Motoroids

Limited Edition Mercedes M Class AMG sold out within 10 days of launch

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:45:28 +0530

Mercedes India had introduced the AMG package for the M class when it had launched the new ML350CDI on 15^th this month and only 100 of AMG badged cars were on offer. The car came with a price tag of INR 66 lakhs. The development that has shocked Merc and rocked India is that all 100 of these cars found a new garage for themselves with 10 days of their launch. The Limited Edition, which costed INR 10 lakhs more than the normal ML. sported a styling package from the good folks at AMG. The AMG M class cars can be differentiated from the ‘lesser’ variant by the chrome garnishing at the bumpers and front grille and of course, the badging. The development shows that the Indian car maket has now reached a stage of maturity where the buyers are willing to pay a lot more for premium features in a car. This happening is surely a little sneak peek into the future of Indian car scene and shows that We Want More. Are you listening Mercedes?

Petrol price hiked by as much as INR 7.5 per litre

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:52:06 +0530

In a development that is sure to cause many a heart attacks and saying a lot of F word, Govt. has increased the gasoline prices by as much as INR 7.50/ litre. The price increase will come into effect post midnight. As always is the case, the reason for this cruel revision is the rupee losing strength to the US dollar. It may be noted that the rupee fell to a never before low of 56 per dollar on Wednesday. Various state owned oil companies will increase the petrol prices by INR 6.28 per litre (exclusive of VAT).

On Tuesday, Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy said that fuel prices need to be raised urgently. , but refused to say when the hike would actually take place. Gasoline in Mumbai costs Rs 70.66 but will go all the way to cost Rs 78.16 from tomorrow.

This move is sure to help the sales of diesel cars become even stronger.

Tata to hold Service Camps for Venture from 24th -26th May, 2012

Press Release — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:49:18 +0530

Tata Motors will soon launch a nation-wide service camp for Tata Venture owners called Tata Venture Service Camp. The service camp will be held from May 24 – 26, 2012, across 281 Tata Motors authorised dealerships in the country.

According to Mr. Ashesh Dhar, Head- Utility Vehicle Product Group, PCBU, Tata Motors, “At Tata Motors, we consider after-sales as a key differentiator for our products. The Service Camp that we extend to our customers is our way of proactively reaching out to customers, and reassuring them that the company in constantly involved in the life of their vehicles. It has been a year since the Tata Venture was introduced in the market, and has been a good example of a comfortable and affordable people mover. These Service Camps not only help in addressing the servicing needs of our customer’s vehicle but also help in collating the required feedback, to better our product offerings.”

Through these service camps, Tata Motors will provide Tata Venture owners with an opportunity to ensure that they are in the best of condition. Besides a comprehensive free check-up, customers can avail of 10% discounts on labour charges and 5% discount on Tata Motors spare parts. The Tata Venture Service Camp team will also engage with customers on maintenance tips & interior enrichment of the vehicle. Customers can also avail for various schemes including exchange and extended warranty.

The Tata Venture is available in 5, 7 and 8-seater options in 3 row front facing configuration and is available in a range of 5 colors and 3 trim levels, with a starting price of Rs. 4.53 ex-showroom price Dehradun).

Powered by a 1.4 litre turbo diesel engine putting out 71 PS of power, the Venture delivers an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 15.42kmpl and comes with a 2 year or 75,000km warranty. The venture is available in 5 colours and 3 trim levels.

Fiat and Mazda to co-develop new roadster

Amit Chhangani — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:11:13 +0530

Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. and Mazda Motor Corporation have joined hands to develop a new roadster to be sold under the Alfa Romeo brandnames. The non binding Memorundum of understanding for the development of the new roadster will officially take shape as an agreement in the later half of 2012. The new sports car will be based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive architecture.

While the new roadster will be developed jointly, it will be sufficiently differentiated to match the identity of the two brands. Both variations will be high on style, light weight and will feature rear wheel drive. The engines powering the roadster will also be different, and will be proprietary to each brand. The first of these roadsters is expected to roll out by 2015 in the form of an Alfa Romeo, from Mazda’s Hiroshima plant, where even the Mazda variant will be produced. The two companies are also discussing further opportunities for cooperation in Europe.

Speaking on the development, Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda's Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO said “It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time.”

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said “This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition.”

It would be interesting to see what the love child of the two of the most iconic design marques of our times looks like when it takes birth. Which of the two carmakers would you put your money on for a better looking product?

Toyota launches new Corolla in Japanese Domestic Market (JDM)

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:50 +0530

In many parts of the world, C is as much for Corolla as it is for the word Car. What with the Jap auto giant coming up with umpteenth variants of the popular car? Our regular readers will remember that Motoroids has been following the development and launch of the all new gen Corolla ever since the renderings of the JDM version of the car surfaced. Now, the recent development is that Toyota has launched the new Corolla Axio sedan in Japan. The car comes with option of a 1.3L and 1.5L gasoline motor. While the rear passenger space has increased over the earlier version by a good 40mm, the overall length of car is lesser by 50mm in comparison. The car’s turning radius too has been reduced by 0.2m to 4.9m. The A pillars of the car are narrower the Corolla now comes with a Mellow Silver Metallic paint shade option. Toyota has promised a FE of mind boggling 20.6 kmpl for the 1.3 litre engine and 20kmpl for the 1500cc unit. There are fair chances of the next gen Corolla for Indian market to be based on this car.

GM not to share its Indian manufacturing plant with Peugeot

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:27 +0530

We reported in detail when news emerged of chances of GM sharing its Indian plant with new partner Peugeot. However, it has now surfaced that GM’s president of international operations, said to popular car magazine Autocar that his company’s Indian plant has no spare capacity to share with Peugeot. “We have ambitious plans in India and if we sell in the numbers we are planning to, we are going to be pretty much full up.”

Our regular readers will remember that Peugeot had earlier planned a INR 4500 crore investment that was later put on stand-by in January owing to the facility sharing probability. This surely means that we will soon see Peugeot going ahead with the plans to install a new plant in Gujarat.

It may be noted that Peugeot plans to commence its Indian innings with a hatchback and there are fair chances that this hatch might eat into sales of GM Chevrolet’s Beat and upcoming Sail hatchback.

News Source- Autocar India

Nissan Sylphy sedan coming to India in 2014

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:27:04 +0530

Renault-Nissan alliance is getting stronger in India. They are fast expanding their line up and today, the entire nation is eagerly waiting for the introduction of Duster SUV. Now, in a recent and positive development, Nissan is planning to launch the Sylphy luxury saloon in India as soon as in 2014. The car will rub shoulders with the sibling Renault Fluence, VW Jetta and Toyota Corolla. We saw the Sylphy first at the recently held Beijing motor show.

Nissan has said that this car is more spacious than its rivals and will be powered by a 1.8-litre gasoline motor that is coupled to a six-speed manual and CVT gearbox. Other is news is that 1.5-litre 108bhp K9K diesel engine, that does duty on the Fluence, will also make it to the Nissan’s car.

Stay tuned for more info on this car.

News source- Autocar India

Honda working on a 400cc twin, a strong India probable

Amit Chhangani — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:08:26 +0530

The stakes are getting higher by the day in the Indian two wheeler bazaar. The CBR250R pushed the goalpost for the rest of the field, but didn’t quite enthrall the enthusiasts the way it was expected to. Also, the advent of the Pulsar 200NS would mean some more attrition from Honda’s 250, and a further reduction in the already dwindling sales. The thing is, the mainstream Indian bike enthusiast’s aspirations have shifted to more performance than what the 250 singles currently on sale could muster. That fact, along with a growing affinity of the global bike market towards smaller engined, less intimidating motorcycles has made Honda work on a 400cc twin, reports Young Machine, a Japanese magazine.

The new 400cc bike, to be called the CBR400R will be positioned between the CBR600RR and the CBR250R. The magazine has also published an artist’s impression of the bike on its cover page.

The new bike will be powered by a parallel twin, which will be developed from the same family as the CBR250R’s single. Peak power output from the engine is expected to be 50bhp, double that of the 250R. That figure spells ‘Bulls-eye’ when you talk about the requirements of the Indian bike enthusiast. A capability to reach a genuine 200km/h, a balanced riding posture, reasonable ground clearance, sporty styling and a price tag that doesn’t make fun of us Indians’ diminutive salaries – that’s the recipe for success in the segment that Honda eyes, especially in the Indian context.

The CBR400R- as illustrated by Young Machine Magazine.

With the recent launch of the Dream Yuga, Honda has made its serious intentions about the Indian market very clear. And don’t be mistaken, for they want to be seen as leaders not just in the bread and butter commuter segment, but also in the performance bracket, to have that desirability halo levitating right above their head. There is, indeed a very strong possibility of the aforementioned bike making it to India, as Industry sources close to us have unequivocally revealed that the Japanese major is readying something above its 250cc offering for the Indian market.

Another reason why we think that the new 400cc has a strong possibility for India is that the Indian rivals Bajaj are extremely upbeat about the 350cc Pulsar which is expected to be built on top of the similar engined KTM 350, due in 2013. Honda is currently the leader in terms of affordable performance with its 250R, a position it wouldn’t want to concede, especially in the light of its reinvigorated commitment to India as a growth market.

The earlier gen CBR400RRwas a gem of a bike. We did a comparo of the machine with a Ninja 250R, elsewhere on the site, and the Honda simply blew its opponent away. We strongly believe that a rider friendly, well priced and well stylized 400 twin is the need of the hour for the Indian bike enthusiast. And if it’s coming from a brand like Honda, the success could almost be guaranteed.

Has the real Indian bike enthusiast outgrown the 180s and the 250s of the world? Would the CBR400R be the right product for India, or there still aren't enough volumes in the segment? What do you think? Do let us know.

Via: Young Machine Magazine

BMW is most valuable global car brand

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:48:13 +0530

I might sound like a fanboy here but Bimmers have always excited me to no end. BMW is the only European brand that I rate over the Japs and frankly, it is my fanboyism at work over here. Now, in a development that has surely pleased me to no end, Millward Brown’s BrandZ Top 100 global survey shows that BMW has overtaken Toyota as the most valued automotive brand in the world.

It is being said that the former leader Toyota moved to second because of the natural disasters that have affected the brand.

Following is a list of values of top 10 automotive brands for the year; as given by the survey.

BMW : $24.6
Toyota : $21.8
Mercedes : $16.1
Honda: $12.7
Nissan : $9.9
Volkswagen: $8.5
Ford: $7.0
Audi : $4.7
Hyundai : $3.6
Lexus : $3.4

* All values in billions

TVS to launch the Radeon 125 DX in July-August

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:21:10 +0530

I admit it that I have not really been focussing much on entry level segments of Indian bike market lately. But don’t put the blame on me as the performance bikes segment is really busy getting hotter and I simply can’t get enough of these world class products. Not just me but the entire nation is busy sampling the baby CBRs and KTMs of this world (okay..this country) and the entry level segments are far from limelight. People did not really take notice when Hero MotoCorp Stunner, nay. Ignitor was launched and the Bajaj Discover 125 ST failed to generate as much response as the Pulsar 200 NS did. Anyway, despite the performance segment heating up like its nobody’s business, the 125cc segment too is fast heating up and threatening to eat into the space of 150cc bikes. It may be noted that the reason for existence of this segment is that the 125cc bikes offer almost as much power as their 150cc siblings and have the running costs similar to 100cc bikes. South Indian two wheeler manufacturer; TVS Motors is close to launching a new 125cc bike to grab a bigger chunk of the market. Mr. HS Goindi, president marketing, TVS Motor recently said in an interview with a popular TV news channel that the new bike will be introduced to the market in July-August. A safe guess will be to expect to see TVS launching the Radeon 125 DX bike that we saw at the Delhi Auto Expo in January. It will be interesting to see if the new TVS can take the fight to Bajaj and Hondas in the segment. Stay tuned for more info on this.

Ford Motor Company Kickstarts “Operation Goodwill” in India

Press Release — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:55:29 +0530

Ford is investing USD 250,000 to improve health, safety and education in seven communities surrounding its operation in Chennai. Under the banner of “Operation Goodwill,” the initiative is supported by the Ford Motor Company Fund, in partnership with its international grantmaker, the GlobalGiving Foundation. It is designed to bolster the company’s ongoing engagement in its communities and introduce projects to enable positive change and sustainable development in the villages.

Ford in India, which has supported initiatives to improve the livelihoods of the communities near its operations for a decade, will operate the program with the assistance of GlobalGiving, local NGO partners and a strong volunteer-led support and collaboration from its employees in Ford India Private Limited and Global Business Services.

“As Ford continues to grow and expand in India, we believe it is our obligation to give back, particularly in the communities where we have operations,” said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India. “Our business philosophy is to empower our workforce and give them the tools and training needed to build top quality vehicles. With Operation Goodwill, our aim is likewise to help empower our local communities, providing the tools and training to improve quality of life.”

“At Ford, we become citizens of the countries and the communities in which we operate. Our community service efforts at Global Business Services are a true reflection of this ‘People Serving People’ attitude. We are deeply committed to going further and making a difference in the communities where we live and work” said Joginder Singh, president and managing director of Ford’s Global Business Services operation.

One of the new projects includes setting up 20 after-school tutoring centers near Ford’s Chennai Manufacturing Facility and in the Uthiramerur Block to coach government school students to improve their learning ability thanks to a new partnership between Ford India and Aid India. “The objective is to ensure that every child achieves basic outcomes in Language, Math, English and Science and gets prepared to face the world with confidence. Local empowerment and a strong outcome focus are the hallmarks of the initiative”, said Balaji Sampath, secretary of Aid India.

The company is also working with The Society for Technology and Advancement for Rural Action (TARA--A social enterprise from the Development Alternatives group) for building school and community toilets as well as providing village water filters and The Society for Poor People Development (SPDD) to enable better skill development among village women through tailoring classes in the seven villages around the Chennai Facilities. Further, Ford India will execute a multi-year infrastructure extension activity at one of the village schools as well as enable better-stocked laboratories at two other Government schools.

Speaking on the program, Jim Vella, president Ford Fund said, “Operation Goodwill represents Ford’s ongoing commitment to support our employees and dealers around the world in their efforts to go further to improve the living conditions of communities where we live and work. I am confident that with this grant in India, we will make a meaningful difference in the lives of rural women and school children in the villages surrounding our manufacturing operations there.”

Ford India has already invested substantial resources and efforts in several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in and around communities neighbouring its 200,000-capacity plant in Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai. In 2011, as part of the annual Ford Global Week of Caring, over 1000 volunteers from Ford in India came together to carry out several programmes in neighbouring communities in the areas of health, education, safety and environment.

Last year, the company’s employees renovated two Government schools in Chitamanur and Kizhakarnai villages neighboring its plant in Maraimalai Nagar, providing better classrooms, new uniforms, books and bags as well as better constructed toilets and drinking water facilities there.

In partnership with its dealers, Ford India has also trained 4500 drivers since launch of Ford Motor Company's successful Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) training programme that educates new and older licensed drivers of all ages on safer, economical and eco-friendly driving practices.

Ford has also been named as the largest Voluntary Blood Donor in the Industrial Category in Tamil Nadu for 10 consecutive years (from 2000-2010) and has been the recipient of the Red Cross trophy.

Honda's answer to Maruti Ertiga to come in 2014/15

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:55:18 +0530

Only yesterday, we reported in detail about Honda coming up with a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga rival. Now, the news is that the Honda's version of Ertiga like MPV will come to us by late 2014 or early 2015.

The 7 seater Honda, which is codename 2NH, is based on the next gen Jazz hatchback. The 2NH might be the next gen Freed MPV that is on sale abroad. Powering the car should be a 1.5 litre gasoline motor that will come from the City sedan and the vehicle will come with an option of Honda's new 1.4 litre diesel motor. The future of this segment surely looks hot and happening. Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming Honda MPV.

Source: Autocar

Refreshed Spark coming our way by end of 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:39:42 +0530

Small car segment has to be the hottest segment of the Indian car market with majority of the sales coming from it. Manufacturers are trying hard to get a bigger chunk of the Indian car sales by introducing new and refreshed cars in this segment. Till last month, Maruti Suzuki’s Alto hatchback used to be at the top of the car sales chart. Now, while its elder sibling Swift has overtaken it in this regard, the last gen Alto on sale here continues being a segment leader and still is the bread and butter model for MSIL. Latest in this segment is the Hyundai Eon, which isn’t doing as good as Hyundai would had hoped for. We are hearing from the car buyers that an anaemic engine and a not so powerful AC is really a sore point of that package. Back in the first half of this decade, when Alto had just started picking up sales, Daewoo Matiz used to be a great challenger to the car. Daewoo went bankrupt and saw GM taking over it. The Matiz, obviously, went out of production and Alto’s life became a lot easier. However, Chevrolet introduced a revamped Matiz which was christened as the Spark.

Now, the Spark has started looking a tad boring and it is high time that Chevy gave it some botox treatment. From what can be made out from the info we have been getting, this is exactly what GM is busy doing. From what our sources have been telling us, while the Spark will soon sport a fresher look, there are no plans for the 1 L multijet diesel mill going on duty under the refreshed Spark’s hood. We have already been posting that Maruti should come up with an all new 800cc car as early as in 2012-end and hence, a refreshed Spark makes even more sense. Refreshed Spark will sport a new front fascia and a new boot lid at the rear. The new Spark should be out by the end of 2012.

Source ACI

Fiat to launch 100 dealers within next 18 months

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:01:21 +0530

We reported in detail when Fiat and Tata decided to split at the sales front, with Fiat moving out of Tata showrooms. We also covered the launch of Fiat Caffe in Pune. Now, here are the plans of Fiat after it has broken up with Tata-

Launch of as many as 100 total dealerships spread across 35 cities within next 18 months
Double its market share in the by the end of next 3 years
Launch of a new product portfolio with global partner Chrysler
Bring the popular JEEP brand to India

Now that Fiat has decided to launch 100 more dealerships, we wish that every one of these is as cool as the Fiat Caffes we have at Pune and New Delhi.

Mahindra Mojo to be launched by 2014

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:34:21 +0530

Indian bike enthusiasts will remember the excitement when Mahindra had unveiled the Mojo.

The Mojo's engine specs are as follows:

- 292cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled, 4-valves DOHC construction

- 26PS of peak power @8500 rpm

- 24Nm of peak torque @7000 rpm

- Ducati 'Energia' electronic fuel injection system

- It was being said that the Mojo will be priced at Rs. 1.75 lakh. (ex-showroom, Pune.).

- The Mojo 300 gets one of the best suspension elements in the business with inverted forks upfront which contribute towards lesser flex under braking and better riding dynamics. The rear suspension employs a gas-damped mono-shocker.

- The front brakes, like most superbikes, gets a set of radial mounted calipers.

The instrumentation console gets an analogue tachometer, tell tale lights for ECM malfunction, engine overheating, gear- shift indicator etc. and a digital read-out (with blue backlight) for the speedometer and fuel gauge.

- The Mojo 300 employs an exo- frame, meaning a tubular frame that extrudes around the body of the bike.

- The front blinker is integrated within the RVM, while the stout bikini fairing incorporates LED pilot lamps and the twin round headlights.

- Though the bike is a single cylinder, Engines Engineering has incorporated a dual exhaust system to give the Mojo more of a superbike kind of look, to appeal to the masses.

- The bike is shod with our favourite Pirelli Sport Demon medium compound tyres.

The bike was to be launched last year. However, owing to some major factors, the bike didn't make it to the market. But the Mojo is not dead. It is being said that the bike will be launched as soon as in early 2014.

via TheEconomicTimes

Women designers to be appointed for designing Mustang for 2012 SEMA show

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:16:14 +0530

Ford will showcase a new Ford Mustang project at the 2012 SEMA which will be held later this year. The highlight of this car is that it will be designed by a team of women from Ford and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). The group will consist of a few leading female designers from Ford and Theresa Contreras of SBN. Three design proposals will be developed and these will be published online on May 23 for voting. The winning design will be then developed and displayed at the Show.

“The Mustang is the ideal vehicle for the project given its broad demographic appeal and its ability to be customized to fit the unique needs of all consumers, enthusiasts and women across multiple life stages,” said said Sherry Kollien, SBN Project Vehicle Coordinator for Ford. “We have long known that women have more than 50 percent decision-making power in vehicle purchase decisions, but increasingly they are customizing to match their own unique personalities.”

It will be interesting to see if a feminine touch can do away with some of the Mustang’s muscles. This Mustang will later be auctioned in interest of SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Tata to supply trucks to Malaysian armed forces

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:15:55 +0530

Popular Indian CV maker Tata Motors has signed a co-operation agreement with DRB-Hicom Berhad to supply trucks to Malaysian army. The agreement is to develop and market 4X4 trucks with payloads capacity from 2.5 tones to 5.0 tones for the armed forces. DRB-HICOM will modify Tata’s LPTA 715 and LPTA 1623 models and come up with variants like the troop carriers, command post, ambulance, reconnaissance missions and others.

Tata Motors vehicles are also in use by other armed forces like that of the South Africa.

Pulsar 200NS launch in a week, Bajaj to ramp up production slowly

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:03:46 +0530

The wait is about to get over. The Pulsar 200NS is all set to hit the showrooms in a week's time, although the new bike will not be available across the country to start with. Bajaj auto will first launch the new generation Pulsar in its home state Maharashtra and later take it slowly to the rest of India, ramping up production steadily. Although bajaj auto have the production capacity to meet any kind of demand, they don't want to take any chances with the new product. Production will be ramped up steadily to iron out any glitches that may surface on the assembly line or with the product. Sources close to us have revealed that Bajaj Auto have gone the extra mile to make sure that the new bike scores highly on parameters such as quality and reliability. The company has rigorously tested the machine in-house, and just to be sure, has included a group of real-world riders in the testing process to get unbiased and practical feedback about the bike's performance. Apparently no worrisome issues have been reported thus far.

The Pulsar 200NS being a ground-up product, most of the components on the bike are new. This was a matter of great concern for Bajaj as it did not want the next gen version of its flagship brand to suffer from any teething issues. Enough precautions have been taken to ensure that the customers get a polished product right from the first production lot. However, the company still wants to proceed with caution and would increase prodcution slowly and steadily so that unforeseen issues with the product, if any, can be resolved efficiently.

The Pulsar 200NS is an extremely important product, not just for Bajaj Auto, but for the domestic two-wheeler industry in general. With its expected launch price of around Rs 1 lakh which spells terrific VFM, it will affect the sales of motorcycles both above and below its price range. The liberally embellished spec sheet of the 200NS would mean that its emergence would have a bearing on the sales of every domestic sports bike including the Apache 180 and Karizma below its segment and the R15, CBR150 and250 above its class. While we have experienced the performance and refinement of the product first hand earlier, seems like Bajaj auto have taken enough measures to make sure that the bike delivers in terms of reliability as well.

Do let us know what youl like/dislike about the new bike. We'll try and convey your thoughts to the people who matter in Bajaj.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga might become costlier from July

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:32:08 +0530

Only yesterday, we reported that Maruti has bagged as many as 32000 bookings for the Ertiga MPV in the first month of its launch. It is being said that the response that Ertiga has got is almost as good as that the Swift Dzire sedan had gained. We also reported, the diesel variant of the Ertiga has become so popular that it now commands a waiting period of as much as 6 months at most places. As was expected, Maruti is exploring the possibilities of a hike in the prices of the new MPV.

“Yes, we are certainly looking at increasing the price and we will be reviewing it in a few months” Mayank Pareek, Managing Executive Officer (Sales & Marketing) Maruti said.

The new prices might come into effect as early as in July and we feel that the price hike will be in tune of INR 10-18k.

Maruti Ertiga prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Ertiga	Lxi/Ldi	Vxi/Vdi	Zxi/Zdi
Petrol	5.89 lakh	6.60 lakh	7.30 lakh
Diesel	7.30 lakh	7.90 lakh	8.45lakh

The price difference between base and middle level variants of Diesel engined and gasoline engined Ertiga is due to the fact that ABS is standard on LDI and VDI but comes as an option VXI and is absent on LXI. Plus, Maruti might want to price the petrol variants more aggressively owing to the fast dipping sales of petrol engined cars.

Specs:

Engine: 1.4 liter petrol / 1.3 liter Turbo Diesel
Power: 95PS @ 6000 rpm / 90 PS @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 130 NM @ 4000 rpm / 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Fuel efficiency: 16.02 kmpl / 20.77 kmpl
Length x Width x Height : 4265mm x 1695mm x 1685mm

Source: NDTV Profit

Will the next gen Freed become Honda's answer to fast selling Maruti Ertiga?

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:09:34 +0530

Only yesterday, we reported in detail about the high success achieved by the recently launched Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. With a demand like that, it won't be wrong to predict the end of Innova's monopoly in the Mini MPV segment. Now, following the footsteps of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Honda Siel cars might soon launch their version of the mini MPV. While we will soon get the Nissan Evalia and Chevrolet Enjoy, it is the Honda's version of the MPV that we are eagerly waiting for. The 7 seater Honda, which is codename 2NH, is based on the next gen Jazz hatchback. The 2NH might be the next gen Freed MPV that is on sale abroad. Powering the car should be a 1.5 litre gasoline motor that will come from the City sedan and the vehicle will come with an option of Honda's new 1.4 litre diesel motor. The future of this segment surely looks hot and happening. Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming Honda MPV.

Source: Autocar

Mahindra Racing's Schrotter gets the team four points at Le Mans

Amit Chhangani — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:53:06 +0530

Mahindra Racing's Marcel Schrötter claimed a determined 12th place in the French GP, soldiering on in conditions that saw falls for more than half of the 33 starters to take the first points for the all-new Mahindra MGP-30 Moto3 machine.

It was a cheering reward after a difficult weekend for the Indian team, race-developing two of only four independently made machines in a grid made up of fully-fledged over-the-counter production racers.

Marcel’s four points made up for Danny Webb’s disappointment. The 21-year-old Englishman had started from pit lane, and was picking his way forward through the spray and past the debris when he too fell victim to the slippery conditions.

Schrötter (19, from Germany) had started from the back of the grid after problems in qualifying, and knew he faced an uphill task. But he showed true grit as he battled sliding tyres and treacherous tarmac to bring the white-and-red machine home.

“It shows that you must never give up. We are working hard to develop this new machine and there is a lot of work to do. But if we all work together we can do it,” said Mahindra Racing COO Mufaddal Choonia. .

The race, fourth of 17 rounds, was won by French home hero Louis Rossi, survivor of a leading group that was ravaged by crashes.

MARCEL SCHRÖTTER – 12th Position
We had so many problems this weekend and the conditions were treacherous. Our engine is quite aggressive, making it more difficult in the wet. From the start, it was so difficult – so slippery you could hardly go round the corners. By the end I just wanted to finish, even if I lost positions. But it paid off, because so many other riders crashed, and I did finish and it is good to get points.

DANNY WEBB – Did Not Finish
I had a problem on the grid and had to start from pit lane ... they’d already gone when I got going. I overtook one person and had quite a nice rhythm. I could see I was starting to catch Marcel, then I tried a little bit too hard, and the bike was down. We’ve had loads of problems this weekend, but we’ll keep trying and we’ll be alright.

Mahindra’s GA 10 turbo-prop aircraft successfully completes first flight

Amit Chhangani — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:19:45 +0530

This is the face of Mahindra that you’ve not probably seen. The Indian auto major has ventured bigtime into aerospace technologies and is developing a signle turbo-prop aircraft to start with. Names the GA 10, the aircraft is being developed by Mahindra GippsAero, an Australian subsidiary of Mahindra. The aircraft just completed its first flight successfully. The GA 10 is a 10 seat, multi role aircraft based on the very successful GA8 eight seater utility aircraft. The first flight took place at GippsAero’s home base at Latrobe Regional Airport in eastern Victoria on Tuesday the 1st of May 2012.

The GA10, powered by a Rolls Royce 250 turbo prop engine, fits a unique niche in the market and will suit a wide range of applications from passenger and freight work to air survey and surveillance roles.
Test Pilot, Tony Morris and GippsAero Flight Test Engineer, Gerhard Jordaan were on board the GA10 for this memorable occasion. Once in the air, the GA10 circled the airport several times for approx. 20mins as well as one low approach including a go-around.

With the completion of this first flight, the GippsAero engineering team will subject the prototype to an intensive programme of static and flight tests to gain a CASA Type Certificate for the GA10. It is anticipated that the new type will be available for customer delivery in the first half of 2013. The new plane is expected to go on sale in India in 2014.
The company is also soon to announce details of a deposit program that will provide an opportunity for operators to secure a purchase position.

“The successful test flight of the GA 10 represents another milestone for Mahindra Aerospace after the launch of the NM5 in September last year and places India on the global aviation map. I am sure that operators will view the GA 10 as a commercially viable, multi role aircraft with the advantage of turbo prop technology. We plan to introduce the GA 10 in India soon as well,” said Mr. Hemant Luthra, President, Mahindra Systech.

Arvind Mehra, Executive Director and CEO of Mahindra Aerospace said “We are extremely proud of the successful first flight of our first turboprop. It is another important milestone towards reaching our goal of providing a family of economical utility aircraft to the aviation market.”

CEO of GippsAero, Dr Terry Miles, announced “The GA10 will bring an entry level turbo prop utility aircraft to the market place enabling operators to make the not inconsiderable step of moving from piston to turbo prop power. The projected low purchase price and low operating costs of the GA10, coupled with its great versatility, will offer operators a commercially viable, multi role turbo prop aircraft.”

The Doctor bags second place at the French Moto GP. His best result with Ducati

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:47:45 +0530

Valentino Rossi is back in form! Yes, at least that was what we saw in the race yesterday. The Doctor gave a good show at the French Grand Prix which was held at Le Mans as he shifted from the third row at the grid to all the way to second spot. Rossi, who started at seventh, climbed his way to third by the lap no. The second place he bagged behind Jorge Lorenzo is the doctor’s best result on the Ducati. Hayden too gave his season’s best show by bagging the third place after spinning out initially.

Valentino Rossi
“I’m really, really happy. We knew we had a special opportunity in the wet today, so I tried to ride perfectly and not throw it away. I started well and immediately made up some positions, and then I passed the two Yamahas to get behind Stoner. I was able to match his pace, but then my visor started to fog and I had to slow down for a couple of laps until I was able to clear it by lifting it a little. Once I could see again, I re-passed Cal and then Dovi. When I realized that I could really push hard and that it was possible to catch Stoner again, I went for it. It was a great race and a nice, fun battle with Stoner to the last lap. I enjoyed myself and I’m happy for my team and all the guys at Ducati, who are working so hard for me. Now we must continue giving our all until we’re also able to be competitive in the dry. We found a good base to work from in Portugal, and it wasn’t bad in the dry here, either, although not as good as in the wet. Now our main goal is to take another step forward and make up some more tenths.”

Nicky Hayden
“There must have been something on the inside of the track just after the start, because everybody that went on that side either crashed or almost did. My jump was really good, and then just as I was ready to go to second gear, the tyre completely broke loose and the bike started fishtailing. I got buried in the pack and couldn’t see for the first few laps. Once I got through some guys and had a clear track, my rhythm wasn’t too bad. I was bringing Bradl and Pedrosa back a bit, but when I got it down to two seconds, I almost crashed and had to try again. I got to Bradl’s wheel at the end but just couldn’t do anything. It’s frustrating because we’ve got a really good wet bike. I know we had more potential than sixth, but the start hurt me. Congratulations to the team for the podium. They certainly deserve it.”

Vittoriano Guareschi (Team Manager)
“We’re very pleased with Valentino’s podium, which is of course down to his beautiful race, although it also reflects the great job done by the team over the weekend. It’s also a thank-you to everyone back home who has worked so hard to solve our problems, which we’re overcoming little by little, although we still need to work on them some more. We’ve worked on the chassis well, and now we’ll focus on other important areas of the bike. Today Vale was in a situation where he could ride as he’s capable of doing, and he gave us a great show. It’s a shame for Nicky, who could have also fought for a better position if it weren’t for his bad start. Despite riding at a good pace, he wasn’t able to climb higher than sixth place. Anyway, Nicky showed that he, like Vale and everyone at Ducati, never gives up.”

Bentley to enter Dakar rally with EXP 9F

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:46 +0530

Think Dakar rally and Mitsubishi is the first car manufacturer that comes to the mind. And why won’t it be? After all, The Dakar Rally is arguably one of the most demanding and tough rallies of this world and Mitsu vehicles just manage to go thru the grind. The news here is that popular luxury car maker Bentley is heading to Dakar as soon as in the 2013 event. It is being said that the car maker is in the process of acquiring the Volkwagen Touaregs that were a part of this rally. These cars were sold by VW Motorsport to private teams recently. The platform of these race ready Touregs will be used by Bentley for the development of the rally version of the new EXP 9F.

It is expected that Bentley will use the VW Touareg’s 300 PS 2.5 liter twin-turbo diesel motor for the rally versin of the SUV. Watch out for this space for more details.

BMW looks all set to launch a cheaper X1 in China. Will call it Beggar's Edition !!

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:26:20 +0530

I won’t be telling anything new if I say that BMW is considered to be the car for the rich. At least that is what it is in our country. Even elsewhere, you need to have quite some Vitamin M to buy a bimmer. Talking about our neighbours, China has certainly emerged as a hub for the car industry in the past few years. And they are surely in love with luxury brands. We have the Corporate Edition for the 3 series in India. Essentially, it is a cut price version of the car and comes sans the sunroof, iDrive, 6 CD changer and a few other luxuries. There have been reports of BMW developing a similar variant of the X1 crossover and the pics here shows that this info is pretty accurate. While we love the idea of a X1 CE as it will make the car a great value for money proposition, it will be an understatement to say that we hate the name BMW has given to this car that soon goes on sale in China.

Imagine this:- You have some 20 odd lakh rupees in your bank account and you go to car shopping. You are impressed by the X1 and decide to take it home. The ONLY problem is that you will have to shout to the whole world that you are a beggar! Shocked? So were we as BMW is calling the stripped down version of the X1 ‘Qi Gai Ban’ in China. The name translates into ‘X1 beggar edition’.

True, the stripped down version has to live without trafficators on ORVMs, foglamps, headlight washers, iDrive, leather interiors, 6 CD changer but we still do not see the point behind calling this car a Beggar Edition. While we do want to get this car to India, we so wish some better sense prevails at BMW and they do away with this disgusting name. At a country where buying a Maruti Suzuki Alto is a dream for many, calling a BMW as Beggars Edition will surely leave everyone flabbergasted and insulted.

What do you say?

[Source: ChinaCarTimes.com via BitAuto.com]

SPIED: Chevrolet Spark facelift caught testing

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:39:44 +0530

Now, the Spark has started looking a tad boring and it is high time that Chevy gave it some botox treatment. From what can be made out from the pics, this is exactly what GM is busy doing. A camouflaged Spark was recently caught on test duty here in Pune.

From what our sources have been telling us, while the Spark will soon sport a fresher look, there are no plans for the 1 L multijet diesel mill going on duty under the refreshed Spark’s hood. We have already been posting that Maruti should come up with an all new 800cc car as early as in 2012-end and hence, a refreshed Spark makes even more sense.

Image Source: Team-bhp.com

CarZ Opens Nine New Outlets Across Andhra Pradesh

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:12:45 +0530

We reported in detail when CarZ had announced its expansion plans. CarZ was founded in 2008 by two auto enthusiasts & experts, Mr. Venu Donepudi and Mr. Vijay Gummadi, who returned to India after a long stint at US, Europe and Middle East working at GM and Chrysler in the research division handling robotics, with a vision to establish India’s leading, independent, multi-brand car service network where cars from big names like BMW, Lamborghini, Maserati and Bentleys can be serviced under one roof. The good folks at CarZ also undertake restoration of vintage cars and have worked on popular old cars like 1940 Austin 10 and Morris minor.

CarZ offers a full range of repair services for all makes and models of cars: routine and preventive maintenance, electrical & mechanical repair, accident repair – denting and painting, tyres and services, battery, variety of styling and performance accessories, interior and exterior detailing. These services are offered in convenient neighborhood locations and offsites by mobile service vans. All services are performed by highly trained technicians.

Multi Brand Car service network raised Series-A funding of $5 million from Indo-US ventures for its expansion plans has opened nine State-of-the-art service outlets in Guntur, Khammam, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Nellore, Anantapur, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

CarZ which commenced operations in Hyderabad in 2008 has aggressive expansion plans. It now has 12 outlets across Andhra Pradesh (including three in Hyderabad at Madhapur, Gachibowli and Prasads IMAX) and 2 outlets in Bangalore with plans for a phased nationwide rollout.

Mr. Venu Donepudi, Managing Director, CarZ said, “Andhra Pradesh is a huge market for us with the fifth highest population in India of nearly 840 million people. It also has one of the highest growth-rate for vehicle ownership in the country. At CarZ our constant endeavor is to provide end-to-end solutions to discerning Indian car owners.”

Mr. Vijay Gummadi, CEO of CarZ said, “We plan to create new benchmarks in customer service and product offerings in the automobile industry. It’s our endeavor to provide complete auto care solutions to our customers which include preventive maintenance, electrical & mechanical repair, accident repair – denting and painting, tyres and services, battery, variety of styling and performance accessories, interior and exterior detailing.“

CarZ has also tied-up with several public and private insurance companies for processing cashless insurance claims as well as insurance renewals. CarZ also offers express and mobile service to customers for their convenience, where one can get their car picked up from their doorsteps at night and get it back (in case of minor maintenance repair) the next day before office at no extra cost.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga gets 32000 bookings in a month! Waiting period as long as of 6 months

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:49:45 +0530

A large role here is being played by the very mouth watering price tag. In a country where value for money is decided by the amount of sheet metal you get for the money spent, the Ertiga makes quite a decent case for itself. However, many car market watchers are saying that this excitement is due to the newly emerged hype that surrounds most Maruti vehicle and the Ertiga will manage to sell only around 3500-4000 units per month. Personally speaking, I felel that the Ertiga diesel will eat a fair bit into the sales of cars that are being bought by fleet operators.

Maruti Ertiga prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Ertiga	Lxi/Ldi	Vxi/Vdi	Zxi/Zdi
Petrol	5.89 lakh	6.60 lakh	7.30 lakh
Diesel	7.30 lakh	7.90 lakh	8.45lakh

EXCLUSIVE: Reason behind delay in launch of Pulsar 200NS

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:47:08 +0530

Our regular readers should remember us posting that the eagerly awaited Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS should have been launched sometime in April. Now, to a country whose people are not really the most punctual guys around, a delay by a few days does not really matters. Does it? But it is now almost a month after the speculated launch date of the bike and from what Mr.Bajaj recently commented in a TV interview, the new gen bike is still a week away from the launch. As is obvious, we tried finding out the reason behind this delay but could not really succeed. Now, in a recent development of sorts, we hear from our pretty reliable sources that the bike has been delayed due to a technical issue that had cropped up with a component of the bike. It is being said that the mountings for the rear disc brake of the bike were not really well sorted out initially and that was resulting in a reduction of the braking capabilities of the bike. To the best of our knowledge, Bajaj has done away with this flaw and the bike will not be prone to any such malfunction when it hits the market next week. At least that is what we and Bajaj hope for.

Specification - PULSAR NS
Engine
Type	SOHC - 4V - Liquid Cooled
Combustion system	Triple spark
Ignition system	Independent spark control through ECU
Crankshaft Type	Integral
Max Power	23.52 PS @ 9500
Max Torque	18.3 Nm @ 8000
Bore	72 mm
Stroke	49 mm
Displacement	199.5 cc
Fuel system	Carburettor, UCD 33
Air filter	Paper element
Exhaust system	Exhaust TEC enhanced centrally mounted
Vehicle
Frame Type	Pressed steel Perimeter Frame
Wheel Base	1363 mm
Length x height x width	2017 mm x 1195 mm x 804 mm
Seat ht-Rider	805 mm
Ground Clearance	167 mm
Vehicle Kerb weight	145 kg
FAW/RAW	72/73 kg
Fuel Tank capacity	12 L
Suspension
Front suspension	Telescopic Front Fork with Antifriction Bush Dia 37
Rear Suspension	Nitrox Mono Shock Absorber with piggy back gas canister
Brakes - type
Front	Petal Disc with floating caliper
Rear	Petal Disc with floating caliper
Brake Size
Front	Dia 280 mm Disc
Rear	Dia 230 mm Disc
Tyres
Front	100/80 - 17, 52 P, Tubeless
Rear	130/70 - 17, 61 P, Tubeless
Rims
Front	10 spoke 2.5 x 17, Alloy
Rear	10 Spoke, 3.5 x 17, Alloy
Max Speed	136 Kmph
Acceleration
0-60 kmph	3.61 sec
0-100 kmph	9.83 sec
Braking performance
Braking Distance - Both brakes (60 - 0 Kmph)	16.33 meters

Mercedes develops a system that puts the driver to sleep!

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:26:57 +0530

Car drivers falling asleep behind the wheel causes a lot of mishaps. However, popular German car maker Mercedes seems to have taken the findings of the TopFitTtruck study a tad too seriously and have developed the “Active Comfort” project that helps the driver sleep! Don’t be surprised for the system comes into play only when the car is stationary and the driver wishes to have a power nap to refresh him. Mercedes feels that a fatigue free driver will be more cautious on the road and also make the car burn less of the fossil stuff.

The Active Comfort concept is based on the 5 senses: visual effects, acoustic, smells, haptics and thermo-reception. The system will try to create optimum lighting and music effects when the driver is in his relaxing mode. As for the aroma, the system will also eject different smells, like, menthol to boost the alertness of the driver. The ionizer will be on duty to keep the air fresh and the fragrance of an orange will be used to help the driver sleep peacefully.

‘The possibility of making effective use of ‘power napping’ for recuperation purposes will play a key role in the Active Comfort concept from Mercedes-Benz,” said the company. ‘Some of the ideas explored in this vehicle [TopFitTruck] will soon feature on board series-production vehicles from Mercedes-Benz’.

Steve Jobs wanted to design an iCar

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:07:40 +0530

In a past few years, Apple has come out with an iPad (tablet), an iPod (music player) and of course, the very popular iPhone. The i series of Apple products surely revolutionized the way people looked at these devices and a lot of credits for the development of these goes to the company’s late founder Steve Jobs. Now, these were not the only ideas that Steve Jobs had. As was expected from a man of his brilliance, Jobs had a few ideas that were very out of the box.

As per CEO J. Crew and board member Mickey Drexler, Steve Jobs was almost sure that he was going to begin with the development of a car to wear the Apple badge. As is obvious, this car would have been called the iCar and would have been a great attempt at revolutionizing the world of automobiles.

“Look at the car industry; it’s a tragedy in America. Who is designing the cars?” Drexler said. “Steve’s dream before he died was to design an iCar.”

We so hope that Apple implements this idea of the iMan.

Fiat 500 America Edition becomes the first car to be sold on Twitter.com

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:46:49 +0530

The world is surely going bizarre by the day. The Italian auto manufacturer Fiat unveiled the 500 America earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Fiat 500 America is a limited edition with only 500 saloon and 500 convertible versions to be produced. The Saloon version of the 500 America will be offered in exclusive metallic America Blue paint job and mirror covers with "Stars & Stripes" graphics, stickers, dedicated beltline and 16" alloy rims with red cap edge. On the inside, the car gets red/ivory seats and contrasting white dashboard. Now the strange part is here- the car has been put on sale in Europe!! We wonder if the guys at New England consider Europe to be ‘Old America’.

Anyway, the above news is nothing new. What is new is the fact that popular website Twitter.com recently became a platform to sell cars!! Surprised? So are we. Fiat recently made use of Twitter for bidding for the sale of the 500 America Edition in an auction. The winner of the first of its kind auction was announced to be “Adelheid D. Kieper” (@KanzleiKieper) who had made a bid of 15,165 euros.

We wonder what is next?

Nissan readying its version of the upcoming Renault Duster

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:25:50 +0530

As we have been often mentioning, Renault and Nissan are present in Indian market as an alliance and we have been busy seeing a lot of badge engineering from this group. Renault is quite popular by now for having pasted a new fascia on Nissan Micra and Sunny to ‘Renaultise’ them. However, what goes around comes back around and seems like it is now Nissan who will come out with a new product that will be highly based on the partner’s car. As quite obvious, we are talking about the Duster SUV that will be soon launched by Renault. Renault is in final stages of readying the car for Indian market and it is only a matter of time before the Duster arrives in our market. However, the news here is that Nissan seems to have already started developing a ‘Nissaned’ version of the Duster and the Jap car maker should launch it within months of the launch of the Renault Duster. While the name for Nissan’s version of the Duster hasn’t been finalised yet, we expect the rebadged car to sport a softer front end that will be less ‘in your face’.

It may be noted that we first saw the Renault Duster at the Auto Expo held at New Delhi in January. Ever since, we have been seeing test mules of this car at many corners of the country. As we earlier reported, the latest to emerge about the Indian innings of the Duster is that Renault India has updated its website with the details of this car.

Renault website reads:-

“An SUV that is as powerful as it is sleek and stylish. An automobile that’s won accolades across the globe. It’s the Renault Duster.
With a unique design that’s both trendy and compact, the Duster will change the way India looks at SUVs. “

Following are some of the features that will make it to the car when it is launched here-

16” Alloy Wheels, Front Fog Lamps
Keyless entry
ABS with Brake Assist & EBD
Dual front Airbags
Plush Leather Upholstery
4 Speaker Music System with USB, AUX-IN & Bluetooth Connectivity
Satellite Audio & phone control
Electrically adjustable ORVMs
Rear parking sensors

Ninth gen Honda Civic launched in Thailand. Will India be the next?

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:52:04 +0530

I remember people going weak at the knees when the Civic was launched in our county. Almost half a decade later, the Jap car still looks sleek and modern but the wow factor is now conspicuous by its absence. We don’t blame the styling for this. It is just that our eyes have got too accustomed to watching this car on the road everyday and hence, its styling is now pretty mundane. The lame attempt at facelifting the car to inject some freshness into it could not help matters much. It won’t be asking for a lot to wish that Honda soon launches the all new Civic that was recently launched in Thailand.

As is obvious, the model that will come to our shores will be the US spec variant, albeit, with a few changes. This car is the ninth generation of Civic but it will only be the second of these nine generations that will make it to India. As can be seen in the pic, the last gen car’s very sharp styling has been toned down a fair bit in the new generation and this car should appeal to even the ‘not so young’ car buyers. Apart from this, some more space can be found inside the cabin. Talking about the cabin, the car gets a new dash but continues to sport a futuristic styling. Expect a tuned version of the current car’s 1.8 litre motor to power the new Civic in India.

Rossi announces his retirement plan. To stay for another 2 seasons

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:29:17 +0530

Only last morning we reported about 26 year old Casey Stoner deciding to bid farewell to Moto GP after the current season and soon after that, news emerged that one of the biggest names in Moto GP- Valentino Rossi too has made an announcement regarding his retirement plans. Don’t be scared as the Doctor is in a good mood to stay and we should have the bike no. 46 on the track for another 2 years.

Talks of Vale’s retirement started when a rumor that the Italian will make an exit at the end of this year emerged in a news daily. The Doctor, however, was soon to rubbish these claims about his retirement and said, "For me it’s very difficult to understand where my retirement news started from, as I never spoke about my retirement. I want to race in MotoGP for the next two years for sure.”

Talking about Stoner’s retirement plan, Rossi said, “Yes, it’s a big surprise. I think it’s bad news for all the MotoGP world because at the end of the season maybe we’re losing one of the great riders and a great rival. Is negative, but it’s his own decision."

Hyundai to soon introduce cheaper Verna diesel automatic

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:13:17 +0530

It is no secret that Indian car market has still not warmed up for automatic cars. One of the reasons for this is the high cost of purchase that comes with the auto tranny equipped cars. One of the major reasons for a high selling price of these cars is that the automatic transmission is offered only with the top of the line variants. Now, popular Korean car maker Hyundai wishes to change this and is working on to soon introduce an automatic transmission option on lower variants of its Verna 1.6 diesel sedan. At the moment, the automatic is available only on the top end variant of this sedan and this latest development at Hyundai is owing to increasing demands for an automatic transmission in the cheaper variants.

It may be noted that Verna is the only car in its segment to offer an automatic ‘box with the diesel version and making this ‘box standard across all the variants will further strengthen the monopoly the Verna diesel automatic enjoys.

Via- ACI

Grand Indian Road Trip superbikers complete their road trip at New Delhi

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:50:35 +0530

Bollywood star and the brand ambassador for Castrol Power 1, John Abrahim, welcomed the biker participants of the Grand Indian Road Trip to New Delhi. The six riders on their superbikes are - Sundeep Gajjar (XBhp founder), SunilGupta, Sandeep Goswami, Himanshu Gupta, Abhishek Bhatt and Shivanshu Singh. These riders and their cool machines are back at Delhi after clocking around 13000 kms through 25 cities of India. The journey lasted as many as 52 days.

Speaking about the event, John said, “The Grand Indian Road Trip is an exciting concept and I am delighted to be associated with it through Castrol Power1. Castrol is at the forefront of supporting events such as these which help promote the passion for biking and help build a community of bikers. From what I have heard, the Grand Indian Road Trip was a fantastic event and I wish I had the time to join these superbikers on their journey. It would be a really great way to see our beautiful country and catch up with fellow bikers”.

He also said, “I am particularly thrilled about the Castrol Helmet for Change programme which the superbikers propagated during the journey. Safety is synonymous with Castrol and I am personally endorsing the Castrol Helmet for Change programme since I never get on to a bike without a helmet and protective gear”.

Sundeep Gajjar said, "The Grand Indian Road Trip was the experience of a lifetime. Castrol has always been an integral part of the Xbhp biking community in India and we see it as our trusted partner. Although the journey was tough and arduous, with Castrol Power1 in our bikes and their support on ground, we had a smooth journey throughout.”

Fiat Punto 90 HP Sports launched @ INR 7.36 lakhs

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:40:36 +0530

Now, Fiat India today launched the Limited Edition Sports version of its funky little hatchback. Priced at INR 7.36 lakhs, the car gets chrome exhaust tip, body decals, chrome door handles, chrome lining on dashboard, metallic pedals, red threading on seats, differently painted door mirrors and Sports badging over the standard Punto 90 HP (we won’t call the std. car non-sports though). The new variant is available in 3 shades-black, white and red.

Fiat Caffe launched at Pune. Finally a place to hang out for car buffs

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:11:50 +0530

Fiat today launched the Fiat Caffe at Pune. The Caffe is located at the very active Koregaon Park and this alone should see to it that a lot of youngsters pay the Caffe a visit. It may be noted that we have been reporting about the Pune Caffe since quite some time now and like we have been saying, the latest boutique from Fiat is a nice way to sample the 'Fiat culture' and also to sip some amazing lavazza. Also, one can book a test drive of Punto and Linea at the location or purchase some Fiat branded merchandise. This is not all as the outlet also has a corner dedicated to various international books and magazines. It may also be noted that the ambiance we experienced at the Pune outlet is as good as the one at Delhi Caffe, which was launched in early Jan. This reminds me, India becomes the only country in this whole world which has two Fiat Caffes. The launch of the Caffe was accompanied by the launch of limited edtion Fiat Punto 90 hp Sports that we will later be talking about. The speech during the launch event talked about how Fiat is more than just a car brand and that people should bring their friends along to visit the Caffe. We are really happy that Fiat Caffe has reached the very hub of Indian automotive industry and the good guys at the Caffe should expect us to shower them with our visits. Our suggestion is that you should take your girl along and see if she can get enough of cars. At least, I plan to do that. Now where to find the girl? *winks

KTM 350 coming to India!!

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:32:27 +0530

Here’s some big news for all those who’ve been cribbing about the lack of a 400cc bike in India. Some time ago, it was made official that KTM will launch a 350cc bike in India and soon. This is not all that we are hearing. Our sources say that the the KTM’s 350cc bike will be made along with the 200 and 125 in India. This also means that India will be an export hub for this KTM bike. The KTM 350 will cost anything between 3.35-3.75 lakhs. Safely expect a mono at the rear and inverted telescopic shocks at front along with a single cylinder liquid cooled 40 bhp motor that will be mated to a 6 speed gearbox. Not much is known about this bike at the moment but we will be updating our readers as more details emerge. Stay tuned folks.

Lamborghini Urus gets Audi Twin Turbo V8

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:54:56 +0530

We finally have the engine details of the new Lambo SUV that was unveiled some days ago.

The technical specs of the new bull have been revealed and the new SUV is destined to be powered by an Audi Twin Turbo V8 motor. The car is being said to become the fastest 4×4 ever and the 600 bhp motor sure makes sense. What we wonder is why the Gallardo’s V10 could not make it to this SUV?

Going by the pics, this Lambo doesn’t looks unlike the BMW X6 and it won't be too wrong to say that the car looks like a Lambo supercar on steroids and that can’t be a bad thing. Can it be? As expected, the car comes with LED lamps and ORVMs with a video camera integrated in them. The highlight at the rear has to be four trapezoidal exhaust tips neatly integrated in the bumper diffuser. The SUV rides on very tasty looking 24-inch rims that quite mimic those seen on the almighty Aventador. On the inside, the seats have a familiar look and seem to be inspired by those in the Sesto Elemento (does not Italian names sound so sensuous?).The centre console runs all the way back to the rear passenger seats and one should find a liberal dosage of exotic CF inside.

It may be noted that this is the second SUV from the famous car maker, the earlier being the very macho LM002 seen in 80s.

Bajaj Pulsar 200NS to be launched next week. The wait is soon going to be over!!

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:06:09 +0530

Back in 2001, the Pulsar twins started a revolution of sorts. The advent of Brand Pulsar pioneered the democratization of performance biking, offering affordable motorcycles which were not mere commuters. 10 years on, Brand Pulsar, as we know it today has an unparalleled Indian fan base. So the big question that I ask myself as I begin writing this post is, will the new Pulsar, that we tested about 3 months back, be able to do justice to the to its celebrated lineage? Does it have enough substance to snatch buyers from Yamaha R15? Would it be able to carry forward its predecessor’s legacy into an era where Indian biking seems to have finally come of age? The stakes are much higher now than ever before. The Indian biking enthusiast buying into the Pulsar segment has a bigger pocket, and far more options. So does the new Pulsar sustain its relevance as strongly as it did ten years back and throughout the course of its existence? These questions will be answered only in due course of time. However, the news here is that the eagerly awaited bike will be launched in Maharashtra next week and this will be soon followed with launch at other places. This is no rumour but Rajeev Bajaj has said this to a national news channel in an interview. It may be noted that Mr. Rajiv Bajaj had promised a sub INR 1 lakh price for this bike and if Bajaj stays true to its word, we expect the new bike to give a lot of sleepless nights to rivals.

Pulsar 200NS Specifications

Engine

Type SOHC – 4V – Liquid Cooled

Combustion system Triple spark

Ignition system Independent spark control through ECU

Crankshaft Type Integral

Max Power 23.52 PS @ 9500

Max Torque 18.3 Nm @ 8000

Bore 72 mm

Stroke 49 mm

Displacement 199.5 cc

Fuel system Carburettor, UCD 33

Air filter Paper element

Exhaust system Exhaust TEC enhanced centrally mounted

Vehicle

Frame Type Pressed steel Perimeter Frame

Wheel Base 1363 mm

Length x height x width 2017 mm x 1195 mm x 804 mm

Seat ht-Rider 805 mm

Ground Clearance 167 mm

Vehicle Kerb weight 145 kg

FAW/RAW 72/73 kg

Fuel Tank capacity 12 L

Suspension

Front suspension Telescopic Front Fork with Antifriction Bush Dia 37

Rear Suspension Nitrox Mono Shock Absorber with piggy back gas canister

Brakes – type

Front Petal Disc with floating caliper

Rear Petal Disc with floating caliper

Brake Size

Front Dia 280 mm Disc

Rear Dia 230 mm Disc

Tyres

Front 100/80 – 17, 52 P, Tubeless

Rear 130/70 – 17, 61 P, Tubeless

Rims

Front 10 spoke 2.5 x 17, Alloy

Rear 10 Spoke, 3.5 x 17, Alloy

Max Speed 136 Kmph

Acceleration

0-60 kmph 3.61 sec

0-100 kmph 9.83 sec

Braking performance

Braking Distance – Both brakes (60 – 0 Kmph) 16.33 meters

Electricals

System DC Ignition

Battery 12V 8AH VRLA

GM says no to advertising on Facebook

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:03:16 +0530

Do I even need to try to tell about the popularity of Facebook? However, regardless of the fact that Facebook is rising like is nobody’s business, General Motors seems to be of an opinion that paid advertisements on the famous social networking website are not doing it much good. It may be noted that GM is one of the biggest advertisers in US of A and the recent announcement leaves us and many surprised. It may also be noted that Facebook will be soon putting up an Initial Public Offering and GM’s announcement comes soon before the former happens.

Volvo to launch long wheelbase S60 in Chinese market by 2012 end

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:57:21 +0530

Regular readers will know that the Volvo S60 has impressed me no end. It may be noted that the popular Swedish car maker is now owned by Chinese manufacturer Geely and hence, a ‘China-specific’ model makes considerable sense. While BMW has the long wheelbase 3 series for the Chinese market, rival Volvo is planning to reply to this move with the launch of a long wheelbase version of the S60. The S60 long wheelbase should be out by the end of this year. It may be also be noted that Chinese car market already has the long wheelbase S80 on sale and possibilities of a longer S60 hence, makes even more sense. Now, our car market has always believed in the “longer is better” theory and a long wheelbase car surely has a lot of luxury quotient going for it. It will be interesting to see whether or not Volvo brings this car to India.

Casey Stoner announces his retirement. To stop racing after current season

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:35:15 +0530

In a development that might not come across as a very good news to many fans, Casey Stoner, announced that he will bid goodbye to MotoGP racing after the current season. This recent announcement from the rider comes across as a tad strange because only two weeks prior, he had negated the claims of media about him retiring after this year’s season. The rider had sais, “Until you hear it from me don’t believe anything you read” and now that we have heard it from him, we have no option but to believe the news about his retirement. It is not really a nice feeling that the we won’t get to see the rider competing after these remaining six months.

This announcement from 26-year old two-time World Championship winner has shocked fans and rivals alike, We sure will miss those dogfights between him and the Doctor.

Following is what he had to say to the Press-

“After a long time thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife, this has been coming for a couple of years now but at the end of this 2012 season I will be not racing in the 2013 Championship. I will be finishing my career at the end of this season in MotoGP, and go forward with different things in my life.

After so many years of doing this sport which I love, and which myself and my family made so many sacrifices for, after so many years of trying to get to where we have gotten to at this point, this sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it. I don’t have the passion for it and so at this time it’s better if I retire now. There are a lot of things that have disappointed me, and also a lot of things I have loved about this sport, but unfortunately the balance has gone in the wrong direction. And so, basically, we won’t be continuing any more. It would be nice if I could say I would stay one more year, but then where does it stop? So we decided to finish everything as we are now.”

SPIED: SsangYong Korando caught testing in India

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:07:10 +0530

We reported in detail when Mahindra and Mahindra completed the buyout of Korean SUV maker Ssangyong. We also brought a lot of info to our readers when Ssangyong decided to make its presence felt to Indian car market by participating at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Indian company now plans to soon launch the Ssangyong Korando in a segment higher to the XUV500.

Based on a monocoque platform, the Korando comes with a 2.0L turbo diesel engine producing 175PS of power. The car is a modern, compact SUV which is designed and built primarily for the European markets. The engine is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. The current generation of Korando is a huge improvement over its ugly looking predecessor which was totally out of line with contemporary design.

Image source- ACI

Volkswagen Motorsport launches all new TSI Race Polo for Polo R Cup 2012

Press Release — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:51:59 +0530

Volkswagen Motorsport today launched the all new TSI Race Polo for Polo R Cup 2012. The line-up of 20 young drivers who will compete for the championship this year was also announced. After two successful seasons, Polo R Cup 2012 will witness a raft of changes, the most significant one being the shift from diesel to petrol engine for the Race Polo. The first race will be flagged-off on July 07, 2012 at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Besides Coimbatore other rounds will take place in MMRT, Chennai and one round of the season will be hosted at the world class Formula 1 race track in Noida, the Buddh International Circuit.

In its third edition, Polo R Cup will see changes which will make this season stronger, faster and more exciting. This year’s Race Polo has been introduced with a petrol engine shifting from diesel engines used in the last two seasons. The new petrol car will help the young drivers enhance their skills with a more powerful car. The TSI Race Polo has a 1.4 litre, direct injection, 4 cylinder engine which produces 180 hp (132Kw) @ 6200 rpm. It’s a two wheel drive with maximum torque of 250 Nm @ 2000-4500 rpm. Doing away with a manual gearbox, the Race Polo 2012 is upgraded with a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG)

This year, participants are slotted under 3 categories: Junior, Pro and Master. Drivers aged between 16 to 26 years and with experience limited to 8 races or less in the last 5 years (in a National Championship) will be part of Junior Category. Drivers aged between 16 to 26 years with experience of more than 8 races will be a part of the Pro Category. Master category will comprise of drivers who are 26 years or above at the time of registration. There is a change in prize money and fee structure as well. Prize money for the race winners are INR 50,000, INR 40,000 and INR 30,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. Fee for Junior and Pro categories is INR 7 lakhs while Master category participants’ fee is INR 14 lakhs for the entire season. Each driver has an option to refinance the fee by using their Race Polo bonnet to display their respective sponsorship branding.

“We are delighted to present the new TSI Race Polo 2012 along with the 20 promising drivers today. With the immense success of the inaugural Indian GP, India is establishing itself as a motorsport hub and we are happy to play our role in promoting the same. Volkswagen is committed to developing motorsport in India along with the young talent through our Polo R Cup program. We had an excellent season last year and we are looking forward to the upcoming season”, Dr. John Chacko, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, said.

“After two successful seasons of Polo R Cup, we are looking forward to this year’s championship with a brand new car. It is a strategic decision for us to shift from diesel to petrol as we want to offer our drivers a more powerful racing machine. Polo R Cup program has set benchmarks in Indian motorsports by being focussed on professionalism, technology and safety. It has grown stronger year on year and has cemented its place on the Indian motorsport map”, said Prithviraj Siddappa, Head, of Motorsport, Volkswagen India

OFFICIAL: Premier Rio Multi-jet to be launched in August/September

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:20:03 +0530

Our regular readers will remember we talked about Premier Ltd. (formerly Premier Automobiles Ltd.) in initial stages of talks with FIAT India Automobiles Ltd. for getting the Multijet engines for its Rio compact SUV. The two recently signed a three year agreement for the supply of the 1.3 litre multi-jet diesel engine to be used in the RiO. It may be noted that usage of this engine will enable the manufacturer to sell the diesel Rio in BS 4 markets and hence, have a potential for increased sales. This motor will also benefit the Rio in terms of refinement and power. Premier is in the final stages of technical integration and expects to start initial deliveries by August/ September 2012.

Maharashtra state government reduces tax on car registration

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:44:29 +0530

Our regular readers should remember that we have been reporting how Maharashtra is busy doing away with incentives for auto manufacturers and that these are considering moving out of the state. Now, in a surprise of sorts, Maharashtra has gone ahead and made a big cut on the tax levied on imported and company owned vehicles. The reason for this good move is that the Transport Authority has reportedly notified the state government about many vehicles getting registered in neighbouring states to avoid paying high tax.

The earlier tax rates in the state were 22% for petrol and 26% for diesel vehicles. The new tax rates go into effect with immediate effects.

Renault India updates its website with details of the Duster

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:31:28 +0530

We first saw the Renault Duster at the Auto Expo held at New Delhi in January. Ever since, we have been test mules of this car at many corners of the country. Now, Ford Ecosport should be here by early 2013 and Premier has just plonked in a 1.3 Multijet in the dated Rio. As we have been saying, the mini SUV scene is fast heating up in the market. We had been expecting a Diwali season launch for the Dacia, nay, Renault Duster and the latest news about the upcoming Indian innings of the car is that Renault India has updated its website with the details of this car.

Renault website reads:-

Following are some of the features that will make it to the car when it is launched here-

16” Alloy Wheels, Front Fog Lamps
Keyless entry
ABS with Brake Assist & EBD
Dual front Airbags
Plush Leather Upholstery
4 Speaker Music System with USB, AUX-IN & Bluetooth Connectivity
Satellite Audio & phone control
Electrically adjustable ORVMs
Rear parking sensors

Toyota emerges at the top spot

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:43:11 +0530

There was a time when the title of World's Largest Automaker belonged to General Motors. We were as used to this fact as we are to the sun giving us a visit everyday. Then came the Japanese giant, Toyota was able to displace GM and became the one to wear the crown of the largest automaker. As the Japanese automaker became more and more popular in GM's homeland and abroad, German car giant Volkswagen started with its mission to show them (aforementioned giants) who the boss is. As per various reports, these three carmakers are likely to see themselves reshuffling between themselves quite a lot before 2015.

In the latest development, Toyota has, yet again, emerged at the top. This is as per the figures of the first quarter of 2012 and the data is surely a sign of things to come. Toyota’s North American VP external affairs saud, “Although being No. 1 is not the main goal for us, it’s nice to see because hopefully it shows we’re on the right track.”. He added “With customers reacting so positively to all of the new and updated products we’re introducing this year, we’re optimistic the good momentum will continue.”

Popular talk show host Jay Leno gets himself a Tata Nano. Welcomes it in Bollywood style

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:23:11 +0530

Popular TV star and a renowned auto enthusiast has finally got himself the much talked about Tata Nano.
Jay Leno decided to bring this car to his garage in a very Bollywood style and brought some bollywood dancers to welcome the car. He himself was seen dressed in a Sherwani.

Jay Leno’s garage includes about 200 cars and 90 motorcycles with this ‘tri-color’ edition of the Tata Nano to be the latest to find a home in his garage. We are eagerly waiting for Jay Leno’s review of the new car. Tata Nano is surely going places. No?

Porsche 918 Spyder prototypes commence trials

Press Release — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:39:25 +0530

The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has taken the driving trials of the super sports car of the future a step further with completion of the initial prototypes. The 918 Spyder will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first customers receiving their vehicles before 2013 is out. “What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG.

The prototypes, their camouflage harking back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars, signal the final touches to the 918 Spyder. The focus is on the interplay between the highly sophisticated individual drive components. The combination of combustion engine and two independent electric motors – one on the front axle and one in the drive line, acting on the rear wheels – poses completely new demands on the development of the operating strategies. “They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” said Wolfgang Hatz. These operating strategies and the development of the software to go with them are one of Porsche’s core competences. Both of them have a major influence on the extreme driving fun to be had with the 918 Spyder and they make possible a unique combination of minimal fuel consumption and maximum performance. The initial results of the driving trials are in line with the high expectations placed on the 918 Spyder.

The super sports car is designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for extraordinary performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a racing machine boasting more than 770 hp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the region of three litres per 100 kilometres. Moreover, Porsche is breaking yet more new ground with the technology demonstrator with spectacular solutions such as the full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque with unit carrier, fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and the upward-venting “top pipes” exhaust system. In the process, the 918 Spyder is offering a glimpse of what Porsche Intelligent Performance may be capable of in future.

Ford Figo 40,000 km review: How well does it hold together?

Amit Chhangani — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:15:41 +0530

Enough has been said about the virtues of the Figo - the practical little car from Ford. It’s spacious, it’s well built, it’s punchy and efficient enough in the diesel guise and most of all, it doesn’t cost a bomb to own and maintain. The auto journalist fraternity has also acknowledged the qualities of the car by bestowing numerous awards on it.

Now, while a new car may function perfectly well for the initial few months, the issues with the machine start emerging only when it logs on a few thousand kilometers and the fine wrinkles start appearing on its pretty face. Most of the journalists have driven the car and have gone home impressed by this time, so you don’t quite get the picture on what living with the contraption in the long term is like. We have been wanting to drive a thoroughly used Figo for a long time now, and we got our opportunity recently when we called for a 1.4 TDCi diesel Titanium variant of the car for a review. The car had clocked more than 39,000 km, and it was just the perfect machine for us to pen this long overdue report.

I took a walk around the car to see if there were any signs of wear on the outside. The only problem I see is a rear wiper which doesn't quite seem to be in its right place. Sure, the paint wasn’t as glossy and bright as it would probably be on a new car, but I didn’t quite witness any worrisome discoloration or scars. As I stepped inside the car made me recall how the relatively high seating position of this baby makes the ingress and egress much more convenient than most of its counterparts. The materials inside, especially on the dashboard are hard wearing, and seem have held together well. No signs of any discoloration, no wearing off of the aluminium finish from the AC vent rings or door handles, and no falling off of the bezel rings. Everything has been put together well, and has braved the test of time with aplomb. However, after having seen and experienced some recently launched cars in the segment, the dashboard doesn’t look contemporary and modern anymore. The material on the dash appears and feels rather low rent and the music system doesn’t quite gel well with the rest of the theme.

I twist the ignition key and the engine comes to life rather vocally. The noise emanating from this old 1.4 liter turbo mill is louder than a fresh unit. Diesel clatter, however, is something that you have to get used to if you have decided to own an oil burner – there aren’t any quiet units out there. The A/C compressor noise while the engine idled too was quite loud for our liking.

On the move, this 40,000km old powerplant felt good as new. The engine showed no signs of ageing as regards power and torque delivery. The surprisingly linear power delivery of this 1.4 liter unit for a diesel makes city driving a breeze, asking for minimal greashifts and a steady surge from low down the rpm band. I found the clutch a little awkward to modulate at low rpms though, and there were a few inadvertent stalls before I started revving a little more prior to upshifts at slow speeds. The engine still packed ample grunt and trundling speeds without any input from the accelerator pedal could be managed in second gear.

Torque build-up happens at the 1800 mark and it’s at around 2000 rpm that the Figo really gets into its element and surges ahead with great reassurance. Overtaking is a breeze – just dab the right pedal and the car will pass most vehicles ahead of you without the need to downshift as long as you are above 1800-2000 rpm.

The suspension has been assaulted ruthlessly by the media for 40 thousand kilometers, and it shows. As a rule, any media car endures more abuse than a personally owned car. It’s tested ruthlessly on rough surfaces and several drivers, some of whom with no regard for the integrity of a machine torment it for no academic consequence. I would like to think that a personally owned car would fare better in terms of the longevity of the suspension, but the ride quality on the machine we got felt perceptibly deteriorated. The ride quality, as experienced while passing over undulations was thrashier than on a fresh Figo. The road noise too felt more pronounced. The deterioration in the tautness of the suspension seemed to have brought down the ground clearance down a bit and we could hear the belly of the car scraping above some of the more vicious speed breakers. The thuds while passing over overbridge joints was also more audible and observable than on a fresh car.

The chunky steering wheel feels nice to hold, and Figo delivers one of the most accomplished driving experiences in its segment. It feels utterly planted on the road, thanks to its long wheelbase and wide track. With its potent Duratorq engine, good steering feedback and above average road holding ability, the Figo is a pleasurable experience to drive around winding roads. We thoroughly enjoyed our 200km long one way drive which comprised of plenty of serpentine roads. The highlight of the drive was the effortlessness with which the car’s engine handled the uphill sections. Even after having logged in so many kilomteres, the engine didn’t feel as if it’s aged a day. It was dab-and-go, no need to shift down even on steeper inclines as long as you kept the rev needle above 1800 kays – an exceptional virtue in the real world.

On the inside, as mentioned earlier, everything has held together well. From the door handles, to the remote buttons for bonnet, fuel lid and boot, everything functioned without any signs of wear. The instrument cluster delivered accurate info, with distance to empty coming across as a great utility. The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the music system. The radio signal reception and audio quality wasn’t quite on par with the stock systems of some other cars in the segment. Even within the city limits, I could hear a crackling sound even while tuned properly into a channel. Secondly, some of the buttons on the unit felt rather flimsy. The central knob had become very loose and sometimes as I tried to increase the volume, it decreased instead. I wasn’t quite able to pair any phone with the system after repeated efforts and with multiple phones.

Music system apart, the seat fabrics, the roof trim, the handles and the levers – everything within the cabin and outside has held together well, and feels like it’ll last forever. The engine gave further evidence of its healthy state of being by returning a fuel efficiency figure of more than 17kmpl, even with some really spirited driving, and after negotiating city traffic and some steep inclinations comprising about 80 km of a 400 km round trip. I am more than sure that that the 17kmpl figure can be pushed up considerably if one drives with some restraint and a focus on extracting more juice from the unit.

Ovarall, apart from the low rent music system and the abused suspension (which may not be the case in a personally owned car), we didn’t find anything worth a worry in the vehicle (wouldn't mind brighter headlights though). Even with 40k on the odo, we couldn’t hear a single squeak or rattle emanating from the body. Maruti Suzuki cars on the other hand, do have a tendency to become a bit more vocal with their bodywork as they age. The AC worked fantastically well even in the searing hot afternoon and we actually had to reduce the fan blast on several occasions. With three aboard, a 17kmpl + efficiency on a diesel, along with a brisk, enjoyable drive would be encouraging enough for anyone to turn more adventurous and take more often to the road.

For a 10,000 km service interval, which would be a little less than a year in most cases, you’ll have to shell out Rs 4500 for a paid service. This would include a replacement of engine oil and oil filter, wheel alignment, wheel balancing, car washing and car cleaning. Quite a reasonable deal for a diesel car we’d reckon, though the service interval could have been a bit longer.

All in all, the Figo, in our opinion is tough product, and is a car to buy if you want something that stays with you for the long haul. A big thumbs-up to the Figo diesel from Team Motoroids!

Motoroids break the Limca Record for Fastest GQ drive

Prabhakar Rao Avr — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:28:29 +0530

Driving is a passion for these two, which made them attempt this record.

6000Kms in 79 Hours and 30 mins----

AVR Prabhakar Rao and Mandapaka Bhaskar, engineers by profession attempted this drive with a slogan called “Safe drive “.

The word safety has three simple letters of English ABC “ “ Always Be Careful” ”. Absolutely true, all through the trip their only intention is to drive safe and reach the goal on time. They were not running for the record , however wanted to prove that safety is in our hands, though you are attempting for the record drive.

AVR Prabhakar commonly known as Probiker—has passion and a hobby to know about the new cars/ Bikes performance and also a well known performance Tuner and Bhaskar Mandapaka known as BM is a software engineer in HCL Technologies.

This duo started in Bengaluru on May 5^th at 4:05 PM, drove day and night covering 13 states and reached bengaluru on 8^th May at 11.33 PM creating a record.

The route: Bengaluru Nice road à Devengereà Hooglià Kolhapurà Puneà Mumbaià Ahmedabadà JaipuràDelhià Agraà KanpuràAllhabadà Durgapurà KolkataàBhubaneswarà Visakhapatnamà Vijayawadaà chennaià Vellore à Bengalure Nice Road.

The earlier record was set by a Trio Tarun, Ashish and Prateek from Chennai who drove in Honda CRV( SUV) from Chennai to Chennai in 2009.

Now AVR Prabhakar and Bhaskar Mandapaka has reset the previous record with 79 hours and 30mins.

Kudos to the car- Fiat Punto. The original tyres “ Goodyear “ were replaced by Yokohama Tyres—Though the original Good year tyres are good, however for better performance and Grip on the road they have replaced these tyres with Yokohama

The back seat was pulled out and was filled with daily essentials like food, clothing water medicines and Tool Kits.

Such a big drive is not possible without sponsors: Thanks to Yokohama for the Tyres, Spitfire Automotive Performance for the Unichip for a better mileage, Motul for Engine oil and Shiva Kalyan for the Token financial support.

Road Conditions:

Driven on 11 National Highways and have different experiences over the road and traffic conditions:

Longest Stretch ----- Andhra Pradesh- NH 5--1014 Kms, shortest Stretch ---Delhi-- NH 2 & 8 26 Kms, However the time taken to cover from Icchapuram to sullurpet ( AP) is 12 hours during day time and the 26 Kms drive in Delhi is 3.5 hours during night, Navi Mumbai 55 Kms and the time taken is only 1.5 hours so one can imagine the traffic and road conditions.

The speed breakers set in Orissa are very dangerous, which may actually damage the under parts of the car.

Drive in the Ghat roads and Mumbai Express highway and Chennai to Krishnagiri , Durgapur to Kolkata took a lot of time.

Highway between Mumbai to Delhi is the best. According to the GPS the next fastest drive is again on Andhra pradesh Highway.

A special Note Of Thanks to HVK Kumar who stood with us throughout this ride by guiding and motivating us to accomplish the goal. He was awake all through the night to make us pass certain critical bottle necks.

EXCLUSIVE: No styling changes have been made to the Pulsar 200 NS

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:06:27 +0530

The bike seen at the dealer had a few visual changes compared to the model we had tested at Bajaj's Chakan facility and at the unveiling event. The bike here doesn't sports the matt black finish on the side panels and instead opts for a body colour paint finish. This little change makes the bike a little bland in our opinion and many out there are saying that version seen at the unveiling looked far more sporty. Also strange is the fact that the Triple Spark sticker is missing from the engine cover. We earlier thought that the 200 NS, when it goes on sale, will not look exactly like the model we had tested.

From what our sources tell, these little changes seen here won't make it to the version that goes on sale in a few days. The only change, and a non visual one, is that the bike will have a more powerful headlight. Good news then. No?

Pulsar 200NS Specifications

Engine

Type SOHC – 4V – Liquid Cooled

Combustion system Triple spark

Ignition system Independent spark control through ECU

Crankshaft Type Integral

Max Power 23.52 PS @ 9500

Max Torque 18.3 Nm @ 8000

Bore 72 mm

Stroke 49 mm

Displacement 199.5 cc

Fuel system Carburettor, UCD 33

Air filter Paper element

Exhaust system Exhaust TEC enhanced centrally mounted

Vehicle

Frame Type Pressed steel Perimeter Frame

Wheel Base 1363 mm

Length x height x width 2017 mm x 1195 mm x 804 mm

Seat ht-Rider 805 mm

Ground Clearance 167 mm

Vehicle Kerb weight 145 kg

FAW/RAW 72/73 kg

Fuel Tank capacity 12 L

Suspension

Front suspension Telescopic Front Fork with Antifriction Bush Dia 37

Rear Suspension Nitrox Mono Shock Absorber with piggy back gas canister

Brakes – type

Front Petal Disc with floating caliper

Rear Petal Disc with floating caliper

Brake Size

Front Dia 280 mm Disc

Rear Dia 230 mm Disc

Tyres

Front 100/80 – 17, 52 P, Tubeless

Rear 130/70 – 17, 61 P, Tubeless

Rims

Front 10 spoke 2.5 x 17, Alloy

Rear 10 Spoke, 3.5 x 17, Alloy

Max Speed 136 Kmph

Acceleration

0-60 kmph 3.61 sec

0-100 kmph 9.83 sec

Braking performance

Braking Distance – Both brakes (60 – 0 Kmph) 16.33 meters

Electricals

System DC Ignition

Battery 12V 8AH VRLA

Team Williams victory celebrations cut short due to fire in pits

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:26:23 +0530

Lady luck played perfect spoilsport to the Team William F1’s victory at Spanish Grand Prix. The incident took place during the victory photoshoot after the race. The fire gave minor injuries to as many as 31 persons and 7 persons had to be shifted to a hospital. The fire didn’t spare Bruno Senna's $1.6 million F1 car.

Williams F1 Team says that an explosion in the fuel storage area is the reason for that fire. FIA, however, is busy investigating the incident further. It indeed is sad and unfortunate that the team’s first victory in 8 years co incided with this fire accident. The next F1 race is in Monaco in just 3 days and the team might not be able to participate.

General Motors comes up with a Mini SUV

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:08:29 +0530

The compact SUV scene is certainly heating up at an aggressive pace. We have the dated Premier Rio on sale in India and the Ford Ecosport is just around the corner. And joining these will be the likes of Mahindra Mini Xylo MPV. We also have the news of the Indian utility vehicle manufacturer working on a Mahindra XUV 300. We were the first one to report that GM too might soon come up with its version of a mini SUV. Now, Chevrolet recently confirmed its plans of a compact SUV. Here we have an image of the Opel version of the car and the Chevy doesn’t looks too different. The image shows that there surely is some resemblance with the Captiva. It may be noted that we reported in detail about the Maruti Suzuki Concept XA Alpha from the Auto Expo and there surely are chances of a great future war between all these manufacturers. The Chevrolet version is called the Trax but we expect it to come with a different name if it hits the Indian mart.

Honda launches new Strategic Corporate Direction

Press Release — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:36:17 +0530

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), the only two-wheeler company of Honda in India, today launched its India specific three pronged Corporate Direction at a high voltage event in Delhi.

Launching the new Corporate Direction among an audience consisting of elated dealers, Honda associates and media; Mr. Keita Muramatsu - President & CEO, HMSI elaborated Honda’s vision to Communicate through its rational Indian brand slogan ‘Sach Kar Denge Sapne’, Connect emotionally with customers of all demographics and psychographics by associating with a iconic Brand Ambassador – self made Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Create new benchmark with Dream Yuga – Honda’s foray into mass motorcycle segment.

Customers comes first with ‘Sach Kar Denge Sapne’

A country where a billion people carry dreams in their hearts, the spirit of Honda’s global brand slogan “The Power of Dreams” will be brought alive by its India specific Brand Identity “Sach Kardenge Sapne”. The slogan recognizes India as the center of global two-wheeler business for the coming times, expresses Honda’s vision and our intentions towards the future: ‘To share our dreams with others and make them a reality’.

Brand Connect with Akshay Kumar

Acting on its strategy to connect with the masses, Honda has roped in the original Khiladi and successful Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. In his unique sense, Akshay has both emotionally touched and rationally inspired a generation of young Indians to become Achievers. Akshay captures the essence of Brand Honda as he truly personifies individual dedication and passion to achieve our deepest and most significant Dreams.

With over 100 films to his credit and a repertoire from action films to family shows, Akshay has amassed mass following across the length & breadth of India. Honda’s association with Akshay Kumar will be symbiotic as both are driven by ‘The Power of Dreams’.

Dream Yuga

Honda’s founder Soichiro Honda realized many dreams with launch of Honda’s 1st mass motorcycle – Dream D in 1949. Since then, Honda has launched series of successful Dream models globally. With a rich legacy over 50 years, Honda has today launched the legendary Dream. With Dream Yuga launched, Honda has unleashed its first big step towards mass mobility in India. Dream Yuga is a true India specific mass motorcyclewhich fulfils customer needs.

In the heart of Dream Yuga is a refined 110cc Honda engine which delivers an astonishing 8.5 BHP @ 7500 RPM coupled with great mileage of 72 km/ltr* that too at a very affordable price. *(mileage based on internal Honda test ride mode that is close to actual city riding conditions)

The bike’s engine is equipped with several cutting edge technologies like the ‘Honda Intelligent Ignition Control System’ which changes ignition timings to attain ideal combustion, leading to improved power output and efficiency.

Decent style of Dream Yuga is loaded with a host of features like impressive exhaust, black colour grab rail,attractive graphics, realistic meter console and tail light along with tempting alloy wheels.

Along with the style and economy, Dream Yuga is specially developed for Indian customers, keeping in mind their practical commuting needs. Making Dream Yuga the best choice of daily commuting are its features like long seat, full gear lever and full chain case.

The tubeless tyres / tuff up tube options, viscous air filter and maintenance free battery in Dream Yuga significantly increase the durability of this mass motorcycle.

Dream Yuga is comfortable to ride not only on smooth roads, but is equally good in difficult terrains. This superb comfort is provided by the Light weight yet sturdy frame, longer suspension stroke and comfortable riding posture.

Showcasing next leap in technology and features befitting motorcycles of far higher segments, Dream Yuga comes at extremely attractive starting price of Rs. 44,642 (Ex-Showroom, Delhi).

Starting May’12 end, Dream Yuga is available for sale in three variants- Kick/Drum/Spoke, Kick/ Drum/Alloy and Self/ Drum/Alloy. The motorcycle comes in 5 exciting colors: Black, Monsoon Grey Metallic, Alpha Red Metallic, Force Silver Metallic & Maple Brown Metallic.

Excerpts from the Company:

Launching the all new three pronged strategy, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd -Mr. Keita Muramatsu said “The New Corporate Direction is a step forward towards Honda’s objective to attain leadership position in India. We are delighted to have Akshay Kumar as new Brand Ambassador as he personifies Honda’s philosophy of Sach Kardenge Sapne and captures the imagination of Indian customers. With him on board, we will touch the heart of young India! ”

Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Mr. Yadvinder S. Guleria said, “Entering a New Era, Honda is committed to serve two-wheeler customers across every segment in India. In line with its development concept of a ”True India specific mass motorcycle”, Dream Yuga at its attractive price is ideal for those who desire a robust, reliable, easy to maintain, highly fuel efficient yet stylish bike. We are confident that Dream Yuga will be huge success and create a new benchmark for mass mobility in India.”

Associating with the Most Trusted Brand in India, Honda’s new Brand Ambassador – Mr. Akshay Kumar said,“Honda as the World’s No. 1 motorcycle maker carries with it a legacy of customer oriented products from 50cc to 1800cc and goodwill of over 200 million customers worldwide. I am deeply impressed by Honda’s vision and proud to associate with this young and vibrant Brand that is innovative, technologically advanced and committed to society.”

Fiat to unveil Punto 90 hp sports on 18th May

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:04:00 +0530

I have always been a fan of the Fiat Punto. Reason being some really well sorted out driving dynamics, a good diesel motor, decently equipped cabin and all this with an exterior styling that shouts how well Italians know to design their cars. Imagine my excitement when Fiat launched the 90 hp version of its Punto diesel. Suddenly, services of Petes tuning chip was not required and the car surely made a good case for itself as a nice option for those looking for a potent and sporty hatch. Now, the car enthusiasts are all set to get another treat from Fiat India as it will soon launch the sports version of its funky little hatchback. Our sources are saying that this car will command a premium of about INR 30k over the standard Punto 90 hp and will come with a few additional features. The sports variant of the car will come with chrome exhaust tip, body decals, chrome lining on dashboard and will be available in 3 shades-black, white and red.confirmed. More details on this variant are currently unknown but expect us to come up with a full fledged report on the car once it is unveiled on 18th of this month. Stay tuned folks.

Fiat to launch Fiat Caffe in Pune on 18th!

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:40:31 +0530

Our regular readers will remember how excited we were when Fiat announced its plans to launch Fiat Caffe at Pune & Delhi. While we visited the Caffe at Delhi, we could do nothing but eagerly await the launch of the Caffe in Pune. Fiat is finally taking Indian market seriously and our nation will be the first one to have more than one Fiat Caffes. It is being said Indian will have as many as 20 Fiat Caffes. Now, these Caffes have the entire line up of Fiat cars showcased and provide you with an option to book a test drive for yourself. This is not all as the new outlet will be seen having some brilliant ambiance and awesome Lavazza on offer. And as if this all is not enough, the Caffe should also be seen having a mini library of sorts with a good collection of books on car design and some international magazines. This should be THE place if coffee, cars and conversations have always been a recipe for good times as per you. And needless to say, I finally have a proper place to go to when I take some pretty face on a date with me here in Pune. The Fiat Caffe will be launched on 18th this month and is situated at Koregaon Park.

Mahindra Officially Introduce Thar A/C, unveil their 2012 Adventure calender

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:16:43 +0530

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd today officially introduced the AC version of their Thar off-roader. We had already informed you about the development a few weeks back when Mahindra updated their Facebook page with the images of the new variant and launched the site for the same. The company, however, has made an official announcement in presence of senior officials only today. The new Thar CRDe 4X4 BS4, with AC is now available at a price of Rs. 6.75 lacs (ex-showroom Mumbai)

The Thar CRDe now comes factory fitted with an air-conditioner/heater. The Thar CRDe also gets a digital immobiliser which safeguards against theft. M&M also unveiled the Thar Expedition, a customized variant of the AC Thar, geared to traverse any terrain. This off-road specific Thar boasts of specialized enhancements such as the custom made front bulbar with an integrated electric winch, rock sliders, snorkel, expedition carrier and roll cage amongst other features, to boost its off-road capability.

Speaking at the launch of the New Cool Thar, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Senior Vice President - Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “We are always responsive towards evolving customer needs and the launch of the New Cool Thar (AC) is a step towards giving our customers utmost comfort while they navigate through challenging terrains. This further leverages the changing aspirations and lifestyles of the upwardly mobile Indian consumer without compromising on comfort.”

Mahindra also unveiled the Adventure calendar for the upcoming Season. A unique concept to showcase the tough and rugged DNA of Mahindra vehicles, Mahindra Adventure functions as an umbrella brand with a series of adventure and motor sports events under it. Here's a snapshot of what Mahindra will be doing with their Adventure initiative for the rest of the year.

Starting June, Mahindra Adventure will unleash a series of events throughout the year which can broadly be categorized as:

Great Escapes
Challenges
Multi-Day Escapes

In addition to last year’s multi-day escapes, such as the Monastery Escape (10 days) & Royal New Year Escape (6 days) one can also experience the Tri-Nation Escape (Bhutan, India & Nepal- 14 days), Authentic Goa (6 days) & Wildlife Escape (6 days). These multi-day escapes celebrate incredible India and the sub-continent by traversing to exotic and unexplored locations, thereby bringing the concept of ‘Adventure/Driving experience’ to a larger audience. Like in Season 1, those who do not own Mahindra vehicles can also participate in these events, thanks to a well kept ‘adventure-ready’ fleet of vehicles, at a nominal fee.

The Mahindra Adventure team has stormed into the motor sports arena by teaming with three times National Champion and APRC (Asia Pacific Rally Championship) winning driver, Gaurav Gill and INRC (Indian National Rally Championship) winning driver, Lohitt Urs. Recently it has also signed on the well known rally driver Sunny Sidhu, to further consolidate its position in the motor sport space. Having swept all top positions in Dakshin Dare Rally 2012, the team is all set to enter official teams in some of India’s most popular motorsport events including Mughal Rally, Raid de Himalaya and Dessert Storm amongst others.

Also new is the concept of an all-India off-road championship in the form of ‘Off-Roading Trophy’. Great Escape participants who opt for the Trophy will be judged and selected to participate in this ultimate off-road challenge.

Today the popularity of Mahindra Adventure can be gauged by its fan base on Facebook which has crossed 6.3 lakhs. To further strengthen its dominance in the digital space the Mahindra Adventure team has unveiled their e-magazine, ‘Get Lost’, India’s first digital magazine on Adventure.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Senior Vice President - Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “After the successful run of Mahindra Adventure Season 1, we are all geared to unveil the new season that promises even more thrills for the adventure seeker. The ‘Off-Roading Trophy’ and international events make the Season 2 even more exciting and will go a long way in showcasing the tough and rugged capability of our range of vehicles’.

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters hires Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:48:26 +0530

At the launch of its first mass market motorcycle, Dream Yuga, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India made two other important announcements as well. The first of these was to bring famous Bollywood actor, ‘Khiladi’ Akshay Kumar on board as the brand’s brand ambassador for India.

Akshay Kumar has been roped in by Honda as a part of its strategy to connect with the masses. The company believes that Akshay has both emotionally touched and rationally inspired a generation of young Indians to become Achievers in a unique sense. The think tank at Honda believes that Akshay captures the essence of Brand Honda.

The company, in its official statement said “With over 100 films to his credit and a repertoire from action films to family shows, Akshay has amassed mass following across the length & breadth of India. Honda’s association with Akshay Kumar will be symbiotic as both are driven by ‘The Power of Dreams’.”

Associating with Honda, Mr. Akshay Kumar said, “Honda as the World’s No. 1 motorcycle maker carries with it a legacy of customer oriented products from 50cc to 1800cc and goodwill of over 200 million customers worldwide. I am deeply impressed by Honda’s vision and proud to associate with this young and vibrant Brand that is innovative, technologically advanced and committed to society.”

The second announcement was about Honda’s vision to Communicate through its rational Indian brand slogan ‘Sach Kar Denge Sapne’. The new brand position, according to the company will connect emotionally with customers of all demographics and psychographic.

The spirit of Honda’s global brand slogan “The Power of Dreams” will be brought alive by its India specific Brand Identity “Sach Kardenge Sapne”. The slogan recognizes India as the center of global two-wheeler business for the coming times, expresses Honda’s vision and our intentions towards the future: ‘To share our dreams with others and make them a reality’.

Honda has really taken a big leap into the all-important commuter motorcycle segment in the Indian two-wheeler market. We have seen the engineering and marketing prowess of brand Honda in India for more than 30 years now, and are quite sure that today’s happenings must have sent chilly shivers down the spines of the lines of TVS, Bajaj and most important Hero Motocorp.

What do you think? Will Honda’s sales volumes grow drastically in India this point on? Or will the whole hoopla surrounding the Dream Yuga fizzle away with time? Do you think Honda has what it takes to displace Hero Motocorp from the No.1 position? How much time will it take for them, according to you, if that’s possible? Do let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

SPOTTED: The 40 kmpl car - Tata Nano Diesel

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:52:34 +0530

News keeps pouring of people spotting a diesel Nano under testing around Pune and as if the excitement was already not huge, we stumble upon this piece of info that talks about an astonishing mileage of 40 kmpl from the oil burner version of this super compact. Yeah, you read it correct, a mileage figure of 40 kilometers per liter!! Anything like this is sure to easily be the ultimate answer to the 'average kitna hai?' factor our market is famous for. Come to think of it, the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi that is in use by me these days hardly touches 40 kmpl. What further makes the deal sweeter is the fact that diesel is almost 33% cheaper to buy than petrol. So basically, you get a car that is cheaper to run than a bike and on doing some basic mathematics, the running cost will turn out to be very close to merely being 1 Rs./ kilometer. The powerplant is a a 700cc and 2 cylinder in configuration and coupled with the 15 liter fuel tank, Nano should a range of about 600 kms. Now, the source of this exciting news:

“We have worked with Tata Motors for Nano’s petrol version and we are working with it for the diesel version too. The car has a two-cylinder, 700cc engine which develops healthy power without compromising on fuel economy. Although official test figures have not been revealed, we expect it to run 40 km on one litre of diesel,” a Bosch India executive working on the Nano diesel project, said.

Now, Nano might not reward it's user with 40km/l on a regular basis but we expect it to be quite close to the proclaimed figure.If this cannot give a boost to Nano's sales, we do not know what can.

Recently, images of a Tata Nano diesel being tested on roads have surfaced again on internet. It is being said that Tata is reworking the front and rear bumpers and an intercooler or radiator might end up at the front. The people who spotted this car also state that the exhaust pipe was seen emerging on the right side of the rear instead of the central position seen on the Nano on sale currently.

Images Courtesy: Motorbash.com

Ferrari to unveil the Enzo successor by end of 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:45:55 +0530

We earlier reported that Ferrari is busy planning the development of a successor to the mighty Enzo. Although, the good folks at Maranello based supercar manufacturer have not said anything yet, spy shots of the car have started doing rounds of the web world. The Enzo successor should have a mind boggling power figure of 920 horsepower. This supercar is being officially called as the F70.

Ferrari F70 will come with a gigantic 7.3 liter V12 engine that will be based on the 620 GT (F620) motor. There also are rumors that the F70 will come with the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) as seen on Formula 1 cars. This also means that the car will get an extra 120 HP.

It is also being said that the Ferrari F70 will tip the scales at a light 1,134 kg (2,500 lbs) and that simply means the car will be smoking a lot very hyper cars.

In the recent development, Ferrari has confirmed that it will unveil the F70 by the end of 2012.

Honda launches Dream Yuga 110 @ INR 44642

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:33:48 +0530

Only a few days ago, we posted about Japanese bike maker Suzuki launching the Hayate commuter motorcycle. Now, the entry level bike segment has become even hotter with the launch of Dream Yuga motorcycle from Jap giant Honda.

We reported in detail when Honda unveiled the 110cc Dream Yuga at the Auto Expo held in January. The Dream Yuga borrows the body from 125cc Shine and the motor from the CB Twister. The 110cc motor is mated to a 4 speed ‘box the motor delivers 8.5 bhp. Honda claims a fuel efficiency figure of 72kmpl and we are not surprised. Honda is offering an option of electric start but the sad bit is that no disc brake is on offer.

The Dream Yuga 110 goes on sale with a price tag of INR 44,642* for the base model. The mid and top end versions come with a price tag of INR 46,134* and INR 48,125* respectively. The pricing, in typical Honda fashion, commands a considerable premium over rivals from other manufacturers.

Recently, Bajaj launched the Discover 100 4G and Suzuki has introduced the Hayate to the market at an aggressive price point. It remains to be seen if the new Honda manages to gain some strong share in the market even on coming at a not so competent price.

*All prices ex showroom Delhi

Vespa launches new dealership in Mumbai

Press Release — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:11 +0530

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. – the wholly owned Indian subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group, has today announced the opening of its new dealership Spice Motors in Plot -A-321, Rd no.22 Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane (W), Maharashtra respectively.

On the occasion of the Inauguration of the Vespa Stores in Mumbai, Mr. Ravi Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (India) was happy to convey, “We, at Piaggio look forward to our association with Spice Motors; a sought after brand name in the Mumbai two-wheeler market. They are well-equipped and have the experience to support us in our vision - Vespa’ India chapter success. They will incorporate Piaggio’s global best practices and processes, ensuring a superior sales and service experience for our valued customers in India.”

Commenting on the launch, dealers from Spice Motors said, “We are glad to be associated with Vespa. Today marks a historic moment in the Indian two-wheeler segment as the iconic global-celebrity is being made available to patrons across Indian shores. We look forward to strengthening Vespa’s Indian journey.”

Both dealerships will encompass state of the art international facilities. Well-equipped to support owners needs, these dealerships will offer complete solutions from body work tools, spare parts, servicing, consulting et al.

There are two more Vespa dealerships expected to be launched soon in the Bhandup and Goregaon areas.

Reader Review: Nitin Gupta rides the Ducati Hypermotard 1100S

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:49:10 +0530

Our man behind the lens in New Delhi turns into a freak on a bike’s saddle. The stunt and speed loving demon is so fast on his machines that people sometimes don’t even see him as he passes them. Happened with me as well, once – I never realized and he just vanished. Almost magical!

Nitin Gupta, as we know him, recently managed to lay his hands on the Ducati Hypermotard 1100S. Here’s an account of what he thought the bike felt like.

The first thing you’ll observe once you get on to the saddle of this Italian beast is the tiny instrument console, somewhat resembling the one on the KTM Duke. The instrument console is flanked by fancy looking flip out mirrors. While they look cool, I didn’t find them of much use, except the fact that their excessive height makes it easy to make way through the traffic as you don’t have to bother about the relatively low ORVMs of cars. I quite liked small details such as the neat LED tailpiece and LED Indicators. The headlamps were quite effective too.

The tall saddle makes the Hypermotard a little difficult to ride for the average heighted Indians, but on the flip side, takes the rough Indian roads in its stride with aplomb with its high ground clearance.

A rigidly triangulated Trellis frame and track-tested chassis geometry is matched with state-of-the-art suspension. Up front you have exceptionally composed and huge 50mm Marzocchi forks, gripped by a triple screw lower fork crown. The suspension duties at the rear end are taken care of by a fully adjustable Sachs shock mounted to a stout single-sided swing-arm. The ride quality is acceptable for such a bike, though it’s not push by any measure. Riding with slightly low air pressure helps improve the ride that wee bit, and also improves traction. The ultra soft single seat goes a long way in making the ride a bit cushier.

The power on tap is easily more than what you require from this air-cooled supermoto. If you have ever seen the famous photo of Ruben Xaus sliding the Hypermotard with his knee down while also nonchalantly raising his left hand for a thumbs-up, you’d know what this baby is capable of. I’d recommend you search that image on the web. You have to go easy on the throttle, as the wheelspins come thick and easy on this one. Be careful, or you’ll land on mother earth with a thud from a height you’re not used to. That said, if you want to do a knee down, you can do it, and you want to attack a corner in typical supermoto fashion, you’re good for it. The good thing is, even if the rear end breaks traction, the supermoto gives you a chance to counter steer and get back in control.

The Hypermotard rewards riders who appreciate its character and ride it the way it’s meant to be ridden. The 95 Italian horses make light work of galloping through straights. Engine heating is not an issue even in city traffic. The gearshifts aren’t a highlight though and downshifting is an unpleasant experience to put it mildly. The vibes and clanks while stepping down a cog spell crudeness.

I achieved a top speed of 160-165km/h in the third gear before the limiter cut in at about 10.5 kays. The power delivery is very linear with no spikes across the band. Ample tractability is available from 2000 rpm. You can run it in higher gears at low speeds without any spluttering.

Wind blast, as you’d reckon is an issue, but who are we kidding here? It’s no secret that wind is always going to be a problem with a naked – it’s up to you to take it or leave it. The white back-lit display provides an extensive amount of data including speed, revs, time, oil temperature, battery voltage, A & B trips, fuel reserve trip and scheduled maintenance. Warning lights illuminate for neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, oil pressure and fuel reserve. In addition, it can list recorded lap times by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.

While I liked my brief stint with the Hypermotard, I also realized that this is not a bike for the usual rider. It’s got a different stance, a different character and a different behavior. If you know what to expect from it, it’ll reward you. But it wouldn’t think twice before throwing you off its back if you try to think of it as a proper supersport. It’s rather easy to ride, but it’ll require some really special skills to extract a hundred percent from it.

Hyosung launches the GT650N Limited Edition

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:36:13 +0530

There was a time when 600cc bikes were conspicuous by their absence in the Indian market. Then, came the Korean bike maker Hyosung in partnership with Indian firm Garware and changed the scenario for good. Soon, we had the Japs and the Italians planning to enter the market and we started having some good options in the segment. Soon, the Korean, which started the game, was seen losing out to newer and arguably much better competition. Now, in order to inject some freshness into the relatively dated offerings, Garware-Hyosung has come up with a limited edition version of the GT650N, the naked and better priced version of its 650cc sportsbike.

The GT650N comes with a 650cc, V-Twin motor producing some 72 Bhp-61 Nm of power output. The power is transmitted to rear wjeel through a six speed transmission.

The limited edition comes with a bright red frame and the tank and the rear panels get new graphics. The mags get pin striping and all these cost INR 15,000 over the standard model.

AMW wins CV Maker of the Year 2012

Press Release — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:45:05 +0530

India’s third largest heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer,Asia MotorWorks (AMW)recently won the prestigious ‘CV Maker of the Year 2012’ award at the Apollo-CV Magazine awards held in Mumbai on April 30, 2012.

AMW won this coveted award against stiff competition from industry peers such as Tata Motors and Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles. The jury from CV magazine said that AMW was judged the winner due to its overall operational excellence and rapid growth within a short period of time.

In particular, the jury was impressed by AMW’s 50% sales growth during 2011-12, the unveiling of our new generation trucks & luxury bus,as well as our state of the art manufacturing practices.

Bajaj reveals the all new Discover 125 ST (Full Image Gallery)

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:13:53 +0530

Our regular readers might remember how impressed we were when we first saw the all new generation of Pulsar. Back then, we had wondered if the Pulsar brand has come so far, what should we hope from the sibling Discover? Now, right when we expected the new Pulsar to be launched, Bajaj unveils the all new generation of Disco today.

Commenting on the launch, K Srinivas, President - Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto Ltd. said,“We believe that the average Indian commuter has to compromise a lot for fuel efficiency. With the Discover ST we are making a statement that mileage need not come with boring design and outdated features.

He further added, “The Sports Tourer is an everyday fun ride to work. We believe that the sporty evolution of the commuter category will occur fast, and it is our intention to dominate this segment by introducing such breakthrough products.”

We had also reported in detail about the new features seen on the new Pulsar. We had said that the new technologies and features take the bike way forward to rub shoulders with the International competition. Now, the next gen Discover is as much modern and feature-rich as the next Pulsar is. The new Discover sports a gas filled Monoshock (a segment first) and it may be noted that Discover becomes the second Bajaj to sport this type of rear suspension, the first being the Pulsar 200NS. Very much like the 200NS, the new Disco too gets a new chassis and swingarm.

Very much like the 200NS, the new Disco too gets a new chassis and swingarrn.

The 200NS connection comes to play again as the end can seen on the new Disco mule is quite similar in position to the one on the new Pulsar. The new Disco also gets aluminium foot pegs and new mudguards. Unlike the 200NS (finally!), the next gen Disco will not feature split grabrails but will instead come with a newly designed single unit. The bike is also seen with newly designed set of alloys and did we tell you that we hate that hugger around the rear wheel? Other than this, the bike gets all new panels & tank, a new speedo console with analogue tacho and a digi speed read out, new ORVMs, trafficators borrowed from Pulsar 135 LS, half chain cover and front registration plate on top of the fairing.
Other than this, the bike gets all new panels & tank, a new speedo console with analogue tacho & a digi speed read out, new ORVMSs, trafficators borrowed from Pulsar 135 LS, half chain cover and petal disc (segment first) & drum brakes combo. The design language though is definitely a Bajaj Discover.

The new Discover 125 ST debuts with a 4 valve 125 cc DTSI mill that produces 13 PS of power and 1.1 kgm of torque. This bike has same power to weight ratio as the last gen Pulsar 150 UG3 and thisalone speaks about how quick the bike is. The ST here stands for Sports Touring but we don’t have much of hopes of this bike being a Suzuki Bandit rival. However, stupid name apart, the bike looks all set to take the Bajaj ahead into the future of Indian biking.

Bajaj definitely understands the pricing bit and like most other Bajaj bikes, the Discover 125 ST too comes with a reasonable price tag. The price for the all new Discover has not been disclosed yet but the bike hits the showrooms in second half of June. .

Technical Specification for Discover 125 ST


Engine	4 Valve Twin Spark Air Cooled
Engine Displacement	124.6cc
Max.Net Power	13 Ps @ 9000 rpm
Max.net Torque	1.1 kgm @ 7000 rpm
Ignition System	Digital CDI
Carburetor	CV type
Starting	Self + kick start
Transmission	5 Speed Constant mesh
Frame	Semi Double cradle
Front Suspension	Telescopic Fork with Anti-friction DU Bush
Rear Suspension	Nitrox Monoshock with gas canister
Front Brake	Petal Disc 200 mm
Rear Brake	Drum 130 mm
Front wheel / tyre	New design alloy / 2.75 X 17” 41P Tubed
Rear wheel / tyre	New design alloy / 3.00 X 17” 50P Tubed
Fuel Tank	10 L
Wheelbase	1305 mm
Seat Height	800 mm
Turning Circle Radius	2100 mm
Ground Clearance	170 mm
Kerb Weight	124.5 kg
Max Speed	105 kmph
System	DC Ignition
Battery	12V 5AH

Audi A3 to debut in 2014

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:04:39 +0530

Premium automakers are on working hard to bring lower-priced models from their international lineup to India so as to push volumes. The X1 started it all, followed by Mercedes’ announcement of brining the A and B Class cars to India, and now it’s Audi India, planning to bring the sub-A4 A3 to us.

Michael Pershke, top man at Audi India said “We have certain products in mind which we want to introduce to gain leadership position in the Indian market. We are looking at adding on A3 to our portfolio and are conducting a market study to assess the feedback among consumers here”.

Audi has shown tremendous growth in the past year, and with the financial clout of the VW group behind it, seems committed to attain the leadership position in the Indian premium car market. They would require less-expensive products with price tags of around Rs 20 lakh for sales growth. The A3, which is positioned below the A4, the current cheapest offering from the Ingolstadt based automaker would help garner more volumes.

Here’s the international engine lineup for the Audi A3 engines

1.2 TFSI, 105 hp
1.4 TFSI, 125 hp
1.8 TFSI, 160 hp
2.0 TFSI, 200 hp
1.6 TDI, 90 hp
1.6 TDI, 105 hp
2.0 TDI, 140 hp
2.0 TDI, 170 hp

A few variants of the A3 may also come equipped with the Quattro 4x4 system. Transmission would primarily be a six-speed manual. The extremely fast and comfortably shifting S tronic will also be available. Shift paddles on the steering wheel may be offered on the auto variants. Auto tranny variants will have dual-clutch six or seven speed transmission, based on the power of the engine.

In the latest development, it has emerged that the Audi A3 will debut sometime in 2014 with a [roce tag of about INR 16 lakhs.

[Source: inautonews.com]

Bajaj Pulsar and Platina become costlier by 1%

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:27:45 +0530

In a rather funny development, Indian bike maker Bajaj recently hiked the prices of popular Pulsar series and commuter Platina by 1%. The funny part here is that the price hike comes soon after the manufacturer had introduced a new variant (4G) of Discover 100 motorcycle at a very competitive price to try to aggressively eat into the sales of other commuter bikes. It may be noted that Hero MotoCorp had announced the price hike just a few days ago and in both of these cars, rising input cost has been cited as the reason. A reason that rest of the brands from Bajaj have been spared a price rise and only these two brands have been affected is that both Platina and Pulsar are the leading names in their respective segment and a marginal price increase won’t have a detrimental effect on the sales of the two bikes.

BMW 7 series facelift to debut in July

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:30:12 +0530

The flagship BMW 7 series is due for a facelift and seems like BMW have begun work on it. BMW is gearing up to refubish its 7 series in the wake of the fresh challenge offered by the Audi A8 L W12 which has best in class back seat and the upcoming all-new Mercedes S-Class.

The 2012 BMW 7 series will carry forward the BMW genes with the majestic double kidney grille , new set of headlights, LED strip on the side mirrors. Inside the display screen gets wider and will come packed with more Multimedia and display options plus there seem to be more functions on the central console.

The transmission is rumored to be the ZF sourced new 8 speed auto gearbox which not only facilitates ultra quick and smooth shifts but also excellent fuel efficiency. Watch out for the new 7 series which should hit the US market by July and come to the Indian market by the year end.

Spy image : WCF

SPIED: All new Merc M class spotted at Goa dealer just 2 days before its launch

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:45:51 +0530

Mercedes India is all set to launch the 2012 M-Class in the Indian market on 15^th July. Less than 48 hours before the launch, good folks at popular website goaonwheels managed to spot a new M class at the Mercedes Benz dealer in Goa.

The latest edition of the popular SUV is an all new product. However, the first word that comes to the mind when glanced at is – ‘Bland’. Though Mercedes seems to have solved the space issue which made the previous M-Class a hassle to sit in. There is a visible change in the size of the car and looks like the 2012 M-Class will come with an extended wheelbase taken from its elder sibling the GL-Class. The 2012 M-Class also features a huge panoramic sun-roof which will make the cabin come alive with fresh incident light. There is also the wrap around rear windscreen which makes the M-Class stand out of the crowd.

The insides are typical Mercedes top notch standard quality with a lot of wood used to give that upmarket feel. The ML 350 CDI will be laucnched first. The motor here pumps out some 258bhp and churns out 63.2kgm of pulling power. The motor is mated to a seven-speed 7G-Tronic gearbox along with permanent four-wheel drive as a standard feature.

The car could be priced in INR 68-73 lakhs bracket.

Image courtesy: Goaonwheels.com

SPIED: Images of undisguised Porsche Mecan

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:16:16 +0530

We had reported in detail when Porsche AG, Stuttgart’s had given a name to its upcoming car in the SUV segment. The car, which was christened as the Macan, was recently caught on camera (for the first time) while it was on its test duty by a popular car website. The name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics – core characteristics of the new off-road car.

“The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine Porsche”, said Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG. “The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations.”

As the fifth Porsche model line, the Macan is a central plank of Strategy 2018, by which the sports car manufacturer wishes to expand its model portfolio. Porsche intends the Macan to emulate the success of the Cayenne. The SUV will start coming off the production lines in Leipzig in 2013. To that end, the site in this city in Saxony is being expanded into a fully-fledged production plant including body assembly line and paint shop – with 500 million euro of investment one of the biggest building projects in Porsche’s corporate history. In the medium-term, the sports car manufacturer will be creating more than 1,000 new jobs here.

Word names at Porsche have a concrete connection with the corresponding model and its characteristics: the name Boxster describes the combination of boxer engine and roadster, Cayenne stands for sharpness, the Cayman is snappy and agile and a Panamera is more than a Gran Turismo, capable also of winning the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race.

Image courtesy: carscoop

Porsche to develop new Pajun sedan

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:41:24 +0530

If a popular German car mag Autobild is to be believed, popular German sportscar manufacturer Porsche is now exploring the potential for a a smaller sedan! This new car is named Pajun and will debut sometime in 2017.

Pajun should be the sixth member of the Porsche family after the Boxster, Cayman, 911, Cayenne SUV, Panamera and the upcoming Macan crossover. Porsche spokesperson Hans-Gerd Bode however said that "there were many ideas for a sixth model but decisions had not been taken". The German mag also mentioned that the carmaker will launch the Pajun in both nothchback and estate variants and the car will offer an option of six-cylinder gasoline and diesel motors.

Via Carscoop

SPIED: 2014 BMW X5 to come with Pedestrian Airbag

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:44:38 +0530

We first saw the Volvo V40 with the pedestrian airbag. Now, Volvo is the pioneer in road safety and it is no surprise that other leading manufacturers often decide to embrace and adopt the safety features that are first seen in a Volvo. The 2014 BMW X5 (codename F15), which is due for a late 2013 debut, will feature a new grille, a wider track and will be lighter than the outgoing car.

Most importantly, the new X5 will come with a pedestrian safety airbag. For those who missed our article on the pedestrian airbags, we would like to tell that such airbags come into play when a car’s front end is involved in a collision with a pedestrian and the bonnet rises slightly to make space for a U-shaped airbag to emerge. This airbag, which deploys near the windscreen, acts as a cushion between the pedestrian and the car. The airbag is shaped in such a manner that the driver can clearly see the road in front and manoeuvre the car as required.

via INAURONEWS

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Car Sales having slowest growth rate in last 10 months

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:49:51 +0530

This surely is no good news. A leading news daily has reported that the car sales this fiscal have opened with the slowest growth in the last 10 months. The reasons for this might be the higher interest rates on car loans, fast increasing gasoline prices and a slow down in the growth of the economy.

As per Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), car sales grew by only 3% this month with the sales of 1.68 lakh cars against 1.62 lakh units in corresponding period of last year. Popular manufacturers like Tata Motors, GM and Ford are in negative zone and leading car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) could manage only a 4% growth in the month. This, even after having a good response from the Swift diesel and newly launched Ertiga MPV.

The coming months are expected to be quite tough. There has been no big cut in interest rates, the fuel prices are high and some state governments have increased duty on new vehicle registration significantly. The business sentiment has rather gone down," said Shashank Srivastav, chief GM (sales & marketing) at Maruti Suzuki.

"The sales were not on expected lines as uncertainty in fuel prices, hike in excise duty, and hike in local taxes in some states continue to put a lot of pressure on the automobile market. Also, a lot of purchases were advanced by customers in February and March fearing duty hikes in the Budget," said P Balendran, V-P at GM India.

Vishnu Mathur, director general at Siam, said "the first half (April-September) will be difficult for the industry" but sales could rebound in the second half on expectations of some policy measures by the government.

Via TOI

Range Rover Evoque is Diesel Car of the Year

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:08:44 +0530

The Range Rover Evoque has been getting a lot of recognition ever since the world first saw it. Now, it has been awarded with the title of the Diesel Car of the Year from Diesel, a car magazine in Britain. The Evoque was introduced in India on 4^th November and has been doing good business in India.

The Range Rover Evoque boasts a bold and sophisticated design with clever technology that is relevant and intuitive to use. The Evoque is a capable off roader too using legendary Land Rover all-terrain technologies. The Evoque features Land Rover’s Terrain Response which adapts the engine, transmission and electronic systems to handle uneven, muddy, slushy and stone surfaces with ease.

In India, the Evoque is available in both 5 door and Coupe body styles. The Coupe is available in a petrol variant and the 5 door version in diesel. The Range Rover Evoque (5 door) is available in three distinct derivatives - Pure, Prestige and Dynamic and the Coupe is available in the Dynamic form.

The Range Rover Evoque is packed with technological and practical features as standard, including the 8” inch high resolution Touch Screen, Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming, 11 speaker Meridian Audio Sound system, cruise control, Terrain Response, interior mood lighting, steering wheel paddle shifters and full-size panoramic glass sunroof.

Come 2013 and India will play host to Moto GP at Buddh International Circuit

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:52:36 +0530

We were very excited when the new s of F1 championship coming to India reached us and we are equally excited now. India, after becoming one of the few nations to host a F1 race, is all set to host Moto GP next year. It is being said that out country will host the opening round of the championship at Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida. This will be the same circuit that saw F1 cars competing against each other.

Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has officially announced that India will play host to the first race of 2013 Moto GP championship at BIC. “It’s been great to visit the Buddh International circuit today,” said Lorenzo after a lap at BIC, “the track is very modern and wide. I think it is quite prepared and ready to be on the calendar [MotoGP].”

Caroll Shelby dies at age of 89

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:28:54 +0530

May 11 of this year will always be remembered as a dark and sad day by many car lovers around the world. It is no secret that Shelby cars have always been synonymous with performance and Caroll Shelby has been instrumental in the development of motorsports in the US of A. Carroll Shelby died at the age of 89 yestearday. American muscle car lovers will agree that Shelby and Ford Mustang has been one of the most magical relations ever.

“Carroll is sort of like the car world’s Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays,” Jay Leno told The New York Times in 2003. “Unlike so many racers, he didn’t come from a rich family, so he signifies that Everyman, common-sense ideal. When I was a kid, American cars were big, clunky things, until Carroll used his ingenuity to make them compete with European cars.”

Carroll Shelby kick started his racing career in 1959 and he is the second American-born driver to win the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. In 1962, he created Shelby America and it is said that Shelby started working on the high performance version of the Mustang in 1964. Later in 1965, the world greeted the Shelby Mustang GT350. Shelby also created the GT500 and GT500KR. However, it is the Ford GT40 that has to be the masterpiece from Shelby.

We will always remember Caroll for creating America's most iconic cars.

Suzuki Motorcycles Private India Ltd. aiming for 8 market share

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:28:53 +0530

We recently posted that Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL) is not even half as popular as the two other Jap bike makers in the county. However, Suzuki recently launched the Hayate commuter motorcycle with a competitive price tag and wishes to change its fortunes in the country.

As per various reports, the bike maker is eyeing for an 8% market share in motor cycle segment by 2014. Vice President (Sales and Marketing) at SMIPL, Atul Gupta said "Currently, we have 2 per cent market share in motor cycle segment and we are looking at raising it to 8 per cent by year 2014."

"The 100-110 cc motorcycle segment is a promising market with tremendous growth potential as it constitutes about 50 per cent of total country's motor cycle market. Although it is competitive.. we are aiming to sell 10,000 units of Hayate per month," he informed. The launch of Hayate is an opportunity to address emerging markets in small town clusters as well as semi-urban and rural peripheries," he said.

Our regular readers will remember that we posted in detail when SMIPL had signed Salman Khan as its brand ambassador.

Hyundai to make Reverse Parking Camera a standard feature on base variant of Verna sedan

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:03:39 +0530

The latest generation of Verna is one of the few Hyundais that I like. While an almost dead steering and a ‘not so Japanese’ petrol mill does not make the car as fun to drive as a Honda City, this Korean car makes for a good family car. The top of the line Verna SX variants are loaded to gills and come with features like Reverse Parking Camera. Now, the good news is that Hyundai has decided to make this camera a standard feature on all variants of the car, including the base variant that will now be called as Verna EX.

Thanks to the recent development, Verna seems to be all set to become the first car in its segment to offer this feature as a standard fitment. This move is to inject some ‘premium-ness’ into the car and to push the sales of the well priced base model. Talking about the pricing, it is being expected that the car might become dearer by INR 15000 soon.

Next gen Bajaj Discover and not the Pulsar 200NS to be launched on 14th

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:01:15 +0530

Only yesterday, we reported that there are fair chances of Bajaj launching the all new Pulsar on 14^th. It may be noted that Bajaj had sent us an invite for the launch of an “exciting new bike”. The 200 NS should had arrived by April end and it made logical sense for it to be launched on 14^th this month. However, catching us by surprise, it seems like Bajaj has decided to further postpone the launch of new Pulsar. This is not all as the manufacturer also wishes to do away with the “unveiling only” event for the gen next Discover and unveil and launch it on 14^thitself.

The next gen Discover will be as much modern and feature-rich as the next Pulsar is. The new Discover will come with a gas filled Monoshock (a segment first) and it may be noted that Discover becomes the second Bajaj to sport this type of rear suspension, the first being the Pulsar 200NS. Very much like the 200NS, the new Disco too gets a new chassis and swingarm.

The end can seen on the new Disco is quite similar in position to the one on 200NS. The new Disco also gets aluminium foot pegs and new mudguards.Unlike the trend these days, the next gen Disco will not feature split grabrails but will instead come with a newly designed single unit. The bike is also seen with newly designed set of alloys and did we tell you that we hate that hugger around the rear wheel? Other than this, the bike gets all new panels & tank, a new speedo console with analogue tacho and a digi speed read out, new ORVMSs, trafficators borrowed from Pulsar 135 LS, half chain cover, front registration plate on top of the fairing (a la 200NS) and disc & drum brakes combo.

Our guess is that the new Discover will debut with the 150cc mill and looking at the future Pulsar line up, the new Disco should be positioned as a premium offering and the current gen Discover should continue to sell.

Click here for more pics of new Discover

Image & news source- ACI

Rendering: 2015 Ford Mustang

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:30:33 +0530

Mustang has always been the most favourite of the current crop of retro-styled muscle cars. The original Mustang was dubbed as a 1965 model and was launched in 1964. Now, the Mustang on sale currently has a neat dosage of Retro styling and carries the traditional muscle car lines pretty well. Now, the American manufacturer, which will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the car in 2014, will launch the all new model of the popular Muscle car in 2015. Presently, the Mustang is officially available only in American market but the manufacturer wishes to change this with the introduction of the all new model.

The rendering here is close to what the all new car might look like. Let us know what you feel about it.

Via rushlane

Chinese authorities not too happy with Ferrari 20th anniversary celebrations

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:29:10 +0530

Regular readers here will remember that we had posted about Ferrari celebrating its 20^th anniversary in China by coming up with a special edition 458 Italia. However, the authorities at the country aren’t too pleased with Ferrari. The reason? Just a night prior to the celebrations, the ¥ 6 million car was seen roaming around in the of city of Nanjing. The driver decided to indulge in some stunting and these left some tyre marks at the Zhonghua Gate, where the car had to perform the next day. These marks could not be done away with even after repeated attempts. However, the manufacturer was quick to issue an apology to the authorities. Ferrari said that they are working on to solve this problem.

Fiat Argentina TV commercial about new Palio and Boob job. We wonder what sense it makes

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:07:19 +0530

We have seen pretty weird car advertisements but this one surely takes the crown for being one of the most dumb and weird commercials of recent times. Fiat Argentina recently released an advert for the new Palio and the video clip has set us scratching our heads wondering what sense it makes. The commercial shows a couple during a drive in their new Palio. The women starts talking about her partner’s appreciation for natural beauty and how he naver appears pleased about fake breasts. The next thing she says is that she is thinking of getting some breast enhancement done and the man imagines diving between ..errr...breasts of his lady. The very next moment, maybe because he couldn't care less as he had the Palio, he agrees. The couple hugs and they seem to live happily ever after.

I am really puzzled what sense does this all means and what made Fiat launch such an ad? What I also wonder is if Fiat actually paid the advertising agency for something like this.

What is your take on this advert?

Ford India to hold "midnight sale" on 13 May

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:09:37 +0530

We have said it earlier and we are saying it again. Gradually but surely, Ford has become really serious to grab a bigger chunk of the Indian car market. The latest from Ford India, the Indian subsidiary of the American car maker, is the “midnight sale” that will be held on 13^th this month. As obvious, some good discounts will be on offer on this day. Ford India dealerships across the nation will open shops at 8 AM and shut down at midnight on the day of the sale. Discounts are not all that will put a smile on the face of prospective buyers. Various events like magic shows and games will also be held and these will be open for current Ford customers too.

Every car sold will come with a scratch card. This card will be a chance to win exciting gifts like Blackberry phones and digi cams.

Ford expects the car sales to grow by as much as 400% on this day.

BMW recalls as many as 7600 3 series cars

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:41:47 +0530

We reported in a fair bit of detail about the recall drive from BMW owned Rolls Royce. We also reported about another recall drive that dealt with a car that is infinitely cheaper to the Roller- Suzuki Swift. Now, BMW has announced that some of its cars’ front seats are having a faulty head rests which might end up causing injuries in an event of a crash. As many as 7,600 3 series cars are being recalled the manufacturer needs to rectify the issue in these cars as early as possible. The cars with the potentially faulty headrests will be examined at the service centres and a small clip will be installed in case they are detected to have a faulty headrest unit. As obvious, this exercise is free of cost to the owners.

Chevrolet Cruze facelift to be launched in June

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:19:57 +0530

We have been talking about the updated Cruze since quite some time now. We met the car at the Delhi Auto Expo in January this year and we came across plenty of rumors regarding the launch of the refreshed car. Now, it is being said that the car will be launched in June this year and going by our sources, this news might almost be true.

The 2013 Cruze will has little changes in the front fascia of the car. The car now has a new grille, revised air dam and other minor changes. Under the hood, a new 2 litre motor replaces the current mill. This engine pumps out some 161bhp of power and 360 Nm of torque. The motor should be mated to a 6 speed ‘box. On the inside, the car gets slight changes in the color tones and an infotainment system.

Renault Pulse petrol launched at INR 4,25,000

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:48:59 +0530

We have been reporting in detail about Renault Pulse since a few months. The Nissan Micra derived hatchback has received around 600 bookings withing a month and now Renault India has introduced the market to the gasoline variant of the hatchback. It may be noted that Renault had introduced the Pulse with the 1.5 DCi diesel engine that it had borrowed from the Micra. As expected, the petrol version of the Pulse gets its 1.2 Liter, 75 Bhp, 3 cylinder gasoline motor from the Micra. The powerplant is mated to 5 speed manual gearbox but there are some interesting rumors of Renault planning to introduce an automatic transmission variant with the petrol sibling.

It may be noted that Renault and Nissan are present as a group in the Indian market and are expected to share a lot of components (and in this case, the entire car!). We recently reported in detail about the Sunny based Renault Scala sedan and it is a matter of time before it is launched in the market.

Renault pulse petrol prices ex showroom delhi:

RXE petrol: Rs. 4,25,000 (Driver airbag)
RXL petrol: Rs. 4,99,000 (Driver airbag)
RXZ petrol: Rs. 5,55,000 (ABS plus dual airbags)

SPIED: Volvo XC40. Will it come to Indian market to rival the X1 and Q3?

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:19:45 +0530

BMW X1 has been a successful product from the Bavarian car maker. At least, successful enough for Audi to develop the Q3 crossover. In a latest development, it has been found out that popular Swedish car maker Volvo too is readying itself to jump into this market with XC40, which was recently caught testing in Arizona, USA. The upcoming crossover from Volvo is based on the 2012 Volvo V40 wagon and the car will be make its public debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show

2013 Volvo XC40 crossover should boast of a good ground clearance and all wheel drive as an option. The XC40 should borrow the motors from the V40 and that means the car will provide an option of two petrol and two diesel engines.

It may be noted that Audi will be soon seen launching the Q3 in India and it makes considerable sense for Volvo, which has suddenly become pretty aggressive in the country, to launch the XC40. It makes good sense to introduce this crossover to the Indian market. As it is, we Indians are very fond of SUVs and crossovers. Are not we?

Via autoblog.com

Can you tell which AMG car's exhaust note is this?

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:18:39 +0530

If you think that you know all there is about AMG tuned cars from Mercedes, this latest challenge from the performance tuners should test your belief. AMG has released an audio clip of the exhaust note of one of its cars on the tube and wants you to recognise it.

Do you know which AMG sports car is it?

SPIED: Ferrari F70- Enzo successor

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:54:02 +0530

It is also being said that the Ferrari F70 will tip the scales at a light 1,134 kg (2,500 lbs) and that simply means the car will be smoking a lot very hyper cars.

Via autoevolution

Honda launches Dream Yuga commuter motorcycle at Rs 44,642 ex-Delhi

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:43:58 +0530

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India today launched their first ever mass market motorcycle, the Dream Yuga in New Delhi. The company in a statement, today said that ‘Honda has unleashed its first big step towards mass mobility in India.’

The Dream Yuga is powered by a 110cc Honda engine with a peak power output of 8.5 BHP @ 7500 RPM and 8.51NM @ 5500rpm of peak torque. Honda claims a fuel efficiency figure of 72 kmpl in test conditions which resemble the city driving environment.

The bike's engine is equipped with technologies like the 'Honda Intelligent Ignition Control System' which changes ignition timings to attain ideal combustion, leading to improved power output and efficiency.

The Dream Yuga has the typical commuter motorcycle look with a bikini fairing. Honda, however, have tried to add some dashes of sportiness in places to make this econo-commuter more attractive to the masses. The dream Yuga is expected to be the first real challenger to the reigning Splendor from Hero Motocorp stable, and is expected to propel Honda as the indisputable second largest bike maker in the country after its former partner in a short span of time.

The Dream Yuga looks reasonably stylish for the class with a black colored engine, sportily styled exhaust, body colored grab rail, and nice alloy wheels. The Dream Yuga comes with a viscous air filter, 120mm front suspension travel and a long, comfy seat. The bike is also equipped with tuff tubeless tyres for better reliability. The drive chain too is fully covered for optimum performance over long periods. Honda is also providing maintenance free battery for added peace of mind.

According to Honda, the Dream Yuga is specially developed for Indian customers, keeping in mind their practical commuting needs. Starting May'12 end, Dream Yuga is available for sale in three variants-

Kick/Drum/Spoke
Kick/ Drum/Alloy
Self/ Drum/Alloy

The starting price of the bike is Rs. 44,642 (Ex-Showroom, Delhi). The motorcycle comes in 5 colors: Black, Monsoon Grey Metallic, Alpha Red Metallic, Force Silver Metallic & Maple Brown Metallic.

At the launch, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd - Mr. Keita Muramatsu said “The New Corporate Direction is a step forward towards Honda’s objective to attain leadership position in India. We are delighted to have Akshay Kumar as new Brand Ambassador as he personifies Honda’s philosophy of Sach Kardenge Sapne and captures the imagination of Indian customers. With him on board, we will touch the heart of young India! ”

On his association with Honda, Akshay Kumar, the new brand ambassador for the company said, “Honda as the World’s No. 1 motorcycle maker carries with it a legacy of customer oriented products from 50cc to 1800cc and goodwill of over 200 million customers worldwide. I am deeply impressed by Honda’s vision and proud to associate with this young and vibrant Brand that is innovative, technologically advanced and committed to society.”

Blaupunkt sets up India subsidiary

Press Release — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:11:31 +0530

Blaupunkt announced today that it has established its Indian subsidiary Blaupunkt India Pvt Ltd, a Joint Venture between Blaupunkt Holding, Germany and its current Indian partner AutoSonics India Pvt Ltd. This marks the formal re-entry of Blaupunkt into India.

Dr. Placke, CEO of the Blaupunkt Group, said: “India has always been a strategic market for Blaupunkt – both for OE and retail business. Blaupunkt India is in a very good position to meet the needs of the OE segment. We are doing this by leveraging our future technology platforms and innovation focus to provide cost effective and high-impact solutions to Indian and international auto manufacturers on the Indian sub-continent. Blaupunkt provides the strongest performance-price value proposition and a collaborative working model that allows for maximum flexibility and shorter time to market cycles.”

Dr. Placke added that “Increasingly, cars in India are coming with OE fitted content. In-car infotainment is today a very dynamic space and high customer involvement category. Emerging technologies are creating new opportunities for mobility, connectivity, productivity and entertainment while on the road. Blaupunkt’s solutions are at the forefront of this transformation and can be key differentiators for future vehicles. Increasingly our OE customers (in India and on a global basis) are looking for innovative solutions to enhance their competitive advantage and to address the needs of a discerning customer.”

He confirmed that Blaupunkt is currently working with several OEs for their next generation solutions, including high-end infotainment, multimedia and navigation solutions.

When asked about whether manufacturing plans for India Dr. Placke confirmed that local assembly operations are on the roadmap but the exact timeline is to be determined.

The formation of Blaupunkt India also coincided with the launch of a state-of-the-the manufacturing facility in Penang Malaysia to cater to the needs of OE customers world-wide.

Bajaj Pulsar 200NS to be launched on 14 May

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:01:26 +0530

Back in 2001, the Pulsar twins started a revolution of sorts. The advent of Brand Pulsar pioneered the democratization of performance biking, offering affordable motorcycles which were not mere commuters. 10 years on, Brand Pulsar, as we know it today has an unparalleled Indian fan base. So the big question that I ask myself as I begin writing this post is, will the new Pulsar, that we tested about 3 months back, be able to do justice to the to its celebrated lineage? Does it have enough substance to snatch buyers from Yamaha R15? Would it be able to carry forward its predecessor’s legacy into an era where Indian biking seems to have finally come of age? The stakes are much higher now than ever before. The Indian biking enthusiast buying into the Pulsar segment has a bigger pocket, and far more options. So does the new Pulsar sustain its relevance as strongly as it did ten years back and throughout the course of its existence? These questions will be answered only in due course of time. However, the news here is that the eagerly awaited bike will be launched on 14 this month and it may be noted that Mr. Rajiv Bajaj had promised a sub INR 1 lakh price for this bike and if Bajaj stays true to its word, we expect the new bike to give a lot of sleepless nights to rivals.

Pulsar 200NS Specifications

Engine

Type SOHC – 4V – Liquid Cooled

Combustion system Triple spark

Ignition system Independent spark control through ECU

Crankshaft Type Integral

Max Power 23.52 PS @ 9500

Max Torque 18.3 Nm @ 8000

Bore 72 mm

Stroke 49 mm

Displacement 199.5 cc

Fuel system Carburettor, UCD 33

Air filter Paper element

Exhaust system Exhaust TEC enhanced centrally mounted

Vehicle

Frame Type Pressed steel Perimeter Frame

Wheel Base 1363 mm

Length x height x width 2017 mm x 1195 mm x 804 mm

Seat ht-Rider 805 mm

Ground Clearance 167 mm

Vehicle Kerb weight 145 kg

FAW/RAW 72/73 kg

Fuel Tank capacity 12 L

Suspension

Front suspension Telescopic Front Fork with Antifriction Bush Dia 37

Rear Suspension Nitrox Mono Shock Absorber with piggy back gas canister

Brakes – type

Front Petal Disc with floating caliper

Rear Petal Disc with floating caliper

Brake Size

Front Dia 280 mm Disc

Rear Dia 230 mm Disc

Tyres

Front 100/80 – 17, 52 P, Tubeless

Rear 130/70 – 17, 61 P, Tubeless

Rims

Front 10 spoke 2.5 x 17, Alloy

Rear 10 Spoke, 3.5 x 17, Alloy

Max Speed 136 Kmph

Acceleration

0-60 kmph 3.61 sec

0-100 kmph 9.83 sec

Braking performance

Braking Distance – Both brakes (60 – 0 Kmph) 16.33 meters

Electricals

System DC Ignition

Battery 12V 8AH VRLA

Suzuki Hayate launched @ INR40162

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:50:37 +0530

Suzuki Two wheelers had unveiled its Hayate commuter motorcycle at the 12th Auto expo. Hayate is a Japanese term that translates to 'Fresh breeze' or 'Swift wind'. The new bike is targeted at the commyter end and is powered by a single cylinder 110 cc motor. The 112.8 cc engine pumps out about 8.2 bhp of power and the mill is mated to a four-speed 'box. The bike comes equipped with a drum brake, 17-inch mags and adjustable rear shock absorbers.The new bike has been launched for INR 40,162 for the kickstart equipped variant and the elec start version goes for Rs 42,162. (Prices ex showroom Pune).

Nitish Tipnis to head Sales and Marketing of Hover Automotive India

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:45:06 +0530

Hover Automotive India (HAI), Nissan India’s Sales & Marketing partner, today announced the appointment of Mr. Nitish Tipnis as Director - Marketing and Sales

In this role, Mr. Tipnis will head all activities related to sales, marketing, after sales, training and dealer development at Hover Automotive India. He had served as Chief Executive of HAI in 2009 during the early stages of Nissan in India.

In a 24-year career across marketing, sales, operations, corporate planning and new business development in the consumer durables industry, Mr. Nitish Tipnis spearheaded key consumer retail businesses to achieve sustainable volumes, process redesign, revenue growth and profit enhancements.

“We are happy to have Mr. Nitish Tipnis working on the entire Nissan portfolio. We believe that his visionary strategic planning and deep knowledge of the domain will contribute immensely towards achieving our corporate goals in marketing and sales of all products under Nissan umbrella,” said G M Singh, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of HAI.

“Leadership of Mr Nitish Tipnis will further strengthen Nissan’s position at the Indian market place and help achieve our desired goals and meet the expectations of Indian customers. I wish him all the best in his second innings with the Nissan family,” said Ishida Takayuki, Managing Director& CEO, Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd.

Having started his career at Videocon, Mr Tipnis has had rich experience in sales and marketing and business operations. He also headed Reliance Digital before his stint as President of Future Group Electronics Store Ezone.

Bajaj RE60 to be launched in last quarter of this year

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:29:57 +0530

We have been saying this to people ever since the Bajaj RE60 was unveiled. Regulars at our site should remember that we clearly mentioned that the Bajaj RE60 had nothing to do with being a Tata Nano rival and is more of a replacement to the Auto Rickshaws. Even when Rajiv Bajaj had clearly mentioned that the RE60 is not a car but a three wheeler with one extra wheel, people have been comparing this car with the Nano. Sometime back, Rajiv Bajaj made clear that the RE60 is not a Tata Nano rival. He said that while the Nano is an ultra low cost car that targets first time car buyers and 2 wheeler users, the RE60 is only for auto drivers and hence, public transport.

The RE 60 comes with a 20 PS, 200cc engine that boasts of Bajaj’s ‘almighty’ twin spark technology. The RE60 offers more comfort and safety than an Auto Rickshaw and has a fuel economy of about 35-40kmpl. The RE60 is claimed to be as easy on pocket to maintain as an Auto Rickshaw.

Now, the latest about RE is that this vehicle with a confused identity will be launched sometime in the last quarter of the year and the manufacturer is busy formulating an aggressive strategy for the RE to eat into auto rickshaw’s market.

MSIL to launch Alto replacement by year end

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:22:17 +0530

Until less than half a decade ago, Maruti Suzuki's 800 hathcback used to be the carmaker's bread and butter model. Owing to stiff competition from rivals, the more than 2 decade old war horse was shown the door and the Alto saw some really aggressive price cuts. It may be noted that the 800 is largely based on the first generation of Alto and the Alto on sale in India is the last generation of the Alto brand, the latest being the A-Star. Phew! Keeping the name game aside, it may be noted that the largest selling car-the Alto is facing a tough fight from the recently introduced Hyundai Eon. On the other hand, the 800, which is still on sale in tier II cities, is fast losing out to the popular Tata Nano. These issues sure pose a tremendous threat to the country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Limited(MSIL). MSIL recently announced that they are planning to bring an all new entry level car that will replace the dated models. The upcoming model is being worked upon currently and it is expected to hit the market by the year end.

Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director, Maruti Suzuki India Limited seems to have finally saw the view of many and said that the 800 and Alto have been in the Indian market since a really long time and the changing market scenarios has made the manufacturer work on bringing out a replacement model for these.

Keeping up with the changing times, this new model will sport a new & modern styling but will have the same 800cc motor at its heart, albeit, in a new state of tune.It may be noted that Mr. Nakanishi also said that the current Alto K10 will NOT be axed after the launch of the replacement car. As per him, this development will see an investment of more than Rs. 550 crores. The manufacturer plans to export this new model a few other Asian nations and also to Latin America and North Africa.

This news guns down all rumors of Maruti's plan to introduce the 660 cc Cervo this year to the Indian market.And don't be surprised if the upcominng Maruti Suzuki has a better answer to the'kitna deti hai?' queries.

[Source - Online.WSJ.com]

Fiat launches its first independent Indian dealership at Hyderabad

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:40:13 +0530

We reported in detail when Fiat recently parted ways with Tata at the sales and dealership front. As we reported, the management control of Fiat’s commercial and distribution activities will be handed over to a separate Fiat Group owned company. Currently Tata Motors has been managing the distribution responsibility of the Fiat branded products in India through joint Tata-Fiat dealerships. The decision was apparently been taken by the Tata Fiat JV to further develop the Fiat brand in India. Now, in a recent development, FIAT India automobiles today inaugurated its first independent world class dealership in Hyderabad, Tejaswi Motors, at Punnaiah Plaza; this will be FIAT’s first outlet in India. The 5,400 sq ft showroom with a frontage of 80 feet is specially designed to give the real FIAT experience to its customers, another move by the company in strengthening its brand presence in India, after having launched its Fiat Caffe a few months ago. The showroom which was opened by an existing Tata Fiat dealer will provide an enhanced FIAT buying experience.

The dealership was inaugurated by Mr. Enrico Atanasio, Head- Commercial, Fiat India and Mr. A K Sinha- Country Head -Fiat Product Group, Tata Motors.

Commenting on this association, Mr. Enrico Atanasio, Head- Commercial, said: “FIAT group views India as a very strategic market and will be opening a new company to leverage this potential. Following our announcement, the fact that an existing TATA FIAT dealer, M/s Tejaswi Motors has taken the initiative in opening up an exclusive showroom for FIAT and providing the FIAT brand experience reconfirms the strong relationship and overall strategic approach we share with TATA. We are confident that this partnership with Tejaswi Motors will play a crucial role in intensifying customer base and enhancing customer experience in the city of pearls”

Mr. B S Neelkanta, Managing Director, Tejaswi Motors said, “We are extremely proud to be associated with FIAT India and are committed to provide our customers in Hyderabad a premium buying experience. FIAT diesel engines are very popular in the country and with Hyderabad being a strong diesel market historically; we have invested in opening this showroom at a very prominent location to offer excellent brand experience to both existing and potential customers.”

The dealership exclusively caters to FIAT India and will retail its two existent models: Linea and Punto. The launch of this dealership is the latest episode in FIAT India’s commitment to expanding its network in the country.

Gradual progression in the development of the new Fiat dealer network for India will be soon seen and the 178 existing Fiat-franchised Tata dealers in 129 cities will be encouraged to form the foundation of the future network.

Thank god for Fiat India having woken up to the requirement of a separate dealer and service network. We just hope that they carry out the process professionally enough to uplift the experience of their customers.

Piaggio Vespa launched in Noida

Press Release — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:29:45 +0530

The Italian scooter brand, Vespa, known as the trendiest two-wheeled vehicle in the history of mankind was launched in the Uttar Pradesh market on Sunday at Neerja Automotives in Sector - 10 in Noida. The new range of Vespa scooters has come back to India after a gap of 13 years.

The new Vespa was launched in Noida by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, MLA, Noida and Chairman & Managing Director, Kailash Group of Hospitals in the presence of high officials of Vespa.

Piaggio Vehicles, a subsidiary of Piaggio Group of Italy has set up a unit in Baramati, Maharashtra to manufacture Vespa in India.

“The company initially plans to sell the timeless Vespa in the country through 50 – dealer network across 35 cities in the country. Neerja Automotives in Noida is the first sales outlet in Uttar Pradesh to sell the Piaggio Vespa Lx 125 scooter with 125cc engine specially designed for the Indian market. The model has been launched keeping European standards in mind. The scooter is priced at Rs.66,661/- Ex Maharashtra”, said Mr. Parikshat Vig, Managing Director, Neerja Automotives.

“Neerja Automotives plans to open two more Vespa outlets, one in Greater Noida and the other in Ghaziabad by the end of the current financial year 2012-13. The outlets will also sell exclusive accessories and merchandise for the fashionistas who will adorn the specially designed range to compliment the stylish Vespa. In addition, we will also help consumers to celebrate the Vespa and the pride of ownership through exclusive Vespa Clubs just the way the world does all over”, said Mr. Deepak Vig, Director, Neerja Automotives.

“We have set up manufacturing unit in Maharashtra seeing the increasing demand of two wheelers in the country. In India, Piaggio will not compete with the existing players, but will chart an entirely different course by creating an exclusive and unique segment for the brand. It will be a disruptive force in the two-wheeler scooter space and will create a multitude of opportunities for the Vespa. We are also evaluating the possibilities to launch motorcycles, 3-4 wheeled Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) customized for the Indian market”, said Mr. Sanjay Mittal, Vice President – Sales & Customer Care, Vespa.

The others who were present on the occasion included Sachin Joshi, Zonal Sales Manager - North & East, Vespa and other officials from the company.

BMW to introduce a budget end variant of 5 series

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:22:57 +0530

This news should set the guys at Audi worrying. As we recently reported, Audi is very close at overtaking BMW to become the largest luxury car seller in India. However, this news doesn’t looks like it will help Audi in any way. After taking the market by storm by launching the corporate editions for 3 series, BMW India is almost ready with a 5 series sedan that should powered by a new four-pot two-liter petrol engine and this might be the Corporate Edition of 5er.

The motor that will power the budget end 5 comes from the latest gen 3 series that comes to our shore within a couple of months. The 5230i, in all probability, will replace the 523i and power figures stand at 184hp-270Nm.

It is being said that some of the dealerships in the country have already started taking the bookings of this model and the car should be priced around INR 40 lakh when it is launched.

Via IAB

Mahindra holds XUV 500 Torque Day at BIC

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:54:54 +0530

Only a couple of days ago, we reported that Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), Indian’s leading SUV manufacturer, invited us moto journalists to sample the XUV 500 on tBuddh International Circuit. Back then, we had mentioned that we will soon come up with a full report on the event and now, we are posting just that.

Click here for our review on XUV500's outing of BIC

Besides inviting us guys to have a go on their baby, the manufacturer also provided a rare opportunity to its privileged XUV₅₀₀ customers to experience the thrill of the world famous F1 track at Greater Noida, , at the inaugural edition of its ‘XUV₅₀₀Torque Day’. 100 XUV₅₀₀ Purple Club Members were selected through a unique contest to unleash their vehicles at the BIC track, where the Indian Formula One Grand Prix was held recently. The idea was to celebrate the spirit of thrill and performance of one of the most sought-after SUVs, the XUV₅₀₀.

The ‘XUV₅₀₀ Torque Day’ was conceived by Mahindra Adventure to provide a unique motorsports experience to Purple Club customers by giving them an opportunity to get behind the wheel of their XUV500s on the BIC track. The customers also experienced fast flying laps of the circuit with three times National Champion and APRC (Asia Pacific Rally Championship) winning driver, Gaurav Gill and INRC (Indian National Rally Championship) winning driver, Lohitt Urs.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. said, “This customer contest for Purple Club members was an opportunity for them to get a unique first-hand experience of the world class BIC Formula One track. In keeping with our promise of providing adrenaline pumping experiences, this event was a true test of both man and machine. After several rally wins, the XUV₅₀₀ proved its mettle yet again and scorched the BIC track.”

Mr. Nayer further added, “The idea was to propagate the outstanding driving abilities and the advanced technology features of the XUV₅₀₀ which includes ESP, AWD, ABS, Traction Control, amongst others, while providing unlimited fun for our privileged Purple Club members. Experiences like these also leverage the changing aspirations and lifestyles of upwardly mobile Indian consumers.”

BMW working on to expand X range of crossovers

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:30:37 +0530

Recently, we reported in a fair bit of detail about the upcoming Q series of cars from Audi. Now, if Audi is almost here with the crossovers, can BMW be far behind? In the latest development, it has emerged that the Bavarian manufacturer is working on extending the X range of crossovers.

If sources are to be believed, the manufacturer is exploring the potential of coming up with a X7 crossover to lock horns with the recently unveiled Lamborghini Urus.The X7 will share platform with the X5 and should get a lot of components from the 7 series flagship.

Now, this is not all as the manufacturer also plans to develop a X8 Sports Activity Vehicle that should retail for a tad more than the upcoming X7 flagship. We had previously posted a fair bit on the X4 that should debut in 2014 and with the X7 making it to the market by 2016, Audi’s upcoming products already have rivals.

[Source: BMWblog.com

Google self driving cars get license from US Department of Motor Vehicles

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:34:05 +0530

If you always thought that Google is merely a search engine then you are probably one of the most uninformed guys around. At least, I was. Until one fine day, I heard about this project from Google that deals with development of ‘self driving’ cars.

We had reported in detail when Google had asked Steve Mahan to use one of the seven modified Toyota Prius it had readied for this project.

This project at Google is headed by Sebastian Thrun, an expert in artificial intelligence. Google recently announced that these cars can reach U.S. roads as soon as in next year and is in talks with a few automakers who might then launch this technology.

Google reported that their self drive cars makes fewer mistakes and is a couple of seconds faster than human drivers on the test course.

“All options are open. From giving the technology away to licensing it to working with Tier 1s, Tier 2s, working with the OEMs, building a car with them, everything is open and we’re trying to figure out which paths make the most sense,” Levandowski said. “We’re talking to basically every car company to see what their level of excitement is and how do we work with them.” Google said.

As we told earlier, Google has tested the self drive cars for more than 250,000 miles and plans to complete logging 1 million miles before launching this tech. In the latest development, this car gets a road license from US Department of Motor Vehicles and the car seems to be just 3-4 years away from hitting the streets.

1,00,000 Suzuki Swift hatchbacks recalled worldwide

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:21:38 +0530

Suzuki is surely having a ball ever since it first introduced the new Swift hatchback. The latest generation of the car has been well received at the international markets. In India, it will be quite an understatement to say that the Swift has taken the upper B segmen by storm. Only recently, the car displaced its younger sibling Alto from the top of the sales chart and we do not see the sales of this B+ segment hatchback taking a dip. However, the latest development is that Suzuki Motor Corp has just recalled 1,09,000 units of the Swift worldwide to rectify a potentially lose connection on the rubber fuel filler hose which may cause petrol leakage. Half of the cars to be recalled are from Japanese Domestic Market (JDM). The recall applies to cars manufactured between September 2010 and April 2012. The good news for us is that no Swift sold in India comes under those 1,00,000 cars that might have a defect. The manufacturer has seen 4 cases with the fuel filler hose issue but no accidents have been reported owing to this defect.

MTV presents "Nano Drive"- First ever "social road trip" series

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:53:22 +0530

MTV has long been associated with series that have a lot to do with bikes. Be it Roadies or the Stuntmania, both these shows have been pretty popular, especially with the young, and have surely done a lot to help the ratings of the channel. Now, if packing your bags and heading for a long Drive is your cup of tea, you would be glad to know that MTV has now come up with MTV Nano Drive, the first ever social road trip series, or so the presenters claim. A car, a road, lots of censored words, skimpily clad chicks and lots of controversies sure make for an interesting recipe.

Log on to -www.mtv.in.com/drive for details on participation

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire becomes dearer by INR 12000

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:35:39 +0530

The all new Maruti Suzuki Swft Dzire has taken off well in the car market and main reason for it is the excellent Value for Money proposition it offers. Back when the largest selling manufacturer in the country was launching this car, it was made clear that the prices announced were introductory and the car would become dearer by 20-25k after some time.

The good news here is that the car is doesn’t becomes costlier by about 25k but the bad news is that the car does gets dearer by about INR 12000. Maruti sells about 15000 units of this car every month and this price increase was sure to come our way. The new Dzire is powered by the popular 1.2 K series Petrol & 1.3 DDiS Diesel engines and rivals cars like Tata Manza and Mahindra Verito.

2015 Porsche 960 to be a Ferrari rival

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:16:36 +0530

Porsche supercars are the easiest (read: cheapest) way to enter the superclub. It is easy to lost count of the gazillion variants that the popular 911 has and any all new car from Porsche has always set us excited. It is being said that the manufacturer is now busy working on all new 960 supercar that should debut sometime in 2015. The new car will sit between the 911 and the 918 there are good chances that the car will use the MSB-M platform that is found in cars like the Boxter and Caymaan. It is also being said the 960 will be a "four-door coupe" with a twin-turbo flat-six mill. This car will lock horns with Ferrari and should come with a price tag of about €200,000."

Review: Skoda Superb Ambition 1.8 TSI

Amit Chhangani — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:58:03 +0530

Images : Saurabh Arora & Shrey Sunil

It’s beyond the realm of contention that the Skoda Superb is arguably the best car to buy in the Rs 20 lakh D segment. It offers incomparable legroom, great interior, a whole range of toys to play with, impeccable safety features, great dynamics, powerful and efficient engines along with an automatic transmission to die for at a price which reminds you of a clearance sale. Unfortunately, even at that price, some guys get heartburns when they have to contend with a car from a segment below for not being able to extend the already outstretched budget that wee bit.

Skoda has answered the ‘ambitions’ of all such blokes with the newest cut-price variant of the Superb. The new variant, christened Superb Ambition offers the luxury car at a price as much as Rs 3 lakh less than the top of the line variant. We recently drove the 1.8 liter TSI petrol version to figure whether the Czech carmaker has stripped the car of all dignity in a bid to make it more affordable. We’re glad to announce we were wrong.

As one would assume, the Ambition variant of the Superb is meant for the aspiration customer, someone who is slightly short on the budget to go the Full Monty. From the outside, the Ambition variant doesn’t give itself away, so you don’t lose any visual brownie points. To tell the Ambition from a more premium Elegance variant, one would have to look at it from the top, where the absence of the sunroof would give the lower variant away.

More visible giveaways, however, can be found within the cabin. Skoda have taken away the brilliant 7 speed dual clutch DSG transmission in favor of a six-speed manual unit. That difference alone contributes majorly to reduce the cost of the vehicle. Cost aside, the DSG automatic also adds liberally to the luxury, technology and performance of a car. Its absence automatically makes the car less luxurious and much less convenient for someone who has savored the sumptuous automatic version of the transmission in the past. Having said that, the technologically advanced TSI mill goes a long way in ensuring that the creamy smooth, linear power deliver and ample power does its part to try and make up for the lost brilliance of the DSG. And it succeeds a fair bit too, but more on that in a bit.

Apart from the DSG which is conspicuous by absence, there are other discreet omissions which have done their bit to take the price of the Ambition variant down. Skoda have taken out the six-CD changer, made redundant of late by the emergence of the USB audio port in modern cars. Unfortunately, no variant of Superb supports USBs, and so is the case with the lower priced Ambition variant as well. What remains is the Skoda Swing audio player with single CD player functionality, and an Aux-in port. Even the data card reader available in the Elegance variant is not available here. No Bluetooth either, if you were wondering. The 6.5 inch LCD TFT Colour touch screen too has been taken away in favor of buttons to control all functions.

As mentioned earlier, the sunroof has been replaced with a hard metal top, so no craning the necks out for kids on the Ambition variant. The steering mounted controls have disappeared, but the immaculately crafted steering wheel itself remains leather wrapped and is one of the best in any segment to hold and operate. The flappy pedals seen on the Elegance variant are also absent, but they won’t be of any use anyway with a manual transmission. There is no Cruise Control either, but I am yet to meet someone who has ever been able to use the feature consistently in Indian driving conditions, expressways included. You’ll also miss the push button start feature if you think it’s of much use, we, incidentally think otherwise.

You have to give it to Skoda that they have not taken away any of the key safety features from the Ambition. It still is one of the safest cars to travel in with eight airbags, ABS with EBD, Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), an electronic differential lock for that added grip and control, Active Front Head Restraints and Traction control. You also get parking sensors, and a reasonably powerful halogen projector headlamp. So what have they taken away you’d ask? Well Skoda have removed the magical Adaptive Frontlight System (AFS) which makes lamps swivel in the direction the steering wheel turns for better road illumination. The bi-xenon power has also been replaced with vanilla Halogens. Electronic Stability Program is another important omission. Tyre pressure monitoring and Hill Hold Control are two other features that have been removed.

But there is no taking away the plushness of the interior, the amazing dynamics, the wafty ride quality and the incomparable legspace. Like always, I was floored by the linear, yet potent surge of power from the silky smooth TSI petrol unit of the Superb. The engine has enough juice at lower rpm range as well, but it’s only after 4000rpm that you get that intoxicating gush as the machine leaps forward – it’s a beauty of an engine, and the power delivery is surprising to say the least for its size. The 1.8 liter unit dishes out 160PS of power at 4500 rpm and 250 Nm of peak torque at a really low 1500 rpm.

As we traversed the windy roads leading up to Lonavala on the expressway, and later crossed the picturesque twisties on the way to Aamby Valley, we realized that the Superb delivers a mind boggling mix of great ride quality and reassuring dynamic ability. Incredible pliant and sure-footed for a luxury sedan, especially in its price range, the Superb feels slightly squishy only when you push as if it were a sports sedan around fast corners. Having said that, there is no reason why anyone should complain about the comfort or sure-footedness of this cut-price limo, especially after taking into consideration the kind of job its cut out to do. Impressive is the word!

All in all, the Ambition variant may not have some bells and whistles, but it doesn’t lack even a teeny bit in terms of snob value, especially to the onlookers. So if arriving in style matters more to you than an outstanding automatic transmission, then you should probably not think twice before putting your money on this baby. Except for the DSG, you won’t miss any of the other omissions much. If, however, you appreciate performance, convenience, and technology more than street presence, may we recommend the Laura 2.0 TDI with the yummy DSG for the same price,

Price:

1.8TSI - Rs 17.66 lakh (ex-Mumbai)
Power: 160 PS
Torque: 250 Nm

Positives

Great space, comfort and luxury
Loaded with features even after several omissions
Great value for money
Negatives
No automatic transmission
No USB port

Hyundai launches 5-Star Assurance Program

Press Release — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:31:43 +0530

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter announced an offer for the Santro and the Next Gen i10 – the ‘5 Star Assurance Program’ – aimed at enhancing the value proposition for its customers. The Assurance Program is a limited period offer.

On the ‘5 Star Assurance Programme’, Mr. Arvind Saxena, Director, Sales and Marketing, HMIL said, “Our new 5-Star Assurance Program is designed to offer 360-degree services to our customers ranging from maintenance to roadside assistance. The primary objective being to enhance customer satisfaction long after the purchase has been made.”

The 5 Star Assurance Program includes:

Total Maintenance Assurance
Motor Assurance
Warranty Assurance
Exchange Assurance
Roadside Assurance

The ‘Total Maintenance Program’ assures free maintenance for 3 years or 40,000 kilometers whichever is earlier. The program covers all service and repair including parts and materials as per the standard periodic maintenance service schedule and running repairs.

The ‘Motor Assurance Program’ will provide comprehensive motor insurance at Re. 1 and the ‘Warranty Assurance Program’ offers extended warranty for the 3^rd year or up to 40,000 kilometers. Besides this, the scheme also includes free ‘24 X 7 roadside assistance’ for 2 years. The scheme also offers an Exchange/Loyalty offer of Rs. 15,000 for its customers.

2012 Mercedes M Class launched price, details, specs and images

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:56 +0530

Mercedes India has launched the all new 2012 M-Class SUV. The first lot of the model will be delivered in the end of June 2012. The variants and the prices of the new car are mentioned below

ML 350 CDI Launch Edition

Ex-SH Delhi - INR 6,600,000/-
Ex-SH Mumbai - INR 6,478,589/-

ML 350 CDI CBU Bridging Edition

Ex-SH Delhi - INR 5,690,000/-
Ex-SH Mumbai - INR 5,585,365/-

The latest edition of the popular SUV is an all new product. However, the first word that comes to the mind when glanced at is – ‘Bland’. Though Mercedes seems to have solved the space issue which made the previous M-Class a hassle to sit in. There is a visible change in the size of the car and looks like the 2012 M-Class comes with an extended wheelbase taken from its elder sibling the GL-Class. The 2012 M-Class also features a huge panoramic sun-roof which will make the cabin come alive with fresh incident light. There is also the wrap around rear windscreen which makes the M-Class stand out of the crowd.

The insides are typical Mercedes top notch standard quality with a lot of wood used to give that upmarket feel. The ML 350 CDI pumps out some 258bhp and churns out 63.2kgm of pulling power. The motor is mated to a seven-speed 7G-Tronic gearbox along with permanent four-wheel drive as a standard feature.

The design of the new M-Class has been aligned towards the new Mercedes design language. The new model series, codenamed W166 has the lines and proportions which make it instantaneously recognizable as an M-Class. The horizontal lines at the rear emphasise the vehicle's on-road character. Keeping true to the new design language, the new M-Class has been envisioned with a much sleeker frame as compared to its predecessor. Though the vehicle is significantly larger it does not visually look bulky. There is an overall increase in the length and width of the car.

The New M-Class has been fitted with technology that would help customized settings for engine performance, automatic transmission, anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Electronic Traction System all at the touch of the off-button on the console.

Safety aids on the new M-class include nine strategically located air – bags along with PRE-SAFE technology that help prevent such instances. Additionally, there is ATTENTION ASSIST, that alerts the driver on detection of drowsiness on longer trips; an Active Parking Assist with integrated PARKTRONIC technology, and a new rearview camera that increases comfort and provides a real safety plus. The NEW M-Class has received a EURO NCAP 5 Star rating to validate its safety credentials.

The M-class also comes with the ECO start-stop function, which reduces fuel consumption and emissions- by automatically switching off the engine during traffic jams or traffic signals.

The M-class has been a popular model in India with over 1500 units already sold. Some of the most salient features of the machine include

• Active Parking Assist
• Airmatic Air Suspension
• 20 inches AMG Body styling & Alloy wheels
• Easy pack Tailagate
• Designo Leather Interiors
• Mini Spare wheel included in the standard fitments
• Attention assist
• Eco start stop
• Reversing Camera

Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, at the launch of the vehicle said “At the start of this year we had promised to introduce exciting new models into the market. We are proud to present today the New M Class, built to perform with the highest precision and follows the Mercedes-Benz new design language. We are confident that the quality of drive and the luxurious experience it can deliver will be a big hit with the customers and it will be warmly received.”

Tech Specs

Engine and performance
Cylinder arrangement/number V/6
Displacement (cc) 2997
Rated output (kW [hp] at rpm) 190 [258] at 3600
Rated torque (Nm at rpm) 619 at 1600-2400
Compression ratio 15.8 +/- 0.6
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) 7.4
Top speed (km/h) 224

Transmissions 7G-TRONIC PLUS

Tank capacity/with reserve (l) 70/11.0
Chassis (standard) and wheels
Front tyres/wheels 265/45 R20
Rear tyres/wheels 265/45 R20

Perm. GVW (kg) 2950
Boot capacity (VDA) (I) 690
Turning circle (m) 11.80 (diameter)
Kerb weight/payload capacity (kg) [1] 2175

SPIED: Mercedes Benz B Class spied in Pune

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:06:48 +0530

We informed you about Mercedes planning to enter the small car market with their A & B Class cars a few weeks back. Today we have got some real time images of the B-Class being tested in Pune.

The next-generation B-Class will come with sliding rear seats that will make for a split between trunk space and rear leg room. Plus it will also be equipped with the Mercedes Benz tech gadgetry including the lane assistance system and internet access.

Under the hood Mercedes internationally will offer five petrol engines and four diesel options. The power band for the Petrol will range from 109PS to 204PS, while the diesel engines will provide power figures from 122PS to 204PS.

The 2012 B-Class will be showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show to be held in September, Mercedes may plan a Hydrogen fuel cell and EV version of the B-Class later some years down the line. In India this car if priced right can shake the whole industry as owning a Mercedes\BMW\Audi has always been a dream of many car enthusiasts, so people might opt for the ultra-premium hatchbacks which wear the Mercedes\BMW\Audi badge.

via IAB

Ford brings 24 Hour Roadside Assistance to new markets

Press Release — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:28:20 +0530

Ford reaffirms its promise of a stress free vehicle ownership experience and owners of Ford vehicles in the five new cities of Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranchi, Vishakhapatnam and Trichy can now rest easy knowing that help is just a phone call away with the introduction of the Ford Roadside Assistance (RSA) programme to these new cities.

With the addition of these five cities the Ford RSA outreach increases from 42 to 47 cities across India.

The RSA programme is designed to enhance the overall Ford ownership experience and give Ford customer’s additional peace of mind and security, by providing 24x7 support in the unlikely event of a vehicle breakdown or any other vehicle related emergency.

The gamut of RSA’s services include on-location support in case of minor repairs, jumpstarting the vehicle if the battery is drained, delivering fuel for cars that have run out of fuel, unlocking cars in case of keys locked in or lost, vehicle recovery in case of a major breakdown, and more.

“While we have a laser sharp focus on delivering world-class products that have the Ford underpinnings of Quality, Safety and Smart technologies, our commitment doesn’t stop at the sale of the products. With the expansion of our RSA network, we continue to reiterate our commitment to deliver the same level of satisfaction when it comes to the ownership experience.” said Nigel Wark, executive director, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford India.

Pioneered in 2007 by Ford India to let Ford vehicle owners drive around with greater peace of mind, the RSA service outreach has been constantly expanding and now covers all Tier-1 cities. In keeping with the Ford promise of Go Further however, the company has, over the last year, introduced the RSA service across 18 new Tier II cities such as Vijayawada, Guntur, Patna, Calicut, Jammu, Bhopal, Baroda, Nasik, Kottayam and Ambala.

“With RSA now being made available in 47 cities, including Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranchi, Vishakhapatnam and Trichy, we cover 80% of our customer base. We plan to take this outreach up to 85 per cent of our customer base by the end of 2012.This is in line with our expansion plans and will help further enrich the ownership experience for Ford customers,” said P.K. Umashankar, Vice President, Customer Service Operations, Ford India.

Ford’s RSA is set to provide not only real time responses and a stress free ownership experience for the owners of Ford vehicles but also goes a step further in de-stressing the customer in an emergency.

The service has been designed to provide Ford customers the assurance that help is always at an arm’s length, be it a flat tyre, a breakdown on a lonely stretch, running out of fuel, a drained battery or even if the owner has locked the keys inside the car or lost them. While minor repairs can be fixed by a trained Ford technician at the roadside, in case of a major breakdown or a failure in the car’s electrical systems Ford RSA will detail a recovery vehicle to take your car to the nearest authorized Ford workshop.

Continuing to strengthen its Cost of Ownership, Ford India recently inaugurated a record 45 brand new sales and service outlets in 35 cities across India in a single day. With this unique move, Ford India, in the span of just one day, extended its total reach in the country to 230 outlets spread over 123 cities.

Mahindra launches Plus variant of its 3 Wheeler Alfa Load Carrier

Press Release — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:14:03 +0530

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), India’s leading SUV manufacturer, today announced the launch of theAlfa Plus, a longer deck variant of its 3 Wheeler Alfa Load carrier. Developed to enhance the value proposition for its customers, Alfa Plus has been designed for intra-city load transport, especially suited for the Captive segments like the distributors of mineral water, gas cylinders and consumer goods. It is equipped with class leading features - be it a longer wheelbase or an ergonomically designed, comfortable and spacious cabin while having a powerful engine and excellent mileage too.

With the longest cargo box in its class, the Alfa Plus offers a 20% increase in carriage of load volume in every trip, thereby increasing earnings for its customers. While a bigger wheelbase adds to the vehicle’s stability thereby offering a smoother ride and increased safety, the ergonomically designed spacious cabin offers a fatigue free long distance drive. What’s more is that the Alfa Plus comes with a robust transmission, having improved the gear box life by upto 20%, more power with an increase in engine torque by 8% and an increase in clutch life by 50%. Further, with the tagline ‘Bade Fayde ke liye Bada Alfa’, the Alfa Plus offers to its customers a higher load carrying ability as well as lower operating costs. This product will roll out from M&M’s plants at Haridwar and Zaheerabad.

Speaking on the launch of the Alfa Plus, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “With the launch of the Alfa Plus we have significantly enhanced the value proposition for our customers and hence strengthened our 3W load product portfolio. This product is specially designed to cater to the needs of captive segment businessmen and traders and will make transportation of voluminous cargo easier. ‘’

Facelifted BMW X1 launched in Malaysian market. India debut soon.

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:46:23 +0530

The facelifted version of the BMW X1 was recently introduced to the Malaysian market and it is a matter of time before we get the refreshed car in India. In its upgraded avatar, the X1 now features a redesigned front bumper which now gets a dash of silver for that added ‘premium’ feel. The radiator grille has been redesigned and the fog lamps have dug in a bit deeper within the bumper. While the headlamps remain unaltered in terms of shape, there seem to have been changes made within. Tail-lamps, ORVMs and side sill have all passed under the scalpel too. Ditto for the rear bumper. The new version also gets new alloy designs and colors to widen the choice for prospective customers.

There are minor changes within the cabin too, nothing significant though. The trim on the center console has been altered slightly, air vents now get a bit of chrome and the steering wheel has been smothered with aluminum.

While such changes are always welcome, we don’t see them as significant enough to raise the appeal of the mini SUV by much. The backseat of this vehicle isn’t quite nice to ferry your family around. We think that some changes should have been made to the suspension and other components affecting the dynamics of the car to make the ride quality more compliant. That, probably would have really come as a real upgrade.

Engine options on offer to the Malaysian market include three petrol and as many as five diesel units. While, in all probability, we might not get all these engine options and continue to have what we currently have, it won’t be illogical to assume that the refreshed Bimmer will say hello to Indian market as soon as arch rival Audi introduces the Q3.

Hero MotoCorp bikes become dearer

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:21:31 +0530

India’s most popular bike manufacturer Hero MotoCorp has bumped up the prices of its products with immediate effect. Rising input costs and excise duties have been cited as the reason for this unfavourable revision in the prices. The bikes will now cost Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 more and we believe that this slight increase might have at least a marginal effect in the sales of bikes. It may be noted that Bajaj recently launched the Discover 100 4G that retails for INR 2000 less than the earlier version of the bike and it will be interesting to see if this development along with an increase in prices of Hero bikes will see bike buyers shifting their choice towards Bajaj.

Revealed: 2013 Volvo XC90 SUV

Press Release — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:49:01 +0530

We were one of the first few to report that Volvo was working on a new version of the XC90. It can be said that Volvo has been trying to infuse a new life in its product lineup with the recent launches. The XC60 and the S60 are both completely new, or rather new products. However, the XC90, which has traditionally been one of the largest selling cars for the company had started to look slightly dated and needed to be revamped. The 2013 model gets a new look along with an enhanced roster of standard features. The result is the most significantly updated XC90 since its launch a decade ago as one of the first luxury crossover SUVs.

The XC90 now looks sleeker and lower and LED daytime running lights enhance the premium touch. The XC90 3.2 also gets a silver front bumper bar, chrome taillight trim, silk matte exterior rearview mirrors, air intake décor trim and 18-inch "Thalia" alloy wheels. New colour choices on offer include Twilight Bronze metallic and Flaminco Red metallic.

On the inside, the XC90 3.2's gets silver aluminum sprinkled at some of the places, white instrumentation lighting and a leather strap on the tailgate. The high end variants also get leather seating surfaces, red wood inlays, gearshift knob and Executive floor mats. All variants of the XC90s now come with rain sensor windshield wipers and headlight washers.

The high end Platinum trim level comes with Volvo Premium Sound System with Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround Sound, 650 watts output from 12 speakers, a Navigation System with real time traffic, remote control and Map Care plus a rear park assist camera.

The optional Climate Package includes heated front seats and an Interior Air Quality System (IAQS).

Individual options for the XC90 feature a dual screen rear seat entertainment system, Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), new 18-inch "Situla" alloy wheels for the 3.2 (without Premier Plus or Platinum) and various hues of metallic paint

Suggestive price list-

XC90 3.2: $39,500
XC90 3.2 Premier Plus: $42,000
XC90 3.2 Platinum: $44,700
XC90 3.2 R-Design: $42,300
XC90 3.2 R-Design Premier Plus: $42,700
XC90 3.2 R-Design Platinum: $45,400

SHELL HELIX INTRODUCES ‘DRIVE AWAY A CAR WITH HELIX DIESEL HX6’ PROMO

Press Release — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:57:37 +0530

Shell Lubricants has launched a promotion for its customers with its range of passenger car motor oils – Shell Helix. “Drive away a car with Shell Helix Diesel HX6” promo offers an opportunity to the customers to win a brand new car , along with a host of other exciting gifts on offer like mobile phones or assured cash prize. To participate in the promo, customers need to purchase a 4L pack of Shell Helix Diesel HX6, scratch the label and win an assured prize ranging from cash, mobile phone to a brand new car.

“Shell Helix has always strived to offer unique experiences to its customers through its products, offers and promotions. We value our customers and through this promotion we hope to connect with our customers and reward them with exciting prizes. We hope that as much as the promotion, customers will enjoy every journey with Shell Helix Motor Oils as it cleans and protects their engine” said Mr. Nitin Prasad, MD, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd.

The promotion will end on August 31, 2012.

VIDEO: New Audi Q5 promo

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:47:05 +0530

Official pics of the Audi Q5 were leaked sometime back. Dubbed as the 2013 model, the refreshed Q5 gets some subtle changes to the car that went on sale in 2008.

The Q5 refresh gets a new grille, revised headlights and some changes in the front bumper. On the rear, the car gets new taillights and a revised rear apron. On the inside, not much has changed and the 2013 model gets only a revised steering wheel boss. \

Among other engine options, the 2013 Audi Q5 will also offer a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI engine in two states of tune- 272PS and 329PS.

Piaggio Inaugurates two new Vespa showrooms in Delhi

Press Release — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:34:33 +0530

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. – the wholly owned Indian subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group, has today announced the opening of its two new dealerships Kaysons Associates Pvt Ltd. in Pitampura and Neerja Automotives Pvt Ltd in Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida respectively.

On the occasion of the Inauguration of the Vespa Stores in Delhi, Mr. Ravi Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (India) was happy to convey, “We,at Piaggio look forward to our association with Kaysons Associates Pvt Ltd. and Neerja Automotives Pvt Ltd; sought after brand names in the Delhi two-wheeler market. Both our dealers are well-equipped and have the experience to support us in our vision - Vespa’ India chapter success. They will incorporate Piaggio’s global best practices and processes, ensuring a superior sales and service experience for our valued customers in India”

These showrooms are designed to reach out to maximum customers in Delhi - geared with the best customer service care, quality and experience. One of the most famous world icon of Italian style, brand Vespa hopes to make available its fine products and services to potential clientele at these showrooms.

Commenting on the launch, dealers from Kaysons Associates Pvt Ltd. and Neerja Automotives Pvt Ltd said, “We are glad to be associated with Vespa. Today marks a historic moment in the Indian two-wheeler segment as the iconic global-celebrity is being made available to patrons across Indian shores. We look forward to strengthening Vespa’s Indian journey”

Both dealerships which resonate the Vespa brand and style quotient will encompass state of the art international facilities. Well-equipped to support owners needs, these dealerships will offer complete solutions from body work tools, spare parts, servicing, consulting et al.

P.S. The image shown is representative and not of the actual showroom.

Video, Images & details: 2013 Fiat Linea

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:23:07 +0530

The gorgeous Fiat Linea has been in the international market since 2007 and it is high time the Italian manufacturer comes up with a Linea refresh. As expected, Fiat Linea has got a new fascia with a new bumper, grille and a lip spoiler. Also, the car gets revived rear bumper and tail lamps. Fiat has done away with the Audi-ish ‘Bulgarian beard’ and the Linea gets a grille that reminds us of last generation Hyundai Verna. The refreshed Linea was launched at the Turkish market today and is expected to come to our shores by the end of this year. The 2013 version of Linea was recently introduced in Turkey with engine options carried over from the earlier version of the car.The insides get a new dash with lighter tones and we also expect the new upholstery to be more premium.

It may be noted that Linea has never managed to take the upper C segment in India by storm and has been plagued due to poor after sales support being offered by the venture between Tata and Fiat. Some cases have surfaced where Tata dealers have been dishing out step motherly treatment towards Fiat car. However, lining on the clouds is that Fiat is reconsidering the deal with the Indian manufacturer and might break up from the JV. Fiat is gradually getting aggressive with its Indian operations by offering the latest variants of its cars and is also working on building a better perception in the eyes of the public. Fiat recently decided to sell its cars from its own dealerships and the manufacturer finally seems to be pretty serious for the Indian market.

Check out the video from the guys at Fiat-

Bajaj launches the Discover 100 4G. Loses a gear and INR 2000 from price tag

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:19:59 +0530

After coming up with a gazillion variants of the popular bike Discover, Bajaj has now come up with yet another variant of the younger sibling of the Pulsar. The latest to come to us is the new Discover 100 4G. The 4G here has nothing to do with the cell phone that costs almost as much as the bike and instead stands for 4 gears. As you would had guessed by now, the new Discover loses a gear. What it also loses is approx INR 2000 from its price tag, thereby, making the 100cc variant of the bike even more pocket friendlier.

It is a very safe guess that the 4G will be geared as per city riding and it will be interesting to check out the fuel efficiency on offer. Other than the loss of a cog, every other bit remains unchanged and the bike continues to sport a 94.38cc motor belting out 7.7PS- 7.85Nm.

We are still not aware if the 5 geared model will continue to be on sale but we want the earlier version to keep fighting in the market. While it might confuse the buyer a little, more options are always better. No?

What happens when you take a SUV to a Formula 1 race track? We drive the Mahindra XUV500 on Buddh International Circuit

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:01:41 +0530

Before I may begin, let me clarify that this story won't talk about the cubby holes, ride quality, leather upholstery, music system and so on. No, wait! Music system goes out of this list. This review is something special and definitely very personal to me. Regular readers here might be aware that I have always been more of a car guy than a biker. However, do not get me wrong, I do love biking but being the so called 'cager' has always appealed more to me. Anyway, after a lot of silent and not so silent prayers to the Almighty and my dear editor respectively, I finally got a chance to drive on the Buddh International Circuit, the Indian venue for Formula 1 races.

Now, track is where I always wanted to be and I have had dreams (surely wet ones) of piloting a fast car on the sacred tarmac. Lady luck finally smiled at me, albeit, wickedly. I surely had a rendezvous with the track but this is just half the story. The other half is that I ended up being at the right place in a wrong car. As luck would have had it, I found myself behind the wheel of a diesel car on a F1 track. What is more? It was a SUV. I had a little laugh (at myself) and decided to be all game to figure out how sticky a situation I was in. The next few minutes turned out to be the most exciting of all 21 years of my life. Interested to know how? Read on.

The Mahindra Torque Day event that I recently participated in was held to give us media folks a feel of the latest hot seller's dynamics and poise. We also had rally prepped SUVs with Gaurav Gill, Sunny Sidhu and Lohit Urs at the event but more of the event in the next article. This one will speak of my experience with the 500 on track.

I can proudly say that I am one of the few drivers out there who have tested a not so low slung 2.5 ton diesel vehicle on a race track. As I climbed into the car with a lot of doubts in my mind, the first thing I discovered was that the car being provided was NOT an all wheel drive variant. This was surely as funny as Mahindra could have got but I decided to be a part of the fun. It was easy to adjust the seat to a good driving position, with Mahindra trademark commanding view of front, and the ignition was turned on. With helmet and seat belts on duty, the 500 was slotted into the first cog. Funnily enough, and thanks to growing up at Chandigarh, the music system was switched on too and volume was turned up to max! Adhering to the pit lane speed limit of 15kmph, I rolled off to hit the track. The gas pedal got a neat shove the moment I left the pit lane and what quickly followed was some squealing from the rubber's struggle to get a grip on to the tar. Talking about squealing, I was quick to discover that the Bridgestones seemed to be in an affair with the squeals. With full throttle and dreams of The Stig like lap times, I shifted to the second. In this ratio, the car is good for speeds a little north of 75kmph, above which all that happens is the engine becoming more audible without the speedo needle climbing. The first corner appeared by the time I was in fourth and I got ready for my first ever corner on the track. Taking the outside, I slotted the car in third for some engine braking and eased off the gas pedal. With fears of skate board like feeling that I have experienced on the Scorpio, I aimed for the apex and decided to trust the car. Luckily, it didn't let me down and I easily powered my way out of the corner. A quick glance on the speedo and I wasn't doing a bad job on the circuit. By the time I had dealt with a couple of corners, I was hooked to all the engine braking, understeer and the tire squeals. As expected, the car had a considerable amount of body roll but not once did the car felt like it was going to turn turtle. The steering was surely on the lighter side and would had made life easier with more communication on offer but again, no Scorpio like feeling of disconnection with wheels was felt. Another handling aspect is that thanks to the rear weight bias, the car seemed to be a tad confused in the tight corners. That said, it was no big deal to tackle the understeer on offer and I appreciate the fact that the car was very predictable in the high speed corners.

XUV could had felt better if the set up wasn't this spongy. One thing that needs to be mentioned here is that I would like Mahindra to have a look at seat bolstering if it wants us to have more track days in the 5-oh-oh. While the seat is not very hard and will be found comfortable on most occasions and applications, I found myself sliding on the seat and hanging on to the steering for the dear life. By the time I had completed a couple of laps, I had become comfortable with the car and was enjoying every moment on the track. The fact that XUV has a monocoque instead of ladder-on-frame surely made life much easier for me. Suddenly, taking a SUV to the track did not appear all that wacky.

This, until the greedy side of me decided to take over and have some more fun. Making sure that no car was driving close to me, I decided to go power sliding in the corners. Approaching the corner at constant speed of 120 kmph, I slotted into third for some engine braking and aimed for the handbrake. This is where everything went wrong. Thanks to the not so conventional handbrake engaging mechanism, my concentration got a hit and I could no more visualize the perfect line and went really wide and almost off the track. However, I must say that it was easy to make the car comfortable again and with more determination, I aimed for the next corner. The result that followed was same as earlier and that is when I decided to put a rest to my urge to powerslide.

A good half an hour later, it was time to get out of the car. On stopping, I was quick to take off the helmet and balaclava and found myself drenched in sweat. The car? It surely had a rough time with smell of burned rubber everywhere around me. However, not once did the car over heat and thankfully, I ended up keeping the rubber side down and did not topple the car. The Mahindra XUV is surely not built for track days. However, on that one day in a year when you wish to play Mark Webber and check out the sassy pit girls waving at you, Mahindra XUV 500 will work extra hard to paste that smile on your face. A day that began with a lot of doubts ended up with considerable satisfaction and pleasure. The XUV500 can surely handle the odd day on track. As for me? Well, let us just say that I had the time of my life. While I might forget my first kiss, my first track day will remain etched in memory.

MAHINDRA XUV500 SPECIFICATIONS-

Engine- mHawk140, Direct injection diesel engine5th generation Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT)

Cubic Capacity- 2179 cc

Max Gross Power- 140 Bhp(103kW) @ 3750 rpm

Max Gross Torque - 330 Nm @1600-2800rpm

Gear Box - 6 speed synchromesh manual

Ground Clearance - 200 mm

Tyres - P235/65 R17, Radial Tubeless

Suspension - Independent Suspension

Front - McPherson type with anti-roll bar

Rear - Multilink type with anti-roll bar

Brakes- All Disc brakes

Front- Disk & Caliper type

Rear - Disk & Caliper type

Fuel Tank Capacity- 70 Litres

Turning Circle Radius- 5.6 m

Gross Vehicle Weight- 2450 Kg

Wheelbase, mm - 2700

Overall width, mm - 1890

Overall length, mm - 4585

Overall height, mm - 1785

Toyota Talks About EMR Driver Selection

Press Release — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:20:29 +0530

Young racing hopefuls of camp 1aged between 15 and 24 from across the country were given an opportunity to try out for a place in the final driver line-up (i.e. 25 drivers) of the Etios Motor Racing Series. The initial response of 3300 online registrations was further narrowed down to 900, who were then invited to participate in the first round of auditions in four cities – Pune, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.

The arduous task of selecting 70 young drivers from around 900 was given to experts* in the field, racing and rallying drivers both past and present. The participants were then given an opportunity to demonstrate their driving skills on go-karts, and were judged on their lap times and consistency in lap times.

As selections were held across the country at different tracks, the following was put into place to achieve the intended result:

- Tracks at all venues were redesigned by Red Rooster Racing to bring out driver skills

- Benchmark lap time on each track was set for reference

- Each participant drove eight laps

- Each participant was rated on 10 by the evaluators

* Camp 1 Evaluators

All Cities
Leelakrishnan 7-time Indian National Rally Champion Formula-3 Champion 1992 Runner-up, Indian Touring Car Championship 2011	Karna Kadur 2004 JK Novice Racing Champion Indian National Rally Champion 2009 - Rally Star Cup Indian National Rally Champion Group N 2011
Pune & Delhi	Kolkata
Farad Bhathena 3-time Indian National Rally Champion Chief organizer of MRF Racing Challenge 2008-‘10 President of Indian Rally Commission 2003-‘08	Amittrajit Ghosh Presently a driver with Team MRF Indian National Rally Champion 2007 (1400cc) Drove in inaugural F1 Indian Grand Prix support race - (Formula Ford) and chosen for i1 Supercar Series
Bangalore
Nawaz Sandhu		Karandeep Singh Sandhu
MRF Racing Team 1990-‘94 MRF Rally Team 1997-2000 Winner of Sportscraft Summer Rally 1990		Indian National Rally Champion 2000 - Group N Indian National Rally Champion 2006 - Super 1600 Runner-up INRC 2003

Camp 1 winners in brief (total = 70)

- By selection venue: BLR = 30, Pune = 21, Delhi = 15, Kolkata = 4

- By residential address: BLR = 15, Mumbai = 13, Delhi = 9, Chennai = 4, Others = 29

What to expect in Camp 2?

- 5 driver trainers – 1 dedicated trainer for each driver on track

- 3 sessions on track – more time on track for each driver

- Lectures/ theory + analysis after each session – detailed and comprehensive training programme

Toyota Dealerships in Bangalore Host Exciting Motorsport Activities to Popularize Etios Motor Racing

Press Release — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:04:52 +0530

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (TKM) recently exhibited the concept cars of its Etios Motor Racing (EMR) Series along with exciting motorsport activities at Nandi Toyota and Ravindu Toyota in Bangalore. This new venture is in line with its global philosophy of introducing ‘WAKU DOKI’, which in Japanese means ‘excitement, joy and fun.’

Unveiled for the first time earlier this year at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012, the new sporty avatar of the Etios will re-emphasize Toyota’s efforts in reaching out to the younger target group. And, more importantly take motorsports closer to its customers and the youth of the country.

Apart from the EMR concept cars on display, there is a host of motorsport based activities for all age groups visiting the dealership. Racing simulators, remote controlled cars on race tracks, a children’s automotive learning area, and other relevant contests and activities.

This year will be dedicated to popularizing the EMR brand, apart from the dealership activations in 14 cities and 24 dealerships, there will be exhibition races, road shows and a whole lot of activities lined up before the Series next year.

Mr. Hidehisa Nagae, Executive Managing Coordinator-Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said “We aim to exceed our customers’ expectations, and create many more happy customers. Recently, Toyota laid down its global mission, called WAKU DOKI which is to provide ‘excitement’, ‘joy’ and ‘fun’ through its products. Here in India, I am pleased that TKM has decided to start motorsports in the same global direction with the Etios brand.”

Going into detail about the EMR concept in India, RK Ramesh, General Manager Conversion & Accessories, said: “Motorsports is gaining popularity in India, commanding a growing audience among the young, educated and dynamic; the demographic that the Etios Brand also reaches out to. We would like to take this opportunity to promote motorsports in India through EMR and capitalise on our global motorsport heritage.

The response we have received so far has been good and we are amazed at the fantastic young talent that has appeared for the driver auditions from across the country. I am sure once we are done with the training programme and the EMR Series we will have a few world-class drivers representing not only Toyota Motorsports but our country as well.”

Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan 2012 Flagged Off on 5th May

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:25:13 +0530

The Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan was flagged off from Siliguri early morning on the 5^th of May. Over 30 riders on their Royal Enfield motorcycles were flagged off amidst much fanfare as they rode out into the eastern Himalayas. The Darjeeling Enfielders, a local Royal Enfield enthusiasts club turned up in strength to show their solidarity towards fellow Royal Enfield riders.

Royal Enfield has been very active in organizing motorcycle touring events in India and looking at the huge fan following that the manufacturer has, it will be an understatement to say that such events have been quite successful in the past.

This will be the first factory backed tour to the neighbour ever. This tour will see bulletsw thumping across Indian states of West Bengal, Sikkim and Assam. The motorcycles will then greet the excellent roads of Bhutan. The Tour is led by experienced riders from Royal Enfield who shall also guide the other riders about the tricks of riding across such challenging terrain.

The Tour of Bhutan will end on the 15th May. The tour will cover nearly 1,600 Km across 10 riding days.

SPIED: Mahindra Verito facelift

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:22:59 +0530

Renault had first entered the Indian market with Logan, a C segment sedan. The French car maker had tied up with Mahindra & Mahindra and the car did a fair no. of sales before the two partners decided to head for a divorce. While Renault started its Indian innings all over again with the introduction of some upmarket products, the Logan went to Mahindra and was quickly re-badged as the Verito. While Logan got a few updates just before it was re-badged as Verito in India, we at Motoroids were the first ones to report that the Indian manufacturer is working on injecting some more botox in to the fast aging and bland car. Recently, the good folks at TeamBHP spotted a camouflaged Verito being tested. The car was wearing some masking on the front and at the back. It may be noted that we had reported about the chances of the recent facelift job given to the Dacia Logan abroad, making it to India and it is for quite sure that the Verito refresh will come with a new bumper, new headlamps, a grille that looks like it is inspired from Xylo's and foglamp housings. The car also will have changes to the boot lid and rear bumper and tail lights. On the side profile, the car gets blacked out B pillars and new mountings for the ORVMs.

Do not get us wrong, we are not expecting any drastic change to happen with the market's perception of the Logan, nay, the Verito but a minor facelift can surely inject some freshness into the aging car.

Image Courtesy: TeamBHP

Hyundai Motors India Ltd launches "Live Brilliant" global campaign in country

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:21:52 +0530

Hyundai Motor Company launched a worldwide brand campaign called “Live Brilliant” last month. Unlike Hyundai’s previous campaigns that were executed regionally, the “Live Brilliant” campaign is the company’s first worldwide brand campaign with one single communication applied to all major markets. The new campaign is expected to help global customers have a unified image of Hyundai.

The Indian subsidiary of HMC, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer has now launched the new brand campaign in the country. The campaign based on Hyundai’s unified global image, depicts a strong emotional connect between the brand and its customers. It depicts sharing of brilliant moments and experiences of their lives as “individuals” and “family”. The universal automotive brand captures the essence of being one of the largest and most adorable in the league.

The short film-style advertising creatives use two themes revolving around “Self” and “Family”. The multi-award winning director Juergen Bollmeyer has shot these videos with the soundtrack borrowed from the movie, “Like Crazy”. The two films show the Sonata and the Genesis in their full flow. The concept of “Live Brilliant” revels in the brand’s superiority and excellence that makes customers’ lives brighter. Exuberant and overflowing with positive energy, the film reaffirms the intense bond between the customers and the brand.

Hyundai’s `Modern Premium’ brand direction envisions the progressive and modern day culture that people want to adopt and integrate in their everyday lifestyle, thereby embellishing its offering to the customer with the best-in-class, hi-end design and technology, yet keeping it affordable and premium. The campaign focus is aligned with its belief in the brand slogan, ‘New Thinking. New Possibilities’. It illustrates the idea of providing more to its customers with new innovations, experiences and values beyond their expectations. ‘Modern premium’ therefore reflects the new age ideology where cars are no longer mere means of transportation but are the living spaces that carry different meanings for different customers. It is a forward looking approach to enrich customer’s lives in Hyundai’s innovative ways.

Cars become sentimental because of the memories they help us create. Hyundai created its new Live Brilliant campaign, which strives to connect with people on a deeply emotional level. The “Live Brilliant” campaign is the company’s first worldwide brand campaign with one single communication applied to all major markets to build up a consistent image as a global brand. The new campaign, based on Hyundai’s enhanced status, is expected to help global customers have a unified image of Hyundai and get a better understanding of the company’s ‘Modern Premium’ values.

Fiat Linea facelift hits the Turkish market. Engine options remain unchanged

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:38:33 +0530

The gorgeous Fiat Linea has been in the international market since 2007 and it is high time the Italian manufacturer comes up with a Linea refresh. As expected, Fiat Linea has got a new fascia with a new bumper, grille and a lip spoiler. Also, the car gets revived rear bumper and tail lamps. Fiat has done away with the Audi-ish ‘Bulgarian beard’ and the Linea gets a grille that reminds us of last generation Hyundai Verna. The refreshed Linea was launched at the Turkish market today and is expected to come to our shores by the end of this year. The 2013 version of Linea has been introduced in Turley with engine options carried over from the earlier version of the car.

Refreshed Suzuki Splash aka Maruti Ritz goes on sale in Japanese market

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:25:44 +0530

Motoroids became one of the first to report about Maruti working on a mid life facelift for its Ritz hatchback. Only sometime after we got the A star facelift, Maruti Suzuki Ritz aka Splash aka Opel Agila (phew!) got a dosage of some freshness injected into it. Now, the recent news is that the Splash refresh has gone on sale in Japanese market.

The Ritz has been in our market for three years now and with the Swift having received a complete model replacement recently, it was about time that the Ritz got a liberal dosage of botox. From what we can make out from the images, the car sports a fresh front fascia with a new version of the slightly Bulgarian beard and new fog lamp surrounds. The front bumper too is all new and has some similarity with the all new Swift Dzire. This is not all as the interiors too will be seen sporting some minor changes.

Key features-

Anti lock Brake System

Front Dual Airbags

Integrated Audio System with USB, Aux, iPod connectivity, FM and MP3 CD player

Steering Mounted Audio controls

13 inch alloy wheels

Climate control

There is no news on the launch of the refreshed Ritz but we expect the car to come to our market next month.

Q7, Q5 & Q3 later, Audi to now come up with Q8, Q6, Q4 & Q2

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:50:02 +0530

We reported in detail when pics of famous German auto maker Audi testing a new SUV in the bodyshell of Q5 had surfaced. We reported that the car being tested was slated to be the all new Audi Q6. Now, in a more surprising news, it has surfaced that the premium car maker plans to target new segments by coming up with Q2, Q4, Q6 and Q8 crossovers! This is not all, as Audi is already working on all new generation of its current flagship crossover- the Q7. It is being said that the range of Q series cars with even numbered model names will sit lower to the range with odd numbered model names. Also, the even numbered series will be more road biased and hence, less capable off it as compared to the cars in the odd numbered series.

The new gen Q7 will use the much talked about MLB-evo platform from the VW bin. The current gen Q7 shares its platform with the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg and we expect this platform sharing to continue with the upcoming generation of these cars.

Also, we wonder which all cars from the upcoming Q series make it to Indian market. As it is, we people are suckers for luxury SUVs and crossovers.

Via AutomobileMag

Bajaj Pulsar sales hits the 50 lakh mark

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:26:52 +0530

This had to happen. From a middle aged shopkeeper to a self proclaimed cool dude who needs all the attention from the fairer sex, and everyone in between, almost every one of these choose a Bajaj Pulsar as their commuting tool. The Indian bike manufacturer Bajaj recently announced that it has sold as many as, hold your breath, 5o lakh Pulsar bikes. Pulsar took around 11 years to achieve this record. The bike was launched in 2001 and has seen a gazillion upgrades since then.

Commenting on this achievment, Bajaj said, "The (Pulsar) brand has crossed the landmark 5 million sales mark, while celebrating a decade of existence. Pulsar is the only brand in the performance segment which has crossed the 5 million mark in India." As per Mr. K Srinivas, President (Motorcycle Business), Bajaj Auto Limited, "Not many brands in the Indian automobile space have crossed the 5 million mark. This holds true even for mass motorcycles. The Pulsar range has received many accolades over the years."

This news comes just a few days before the all new generation of Bajaj Pulsar will be launched and it is being said the all new Pulsar 200 NS will go on sale for Rs. 95,000/- (on-road, Pune). Going by the way the 200 NS has turned out to be, we expect the Pulsar brand to hit the magical figure of 10 million in lesser time.

Aston Martin Announces New Dealership in New Delhi

Press Release — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:48:38 +0530

With immediate effect, Aston Martin is officially open for business with a new four-car showroom in up-market South Delhi. In addition to the customer reception area and new car gallery, finished in distinctive Aston Martin Corporate Identity, the facility will also incorporate an approved service centre to cater for the needs of Aston Martin owners throughout the area. The total facility, sales and after sales, measures 13,000 square feet.

Located in the prestigious Mohan Co-Operative industrial area, the showroom is operated by Select Cars which has a strong reputation in the Indian luxury car market. The opening of the new facility will give customers from across the city an opportunity to experience the British car marque’s 14 model line-up of hand crafted luxury sports cars. The dealership will provide customers with access to selected models from the range including the V12 Vantage, Vantage S (Coupe and / or Roadster), V8 Vantage Coupe, V8 Vantage Roadster, DB9 Coupe, DB9 Volante, DBS Coupe, DBS Volante and the four-door sports car; Rapide.

Aston Martin’s Global Sales Director, Andy Gawthorpe, reiterated the company's strong focus on widening its presence across key markets and further supporting its customers with value added service. "It's been a long and thorough process to ensure that we have the right long-term business partner for Aston Martin in the Northern region of India. Select Cars has a proven track record in the automotive industry on many levels with a strong focus on trained staff and customer service and we look forward to starting a successful relationship.”

Mr. Yadur Kapur, Executive Director at Select Cars, highlighted the importance of the partnership. “We are pleased to announce our partnership with the marquee of British luxury sports car brands, Aston Martin. The Aston Martin car is a modern statement of exclusivity, speed and extraordinary style and its legacy and reputation will resonate with our discerning customers who are a paragon of perfection and power in their fields. Our customers yearn for supreme exclusivity and ultra-luxurious customization as offered by Aston Martin. We are sure this iconic brand will provide the Indian audience with an unparalleled driving experience”.

Aston Martin is a modern, exclusive sports car brand with a unique heritage instantly recognised around the world. In distinctively fusing the latest technology, time-honoured craftsmanship and graceful styling to produce a range of critically acclaimed performance sports cars, Aston Martin has been elevated to a position as one of the world’s coolest brands.

Banned: SC entirely prohibits use of films on car windscreens

Amit Chhangani — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:30:49 +0530

Peel it off! That’s what Supreme Court has ruled for those who use tinted films on their cars’ windscreens. Until now, tinted films of upto 70% transparency for front and rear windows and 50% transparency for side windows were allowed on cars, but henceforth, even such films will have to be removed. Cars equipped with tinted windshields and windows (not film) will remain out of the law’s ambit though, as the consumer is not responsible for them. It’s notable that some car manufacturers do deliver their cars with a slight tint on side windows. The shade, however, is well within the permissible limits in such cases.

"We prohibit the use of black films of any visual light transmission (VLT) percentage or any other material upon the safety glasses, windscreens (front and rear) and side glasses of all vehicles throughout the country" ruled the apex court.

Traffic police in various cities has launched a drive to enforce the SC ruling. Apart from ripping off the film on the windows, the fine for the first offence will be Rs 500 and second offence will be Rs 1,000. Currently the fine for the first offence is Rs 100, escalating to Rs 300 for a repetition. If the car owners resists the removal of the film, the car may even be impounded.

SC’s logic that tint films make the interior of a car less visible helps criminals escape the law might have some substance, but in a country like India where the temperature soars to as much a 52 degree Celsius in summers, a UV cancelling, heat deflecting coating does help the passengers to an extent. At 70% transparency, the cabin of a car is sufficiently visible. The real problem here is the manufacture, marketing and usage of substandard and non compliant films by unregistered makers. The police, as one would expect never acts against the manufacturers and suppliers of these films, and even the end user, in a bid to make their cars look cooler opts for them. In our opinion, clear films, which deflect heat and UV to keep the cabin relatively cooler, should be allowed. We earnestly believe that only the removal of such films would hardly go any distance in reduction of abductions and robberies, for criminals would still commit crimes if they have to. More than reducing crime, this ruling may eventually turn into another way for the traffic constables to fleece commuters.

Even VVIPS wuill have to adhere to the new ruling as there currently isn’t any exception made. However, an exception can later be made for the the used by Z and Z+ security covered people.

Arnob Gupta’s CBR250R: 1 Year, 25000km review

Arnob Gutpa — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:20:28 +0530

The bike in question will complete one year on a couple of days. It has 25000km on the clock, though the actual mileage is somewhere in the tune of 26500km, for reasons I’ll go over later.

This was one of the first batch sold in India, and it did have some cosmetic issues such as poor plating, not so good paint job, rattly body panels, etc, but all these have been fixed now and first batch owners have had the “defective “ parts replaced FOC. So, lets get moving with how the thing has behaved since it was bought one year back.

BODYWORK

Once the rattles are taken care of, there is no further “music”. The only irritation is the fact that a lot of things need to removed to get access to the internals, but maybe that is Honda’s way of theft proofing things. There was at least one fastener socket which came with a stripped thread (rear right belly pan, fixed under guarantee). A mentioned before, anything with poor plating/paint damage has been replaced. Other small quality issue items – footpeg rubber.

SEAT

Stock seat is OK for the city, somewhat inadequate for the highway (much too hard) hopeless for broken roads. Padding it is not difficult (easy fix).

ENGINE + DRIVETRAIN

The NO PROBLEM bike. Still on the stock clutch, 1.5L oil every 6000km. It feels much the same after and just before the service. No difference. Does not show any sign of overheating even when run at 115kph+ on a sustained basis. Amazing engine. Lovely, slick box. Topped up coolant once, at 18K km

HANDLING

No vices, but the broad tyres do not like low friction surfaces such as steel drain covers, slush etc

SERVICE COSTS

It’s Rs 750. That only includes washing, a little greasing and setting and chain tightening, apart from changing the oil and oil filter. If your valves need to be set, that is also included. Does not include chain oiling which almost costs ½ can of chain lube. If you are not changing shims and using their synthetic oil, expect the service to set you back somewhere in the tune of2300 bucks. Personally, next time I need to go in for a service, I’ll just do the oil and filter change (using my own oil), as the rest (chain lube + washing) is not a big deal and neither is greasing, and enter it in the service record. Service only when there is valve checking required as then, there is some specialized work involved. Air filter – just 200

OTHER SPENDS

Broken mirror (cheap – 400), Head bearings, changed at 18000km, one set of brake pads (fr + rear), after about 15000km. Damaged footpeg rubber – TVS 180 direct fit. Broken indicator – 300 (you have to buy the full assembly). One set tyres.Till date, 4 oil filters and three air filter elements (around 2000). 200 to reconnect a poorly fitted spark plug (courtesy Venetian Honda) out of town, in an emergency. Two chains (one pulsar 220), + one front sprocket (about 2K)

EXTRA SPENDS

H4 HID 4500K, Extra horns, tank guards, wiring for same + chain oiler. Approx 5000/-. HH sintered brake pads (about 2K), teflon 1/8n brake tube with stainless steel coil on it (2K). 35T rear sprocket (WBS), costing about 2K. However, this throws the odometer reading off by about 8%, that’s why the disparity in actual mileage and odo readings. Seat, about 1K

ISSUES

I’m calling these as issues as there is a difference between issues and problems, one of magnitude. For me the bike has NO problems.

Availability of parts. Very disappointing in the beginning, still not good. This is still a PROBLEM
Engine rattle at 5 -6K rpm, at low throttle openings. No explanation. Valve setting reduces it, does not eliminate it.
OE brakes good, but not great. Huge difference with HH pads and non expanding line.
Soft front end, excessively so (especially now that the brakes are much better).
Some very incompetent mechanics, there is still a shortage of trained people. This is a PROBLEM, forces me to ride 30km for a service.
Side indicators leak, all of them, and fog up in the rains.
Headlamp had a weird setting, with all bulb filaments positioned away from the focal spot, hence bad beam pattern. I think this is a bike specific problem, have sorted it out.
El cheapo toolkit. Chuck it away. Med kit only to comply with legislation. Chuck that away too. Buy tools and a proper med kit.
For touring the tank is too small.
Poor wind protection unless tucked in. This is not realistic on the highway.

SO, would I recommend the bike?

YES!

UPLOAD YOUR OWN BIKE REVIEW ON MOTOROIDS TALKS: CLICK HERE!

DISCUSS THIS TOPIC HERE, OR YOU CAN ALSO READ ARNOB'S EXHAUSTIVE LONG TERM REPORT OF THE CBR250R HERE

Video: Meet Volvo Mean Green, the world’s fastest hybrid truck

Amit Chhangani — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:02:22 +0530

This green monster you see here has just achieved a rare feat. It has become the world’s fastest hybrid truck by achieving a terminal speed of 236.77km/h for a flying kilometer and 153.252km/h for the standing kilometer. And for god’s sake, don’t compare those numbers with sports cars or other trucks running on NOX, as this truck is powered by the old faithful dirty fuel, supported by a 200bhp electric motor.

The main powertrain, a Volvo D16 engine mated with a modified Ishift gearbox, produces 2100 bhp and 6780nm of torque to propel this monster to those crazy speeds. Piloted by Boije Overbrink of the Swedish Viking Speed Records Team, the truck was officially bestowed the speed honour by the United States Auto Club, an extension of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

Check out how this burly monster managed to reach that lightening speed in this video.

Hyosung developing RT250D on-off roader for India, sets up new plant

Amit Chhangani — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:23:26 +0530

India’s leading auto magazine, Autocar India is reporting that Hyosung is planning to launch an all-new 250cc on-off roader in the Indian market. The company is developing the new bike grounds-up and will hit the roads sometime in early 2013. To share design cues with the smaller RT125D, the new bike will be christened RT250D and will most likely be powered by the same 250cc parallel twin engine that powers the GT250, which is also due for a launch in India.

The RT125D is a funky retro styled ‘sand bike’ as Hyosung prefers calling it. Suitable for both on and off-tar riding, the bike features a low, deeply padded seat along with balloon rear tyre. That, along with wide handle bars makes it an easy bike to ride. The RT250D will also be similarly styled, and may well share most of the cycle parts and body panels with its smaller sibling. The bike will be assembled locally here in India.

At the same time, Hyosung-Garware, in a bid to scale up their activities in India are planning to set up another plant in the foothills of Mahabaleshwar, in the picturesque village of Wai. The new plant, top be set up with an investment of Rs 65 crore (land excluded) will be spread in a 25 acre area. ACI reports that the new plant will produce 30 bikes per shift per day and will assemble the GT250R and the GV650 cruiser. The company may also set up an engine assembly unit in the near future to bring down costs.

Speculated specs:

Power Output: 28.8hp @ 10000rpm
Max Torque: 22.68Nm @ 8000rpm
Cylinders: 2
Tyres: 130/80-18 66P front
Tyres: 180/80-14 78P rear
Wheelbase: 1350mm
Seat Height: 790mm
Ground Clearence: 230mm

Source ACI

Maruti Suzuki Ritz sales cross the 2 lakh units mark

Amit Chhangani — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:54:23 +0530

Maruti Suzuki’s Ritz has crossed the 2 lakh sales mark. The car has ttained the fat in a short span of 36 months of its launch. Ritz, like its sibling Swift is one of the fastest models to achieve the 200,000 mark. During the fiscal it is one of the bestsellers in the premium A2 segment. The Company in FY 2011-12 sold over 64,000 units in the domestic market. Maruti Suzuki Ritz has been very popular car in Asian markets. Maruti Suzuki has so far exported over 8000 units to these markets. Some of the popular destinations include South East Asia and other neighboring countries.

On the achievement Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Chief GM (Marketing), Maruti Suzuki said, “We are happy that Ritz has found appreciation for itself among consumers across age groups. Launched in 2009, Ritz has indeed played a wonderful inning so far. Ritz owners also, have always appreciated its driving comfort. In current context too, when market is skewed towards diesel, we expect Ritz to gain more volumes in the future as well.”

During its journey of selling more than 2 lakh units, the Ritz has won several accolades and passed some landmarks. Here’s the list
1.    Best Premium Compact Car in Initial Quality by India Initial Quality Study,2009
2.    Best Appealing Premium Compact Car by India Appeal Study,2009
3.    Premium Hatchback of the year 2010 by Autocar
4.    Compact Car of the year 2010 by Auto Bild
5.    Car of the year 2010 by BS Motoring
6.    India 1st Auto Brand to have more than 1 million fans on Facebook

62 year old Thomas Chacko sets on a 25,000 kms drive in his Tata Nano

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:27:36 +0530

I have always said this and it, yet again, has been proven. The Motoring bug bites regardless of your sex, age and the amount of Vitamin M you have in your bank. This time, a Kochi based auto enthusiast, Thomas Chacko, aged 62 years, recently left for a 25,000 kilometres drive in a 2012 Tata Nano. The expedition should last 80 days and his drive will see him having a brief rendezvous with all the state capitals. Also, he will make it a point to touch the 4 corners of the country- Kanyakumari in the south, Dwarka in the west, Kargil in the north & Kibithoo in the east. He will also drive on the highest motorable road of thw world that passes thru the Khardung La and Chacko will be also seen driving on the streets of Nagpur, geographical centre of India.

Thomas Chacko says, “I have chosen the Tata Nano for this journey because it is a car that has put India on the world motoring map. Despite being the lightest car, and having the smallest engine currently in production worldwide, the Nano can take on every kind of road, especially with its clearance of 180 mm. I have driven a Tata Nano for almost 900 kms across cities and towns and also to Munnar, which is 5,000 feet above sea level. I am now convinced that the Tata Nano will go wherever I take it on my trip.”

In the past, Chacko has been a part of several motorsport events. He has also been a live spectator of F1 races at Malaysia, Singapore and Monaco. Chacko has driven in Canada, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK & US of A.

Maruti Suzuki Swift overtakes younger sibling Alto to become the best selling car in India

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:35:52 +0530

This news surely surprised us. But, now that it happened, it doesn’t seems really illogical. Maruti Suzuki Alto, thanks to its wallet friendly price tag and easy after sales services, had been the king of car sales chart of Indian market since quite some time now. However, with its very well sorted diesel motor and a Value for Money package, elder sister Swift has displaced the Alto from the top spot!

It is no secret that demand has always exceeded the supplies of the diesel variant of the Swift. Now, owing to the waiting period going down a fair bit and the all new gen of Swift hatchback exciting the buyers to a fair extent, the hot selling premium hatchback has become..well..hotter. 80% of the total bookings for the Swift accounts for the diesel variant.

It may be noted that the waiting period for the popular car has shrunk from as many as 7 to 9 months to 4 to 5 months. Also, Alto has been in the market since more than a decade now and it is about time Maruti brings out an all new model to maintain a one upmanship over modern rivals like the Eon.

Force India: Mugello Test Report

Press Release — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:09:28 +0530

It was a day of limited running for Sahara Force India as the team worked hard to get on top of reliability issues. Despite only completing 14 laps, Paul Di Resta was able to gather some aero data to begin evaluation of the latest developments on the car.

Day Two Stats

Driver: Paul Di Resta

Chassis: VJM05-04

Laps: 14

Mileage: 73 km

Fastest lap: 1:24.749

Paul Di Resta: “We had a few issues today which kept us in the garage and meant that we couldn’t get through much of our programme. The guys spent a lot of time changing things on the car just before lunch and I only managed to get back out for a final run at the end of the day. You always want more laps, but these things can happen and hopefully we can have a full day of running tomorrow to get through our programme and learn what we need to learn.”

Jakob Andreasen, Chief Engineer

“It’s never nice to spend so much time sitting in the garage, but we had a few reliability concerns that we needed to resolve before we continued running. We suspected the issue was related to the hydraulic system of the car so changed that as a precaution. At the same time we chose to make the most of the downtime by bringing forward the engine change, which had been planned for the end of the session. It has been a tough day for the guys in the garage, but they did a great job to get the car out for the final half hour and give Paul the chance to complete a handful of laps in preparation for tomorrow. Due to the lack of running for Paul, he will now stay on for half a day tomorrow, before Nico takes over in the afternoon.”

Honda Siel Cars India registers a remarkable growth of 252 % in April 2012

Press Release — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:04:21 +0530

Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. (HSCI), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, posted a remarkable growth of 252% in April 2012. The company reported sales of 7,075 units in the month of April 2012 as against 2,012 units in the corresponding month last year.

The company sold 28,731 units during January-April 2012 as compared to 16,789 units in the corresponding period last year recording a growth of 71%.

Model wise sales break-up for April 2012:

Brio 3590

Jazz 1300

City 2092

Civic 51

Accord 25

CRV 17

Honda launches the CB Shine refresh

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:49:25 +0530

Honda surely wants to grab a bigger chunk of our bike market. Very recently, the manufacturer, which overtook Bajaj to become the second largest bike seller in the country, launched the Honda CBR 150R and now, the Japanese bike maker has introduced two new paint options for the 125cc CB Shine. This is not all that the Stunner’s cousin gets, as the bike also now sports tubeless tyres. The Honda CB Shine range starts at Rs 47,804 ex-Delhi.

Does the new Swift Sports equipped with 1.4 K series motor makes sense for Indian market?

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:52:16 +0530

Suzuki has introduced a new version of the Swift Sport in the New Zealand market. Dishing out 94 HP of peak power and 130Nm of peak torque, the new Swift Sport should be quite a hoot to drive. The new Swift Sport is also lighter than its predecessor for a better power to weight ratio. This has primarily been achieved by removing the spare wheel and replacing it with an inflator kit. No great feat then. The new Swift Sport also features Electronic Stability Control and an enhanced suspension for better handling and control. The hot hatch version of the Swift gets visual differentiators to make sure it isn’t taken lightly by willing street racers. Key differentiators include dual exhausts, a sporty roof spoiler, side skirts, rear bumper under-cladding, 205 cross section tires on 17 inch alloys, wing mirror indicators, an aggressive looking front grille, bigger bumper and fog lamps housings with fins.

On the inside, the Swift Sport gets a bespoke instrument cluster, alloy pedals, sporty front seats in leather stitched red. The steering wheel is tilt and reach adjustable. Other features include a push button start with proximity key, HID Xenon headlamps, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, six-speaker audio system with USB in and a useful trip computer.

So does that sort of an arrangement work for the Indian market? We’d say no. That sort of a package, for even a sub 7 lakh rupee price won’t make much sense for our conservative market which equates bigger to better. What do you think? Do let us know.

New Fiat owned company to manage sales and distribution of its cars in India

Amit Chhangani — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:40:34 +0530

The official word is out, finally. While we have already reported to you that Fiat is working towards developing a separate dealership network for its car, the Tata Fiat, JV today released an official statement about the development. According to the new plan, the management control of Fiat’s commercial and distribution activities will be handed over to a separate Fiat Group owned company. Currently Tata Motors has been managing the distribution responsibility of the Fiat branded products in India through joint Tata-Fiat dealerships. The decision has apparently been taken by the Tata Fiat JV to further develop the Fiat brand in India. Tata Motors will hand over the distribution and service responsibility for Fiat cars in India to a Fiat Group owned company being formed for this purpose.

The new company, however, will overlook only the commercial distribution and service of the Fiat cars in India. The manufacturing activities of the JV, via the plant located in Ranjangoan, Maharashtra will continue to supply cars and powertrains to both Tata and Fiat.

Development of the new Fiat dealer network for India will start progressively and the 178 existing Fiat-franchised Tata dealers in 129 cities will be encouraged to form the foundation of the future network.

Fiat will establish a new, separate, company which will assume responsibility for all commercial and service related activities from the current Tata-dedicated team assigned to manage the Fiat brand. Both, Fiat and Tata will endeavor to ensure a smooth transition of sales and service support to customers and the dealer network.

Thank god for Fiat India having woken up to the requirement of a separate dealer and service network. We just hope that they carry out the process professionally enough to uplift the experience of their customers.

Porsche positive about India growth, appoints VW Group Sales as new official importer

Amit Chhangani — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:59:24 +0530

Porsche is anticipating further positive sales growth across its range in India, and is enhancing its business set-up with the appointment of a new official importer. With immediate effect, Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited will become the official importer of all Porsche cars into India.

“With an increasingly affluent, upwardly mobile population, India is an important market for Porsche, with a promising future”, explains Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing. Within this company, the Porsche division will focus on all distribution-related areas for Porsche in India; and increasing the brands presence through the further development of the Porsche dealer network. Anil Reddi, Indian auto market expert, with almost 16 years of national and international automotive experience, will head the operation.

George Wills, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, says: “With this new agreement, we are looking forward to exploring the opportunities across India even further. Development of emerging markets is clearly important for Porsche's future, and we are confident sales in the sub-continent will continue to grow in the coming years, especially with new Porsche models being introduced in the future.”

Since 2004, Porsche has delivered a total of 1,052 cars to discerning customers in India. In 2011, 85 per cent of total deliveries were Cayenne models.

Anil Reddi, Head of Porsche Division at Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited says: “Building on the growing success of Porsche in India isn't a challenge; it's something we are looking forward to embracing with pride.

“The Indian clientele expect a lot from their vehicles, and they will find Porsche not only meets, but exceeds, their expectations. I am confident that with our dedicated, professional team, we will take Porsche’s presence in India to the next level.

“The first highlight of our new cooperation will be the market introduction of the new generation Porsche 911 Carrera, an iconic sports car many said could never be bettered.”

As well as the continuing growth in sales of the Cayenne, Reddi expects a great deal of interest in the soon to be launched Panamera Diesel, and excitement is already building over the recently announced launch of the Macan – the new Porsche SUV which is expected to roll off the German production lines in 2013.

Video: Ford releases its Go Further campaign highlighting new technologies

Amit Chhangani — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:01:44 +0530

There’s a reason why Ford managed to sail through the stormy recessional seas when every other compatriot carmaker was just about to sink. The company has kept its focus. Well engineered, well designed, frugal and technologically advanced machines which hold their relevance with changing times. The American carmaker has worked extremely hard to stay ahead in the game with technologies such as Ecoboost and plug-in hybrids.

The Alan Mulally led company has recently released an ad campaign, with Go Further as the central theme. Underlining the need to push the envelope in today’s competitive times, the company exhibits some of its latest technologies such as self-park, voice recognition and touch-free hatch opening in the film. Starring in the video are some of the latest models like the new Mondeo, Escape SUV and Focus hatch. ‘Go Further’ is the mantra, according to Ford, if you have to evolve, innovate and redefine the automobile.

Have a look and do let us know what you think of the spot.

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Hyosung developing 250cc off road bike for Indian market

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:10:54 +0530

Bike manufacturers in the country are gradually getting serious about the segment that was kick started by our Indian manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp with the launch of the Impulse 150cc dual terrain bike. Our regular readers should remember that we have reported in detail about the upcoming GT250R, the 250cc sister of the GT650R sports bike. However, this is not all that is header our way. While the manufacturer will soon come up with the GT250R & GT250N, the Korean bike maker is also developing a 250cc of road bike for the Indian market. The upcoming motorcycle will be called as the RT250D and will play a perfect elder brother to the RT125D, which is on sale in the International market. The 250cc off roader will be assembled in India and should come to us by mid 2013.

Via ACI

Bajaj Pulsar 200NS reaches dealerships {Updated}

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:34:39 +0530

Back in 2001, the Pulsar twins started a revolution of sorts. The advent of Brand Pulsar pioneered the democratization of performance biking, offering affordable motorcycles which were not mere commuters. 10 years on, Brand Pulsar, as we know it today has an unparalleled Indian fan base. So the big question that I ask myself as I begin writing this post is, will the new Pulsar, that we tested about 3 months back, be able to do justice to the to its celebrated lineage? Does it have enough substance to snatch buyers from Yamaha R15? Would it be able to carry forward its predecessor’s legacy into an era where Indian biking seems to have finally come of age? The stakes are much higher now than ever before. The Indian biking enthusiast buying into the Pulsar segment has a bigger pocket, and far more options. So does the new Pulsar sustain its relevance as strongly as it did ten years back and throughout the course of its existence? These questions will be answered only in due course of time. However, the news here is that the eagerly awaited bike has reached some of the Bajaj dealerships. The image here shows the 200NS on display at the Delhi dealership and it indicates that Bajaj is very near to launching this bike. It may be noted that Bajaj told us that it will be announcing the launch of a new bike at Delhi on 14 this month and we were earlier quite sure that it would be the new Pulsar. However, it has emerged that the new Discover will be launched on 14^th. A safe assumption from us is that the price of the 200 NS will be announced during the unveiling of the new gen Disco. it may also be noted that Mr. Rajiv Bajaj had promised a sub INR 1 lakh price for this bike and if Bajaj stays true to its word, we expect the new bike to give a lot of sleepless nights to rivals.

PS- The bike seen at the dealer had a few visual changes compared to the model we had tested at Bajaj's Chakan facility. The bike here doesn't sports the matt black finish on the side panels and instead opts for a body colour paint finish. This little change makes the bike a little more matured in our opinion but many are saying that version seen at the unveiling looked more sporty. Also strange is the fact that the Triple Spark sticker is missing from the engine cover. From what our sources tell, these little changes seen here won't make it to the version that goes on sale in a few days.

Pulsar 200NS Specifications

Engine

Type SOHC – 4V – Liquid Cooled

Combustion system Triple spark

Ignition system Independent spark control through ECU

Crankshaft Type Integral

Max Power 23.52 PS @ 9500

Max Torque 18.3 Nm @ 8000

Bore 72 mm

Stroke 49 mm

Displacement 199.5 cc

Fuel system Carburettor, UCD 33

Air filter Paper element

Exhaust system Exhaust TEC enhanced centrally mounted

Vehicle

Frame Type Pressed steel Perimeter Frame

Wheel Base 1363 mm

Length x height x width 2017 mm x 1195 mm x 804 mm

Seat ht-Rider 805 mm

Ground Clearance 167 mm

Vehicle Kerb weight 145 kg

FAW/RAW 72/73 kg

Fuel Tank capacity 12 L

Suspension

Front suspension Telescopic Front Fork with Antifriction Bush Dia 37

Rear Suspension Nitrox Mono Shock Absorber with piggy back gas canister

Brakes – type

Front Petal Disc with floating caliper

Rear Petal Disc with floating caliper

Brake Size

Front Dia 280 mm Disc

Rear Dia 230 mm Disc

Tyres

Front 100/80 – 17, 52 P, Tubeless

Rear 130/70 – 17, 61 P, Tubeless

Rims

Front 10 spoke 2.5 x 17, Alloy

Rear 10 Spoke, 3.5 x 17, Alloy

Max Speed 136 Kmph

Acceleration

0-60 kmph 3.61 sec

0-100 kmph 9.83 sec

Braking performance

Braking Distance – Both brakes (60 – 0 Kmph) 16.33 meters

Electricals

System DC Ignition

Battery 12V 8AH VRLA

Image courtesy- Auto Adrenalin, Facebook

Hyundai Motors India Ltd. domestic sales up by 10.9%

Press Release — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:52:38 +0530

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer, registered domestic sales of 35,070 units (31,636 units) last month, up by 10.9% from the corresponding month last year.

Commenting on the April domestic sales, Mr Arvind Saxena, Director, Marketing and Sales, HMIL said, “Consumer confidence continues to be weak, prices went up following the excise hikes in the Union Budget and interest rates are yet to come down. Given the present conditions it’s a challenging market.”

The segment-wise cumulative sales for April 2012 are: A2 segment 44,891 units (Eon, Santro, i10, i20); A3 Segment 9,579 units (Accent and Verna); A5 segment 66 units (Sonata); SUV 70 units (Santa Fe).

Supreme Court to ban usage of sun films on cars

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:41:43 +0530

In a recent development, Supreme Court has passed out a ruling to ban any any and every kind of sun film on cars. The law will come into effect once govt. passes a law to implement this ruling.

“We prohibit the use of black films of any VLT (Visual Light Transmission) percentage or any other material upon the safety glasses, windscreens and side glasses of all vehicles throughout the country.” -- SC Verdict

It may be noted that some of the states have not banned the usage of these films and cars can be seen with dark tinted (aka Jet black) greenhouses. It will be interesting to see how fast and well this new ruling will be implied as a law.

via DWS, Facebook

Nissan India records a whopping 187% growth in sales over last year

Yatharth Chauahn — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:10:08 +0530

Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL) today reported sales of 3,467 units for the month of April 2012, representing a 187% year-on-year increase.

This growth in sales was driven by the sales of the recently launched Sunny sedan, which accounted for 2,012 of the April total. The company has sold 16,173 units of the Sunny since its launch in September last year. The Micra hatchback accounted for 1,435 unit sales last month – a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2011. The X-Trail SUV, Teana premium sedan and the tasty 370Z sports car comprised the remaining sales.

Mr Ishida Takayuki, Managing Director of Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd said: “Our sales in April have been very impressive and reflect customer trust and confidence in our products. The Nissan Sunny has received an overwhelming response from the market and we are confident that we will continue to excel this year and propel growth for all our products."

Mr Dinesh Jain Chief Executive Officer, Hover Automotive India (HAI), Nissan’s sales and marketing partner in India, said: “Our aggressive initiatives have enabled us to acquire the market acceptance and this coupled with our aggressive dealer ramp up on a National level have been contributing factors towards the success of the brand Nissan today.”

Cousins on Cars to organize event to train budding rallyists in Mumbai on 20 May 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:53:22 +0530

Indian Motorsports enthusiasts are surely having a ball these days. What with so many proffessional events being organized for the car/bike enthusiasts in the country? Now, car driving enthusiasts in Mumbai are looking all set to realize their dream of becoming a pro. Cousins on Cars is organizing an event to provide training on Rallying. The group will provide the training via experienced and seasoned Rallying professionals. This surely seems to be a nice opportunity to learn Rallying techniques and have a great day getting to know the tricks of the trade.

Details are as follow:

Date of Training : 20th May 2012
Location : Mumbai Suburbs
Fees : Contact for fees.
Contact: selvinv12@gmail.com

Mahindra developing all new Scorpio (code name: W105)

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:29:01 +0530

Only yesterday, we reported how Scorpio has taken the Indian entry level SUV market by storm. Now, the news is that Mahindra & Mahindra is busy developing the next generation of the popular UV. The Scorpio, which is almost 10 years old now, surely needs an all new car to continue with the brand and the new Scorpio should be here by 2014.

However, unlike what many might have thought, the new Scorpio will have a rugged body-on-frame and won’t join the likes of the elder sibling XUV with a monocoque construction. The new car has been codenamed as W105 and will make use of an evolution of the current car’s platform. But the new Scorpio will be longer, wider and probably a tad higher. This simply means that the car will be roomier than the current version.

We expect the W105 to get the XUV’s version of the Mahindra’s diesel motor along with an option of four wheel drive.

via ACI

Skoda introduces ‘If You Drink,We Drive’ VAS for its customers

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:23:06 +0530

Drinking and driving is something that should not go together. Volkswagen’s Czesh subsidiary, Skoda, however, differs in this opinion. Before you might think the guys at the popular automotive brand have gone bonkers, let us clarify that their new initiative says that they get the driving part if we drink.

The manufacturer has actually launched a pan-India initiative called ‘If You Drink,We Drive’. This initiative is valid for limited time and is a value added service (VAS) that Skoda is providing to its customers.

The drinking and driving initiative is for owners of Skoda cars based in Mumbai. The manufacturer plans to provide a chauffeur to customers to drop them home after a party. This program was launched on April 27th and will continue till May 27th, 2012.

Commenting on the new initiative, the Marketing head of Skoda Auto India, Mr. Kamal Basu said that safety is a primary concern for them and the manufacturer wishes to spread awareness about safe and responsible driving.

Lamborghini to organize annual track days at BIC

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:42:57 +0530

We have always maintained that Ferrari cars are more potent than Lamborghinis on a race track. However, just in case you got us wrong, let us clarify that we in no way meant that the bulls are a complete no-no for tracks. Potential of supercars like these can be best exploited in a controlled environment, like that of a racing track. Now, in a recent development, popular supercar manufacturer Lamborghini has announced that it is all set to start coming up with annual track days at the Buddh International F1 Circuit.

The event is actually Lambo’s way of allowing some of the prospective Lamborghini owners to have a look at the capabilities of the raging bull. The event should take place between October and November this year.

We have already seen the prancing horse (Ferrari) and AMG cars performing at the track and observing these beauties in all their glory at the circuit is nothing short of spectacular. Driving these must be something altogether notches above watching them and am sure that those piloting these must be experiencing multiple orgasms.

We highly applaud this move from Lambo and we feel that allowing the drivers to use these machines on tracks can cure their itch to speed and the latest mishap at Delhi that involved a Gallardo Bulboni edition clearly shows that most of the users of such cars surely need to polish their driving skills. And what better way than to have a track day?

Clients not happy with Rolls Royce recalling 74 Phantom luxury sedans

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:38:46 +0530

Rolls Royce has always been known as the manufacturer of ultimate luxury cars. However, a recent development might tarnish the perception of the brand. The BMW owned manufacturer has recalled as many as 74 Rolls Royce Phantoms that were sold between 2003 and 2009.

These cars are being recalled owing to a possibility of an oil leak in the power braking system.

Reportedly, RR owners aren’t taking this news happily and feel that no such issue should crop up in a premium car like a roller. The recall also includes 36 Ghost Sedans sold between 2009 & 2011 due to a potential issue with turbo cooling pump.

According to Stephen Corby, Editor, Top Gear, "I drove one of the cars that's been recalled I believe, a Drophead Phantom, and it was probably the most, in some ways the most spectacular car I've ever driven. The sense of being in it while you are watching a movie because there is no sound that comes through of an engine, you can't hear anything, you can't feel the bumps in the road as if you're just gliding over everything and all you can see people's faces being contorted with a mixture of shock and joy as they stare at you." He further added,

"Car companies generally are very, very cautious about this kind of thing. If there is the slightest chance of something going wrong they do do a recall, but generally they'll just concern a certain model whereas this is across their entire range. Customers shelling out up to half a million dollars on a car expect better. You expect perfection. That is why it is such a surprise, because Rolls Royces are engineered to the nth degree. There is probably more engineering in them than the space shuttle, so it is an enormous surprise that they would make a mistake like this or that even that there is a chance of a mistake."

We, at Motoroids, too feel that a mistake like this from a premium automobile manufacturer is something to frown upon and won’t go too well with the image of the manufacturer.

High Security Registration Plates mandatory in Capital from May 1

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:49:03 +0530

Like all the other government departments and offices, the transport department in India too is legendary in delaying the implementation of court orders. The Supreme Court of India, on May 8, 2008 had passed a ruling, asking all the states to implement High Security registration Plates (HSRPs). However, as expected, nothing of this sort happened. The Supreme Court then slapped contempt of court notices to the transport secretaries of Delhi, UP and Punjab for non-compliance. Now, thanks to the above development, the governing body in Capital has passed out a ruling that all the new cars after bought after May 1 should have a HSRP.

The ruling doesn’t limit itself to only the above specified states though, as the original ruling was passed to be implemented in all states across the country. All the other states will also have to fall in line, or the respective transport secretaries will be charged with contempt.

These high tech number plates cost anywhere between Rs 500 to 1000 according to a leading daily. However, our own research suggests that some of the leading manufacturers can make them available for anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 500, based on the size of the plate. The price for the plates for two-wheelers is naturally lower than the price for the plates for four-wheelers.

Delhi will come up with 14 centres, one at each RTO, that will provide and install these plates. "The other centres will become operational within the next fortnight," added UR Kapoor of Rosmerta.

"The registration plates will be prepared in advance, so that when vehicle owners come to get them affixed, they can be installed with the snap lock in a jiffy. The entire process should not take more than a few minutes," said a government official.

All the current vehicles would require to sport new number plates from June 15. It is beinf said that sufficient time will be given to the owners to get the plates fixed. "The city will have three years to completely switch over to the tamper-proof plates," added the official.

So what exactly is HSRP?
The Government of India, in June 2005 had amended rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, mandating introduction of new tamper proof High Security Registration (HSRP) number plates. All new motorised road vehicles that came into the market after that needed to adhere to the new plates, while existing vehicles had been given two years to comply. Features incorporated include the number plate having a patented chromium hologram, a laser numbering containing the alpha-numeric identification of both the testing agency and manufacturers and a retro-reflective film bearing a verification inscription "India" at a 45-degree inclination. The characters are embossed on the plate for better visibility. The letters "IND" were printed in a light shade of blue on the observers left side under the hologram.

Audi Q5 facelift coming to us by year end

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:22:49 +0530

As we have been reporting lately, the 3 pointed stars and Bimmers are busy getting updated to become more dominant in the Indian market. The new X3 is doing good numbers and is an obvious threat to the Audi Q5. So, it makes quite a sense for the third of the German trio to come up with an updated version of the Q5 SUV.

While the exteriors get some botox injected in to it, the powerplants too have been updated. The base model, the 2.0 TDI, gets additional 4 bhp, the 3.0 V6 TDI gets 1 bhp and 8 kgm more and the 2.0 TFSI gets some changes in valve control mechanism, thermal management, new exhaust manifold and new injection system for an additional 10 bhp.

The refresh gets a slightly tweaked fascia, and new tail lamp units on the back. On the inside, the car gets new and more premium upholstery.

The revised Q5 will be launched at Paris Motor Show and we expect the car to come to us by the end of this year.

via ACI

Maruti Suzuki April 2012 Sales Figure

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:54:09 +0530

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited sold a total of 100,415 units in April 2012 a growth of 3.4 per cent. This includes 10,160 units for export, a growth of 1.5 per cent. The Company had sold a total of 97,155 units in April 2011.

The sales figures for April 2012 are given below:

Toyota Records 49% Growth in April

Press Release — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:44:46 +0530

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) registered a growth of 49% in the month of April 2012. The company sold 14,378 units as compared to 9,681 units in April last year.

The Etios series recorded a sales of 5,624 units as compared to 4,657 units in April last year, thereby registering a 21% growth .The New Innova sold 6,582 units last month as compared to 3,464 units sold in April last year, thereby registering a growth of 90%. The New Fortuner sold 1,270 units as compared to 739 units in the corresponding month last year thereby registering a 72% growth. The Corolla Altis sold 881 units.

“The Etios series, Innova, Fortuner continue to register growth in April. However, the market sentiments seem to be low with the enquiry levels gone down across the industry. ” said Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director- Marketing.

Ford India Sees Healthy Growth in April

Press Release — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:09:14 +0530

Ford India is slowly but surely getting aggressive and it shows. The Indian subsidary of the Amaerican manufacturer maintained its robust sales momentum during April, reporting sales of 9,569 domestic wholesales and export units for year-on-year sales growth of 13 percent.The April monthly sales figures included domestic wholesales of 7,201 units, while exports grew by 103 percent in April when compared to the same period last year, from 1,167 vehicles to 2,368 vehicles, indicating sustained international demand. Ford India also commenced exports of the Figo Cape Verde, taking the total number of international markets to which it is exported to 35.“Following a very robust first quarter, Ford India continued to register steady sales growth in April despite an overall challenging auto market," said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India. "Our exports are increasing and have doubled since last year, and we have held our own in domestic wholesales, contributing to an impressive 13 percent overall increase in sales."

Mahindra Scorpio records annual sales of over 50,000 units in FY 2011-12

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:46:59 +0530

Scorpio is one of the two products that changed the face of Mahindra, the other being the Bolero. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), India’s leading UV manufacturer, has been having a ball with the Scorpio SUV taking the Indian entry level segment by storm. The car has given a good fight to the more established rival, the Tata Safari. The manufacturer of the popular SUV recently announced that the high selling Scorpio recorded its highest ever annual sales since it was launched. The manufacturer sold 50,844 units of the rugged vehicle during FY 2011-12 as against 43,451units during FY 2010-11 and with this, the Scorpio registered a growth of 17%.

We are not surprised with this fact as we see too many of these cars out there on the road. Most of the Scorpio SUVs we encounter are badly driven but then, that is another story for another day. The popularity of this vehicle is so strong that the Scorpio fan page on Facebook has 1 million plus fan base.

Speaking on the milestone, Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “This is a very proud moment for us, as the iconic and trend-setting Scorpio has achieved yet another milestone in the 10 th year of its exceptional journey. This achievement reaffirms the brand’s popularity and confidence that consumers have reposed in the brand. Today, the Scorpio is one of the most admired and awarded brands within the Indian automobile industry”.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) attains one million cumulative exports mark

Yatharth Chauahn — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:58:06 +0530

Indian car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) exported its one millionth vehicle yesterday. The one millionth car to leave Indian shores for foreign market turned out to be a glistening red A-star. The chunky little car left the Mundra coast line along with 2,200 other vehicles for various international destinations including Switzerland, Malta, Sweden in Europe and Algeria, Egypt and Morocco in the non European destinations. The above mentioned A Star will find a home in Denmark.

On the achievement, Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “A million cars in overseas markets is a significant milestone for us. Two years back, Europe was a strong destination for us. We have aligned our exports strategy in line with the changed scenario in exports market. The market for us has shifted significantly from Europe to non-European countries. While the A-star, marketed under ‘Suzuki Alto’ and ‘Suzuki Celerio’ badge in international markets was doing well, we also worked on identifying alternate non European markets. This strategy worked in our favour and helped us retain our export numbers after European nations withdrew the scrappage incentives. We are happy that cars manufactured at Maruti Suzuki India have found good customer acceptance in overseas markets.”

With this latest shipment of cars, Algeria also attains the landmark of being the only country to import over 100,000 units from Maruti Suzuki. In 2009-10, Maruti Suzuki’s total exports were over 1.47 lakh units. Of which over 75 per cent were to Europe. By 2011-12 the share of non-EU export sales shot up sharply from 23 per cent to 66 per cent

In coming times, the Company plans to expand its presence in newer markets including the ASEAN region.

Tata cars to get Harman audio solutions!!

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:20:52 +0530

This development has left us pleasantly surprised. We have always maintained that the In Car Entertainment (ICE) systems provided by most manufacturers in our regular Indian cars leave a lot to be desired. While, there are a few exceptions like the Mitsubishi Outlander, which comes with Rockford Fosgate equipment, most of cars out there come factory equipped with a basic audio player. Now, in a move that has left us ..well...shocked...is that popular audio and infotainment group, Harman, has announced an agreement with Tata Motors to supply audio equipments.

Harman will be seen working on to develop and provide audio, navigation and multimedia solutions for Tata vehicles. Tata Aria MPV is on its way to become the first Tata car to get Harman branded equipment. It should come with a 360-watt system with ten speakers and a subwoofer,

“This agreement with Tata Motors represents a milestone in the growth of branded audio and infotainment system for the Indian market, and we are tremendously proud and honored to be selected by Tata as their trusted supplier,” said Dinesh Paliwal, Harman’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our development teams will work very closely with Tata’s engineering staff to create unique products that will surprise and delight customers. Together, Harman and Tata will set a new benchmark in OEM installed sound and infotainment in the domestic Indian market.”

“Tata Motors will intensify the application of the Infotainment and Acoustic Platforms developed by Harman and offer world class solutions in this domain in its future Passenger Car platforms both for the Indian and Export Markets. Harman’s innovative technologies and large presence in all the premium cars in the world market will help us take our cars to the next level.” said P.M. Telang, Managing Director – India Operations of Tata Motors.

Harman also supplies audio solutions to leading car makers like Audi, Chrysler, FIAT, Ferrari, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Land Rover, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Image Sournce- TeamBHP

Audi A4 facelift launched @ INR 27.33 lakhs

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:56:51 +0530

We, at Motoroids, have always liked Audis. While the 3 pointed stars are biased towards spoiling the occupants silly with the luxury, the BMWs have always been what they claim to be, “The Ultimate Driving Machines”. Bang in the middle of these two fall the Audi. Offering the amalgam of luxury and sportiness, Audi cars have always had a lot going for them. As we reported in detail, the C class recently got some botox injected in to it and the all new 3 series is almost knocking on our doors. So, it makes quite a sense for the third of the German trio to come up with an updated version of the A4 sedan. The refresh gets a slightly tweaked fascia, and new tail lamp units on the back.

On the inside, the car gets a new and friendlier navigation system and also the Drive Select system to let you finger with the performance settings you want your car to sport. It is also being said that the new A4 will ride and handle better and we have no intentions to not believe this claim. The start stop system is standard across the range now.

The new version is about 60k cheaper than the outging one for every variant.

Price [Ex-showroom Maharashtra]:

1.8L TFSI Petrol : Rs 27.33 Lakh
2.0L TDI Diesel: Rs 29.38 Lakh
3.0L TDI Diesel : Rs 38 Lakh

Mahindra Racing's Sarath Kumar finishes third at CIV-Italian Championship in Monza

Press Release — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:25:25 +0530

Mahindra Racing’s, young Indian Sarath Kumar created history at the CIV-Italian Championship in Monza where he finished third, getting his first ever podium finish. This is the first time an Indian has secured a place on the podium at an international motorsports event in Europe. The Indian rider originally placed fourth but moved up in the rankings after third place winner, Andrea Mantovani, was disqualified due to engine irregularities.

Sarath moved off pretty well from the grid and rapidly found a good pace that allowed him to recover many positions to finish 3rd in the 125GP. The Indian rider also clocked a remarkable time of 25:38:775 today.

Recently, Sarath also became the first Indian to score points in this competitive Championship during the second round in Imola.

On the other hand, the winner of the first two rounds teammate Ricardo Morreti was forced into early retirement after his bike suddenly turned off due to technical issues.

After the third round 125GP, Kumar climbs up the classification to 5th place with 22 points and Moretti now lies in second position in the standings with 50 points. The next two CIV races will take place on June 23rd and 24th at Mugello's Autodromo Nazionale.

Commenting on his position today, Sarath Kumar said, "A podium finish at the Italian Championship is a dream come true for me! I got off to a good start and was able to recover a lot of positions up to the 14^th place. It was my first time in Monza, a circuit I am quickly getting accustomed to - it’s a really fast one! I want to thank all my technical staff, my manager and team Mahindra for their support.”

Riccardo Moretti, "I was able to take the lead when at Variante Ascari the engine of my bike turned off. I was able to get back to the pits and after that to get back on track, but the problem emerged once again and I had to withdraw from the race. It was a very unlucky day on a track that we did not know, and that gave us many issues. I hope to change this DNF and do better in the rest of the championship because I want to be back to first place in the standings."

Mufaddal Choonia, COO, Mahindra Racing said, “All of us at Mahindra Racing are absolutely delighted with Sarath’s achievement! We have had a good start to the season with our first two wins and are very pleased with the progress made by him. It’s unfortunate for Moretti, but we can make it up in the next round.”

SPIED: Mahindra Verito facelift

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:14:38 +0530

Renault had first entered the Indian market with Logan, a C segment sedan. The French car maker had tied up with Mahindra & Mahindra and the car did a fair no. of sales before the two partners decided to head for a divorce. While Renault started its Indian innings all over again with the introduction of some upmarket products, the Logan went to Mahindra and was quickly re-badged as the Verito. While Logan got a few updates just before it was re-badged as Verito in India, we at Motoroids were the first ones to report that the Indian manufacturer is working on injecting some more botox in to the fast aging and bland car. Recently, the good folks at ACI spotted a camouflaged being tested and the car was wearing some masking on the front and at the back. It may be noted that we had reported about the chances of the recent facelift job given to the Dacia Logan abroad, making it to India and it is for quite sure that the Verito refresh will come with a new bumper, grille and foglamp housings. The car also will have changes to the boot lid and rear bumper and tail lights. On the side profile, the car gets blacked out B pillars and new mountings for the ORVMs.

Via ACI

TVS launches new Apache RTR 160 and 180 – images and details

Amit Chhangani — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:40:52 +0530

TVS Motor Company have launched their new 2012 Apache Series RTR. The new bike features what the company calls ‘Beast Themed Styling’. Primarily a cosmetic makeover, the 2012 design will be applied to all the variants in the Apache lineup, including the RTR 160, RTR 180 and the RTR 180 ABS.

The most important design changes incorporated on the bike include a new headlamp unit with new pilot lamps and LED illumination. According the official company statement ‘ theone-of-its kind pilot lamps, inspired by the ‘eye of fury’ - which consists of LED light guide technology combined with new pilot lamps to form a pair of intense animalistic eyes that is activated on ignition, night or day.’

The fuel tank and the air scoops have also been redesigned to give what the company feels is a more aerodynamic look for the bike. The company claims that the new design helps reduce engine heat helping better top end performance, improving the response.

The instrument console is new too, with more muscular styling and faux carbon fiber inserts. The instrument cluster is now blue backlit and looks sportier. The seat cowls are now more aggressively angled, and along with the sharp styling of the engine cowl gives the bike a slightly racier stance. There is a new two tone color scheme too, with two tone, splash themed paint scheme.

According to the official company statement, the 2012 TVS Apache RTR 160 dishes out 15.2PS of power and can be pushed to speeds up to 118 kmph. The TVS Apache RTR 180 however churns out 17.03PS of power that can reach speeds of up to 124 kmph.

The new TVS Apache RTR 160 comes in four dual tone colours, namely green, red. Yellow and grey with black being the base. The new TVS Apache RTR 180 also comes in four colours of white, yellow, grey and black while the ABS version will be available in white and black.

The new TVS Apache RTR 160 will cost Rs. 67,505 (Ex showroom Delhi), TVS Apache RTR 180 will be Rs. 72,090 (Ex showroom Delhi) and TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS will cost Rs. 82,780 (Ex showroom Delhi).

“We have taken the Apache RTR to the next level with obsessive engineering and menacing design. The priority in every step of the Apache brand’s development has been race bred performance. Every system, detail and component has been tuned to maximize performance. Apache as a brand has been very well received,” H S Goindi, President-Marketing, TVS Motor Company said.

VIDEO: First ever BMW M Power Drive in India

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:01:45 +0530

Lately, we have been talking a fair bit of India’s F1 compatible race track- The Buddh International Circuit, situated in Noida. While the open track day that was recently organized surely excited us and a many more to a fair extent, here is a video of the event organized by the incredibly brilliant folks at BMW. Watch the first ever BMW M Power Drive in India at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida. The video, along with others, includes the new M5.

India wins gold at SAE International AWIM Olympics at Detroit

Press Release — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:26:21 +0530

Students of St. Columba’s School, New Delhi created history by winning the Gold medal at the SAE International AWIM Jet Toy Olympics in Maximum Time Category. Competing with 125 teams from across the globe at the 6^th SAE AWIM (“A World in Motion”) International Jet Toy Olympics 2012 held on 25^th April’12 at Detroit, Michigan USA, the SAEINDIA National AWIM Olympic winners made India proud.

Congratulating the students on this achievement, I.V. Rao, Managing Executive Officer (Engineering) – Maruti Suzuki and Chairman – SAE Northern India Section said “The students from St. Columba’s, New Delhi have made India proud by becoming the only Indian team ever in the history of SAE International Jet Toy initiative to win a Gold medal. We hope that the SAE initiatives like the AWIM will help bring in a scientific mindset amongst the young Indians. My heartiest congratulations to the students and their school and parents on this success.”

Maruti Suzuki supports SAE student level initiatives like AWIM, Supra SAEINDIA and Efficycle.

The 6^th class students Ankit Sharma, Paanshul Jarrel, Bhavishya Bhatt and Kshitij Malik along with their teacher Ms. Rita Monterio from St. Columba’s School, supported by enthusiastic volunteers, K.V. Sunil of Maruti Suzuki and Ms. Shikha Malik of IGIT- New Delhi have made us proud.

These students also bagged the 4^th position overall. The team from St. Columbus had qualified for the International Jet Toy Olympics after emerging victorious among 25 most competent teams from all across India at the SAEINDIA National Olympics held in New Delhi in Nov 2011. AWIM is promoted in India by SAEINDIA and supported by industry leaders like Maruti Suzuki.

For more details about AWIM, please visit www.awim.org/www.awimindia.org

Next Time trial at BIC on 10 June 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:56:35 +0530

Recently, we reported in detail about the first open track day held at Buddha International Circuit, Noida. We saw some Indian bikers on really tasty set of wheels having the time of their lives out there. However, those who missed it will be glad to hear that the next track day is happening as soon as on 10 June 2012. The registrations can be taken care of by shooting a mail containing the details of you and your ride to bic.timetrial@jalindia.co.in . So what are you waiting for? Treat your beloved vehicles to an exciting day on the track.

Piaggio inaugurates Vespa manufacturing plant in Baramati

Amit Chhangani — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:26:55 +0530

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd, the wholly owned Indian subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group, has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility for the iconic Vespa scooters.

Piaggio has invested over Rs 10 billion in the new plant have already been invested in the new plant by the Indian subsidiary of Piaggio. The initial production capacity of the plant is 150,000 units per year. The company expects strong demand for its products and has initiated steps to double the capacity by mid-2013. Piaggio had set up a major facility for the production of 3 and 4 wheeled commercial vehicles in 1999 and since then has continually expanded its production capacity from 20 vehicles per day to a current capacity of 1000 vehicles per day. . The integrated vehicle and engine plant has been completed in record time of 12 months from concept to commissioning and start of production.

Having tasted success in the 3 wheeler business, Piaggio India is now poised to repeat history with the Vespa in the two wheeler scooter space.

The plant inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, Mr. Praful Patel, Union Minister for Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises, Mr. Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra and Mrs. Supriya Sule, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Mr Roberto Colaninno, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Office.

Speaking at the event, Mr Colaninno said: “It is a historic and proud moment for the Piaggio Group that lays the foundation for us to be a formidable automotive force in India. The investment in Baramati is part of our strategic plan, which sees India as a significant destination in our growth trajectory.”

Mr Ravi Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited said, “Today is a historical moment for us as Piaggio begins a new chapter of growth in India. The world recognized iconic Vespa will now be produced in Baramati”. He was happy to state further, that “the operations started with a 100% localisation of components. This was in tune with the Piaggio strategy.”

Video: BMW India M Power Drive

Amit Chhangani — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:52:04 +0530

BMW India recently organized an event at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida. The event, featuring the power monging, sliding, slithering, and utterly enjoyable M cars. The companyt invited some of its customers on the track and select media to be a part of the day long event. Here's the official video.

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Honda working on a Congestion Detection Technology

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:42:46 +0530

This latest development might eradicate the traffic jams from our future. Popular Jap manufacturer Honda is developing a system that detects potential traffic congestion. The system works by observing driving patterns of traffic and determining if there is a chance of a traffic jam.

As per Honda, the acceleration and deceleration behaviour of a vehicle plays a huge role in building up of traffic congestion. This system by the Jap manufacturer can analyze the traffic pattern and adjusts these behaviours to do away with a chance of a traffic jam. As a result, one also extracts better fuel consumption from the car.A test by Honda in Tokyo showed that the system resulted into an 8% improvement in fuel economy.

What has really impressed us is that instead of just predicting a traffic jam and making a driver hunt for alternate routes, the system helps in avoiding any sort of congestion.

Mercedes Benz SLC- the baby SLS, to be introduced in 2014

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:57:12 +0530

Mercedes Benz is all set to start working on to introduce a younger sister of the very popular SLS performance car. The baby SLS will be called the SLC and will go into production sometime in 2014. The car will come out as an AMG version and the development will be done in a partnership between the German manufacturer and its performance division. As expected, the baby SLS will come with a baby price tag and should be priced in Porsche 911 territory.

The SLC will be front engined two door coupe. There are fair chances of a four liter V8 gasoline motor finding a home in the engine bay and transmitting power to the rear wheels.

Via Autocar.co.uk

ZF LENKSYSTEME inaugurates world-class steering system plant in, Phulgaon, Pune

Press Release — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:46:41 +0530

ZF Lenksysteme recently inaugurated its first fully-owned manufacturing facility for steering systems in India. Spread over the area of 10,000 sqm, the manufacturing plant at Pune has initial production capacity of 70,000 commercial vehicles steering systems and approximately 400,000 passenger car steerings.

Mr. Michael Hankel, Chief Executive Officer, ZF Lenksysteme, said," This is an important step for ZF Lenksysteme to expand its operations in India. We chose Pune as it gives us an opportunity to be present right at the centre of India’s auto, it is home to world’s second largest two-wheeler manufacturer, the world’s largest forging company & many other leading auto manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, Force Motors etc. Pune is also home to two very prominent automotive research labs, namely Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) & Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).”

ZF Lenksysteme already supplies to some of the big names in the country like Tata Motors, Volvo-Eicher Commercial vehicles, Ashok Leyland, Volvo India, Diamler India Commercial Vehicles Limited and Force Motors among others.

Mr. Ronaldo Alves, Chief Executive Officer, ZF Lenksysteme India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We have already established our presence in the Indian Automobile industry through our world-class products and constant endeavour for innovation. This facility will help us strengthen our product portfolio in India. Our primary target is to achieve 80% localization in the next years.”

We take a look at MotrPart- Online Car Spare Parts Provided in India

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:32:55 +0530

Motoroids have been posting a fair bit about the multi speciality multi brand car service outlets in business. This also covered the folks that offer a mobile service option. This time, we introduce our readers to www.MotrPart.in – an online car spare parts provider in India,

The guys at MotrPart recently launched services in NCR, which includes selling and delivering authentic car spare parts for all brands at the door step. For those reluctant to shop online, they also provide you an option of Cash On Delivery (COD).

These people have an interesting website which includes the hot discussions on the main page. You can place a query regarding the issue your car is facing and the online discussions should help you detect the culprit part.

What I really liked about the website is that it has a “Do It Yourself” section and what is better than DIY jobs?

2013 Toyota Corolla: Images and details

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:26:01 +0530

In many parts of the world, C is as much for Corolla as it is for the word Car. What with the Jap auto giant coming up with umpteenth variants of the popular car. Now, a couple of popular websites have come up with some details about the 2013 model of Toyota Corolla. From the design perspective, the current car has surely aged, albeit, gracefully and needs to soon get a replacement. Here, we have a few images of the car (internal codename A140). The basic design form of the headlights resembles that of the Asian version of the new Toyota Camry. Also, the images show a minimal shoulder line that does not appears wider than 1700 mm. This might be a move to receive cheaper yearly tax in Japan (Called 5No.). It is only at C pillar that the car has the trace of current gen version. Coming to the rear, the tail lights almost scream Chevrolet Sonic.

Our sources tell that the interiors will remind us of that on Asian Camry and will come with automatic climate control with LCD display, Wooden finish, Navigation system and multifunction steering wheel.

We see the D segment of our market hotting up with fair chances of this car and the new Honda Civic being here in next couple of years.

[Source - CarandDriverBrasil.uol.com.br]

Swedish car maker Volvo aims to grab 15% share in Indian luxury car market by 2020

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:23:45 +0530

Volvo is surely getting aggressive. We have often wondered why the Swedish car maker does not tries well to eat into the sales of Germans and it seems like Volvo is on its part to do exactly the same and capture a bigger chunk of the luxury car market. Volvo has always been the makers of arguably the safest cars in world and with its latest design language, there surely is a fair possibility of the carmaker giving a tough fight to the more popular premium car manufacturers.

In the latest development, it has emerged that the car maker aims to capture 15 per cent of the Indian luxury car segment by 2020. Tomas Ernberg, managing director, Volvo Auto India Pvt Ltd, said, “The luxury car market in India would grow to 150,000 units by 2020 and we are targeting 20,000 units out of it.” He also said that the manufacturer is on an expansion spree and its dealerships would double from present 8 to 16 within next 2 years. Also , the manufacturer plans to attain 15% share by bringing more new models to the country.

Via- BSM

CarZ to expand its multi brand car service network

Press Release — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:38:39 +0530

CarZ was founded in 2008 by two auto enthusiasts & experts, Mr. Venu Donepudi and Mr. Vijay Gummadi, who returned to India after a long stint at US, Europe and Middle East working at GM and Chrysler in the research division handling robotics, with a vision to establish India’s leading, independent, multi-brand car service network where cars from big names like BMW, Lamborghini, Maserati and Bentleys can be serviced under one roof. The good folks at CarZ also undertake restoration of vintage cars and have worked on popular old cars like 1940 Austin 10 and Morris minor.

As part of their expansion plans, Carz plans to have 300 service outlets Pan India by 2017 and received a venture capital funding of $5 Million from Indo -US ventures last year for these expansion plans. The company has forayed across 11 major cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and has now planned to open another 26 Centers for next financial year (2012 - 2013) across AP, Karnataka, Kerala, TamilNadu, Orissa, Maharashtra & Goa.

Google in talks with manufacturers for Self Driving cars

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:20:16 +0530

If you always thought that Google is merely a search engine then you are probably one of the most uninformed guys around. At least, I was. Until I heard about this project from Google that deals with developing ‘self driving’ cars.

We had reported in detail when Google had asked Steve Mahan to use one of the seven modified Toyota Prius it had readied for this project.

Google reported that their self drive cars makes fewer mistakes and is a couple of seconds faster than human drivers on the test course.

As we told earlier, Google has tested the self drive cars for more than 250,000 miles and plans to complete logging 1 million miles before launching this tech.

Ferrari announces powertrain details of Enzo successor

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:00:27 +0530

Motoroids was one of the first to report about the Italian automaker Ferrari’s plans to develop a successor to the mighty Enzo supercar. Now, the latest is that the manufacturer has announced the details of the new car’s powertrain. As we mentioned earlier, the car will use a hybrid system and the performance car manufacturer announced the details at the ongoing Beijing Motor Show.

As our sources had informed us, the new car will use a V12 motor and two electric motors. The F70, as the successor is being officially called, will be “filled” with state of the art technology, in the words of Amedeo Felisa, President at Ferrari. The powerhouse will be mated to a double-clutch transmission system. While one of the two electric motors find a place in front of the V12, the other will be placed between the engine and the transmission.

Our sources had told us that the F70 will come with a gigantic 7.3 liter V12 engine that will be based on the 620 GT (F620) motor. The F70 will also sport the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) as seen on Formula 1 cars. This also means that the car will get an extra 120 HP.

It is being said that the Ferrari F70 will tip the scales at a light 1,134 kg (2,500 lbs) and that simply means the car will be smoking a lot very hyper cars.

2012 Mercedes Benz M Class to be launched in May

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:08:51 +0530

Mercedes India is all set to launch the 2012 M-Class in the Indian market.

The car could be priced in INR 65-70 lakhs bracket.

Yamaha FZ series gets minor updates

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:51:37 +0530

Popular 150cc bike, the FZ 16 and others from this series, get a few changes to keep them from rapidly aging. The FZ-S also gets a new paint shade- Fiery Orange.The FZ-S is now being offered with a choice of as many as 4 colors to chose from- Black Cyber Green, Sunset Red, Competition White and the new Fiery Orange. FZ bikes also get a revised pillion seat. This is owing to the feedback the FZ users have been providing to the bike manufacturer. It is no secret that the FZ’s pillion seat isn’t the most comfortable around. Now, the rear seat has been elongated and widened a little.FZ series also gets a new grab rail. Yamaha says,“The grab bar not only acts as a backrest but is something the pillion rider can hold on to if the road is bumpy”. The FZ also gets a new chain cover to cover both the upper and lower portions of the chain.

Unfortunately, the engine has remain untouched. The good bit here though is that the prices remain unchanged. While most of these changes might go unnoticed, I am quite sure that the better half will surely enjoy the revised seat.

Specifications-

Engine type- Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC

Displacement- 153.0cc

Bore & Stroke- 58.0 × 57.9mm

Compression ratio- 9.5:1

Maximum output- 14PS / 7500 rpm

Maximum torque- 13.6 N.m / 6000 rpm

Starting method- Electric & Kick

Lubrication type- Wet sump

Fuel Supply- Carburetor

Clutch type- Wet, multiple-disc

Primary/secondary reduction ratio- 3.409 / 2.857

Transmission type- Constant mesh 5-speed

Gear ratio- 1st=2.714 2nd=1.789 3rd=1.318 4th=1.045 5th=0.875

Cylinder layout- Single Cylinder

Ex-Delhi prices-

FZ 16 Rs. 67,000

FZ S Rs. 69,000

Fazer Rs. 74,000

Popular 150cc bike, the FZ 16 and others from this series, get a few changes to keep them from rapidly aging. The FZ-S also gets a new paint shade- Fiery Orange.

The FZ-S is now being offered with a choice of as many as 4 colors to chose from- Black Cyber Green, Sunset Red, Competition White and the new Fiery Orange.

The FZ series in India also gets a revised pillion seat. This is owing to the feedback the FZ users have been providing to the bike manufacturer. It is no secret that the FZ’s pillion seat isn’t the most comfortable around. Now, the rear seat has been elongated and widened a little.

FZ series also gets a new grab rail. Yamaha says,“The grab bar not only acts as a backrest but is something the pillion rider can hold on to if the road is bumpy”. The FZ also gets a new chain cover to cover both the upper and lower portions of the chain.

Specifications-

Engine type

Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC

Displacement

153.0cc

Bore & Stroke

58.0 × 57.9mm

Compression ratio

9.5:1

Maximum output

14PS / 7500 rpm

Maximum torque

13.6 N.m / 6000 rpm

Starting method

Electric & Kick

Lubrication type

Wet sump

Fuel Supply

Carburetor

Clutch type

Wet, multiple-disc

Primary/secondary reduction ratio

3.409 / 2.857

Transmission type

Constant mesh 5-speed

Gear ratio

1st=2.714 2nd=1.789 3rd=1.318 4th=1.045 5th=0.875

Cylinder layout

Single Cylinder

Ex-Delhi prices-

FZ Rs. 67,000

FZ Rs. 69,000

Fazer Rs. 74,000

BMW 3 series LWB showcased at Beijing Motor Show

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:17:29 +0530

German biggie BMW has put on display the 3 Series Long Wheelbase Sedan at the ongoing Beijing Motor Show. It is no secret that Indian market is in love with long wheelbase sedans and be it the Indigo XL or the Skoda Superb, cars with massive rear leg room have always found a lot of favour among the car buyers.

The powertrain option are being carried forward from the regular 3 series models- 320i (184bhp), 328i (245bhp) and 335i (306bhp).

However, at the moment, this variant of the 3 series is headed to Chinese market only to compete with arch rival Audi’s A4L.The Li‘s wheelbase is 110mm (4.3 inches) longer than the one found in the regular 3’er. The new variant has an increased length of 4,734mm (186.4 inches).

Recently, we reported the next generation (F30) 3 series is headed our way and now, with the introduction of the Li variant, it will be interesting to see whether or not BMW offers this car in Indian market.

Peugeot to build cars for Indian market at General Motors plant

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:34:38 +0530

Motoroids was one of the first to post in detail about the Peugeot’s plans for Indian operations. We posted that the manufacturer is pretty serious about coming to India and has announced an investment of $850 million for a manufacturing facility in Gujarat.

Now, the recent development is that the manufacturer has almost decided to let go of the idea to come up with the Gujarat plant and instead wishes to produce cars with the Indian division of General Motors at the latter’s Halol plant- Peugeot’s new global partner. ia.

Skoda India Launches Fabia Scout @ INR 6.79 Lakhs

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:26:08 +0530

Scout version of Skoda cars are rugged and strong looking versions of Skoda car with bigger wheels, more SUV-like visuals, enhanced ground clearance and in some cases, bigger engines too. The Skoda Fabia Scout too belong to the same category. Its robust good looks add to this practical small car, thanks to its evocative, specially designed bumpers and off-road design. Black and silver roof rails and protective plastic coverings along its flanks make the Škoda Fabia Scout a particularly characterful car.

Distinctive Scout styling also features in the passenger compartment: The Scout comes with new leather upholstery and stainless steel pedals. In essence, the Scout, inside and out, is a more rugged and bolder variant of the Fabia.

Fabia Scout Price (Ex showroom, Delhi):

1.2L MPI: Rs 6.79 Lakh

1.2L TDI: 8.10 Lakh

Sahara Force India F1 Team Academy students start their European karting careers

Press Release — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:45:16 +0530

The Sahara Force India F1 Team Academy stepped up a gear this month as the team’s three young Indian racers, Arjun Maini, Tarun Reddy and Jehan Daruvala began their European karting careers.

The three youngsters are competing in the British Super One Championship, Britain’s premier kart championship incorporating the KF3 Class MSA British Championships for juniors.

KF3 is an international CIK class using a medium power 125cc water-cooled engine with an electric self-starter and centrifugal clutch. With a standard chassis, single rear brake and bodywork, the karts are capable of producing speeds of up to 115km/h. It’s the ideal proving ground for aspiring racers and has helped produce numerous Formula One stars, including current Sahara Force India racer, Paul Di Resta.

Arjun, Tarun and Jehan's 2012 KF3 Academy programme will be managed on behalf of Sahara Force India by Ricky Flynn with karts painted in the familiar colours of the Indian flag. They will have legendary kart champion, Terry Fullerton, as their mentor and driver coach, while Louis Di Resta, father of Paul, will help coordinate the project. Together they bring vast knowledge and experience of karting at the highest level.

As the winners of the One From A Billion hunt, Arjun, Tarun and Jehan all carry high expectations on their shoulders. The Academy initiative was designed to identify and nurture young Indian talent to prepare them for careers as future Formula One drivers. Having impressed the judges with their driving ability, fitness levels and media skills, the three teenagers now have the chance to race in one of the most competitive karting championships in Europe.

Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “Last year we started the search across India and identified three extremely quick and hungry youngsters who now have a great opportunity ahead of them. With a comprehensive development programme mapped out, the Sahara Force India F1 Team Academy will continue to nurture their talent as they take the first steps on a journey that will hopefully lead to Formula One. I will watch their progress with great anticipation.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India race driver: “I was one of the judges during the team’s talent hunt last year and saw the kids through every stage of the competition. All three have impressed me with their speed and commitment, so I think they have the potential to go a long way. I started out in karting when I was seven years old and I believe it is the best preparation for a career in single-seaters. The UK is well known for having some of the best karting championships around so it’s an ideal proving ground for the boys.”

Meet the Class of 2012

14-year-old Arjun Maini was the winner of the One From A Billion hunt last year. Originally from Bangalore, he has six years of karting experience under his belt having competed in India’s Rotax Championship. As a keen sportsman he also excels at table tennis.

Tarun Reddy is also 14 years old and lives in Chennai. Like Arjun, he has raced in the Rotax Kart Championship and enjoys keeping fit by playing sports including squash. Having impressed the judges with his speed and determination last year, he was selected as the first runner-up of the One From A Billion hunt.

Jehan Daruvala is the youngest of the three Academy racers at just 13 years of age. A resident of Mumbai, he has karted extensively over the last three years and raced in the CIK FIA World Championship last year. An impressive performance in the finals of the talent hunt saw the judges award him the position of second runner-up.

Round One

The first round of the season took place at PF International Circuit near Grantham in Lincolnshire last weekend. In mixed weather conditions the boys were unable to break into the top ten of the final, but gained valuable experience of racing in the wet – their first race in such conditions. The boys will look to deliver a more competitive showing in the remaining six rounds of the series, starting at Whilton Mill Circuit near Daventry, UK, on 12th of May.

Maruti Suzuki launches Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) at Rohtak

Press Release — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:17:36 +0530

Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana inaugurated Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR), to be managed by Maruti Suzuki India Limited, at Rohtak. Present on the occasion were Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, senior members of Haryana Cabinet and several senior state government dignitaries.

This state-of the-art driving training facility is an example of Public-Private-Partnership between India’s leading car maker and the Haryana Government. This initiative is in line with Maruti Suzuki’s national initiative to promote Road Safety in the country. IDTR Rohtak is expected to train over 20,000 people in safe driving, annually.

With IDTR Rohtak, Maruti Suzuki expands its Road Safety training infrastructure across the country to include 6 IDTRs and over 200 Maruti Suzuki Driving schools.

Facilities at IDTR, Rohtak

Total Area 14 acres
Covered Area: 2984 Sq Mts (Building)
Class room: 6 rooms: 40 trainees each
Driving Simulators: 2 nos (including 1 for LMV and 1 for HMV)
Driving Training Tracks :1.8 km
Training Vehicles: 6 cars + 2 Buses
A Driving Laboratory and a Library
A 150 seat seminar hall / auditorium
School children programs.

Maruti Suzuki operates its Road Safety initiatives at two levels-

Maruti Driving Schools: These neighbourhood driving schools called Maruti Driving Schools (MDS) are set up in partnership with Maruti Suzuki’s dealer partners. Currently over 200 Maruti Driving Schools operational across the country.

IDTR: Maruti Suzuki has set up IDTR’s in collaboration with state governments under the Privete Public partnership (PPP) model. These are larger institutes with their own driving tracks. With the Rohtak IDTR, Maruti Suzuki manages 6 IDTRs (Two each in Haryana, and Delhi NCR, one each in Uttarakhand and Gujarat).

Courses at IDTR, Rohtak

Training Course for Commercial drivers

HMV (Heavy Motor Vehicle) Refresher
LMV (Light Motor Vehicle) Refresher

Learner Driving Training Courses

LMV Learning course (21 days)
Advance LMV Course (10 days)
HMV Learning course (45 days)

Customized Driving Training Courses

Customized course for Police Staff
Customized course for Auto drivers
Course for learner license aspirants
Special training for traffic rule violators
Special course for Companies

Image source- Business Line

Rok Bagoros upgrades to KTM 690 Duke

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:59:34 +0530

As if it couldn’t get any better for the official KTM stunt rider, Rok Bagoros of Slovenia has now stepped up his game with his new KTM 690 Duke stunt factory bike. After amazing and thrilling the international crowds on the KTM Duke 125, Rok has now taken delivery of what is his first ever big bike and now has to work on converting his tricks to suit the more powerful machine.

"There’s a BIG difference between the two bikes,” Rok said. “The bike has five times more power then the Duke 125 and any mistake can result in a crash, as I’ve already discovered. The bike has amazing power but I’m slowly getting it under control. I have to remember that this is my first big stunt bike and so I have to learn how to handle the extra power and convert it into spectacular tricks that will be fun to do and thrilling for the fans.”

Rok has already been out on the 690 Duke to a secret location where he built some special obstacles and where there is enough space to practice new speed, agility and technical tricks. Rok will now use both the Duke 125 and the 690 to make the show more exciting and more spectacular than ever. With the addition of the 690 Duke his international fans can look forward to more speed, more smoke and more fun with the girls!

Rok’s 690 Duke was especially tuned for stunt riding at the KTM headquarters in Mattighofen, Austria and will be incorporated into his show as soon as he has perfected his new tricks on the more powerful machine.

Bike specs:

70HP

160KG with full gas tank

Special rear dual Magura brakes

Akrapovic slip on exhaust

Stunt crash cages,wheele bar made by KTM

Sava soft radial tyers

52 tooth rear sprocket

Grip tapes all over the bike

Video:

PHOTO: Stisnprtisn! studio

Brace up! Government agrees to decontrol diesel prices

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:39:50 +0530

Driving a diesel car and laughing at your neighbor whose calculations went haywire as the gasoline prices spiraled suddenly? You were comfortably cushioned by the subsidized prices of the dirty fuel thus far, but it’s time for your neighbor to laugh at you. If you have not recovered a substantial amount of the extra money you paid for that oil burner, you have a reason to worry. The government has in principle decided to decontrol diesel prices, a move which is expected to put a rocket propellant beneath the already soaring commodity prices. As for the cost of your commute to work, well, they never bothered about it anyway. The government, however, will continue giving subsidies on cooking gas. And we should all hail our kind elected representatives for that benevolent act of charity.

The minister for state for finance Namo Narain Meena said that the government has agreed to make the prices of diesel market determined, in a written statement in Rajya Sabha. The government thinks that the subsidies on LPG, Kerosene and diesel result in a huge financial deficit. No comments, however, were made on the relatively gargantuan blows landed on the country’s budget with our honorable politicians’ acts of corruption though.

The entire amount given out in subsidies in the current fiscal is a little more than Rs 40,000 crore. What’s there to worry about that, we ask, when a minister can gobble up thrice that amount with a single scam? One less scam and we’d be good, won’t we?

Decontrolling diesel prices, taking in view the bigger economical picture is a good thing. But the government shouldn’t blame subsidies for fiscal deficit when their own ministers are causing the biggest losses to the exchequer for their personal gains. People in power, have a break, have a Kit-Kat – who knows, you’ll see the fiscal deficit disappearing automatically.

Your views please, readers!

First Open Track Day at Buddh International Circuit

Dhairya Gupta — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:30:25 +0530

The summers are approaching, it is getting hotter and Delhi prepares for a hot summer. People are getting summer clothes, which are light and will keep them cool. But then there are always some break aways. Some bought new leather suits, new leather shoes – just wearing them will give you dehydration on a hot summer afternoon. However these bikers and drivers did not mind. It was a day they had been waiting for, for a long time. It was the open track day at an international F1 Circuit. I did not ride on the track but I was there to experience the event. I must say it’s a initiative in a good direction and things can only get better.

The event was organized by JSPI. The format for the track day was very simple – You pay for either 1 or three sessions (20 mins each) and you drive your car or ride your bike on a perfect asphalt surface, smelling of F1 tyres, as fast as you can. No stray dogs to worry about, no traffic, no red lights, no traffic coming in the opposite direction. Only limiting thing was either your car/ bike but mostly just you. I am more of a biker than a driver so I shall review the event from that lens. They were about 30 bikes and about 50 cars. Most of the bikes were Superbikes and most of them were Hayabusas. There were two BM S1000RR, MV Augusta F4, couple of CBR 1000RRs and apple of everyone’s eye was a Ducati Diavel. There were some ‘humble’ bikes as well – two R15’s, one CBR 250R and a Ninja 250R. BIC is one of the longest F1 circuits and the fastest guy, on the S1000R did 4 laps in the 20 min session while most did 3. I observed that while everyone dashed through the straights all ducked down, they stood on their breaks, missed their lines and hardly leaned their bikes to go faster around a curve. Most riders showed improvements in subsequent sessions and while most felt much more confident about their riding at the end of the day there was still much more scope to learn. The event was well organized and offered what they had promised – an open track day. Having the experience of handling a F1 race, they know how to run the show. However, I personally feel there is a scope to have a better experience from the event. It has to come from both the event organizers and the participants. There was a clear announcement that bike session would start at 01:00 PM. In such a case, all the bikes should be lined up, in 2 x 2 formation 5 mins to 01:00 PM and then let go at few secs intervals. They did so for cars but would have appreciated a little more discipline from bikes. Once on the tracks, their aftermarket and free flow exhausts make deafening noises, now I know what heaven sounds like. I had the opportunity to go on the track in an official car which went to re-arrange the course for bike session. The turns are wide and asphalt is smoother than Angelina Jolie’s skin. As riders and drivers pulled into the pits, they were probably at their happiest moment of their lives. But then there are those who feel, there is still so much more to learn.

Track day hits you in the face. It is in fact very humbling. I say from experience. I did not ride on BIC but I have ridden on a track before on my Ninja ZX 7R. You realize that your street riding experience is just 10% of the skills you require on the track. Especially when you have 180 Bhp on your wrists. Just pinning the throttle on your turbocharged bike will not do anymore. You need to have more horse power in your balls than in your bike. Everything – your vision, your weight, your wrist, your foot and most of all your brain have to work in unison to make magic. Unlearning and learning have to go hand in hand. Just like any other sport, this too needs proper guidance and direction. We are not playing gully cricket anymore with a tennis ball. This is real thing. It was disheartening to see that people with really good bikes – the busas and the blades are going around the corners slower than a Delhi auto driver. Should I blame them entirely? I do not think so. There was no opportunity up here in north till now to ride in a closed circuit to be able to learn the techniques of fast riding. However there were humble R15’s and CBR 250’s as well who were overtaking much bigger bikes on the turns – basically where it really matters. I am not saying that out of jealousy or anything. I have owned a SBK in the past so I am over that. The difference in skills was for two reasons – i) the smaller bike riders have had the experience of riding on twisties of Himalayas and ii) they were there to see full potential of themselves and their bikes. However, there were some really good riders on their blades, Augusta and BMW. I hope other riders can learn from them.

It is a great initiative and I hope they continue to organize such events in the future. There is a scope for improvement though. There should be a day dedicated for bikes and a day for cars. Bikes and Cars should be divided into groups depending on their engine capacities. Each session should have instructional drivers showing the correct line around the track and they should observe the drivers for mistakes they are making. There should also be classroom sessions where more theoretical knowledge should be imparted by professionals. However, this does not undermine anyone. I am glad JSPI took this step and I wish them all the best.

So be on the lookout guys. Next time this happens, be there.

Photos: Nitin Gupta

SAEINDIA SUPRA 2012 to be held on 6-9 September 2012 to 9th September 2012 at the prestigious Buddh International Racing Circuit

Hrishikesh Deshpande — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:08:36 +0530

SUPRA SAEINDIA 2012 is one of the many competitions held by SAEINDIA (Society of Automotive Engineers India) in association with Maruti Suzuki Pvt. Ltd. The competition mainly aims at developing engineering students in a manner that they learn the basics of automobile designing and the aspects of fabrication of the same.

The basic rule of the competition is that students from all over the country showcase their talents as designing aces as well as understanding the difficulties faced in the fabrication of the design. This leads to the concept of feasible as well as sustainable engineering.

Every year around 400 colleges from India participate in such competitions organized by SAEINDIA. SAEINDIA BAJA is one such competition which gained fame in the country. In this the students need to design an all terrain vehicle with limited resources. The level of the competition is very high as it sees the maximum participation amongst all the events organized by SAEINDIA.

The history of SAEINDIA SUPRA dates back to 2010 when the SAE personnel decided to start an event which will allow students to showcase their talents and interests in FORMULA cars, their concepts and the very basic mechanics. These cars are no ordinary cars. Unlike the normal cars seen on the road these cars are extremely safe even to sustain an impact of collision into a wall at around 120kmph. The design is to be presented to eminent personalities from the industries, who approve of the design and give a green signal for fabrication work to start. All the teams receive the engine as well as transmission from Maruti Suzuki Pvt. Ltd. The competition rules forbid students from making any alterations with the engine or transmission. Yet each team is required to have an exclusive design. As very little can be done with the power train, the focus now comes to the aerodynamics and the ergonomics of the car. This is where the students jump off the books and start working in the true sense. The conventional engineering syllabi of the education system of India does not cover the topics which currently are hot in the industry. This is one of the main advantages of participating at such events.

Team VIIT from Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology Pune, is one such team which has active participation in SAEINDIA events. The team comprises mostly of second year students who have just entered the professional course of Mechanical Engineering. The team is headed by a few final year students. They participated in SAEINDIA BAJA 2012, and are currently working on the fabrication process of SAEINDIA SUPRA 2012.

The basic aim of starting SAE activities in VIIT was the need of students to make their mark in the field where students from colleges like IITB, NIT Jamshedpur etc. have a strong grip. The reason for maximum second year students working on the project is one simple thing: “ Clay can be moulded easily”. Trying to imbibe certain characteristic or interests in the mind of head strong seniors does not appeal to the core team. Automotive is a small part of Mechanical Engineering. And we at VIIT Pune want to groom the interests of all AUTO Enthusiasts that have chosen to be a part of the College. SAE SUPRA doesn’t only provide a very wide platform to groom the interests of all the candidates but it also clears various misconceptions that students have about AUTOMOBILES. Also the students will get to learn a lot on the Technical Front, Problem Solving Techniques as well as Team Work. We at VIIT Pune, look at SUPRA as an opportunity to tap the potentials of the talented students and provide them a platform to test the technical as well as practical knowledge.

The event of SAEINDIA SUPRA 2012 will be held from 6^th September 2012 to 9^th September 2012 at the prestigious Buddh International Racing Circuit in Greater Noida. Its a novelty to get to drive a self manufactured car on an F1 circuit.

India Superbike Festival to be held on 28 & 29 April

Yatharth Chuahan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:23:01 +0530

Indian bikers are all set for a treat! India finally gets a bike fest of its own. Big engines roaring, smell of burning fuel in the air and finding like minded souls will never be easier. Pune will be seen hosting the India Superbike Festival on 28th and 29th this month.

Just in case the bikes are not enough for you, the fest will also have some aftermarket parts, riding gear and other accessories on show. And what is a fest without some groove setting muzik? The performances of some renowned rock bands and DJs will be seen making many dance to their beats. Again, we bikers are a hungry lot and the festival will have a lot of food joints and some more from a barbeque festival that will be held.

Venue- Amanora Town Centre

Date- 28, 29 April 2012

For more info-

Call 07709999980

or mail at-- isfpune@gmail.com

Rolls Royce Ghost Six Senses unveiled at Beijing Motor Show

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:09:45 +0530

The good folks at the Goodwood unveiled the Ghost Six Senses concept at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show. The Six Senses is a tailor made Roller that has been designed to further elevate the feel of the insides of the Roller.

On the outside, the SS is finished in a shade of Carrera. On the inside, there is abundance of leather on hand crafted seats and Walnut Burr thrown in.

The In Car Entertainment (ICE) equipment in this car includes ‘exciter’ speakers placed in the leather headlining. As for the aroma, the supple natural soft grain leather in enveloping, hand-crafted seats, as well as in the car’s leather headlining. To further pamper you is the coolbox that can keep the temperature of that vintage champagne under check.

The SS surely uplifts the pampering of the rich to a new level.

Fiat unveils the stunning new Viaggio sedan at Beijing Motor Show

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:03:14 +0530

Fiat revealed their new C-segment sedan, Viaggio, at the Beijing Motor Show today. The Viaggio is based on the Dodge Dart, which in turn, is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The new Fiat, in true Italian fashion, is gorgeous to look at.

Viaggio translates to voyage in English and the car, which is a lovechild of Fiat-Chrysler relationship, will soon go on sale in China.

The Viaggio has a length of 4,679mm, width of 1,850mm and a 2,708mm wheelbase. To give you a perspective, it’s much bigger than the Honda City, which has a length of 4440mm, width of 1695mm and wheelbase of 2550mm. To be powered by the 1.4 L Tjet in both 120 and 150 hp outputs, the Viaggio may be offered with more engines in other markets. The big news is the introduction of Fiat’s latest Dual Dry Clutch (a la Fiesta Powershift) Transmission (DDCT) on the car which will make it technologically one of the most advanced cars in its segment.

On the inside, the car gets an entirely new design with a driver centric dash, soft-touch materials and a dual tone trim. The car is high on features like an 8.4 inches touchscreen radio navigation unit.

The Viaggio has been styled by the Fiat Group Style Centre in Torino and has a trademark Italian, clean-surfaced exterior design that blends fluid and curvaceous forms with strong proportions. A contemporary Fiat “face” ensures unmistakable brand identity. Rear tail lamps incorporate LED lights.

The first cars will be produced from July and will go on sale in the third quarter of this year. The size of the car makes it fit for India launch. It would also give Fiat a much needed brand boost, something that the company desperately needs at this point in time. It will also add a new product to the company’s lineup, which is one of the smallest in India with only two models on offers.

Victoria Beckham unveils special edition of Evoque in Beijing

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:27:44 +0530

Our regular readers will remember that we posted about Victoria Beckham ready to unveil the all new limited edition of the Evoque at the Beijing Motor Show. Well, the car has been shown to the world and we won’t be wrong to say that car oozes of fashion. The car is being called ‘Range Rover Evoque with Victoria Bekcham’ and the development of this car saw reasonable amount of inputs from Mrs. Beckham.The special edition car comes with hand-painted graphite matt paint scheme with Santorini gloss black detailing and new 20-inch mags with rose-gold detailing. Similar detailing can also be found on the grille, badging and in some parts of the interiors. The inside of the car also gets some aluminium garnishing and ‘vintage-like’ leather. Other exclusivities include a luggage set, a wallet for your manual and mohair floor mats.

What makes the Spice girl edition even more special is that only 200 examples of this car will be ever made.

Apex Racing Academy organizing track days for Indian bikers on 12 and 13 May at Kari Motor Speedway

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:54:07 +0530

This news should surely excite bikers who love the idea of a track day. Apex Racing Academy is hosting track days at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore on 12th and 13th of next month. All you need to enjoy the track is a valid driver’s license, riding gear and a machine. And just in case you do not wish to take your own bike along, there are a few bikes available on rent too.

Registrations are now open. Registrations can be done by shooting a mail to info@apexracing.in or a call on +91-9845031273

Ford India updates its website with more details on Ecosport

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:43:57 +0530

Ford EcoSport doesn’t ceases being away from lime light. Only yesterday, we reported in detail about the production version of the upcoming Ford and today, we saw the American manufacturer updating its Indian website with more info on this car.

The compact SUV has 200mm of Ground Clearance and 550 mm water wading capacity. As we could make out from the official images of the production version, the car gets the SYNC interface for connectivity between car’s ICE and driver’s cellphone.

The EcoSport is a five seater and has 346 litres of trunk space which can be boosted to 560 litres by folding the rear seat. This is not all as the cabin also has some 20 storage spaces. In typical SUV fashion, the EcoSport gets Hill Launch Assist.

The car also gets Push-Button start, Electronic Stability Program, Traction Control and ABS. The 1 litre gasoline motor is mated to a 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual is also an option.

Bentley releases engine details on EXP 9 F concept

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:27:31 +0530

Our regular readers will remember that we had reported in detail about the Bentley EXP 9 F concept SUV. While the manufacturer isn’t yet sure about the car’s styling, the good folks at Bentley have made public the powertrain details of the car. The concept being showcased at Beijing Motor Show has a 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12 gasoline motor doing duty under its hood and the motor is being said to develop around 600bhp-800 Nm. This motor is mated to an 8-speed close-ratio transmission and this is certainly not all. Other options that Bentley has include the 500bhp, 4.0 litre petrol V8 and a V6 plug-in hybrid. The hybrid offers a 30km range on full electric power and has low CO₂ emissions of 130g/km. It is also being said the hybrid will be potent enough to power this car from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 5 seconds.

Stay tuned for more info on this upmarket SUV.

2012 Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi to deliver 37kmpl. No, this ain't no typo.

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:13:43 +0530

Hold your breath guys, for the i20 we are going to talk about delivers a mind boggling 37 Kmpl! And 37 kms per litre of diesel!! Yes, 37 kmpl is what the South Korean manufacturer claims for the newly released 3 cylinder, 1.1 Litre common rail turbo diesel motor that finds a home in the engine bay of the facelifted i20. Equipped with the 1.1 Liter U-II diesel engine, the new version of the car has been readied for the European market and the motor lets you play with the power of some 74 horses along with a pulling power of 152 Nm. This new gen motor is equipped with variable geometry turbocharger and a balancer shaft to keep the vibes in check. It may be noted that more vibrations are an inherent issue with three cylinder engines. This engine has also been used in Hyundai i10 and the cousin- Kia Picanto. Another great aspect of this motor is the low CO2 emissions of 88g/Km.

With our car market being obsessed with ‘kitna deti hai?’, it is a matter of time before Hyundai decides to spoil us silly by bringing this motor to the country.

Range Rover Evoque is Women's World Car of the Year 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:07:41 +0530

The Range Rover Evoque has been getting a lot of recognition ever since the world first saw it. Now, it has been awarded with the title of the Women’s World Car of the Year 2012. The car now has 110 awards to its credit.

This award was given after judgement of a panel of 17 women motoring writers from different corners of the world. The cars were judged on parameters like safety, space, child-friendliness, environmental performance, design and value for money factor.

John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director said “The Women’s World Car of the Year title further reflects the great market reach of Evoque. Across the world, women are a customer base in their own right, so it is vital for any manufacturer to ensure their products meet their preferences and requirements. As a vehicle designed, engineered and built in Britain, the Range Rover Evoque continues to demonstrate its world-class appeal. We are delighted that as well as the 111 honours it has received for its design, engineering and performance, it has proved just as successful in terms of excellent global sales.”

Ford reveals production version of Ecosport

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:37:17 +0530

Ford unveiled the concept version of the much publicised EcoSport just a day before the commencement of Auto Expo at New Delhi. The compact SUV was then showcased at the above mentioned 2012 Auto show before heading on a tour of the entire nation. While there is no denying that the exteriors of the car have been appreciated by everyone, we could not have a look at the interiors of the car. There were no chances of having a glimpse of the interiors of the concept, thanks to the very darkly tinted windows.

Today, Ford finally revealed the production version of the Ecosport SUV. The car was unveiled at Brazil, one of the important markets for Ford.

Talking about the interiors, it can be seen that the dashboard looks somewhat similar to that on the Fiesta and the B-Max. However, the Ecosport gets differently styled aircon vents. One can find shades of black, grey and silver on the interior trim and this isn’t all as the car also gets chrome garnishing at places like the gear knob. There is a screen placed at the centre of the dash the top of the line gets Ford SYNC system. The car can seat five in comfort and have enough space for thier luggage.

While the concept model of the Ecosport was seen sporting LED lamps, the production reality has to do with the halogens. Other than this, the spare wheel finds its home on the tailgate and we are quite bowled over by that tasty set of alloys. As we reported earlier, the new Ford Ecosport is based on the B2E platform that was developed by combined efforts from Ford and Mazda. This car platform was developed keeping weight reduction and torsional rigidity in mind. The new Ford will come with the 1.0-Litre 3-Cylinder DI Turbo Petrol Engine that will debut with the EcoSport and the diesel to come should be the 1.5-Litre oil burner seen in the Fiesta.

The mantra for Ford behind the design of the Ecosport was to ‘Mix just the right amount of robust capability and confident stance with a friendly, outgoing spirit’. The new model will eventually be sold in nearly 100 markets around the world. The EcoSport has a contemporary shape and sports key SUV cues such as a confident stance, and signature spare wheel mounted on a swing-gate at the rear of the vehicle. Its footprint is small enough for the city, yet it's strong and rugged enough for trips to the mountains or countryside.

Shaped by Ford’s new global design language, the Ecosport combines the agility and practicality of a compact car with high ground clearance. A wide hood sweeps into sculpted bodylines, and has a refined surface language that suggests honed strength and a dynamic spirit of energy in motion. Modern, oblique headlamps frame a high-mounted trapezoidal grille which gives the vehicle an element of pride and a signature Ford face.The windshield is steeply raked, and blacked out B-pillars unify the side glass into one elegant shape, conveying a clean, modern profile, complementing a shape honed in the wind tunnel for efficiency.

The creativity behind the new EcoSport was sparked in Brazil, a nation dominated by compact cars which has become one of the world’s key emerging markets. The design center in Camaçari, Brazil, is now part of a global network of Ford design studios collaborating on new global products.

The Ford EcoSport should retail for INR 7-9 Lakhs in the Indian market and should re-define the entry level SUV segment in India.

Lamborghini unveils the Urus SUV at Beijing Motor Show

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:25:34 +0530

After bringing to our readers the official images, teaser videos and many other details of the new Lambo SUV, we today report that the car was unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show today. The car has been christened as the Urus or the LB736 in official speak.

The technical specs of the new bull have not been revealed but the new SUV is rumored to have the power of 600 horses. The car is being said to become the fastest 4×4 ever. We wonder if this SUV is based on the parent VW’s PL71 platform.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini said, "The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea."

It may be noted that this is the second SUV from the famous car maker, the earlier being the very macho LM002 seen in 80s. Currently, not much is known about the powertrain but our guess is that a 580 hp 5.2-liter V10 motor will be found under that hood.

SPIED: Ford Ecosport dashboard undisguised

Yatharth Chauhan — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:10:14 +0530

Ford unveiled the much publicised EcoSport just a day before the commencement of Auto Expo, at New Delhi. The compact SUV was then showcased at the above mentioned 2012 Auto Expo before heading on a tour of the entire nation. While there is no denying that the exteriors of the car have been appreciated by everyone, we are yet to have a look at the interiors of the car. There were no chances of having a glimpse of the interiors of the concept, thanks to the very darkly tinted windows. Now, the good folks at Ford today unveiled the production version of the car at Brazil. It can be seen that the dashboard looks somewhat similar to that on the Fiesta and the B-Max. However, the Ecosport gets differently styled aircon vents. One can find shades of black, grey and silver on the interior trim and this isn’t all as the car also gets chrome garnishing at places like the gear knob. There is a screen placed at the centre of the dash the top of the line gets Ford SYNC system. Stay tuned for more details.

Official pics of 2013 Audi Q5 leaked

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:28:25 +0530

Just when we were busy reporting about the all new Audi Q3, official pics of the Audi Q5 got leaked on the web world. Dubbed as the 2013 model, the refreshed Q5 gets some subtle changes to the car that went on sale in 2008.

Among other engine options, the 2013 Audi Q5 will also offer a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI engine in two states of tune- 272PS and 329PS.

VIDEO: Lamborghini Urus teaser video

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:12:13 +0530

Only yesterday, we reported that there are good chances of the upcoming SUV from Lamborghini being christened as the Urus and not Deimos, as earlier expected. We, then, also came up with the news that the new Lambo will be showcased at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show and we posted the invite for it. Soon after this, we posted the official renderings of the Urus (phew!). The latest development is that a teaser video of this SUV has started doing rounds on the web.

Going by what we can make out from the pics, this Lambo doesn’t looks unlike the BMW X6 and the new SUV is rumored to be five metre long and have the power of 600 horses. The car is being said to become the fastest 4×4 ever. We wonder if this SUV is based on the parent VW’s PL71 platform. It won't be too wrong to say that the car looks like a Lambo supercar on steroids and that can’t be a bad thing. Can it be? As expected, the car comes with LED lamps and ORVMs with a video camera integrated in them. The highlight at the rear has to be four trapezoidal exhaust tips neatly integrated in the bumper diffuser. The SUV rides on very tasty looking 24-inch rims that quite mimic those seen on the almighty Aventador. On the inside, the seats have a familiar look and seem to be inspired by those in the Sesto Elemento (does not Italian names sound so sensuous?).The centre console runs all the way back to the rear passenger seats and one should find a liberal dosage of exotic CF inside.

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BMW considering M version of 7 series

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:36:40 +0530

I know of some people who have always wondered why we don’t have the BMW M7. Now, the Audi A8 offers you an option of having a W12 engine and we have AMG for the S Class on steroids. However, the only option for having the flagship Bimmer sedan with supercar rivalling performance is to go for the Alpina B7 or the unofficial M7 as it is popularly known as. Recently, in an interview with American magazine Car&Driver, Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, President, BMW M division, confirmed that his team is considering a M version of the 7-Series.

Read the interview here: Car&Driver

Note- The image shown is of Alpina B7

Nissan to launch Datsun hatchback in 2014. Developing diesel engine for budget cars

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:21:58 +0530

We have been following Nissan’s plans to bring the Datsun brand to India since quite some time now. Recently, Takayuki Ishida, MD & CEO at Nissan India said that the budget end Datsun cars will be brought to India in the later half of 2014. He also added that these cars will retail in the INR 2-4 lakhs bracket. A safe guess will be that Datsun products will be showcased at the next New Delhi Auto Show that will be held in early 2014. The production of Datsun branded cars will begin at Nissan’s manufacturing facility at Oragadam, Chennai and the manufacturer will set up a new plant for low end cars later. This is not all as the growing demand for oil burners has made the company start with the development of a low capacity diesel engine for the upcoming Datsun hatchback.

Valentino Rossi gets a 458 Italia from Ferrari

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:05:12 +0530

Popular rider Valentino Rossi has long been associated with racing cars. Recently, famous Italian performance car maker Ferrari awarded The Doctor with one of its best selling cars- the 458 Italia.

It is being said that Rossi bags the 458 Italia because of his presence at Blancpain Endurance at the Monza track in Italy. The yellow Italia Rossi was seen driving has VR plates and what is even better is that the plates also has the numbers 4 and 6.

Powering the 458 is the highly acclaimed 4.5 liter V8 powerplant with 570Ps of power and 540 Nm of torque. Transmission duties are taken care of by a 7 speed dual clutch auto transmission.

Honda Brio Love Drive to be flagged off at Delhi tomorrow

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:41:25 +0530

Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. is hosting Honda Brio Love Drive tomorrow, 22 April. The treasure hunt will be flagged off from Hotel Ashok, Chanakyapuri at 9:00 AM and should be over by lunch. Expect a full blown report on this event as soon as we experience the event. Stay tuned.

Ford announces Executive Live Chat for 2102 Beijing Auto Show

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:11:58 +0530

Popular American car manufacturer Ford will have some special guests to answer Ford related questions live from the 2012 Beijing Auto Show that commences on April 23^rd. The questions can be submitted via commenting at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/ford-asia-pacific-and-africa/2012-beijing-auto-show-executive-live-chat-announcement/10150746830513805

The answers will be given by-

Martin Smith, Executive Design Director, Ford of Europe (April 23, 10:40am - 11:00am, Beijing time) Martin is Executive Design Director, Ford of Europe, a position he was appointed to July 1, 2004.He is also responsible for design at Ford Asia Pacific and Africa.

Rodney Philips, Asia Pacific and Africa SYNC Engineering Manager (April 23, 04:00pm - 04:30pm, Beijing time) Rodney SYNC Engineering Manager for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (APA), based in Nanjing, China. He currently oversees the application and delivery of SYNC technology in all APA markets, including overall project coordination, Human Machine Interface localization and system testing.

Edward Pleet, Connected Services Director, Ford Motor Company, Asia Pacific and Africa, and Europe (April 23, 04:00pm - 04:30pm, Beijing time) Since joining Ford Motor Company over 14 years ago, Edward Pleet has held various positions involving product and business development. He currently manages Ford's Connected Services for all of Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. This includes all aspects of the connected services life cycle from product concept through engineering development and product deployment.

Ashwani Kumar Galhotra, Vice President, Product Development, Asia Pacific and Africa, Ford Motor Company (April 23, 04:55pm - 05:20pm, Beijing time) In his 23 years at Ford, he has held positions in product development and product strategy. Among other assignments, he led the introduction of the Ford Ranger into South American markets in 1998; was the Chief Engineer for the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner in the early 2000’s; and Vehicle Programs Director for five vehicle lines in the mid-2000’s.

The live chat will be conducted on:

http://www.facebook.com/fordapa .

After releasing about a gazillion games, Electronic Arts will soon come up with a Need For Speed movie

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:45:12 +0530

This news brings back memories of my kindergarten days. Some 15 years ago, people would find me glued to my dad’s desktop at any time of the day. I won’t be wrong to say that I was addicted to this car game where I could drive a Corvette in a pretty grainy background. Fast forward from NFS 1 days to present and I can be now found addicted to driving cars in the real world scenario. The fact that I still haven’t tested a Corvette in real is a different story altogether. The recent and probably one of the most exciting development at Electronic Arts is that they are planning to come up with a movie based on the popular gaming series that say NFS Underground, Carbon and Prostreet take the market by storm. Electronic Arts will hire George and John Gatins for developing the screen play of the movie.

It is being said that popular studios like the Warner Bros. and Paramount wish to bag the rights for the Need for Speed movie, which might become their answer to Universal’s The Fast and the Furious series.

The Need for Speed series has as many as 18 games to its credits with the ‘The Run’ being the latest.

Offer Of a Lifetime: Maybach 62 available with discount of INR 52 lakhs

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:16:41 +0530

It is no secret that Daimler’s Maybach limo has never really taken the ultra luxury segment by storm. After about half a dozen incidents of news spreading that the car is soon going to be taken off the production, it is now quite confirmed that the super luxurious sedan will exit from the market as soon as in next year.

Personally, I have always liked the way the Maybach looks but a very large section of potential buyers have dismissed the design and styling of the car owing to the fact that it looks like a bigger variant of the Mercedes S Class. Another reason for the car never gaining much of a popularity is that its brand value is not as high as that of a Roller. Add to all this a price tag that can bring tears to the eyes of the most richest and it can be seen that Daimler never had a winning equation.

Daimler now feels that it had enough of losses and there is not much of a point keeping this car alive. As for the final batch of the Type 62 that is sitting at the dealers, it is available at a discount of about $100k (INR 52 lakh). This surely is one beeeeg discount for a car that retails for equivalent of about INR 2.20 crores in US market.

However, it still remains to be seen if such a discount will bring some of the rich folks to the manufacturer’s dealerships.

via- Autos.AOL.com]

Revealed: First images of Lamborghini Urus

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:37:02 +0530

Only a few hours ago, we reported that there are good chances of the upcoming SUV from Lamborghini being christened as the Urus and not Deimos, as earlier expected. We, then, also came up with the news that the new Lambo will be showcased at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show and we posted the invite for it. The latest development is that an image of this SUV has started doing rounds on the web and our sources say that this is an official pic of the upcoming SUV.

The latest that has surfaced is that after seeing a lot of spy pics and renderings, we finally have a few official renderings of the car. Going by what we can make out from the pics, this Lambo doesn’t looks unlike the BMW X6 and the new SUV is rumored to be five metre long and have the power of 600 horses. The car is being said to become the fastest 4×4 ever. We wonder if this SUV is based on the parent VW’s PL71 platform.

Going by the images, the car looks like a Lambo supercar on steroids and that can’t be a bad thing. Can it be? As expected, the car comes with LED lamps and ORVMs with a video camera integrated in them. The highlight at the rear has to be four trapezoidal exhaust tips neatly integrated in the bumper diffuser. The SUV rides on very tasty looking 24-inch rims that quite mimic those seen on the almighty Aventador. On the inside, the seats have a familiar look and seem to be inspired by those in the Sesto Elemento (does not Italian names sound so sensuous?).The centre console runs all the way back to the rear passenger seats and one should find a liberal dosage of exotic CF inside.

VIDEO: Korean market commercial for all new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:05:13 +0530

Hyundai have officially revealed their 2013 Santa Fe at the New York Auto Show. Adopting the Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, the new Santa Fe looks all the more stylish, and now comes loaded to the brim with features. The new Santa Fe will also replace the American Veracruz in a 7 seater guise. The car will be available in two seating configurations, a seven seater, long wheelbase (LWB) version, and a 5 seater with the ‘Sport’ tag. The five seater version will be launched soon this year, while the seven seater variant will have to wait till early 2013.

While both the models have currently been made available only with petrol engines for the US, we expect diesel options to be plonked in too for the European and Indian markets. Currently, the shorter wheelbase ‘Sport’ version is available with two petrol engines, a 2.4-liter direct injection (GDI) engine with about 190bhp, and a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine with about 265bhp. The LWB 7 seater version gets a bigger 3.3-liter GDI V6 engine producing 290 horsepower to be able to haul more weight without puffing.

For India, we expect the new Santa Fe to come equipped with the new 2.0 liter Gamma R diesel expected to produce about 180 bhp of power and 392 Nm of torque. For now, all engines are mated to Hyundai's six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control. Expect six speed manual transmissions also to feature on the European and Indian version.

The new Santa Fe will also have the optional intelligent active All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system and TVCC. The advantages of the new system, as claimed by Hyundai are improved lateral stability while cornering, removal of unintended over- and under-steer and high thermal capacity, which helps prevent overheating during hill climbs and trailer towing. The car will also come equipped with Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) to maximize control on steep hills.

Among other important new inclusions is the new BlueLink multimedia interface, which provides you an easy visual interface to control the vehicle, somewhat on the lines of the BMW iDrive, or Mercedes COMAND system. The BlueLink interface with its eight inch screen brings seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like voice text messaging, POI web search download, turn-by-turn navigation, and monthly vehicle reporting. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, sliding second row with 40:20:40 folding, power seats, and heated rear seats and steering wheel.

In terms of safety, Hyundai is offering its first ever Blindspot Detection System only on the LWB Santa Fe, owing to its bigger size. This system identifies when a vehicle enters the defined blindspot and provides a warning that a vehicle is approaching. Active Safety features include, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Apart from a high strength construction, the 2013 Santa Fe features seven airbags, including side curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag. All Santa Fe trims have rollover sensors for the side curtain airbags.

Here is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe commercial for the Korean market:

SPIED: New TVS RTR. TVS does a Hero to look like Bajaj!

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:14:10 +0530

Only a couple of days ago, we became one of the first few to come up with images of TVS RTR refresh. Billed by some as the new 2012 model, this upgrade was being said to be developed only for the 180cc version. However, latest images at TVS facebook page reveal that the facelift is applicable for 160 as well and the images clearly show that TVS seems to have got a tad too inspired by the modus operandi at our Hero Motorcorp and has decided to play a fair bit with cosmetics to come up with a bike that looks a fair bit like the Bajaj Pulsar! The good thing is that the guys from down South have not gone overboard with the graphics. The bad thing is. . .well. . we are just getting started.

The teaser that TVS had released on RTR 180’s website made us feel that TVS is almost ready with an answer to the upcoming Bajaj Pulsar 200NS. While many got a bit misled due to the twin lights seen in the teaser, we were quick to make out that the lamps shown are the pilots and not the main beams. Our sources also informed us that the upcoming version of the Apache RTR is merely a cosmetic upgrade as the mechanicals remain largely the same and one should not expect a lot from it.

Now, the refreshed bike gets a LED treatment for the pilot lamps, some ‘carbon fibre lookalike’ graphics, new tank extensions & side panels, new crash guard & mudguard, new & repositioned footpegs, 3D Apache logo (a la Pulsar 220) and . . hold your breath. . .an Indian flag on either side of the tail. As we mentioned above, there is no upgrade in the performance and the bike remains essentially the same.

We feel that TVS lost a huge opportunity here and has left not just us but every Indian biker pretty unimpressed. The teaser seen by us got a lot of hype within no time and now that we have seen these pics, we dare say that all that publicity was undeserved.

Like we earlier mentioned, a Pulsar 200 NS rival the upcoming version of Apache should have been. However, the only Pulsar this bike challenges is the aging Pulsar 180.

Image Courtesy TVSApacheFacebookPage

Lamborghini SUV to be showcased at Beijing Motor Show

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:54:34 +0530

Only a few hours ago, we reported that there are good chances of the upcoming SUV from Lamborghini being christened as the Urus and not Deimos, as earlier expected. While Deimos has nothing in common with the bulls, the Urus, like every other Lambo, is name of a bull and a powerful one at that. Now, the news is that the new Lambo will be showcased at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show and here is the invite for this. to show for. Going by what we are hearing, this Lambo doesn’t looks unlike the BMW X6 and the new SUV is rumored to be five metre long and have the power of 600 horses. The car is being said to become the fastest 4×4 ever. We wonder if this SUV is based on the parent VW’s PL71 platform.

Going by the images we had published earlier, the car looks like a Lambo supercar on steroids and that can’t be a bad thing. Can it be? As expected, the car comes with LED lamps and ORVMs with a video camera integrated in them. The highlight at the rear has to be four trapezoidal exhaust tips neatly integrated in the bumper diffuser. The SUV rides on very tasty looking 24-inch rims that quite mimic those seen on the almighty Aventador. On the inside, the seats have a familiar look and seem to be inspired by those in the Sesto Elemento (does not Italian names sound so sensuous?).The centre console runs all the way back to the rear passenger seats and one should find a liberal dosage of exotic CF inside.

Scania to introduce luxury buses by 2013

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:51:27 +0530

Volvo and Mercedes Benz buses are ruling the luxury bus services in India but this might be all set to change with the Swedish CV manufacturer Scania headed our way. Scania will be soon seen testing its buses in the Indian market and its full fledged operations might begin as soon as in 2013. The offerings of the manufacturer might be priced upwards of INR 80 lakh and will lock horns with the German & Swedish duo. The coincidence here is that Scania has both Swedish and German connections as the CV maker is owned by the Volkswagen group. Scania manufactures agricultural equipment for Indian market from its Bangalore plant and this facility will be upgraded for the assembling of busses. Scania is making an investment of INR 150 crores for this. However, soon after the importing a few batches of the busses, the chassis building operations will begin. Expect the Scania busses to offer all features found in luxury busses from Merc and Volvo.

AMG breaks ties with Ducati soon after Audi acquires the bike maker

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:42:35 +0530

Popular in house tuning firm of Mercedes-AMG, recently ended the association they had with the popular bike maker Ducati. This is something that we had expected as the Ducati is now in hands of Audi, arch rival of Mercedes. The German tuning firm took the decision soon after Audi announced the acquiring of Ducati. AMG and Ducati had a common marketing cooperation since end of 2010.

VIDEO: Mercedes Concetp Style Coupe

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:17:55 +0530

We have been reporting a lot on this future sedan from Mercedes and recently, we posted that the manufacturer has released the pics of the Mercedes Concept Style Coupe on which the production car will be based on. Now, we also have a video that shows the Concept Style Coupe and the well made video has surely excited us.

The baby CLS coupe is based on the MFA platform and is being called as the CLA concept. The MFA structure forms the base of the ‘not so premium’ MB cars like the A-Class and the B-Class. The CLA concept has nothing to do with the CLC coupe. There has been no official word on the future of the CLA but rumors suggest that the car will head to production as soon as in late 2014 and will be built at the car maker’s Hungary plant as the nation provides labour at cheaper rates.

The concept car is 182.6 inches long, 74.5 inches wide and 55.0 inches high. Powering this car will be a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder direct-injection petrol motor that will pump out 211 horses. Mated to this plant will be a 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission with power transmitted to all four wheels.

The CLA will join the likes of the A-Class, B-Class Sports Tourer, CLC Coupe and CLC sedan to complete the 3 pointed star’s five entry level car models line up.Out of these five, the first relatively affordable Merc to come to us is the B-Class sports tourer. And it is quite some time before others mentioned here decide to come to our shores.

Salman Khan becomes brand ambassador for Suzuki Motorcycles

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:11:54 +0530

Suzuki two wheelers are certainly not the most popular in the country. While the Access 125 scooter has got reasonable success, well sorted 150cc mobike GS150 has remained largely neglected by the buyers in the 150cc commuter segment. Now, as we reported earlier, Suzuki is all set to launch Hayate motorcycle next month. The Jap bike maker has signed popular bollywood star Salman Khan as its brand ambassador and as expected, the first promotional campaign that features Salman will be of the Hayate. Displacing 112cc, Hayate will lock horns with Hero Splendour, Bajaj Discover 100 and upcoming Honda Dream Yuga.

Atul Gupta, vice-president (sales & marketing), SMIPL said, “While the motorcycle market in India is growing, brand loyalties remain strong. We needed to break into the clutter by differentiating our products and marketing strategy. We decided to sign on Salman Khan as he is a strong fit with the value-packed products we have scheduled for launch in the India market.”

It will be interesting to see if Salman does to Suzuki what John did to Yamaha.

Victoria Beckham to unveil a special edition of Evoque in Beijing

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:35:16 +0530

Land Rover recently teased a video for a new edition of the very popular Range Rover Evoque. This edition will be unveiled at the fast approaching Beijing Auto Show and the unveiling will be done by none other than Victoria Beckham. The former Spice Girl has always shared a good relation with the auto manufacturer and this relationship is all set to go even further. Victoria Beckham will introduce the new edition of Evoque on 22nd this month. The unveiling can be seen live on www.landrover.com/VictoriaBeckham.

Lamborghini SUV to be called Urus and not Deimos

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:23:42 +0530

Our regular readers might remember that we had reported about Lamborghini getting the name ‘Deimos’ trademarked. Back then, we had wondered if the upcoming Lambo SUV will be christened as Deimos. However, the latest development about this eagerly awaited car is that it will be called the ‘Urus’ and not ‘Deimos’. We had mentioned that the Deimos is the God of thunder and horror but we had no clue how it related with the bulls but Urus is indeed a name of a bull and hence, it makes more sense too. The new SUV is rumoured to be five metre long and have the power of 600 horses. The car is being said to become the fastest 4×4 ever.

Mahindra Adventure Team sweeps top positions at Dakshin Dare Rally 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:06:56 +0530

Team Mahindra Adventure took the Dakshin Dare 2012 Rally by storm, making a clean sweep at the top titles in the 4^th edition of the five-day rally that concluded in Bangalore recently.

National champion Gaurav Gill (co-driver Musa Sheriff) and Lohitt Urs (co-driver Chipong Chiwan), the top two winners in the Ultimate (Extreme) category were seen making some aggressive moves in a XUV500. XUV becomes the first diesel SUV to win an extreme category of an Indian rally.

The other drivers who made this a memorable rally for Team Mahindra Adventure were Sanjay Takale (co-driver Musthafa) and Karthick Maurthi (co-driver Sankar Anand) behind the wheel of Mahindra Scorpios, which finished first and second respectively in the Endurance category. To top it off, K.S. Venkatesh (co-driver Chandra Sekaran) steered his powerful Mahindra Thar past the finish line, ahead of the pack, in the Corporate category.

Commenting on the success of the Mahindra Adventure rally team’s performance, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Sr. Vice-President, Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “This unprecedented clean sweep by Mahindra vehicles is a testimony to the tough and rugged 'Mahindra DNA'. Our vehicles have conquered the southern terrain with dogged determination and confidence, creating history in Indian motor sports. We are proud to have won one of the toughest rallies, and our winning teams deserve special mention for their unstinted passion to take on challenges, their spirit of adventure and their exceptional desire to win.”

Results:

Extreme Category: 1. Gaurav Gill/Musa Sheriff (Mahindra); 2. Lohitt Urs/Chipong Chiwan (Mahindra); 5. Suhem Kabeer/Jeeva Rathinam (Mahindra).

Endure Category: 1. Sanjay Takale/Musthafa (Mahindra); 2. Karthick Maruthi/Sankar Anand (Mahindra);

Corporate Category: 1.Venkatesh/Chendrasekaran (Mahindra);

Ford's DSFL Moves to Promote Safe Driving to Newer Cities with Training Program and Pledge Campaign

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:55:37 +0530

Stepping up its efforts to spread the message of Safe, Economic and Eco-friendly driving through the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program, Ford India today culminated its ‘Train the Trainers(TTT)’ workshop with additional pool of qualified trainers to accelerate its drive to bring new dealerships in the program for this year.

At the occasion, Ford India also launched First Gear, a guide for the first-time car buyers, and announced its all-new digital pledge campaign for safe driving. Hosting select media and social media representatives, the event also emphasized Ford India’s success in spreading the DSFL message to drivers across the nation as well as its plans to extend the program to newer markets in 2012. Introduced in India in 2009, DSFL is a regional program that focuses on helping combat the global epidemic of road fatalities. Since launch, the program has seen tremendous success in the country, with diverse driver groups. In total, around 4500 drivers have been trained in DSFL since 2009 and 50,000 across Asia Pacific and Africa. In 2012, Ford India aims to take DSFL to a higher level by extending the program to customers in dealerships in Tier Two cities – Ajmer, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jaipur and Mehsana, while continuing its focus on key markets such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.

“We have always considered it our responsibility not just to produce safer cars, but also to ensure more responsible driving on the roads,” said Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India. “India has one of the highest motor vehicle injury and fatality rate in the world and we believe driver education and refreshment through programs such as DSFL can help improve the situation.”

Ford India’s executive director for Manufacturing, Tom Chackalackal along with Minnie Menon, columnist and DSFL evangelist, launched its car buyer guide and were first takers of the new pledge campaign, I Pledge to Drive Safe. The pledge is available on Ford India’s Facebook community page, where drivers can enroll and share it among friends to encourage safe and responsible driving.

“This is a great initiative by Ford India,” said Ms. Menon. “I have been associated with DSFL for over a year now and I find the program to be informative and aimed at reaching the right people with the right message to help increase responsible driving. Today’s book-launch and pledge program only emphasizes Ford’s commitment.”

Hyundai India announces winners of first week of "I Live Uber Life" contest

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:36:42 +0530

Hyundai Motors India Ltd, one of the biggest players in the Indian car market, have announced the weekly winners of the “I Live Uber Life” contest. The contest got an immense response within a week's time. The winners of this weeek, Shekhar Gupta and Amit Sehgal, get smart phones and Apple I-pods. The participation required an image of the participants with their Uber moments.This contest will be seen going on for some time to come winners will be seen bagging goodies like a paid trip to Srilanka for T20 World Cup 2012 for two and many more.

Audi Q3 RS concept revealed

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:45:01 +0530

We have been reporting in detail about the Audi Q3 that is headed our way. Here, we present you a few details on the RS Concept, the performance version of the youngest and smallest Q. On the outside, a new single frame grille, large air intakes, tinted headlights, redesigned bumper with integrated rear diffuser, and tail pipes, electric sunroof, twenty-inch wheels wearing 255/30 rubber and a blue paint job differentiate between the RS and the plain jane Q3. Talking of the insides, the RS comes with Nappa leather and Alcantara, plenty of Q3 RS badges, and a tachometer with Chinese numerals.

Now the real bit- powering the car is a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder, TSI engine that pumps out a healthy 360 PS. The motor is mated to a seven-speed S-Tronic gearbox and power is transmitted to all 4 wheels thru the Quattro system. The car does 0-100 kmphin in a quick 5.3 seconds and has a top whack of 265 kmph.

[Source: MotorTrend.perfcom]

SPIED: Features laden All New Bajaj Discover. Its the time to Disco

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:42:42 +0530

Our regular readers might remember how impressed we were when we first saw the all new generation of Pulsar. Back then, we had wondered if the Pulsar brand has come so far, what should we hope from the sibling Discover? We have been getting news that Bajaj is busy developing the all new Discover and recently, undisguised pics of a new Discover test mule surfaced.

We had reported in detail about the new features seen on the new Pulsar. We had said that the new technologies and features take the bike way forward to rub shoulders with the International competition. Now, it seems like the next gen Discover will be as much modern and feature-rich as the next Pulsar is. The new Discover will come with a gas filled Monoshock (a segment first) and it may be noted that Discover becomes the second Bajaj to sport this type of rear suspension, the first being the Pulsar 200NS. Very much like the 200NS, the new Disco too gets a new chassis and swingarm.

The end can seen on the new Disco mule is quite similar in position to the one on 200NS. The new Disco also gets aluminium foot pegs and new mudguards.Unlike the trend these days, the next gen Disco will not feature split grabrails but will instead come with a newly designed single unit. The bike is also seen with newly designed set of alloys and did we tell you that we hate that hugger around the rear wheel? Other than this, the bike gets all new panels & tank, a new speedo console with analogue tacho and a digi speed read out, new ORVMSs, trafficators borrowed from Pulsar 135 LS, half chain cover, front registration plate on top of the fairing (a la 200NS) and disc & drum brakes combo.

Our guess is that the new Discover will debut with the 150cc mill and looking at the future Pulsar line up, the new Disco should be positioned as a premium offering and the current gen Discover should continue to sell.

images source- autocarindia

MyTVS to launch 100 outlets in South India by 2014

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:19:27 +0530

We have been reporting almost every development at MyTVS, multi-brand service provider, since its launch. The latest at the popular service provider is that the it plans to introduce 100 new outlets and 300 service franchisees throughout South India within a couple of years. The service provider currently has 20 outlets of its own and 63 franchisees. As we earlier reported, MyTvs also recently launched a 24X7 emergency Roadside Assistance care for any car at anytime and place throughout the nation, with exception of J&K and North East.

Mercedes Concetp Style Coupe revealed

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:24:48 +0530

We have been reporting a lot on this future sedan from Mercedes and now we finally have the pics of the Mercedes Concept Style Coupe on which the production car will be based on. The baby CLS coupe is based on the MFA platform and is being called as the CLA concept. The MFA structure forms the base of the ‘not so premium’ MB cars like the A-Class and the B-Class. The CLA concept has nothing to do with the CLC coupe. There has been no official word on the future of the CLA but rumors suggest that the car will head to production as soon as in late 2014 and will be built at the car maker’s Hungary plant as the nation provides labour at cheaper rates.

[Source: Autoweek.com via GermanCarForum.com]

Chevrolet announces 1.7 litre VCDI motor for Cruze

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:06:14 +0530

D segmenter Chevy Cruze comes with a 2.0 litre oilburner in India. However, UK car market also has a hatchback version of the popular sedan and GM recently announced a new 1.7 litre diesel motor for this car. This motor will also find a home in the station wagon that is on sale abroad.

The new engine pumps of a healthy output of 130PS-300Nm. The car is being said to be capable of doing the 0-96 kmph in 9.4 seconds with a top whack of about 200 kmph.

The icing on the cake here is that the motor will offer a mileage of around 22.18 kmpl! We don’t remember the last time we heard of a car of this size offering such a nice fuel consumption figure.

This definitely is an opportunity for the blokes at Chevy to bring this motor to our shores with the introduction of the facelifted car.

Porsche Works Drivers program remembers Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. Releases first video about its operations

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:20:42 +0530

Our regular readers will remember our post about the death of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche that we published some days ago and we still mourn the death of the 911 creator.

Like we earlier mentioned, Alexander Porsche was also strongly involved in motorsport developments and people at motorsports division of Porsche would like to tread on the path observed by the legend. The good folks at the Porsche recently published their first film about Porsche Works Drivers program. The video shows athletic training scenes, interesting interviews and diversified cuts. PWD program has developed two videos and the first of these was published online yesterday.

SPIED: New TVS RTR 180. TVS does a Hero

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:55:20 +0530

To many Indian bikers, the title of my article will say it all. I am pretty sure that many will agree that TVS seems to have got a tad too inspired by our Hero Motorcorp and has decided to play a fair bit with some stickers. The good thing is that the guys from down South have not gone overboard with the sticker job. The bad thing is. . .well. . we are just getting started.

Only half a day earlier, we had reported about TVS releasing a teaser on RTR 180’s website. Thanks to the plenty of rumors doing rounds, even we thought that the manufacturer is almost ready with an answer to the upcoming Bajaj Pulsar 200NS. While many got a bit misled due to the twin lights seen in the teaser, we were quick to make out that the lamps shown are the pilots and not the main beams. Our sources also informed us that the upcoming version of the Apache RTR is merely a cosmetic upgrade for the 180cc variant and one should not expect a lot from it.

Now, we just laid our eyes on the upcoming version of the bike and frankly, we are very disappointed. The bike gets a LED treatment for the pilot lamps, some ‘carbon fibre lookalike’ graphics, 3D Apache logo (a la Pulsar 220) and . . hold your breath. . .an Indian flag on either side of the tail. As we mentioned above, there is no upgrade in the performance and the bike remains essentially the same.

Like we earlier mentioned, a Pulsar 200 NS rival the upcoming version of Apache should have been. However, the only Pulsar this bike challenges is the aging Pulsar 180.

Images- Iamabiker Facebook

UK market launch of Made in India Renault Duster scheduled for 28 June

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:19:11 +0530

We saw the Renault Duster at the Delhi Auto Expo this year and now Dacia, Renault’s budget brand, will be seen introducing the compact SUV to the UK market on June 28^th. The manufacturer has not spoken about the positioning of the car but we feel that the car will be priced in the 12,150 -15,150 Euros price range. The Duster will offer both 2WD and 4WD modes and the car will be exported from India. We wonder if this is any indication of the car soon entering the Indian market.

TVS teases the face of its all new, 2013 Apache!

Amit Chhangani — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:28:11 +0530

Auto enthusiasts have always looked up to TVS for powerful and innovative products. This was the company that gave us the indestructible Fiero, and then presented us a genuine track tool in the Apache. The promise has always been there, but for some reason, the Hosur based bike maker hasn’t quite been able to set the imagination of bike enthusiasts on fire like Bajaj managed to do with its Pulsar line of bikes. Of late, the emergence of 200cc plus bikes in the Indian market, along with democratization of technologies such as liquid cooling and perimeter frame has pushed the TVS Apache even further back on the performance enthusiasts’ options list. High time the company came up with some fireworks, especially with its flagship Apache.

Seems like the company has something exciting up its sleeve. TVS has teased an image of its new Apache on its Facebook page. The image, showing a faired front headlamp introduces us to the sinister new face of the Apache. Going by the first look, we have a good reason to believe that the new bike won’t just be a cosmetic makeover, but will have some serious running gear as well . A 250cc liquid cooled engine is the need of the hour, and we can only hope that TVS is ready with such a unit to be fastened within the Apache’s frame. We'd honestly be disappointed if the new bike is propelled by the same 180cc mill that poweres the current gen Apache. TVS has been selling liquid cooled underbones in the Indonesian market for long now, and developing a LC 250 engine shouldn’t be that big a deal for the bike maker. We have heard murmurs about a 400cc twin bring under development at the company’s R&D center for quite some time now, though it would be really optimistic to expect such an explosive engine so early.

The Pulsar 200NS launch is just round the corner. The timing of this teaser has been spot on. It would make the prospective buyers of the 200NS stop and think. If TVS indeed have something to match the power, styling and technology of the new Pulsar, then we’re in for a fantastic showdown between the two rivals. Stay tuned, as we try and gather more info about the new bike. In the meantime, if you have some information about the new product, do share it with us via your comments.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. pumps up its advertisements budget

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:06:44 +0530

There is no denying that India’s leading car manufacturer, maruti Suzuki, saw its monopoly slipping away as many global player came to our shores. However, aggressive pricing, understanding of the Indian car market and a great after sales network ensued that Maruti stayed on the top of the car sales charts. Now, Maruti is on its way to start trying even harder by getting aggressive with its advertisements. The marketing and advertisement budget at Maruti will see an increase by 5-10 percent this year and the manufacturer is expected to spend about 370-400 crores this year.

Skoda Launches Superb Ambition @ INR 17.66 lakhs

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:24:12 +0530

Motoroids became the first one to report about Skoda working on launching a pocket friendly variant of the Superb flagship sedan.

Now, the manufacturer officially launched the new trim level today and the variant is christened as “Ambition”. The 'economy' variant offers a choice of two engines- the tried and tested 1.8 TSi motor and the 2.0 litre TDi oil burner. The TSi features a 6 speed manual gearbox while the diesel has the popular 6 speed dual clutch automatic (DSG).

This variant will not feature an Electric Sunroof, the Bi-Xenon headlamps, headlamp washers, touch screen system on the center console, the Bluetooth function, ESP, Hill Hold, Hill Descent features and some other luxuries that come with higher priced variants of this car. Fortunately, the new variant does not misses out on safety features and offers 8-airbags, ABS, EBD, TCS, ESP and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation).

The Skoda Superb is known for the spaciousness it offers and it has been one of its major selling points and it is likely to remain so even with the upcoming stripped down version. We are eagerly looking forward to the new version of the car. Luxury just got affordable and now don't say you still can't buy one!

Price-

1.8TSI - Rs 17.66 lakh (ex-Mumbai)

2.0TDI - Rs 22.07 lakh (ex-Mumbai)

Audi acquires Ducati for $1.12 billion

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:39:29 +0530

We have been closely following the developments preceding the sale of popular Italian bike maker Ducati. First, a rumor hit the web that Indian manufacturer Hero is looking forward to buy the bike brand. Then, a news daily Corriere della Sera said that Daimler AG too may be interested in acquiring Ducati. This happened soon after another German luxury car maker Audi started taking interest in buying the bike manufacturer. However, Daimler was quick to deny any such interest. Later, Fiat heir Lapo Elkann has commented that he is interested in bidding for acquiring the iconic Italian bike maker. The latest development is that Audi has bought the famous two wheeler brand for $1.12 billion.

This simply means that Audi can now boast of a line up of bikes in its portfolio to give an even stronger fight to arch rival BMW, the latter’s bikes being renowned around the globe. If rumors are to be believed, The payment made to Ducati includes the clearance 200 million Euros of debt that the bike maker faces.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga bags 10000 bookings in 5 days. MSIL must be 'LUVing' it!

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:24:10 +0530

It seems like people are fast falling in LUV with the very recently launched Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. In a development that hints at the big change in the market, the new Life Utiility Vehicle has received a record breaking 10000 bookings in merely five days!! Such is the effect of the new MPV that both fleet operators and families are crowding the Maruti Suzuki showrooms to have a look at the Ritz derived car. A large role here is being played by the very mouth watering price tag. In a country where value for money is decided by the amount of sheet metal you get for the money spent, the Ertiga makes quite a decent case for itself. However, many car market watchers are saying that this excitement is due to the newly emerged hype that surrounds most Maruti vehicle and the Ertiga will manage to sell only around 3500-4000 units per month. Personally speaking, the Ertiga diesel will eat a fair bit into the sales of cars that are being bought by fleet operators.

Maruti Ertiga prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Ertiga	Lxi/Ldi	Vxi/Vdi	Zxi/Zdi
Petrol	5.89 lakh	6.60 lakh	7.30 lakh
Diesel	7.30 lakh	7.90 lakh	8.45lakh

Production version of Ford Ecosport to be unveiled on 22nd this month

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:11:21 +0530

Motoroids provided you LIVE coverage of this car from the unveiling event that took place earlier this year in January at New Delhi. Now, ever since we saw the car in flesh, we have been eagerly waiting the car to hit the production. Now, Brazil will have a rendezvous with the new car on 22^nd this month and the car will then go to the Beijing Motor Show. Ford has printed the image of the production ready version of the car on the invitation sent to Brazilian media.

It can be seen that while the concept model of the Ecosport was sporting LED lamps, the production reality has to do with the halogens. Other than this, the aforementioned spy pics have shown that the spare wheel finds its home on the tailgate and we are quite bowled over by that tasty set of alloys. As we reported earlier, the new Ford Ecosport is based on the B2E platform that was developed by combined efforts from Ford and Mazda. This car platform was developed keeping weight reduction and torsional rigidity in mind. The new Ford will come with the 1.0-Litre 3-Cylinder DI Turbo Petrol Engine that will debut with the EcoSport and the diesel to come should be the 1.5-Litre oil burner seen in the Fiesta.

The Ford EcoSport should retail for INR 7-9 Lakhs in the Indian market and should re-define the entry level SUV segment in India.

Via- revistaautoesporte.globe.com

Uttar Pradesh cops riding high on Honda CBR 250R

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:31:25 +0530

If you have always pictured a cop riding an old and aging pushrod engined Royal Enfield, then you need to have a reality check. We have seen cops on Bajaj Pulsars and TVS Fieros but this news has really taken us by a pleasant surprise. We are still amazed by the fact that the Uttar Pradesh Police force is using Honda CBR250R bikes for daily duties. It is being said that the (in)famous ex UP CM Mayawati had ordered for purchase of 15000 bikes for the Police force during her tenure. Along with CBR250R, this lot includes Hero Karizma and Honda Stunner. Out-running the police gets even tougher!

via– BikeAdvice Facebook Page

Mahindra & Mahindra overtakes John Deere to become the largest tractor manufacturer in the world

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:11:18 +0530

Mahindra & Mahindra has long been associated with tractors market and the manufacturer has won a lot of acclaim for producing well sorted and value for money farming machine. The Indian manufacturer recently overtook US based John Deere, world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural equipments.

However, John Deere says that they still are the holder of the title of world’s largest tractor manufacturer when it comes to revenues. Mr Anand Mahindra said, "M&M is a marathon runner. We have been counted out so often, we have been questioned so often about whether we are biting off more than we can chew, whether we have got too much on our plate. These questions I have been encountering for the last two decades."

As per Mr. Mahindra, the manufacturer is looking forward to take over some international firms to have a better presence in the Agriculture related services.

Ward's 10 best car interiors of 2012

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:24:34 +0530

Recently, Ward's AutoWorld came out with its list of ‘coolest cockpits’ under the "10 Best Interiors" moniker. Interestingly, the winners have not been allotted a rank and have instead been arranged in alphabetical order. Also interesting is the fact that these cars have a huge difference in their price tags and here is a list of the winners arranged in ascending order of their price tags:

Hyundai Accent ($15,925)
Chevrolet Sonic ($18,745)
Dodge Dart ($21,485)
Volkswagen Beetle ($25,195)
Mazda CX-5 ($30,415)
Hyundai Azera ($36,875)
Chrysler 300 Luxury ($44,855)
Range Rover Evoque ($49,745)
Infiniti JX35 ($54,800)
Audi A7 ($67,430)

It may be noted that Ward’s has not arrived at the results keeping the base models in mind and the prices in the list are of top of the line models of the wining cars. The winners were chosen from a total of 40 cars that had classified for this competition and the car interiors were judged on the basis of design, fit-and-finish, comfort, ergonomics, safety, material selection, overall value, aesthetics, and human-machine interface.

Toyota Announces 2012 edition of 'Summer Holiday' Campaign

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:52:41 +0530

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the beginning of its ‘Summer Holiday’ Campaign 2012 – a service campaign with free check up & custom made offers for all Toyota cars. The month-long campaign will be conducted across Toyota dealerships from 16th April to 15th May, 2012. Toyota has set a benchmark in the automobile industry for its quality products and more so for Q Class Service Experience. Keeping this tradition alive, Toyota has launched this service campaign across all the Dealerships in South, West and Eastern parts of India. Under this campaign, all Toyota customers visiting Toyota Dealerships will be eligible for a free 20 point check which will ensure road worthiness of vehicle & trouble free journey for Toyota customers. Also, the customers will be able to avail custom made offers which include Free UV Protection on Parts Packages, impressive discounts on accessories & insurance renewal offers. Apart from all of these, there will be a daily lucky draw for the chauffeurs visiting the dealership during this campaign.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, TKM, said, “Based on our ‘Customer First’ approach, we at Toyota believe in reinventing different ways to reach out to our customers with Toyota’s promise of Q Class Service. After an overwhelming customer response on ‘Suhana Summer Campaign’ last year, we thought it would be the right time to conduct the campaign again this year. We have timed this service campaign to correspond with the summer holidays in India. The campaign will help our customers to service their cars and gear up their vehicles for long journeys, ensuring safe, comfortable and trouble free drives during this summer season.”

Nissan India announces the launch of third season of ‘Nissan Student Brand Manager Program’

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:03:57 +0530

The Nissan Student Brand Manager (NSBM) program has entered its third consecutive season this year with the launch of the 6-month long campaign here today.The launch of the campaign, meant for the management students across 25 cities in the country, was announced by Mr Dinesh Jain, Chief Executive Officer, Hover Automotive India Pvt Ltd, Nissan’s Sales & Marketing Partner inIndia, in the presence of past NSBMs.The 2012 edition of the campaign is a redesigned campaign from that of last year, which will have internationally renowned panelists like marketing guru Dr. Nirmalya Kumar from the London business school.The NSBM 2012 will culminate in the selection of 30 Nissan Student Brand Managers who will receive a grant of Rs.10,000 per month for 6 months to help them conceptualize and implement innovative ideas on Nissan brand visibility and sustenance. NSBMs will be given Nissan Micras to help them feel and engage their thoughts in line with the product propositions.

Launching the campaign, Mr. Jain, CEO, said, “The fact that NSBM enters the third consecutive season reflects that Nissan is serious about identifying and nurturing management talents in order to give them the right exposure in the field of marketing. Nissan’s Student Brand Manager 2012 is an opportunity for the students to seek, implore and stretch their capabilities through their association with Nissan brand.”

Describing his success as success of NSBM, Mr.Jaipal Charan, one of the IIM Indore student brand managers of 2011 said, “One of the very few opportunities available for those who are passionate about automobiles and who love marketing; six months with Nissan meant a lot for me.”

The range of activities will vary from creating unique events of their own from setting up test-drive days at their respective colleges to creating buzz about brand Nissan among student community. The campaign will be open to second year management students across the country, including the Eastern part of the country, where it was not thrown open last year.

Leading B-schools including IIM-Indore, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, IMT Ghaziabad, IIT-M, IIMS, DoMS, VIT, Institute of Management, Orissa, Birla school Of Management, Kolkata, IIM-C, will be participating in the campaign.

Participation and Selection Criteria

Students who meet the eligibility criteria (should have completed first year of course) can participate in this program by undertaking a small project outlined by the company. The students will register at the website and submit their proposal on the basis of theme decided by the Jury in a PPT or a PDF format up to 5 MB of data. Entries will be shortlisted from every region and be called for the zonal rounds in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata to face the Jury for further selection. Entries shortlisted from all the five zones will be called in for 2-day finale programme.30 students will be appointed after the final round. They will be trained by Nissan experts for the roll-out of 6 month program.

Honda planning CRF250L and a naked 600 for India

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:50:48 +0530

While the launch of the CRF250L on-off road bike seems like almost a certainty, Motoroids have also learned that Honda is planning to launch an economical 600cc naked machine in India by next year. Our regular readers would remember that we showed you the images of a naked 700cc Honda machine a few months back. This bike was supposed to be the new low-cost Honda middleweight meant for the developing markets. Our sources have revealed that Honda is indeed working on a bike for developing markers with 600cc displacement, and similar to the CB500 in looks for the cost conscious, and increasingly aspiration driven Indian market. Let’s discuss the two bikes separately.

Honda CRF250L

Honda recently showcased its on-off road CRF250L which will soon make its debut in Japan. Powered by the CBR250R’s single the new bike has a very high likelihood of making it to the Indian shores.The CRF250L will offer a more potent and powerful alternative to the Hero Impulse, which is rather underpowered for the kind of responsibility it wishes to shoulder.

With on and off road capability as its mantra, the CRF250L will have a liquid cooled, fuel injected engine which would be powerful, efficient and smooth at the same time. Expect the gearing to be slightly shorter when compared with the CBR for better pulling power in higher gears.

Visually the new CRF will have a sharper and more aggressive stance when compared with its CRF predecessors. The surface comprising tank shrouds, side covers, and a rear fender has been made flush for to lend the new machine the sharp look. The muffler cover on the left side adds some more raciness to the design by creating a ‘side racing number plate’ look.

To keep the cost low, the frame would be made of a steel twin-tube. The bike has inverted front suspension. The swing arm is cast aluminum monoblock and is paired with a Pro-Link rear suspension.

The CRF250L comes with a multifunction digital instrumentation with Speedo, fuel gauge, clock, and trip/odo meter. The visor has a rugged shape and houses a multi-reflector 60/55W headlight. There is protection to prevent mud and ruts from damaging the engine. Fuel tank capacity, however is rather less with a volume of 7.7 liters. The bike is optimistically prepared for the long haul though, replete with cargo hooks in the rear fender section to make loading convenient.

Displacement   249cc
Bore × Stroke   76.0×55.0
Compression ratio   10.7
Maximum output   23PS/8,500 rpm
Maximum torque    22 Nm
Fuel efficiency   44.3Kmpl

New Honda 600cc naked bike for India

One of the insiders in Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India, closer to us has revealed that the Japanese bike maker is mulling a middleweight naked for India. The new bike, said to have a strong resemblance with the CB500 naked is reported to be a strong contender for the Indian market. While a parallel twin, owing to its lower costs makes for a more reasonable choice for the Indian market, we hear that the new bike will be an inline four. Expect the output to be in excess of 80PS.

The new model is currently under development, and isn’t on sale in any other market as of now. A few visuals of the proposed bike, as seen by our source on a video clip suggest that the bike will have a beefy, yet minimalistic look, ala CB500. The new bike has been put in the product plan for India and rigorous brainstorming sessions are currently taking place within HMSI about the launch. The product has not been finalized, but has a ‘strong chance’ of making it to our shores. Honda wants to increase its footprint in the premium segment, where players like the Ducati 795 and Ninja 650 are dominating owing to their price advantage. Honda plans to field a competitive product with competitive pricing to substantiate its leadership in the performance segment.

No further details are available about the product yet, but we’re on the job. Watch this space for more details.

Production of Maruti Suzuki 800 to be completely axed by month end. Replacement in pipeline

Yatharth Chauhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:48:56 +0530

This news has certainly saddened me. Like many others, I learnt to drive in a Maruti Suzuki 800, one of the most popular cars Indian car market has ever seen. Now, the 800 I am talking about was bought in the last week of April some 15 years ago and funny coincidence is that the production of the humble car will be discontinued towards the end of this month.

Until less than half a decade ago, 800 used to be the carmaker's bread and butter model. Owing to stiff competition from rivals, the more than 2 decade old war horse was shown the door and the Alto saw some really aggressive price cuts. It may be noted that the 800 is largely based on the first generation of Alto and the Alto on sale in India is the last generation of the Alto brand, the latest being the A-Star. Phew! Keeping the name game aside, it may be noted that the 800, which is still on sale in tier II cities and easily clocks monthly sales of about 2000 units, is fast losing out to the popular Tata Nano.

A news daily recently reported that the sales of Maruti 800 will be completely withdrawn by the end of April 2012.

MSIL, has announced in the past that they are planning to bring a replacement to the aforementioned models.

“A replacement for the 800cc model makes sense as it hasn't been selling very aggressively at about 2,000 units a month. This will be a totally new small car, though based on an existing platform,” a company official had earlier said.

Keeping up with the changing times, this new model will sport a new & modern styling but will have the same 800cc motor at its heart, albeit, in a new state of tune.It may be noted that Mr. Nakanishi also said that the current Alto will NOT be axed after the launch of the replacement car. As per him, this development will see an investment of more than Rs. 550 crores. The manufacturer plans to export this new model a few other Asian nations and also to Latin America and North Africa.

“With petrol prices on the rise and urban spaces getting crowded, the fuel-efficient compact car category is expected to show strong growth in the future. However, the next step is developing smaller diesel engines for the segment,” an industry expert said.

Via: DNAIndia.com

Reader Review: Deepak Dongre Shares his CBR150R test ride experience

Deepak Dongre — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:19:32 +0530

One of the most active contributors on Motoroids forums, and a leader on our Talks platform, Deepak Dongre recently took a good half an hour ride on the new CBR150R. He writes about his first impressions of the bike

I recently went to Vihaan Honda to be a part of the ceremony of taking delivery of a tricolor CBR250R belonging to my friend Satyajit Lade.

To start off with this was a small test ride- not one that I asked for, but Mr. Kishore- Director of Vihaan Honda Dealership himself offered me a test ride of a brand new Orange CBR150R that was on display inside the showroom and asked me for a feedback once done. As always, I tried to make sure that I to do all the things I could during the short ride to see how the bike behaved. The orange bike in the pictures is the same machine I took out for a spin.

To start with, the styling and aesthetics are good. The bike looks big, the front half can be mistaken for its bigger brother the 250R. It’s only when you move your eyes towards the rear half, you realize that you have been mistaken. The biggest giveaways are the narrower tyres, the stickers which scream 150R and for the trained eye, a shorter wheelbase.

The paint quality is indeed very good. It looks deep and well finished all throughout. The green-black combo looked the best to my eye- looks really mean. Graphics could have been better- sharp and edgy instead of splattered on look. Observing some other parts of the bikes made me have a mixed opinion. Some parts and equipment are really good, while others are equally disappointing.

To begin with, the better things:

1) Brakes, both up front and at the rear are NISSIN
2) The clip-ons are well finished
3) Perimeter frame chassis for such a small engine should ensure great handling
4) The rear-set design is nice,
5) The engine block and cylinder are aluminium finished and from what the CBR Technician at Vihaan - Abdul told me, the engine case is naturally black coloured and not coated, so no issues of paint chipping off etc.

All this makes me really jealous as I would have wish to have all these on its elder and expensive sibling, and I own one

The disappointing side:

1) The switchgear seems to have been ripped off from cheaper commuter bikes. The mechanism of the light switches is in the old-world vertical movement fashion. No engine-kill switch, no day flasher.
2) The pillion pegs don’t look that great either- reminds of the old R15.
3) Brake and gear-shift levers are similar to the CBR250 – they look rather crudely finished.
4) The paint job on the frame could have been better- a glossy finish makes it look slightly uneven- a matt finish would have been much better. Same goes for the forks too.
5) The instrumentation console, though a similar to the CBR250, could have been better finished. The simple white font and markings look plain-Jane and boring.
6) I might be nitpicking- but the sprocket could have been well designed- doesn’t looks sporty enough and the chain is comparatively thinner/narrower than the 250.
7) Monoshock is a straight bolt-on to the frame, not linked type, like on the R15.
8) The rear tyre could have been something like MRF Revz or a completely different design. The Zapper Q to me doesn’t look a suitable option.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating (the ride experience)

As said it was a relatively short ride and hence can’t speak much on performance at higher levels and plus had a pillion on board.

1) Engine is real smooth (much smoother than the 250)
2) Gearshifts are absolute bliss, am not bragging/over-exaggerating. It’s the best gearbox I have ever operated. A slight dab and the cogs slot in place. No noise whatsoever, not even a click - but the feel tells you that they have settled in the right place.
3) Suspension is nice and soaks up the bumps very well. The suspension feels softer than the 250, but the front doesn’t dive.
4) Brakes are lovely- at first it felt like it was a C-ABS system, no exaggeration again, am being utter frank. The brake levers offered great feedback, were nice to modulate and had ample bite too.
5) The bike feels fun to ride, it revs up quickly, feels light (of course it is) and can change directions in a hurry at a flick. Also, narrower clip-ons (like the ones on the R15) aid the process with lesser effort when compared to the 250 which has wider bars.
6) Doesn’t feel at all like a 150- feels much powerful. In fact I felt It’s got better low end grunt than the R15 V2.

That is all I can share. My heart says riding this one would be really fun. It’s light, nimble and really effortless. I could feel all this with a pillion on, and am sure riding single would be a delight. To add, pillion comfort on this bike would be much better than the first floor seating of the R15. Rider comfort is no different- it’s better than the R15.

I wish Honda could have given that extra attention to details and finish at certain places. While those inconsistencies may be visually jarring, they may all be comfortably forgotten and forgiven once you start riding this bike. There is, however, another problem that spoils the feel-good factor though - the price! INR 1.38 lacs OTR! Considering the downsides highlighted above makes it an expensive choice especially when compared with its direct competitor, the R15. The CBR150R looks even more pricy when compared with the yummy KTM 200 Duke. The Austrian machine, even with its fantastic build quality, higher power specs and tear-away performance is cheaper than the 150R. And we have not even brough the Pulsar 200NS into the equation yet, which is going to be even cheaper, and has an unparalleled brand following in India.

Having said all that, there may still be takers for this one- specially the CBR fanboys, who ideally would want to be seen on the bigger Ceeber, but couldn’t afford it. The CBR150R offers them a 250 lookalike for a cheaper price. A practical comparison on paper, however, would make most of the rational buyers drift away from the 150R though. The CBR150R ‘MIGHT” outperform the R15 in a head-to-head shootout, but the margin isn’t going to be big enough to justify that hefty price tag. On the pricing front, Honda, in my opinion has gone terribly wrong. A second thought on that price tag is most definitely needed.

My thanks to Mr. Kishore for offering me a test ride and patiently listening to all my dislikes about the bike. He stated that he will pass all the feedback to Honda. I was amazed at his level of patience considering he listened to my rants on not just the 150R but also the 250R. He did mention that the new CBR comes with a slight CDI/ECU tweak, but not sure if it has made the biker quicker/faster.

On a general and different note from the topic, for guys who take their CBRs to Vihaan Honda Service can speak to him in case unsatisfied with the service. He personally looks into these matters and the same happened in my case too. From the experience of my friends who have serviced their CBRs at other service centres- I would say Vihaan Honda Thane is the best place to get the CBR serviced.

Sorry for going off the topic. So that’s "THE END"

Hero Motocorp’s all-new 250cc bike under development, to debut in 2014

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:25:34 +0530

It’s no secret that Hero Motocorp has been working very hard at developing a strong and capable in-house R&D team. The company has recently joined hands with Eric Buell Racing and AVL of Australia as a part of its plan to build bigger, technologically advanced engines for its future motorcycles. The big news coming in at this hour, however, is that the company has already developed a 250cc engine, and a prototype machine with the new heart throbbing within its chassis already exists. The new motorcycle, to take over the reins from the aging Karizma, as the company’s performance flagship, will make its debut in 2014. The word has apparently been leaked out by 4 members of the Hero Motorcorp R&D team who have insisted their names not be revealed. If their word is to be believed, the new prototype was even parked in Hero Motorcorp’s Gurgaon showroom for a while.

According to the sources, the new product wouldn’t be a make do arrangement. It would be a technologically advanced, well researched, well tested and futuristic product. Changes, however, have to be made to make the product suit the Indian tastes. Expect the new 250 to be a liquid cooled single with an output of more than 25bhp. It would, however be interesting to see how well the company’s first ground-up product matches up with its Japanese rivals.

Hero has been working aggressively on developing a strong R&D team and knowledge base. The company has a huge 300 member R&D team at its Gurgaon base which includes professionals from Eric Buell Racing, AVL and engineers hired from several other motorcycle companies of global repute. EBR will help the company with design inputs, for company’s new engines to be developed in association with AVL of Australia.

Hero Motorcorp may not have much experience with developing new products all by its own, but it would be foolish to underestimate the world’s biggest bikemaker. The Indian company has put in a lot of money in its new products, and we would like to see some well-polished products to roll out of the company’s plant. Let’s see how well they turn out. Do let us know what you expect though. Also, how much would you be willing to shell out for such a product from Hero Motocorp?

Cars to carry fuel efficiency labels, inefficient cars to be junked

Amit Chhangani — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:50:50 +0530

After years of pushing the idea back and forth, the Government of India has finally made fuel efficiency labels on cars mandatory. Under the new norm, carmakers will have to put labels indicating the fuel efficiency of their cars. Not only this, carmakers have also been asked to improve the fuel efficiency of their products over the years. Fuel efficiency labels will bear star ratings, as currently seen on electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The number of stars (maximum five) will give the buyers a broad based idea about the overall efficiency of the car they are buying. Cars with rating below one star will not be allowed to be sold in the market.

The average fuel efficiency of the products from top ten car makers in India is 16.42 kmpl. This is expected to go up to 18.15 kmpl by 2015, and to 20.79kmpl by 2020. As improving efficiency will cost carmakers money in R&D SIAM has asked the government to loosen the prescribed norms. The government, however, thinks that the targets set by it are quite liberal and can be achieved without much hassle, saying that expecting manufacturers to improve efficiency by 2.8 per cent every year is not asking for too much. The new norms will help the Indian car market match up with the global gold standard car markets such as Europe and America in due course.
Carmakers who are not able to meet the criteria will have to cough out upto Rs 10 lakh as penalties. Penalties will continue to be levied until corrective measures are taken, at the rate of Rs 10,000 per day (that would be easy, won’t it) upto a cap of Rs 46 lakh. If a manufacturer fails to comply even after that, its model may be removed from the market.

While we welcome the government’s move to introduce such norms in the country, we wish it realized its own duty also before being so strict about rules. Fuel quality is integral to factors such as tail pipe emissions and power output. Unfortunately the fuel quality in India is much worse when compared to developed nations. More than 90 percent of the fuel stations still serve 89 Octane fuel, which more often than not is adulterated, or mixed with chemicals to bloat up the volume. The amount of suspended particles also is higher in the fuel sold in India. Because of this, the latest engine technologies cannot be employed in cars here. The government will also have to look at the quality of roads and traffic management. After all, a fast commute delivers much better fuel efficiency and pollutes the air much less than while being stuck in a jam forever, idling, burning fuel and emitting gases for no reason. Who is answerable for the efficiency losses and pollution caused in such scenarios? Should there be a penalty on the government too for such situations?

Like always, the government is trying to look proactive, without owning up to its own responsibility entirely. Would you like to add a few clauses to the ruling? Do let us know.

HMSI to develop a stronger R&D facility in India

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:38:42 +0530

Recently, Honda Motor Scooter India (HMSI) was seen overtaking Bajaj to claim the second spot in the sales chart of Indian biking market. It seems like the popular bike manufacturer is all set to get more aggressive with its Indian operations. News has emerged that the manufacturer will be soon seen moving its R&D facility from Gurgaon to its Manesar plant. This is not all as HMSI plans to double the engineers to 200-300 at the R&D dept. once the new facility is functional at Manesar. The Manesar R&D facility should be ready within next 6 months.

VIDEO: 2013 Ferrari California

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:19:16 +0530

We have been following the facelifted Ferrari California ever since the news of the Italian super car maker introducing it soon first emerged. Now, the manufacturer has released an official video of the refreshed car. It may be noted that the car was introduced only recently at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed as the 2013 Ferrari California, the car comes with an upgraded chassis and is lighter by 30 kgs. The ‘13 California also offers the Handling Speciale Package which consists of new magnetorheological dampers, stiffer springs and a quicker steering ratio. Under that gorgeous body is an upgraded 4.3 liter V8 engine pumping out a healthy 483 HP and a peak torque of 505 Nm. Simply speaking, the 2013 model has 30 horses and 20 Nm more than the outgoing car. All this has led to an improved 0-100 sprint time of 3.8 seconds.

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HM introduces the 2012 Mitsubishi Montero

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:42:29 +0530

Frankly, we are quite tired of repeating that Mitsubishi, popular Jap partner of Hindustan Motors, is rapidly getting

aggressive with its Indian operations. The Cedia getting a huge price cut, launch of Pajero Sport, launch of 7 seater Outlander crossover and now Mitsubishi introduces the 2012 model of the Montero. The updated car gets a new front fascia and chrome garnishing on the grille & rear bumper. Inside the car, the instrument binnacle gets new dials and seats now come with stitched leather upholstery. The car continues to be powered with highly acclaimed 200 bhp diesel motor that displaces 3.2 litre. We wonder what is next from Mitsubishi. . . .

Mahindra sells over 1,00,000 units of Bolero in last fiscal

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:59:41 +0530

Popular Indian UV manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. today announced that the Bolero brand has touched a new milestone by having sold as many as 1,00,686 units in FY 2011-12. The high selling Utility Vehicle has been the highest selling vehicle in its segment since last 6 years and it registered a growth of 21% last fiscal.

Speaking on this achievement, Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “The fact that Bolero has sold more than 1 lac units in FY 2011-12 signifies the confidence consumers have on the brand. Over the years, Bolero has evolved with the changing lifestyle aspirations of customers resulting in an exceptional CAGR of 26%. I am sure that the Bolero will continue to be as popular on Indian roads in years to come”.

While there is not much doubt that Mahindra is laughing its way to the bank, we feel that the Bolero has been long in the tooth now. We wish that the good chaps at Mahindra give this high selling vehicle a fresh lease of life by developing an all new avatar of the brand.

Fiat Teases Viaggio Sedan: Is it an India Probable?

Amit Chhangani — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:59:54 +0530

Fiat have revealed the first ever teaser images of their all-new C-segment sedan, Viaggio. The new car is a totally new model to be previewed at the Beijing International Auto Show on Monday 23 April this year.

Viaggio, which means voyage in English is the first lovechild of Fiat-Chrysler relationship, and will make its debut in the Chinese market first. A four-door, five- passenger sedan, the Viaggio is based on the CUSW (Compact US Wide) architecture, which also forms the skeleton for the new Dodge Dart.

The Viaggio has a length of 4,679mm, width of 1,850mm and a 2,708mm wheelbase. To give you a perspective, it’s much bigger than the Honda City, which has a length of 4440mm, width of 1695mm and wheelbase of 2550mm. To be powered by the 1.4 L Tjet in both 120 and 150 hp outputs, the Viaggio may be offered with more engines in other markets. The big news is the introduction of Fiat’s latest Dual Dry Clutch (a la Fiesta Powershift) Transmission (DDCT) on the car which will make it technologically one of the most advanced cars in its segment.

The Viaggio has been styled by the Fiat Group Style Centre in Torino and has a trademark Italian, clean-surfaced exterior design that blends fluid and curvaceous forms with strong proportions. A contemporary Fiat “face” ensures unmistakable brand identity. Rear tail lamps incorporate LED lights.
The first cars will be produced from July and will go on sale in the third quarter of this year. The size of the car makes it fit for India launch. It would also give Fiat a much needed brand boost, something that the company desperately needs at this point in time. It will also add a new product to the company’s lineup, which is one of the smallest in India with only two models on offers.

What do you think of the new car? Do let us know

Hyundai i20 and Verna waiting period to go down

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:57:48 +0530

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has enhanced the supply of its popular diesel i20 and Verna models starting this month. The supply of both the diesel cars taken together will go up almost 50% from the existing 7,000 units per month to 10,500 units per month. The decision to increase supply of diesel cars follows the Union Budget last month which left the tax structure on passenger cars untouched. “Increased supply will ease the waiting period substantially, we expect the waiting period for the diesel Verna to drop from six months to two to three months and for the new iGen i20 to about a month,” Mr Arvind Saxena, Director, Marketing and Sales, Hyundai Motor India Ltd said. The company has been able to enhance supply by ramping up diesel engine imports from South Korea. “Our customers have shown great patience, they have waited for many months, we owe it to them to deliver our cars at the earliest,” Mr Saxena further said.

First-quarter deliveries by Volkswagen Group exceed two million vehicles for first time

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:24:06 +0530

The Volkswagen Group announced a strong rise in deliveries during the first quarter of 2012. The company delivered 2.16 (January-March 2011: 1.97; +9.6 percent)* million vehicles, surpassing the two million mark forthe first time in the first quarter of a year. The Group also reported record deliveries for the month of March: 862,700 (March 2011: 767,100; +12.5 percent)* vehicles weredelivered to customers for the first time ever in a single month. “The Volkswagen Group developed very well in the first quarter. We produced another strong

performance in North America, China and Russia. However, uncertainty continues,

particularly on the markets in Western Europe”, the Group Board Member for Sales, Christian Klingler, said in Wolfsburg on Friday. The Group brands delivered a total of 937,000 (908,300; +3.2 percent) vehicles on the overall European market in the first quarter. 507,100 (531,900; -4.7 percent) customers took delivery of a new vehicle in Western Europe (excluding Germany), currently a difficult market. In the home market of Germany, Europe’s largest automotive group grew deliveries to 282,400 (267,300; +5.7 percent) units. The company once again reported strong growth in the Central and Eastern Europe region, handing over 147,400 (109,100; +35.1 percent) vehicles to customers there. The Group also announced encouraging figures for the Asia / Pacific region, delivering 726,100 (621,800; +16.8 percent) vehicles there in the first quarter, of which 633,900 (548,500; +15.6 percent) units were handed over to customers in China, the largest single market. In India, deliveries increased by 21.6 percent to 34,100 (28,100) units. Deliveries also continued to develop well on the American continent. The number of vehicles sold in the North America region from January to March rose by 24.5 percent to 179,100 (143,900), of which 124,400 (92,800; +34.0 percent) were delivered in the United States, the region’s largest single market. The Volkswagen Group handed over 229,400 (220,900; +3.9 percent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period. Outline of developments at Group brands Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.36 (1.23; +10.5 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to March. The brand developed particularly well in the Central and Eastern Europe region, handing over 60,200 (37,200; +61.8 percent) units there. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 135,700 (106,300; +27.6 percent) vehicles to customers, while deliveries in the Asia / Pacific region ran at 540,600 (475,500; +13.7 percent) units.

Audi sold 346,100 (312,500; +10.8 percent) vehicles worldwide in the first quarter. Deliveries by the premium brand from Ingolstadt developed particularly well in the Asia / Pacific region, where 108,100 (79,900; +35.3 percent) models were handed over to customers. In the North America region, Audi delivered 36,000 (30,900) units during the same period, an increase of 16.7 percent. ŠKODA delivered a total of 242,700 (217,100; +11.8 percent) vehicles in the first three months. The Czech automaker reported particularly strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe, delivering 60,900 (51,300; +18.7 percent) units there, and in Asia / Pacific, where 72,600 (63,500; +14.3 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. Due to the difficult market situation in Western Europe, SEAT delivered 80,100 (90,700; -11.6 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to March. The Spanish brand reported growth in the markets in Germany, where deliveries increased by 3.6 percent to 13,100 (12,600) units, the UK, where deliveries rose to 10,900 (10,500; +4.1 percent) units, and Mexico, where deliveries increased to 5,100 (4,700; +10.0 percent) units. First-quarter deliveries by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles rose by 7.9 percent to 130,700 (121,200) units. The brand reported particularly strong growth in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 10,100 (7,300; +39.2 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 28,900 (25,900; +11.5 percent) units to customers in the home market of Germany.

Maruti Suzuki introduces the limited edition Swift Alpha

Yatharth Chauhan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:24:05 +0530

Introducing limited edition variants of popular vehicles to make them...well...more popular has been an old habit of Maruti Suzuki. Now, the manufacturer has come up with a limited edition version of the hot selling hatchback- the Swift. Christened as Swift Alpha, this edition of the car gets new features without having to see a revised price tag. The condition applied here is that the Alpha trim is available only in VXi variant. This clearly is a move to promote petrol car sales which long have been overshadowed by the diesel siblings. The Alpha comes with an exclusive interior styling kit, a Bluetooth enabled audio system, seat covers, designer mats, mud flaps, and a rear spoiler. It will be interesting to see if petrol engined Swift Alpha can eat into the sales of the diesel sibling.

SPIED: Tata Indica facelift with 90 hp 1.3 Multijet VGT. Time for cabbies to rejoice

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:34:19 +0530

Frankly, we have lost count of the number of facelifts India’s popular cab Tata Indica has received. A safe guess would be to say that we have Tata Indica V2.04 on sale these days. Not to mention the gazillion body styles the car came/comes with. Recently, the nice chaps at IBC caught an upcoming (& diesel) version of the car being tested. As usual, the trickledown effect is in works here and the car gets the front fascia from the Indigo. The thing that really interests us here are the ‘90’ badges on abundance on the hatchback. We wonder if Tata is preparing to gift the cab drivers with a refreshed Indica equipped with a 90 bhp 1.3 VGT Multijet.

Images courtesy: ICB

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga receives 400 booking in a day in Maharashtra

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:31:06 +0530

It seems like people are fast falling in LUV with the very recently launched Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. In a development that hints at the big change in the market, the new Life Utiility Vehicle has received around 400 bookings in Maharashtra alone. Such is the effect of the new MPV that both fleet operators and families are crowding the Maruti Suzuki showrooms to have a look at the Ritz derived car. A large role here is being played by the very mouth watering price tag. In a country where value for money is decided by the amount of sheet metal you get for the money spent, the Ertiga makes quite a decent case for itself. However, many car market watchers are saying that this excitement is due to the newly emerged hype that surrounds most Maruti vehicle and the Ertiga will manage to sell only around 3500-4000 units per month. Personally speaking, the Ertiga diesel will eat a fair bit into the sales of cars that are being bought by fleet operators.

Maruti Ertiga prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Ertiga	Lxi/Ldi	Vxi/Vdi	Zxi/Zdi
Petrol	5.89 lakh	6.60 lakh	7.30 lakh
Diesel	7.30 lakh	7.90 lakh	8.45lakh

Source: Economic Times

Maruti Suzuki Swift's waiting period to go down by 2 months

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:15:08 +0530

One of the biggest things we dislike about the Maruti Suzuki Swift has to be the mile long waiting period. Thanks to everyone wanting to have this B+ segment hatch in his driveway, it is no secret that Maruti has been quite struggling to keep up with the demand for this hot selling hatch. The condition is so bad that stories of people waiting for as long as 8 months to get the delivery of their Swift has been doing rounds since quite some time now.

There have been plenty of cases where potential buyers have been put off by the huge waiting period and have instead bought a rival’s car. Now, in a move that should reduce the waiting period, Maruti has pumped up the production of the car from 12,000 units a month to 20,000 units. Rough estimates are that this move will bring down the waiting period by as much as 2 months.

A study shows that women drivers are more likely to accidentally hit the accelerator pedal

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:15:08 +0530

A recent study by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, United States show that women are twice as likely to step on the accelerator pedal accidently than men are.

This study was done by TransAnalytics research firm along with Highway Safety Research Center at University of North Carolina. The data was acquired from the police and news reports on car crashes that happened in North Carolina and at elsewhere.

As per news reports, 77% of such accidents took place in parking lots, garages and driveways. However, before the fairer sex calls me sexist, let me add that of all the accidents to happen, it is us men’s fault 60% of the time.

Renault introduces Fluence Advantage Edition @ INR 11.99 lakhs

Yatharth Chauhan — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:54:17 +0530

Our regular readers will know that I have always liked the Renault Fluence because of its French flair. Also, the car makes for an interesting option to stand out in a segment full of Japs and Czech cars. Initially, while the Fluence petrol came loaded to the gills, Renault recognized the rising demand for diesels and had launched the Fluence with little fewer bells and whistles (okay, a lot lesser) in the fantastically priced diesel avatar. Recently however, Renault India gave the Fluence diesel some much needed revisions and some of the major shortcomings of the car- lacklustre performance below 2000RPM followed by a jack hammer boost and low equipment level, have been done away with.

Now, Renault, in a surprising move, launches a stripped down variant of the 2012 Fluence Diesel E2. The prices have gone south by a good lakh and a half in lieu of omitting of some of that equipment.

The cut price version of the 2012 Fluence Diesel E2 version is being called the ‘Advantage Edition’ and is being offered for a price of INR 11.99 lakhs. At this price, the car is now a whopping 1.65 lakh rupees cheaper. Now, the “conditions apply” part- the ‘Advantage Edition’ is a limited edition and will be on sale until stocks last. The ‘Advantage Edition’ does not enjoys the advantages of sporting chrome finish on window sill and boot lid, rain sensing wipers, leather upholstery, dual zone automatic climate control, rear AC vents, automatic headlamps, cruise control, rear parking sensors, rear window blinds, electrical adjustments and folding on ORVMs, ElectroChrome rear view mirror and USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

Thankfully, ABS, dual Airbags, ESP, engine start-stop button and alloy wheels have been retained on this new variant of the car. Basically, all the new features that the revised Fluence Diesel was being offered with have been dumped.

Will you buy this stripped down variant of the otherwise well sorted out car?

Yay! BIC To Organize Trackdays For General Public on 22 April. Registrations open

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:53:26 +0530

Here’s a big reason for the racing enthusiasts in India to smile. Country’s only F1 track, the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) has opened its doors to general public. Track’s owners Jaypee Sports International Limited have come up with the concept of open track days for the circuit, where you would be allowed to take your personal vehicles on to the track. Here are some details:

Date for the first open track day- 22^nd Apr ‘12

The charges for 1 session is INR 7599 and it is INR 18749 for three sessions.

Contact Details:-

Website : www.jaypeesports.com

Contact No.: 0120 4428034/36 (9.30 am - 6 pm)

Email ID : bic.timetrial@jalindia.co.in

Our guess is that a total of 120 enthusiasts will get to drive on the circuit on each trackday. That number is not very high, and in NCR, where every other guys thinks he’s the Prime Minister, there’s going to be some fight to grab those limited seats. BIC says the reservations will be done on first come first serve basis.

Sponsors nervous as next F1 GP is fast approaching.

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:41:18 +0530

Formula 1 sponsors are pretty nervous as the season heads towards Bahrain GP next week. However, FIA is stating that the upcoming event should not be cancelled. Bernie Ecclestone recently said that the race is “200 per cent” on.However, some of the news dailies are reporting that some of the sponsors have pulled out owing to threat of violence next race weekend.“When you have an environment like Bahrain then all the sponsors will be watching developments very, very closely and talking to each other.It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ basically.”, a source said.

Tim Bampton of Just Marketing said, “(They) will effectively just have to follow the sport. They will have to watch and wait to see what happens even though they could be caught in the vortex.”It may be noted that FIA president Jean Todt is silent on this. Now, Jean’s son Nicolas shares ownership of his GP2 team with Bahrain’s controversial crown prince. “We all know why it (the Bahrain saga) might have dragged a bit,” Mark Webber recently said to the Telegraph.

“F1 is like that. There’s a lot of funding and finances that have come from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and the Middle East. They’re very excited about F1 and they clearly want to give it another go. Let’s see if it works,” added Webber.

via INAUTONEWS

Mahindra to launch hybrid vehicle in 2015

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:25:13 +0530

Popular Indian utility vehicle manufacturer, Mahindra recently announced that it is working on the development of a full hybrid vehicle. The manufacturer is hoping to introduce this vehicle by 2015. It may be noted that Toyota Prius, arguably world’s most popular hybrid car, has sold 155 units in India. The Prius came to our shores in 2010. The Prius comes to us via CBU route and retails for around INR 36 lakhs. However, the car might get cheaper owing to Toyota commencing the local assembly of the vehicle as soon as the Govt’s new policy on electric and hybrid vehicles is out in about 2 months time. Another Jap auto maker, Honda, had earlier introduced the Civic Hybrid in the Indian market but the car was pulled out in 2009 owing to the cold response it got from the buyers.

Coming back to the subject, a team of 14 engineers and a European consultant at the manufacturer’s R&D facility in Chennai are working on the Mahindra hybrid project. We wonder about the kind of response the Indian manufacturer vehicle will get from our market.

All new Honda Jazz to be launched in 2013. To come with a diesel plant

Yatharth Chauhan — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:18:11 +0530

The all new generation of Honda Jazz aka Fit should be out in the open by next fiscal. It is being said that the next gen Jazz could be the first compact from the Jap auto major to have a compact oil burner. We won’t be too surprised to see a 1200cc 3 cylinder turbocharged common rail unit under the hood.

If reports from Japanese media are anything to go by, the basic form of next gen Jazz could be quite similar to current car but Honda will be playing a lot with the details and character lines. Motoroids expects the next gen Jazz to have a hint of Brio in its styling and we won’t be too surprised if the car comes with LEDs incorporated into its headlight assembly.

The evolution in the styling department of the Jazz could be much like that found between the last and current gen Suzuki Swift. While the footprint and design language remains largely similar, the new Swift looks much more modern than the last gen. We also expect Honda to put a really mouth watering price tag on the new Brio when the next gen car comes to Indian market.

Watch out for this space.

Hyundai releases TV commercial of I-gen i20

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:39:28 +0530

Hyundai is not really looking aggressive with the marketing of the recently introduced i20 facelift. It may be noted that Hyundai introduced the refreshed car in to the Indian market without any fanfare. However, Hyundai has released a TV commercial of the I-gen i20. We have not seen any adverts for this car in any sort of print media yet. Do let us know if we missed checking out the ad. in some magazine or news daily.

THE BLACK RIDE - Bikers for Good to ride for safety of women on 14 April

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:20:52 +0530

Bikers for Good is a platform created by bikers to help out the society. Bikers for Good are a group of bikers who believe in giving back to the society. Sharing a passion for two wheels, Bikers for Good has grown from just one man to more than 600 members in the past 6 months.

On the 14th of April 2012, Bikers for Good will be seen coming upfront for the female fraternity. On this day, numerous Bikers in Delhi shall get together for the safety and empowerment of women. Calling it THE BLACK RIDE, bikers will be riding together from South Ext-II till ACBI Blind School, Gurgaon to promote a safer and better tomorrow for women in the National Capital.

The ride has once again been initiated by Mohit Ahuja, the man behind Bikers for Good. On being asked about the ride, Mohit commented, “At Bikers for Good we don’t believe in talking. Instead we take actions. Our next ride is called THE BLACK RIDE for two reasons. Firstly it is for the women who are living in really unsafe circumstances. The ride is to spread a message that women shall not live in fear or darkness. Instead they shall have a bolder and stronger life, hence the color black. On the other hand, the ride is also about the visually challenged who see nothing but black.”

THE BLACK RIDE will be an early morning Saturday ride that will show how the love for two wheels can also help bring a change. However, on being asked about the dual purpose it has, Mohit said, “It really isn’t a dual purpose. I have always said that the ride is for the visually challenged. And, when I mean visually challenged, I first think about us. All of us, even you, have a habit of turning a blind eye to all that is happening around you. Till the time it doesn’t happen to your sister or your mother, you really do not care!”

To add to this, the bikers will be taking a pledge to ensure a safer tomorrow for the women. Further, adding to the excitement will be the “STRINGS OF CHANGE”, a live performance by Delhi based band Reverse Poets to celebrate the spirit of womanhood.

In just 6 months of its existence, Bikers for Good has worked with NGOs like Muskaan – Parents Association for the Welfare of the Intellectually Challenged, NIEV Foundation, Samvedna Institute for the Intellectually Challenged and the Earth Saviors Foundation.

Now, with THE BLACK RIDE taking shape, one thing is stated loud and clear- two wheels are spinning changes and there is no looking back!

Audi overtakes Mercedes for second spot in Indian luxury car market. Mercedes blames Corporate Editions of its rival

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:05:21 +0530

Mercedes is surely getting aggressive with its Indian operations but that has not kept it from losing to newer and lesser known (in India) rivals. It has been some time since BMW has been ahead of Merc and now, the German car maker has lost to, well, another German carmaker Audi.

Between the trio, Bimmers are right there on the top, followed by Audi and Mercedes is now at third. Looking at the numbers, Mercedes sold 2,130 units in the first quarter of 2012 against 2,269 units sold by Audi. BMW sold 2,369 vehicles in January-March 2012.

Mercedes India blames the ‘corporate editions’ of the models from rival manufacturers. It may be noted that these variants aren’t as loaded as top of the line cars but offer maximum bang for the buck. "Our customers do not compromise, and 'strip down' models are not for them," said Debasis Mitra, sales & marketing director of Mercedes Benz India. "We are not selling commodity but luxury. Numbers are not the prime focus today."

However, market analysts say that the new age styling and a younger buyer profile are behind Audi and BMW overtaking the three pointed star. "The customer sees them as more contemporary brands, with more products. BMW and Audi have created multiple sub-segments within the luxury car market and this has worked to their advantage," said Abdul Majeed, PricewaterhouseCoopers India.

"We have the right building blocks in place and are confident of maintaining our momentum in the market," Audi India head Michael Perschke said. "Our plan is to open one new outlet every five-six weeks. We will be entering cities like Coimbatore, Nagpur, Goa and Lucknow as we get deeper into India."

With the Audi Q3 launch just around the corner, we won’t be too surprised if Audi overtakes BMW too.
"We are firmly moving as per our strategy and have plans to get back at rivals strongly," Mitra said. "We are leading in most of the categories where we all compete, and it is just the absence of the mini SUV that makes a difference in overall volumes. The real test will be when we have a similar product in our kitty."

Garware Hyosung sets up production facility in Maharashtra

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:55:45 +0530

Only last evening, we reported that Garware Hyosung will be soon launching the GT250R in Indian market. Now, the news is that the Korean auto manufacturer has set up a manufacturing facility at Wai in Maharashtra. This plant has an annual capacity of 2,000."The company is targeting metro and tier-II cities for its proposed GT 250 R offering," the manufacturer said. Garware Hyosung will also add two more dealerships to its Indian dealer network. These dealerships will come up at Guwahati and Aizwal.This also means that these Korean bikes will be soon seen being offered with a very competitive price tag. Watch out for this space.

Skoda to launch Superb Ambition on 18th April

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:44:11 +0530

Motoroids became the first one to report about Skoda working on launching a pocket friendly variant of the Superb flagship sedan.

Now, the manufacturer will launch the new trim level on 18^th this month and the variant will be called as “Ambition”. At present the Superb is available with a lot of features and comes with three engine options -1.8 TSi (Petrol), 2.0 Litre TDi diesel and a 3.2 V6 Petrol.

The 'economy' variant is rumored to be coming ouw way with a choice of two engines- the tried and tested 1.8 TSi motor and the 2.0 litre TDi oil burner. The TSi features a 6 speed manual gearbox while the diesel has the popular 6 speed dual clutch automatic. This variant will not feature an Electric Sunroof, the Bi-Xenon cornering headlamps, the touchscreen system on the center console, the Bluetooth function, ESP, Hill Hold, Hill Descent features and some other luxuries that come with higher priced variants of this car. The Ambition trim should be easier on the pocket by a whopping 1.5 Lakhs over the current base model. The current entry-level variant boasts of dual-climate control and 6-airbags, and we feel that Skoda may reduce the number of airbags and offer a basic air con to keep the price in check.

The Skoda Superb is known for the spaciousness it offers and it has been one of its major selling points and it is likely to remain so even with the upcoming stripped down version. We are eagerly looking forward to the new version of the car. Luxury is all set to become affordable and now don't say you still can't buy one!

Safely expect a full fledged report on the new variant once we get to meet it on 18^th.

Vespa LX125 launched @ INR 66661. I so want to take the cool scoot to college

Yatharth Chauah — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:10:07 +0530

We reported about Piaggio’s plans for India from the Auto Expo held in January this year. We also reported in detail about the manufacturer's plans to introduce the LX125 scoot in the Indian market. Now, we are the first to bring to you the news that the Italian two wheeler manufacturer has launched the Vespa LX 125 scooter in country. This launch event took place in Mumbai today and following the event will be the inauguration of the Vespa plant in Baramati on 28th. The inauguration will take place in presence of Mr. Matteo Colaninno, Group President, Piaggio.

Piaggio’s Indian operations will commence with a dealer network of 50 dealers across 35 cities and the manufactuer will also start Vespa clubs.The Vespa is the only scooter to use the single piece monocoque construction and the motor in LX125 has been especially tuned for Indian riding conditions.

Vespa LX125 Specifications-
Engine capacity- 124 cc
Max Power-10.06 BHP @7500 RPM
Max. Torque- 1.08 kgm@6000 RPM
Transmission- CVT
Expected fuel efficiency- 50 km/l
Weight- 114 kgs.

The Vespa LX125 will be made available in 7 colours- red, silver, yellow, orange, blue, black and white and the new scooter has been positioned as a lifestyle vehicle. The sexy two wheeler is priced at INR 66,661/- in Maharashtra.

The only complaint we have is no option of a disc brake.

Volvo announces upgrades for 2013 S60, S80, V60 & V70

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:10:38 +0530

We, at Motoroids, have always liked the cars from Swedish car maker Volvo. Recently, the manufacturer gave us one more reason to like the cars as it announced updates for the 2013 model of S60, S80, V60 and V70.

The manufacturer has not revealed the pics of the new cars yet but the aforementioned cars will be seen sporting some additional aluminum trim and restyled wheels. The V70 gets a revised grille and the models should come with an option of active high beam headlights which automatically switch between the high beam and low beams. A new tunnel detection system ensures that the headlights are turned on automatically on entering a tunnel.

On the inside, the cars will get an illuminated gearshift knob and a road sign information system that detects and displays road signs in the instrument panel.

Mechanically, the cars will get a new 2.0-liter five-cylinder diesel engine that should be good for about 135 BHP and 350 Nm of pulling force. It is a matter of time these upgrades will be brought to the Indian market. Watch out for this space.

Schumacher’s 2000 F1 World Championship winning car to be auctioned next month

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:43:00 +0530

Popular auctioning house- RM Auctions recently announced that Michael Schumacher’s 2000 World Champion winning car will be auctioned in Monaco next month. RM feels that this will be the most interesting car to be auctioned next month. The F1-2000 model has chassis no. 204 and is one of the only eight Formula 1 cars Ferrari made for that season. This F1 car was acquired by some private collector in 2006 and the car was later restored in 2008 at the Ferrari’s Maranello factory. The restoration cost for the car came out to be about 150, 000 euros and the car is now fully functional.

Other Ferrari cars to be auctioned at RM next month will be a 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC, this car being one of the two models ever made, a Ferrari 206 S Dino Spyder and a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta. The auction is going to be held in Monaco, at the Grimaldi Forum, on the 11^th and 12^th May.

Audi might announce acquisition of Ducati on April 18

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:11:45 +0530

We have been closely following the developments preceding the sale of popular Italian bike maker Ducati. First, a rumor hit the web that Indian manufacturer Hero is looking forward to buy the bike brand. Then, a news daily Corriere della Sera said that Daimler AG too may be interested in acquiring Ducati. This happened soon after another German luxury car maker Audi started taking interest in buying the bike manufacturer. However, Daimler was quick to deny any such interest. Later, Fiat heir Lapo Elkann has commented that he is interested in bidding for acquiring the iconic Italian bike maker. The latest development is that there are reports that Audi might announce the acquisition of Ducati as soon as on April 18 during the parent VW group’s annual shareholders meeting in Hamburg.

This simply means that Audi will have a line up of bikes in its portfolio to give an even stronger fight to arch rival BMW, the latter’s bikes being renowned around the globe. If rumors are to be believed, Ducati will get 850 million Euros ($1.14- billion Cdn.) from Volkswagen Group. This includes the 200 million Euros of debt that the bike maker faces. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera recently stated that potential buyer Audi can negotiate exclusively on the deal until 15 April.

Mercedes-Benz India launches its second car dealer in Bengaluru

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:01:55 +0530

Mercedes-Benz today further reaffirmed its position as the luxury car maker with the densest network, by inagurating its new state-of-the-art dealership- Akshaya Motors- in Bengaluru.

Located in Mysore Road and spread over 65,000 sq. ft area, the new multi-level dealership is the largest luxury car dealership in Karnataka by a luxury car manufacturer. This new 3S dealership was inaugurated by Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Mr. MP Shyam, Managing Director, Akshaya Motors.

Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented: “Inauguration of Akshaya Motors reaffirms Mercedes-Benz India’s constant endeavour of delighting the customers with exciting product offerings and simultaneously giving them an unparalleled luxury car ownership experience, through our superlative after-sales network. Our second state-of-the-art dealership in Bengaluru is part of our ‘Go to Customer’ strategy which is defining newer benchmark for the luxury car industry in India and we are committed to reaching out and delighting more customers and expanding our footprints to more Indian cities”.

Created over a span of twelve months, the 3S facility of Akshaya Motors, Bengaluru is spread over a total area of 65,000 sq. ft including the well structured showroom and the workshop. Strategically located in the South-West part of Bengaluru at Mysore Road and well-connected to the city’s up market areas, the new dealership has been established with an investment of Rs. 300 million (30 Crores). The new 3S dealership has been conceptualized and created in a manner which will provide an exciting ‘Mercedes-Benz experience’ for the customers.

The facilities include a Drive-in valet service, exclusive customer lounge with Café-Mercedes along with the display of the exotic range of Mercedes-Benz cars. The dealership will have dedicated services for insurance, car loans and even car-leasing options. Akshaya Motors has a team of over 20 committed, qualified and hand-picked personnel who will take care of the sales, after-sales and service requirements of the customers, making the vehicle ownership experience for a customer, a delightful one.

Equipped with highest quality Mercedes-Benz equipments and trained manpower, the workshop of Akshaya Motors has been built at par with the brand’s stringent global benchmark. Akshaya Motors boasts of a workshop having an impressive 29 bays that can take care of customer service requirements with ease, each day. The workshop can undertake general repairs and accident jobs, spares; round the clock after sales support and also have a separate driver’s lounge.

Mr. MP Shyam, Managing Director, Akshaya Motors commented on the inauguration: “I am extremely delighted to present this world-class dealership to the auto aficionados of Bengaluru who always wants the best of products, technology and servicing. The team at Akshaya Motors is inspired by Mercedes-Benz’s brand philosophy of ‘Best or Nothing’ and we will bring in our proven experience in the automobile business to create customer delight. I am confident Akshaya Motors will set new benchmark in offering luxury vehicle ownership to our customers in Bengaluru and nearby cities of Karnataka, enabling a long-term association with the brand.”

Volkswagen Group India carried out Ground Breaking Ceremony for its first Regional Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) in Gurgaon

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:55:21 +0530

The Volkswagen Group India today carried out the ground breaking ceremony in Gurgaon, for its first Regional Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) under its ‘Depot NetworkDevelopment Project’ which will serve the entire Northern region for the Genuine Parts Sales for the Volkswagen Group in India. The ceremony began with a Bhoomi-Poojan in the presence of Mr. Maik Stephan, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited and Mr. Dietmar Hildebrandt, Director Group Service, Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited.With its strategic location, the PDC in Gurgaon,next to the planned Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) corridor, will significantly contribute in reduction of the current leadtime to provide Genuine Parts to Dealers and Service Centres. The Northern region is important for the Volkswagen Group India as it accounts for 35-40per cent of parts sales in India.

This is the first step by the Volkswagen Group India under its ‘Depot Network Development Project’. As part of this project,the Volkswagen Group India is planning to set up four such Depots across four regions of India which will provide a combined storage space of approximate 43,000 square metres. Gurgaon PDC is the first Depot under this Project for the Northernregion, which will be followed by the Central Depot in Greater Mumbai for the Western region. The Depots for South and East region will be located in Bangalore and Kolkata respectively. The Gurgaon PDC is a 16,000 square metres facility which will include a Regional Warranty Parts Centre.

Mr. Maik Stephan said, “A Strong After Sales Service is the backbone of an efficient dealer network. Therefore, the Volkswagen Group India is continuously strengthening its After Sales Services where we are using synergies for the operations of our brands - Audi, ŠKODA and Volkswagen in India. With the new Regional Parts Distribution Centre, we will further strengthen the efficiency of our After Sales and the service quality for our customers.”

The PDC will run on state-of-the-art software that has been specially designed forthe Volkswagen Group India.The building and processes within the complex have been designed in line with global standards of the Volkswagen Group. The facility will have a lean team of Volkswagen personnel who will manage operations with a third party logistics service provider.

Mr. Dietmar Hildebrandt said, “TheRegional Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) will deliver most of the Genuine Parts demand within 24 hours to the Volkswagen Groupbrandsdealer network in the Northern region with focus on customer satisfaction. We have just ‘raised the bar’ for the passenger car industryand set a trendfor the After Sales Services market in India.The PDC is expected to start operations by end of 2012.”

The facility will serve the dealer network for all available models of the Volkswagen Group India.

Force Motors and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited enter into an exclusive agreement

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:12 +0530

Force Motors today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for supply of genuine oil to be used in its entire range of automotive aggregates like the Engine, Gearbox, and Axles.This agreement, effective from April 1, 2012, was signed by Mr. Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors Limited and Mr. Rakesh Misri, Executive Director, Direct Sales for HPCL.This contract was signed after extensive trials of genuine oil in various operating conditions of aggregates by both Force Motors and HPCL. The Oil is specifically formulated to the Force Motors specifications to further enhance the life and reliability of products across its Light Commercial, Multi Utility, Agricultural and Personal vehicle segments.

The HP Force Genuine Oils will be distributed to the dealers of Force Motors and to the market on a national level through the HPCL’s strong distributor network.

Car Sales in India Grew Only By 2 Percent in last fiscal

Yatharth Chauhn — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:41:58 +0530

This had to happen. Thanks to petrol prices moving towards moon with escape velocity , increased interest rates and pre-budget rumours about diesel cars getting more expensive, Indian car sales this fiscal are nothing short of being dismal. Statistically speaking, car sales in the country grew by a laughable 2.2 percent in 2011-12. This is the least growth rate seen in last three years. When the global financial crisis hit in 2008-09, car sales in India grew by just 1.4 per cent. Since then it jumped to 25 per cent in 2009-10 and 29 per cent in 2010-11.

Vishnu Mathur, director general of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), said, “The number of car owners is still pathetically low in India — there is huge scope for the auto industry,” Mathur told reporters in New Delhi.

Owing to the Central bank being expected to provide some relief from the increased interest rates, SIAM is hoping that the car sales will give a better show this fiscal.

CONFIRMED: Hyosung GT250R coming to us in early June

Yatharth Chauhan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:46:14 +0530

Garware partners with Korean bike manufacturer Hyosung in its Indian operations and takes care of the sales and services. Today, the Hyosung-Garware alliance sells the Hyosung GT650R, the GT650N (naked) and the ST7 Cruiser. It may be noted that all these bikes retail for more than INR 4 lakh and hence, the manufacturer caters to a minimal section of Indian bikers. About a decade back, Hyosung had tied up with the now defunct Kinetic to sell a 250cc twin cylinder naked street bike. This premium motorcycle was christened as the Comet and it still has a fair bit of fan following in the country. Some 5 years back, when I was still in school and the dream bike used to be the cousin's Karizma, the aforementioned bike and I had a little rendezvous and it will be an understatement to say that I was completely bowled over by it. The bike had speed and acceleration that could give some inferiority complex to an average Karizma owner. The only aspect where the bike lacked was the handling department. Still, those Comet days constitute a part of many a fond memories of those days.

A few years back, Kawasaki decided to spoil us silly by offering arguably the best 250cc in the world. The baby Ninja has it all, save for the Value For Money factor. The segment became hotter with the arrival of well priced Honda CBR 250R and the rumors of Suzuki 250cc are doing rounds since quite some time.

Now, in an attempt to acquire a greater chunk of the Indian market, Hyosung is planning to bring in the GT250R. The news is that the new quarter liter class bike will be launched as soon as in early June. The bookings for the bike should open by the mid of next month. This bike can sure be a lethal threat to the much publicized japs and the GT250R will play a perfect younger sibling to the GT650R. The bike will be priced in INR 2.25-2.5 lakhs and the smaller capacity variant of the GT650R will retain the V-Twin engine configuration of the GT650R. Hyosung's quarter litre bike has a DOHC layout and fuel injection. The motor produces a peak power of 29 Bhp and a maximum peak power of 22 Nm. These figures slots the bike bang in the middle of Ninja 250R and CBR 250R's performance territory.

This sure is an upcoming opportunity for Garware-Hyosung to christen the GT250R as the Comet and capitalize on the brand image.We are eagerly waiting with itching hands for this quarter litre bike to hit the Indian market.

CONFIRMED: Hyosung GT250R coming to us in May

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:47:57 +0530

Now, in an attempt to acquire a greater chunk of the Indian market, Hyosung is planning to bring in the GT250R. The news is that the new quarter liter class bike will be launched as soon as in May. The bookings for the bike should open by the end of this month. This bike can sure be a lethal threat to the much publicized japs and the GT250R will play a younger sibling to the GT650R. The bike will be priced in INR 2-2.25 lakhs and the smaller capacity variant of the GT650R will retain the V-Twin engine configuration of the GT650R. Hyosung's quarter litre bike has a DOHC layout and fuel injection. The motor produces a peak power of 29 Bhp and a maximum peak power of 22 Nm. These figures slots the bike bang in the middle of Ninja 250R and CBR 250R's performance territory.

Meet Shannon, the girl who used to drink Petrol everyday!

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:18:43 +0530

Going by my affinity for cars and internal combustion engines, some of my pals often joke that my daily diet consists of a couple of gallons of gasoline. Now, don’t matter how inexpensive petrol becomes, it is sadly true that I won’t be trying to consume petrol anytime during my lifetime. However, Shannon, a pretty girl from U.S. used to keep a jug of gasoline always stored in her kitchen and she used to drink about 12 teaspoons of the fuel everyday!

“It tastes like sweet and sour, like a tangy sauce. It tingles first, and then it burns the back of my throat. Even though it hurts me, it makes me feel good,” Shannon says.

Shannon also says that last year she consumed as much as five gallons of petrol. Coming to think of it, my Suzuki Baleno can give me about an hour of drive from this much quantity of gas. Drinking gasoline can cause burns, diarrhea, vomiting, and in larger amounts, drowsiness or death and Shannon knew of the danger but she continued with her habit of consuming this stuff for long. And I left having Pepsi only because my doc told me that soft drinks are not good for health. Funny.

&lt;/p&gt;

Sale of tickets for 2012 F1 Indian Grand Prix begins today

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:56:28 +0530

Sales of tickets for the 2012 Indian F1 Airtel Grand Prix to be held at Buddh International Circuit on October 28 began today. The prices of the rickets have been reduced by JPSI and the grand stand passes will now go for Rs 30,000, i.e., Rs 5000 less than last year. The passes will be valid for all three race days. While these charges are inclusive of food & beverage, they don’t include the parking charges. JPSI is also providing tickets to a limied no. of seats for Rs 20,000 on the main race day. Booking tickets early will avail the buyer some BIC merchandise for free. The natural stand ticket goes for Rs 3,500. Sameer Gaur, MD & CEO, JPSI, launched the sale of tickets and the first ticket were given to IPL team Deccan Chargers, who was present at the launch ceremony. He said, “facilities at BIC had been improved further and you can look forward to a far more entertaining F1 race this year. We are also trying to bring some other thrilling international races to BIC, details of which will be announced soon”.

Tickets can be booked at bookmyshow.com. Following is the link for the same:

http://in.bookmyshow.com/sport/formula1/?&utm_source=hm_flb_SP_f1_100412

SIAM to soon come out with Voluntary Recall Policy

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:42:18 +0530

Car recalls by manufacturers are something that is nothing uncommon in this day and age. Citing an example, Tata recently recalled a batch of Manza sedans to change a suspension component. However, instances of recalls are surely are on a rise and this leaves a question about quality checks being followed by the manufacturers. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has recently got busy with working on to draft a voluntary recall policy for its members. Mr. S Sandilya, President of SIAM said that there is currently no policy by the govt. on the cases of car recalls. SIAM will now be soon seen coming up with a guideline for its members that will see them being benefited and the recall issue will be a voluntary initiative from the car manufacturers. This policy should be out within the next few months. The aim of “Voluntary Recall policy” is to make manufacturers proactive from being reactive.

However, this policy will not be made mandatory for automobile manufacturers.

DETAILS: All new Skoda Fabia

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:35:46 +0530

It is no secret that Skoda Fabia never took the hatchback segment in India by storm. Skoda recently resorted to some aggressive price cutting & promotion and that did help but the car is still far from being as popular as the Suzuki Swift, which flies out of the showrooms. To complicate matters even more, parent manufacturer Volkswagen introduced the Polo some years ago and Fabia suddenly started feeling pretty dated. However, Skoda is all set to come up with the next generation Fabia and the car should hit the showrooms within a couple of years. The Mk3 Fabia looks very European along with continuing to sport the Skoda family look. The new Fabia will make use of the much publicized MQB (Modular Transverse Matrix) platform should be roomier on the inside. The car has more than a hint of VisionD Concept in its styling and that has to be a good thing. Also, the car will share a lot of components and engine options with the next gen Volkswagen Polo. Production of the all new Fabia should take place at Volkswagen’s Chakan plant and we can also safely expect it to greet the all new Rapid soon after the new Fabia hits the roads.

Source – Auto CZ

Telsa Model S spotted undergoing cold weather testing

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:26:04 +0530

Popular performance electric car manufacturer Tesla is not far from introducing the world to its five door sedan- the Tesla Model S. A couple of days ago, we talked in detail about the upcoming prodcut from Tesla. Now, the Model S has been recently spotted undergoing cold winter tests that further consolidates our belief that this sedan’s launch is just around the corner.

People who had booked the Model S Signature Series have been asked to send their choice of specifications as the car offers a wide variety of customizing options.

The interiors time of the Tesla Model S is being offered with three colours – Piano Black, Lacewood and Banana Leaf. Wireless Internet connectivity is an option and the car will be personally delivered by the manufacturer to the location of the customer's choice.

Model S is the second car to wear the Tesla badge, the first being the famous Roadster. The Model S will come with a price tag of $57,400 for the model with 160-mile single-charge range. 300-mile single-charge range version will sport a price tag of $77,000. Tesla hopes to sell 5000 units of Model S this year. The manufacturer has sold only 2,100 units of the Roadsters in the past four years. It will be interesting to see if 5 doors and a roof can do wonders with the sales figures.

2014 Volkswagen Passat to be based on MQB platform and get design hints from Cross Coupe

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:55:07 +0530

It has emerged that the next gen VW Passat that should arrive in 2014 will be based on the much publicized MQB platform. This platform will be widely shared with many other VW group cars and this means that VW will earn more profits.

It is being said that the 2014 Passat will be longer and wider and should be internationally available in a range of body styles. The CC version will be seen locking horns with the upcoming BMW 4 series.The car will get styling hints from VW Cross Coupe and the new car is expected to be lighter by 75kgs.

The news that has really excited us is that apart from petrol and hybrid motors, the Passat will also offer a twin turbo diesel motor and the it should churn out some 180 BHP of power and 350 Nm torque. The new car should continue having a Tuetonic desing language along with playing the perfect younger sibling to the Audi luxury sedan.

We should update as more news on this car surfaces. Stay tuned.

[Source: AutoBild.de]

indiMotard organizing track days for Indian bikers on 21 and 22 April at Kari Motor Speedway

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:17:55 +0530

This news should surely excite bikers who love the idea of a track day. indiMotard is hosting a track day at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore on 21^st and 22^nd of this month. All you need to enjoy the track is a valid driver’s license, riding gear and a machine. And INR 2900, which feels far from being stratospheric. The charge includes lunch for all riders. The event will be conducted with utmost professionalism and ambulance services and corner marshals will be seen on duty at track. This surely is a perfect opportunity for us bikers to hone our skills and gift our beloved machines some time on track. The organizers have also planned for a little BBQ pit set up post sunset and they are encouraging the participants to bring marinated food, ice boxes, hammocks and maybe even a tent to camp right beside their beloved motorcycle.

Registrations can be done at- www.indimotard.com/two_racing.html

2015 Volkswagen Phaeton will share ML platform with Audi A8

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:23:05 +0530

Volkswagen Phaeton makes quite a sense for those who have arrived in life but do not wish to shout about it. Unfortunately for VW, such buyers are conspicuous by their absence in India. It is so bad that we recently learned that VW have ‘gifted’ a car to some superstar’s wife to do away with excess inventory. Thankfully for the German car maker, the conditions aren’t so negative in other markets and the Phaeton is the top selling luxury car in China.

Recently, news has emerged that Volkswagen is busy working on the development of the next generation Phaeton which should debut sometime in 2015. Things are looking quite good as the new Phaeton will be seen sharing the platform with the Audi A8. This simply means that the Phaeton too will be based on the Modular Longitudinal(ML) platform. The Phaeton range should continue being offered with a petrol and diesel powerhouse but safely expect a smaller gasoline motor with a supercharger. It is also being said that Cylinder deactivation technology will debut in the Phaeton with the next gen car.

Watch out for this space for more info on the 2015 Volkswagen Phaeton

Please note- Image shown is of current Phaeton

Ferrari to introduce a special edition of 458 Italia for celebrating its 20th anniversary in China

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:48:05 +0530

2012 marks the 20th anniversary for Ferrari’s Chinese operations which commenced in the country with the launch of a 348 TS. Ferrari will be soon seen launching the 458 Italia special edition. Only 20 of these cars will be sold. The car will be available only in China and will come with a special paint job that will have unique Chinese elements and will be in a shade of Marco Polo Red, which has been specially developed for this car. The 458 Italia comes with an 8 cylinder mid-rear engine and which has won more than 35 awards globally. One of the major highlights of the special edition of the car will be the golden dragon on the hood. The monster will be seen offset by gold and black livery stripes. This unique design is enhanced by gold finish to the rims and the aeroelastic winglets. The interior also reflects the unique longma spirit and the celebration of Chinese culture with gold embroidery on the car's head rests, while the engine start button on each of the 20 cars is inscribed with the simplified Chinese characters for 'start', and a '20th Anniversary Special Edition' plaque is set into the dash.

Force India on upcoming Chinese F1 Grand Prix

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:31:28 +0530

Sahara Force India looks ahead to the third round of the 2012 season in Shanghai, China. To download the full PDF preview or the media schedule for the weekend, please click on the links below.

Vijay’s Vision

After two races the 2012 season appears to have all the ingredients needed to serve up a spectacular year of racing. Already the fans have enjoyed two thrilling races and the intensity of the competition across the grid is sure to capture everybody’s attention.I said last year that the competition in the midfield was close, but this year it seems to be even more so with the majority of the grid capable of fighting for points. It’s a good situation for Formula One, but it also means points are harder to come by. It’s encouraging that we have scored points in both races and that will be our aim once again in China.I have to congratulate Paul and Nico on their excellent drives in Malaysia. They are only in their second full seasons of Formula One, but they both showed their maturity in the difficult conditions. At times Paul was one of the fastest cars on the circuit, excelling in the conditions, and it’s clear that we can expect another strong season from him. I was also delighted to see Nico pick up his first points with us after such a strong showing.In terms of car development, the factory at Silverstone continues to work at full capacity to improve our performance. The first two races have given us a great deal of information to work with and we will put it to good use in the coming races.

Paul on Shanghai

Following points finishes in the first couple of races, Paul Di Resta sets his sights on more of the same in Shanghai this weekend.

Paul, you must be pretty happy with your start to the season…

I think the whole team is pleased to have nine points on the board after two races and it was important that we picked up some good points on such an unpredictable day in Malaysia. We’ve seen how close all the teams are this year and getting points isn’t easy, so it feels good to start as we mean to continue.

Do you enjoy visiting China and experiencing the different culture?

China is a great place and Shanghai is a city I enjoy visiting. It’s such a big place, there is a lot to see and I enjoy it even more each time I go there.

Tell us about the track…

It has some unusual features. Turn one is very long and feels like it goes on forever. The key to getting it right is how much entry speed you can carry into the corner. You also have to look out for one of the biggest bumps of the year at the corner entry, which makes it difficult.

And what about the overtaking opportunities?

The best chance is turn one or into the very tight hairpin of turn 14, which widens on the entry and makes it difficult to defend. We also saw the effectiveness of DRS last year, which helped produce some good racing and it should be the same this year.

Nico on Shanghai

Nico Hulkenberg looks ahead to racing in Shanghai following his points finish in Malaysia.

Nico, after the disappointment of Melbourne, you finally got some racing miles under your belt in Sepang…

Yes, I’m happy with the race we had in Malaysia, which was basically the first proper race I have done since the end of 2010. It wasn’t an easy race and I was never in any clean air, but it was good to pick up a couple of points – my first points for the team.

Did you learn much about the car given that the conditions were so changeable in Sepang?

You always learn something and a race distance is always valuable for your knowledge of the car, even racing in the wet. The most difficult part of the race was just after the restart when I struggled for balance on the wets and intermediates, but when I switched to slicks the performance was pretty good.

Does the team have a better idea of the pecking order yet?

We’re only at the start of the season – we’ve only had two race weekends, so we still need to wait and see. Because the midfield is so compact nobody can afford to relax. We all need to push hard to improve performance and with 18 races still to go there’s plenty of time to do that.

What are your thoughts ahead of this weekend’s race in China?

It’s not my favourite race of the year, but they’ve done a good job to build a really impressive facility and it’s a fun track to drive. It’s difficult to predict how well we will do there, but given how close the grid is at the moment I think it should be a good show for everyone who is watching.

Mahindra & Mahindra signs MoU with Karur Vysya Bank for Car Loans and Commercial Vehicle Finance

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:17:04 +0530

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) today signed a Preferred Financier agreement with Karur Vysya Bank (KVB), one of India’s premier private sector banks with 96 years of banking history. Under the aegis of this tie-up, M&M customers will be able to avail of vehicle finance services from any of the 450+ branches of KVB. The MOU was signed by Shri K.V. Rao, General Manager of Karur Vysya Bank and Mr. Atul Sinha, Sr. General Manager – Sales South, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., in the presence of Shri K. Venkataraman, MD & CEO, KVB and Mr. V. Krishnaswamy, President & COO, KVB. The tie-up will enable both M&M and Karur Vysya Bank to leverage on the inherent strengths of each other’s vast network of over 250 dealerships and 450 plus branches, respectively. Speaking on the occasion Shri K. Venkataraman mentioned, “KVB is expanding its operations in commercial and passenger vehicle financing. It has been making niche offerings to its customers and this arrangement with M & M will be one such special initiative. Customers of KVB will be benefited out of this tie-up since they will have privileged access to the specialized services of M & M. KVB is coming out with an attractive package for purchasers of M & M vehicles. The Bank will provide loans for purchase of the vehicles at a comparatively low EMI. This coming together of both organizations will definitely benefit customers.”

Speaking on the tie-up, Mr. Arun Malhotra, Senior Vice President, Sales and Customer Care, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “At Mahindra, we relentlessly look at options to provide the best schemes to our customers and give them the power of choice. This strategic tie-up is surely a step in the same direction. Karur Vysya Bank offers innovative products and services supported by the latest technologies in the banking sector, at affordable rates. KVB’s specialized rates for bus operators, educational institutions and Medium and Small Enterprises will help Mahindra BOP and C.V product range customers. With highly competitive schemes for Car Loans and Commercial vehicles we are hopeful of a good response from our dealers and customers.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Atul Sinha, Senior General Manager – Sales South, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said “We see great synergy in this tie-up with KVB, as this alliance will open up new markets and customers for both the bank and M&M. With an extensive reach of over 340 branches, in the four Southern States, KVB will help Mahindra reach out to additional customers and address their needs for personal as well as commercial applications. We intend to roll-out the tie-up by conducting Dealer – Branch Manager Meets in all southern territories in a short span of time and optimize the benefit from this tie-up.”

About The Mahindra Group

The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers.

A US $14.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries.In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow.

In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.

For further information, please visit www.mahindra.com

Facebook page www.facebook.com/mahindragroup

For further enquiries please contact:

Ms. Roma Balwani

Senior VP & Group Head - Corporate Communication

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

Phone: (+91-22) 24975176

Email: balwani.roma@mahindra.com

HMSI Appoints Mr.Yadvinder S Guleria as Vice President- Sales And Marketing

Yatharth Chauhan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:01:42 +0530

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) recently announced the appointment of Mr. Yadvinder S Guleria as the Vice President- Sales and Marketing. Mr. Guleria was one of the founding members of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India during its establishment since 2000 and had worked for Honda for 11 years. He had previously headed Dealer Development, Domestic Sales & Exports and Logistics operations in his earlier stint. In April 2011 he joined Polaris India Pvt. Ltd; a US based World’s no.1 off road vehicle maker as Director Sales & Dealer Development. As an old Honda hand he brings with him a successful career spanning close to two decades in the automobile industry. He has successfully handled business operations, spearheaded Sales, and has been actively involved in new Product Development. His rich experience also includes new Market and Network development. Mr. Keita Muramatsu, President & CEO said, “I am pleased that the board has appointed Mr. Guleria as Vice President, Sales and Marketing.We are excited to have him back in our winning team. I am confident that with his rich experience, in-depth industry knowledge and stellar leadership, we will grow aggressively and achieve our long term goals.I’m truly honored and excited to be back in Honda and lead the team at this important stage in its growth and expansion. As a part of this highly talented & capable team, together we hope to further strengthen our efforts to achieve long term success by becoming No.1 choice for our customers, dealers and stakeholders in India and beyond.” said Yadvinder Singh Guleria on his appointment.