract the buyers in this Segment –>

Safety

• Two airbags - one each for the front passenger and the driver
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Interiors and Dashboard

Interiors

• Reworked Dashboard with a svelte music system which also has Bluetooth connectivity - as ushered by the call answer and reject buttons as well as a USB port
• Better Interiors (Abundance of Black)
• Newly designed Steering Wheel to accommodate the airbag and steering mounted controls for the audio system.
• Electrically Adjustable Rear View Mirrors

Electronic Mirror Controls

Exteriors

• Keyless Entry
• Chunky 175/65 R14 Goodyear GT3 Tyres
• ABS badge, probably a badge indicating engine capacity and the 'Ignis' badge on the sides.

Price

The Vista Ignis is Expected to be Priced between Rs 4.5 to 5.0 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

New Revamped Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo to be launched Next Week

Maruti Suzuki will launch the facelifted version of the Zen Estilo in the second last week of this month, August 09

The car has already gone through the homologation process sucessfully and Maruti is currently conducting trainings on the new model for aftersales and service.

The facelift adresses the biggest weakness with the Zen Estilo, which essentially is a Wagon-R in different clothes - the styling. The front fascia is completely new with new sharper designed headlamps, new grille and front bumper with round fog lamps.

The biggest change is under the hood which now has Maruti’s latest K-Series engine. Its still not clear if the engine would be the detuned 1.2 Litre unit or the 1.0 Litre unit from the A-Star but we will put our money on the smaller engine.

Stay Tuned. More info, pics to come after the launch.

Spy Shots – Mercedes SLS AMG Convertible undergoing Testing

This is the Mercedes SLS AMG convertible which is undergoing testing, ahead of an expected on-sale date in 2011 or 2012.

The SLS AMG will be powered by the same 563bhp 6.2-litre V8 with 479lb ft of torque as the coupe, which will be unveiled at this year's Frankfurt motor show and go on sale next year.

That should mean the Mercedes SLS AMG convertible records a 0-62mph time of around four seconds, up from the coupe's 3.8s, because of the roof mechanism and the extra body strengthening.

The pictures clearly indicate that the Mercedes SLS convertible has traditional door openings as opposed to the gullwing doors of the coupe.

The 300SL, which is regarded as the SLS's spiritual predecessor, followed the same arrangement.

The price of the convertible is expected to start from £175,000, which is ten per cent higher than the coupe.

Click Here for More Spy Pics of the Merc SLS AMG

[via Autocar]

Ford India launches iKool – Ford Ikon’s new variant – News, Price, Photo and Features

Ford India today announced the launch of a new variant of Ford Ikon - the iKool - at a price starting from Rs 4.82 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) which will be available across the country from Wednesday (August 12)

The Company said in a Statement,

"Starting August 12, the Ikon iKool will be available at Ford dealerships across India at an aggressive price of Rs 4.82 lakh (petrol) and Rs 5.42 lakh (diesel), ex-showroom, New Delhi"

It said the Ikon iKool models have Duratorq TDCi 1.4 diesel and ROCAM 1.3 petrol engines that offer "class leading" fuel efficiency.

Acc to Ford India Executive Director (Marketing, Sales and Service) Nigel Wark,

"Its new feature rich persona along with legendary driving characteristics will appeal to the upwardly mobile and ambitious customers who want their car to complement their active lifestyles"

New Features in the iKool >

Exteriors

• New iKool badge
• Chrome deck lid appliqué
• Black BSPM
• Spoiler

Interiors

• iPod compatible MP3 audio system
• Remote keyless entry anti-theft system
• Matching seat covers

Skoda to Launch ‘everyday sports car’ RS (Rally Sport) in India

After the successful launch of its new Laura and Superb in the “C plus” and “D” segments, respectively (both premium segments), the Czech carmaker, Skoda is readying another exciting launch for India, the new RS (Rally Sport) — the sports icon of all Skoda cars

The FaceLifted 2009 Skoda Octavia RS

The RS will possibly be available here in two variants: With a 2.0-L TSI engine with 200 PS on tap and a 2.0-L TDI oil burner that churns out 170 PS, which means more power for the buck.

Acc to Ashutosh Dixit, senior GM (sales & network development), SkodaAuto India

“The appeal of the RS lies in the fact that it is an everyday sports car i.e. you can enjoy the space of a four-door family car as well as go full throttle when you desire speed.”

The new RS will be based on the 160-PS Laura (known as the Octavia abroad and already the fastest car in its class here) platform and will have sporting cues in its interior and exterior design. It will have a lower drag coefficient (read better aerodynamics), sports suspension and a new sporty body kit. This comes on the back of the fast 4-wheel drive 3.6-L 260-PS V6 Superb that Skoda launched in India recently.

The RS will be available for sale here only after the launch of the Yeti, SkodaAuto’s soft roader. But company officials have confirmed that it will soon be showcased in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.

In fact, SkodaAuto is the only company to have had a true-blue “sports” version of its regular sedans here. Also known as the RS, the turbocharged 1781-cc car spewed 150 PS, which was much more than what a “normal” Skoda Octavia produced.

Hyundai Avante to be launched in India soon, will replace Elantra

After the launch of i20 CRDi, Hyundai is busy preparing for its next big launch in India, the Avante. The Avante will replace the Elantra (production of this car was stopped last year).

The Hyundai Avante

The company is also thinking about a diesel variant for the Avante. Sources say that the new Avante will house a 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engine. The 1.4-liter petrol engine used on the i20 could also be fitted to the new car.

Hyundai is looking at providing diesel engines for all cars in its line-up. It stated with the Sonata, then the i20 and now the Avante.

Note – The Hyundai i10, the Santro and the small car GB will also be getting diesel options in the future.

[via indianautosblog]

New Mercedes Benz E-Class Coming to India this October

Sources close to Mercedes Benz India tell that the new E-Class, (given the title of the world’s best looking car) which is available almost in every major auto market, is arriving in India this October.

The engine line-up, prices and variants for India were not disclosed, however the new line-up would be priced close to the existing price range.

The 2010 Merc E-Class Coupe

Meet the i10 i-Blue – Hyundai’s 800cc turbocharged Supermini

Check out the new 800cc, three-cylinder turbocharged version of the Hyundai i10 supermini that will be introduced in the first half of 2010.

The new i10, which produces around 90bhp and emits less than 100g/km, is based on the Hyundai i10 Blue CNG concept that was revealed at the 2008 Geneva Show.

Likely to be named the i10 i-Blue, the production car will run on standard petrol since despite the concept car’s impressive power output of 97bhp and 65g/km emission on compressed natural gas, the demand has remained low.

The new model coincides with a mild facelift of the whole i10 range to boost sales of the already popular Indian-built Korean hatch.

The Hyundai i10 i-Blue will be the most powerful and most expensive i10 model but prices won’t be far over the current range due to low production costs of the all-new engine.

The i10 will be first to benefit from the turbocharged three-pot motor, but will soon be seen in both Hyundai’s and sister company Kia’s future models.

[via 4wheelsnews]

Volvo’s luxury sedan S60 coming to India in 2010 end

Volvo Car is expected to launch its luxury sedan S60 in India by 2010, after the car is reintroduced in the European markets in the middle of next year.

  The 2010 Volvo S60 Concept

Volvo Car India MD Paul de Voijs said,

We will be launching the S60 in the Indian market after it is rolled out in Europe in the middle of next year. We hope to have it in India before the end of 2010

The S60 was phased out since May this year and the new car would be an advanced version

Volvo Car India, which sells its vehicles as completely built unit (CBU) here, would bring in the S60 from its parent facility in Belgium.

VolksWagen Polo expected price about 4 lakhs, to be launched early next year

VW is targetting a base price of Rs 4 Lakhs for the Polo when it gets launched in India early next year.

Worried by the lukewarm response to the Skoda Fabia the company is working hard to meet its cost target for the base Polo which will come with a naturally aspirated 1.2 Litre Petrol engine. The company hopes to sell 25,000 units of the Polo every year in the Indian market.

The 2010 VW Polo

Next up is the Polo based sedan which will compete in the midsize segment with the likes of Honda City, Fiat Linea and Hyundai Verna. The sedan will sport state of the art petrol and diesel engines for optimum performance and economy. The Jetta too will get a new range of engines by April 2010 to meet the stricter Bharat IV norms. The timid 1.6 Litre Petrol engine will be replaced by a TSi motor while diesel will shift from VW’s own Pump Duse technology to more conventional common rail technology.

The new Passat will be launched at the Geneva Motor show next year and is expected to come in India towards the end of 2010. 

VW’s iconic Beetle will also be launched in September this year as but more as a brand building excercize than volumes. The sales are expected to be in double digits only due to higher price.

VW is bullish on the Indian market and is putting all its might behind as it thinks that Indian market has the most potential after the Chinese market in the Asian subcontinent.

[via CubicCapacity]

GM planning midsize SUV with plug-in hybrid system

General Motors Co.'s product development chief,Tom Stephens says the company will introduce a plug-in rechargeable midsize sport vehicle sometime in late 2010 or in 2011

Acc to Stephens, the new vehicle will be about the size of a Chevrolet Equinox SUV and get double the city gas mileage of a similar-sized conventional vehicle.

The 2010 Chevy Equinox

The SUV will have a version of GM's two-mode hybrid powertrain now used in larger SUVs and pickup trucks.

The current Equinox with a four-cylinder engine and front-wheel-drive gets 22 miles per gallon (9 kilometers per liter) in city driving.

New Small Car from Ford coming to India in early 2010

Ford India will be launching a small car sometime in early 2010, in a bid to step up its presence in the country.

The company showcased the prototype, codenamed B517, recently at a dealers meet in Chennai.

The Ford Focus Hatchback – Is this ‘THE’ Car?

The small car is expected to compete with the Hyundai I20 and the Suzuki Swift, two people close to the development said.

Ford India is currently present only in mid-sized cars and SUV segments, not seen as volume-pushers in the automobile industry.

At the recent dealers meet, Ford gave a pep talk to dealers whose sales have been under pressure due to competition in the recent past. The company is also planning to launch the new Endeavour to taken on Toyota's Fortuner which is expected to be launched this month.

The small car will be a 4-door hatchback, powered by an indigenous diesel engine manufactured at its Chennai plant.

A company spokesperson said.

"We regularly meet with our dealers, as we grow our dealership base and are seeing even greater support and enthusiasm from our dealer body supportive of our future plans. As announced previously, we are on track to bring the new small car to India in early 2010. Unfortunately, we are not able to reveal the timing of our future product introductions."

The US auto major also plans to make India an export hub for its small car. Global markets, other than the US, will be a focus area for the company.