Ford unveils new small car 'Figo' in India

Sometime back, we had written about the small car which Ford was planning for India, and at that point in time, we thought it to be the Ford ‘Focus’ hatchback, but we were wrong. Presenting the all new Figo – Ford’s new small car for India.

The Figo is built on Ford's small car-platform architecture and shares its underlying technology with the Ford Fiesta.

Launch Date/ Features/ Price
The Figo is slated for an early 2010 production launch. Plus the company has refused to reveal any other details before the launch. The company has constantly been highlighting the design (Ford's Kinetic Design language) of the vehicle, which at first go looks a little i20-ish but surely has its own distinctive hints like the more profound front-grille. The speculated price of the car is about 3.5 Lakhs (base model)

More details & Features Coming Soon. Stay Tuned.

Its official – Karizma ZMR PGM-FI launched ! – News, Photos

Check out these images from Gurgaon, the launch venue of the new Hero Honda Karizma ZMR PGM-FI which was launched yesterday.

   

Acc to the sources who were present at the launch, this bike has the same unchanged 223 cc engine as the Karizma R and it produces 17.6 bhp @7000 rpm. It is said that the bike is capable of attaining a top speed of 135 kmph with a torque range of 18.35Nm.

New Features include -

• Full Fairing
• Split Clip On Handle Bars
• Split rear grab rails
• New Colors
• PGM-FI (Programmable Fuel Injection)
• Mirrors mounted on the fairing
• New rear mud guard
• New headlamp and tail lamp which are now LED
• Fairing mounted front indicators
• New Graphics (Traditionally Hero Honda)
• Slightly re-profiled body work
• Gas Charged Rear Shock Absorbers

Gedi Junction’s take

Now, if you are among the Hero Honda/ZMA fans who were saving their money for the ZMR, you sure are going to be disappointed. This bike doesn’t look worth the money it demands (speculated price is Rs 10000 upwards of the the current Karizma R), if Hero Honda manages to price it near the Pulsar 220 DTSi (chances of which are very, very rare) there are chances that it may become popular.

If Hero Honda launched this bike in Semi-Faired status (Like the P220) it would have done wonders to the look. All said and done, its all in the hands of the Junta, how they perceive this one; otherwise, well, its a clear no no from our side! =)

[via IndianAutoTalk]

 

Volkswagen Polo in India early next year, Priced at Rs. 4.25 lakhs

The Volkswagen Polo is scheduled to be launched in India early next year & We've finally got some info on how the car would look like.

Engine/Transmission
The Polo for India is likely to be offered with two petrol engines and one diesel engine right from when it is launched in early 2010. Further, in addition to the manual transmission, the Polo will also come with an automatic transmission option.

Price of the Polo
The car will be priced at about Rs 4.25 lakhs, with the company trying hard to keep the costs down.

Notch Car based on the Polo
The company is also working on a notch car which will be based on the polo. The all-new notch based on the Polo will be developed and manufactured exclusively for the Indian market. It will be longer, wider and offer more legroom than the Polo and may also carry a different name tag. Being specially designed for the Indian market, the notch car will be tuned to offer better ride quality and comfort for rear passengers. The direction and market positioning of the notch car will be different compared with the Polo.

Hyundai launches new Sonata/i40 in home market, South Korea

Hyundai has launched the New Sonata (aka i40) in South Korea, its home market. The car will go on sale in Europe in 2010.

The upper mid-sizer adopts the latest “fluidic sculpture” design language from Hyundai and has coupe like flowing rooflines

Engine/Transmission

Under the hood, the i40/Sonata has a 2.0 Litre Theta II engine which delivers a maximum power of 165 ps and 202 nm of torque. ( A 2.4 Litre Theta II GDI engine equipped Sonata will be launched in January 2010 which will be Hyundai’s standard engine for the US market )

The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission for improved performance and fuel efficiency.

Interiors

• Three piece panoramic sunroof
• Parking guide system
• 8-inch LCD display
• Premium JBL stereo system (Optional)

Safety

The car comes with six-airbags for safety of the passengers

Price/Bookings

The i40’s price ranges from US $17,600 to US $21,450 (Korea) Hyundai has announced that it has already received booking numbers in excess of 10,000 for the new car.

New Nissan Teana & X-Trail Coming to India on September 16

 

Nissan will be launching the Teana and X-Trail in Mumbai this wednesday i.e on 16th September. Both the models will be imported to India as CBUs (Completely Built Units) and will hence invite 104 percent import duty.

Nissan will be further launching 5 new models in India and the small car Micra/March is one of them. Other details and new prices of the models have not yet been released by the company. But we're on it. Stay tuned (=

Exclusive Photos - Special Edition Yamaha Fazer, FZ16

Special editions of the Yamaha FZ16 and Fazer with different paint schemes have reached showroom floors in some parts of the country. These pictures were taken from a service centre in Kerela.

The idea behind such special editions is to cash in on the festive season rush. According to sources, there is no mechanical difference. The paint scheme combines blue, black and white, contrasting to the conventional plain red or black.

Rolls Royce Star of India - World's most Expensive Car

Yes, you heard it right. This saffron-aluminium beauty is all set to be the world's most expensive car when its bidding closes on 15th September.

The masterpiece was originally commissioned by Thakorsaheb Dharmendrasinhji, the Maharaja of Rajkot. This 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental is now for sale for £8,000,000.00.

The current owner, Hans-Gunther Zach is selling his entire collection of Rolls’ and Bentleys but the Star of India is indeed the star in that collection.The Maharaja had it painted saffron to depict the spirit of Hindutva, and it sure is breath-taking watching the polished aluminium shine in coalescence with that saffron paint.

The Star featured revolutionary new technology like adaptive curve lights following the movements of the steering wheel and an “all weather” Torpedo Convertible made by Thrupp & Maberly. The engine is a more powerful Continental 7.7 litre pushrod V8 and the Maharaja originally had 14 headlamps put on the car to combat the dark Indian nights, or just scare the living daylights out of his donkey riding countrymen.

If the sale goes through for the stipulated amount, the Star of India will be the most expensive car in motoring history. There are rumours of a Japanese gentleman paying $15,000,000.00 for a Ferrari GTO before the Japanese asset price bubble burst in early 1990 but it has never been proven, so this sale would surpass that of the 1957 Ferrari Testarossa recently sold at an auction for £7,200,000.00!

If in any case you have that kinda money, visit JamesList for bidding details =)

Toyota Fortuner India Review

• Based on Toyota's IMV Platform (Same Platform as Toyota's Innova & Hilux)
• Lies in-between the RAV4 and the Land Cruiser in Toyota’s international range
• Eye-catchingly big and looks macho with its high bonnet, waistline and bulged out wheel arches
• Purposeful bonnet scoop adds to the looks
• At the front end, the Fortuner received a facelift last year in the form of a revised grille and projector headlamps which make it look more sophisticated
• The rear is quite attractive with high mounted tail lamps and a chrome strip running in between while a standard spoiler adds sportiness
• High ground clearance of 221mm
• 6-spoke alloys with 265/65-R17 tyres

Interiors

• Have a striking similarity to the Innova's interiors                                                                                 - a similar dash, steering wheel, centre console and an old-fashioned long stalk gear shifter
• Seats are plush and comfortable, draped in beige leather
• The Fortuner is a Seven Seater and comes with a third row
• Middle row seats can be moved back and forth for increased legroom, of course at the expense of last row space   
• Climate Control, Dash Mounted Audio System & Rear Parking Sensor come Standard
• Audio System is Basic                                                                                     - Has a 6 - CD Changer                                                                                  - No AUX or USB input
• There's a sense of quality all around, but still, there lies hints of the Innova, which is not a good thing, considering the premium pricing.
  

Engine / Transmission

• 2982 cc D-4D Diesel Engine (belongs to the same Common Rail Engine Family as the Innova)
• Produces 171 PS of power at 3600 rpm
• 343 Nm of Torque is available from 1400-3400 rpm
• Five-Speed Manual Transmission, though an automatic box is expected later.
• The Fortuner features an all-time four wheel drive with 4H, 4Hl and 4Ll modes that make it a capable off-roader.
• The engine revs lazily and doesn't feel very refined.
• Needs frequent gearshifts in the city, inspite of being fitted with a VGT
• The Fortuner glides comfortably on the highway, if you keep the revs little high and most of the overtaking is done in top gear.
• The gearshift with its long throws isn't exaclty a breeze.

Observations On/Off Road

• Being a big car, its a bit of misfit in the city traffic
• Parking Sensors do their bit efficiently to take care of the parking
• Ride is slightly on the stiffer side and irregularities in tarmac are transferred inside the cabin at high speeds. This isn’t a bother at city speeds though.

Impressive Off Roading Capabilities

• 4Hl mode features lowered ratios for better torque distribution ; that helps quite a lot in mud bashing
• The Ultra low-ratio 4Ll mode enables the Fortuner to Climb Up to steep inclines comfortably, the speed not exceeding 15 kmph

Price, the biggest winner

At an ex-showroom price of Rs 18.45 lakh, Delhi, Fortuner is a lucrative option for anyone who wants an SUV sub-25 lakhs. Toyota brand name guarantees solid build quality and reliability. What more, it’s a diesel too! No wonder bookings for the Toyota Fortuner crossed 5000 mark in the first 10 days of its launch.

Pics - Tata Nano - "Europa Abarth" Concept

This is the Tata Nano - Europa Abarth Concept which was created by Theophiluschin.

Nano Europa Abarth has a pair of fully LED studded head lights with modified bumpers.The protruding alloy wheels remind of the alloy wheels clad Maruti Zen of the earlier days

The rear bumper has got a set of exhausts which further adds to the sport image of Nano Europa Abarth. Abarth Scorpion logos in front bonnet and tail doors make it complete a dream car.

Spied - New Scooter from TVS Spy Pics

TVS Motors is armed and ready with their latest 'big' scooter for India.

The scooter is capable of doing upwards of 80kmph which means it may house a 100cc + engine. The front tyre looks delightfully wide compared to the previous models and even the engine does look bulkier than older models (at least in these pics.), so we hope the scoot is big on power as well.

The rear of the spied scooter resemble a lot to the Honda Activa and although the front looks comparatively tiny, we feel it is using a dummy front body for testing purpose. We reckon the scooter will boast great styling, going by TVS' recent launches and because of the existing competition in the market. The new scooter will compete with Honda Activa, Suzuki Access and the likes. The company which already has two models in the gearless scooter segment, the Scooty Pep and Scooty Streak, is looking at getting a bigger market share in this segment.

[via BikeIndia]

Two new Scooters by Mahindra launched in India - Rodeo & Duro

No prizes for guessing this, but the Nashik based auto major has launched two new gearless scooters - Rodeo and Duro

Like our capable correspondents reported earlier, Mahindra Two Wheelers has unveiled two new gearless scooters today - the Rodeo and the Duro.

'Mahindra Two Wheelers will design and market a range of scooters, value engineered motorcycles and high-end motorcycles for the Indian and global markets, helping it establish a robust, end-to-end two-wheeler business in every segment of the industry.' Read the Press Release issued by Mahindra. Probably we will be seeing the 'value engineered motorcycles' in the near future.

Coming back to the new scooters. Mahindra Rodeo – This is the macho one and is mainly aimed at the young urban male. The Rodeo comes packed with some good features and is powered by the 125cc, 8 bhp engine which does the duty in Flyte as well. Apart from the telescopic suspension and bigger 7AH battery, the scooter also has some interesting goodies like a colour changing digital console, trip meter, clock, tachometer, digital speedometer and odometer, and a USB port cum mobile charger to keep you connected even on the move. Thumbs up to Mahindra for this!

There's more. The horn rimmed headlights are practical and add to the vehicle’s stylish appearance. The mirror is adjustable and 'non-breakable' --- they move inward in case of an impact, resulting in almost no breakage. A unique ‘side stand buzzer’ reminds the rider that the side stand is still on. Just like the Flyte, it has the petrol tank inlet in front which allows the rider to refuel without having to alight from the scooter. The Rodeo boasts the largest illuminated storage space in its category, which allows you to even store food and perishable items as the petrol tank is not located inside.

The Rodeo is competitively priced at Rs. 41,299 (ex-showroom Pune). Available in seven shades – Fiery Black, Forest Green, Cappuccino Brown, Blazing Red, Golden Beige, Majestic Maroon and Deep Ocean Blue.

Now, lets talk about the Duro a.k.a. A ‘Made for Everyone’ Scooter. As the name suggests this looks like the sturdier of the two and has the same 125cc engine which is the biggest you can get at this price.

This nifty two wheeler sports a powerful battery, wide brakes, a large fuel tank, the widest wheelbase and a generous storage space to carry your world with you.

At Rs. 38,299 (ex-showroom Pune) the Mahindra Duro is a good value for money. The scooter is available in range of colours – Fiery Black, Pearl White, Cappuccino Brown, Mystique Grey, Majestic Maroon and Golden Beige.

Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group said, “This launch is a validation of the commitment we made last year to establish a robust, end-to-end global two wheeler business with a presence across segments. With their international appeal and powerful performance, the Rodeo and the Duro are world class scooters and will extend the Mahindra DNA of ‘tough & rugged’ style to a whole new consumer segment.”

This is great, but we're keeping our eyes open for the 'value engineered motorcycles and high-end motorcycles'.

[via BikeIndia]

Domestic car sales rise nearly 26 per cent

After a period of gloom, the auto industry bounced back in August, registering a 25.59 per cent growth in domestic passenger car sales, as compared to the year-ago period, industry data released Tuesday showed.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) data, 120,669 units were sold last month, compared to 96,082 units in August 2008.

SIAM said two-wheeler sales similarly surged 25.11 per cent to 776,777 units from 620,883 units.

Sales of commercial vehicles increased for the second consecutive month, growing 18.48 per cent to 40,624 units in August from 34,289 units in the year-ago period.

The cumulative production data for April-August shows that the passenger vehicles segment grew at 11.97 per cent while sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles declined 23.54 per cent.

Light commercial vehicles grew at 21.75 per cent, SIAM said.

Three-wheelers sales recorded a growth rate of 12.09 per cent and that of passenger carriers by 20.93 per cent.

The overall automobile sector exports grew 3.18 per cent in April-August, though exports of passenger vehicles dipped.

"August registered robust sales due to the pre-festive season buying," said consultancy Angel Broking.

"Easier availability of credit, lower interest rates and higher consumer confidence in the last few months also boosted sales," it added.

Mercedes-Benz launches Actros in India

NEW DELHI: German auto maker Mercedes-Benz today launched a new version of its truck Actros in the country priced at Rs 65 lakh (ex-showroom,Pune).

"The new Mercedes-Benz Actros will be a valuable partner for the vibrant Indian mining and infrastructure operators and we have high expectations from this product in India," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Wilfried Aulbur said in a statement.

The company has sold over six lakh Actros trucks in more than 100 countries since the truck's inception in 1996, the company added.

Daimler’s Hero truck JV buyout plan goes to CCEA

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday referred to CCEA a proposal of German commercial vehicle maker Daimler to buy out its erstwhile partner Hero Group’s entire 40% stake in a joint venture to produce trucks in India.

 

According to an official release, Daimler’s proposal to increase its stake to 100% has been recommended to Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for consideration as the initial approval was granted by the CCEA.

It's not the length that matters: Toyota, Honda

NEW DELHI: Japanese carmakers Toyota and Honda Motors have asked the Indian government to change the criteria of classifying a car as ‘small’ that attracts lower taxes in the country.

The two automakers have said that fuel efficiency, emission norms and passenger safety should be used to classify a car as small to avail lower excise benefits rather than the length of the vehicle.

The opinion of these global carmakers have now divided the Indian automobile industry, which under the banner of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), has been demanding that length should define a small car rather than the engine size. Siam has maintained that fuel and engine capacity should not be included in the definition of a small car.

Toyota, which has announced fresh investment of Rs 3,800 crore last year to make India its small car global manufacturing hub, has asked for change in the existing policy.

In a presentation to the prime minister’s principal secretary, TKA Nair, TMC’s senior managing director and member of the board Akira Okabe said, “Our basic philosophy is start small and grow big. We are looking at the small car to grow volumes in India and the criteria of 4-metres of vehicle length should be removed from the small-car definition.”

Under the government policy, a small car with 4-metre length along with 1,200 cc petrol or 1,500 cc diesel engine attracts a lower 8% excise duty as against 20% duty and Rs 15,000 additional levy in case of all other cars made in India.

Toyota is looking at a new second plant near Bangalore to make small car, which would rollout in the domestic market in early 2011. It also plans to make India its export hub for the proposed global small car project and export cars by 2012. In the first phase of production the company would roll out 70,000 units annually.

On the same lines, Honda Motor which operates in India through a joint-venture, Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) has sought to make fuel efficiency and automotive safety as the sole criteria for small cars in India. “Ideally there should not be any regulation on the length of the car in India as any good car will be based on performance and global safety standards. We are launching a new small car in 2011-12 which will confirm to Indian government’s current small car definition, but following global automotive standards would help India emerge as a real hub to make cars for the global markets.”

Hero Honda rescues Honda from skidding in recession

Japanese auto major Honda, the only global automobile company to survive the downturn with a small growth, says it owes its sales growth to the top-gear performance of Indian joint venture Hero Honda. Honda Siel Cars India president and CEO Masahiro Takedagawa told ET NOW that Hero Honda’s performance has helped Honda buck the global skid riding on the demand for small, commuter motorcycles.

“It’s true...since September last year, the entire global industry has been impacted a lot and Honda is no exception,” Mr Takedagawa said.

“We were damaged in the US, Europe and Japan. The Chinese, Asian and Latin American markets were so-so. It’s the commuters motorcycle business in Asia, particularly India, that has supported our business both in terms of profitability and growth. That’s the main reason why Honda is showing a small but still positive growth,” he added.

Honda Motor Corp in the first quarter ended June 09 of the current financial year clocked a $77.64 million net income, among the only two auto companies worldwide to do so. Fellow Japanese auto major Suzuki also drove home a positive profit growth in the same quarter at nearly $22 million. Like Honda, Suzuki
Motor Corp’s growth and profitability tally is thanks to its top-gear run in India with Maruti Suzuki.

Unsurprisingly, Honda sees no reason to disturb the applecart in the motorcycle market in India, now or after 2014 when the technical agreement with Hero group come up for renewal. “Since last year, Hero Honda has been showing lifetime records every month,” Mr Takedagawa said.

“Our business is showing good growth, profitability and giving good dividends. As a result the share price of Hero Honda is at record high. So logically there is no reason for us to split,” Mr Takedagawa said categorically.

Like Honda, Suzuki too has already gone on record to admit the importance of its Indian arm in the global pecking order. In an earlier chat with ET NOW, Maruti MD Shinzo Nakanishi said: “Maruti is definitely becoming more and more important in the Suzuki stable given that it’s net sales had risen 14% during the last fiscal, a period that saw Suzuki’s net sales fall 14% to ¥3.05 trillion.”

Hero Honda’s performance all through the downturn not only bucked the industry trend but also set records. It hit a million units for the first time in the first quarter of this fiscal. It managed to keep its operating margins up, using its tax-free manufacturing facility in Haridwar (Uttarkhand) and the relief in raw material prices to improve its profitability substantially. Its sales growth, which beat the industry average at FY09’s 12% clip, doubled to 25% in the first quarter of this fiscal.

Maruti's DZire crosses one lakh sales mark

NEW DELHI: The country's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India, today said its entry level sedan 'DZire' has crossed the one lakh units mark in sales within 18 months of launch.

"MSI today achieved a cumulative sale of one lakh units of the DZire," a company spokesperson said.

The company had launched the DZire in March 2008 in both petrol and diesel variants priced between Rs 4.49 lakh and Rs 6.70 lakh.

This follows the company's recent milestones, including achieving 80 lakh units of cumulative production for all its brands, followed by roll-out of one lakh units of its KB-series engines and launch of the 1,00,000th units of its flagship export model 'A-Star'.

The company has scaled up production of DZire from 4,000 units initially to 7,000 units a month now, the spokesperson added.

"Yet the car is having a waiting period of up to four months," he added.

The entry-level sedan competes in the A-3 segment with cars like Tata's Indigo, Ford's Fusion, Hyundai's Accent and General Motors' Aveo.

MSI has a market share of 38.6 per cent in the A-3 segment during the April-August period of this fiscal, up from 27.2 per cent during the same period last year.

Ford to up India output by over 30 pc ahead of festive season

NEW DELHI: American car major Ford said it will increase vehicle production in India by over 30 per cent from this month to meet increased demand in the upcoming festival season.

"We have been producing about 130 vehicles a day but this will be increased to 174 vehicles a day this month," Ford India President and MD Michael Boneham told reporters here.

He said demand has increased for its entry level sedan Ikon, which was given a facelift last November, mid-sized sedan Fiesta and also for SUV Endeavour.

The company today launched an advanced version of sports utility vehicle Endeavour, priced between Rs 15.99 lakh and 17.99 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

Boneham, however, said the company expects its overall vehicles sales in 2009 to remain more or less similar that in the last year at around 31,000 units.

"While things are improving, we also need to be a bit cautious ... while the Indian government has done a good job to boost the auto sector, issue like extra Rs 15,000 duty on big cars need to be addressed," he said.

Ford India last year announced a USD 500 million investment plan spanning over three years to expand its manufacturing facility, setting up of a new diesel engine plant and also on new product development, including a small car for the Indian car market.

Ford to invest $500 m to ramp up Chennai unit

NEW DELHI: Ford India Motor, the fully-owned subsidiary of the US auto major Ford Motors, will be one of the major production hubs for the parent company’s operations in the Asia-African region, said Ford India MD and president Michael Boneham.

Ford India is investing $500 million to ramp up its Chennai plant’s production capacity to 2-lakh vehicles by 2010. These vehicles, including a new small car that will debut in the domestic market next year, will also be exported to Africa and the Asia-Pacific markets.

The US-based Ford Motors, which has not taken any financial bailout package from the US government like its peers GM and Chrysler, is developing China, Thailand and South Africa, as the other major manufacturing hubs. The Indian arm already exports partially made kits of the Ford Ikon that are assembled in South Africa as fully-made cars and the Fiesta mid-size sedan to South East Asia. It is also setting up a new engine plant with an initial capacity of 60,000 units that will also be exported to different overseas markets.

Volkswagen may assemble Audi Q5 in India

Audi, the luxury car maker from the Volkswagen group, is considering the local assembly of the Q 5, an SUV. Although company officials declined to specify the model, auto industry experts said it would be the Q5, making this the third car that the luxury car maker will assemble in the country.

Audi has a plant at Shendra, near Aurangabad, in Maharashtra, which it shares with group company SkodaAuto.

“We already assemble the A4 and the A6 and we are thinking of assembling an SUV. There will be no change in the price since every product is launched already priced at the CKD (local assembly) price. We do not differentiate between CBU and CKD prices,” said Martin Birkner, head of marketing, Audi India.

Having sold 1,128 cars in the first eight months of this year, which is a 62% rise over the comparable period last year, Mr Birkner said they intend to bring in new models next year, having introduced three this year. This will add to the seven products from its stable of in the country.

“Next year, at the Delhi Auto Show, we will bring our concept car, what we call the show car,” Mr Birkner said. Industry expectations are that this will be the open top version of the Audi R8 super car, which is to be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show that starts on September 15. Also to be shown at the Frankfurt show is the electric car from Audi and that too is likely to find a place at the Delhi show.

He added, “We sold 350 units of the Audi Q 7 SUV last year and are targeting 450 units this year, having already sold 300 units so far. In India, the market still wants SUVs.”

Audi launched an upgraded version of the popular Q7 SUV earlier this month, priced between Rs. 53.4 lakh and Rs 1 crore, on road. In Pune, the dealer sells around 14 Audis every month (the Q7 alone comprising 40% of these, taking on the north Indian market where such vehicles have traditionally done well.

Electric Spark to be launched in India by Chevrolet-Reva alliance

General Motors India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of American carmaker General Motors Corporation, is in advanced talks with the world’s leading electrical car manufacturing company, Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Company for a technical collaboration and a Joint Venture (JV)

GM India will source electric vehicle technology from Reva to roll out electric variants of its Chevrolet Spark small car in India and select overseas markets

The two companies will enter into a 50:50 joint venture (JV), which is currently awaiting the green signal from GM’s Detroit headquarters. If the JV goes through, it will be GM’s first deal since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Reva tie-up is crucial for General Motors because it will offer the cash-strapped Detroit major the chance to source the technology of the future at more competitive rates.

The new alliance is another indicator of how much the Indian market means to the Chevy (Chevrolet) brand and the significance of electric vehicles in GM’s growth plans. GM has already indicated that it will introduce the Volt electric vehicle in India in a completely-imported form.

GM has already indicated that e-vehicles are its chosen technology of the future. And it’s not the only one. Ford and Chrysler as well as Japanese auto majors Toyota, Nissan and Honda are all queuing up.

Reva has just announced that it will unveil two new models at the upcoming 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show. The Reva NXR (next revolution), a sporty two-seater with a targa roof, will go into production in 2011 and the REVA NXG (next generation) will be available from next year.

Facelifted Ford Endeavour Launched

Ford India on Wednesday launched the new look Endeavour 3.0L with 5-speed automatic transmission and an array of contemporary features.
The new Ford Endeavour pioneers a suite of new design elements, led by a new-look front design with a multi-bar chrome grille and chrome-accented lower grille combining with wraparound headlamps, in an effort to create a distinctive style.
Under its new shape are the toughness and proven capability that have made Ford Endeavour one of the popular choice among premium SUV buyers in India.
The New Ford Endeavour is being launched across the country in a phased manner. The vehicle was unveiled in New Delhi by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty. The vehicle is launched and bookings are open from today in North and West region and will be launched in the following weeks in Southern and Eastern markets.
Priced aggressively, the new Endeavour is available in Delhi from today 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 (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi).

The new grille design has three features, detailed horizontal bars that seem to float in the grille opening, the middle of which supports a proud ford oval badge. The top edge of the grille features a wide header bar with the Endeavour embossed boldly into its surface.
The new Endeavour's side mirrors' housings have matte black lowers with chrome uppers - which incorporate power folding convenience with turn indicator repeater lamps.
There is also a puddle lamp feature, which illuminates the ground around the door of the vehicle as the driver approaches the vehicle and unlocks its doors by remote control.
The new 16-inch alloy wheel is fitted with 245/70r16 tyres. Inside, the new Endeavour surrounds its occupants with car-like comfort and seven-seater SUV functionality. The vehicle has considerable seat comfort and spaciousness. It also features ergonomically crafted seats with a leather seating surfaces. Door panels are also finished in premium material close to the seats for visual appeal and design consistency. When the doors open, they reveal a distinctive chrome scuff plate with illuminated Endeavour branding.
Endeavour offers two highly responsive, 16-valve TDCi versions, both of which feature outstanding torque output plus impressive levels of smoothness and refinement.

• The 2.5-liter(offered with 4x2) Duratorq TDCi common-rail engine, rated at 105 kW (143PS), which delivers peak torque of 330 Nm at just 1800rpm
• The 3.0-liter(offered with 4x4) Duratorq TDCi common-rail peaks at 380 Nm of torque at 2500 rpm, and is rated at 115 kW (156PS) of power output
• The 3.0L Endeavour 4x4 automatic transmission models feature an electronic shift-on-the-fly system for the convenient selection of 2WD or 4WD mode. The 4x4 system features a proven-tough Borg-Warner transfer case.

BMW Z4 to be launched in India in October at Rs 50-60 Lakhs

The BMW Z4 two-seater roadster which was displayed at the North American International Show this year, will enter India via CBU route next month. It will be priced at around 50-60 lakh rupees, acc to a company official.

The 6-cylinder BMW Z4 engine line-up -
- 2,497 cc – 204 PS@6400rpm and 250 Nm@2750rpm
- 2,996 cc – 258 PS@6600rpm and 310 Nm@2600rpm
- 2,979 cc – 306 PS@5800rpm and 400Nm@1300-5000rpm twin-turbocharged

The new BMW Z4 sports features like retractable hard top and sDrive technology for better driving experience. Performance parameters include a top speed of 250 kph and a 0-100 kph rev-up in 5.8 seconds.

Honda launches New, Revamped Civic in India

 

Honda launched the new Honda Civic in India on Tuesday.

Exteriors

The new Civic has a curved 5 Point Metallic Front Grille and restyled front bumper which gives the car a sportier look. Also new are the stylized ‘Dark Smokey Headlights & Crystalline Octagonal Tail Lights’.

Interiors

The audio system of the new Civic comes equipped with a USB port together with the CD player. An intelligent fuel economy indicator has been introduced in the new Honda Civic to enable the customer to achieve the good fuel efficiency

Engine

There are no changes to the engine. The engine is the same gem of a 1800cc unit. Honda sells about 400-500 units of the Civic every month.

Variants, Price (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

• Honda Civic SMT– Rs.11.80 lakh
• Honda Civic VMT-Rs.12.70 lakh
• Honda Civic VAT-Rs.13.44 lakh

Colors

Honda civic will have an additional color option Polished Metal along with the existing colors available in the range

First Launch

The Civic was first launched in 2006 in the lower D segment of passenger car market in India.

Bookings

Bookings for the new Honda Civic will start immediately at the company’s distribution network of 106 authorised dealership facilities, across the country.

Warranty

The all Honda Civic comes with a 2+2 year warranty and 24-hr roadside assistance as standard value for all new Civic buyers

Spied: Chevrolet Cruze at Pune, India ; HQ Pics

 

A partly camouflaged Chevrolet Cruze was spotted at Pune. Chevrolet is expected to launch the Cruze in India soon and is being seen as the company’s attempt to make a comeback in the premium C-Segment Market.

Specifications & Details

• Two Engine Variants – 2.0 Litre Diesel, 1.8 Litre Petrol
• Diesel Engine’s Max Power - 150 ps@ 4000 rpm
• Diesel Engine’s Max Torque - 330 NM@ 2600 rpm
• Manual Transmission Now, Six Speed Auto Transmission for Petrol version to Follow
• Hallmark C-Segment Features – Sunroof, Electrical OVRMs, ABS

Safety Features

• Top Priority has been given to Passenger Safety
• Dual air bags
• Side impact beams for all doors in case of any collision
• ABS,EBD
• Brake assists provided on the board

Price in India

The Cruze will be offered in India at an anticipated price bracket of Rs 11-14 Lakhs, nothing has been made official, though.

via Wheelosphere

Suzuki's Factory in India Soon

Suzuki Motor plans to spend about 30 billion yen ($322.6 million)to build a factory in India around 2011, boosting its production capacity
in the country by 30 per cent.

Suzuki's Indian unit, Maruti Suzuki controls about half of the country's market share. Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava said earlier this week its management was considering whether to expand production capacity, adding it would be known soon.

Source - Economic Times

5000 Bookings for Toyota Fortuner, already!

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has already received 5000 bookings pan-India for its SUV – Toyota Fortuner which was launched in the last week of August this year.

Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), Sandeep Singh said

The company expects to sell over 2,500 units of Fortuner by the end this year and trying to ramp-up monthly production from 500 to 600 units to meet high customer demand"

Fortuner has already sold over 2,50,000 units globally in more than 60 countries since its launch in 2005.

Latest SUV from Audi, Q7, launched in India

Audi launched its latest Sports Utility Vehicle, the Q7 in India, on Thursday

Variants, Price

The Audi Q7 will be available in three engine variants priced at Rs 55.2 lakh, Rs 53.4 lakh and Rs 29.9 lakh in showrooms in Maharashtra.

Features

• Voice control - enables the driver to operate a cellphone or music system by just calling out the name of a song or a phone number.
  
• Adaptable headlights that switch on or off according to the moves of the car, showing the path ahead.
• Available in 11 colors
  
• Up to seven seats + luggage space of about 2,035 litres

Audi’s India Expansion Plans

The company plans to expand its dealership from 12 to 18 by 2010-2011. Audi currently has dealerships in Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi and it plans to expand to Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur and Coimbatore.

Hyundai Sonata/i40 India – Official Photos Released

After a long wait, the undisguised images of Hyundai’s newest baby, the Sonata (i40) have been released, ahead of its korean launch which is scheduled for next month.

Looking at the recent efforts from the company like the i20, the ix35 (Tuscon) and now the Sonata (i40), you can’t help but appreciate the stylistic beauty of the cars. Yes, Hyundai has finally started getting it right. This is one of the most appealing Hyundai car that has ever come accross -> fluid lines, coupe like roofline, its all there.

The latest generation Hyundai Sonata (i40) will come with a series of modern gasoline and diesel engines including the latest 2.2 R-Series diesel which produces an impressive 204 bhp. The petrol 2.4 Litre 4-cylinder will now come with GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) and deliver an estimated 200 bhp of maximum power.

Hyundai will also offer a V6 engine. The engines would be mated to either a 6-speed automatic or 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions.

Main competetion for the car, in some markets include Toyota Camry & Honda Accord.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata (i40) will officially be launched in mid-September with Korean sales starting in October. US and Europe sales would begin from early next year and going by the fact that how aggressive Hyundai is in the Indian market, expect the car very soon on Indian shores as well.