Volkswagen Polo Bookings Commenced

The Volkswagen Polo, which is yet to make an Indian entry, has begun calling for its customers. The booking for the Polo have started and in the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, Bangalore, the initial booking can be done with an amount of just 50 grand!

The Volkswagen Polo hatchback will debut in India by the end of the first quarter of the next year. But the car will be displayed at the upcoming 2010 Delhi Auto Expo. It will be launched in India in both petrol and diesel engine variants. The sedan version of the Polo is also India-bound, but no details have been received regarding the launch in India.

Volkswagen has already opened the prior bookings on the Polo hatch from 1st Dec 2009. The Volkswagen Polo will be priced between Rs 4.5 -7 Lakh in India. Recently, the Volkswagen Polo was been voted as the European Car of the Year 2010.
Volkswagen Polo SedanThe dealers claim that they do not have much information about the technical specifications, colours, engine capacity and the features of the Polo.

So, we can only wait till next month to see the splendour of the Polo at the 2010 Delhi Auto expo.

Beetle launched in India

After the success of the Jetta and the Passat in India, Volkswagen has launched the much-awaited New Beetle in Mumbai. The Volkswagen Beetle is a classic car. It is a two-door four-seater hatchback that combines classic lines with the latest technology. The Beetle will come in a colour palette of Salsa Red, Sunflower, Deep Black, Razor Blue, Reflex Silver, Gecko Green and Campanella White.

This iconic car was initially called the Kafer, the German word for "beetle", from which the popular English name originates. Since August 1967, Volkswagen began using the name Beetle for this brand.

Also known as the “Bug”, the Beetle came into being in 1938 when Adolf Hitler ordered Ferdinand Porsche to design a "people's car". Erwin Komenda, Porsche's chief designer, was responsible for the design and style of the car. When the car was launched, critics had predicted a complete failure for the Beetle because of its peculiar styling and less powerful engine, but the car proved the critics wrong and went on to make history.

The original Beetle had the longest production run of any vehicle ever from 1938-2003. The Beetle has revolutionized the world by being the best selling single design car in history with a sales record of more than 21.5 million units. The New Beetle was introduced in 1998 and it drew heavy inspiration from the exterior design of the original Beetle. Unlike the original Beetle, the New Beetle has its engine in the front with front wheel drive and luggage storage in the rear.


The New Beetle comes with a 2.0L I4 petrol engine which can churn out 115 bhp. The engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Moreover, the engine shows low figures for fuel consumption at an average of 13.5 km/l and complies to the stringent Euro IV emission norms. It has been imported from Volkswagen's Mexico factory as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) which attracts an import duty of 110 per cent.

With its immortal rounded contours, the Volkswagen New Beetle is an unmistakable designer object on four wheels. The New Beetle flaunts body-coloured outer rear mirrors, door handles and bumpers and runs on 15-inch alloy wheels. The beady headlamps commands attention and the circular tail lamps add grace to the rear fascia. The bonnet with the Volkswagen emblem inscribed on it is an example of outstanding workmanship and appears as if the car is giving you a wide grin.

Coming to the inside, the car greets you with the with the legendary flower vase and top-class leather upholstery. The cozy cabin adds a touch of sophistication to the car with the leather-covered steering wheel rim, gear lever knob and handbrake lever grip as well as premium leather seats. This classic hatchback includes standard features like electrically adjustable mirrors, 3-spoke tilt/telescoping power steering wheel, traction control, central locking, MP3 compatible "gamma CD" radio with Aux-in, height-adjustable front seats, electric sliding roof with sunblind and many more.

The Beetle assures safety of its passengers with ABS with EBD, EDL, ESP, front head restraints and dual-frontal and side airbags. With an ex-show room price Mumbai price of around Rs 23 Lakh, the Beetle will certainly grace the garage of the rich car enthusiasts.

Fiat Linea T-Jet to launch at Auto Expo 2010

Fiat Linea is a much loved car in India but not by automobile enthusiasts because of its not so powerful engine. The 1400cc petrol engine is just not enough to give you that driving pleasure that you are eying for. The car definitely offers a lot else, but sheer driving pleasure is not what you get from the Linea. Even the diesel version is not close.

That complaint will be over when Fiat launches the Linea T-Jet at the upcoming Auto Expo 2010 at New Delhi in January. The 1400 cc petrol engine now gets a turbocharger, and that means a stupendous boost in sheer horsepower. What the Linea T-Jet offers you is 118 bhp @ 5000 rpm. That takes to the same level of power output as the all-new Honda City, which is the flavour of the year since it was launched. Max torque is believed to be 206 nm.

The top speed, 0-60 acceleration timing and overall drivablity are all expected to go up with the arrival of the Fiat Linea T-Jet. Of course the price will not remain the same when other things in the car goes up, it certainly will go up too. We guess the Linea T-Jet would be priced at least Rs 1.5 lakh more than the current petrol Linea top-end version. Almost one year after the launch of the Fiat Linea in India, it gets an engine it deserves. This indeed is great news.

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

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

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

Rolls Royce previews its Rs 2.5-crore ‘Ghost’ in India

That Rolls Royce is banking big time on the Indian market, more so with the number of billionaires in the country ever on the increase, is evident from the fact that the British carmaker's still-to-be-launched super-luxury sedan, the 'Ghost,' was previewed in India on Friday!

The most economical of the cars from the well-known maker of the most elite, premium, hand-crafted cars, the Rolls Royce's Ghost will cost Rs 2.5 crore in India.

The company, which currently sells 15-18 units in India, expects its sales in the country to undergo a nearly four-fold increase, to over 75 units, after the next-year launch of the Ghost.

Speaking at the preview of the Ghost, Colin Kelly, Rolls Royce Motor Cars' regional director for Asia-Pacific region, said: "India is one of the fastest wealth growing nations in the world; and we expect to see an over 300% jump in salesin India next year after the launch of Ghost in the second quarter of 2010."

Noting that the built-to-order Ghost will be the Rolls Royce's first new model series' vehicle to detach from the Phantom family, Kelly added that the new drivetrain sedan comprise a 6.6 litre twin- turbo charged V12 engine, as well as a new 8-speed automatic gearbox. The peak power output of the vehicle, which can race from 0-100kmph in 4.9 seconds, will be 563bhp at 5250rpm.

Maruti Suzuki to launch van to replace Versa

The country's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will launch a new van within this fiscal to replace its MPV Versa, whose production has been stopped.

"We will be launching a new van by the end of this fiscal. This vehicle will replace the Versa, whose production has already been stopped," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Engineering) I V Rao told reporters on the sidelines of the Fourth Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Conference here.

He, however, did not give the price point of the soon-to-be launched vehicle.

MSI is also looking to produce one million vehicles by the end of this fiscal.

"Hopefully, we will have one million units in production by the end of this financial year by utilising our full capacity," Rao said.

He added the company is working on making all its models Bharat Stage-IV compliant as required under the government norms.

“We have not completed BS-IV compliance norms on all our models but we are working towards that direction," Rao said.

The company is also working on hybrid and electric vehicles for demo cars, but Rao said it has no plans for a full-fledged launch of vehicles with such alternative fuel technologies.

Carnation Auto first certified pre-owned car outlet launched in Kochi

Carnation Auto formally launched its multi-brand certified pre-owned cars outlet in Kochi, with the exciting promise of providing both sellers and buyers the best possible return on investment. In addition to the unique business proposition, the launch of the first certified pre-owned car program in Kochi is another step towards Carnation’s overall aim of providing its customers a complete one-stop-shop for all their auto needs.

Purchasing a certified pre-owned car from Carnation comes with the added benefit of purchasing a car that has undergone 160 stringent quality checks and comes with up to 1 year warranty and 3 free services honorable in 12 Carnation-hubs across India. Carnation ensures transparency in all its dealings whether purchasing or selling a vehicle and additionally provides customers a value add of complete paperwork in place and also offers convenient finance and insurance options. Sellers to Carnation can always be assured that an honest assessment and fair pricing is a key driver for success in the certified pre-owned car program.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagdish Khattar, chairman and managing director, Carnation Auto said, “Our Auto Solution Hubs have aimed at providing customers everything a car owner would need to maximize his car ownership experience under one roof. At Carnation it is our attempt to ensure transparency, honesty and truth are an integral part of a customers’ experience and we attempt at delivering this experience consistently. Today with the launch of the certified pre-owned car program, we have moved yet another step closer to our vision of creating ‘experience destinations’ for all.”

Pre-owned Cars will now be available in Mumbai and Kochi with Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Bangalore soon to follow. Carnation Auto already has 12 Auto Solutions Hubs operational across India in Amritsar, Chennai (2), Gurgaon, Noida (2), Mumbai (3), Hyderabad (2) and Kochi – and is in the process of opening around 30 by end of the year.

An initiative by Jagdish Khattar, Carnation Auto is setting up a state-of-the-art network of integrated multi-brand auto sales, services and related solutions hubs across the country – an industry consolidator seeking to bring automobile service providers under a standardized business model. These dedicated outlets within the Carnation network will ensure its partners higher revenues through cross-selling across business lines (new cars, servicing, certified pre-owned cars, accessories, financial and insurance products, auto leasing).

Go green, go Tesla


Honda and Toyota aren’t the only ones making green cars… Tesla’s Roadster is a superb sportscar and its fully electric!


Who doesn’t like a powerful sports car? But after the ex-communication of SUVs, the fuel guzzling sports cars have started attracting some dirty looks. In India, of course, seeing a sports car is, in itself, an event that warranties more awe than derision. But elsewhere in US$137-a-barrel land (read USA), you will probably catch people lower their heads when confronted with a sports car and look away, hoping to be caught admiring a more efficient Honda or Toyota sedan.

Thankfully, due to some innovative companies, sports-cars needn’t go the same way as the SUVs and pick-ups. They could turn hybrid, still retain the power and looks and get to be trendsetters. Like the Tesla Roadster.

All in the name

You might have heard of Tesla Motors, based in San Carlos, California. And if you have ever read up on green cars, then you have come across the Roadster as the only in-production completely electric sportscar.

The story goes that more than a century ago when Thomas Edison was fiddling around with direct current he had an argument with a Serbian immigrant, Nikola Tesla over a payment of US$ 50,000. While no one is really sure if Edison finally paid or didn’t pay the amount to Tesla, what is known is that Tesla went on to champion the alternating current. Edison meanwhile unveiled the very first nickel-iron electric car battery but it didn’t work out. Apt then, that a century later, the concept of electric cars panned out and the first real electric sports car is called Tesla.

The Tesla Roadster looks like any other sportscar trying to make its mark. It’s sleek with curving lines and some surprising touches. Like the ‘gills’ in the front or the angular wing mirrors or the indented rear bonnet. And it looks very familiar. If you are wondering why, it’s because the Roadster has been developed with the help of Lotus Cars, which extended the chassis of the Lotus Elise to fit in the 1,000-pound Roadster battery. To counteract the added weight, engineers decided for a full carbon fibre body, making it lighter and affordable. The Roadster is less than 10 per cent of the Elise, except for the windshied, airbags, tyres and some dashboard parts. The rest is all genuine Tesla.

The car itself has undergone numerous prototypes from 2004 and 2007. While the batteries have proven excellent, Tesla has had to do more work on the transmission. Already, the second version is being used in production models and a third and fourth versions are under development. The blogosphere is abuzz with how Tesla might counteract a weak transmission and what options they have. But for all that the car still hits from 0-100 in a little more than 4 seconds, good enough for a sportscar, you think?

The genius under the hood

Clearly, the most amazing part of the car is the 3-phase, 4-pole electric motor that develops a maximum power of 248 bhp and a maximum torque of 270 Nm, as good as any other sportscar! What’s more, if you were to compare the efficiency of the motor to a regular petrol one, the Tesla Roadster delivers a whopping 24 kmpl! That is almost 1.5 times higher than the Toyota Prius, the current icon for green cars. On full charge, the 6831-cell, lithium ion battery will give a run of 350 km. Tesla even claims that the Roadster’s efficiency is six times that of rival sports cars (though they don’t really take names) and that its CO2 emissions are ten times less. If green is not enough, Tesla even has thought out the laptop-battery-blowing-up scenario. The cells are all liquid cooled by the same time-tested refrigerant used in ACs and the cells are even immersed in 27 square metres of surface area to squelch any hot spots that might otherwise be left out.

Kick off

The Tesla Roadster created a huge buzz with all serious motorists when it finally went into production in March this year. Self-confessed motoholic Jay Leno said, “If you like sports cars and you want to be green, this is the only way to go. The Tesla is a car that you can live with, drive and enjoy as a sports car. I had a brief drive in the car and it was quite impressive. This is an electric car that is fun to drive.”

A more serious Motortrend aptly capped it all when it wrote that the car was not only undeniably efficient but would be ‘profoundly humbling to just about any rumbling Ferrari or Porsche that makes the mistake of pulling up next to a silent, 105-mpg Tesla Roadster at a stoplight.’ For our part, we can’t wait for the Roadster to make it to India.

Volkswagen Beetle In First Week of December


VW Beetle is scheduled for a launch in the Indian auto market on December 04 in Mumbai. The company has planned a complete advertising campaign including internet, print, electronic and digital media to generate a furor about its upcoming high cost model. Volkswagen AG has embarked on Rs 40 crore ad campaign to build its brand in the run-up to its December launch of small car Beetle and sports utility vehicle Touareg and the January launch of another small car, the Polo. The main aim of launching Beetle in India is to build a brand image in the country.


The car will be imported as a completely built unit in India which will make it pricier due to high import duty. It is expect to be priced around Rs. 20 lakh and above. The company will launch another premium car, Polo, at Rs 4.5 lakh in January. Polo will be the cheapest form the Volkswagen stable in India. The vehicle will compete with Maruti Swift and Ritz, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i10 and Aveo U-VA.


“We will soon be introducing new car models like Beetle or Polo in India to enhance our presence in the market, besides providing technologically advanced cars for Indian customers. Our factory in Pune is ready for the start of production of Polo, which will be launched during the upcoming Auto Expo 2010,” Joerg Mueller, president and managing director, Volkswagen India, said.


New Audi A5 Sportback at Dubai Motor Show


Audi is presenting a new vehicle concept at this year's 10th Dubai International Motor Show - the Audi A5 Sportback. The five-door model with the long, flowing rear end unites the best of various vehicle genres: the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon. Visitors can view the latest Audi model and many others at the show from December 16 to 20.

The Sportback joins the Coupé and Cabriolet as the third member of the A5 model family, featuring an emotion-packed design, high everyday practicality, a sporty character and engines that are as efficient as they are powerful. Audi is setting new trends in design with the A5 Sportback. The five-door coupe is defined by elegant lines. It is 36 millimeters lower than the A4 Sedan; with its short front overhang, long wheelbase, wide track and the four frameless doors with their slender window lines, it is the very picture of sporty elegance.

The interior is spacious, offering uncompromising comfort in all four seats. The large luggage compartment hatch is harmoniously integrated into the long, tapered tail end with the flat C pillars; the spoiler lip underscores the tension-filled character. The luggage compartment volume of 480 liters nearly matches that of the A4 Avant and increases to 980 liters with the rear seats folded down.

The A5 Sportback follows the consistent path of innovative technologies at Audi when it comes to the drivetrain. The launch engine for the Middle East will be a 211 bhp 2.0 TFSI, which delivers its power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. Like all other models it is equipped with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and deceleration and stores it temporarily in the battery.

The perfect complement is the optional Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, which enables the driver to freely vary the throttle response characteristic, the shifting points of the seven-speed S tronic, and the boost provided by the servotronic steering system, both of which come as a standard.

World's cheapest car is starting to enrich India's Tata Motors

The automaker is producing only about 100 of its $2,200 Nano cars a day but hopes to ramp up to 1,000 a day next year. Analysts expect it to put millions of new Indian drivers on the road.

The tiny Nano cars made by India's Tata Motors are starting to hit the road in that country after a land dispute forced the relocation of the car's manufacturing plant and delayed its launch.

Analysts say the Nano could rock the international auto industry and put millions of new Indian drivers on the road.

Although Tata is producing only about 100 units a day, Tata director Jamshed J. Irani said it hoped to ramp up to about 1,000 vehicles a day next year. Tata has also started building low-cost homes, which the media have labeled Nano homes.

Mahindra Scorpio – The Masculine Car Of India

After a lot of R & D, Mahindra and Mahindra has been able to produce and launch the Mahindra Scorpio. This vehicle is equipped with many features previously not available, auto cars, in cars in India. Moreover, the vehicle is a perfect example of the ability of the designers of automobiles in India. With its robust male body and the internal combustion engine, stands out in the crowd,, auto cars, drawing admiring glances all around.The Mahindra Scorpio SUV is the first company means not, auto cars, only the local market in India, but also for the world, auto cars, market, where it was well received.

The machine fills the gap between style and adventure, luxury and ruggedness, and performance and economy. Scorpio is looking good not only with a sophisticated interior design, but also has a strong, auto cars, engine.The motor vehicle is equipped with more than 2600 SZ diesel giving 109 hp with a torque of 26 kgm. The speed of 0-60 was achieved in less than 9 seconds. The petrol version of the, auto cars, vehicle has 116 hp engine reaches 0-60 in just under 8 secondsThe Scorpio is one of the few other cars in India which have been designed and built according to international standards and quality control.

The Coming of the Volvo S60











Volvo Cars, the Swedish auto maker, has released the first official pictures of the production-ready S60. The S60 is sportier and more vibrant than any previous Volvo model. The S60 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. And it will be produced at Volvo’s plant in Ghent, in Belgium.


The Volvo S60 is expected to be equipped with Pedestrian Detection. And it is groundbreaking safety feature that can sense pedestrians in front of the car and brake mechanically even without any reaction from the driver.










Volvo Cars India (VCI) is looking at the possibility of launching its compact executive sedan S60 in the country by next year. And this will be after its reintroduction in the European car market. In case if its annual number touches 2,000 units, the company is also looking forward to set up a car assembling unit in India.

The company has established its charisma in seven cities in India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, and Pune. And now the company is planning to further develop its strategies and stretching its dealership base to Goa, Coimbatore, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.

S80 a luxury sedan and luxury seven-seater SUV XC90 are the options the company is currently offering its customers. Volvo will also launch a diesel variant of the S80 next month. Other than the S60, Volvo is also intending to bring in compact crossover SUV XC60, which is currently undergoing road testing it at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT). Even though the C70-coupe is also on the company’s list of to be launched cars, it will be available to the customers on an individual basis depending on the demand.

Hyundai’s ‘Always Around’ campaign enters third consecutive year

With the novel idea of ‘Always There, Because We Care’ , Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country’s largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer, is back with its nationwide service initiative - ‘Always Around’ campaign in a mega avatar for the third consecutive year.


Starting from November 8th the ‘Always Around’ campaign will provide free check-ups for its customers at convenient locations. Last year around 80,000 Hyundai vehicles across 6,000 locations attended the camp.

This year, the ‘Always Around’ campaign has grown much wider in terms of locations and reach and will continue till December, 2009 covering 6,500 locations wherein Hyundai will be reaching out to around 90,000 customers in an effort to make them smile by ensuring that their car is in the best of condition. Around 4,000 vehicles across 270 locations nationwide are expected to attend the camp on the launch day itself.

The mega ‘Always Around’ campaign will be conducted at various locations which customers in their normal course of life frequent on an everyday basis like Joggers Park, Shopping Malls, Apartments, Multiplexes, etc. The ‘Always Around’ campaign is truly innovative one as it reaches out to the customers at a time and a place where it is most convenient for them and at no extra cost. For example, while the customer might be busy shopping in a mall, his car is serviced and cleaned which saves both his time and money as it is a free service, and the advice that he gets from trained technicians helps him maintain his car even better.

Along with the camp various value added services and schemes are offered e.g customer Referral Scheme, Hyundai Advantage, Health Check-Up Camps, customer education towards improving the vehicle mileage/performance, information related to Hyundai products, etc are also part of this campaign.

Commenting on the campaign, Arvind Saxena, Sr. V P, Marketing & Sales, HMIL said, “At Hyundai it is our belief that owning a car is a special experience; and the experience should be one of delight. With Always Around campaigns, we offer our customers the most convenient after sales service. The positive feedback received from the campaign till now has encouraged us to value add by adding more locations and offering more attractive schemes and offers.”

The ‘Always Around’ campaign will offer a comprehensive 17 point check-up and a thorough examination of the vehicle and services such as tyre and vehicle polishing, coolant and oil top-up. The Hyundai team will also collect suggestions and feedback on the performance of the vehicle & after sales service. The customers will also have a chance to see and test drive the latest Hyundai cars which would be there on display at the venue.

This year Shell India has partnered with Hyundai as the recommended lubricant supplier for ‘Always Around’ activity throughout the year. There will be active participation from Shell India at various locations to support the event to enable them to take valuable feedback directly from the customers.

Hyundai Motor India Limited

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea and is the second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter from India. HMIL presently markets 54 variants of passenger cars across segments. The Santro in the B segment, the Getz Prime, i10 and the Premium hatchback i20 in the B+ segment, the Accent and the Verna in the C segment, the Sonata in the E segment and the Tucson in the SUV segment.

Hyundai Motor India, continuing its tradition of being the fastest growing passenger car manufacturer, registering total sales of 489,328 vehicles in the calendar year (CY) 2008, an increase of 49.6 percent over CY 2007. In the domestic market it clocked a growth of 22.4 percent as compared to 2007 with 245,397 units, while overseas sales grew by 92.5 percent, with exports of 243,931 units.

HMIL's fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Chennai boasts of the most advanced production, quality and testing capabilities in the country. In continuation of its commitment to provide the Indian customer with global technology, HMIL commissioned its second plant in February 2008 which produces an additional 300,000 units per annum, raising HMIL's total production capacity to 600,000 units per annum.

HMIL has invested to expand capacity in line with its positioning as HMC`s global export hub for compact cars. Apart from the expansion of production capacity, HMIL currently has 271 strong dealer network across India, which will be further bolstered in 2009.

In 2008, HMIL also successfully completed 10 glorious years of operations in India and to commemorate its achievements, initiated a unique trans-continental drive from Delhi to Paris in two of its hugely popular i10 Kappa cars. The drive created automobile history by completing a distance of 10,000km in just 17 days after which the i10s were showcased at the Paris Motor Show in October. In fact it was at the Paris Motor Show that HMIL first unveiled the Hyundai i20 and the car received a phenomenal response from the auto enthusiasts across the world. Hyundai Motor India also accomplished the landmark of producing the fastest 20th lakh cars in India in 2008.

Like 2008, the year 2007 had also been a significant year for Hyundai Motor India. It achieved a significant milestone by rolling out the fastest 400,000th export car. Hyundai exported to over 100 countries globally; even as it plans to continue its thrust in existing export markets, it is gearing up to step up its foray into new markets. 2007 also saw the launch of the i10 and yet another path-breaking record in its young journey by rolling out the fastest 1,500,000th car.

Hyundai`s new model i10 made a clean sweep of all the "Car of the Year 2008" awards from the leading automotive magazines and TV channels like BS Motoring, CNBC-TV18 AutoCar, NDTV Profit Car & Bike India and Overdrive magazine. The i10 was also the choice of the discerning automotive media of the country as they conferred the prestigious "Indian Car of the Year" (ICOTY) award to the i10 as well.

The Santro and the Accent also received the "TNS Voice of the Customer - 2008" award for the Premium Compact Car (Santro) and the Entry Mid size Car (Accent). In March 2008 it achieved yet another milestone by rolling out the fastest 500,000th export car.

In 2007, the Hyundai Verna had also bagged some of the most prestigious awards starting with the Overdrive magazine's "Car of the Year 2007", the "Best Mid-size Car of the Year" award from NDTV Profit Car & Bike India, the "Best Value for Money Car" from CNBC Autocar and "Performance Car of the Year" from Business Standard Motoring.

Hyundai cars have been a favorite at all awards ceremonies and has won many awards. The Sonata Embera won the "Executive Car of The Year 2006" award from Business Standard Motoring magazine and NDTV Profit Car & Bike India had declared the Tucson as the "SUV of The Year 2006".

Not only this, HMIL has also been awarded the benchmark ISO 14001 certification for its sustainable environment management practices.

Volkswagen's Beetle to hit Indian roads in Dec

Europe's largest carmaker Volkswagen will roll out the Beetle – fondly called the people's car after its maker – on Indian roads by beginning of next month.

A senior company official said on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit that Volkswagen – which mean People's car – would import the car from its Mexican plant for sale in Indian markets.

He, however, declined to divulge the possible price of the car.

Beetle is one of the most successful models that the German carmaker has ever produced.

The car bucked all trends and has made history, although critics had predicted a complete failure due to its peculiar styling, underpowered motor, rough ride and noisy engine.

Volkswagen, which currently sells luxury sedans Passat and Jetta in Indian market, is planning to launch its small car Polo by early next year.

The group has two facilities in India at Aurangabad and Chakan, which assembles cars of its three brands – Skoda, Audi and Volkswagen.

VW is looking at full-capacity production at this plant by 2012 and in order to strengthen its workforce, it is planning to more than double the India headcount with addition of 1,500 employees at Chakan alone in Maharashtra.

The group had earlier announced a target of 8-10 per cent share of the Indian passenger car market in the next 6 years.

It will also consider integrating after-sales service of its three brands in India for better synergy.

It sold about 19,000 units of Skoda, Audi and Volkswagen brands last year in the over 1.5 million-unit Indian passenger vehicle market.

Nissan Murano Might Be Launched In India Before Mid-2010

















Nissan India is likely to launch the new Murano in India before mid 2010.

Nissan Murano is a premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) that will be catered as a CBU unit from Japan.

Nissan Murano might get launched in three variants the S (Base), SL (Mid) & LE (Top-End) that will sport a powerful 3.5-Litre petrol V6 engine and all-wheel drive (AWD) handy.

Nissan Murano will directly step into a war against Toyota Prado, BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero and Mercedes Benz M-Class models between the price ranges from Rs 35 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs.

The Nissan Murano might get the following features:

    * Aluminum interior accents
    * Leather seats
    * Rain sensing wipers
    * Memory seats
    * Mood lighting
    * 11-speaker Bose unit
    * 9.3GB hard disk storage device

Nissan has various plans for India that will include the Micra small car hatchback that might launch before Q1 2010 and followed by a sedan in 2011 and a compact Multi-Purpose vehicle (MPV).

Nissan Micra is been produced at the Renault-Nissan plant in Chennai and it is also manufactured in five different countries including India, China and Thailand.

The name ‘Murano’ comes from a region of Venice, Italy which is known for the hand blown glass produced there.

Nissan Targeting Nano Customers

While we were writing about the Nissan small car that the company was planning to launch in India, Thailand, and China, little did we know that Nissan was in fact targeting the Nano. Nissan wants to break the vivid market, which the Tata Nano has managed to build.

We would not be surprised, this could be the dream of any car maker, such is the acceptance of Nano not only in India but throughout the world. Nano has been stealing the limelight for long now and Nissan wants to substitute itself with the little wonder, Nano. The new small car from Nissan will be launched in March 2010. But it is expected that, for the car to come to India, it will take another two months since its launch in March.

The new small car from Nissan is named V, where V stands for Versatility. And Nissan is expected to sell one million Vs by 2013.

There are other car makers whom we thought would launch cars so that they can compete with the customers' favorite Nano. But breaking our expectations, Fiat recently denied any plans of the company to launch ultra-cheap cars. Now we will all set out hopes on Nissan.

Thinking deep about what in Nano lures the customers, anyone would say, the price. And so Nissan also focuses on the pricing, which the company believes will win over the customers.

Mercedes-Benz Announces C-Class Executive Special Edition
















Mercedes-Benz is a company which puts out stylish, luxurious and stunning vehicles. Earlier we reported that the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing had been revealed. Now the company has announced the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Executive SE, a special edition car which gives the customer added value with an exterior styling pack and interior upgrades.


Mercedes-Benz C-Class Executive SE

The Executive SE is powered by the manual C180 Kompressor BlueEfficiency engine, and is based on the SE model line. It is offered in the Saloon and Estate body style. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Executive SE will come with a Sport Grille with the integrated Mercedes-Benz star, a feature usually exclusive to the Sport model. It will also have 16 inch ‘Pristix’ alloy wheels, and chrome trim finishes on the boot lid and exhaust.

The interiors of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have the COMAND fitted as standard. The multimedia system comes with hard disc drive navigation, a 6 GB music register, a PCMCIA slot and Linguatronic voice control, and all can be fully controlled via the Executive SE’s multi-function steering wheel.

The 156 hp engine gives 44.8 miles per gallon on the combined cycle and carbon dioxide emissions of just 154 g/km put the Executive SE in the 18 percent tax bracket. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Executive SE comes with Hill Start Assist which eliminates the need to use the parking brake.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Executive SE comes with a host of safety features and a three year unlimited mileage warranty. The Executive SE will be available from November 2009 for 23,190 GBP (approx. Rs. 17,88,790). The Estate model will cost 24,390 GBP (approx. Rs. 18,81,355).

New models from Fiat coming soon

Just as the sales momentum picks up in Motown, international car majors like Volkswagen, Nissan and Fiat are re-energizing their small car plans in India.
After the small car launches from the Volkswagen and Nissan stable in 2010, Fiat will now come out with its own small car in 2011-12.

After tasting success with the Linea and the Punto, Italian auto major Fiat is busy working on a small car.
No, it’s not going to compete against the Nano but it will be positioned between the Nano and Grand Punto with a price tag of around Rs 4 lakh. The company is currently considering various engine options right from 900 cc to 1200 cc for the small car.

Silverio Bonfiglioli, COO of Fiat Group International, said, “One vehicle that you can sell is in the Rs 3-4.5 lakh category, one vehicle that is above the Nano and the 800 and that can compete with existing cars. I think there is a space for our company to have a car that has convenient price and value proposition."
For now, the focus is on launching powerful Linea's and Grande Puntos but the real volumes will kick in in 2011-12, once the small car below the Grande Punto hits the market. That's why the company is eyeing to sell 2,00,000 cars by 2012 with an aim of achieving 7-8 per cent market share.

But FIAT LCVs and premium cars are still sometime away.

" The ideal time for LCV launch is 2012-2014," said Bonfiglioli.

Meanwhile, the company will continue to build its network and manufacturing capabilities to create its own market in India and a strong base for exports of small cars.

Volvo delinks from Ford India

Volvo in India will no longer be a subsidiary of Ford India, but a separate company.

With Ford Motor Company planning to sell Volvo Cars and announcing Chinese carmaker Geely as the preferred bidder, the Indian operations of the Swedish company have severed its ties with Ford India, said Mr Paul de Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India, while speaking to Business Line.

Volvo Cars India has changed its name to Volvo Auto India Pvt Ltd, with effect from October 1.

“The process which started in May should help in case of a possible sale. It will help avoid complications,” he said.

In 1999, Ford had acquired Volvo Cars from Volvo AB as part of its Premier Automotive Group, which then included Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. Volvo had begun operations in India in March last year as a subsidiary of Ford India, with all backend operations being handled by Ford.

When asked how the sale of Volvo may affect the company’s plans, especially in terms of component supplies for Volvo products, Mr de Voijs said that there should not be any impact.

“Short-term changes won’t affect our long-term plans for India. We do not believe in setting up a huge network at first, but instead, we believe in the gradual process to build our strength in terms of volumes as India is a huge market,” he said.

He added that the company already has seven dealerships in the country, which it will increase to 12 by end 2010. The new dealerships would be in Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Goa and Coimbatore.

Mr de Voijs said that Volvo had sold about 100 units between March and December last year and sales for the current year is close to doubling. “The luxury segment has grown by 20%, whereas we have grown by 23%,” he said.

Volvo has plans to launch two new cars in India next year. First up will be the smaller brother of the XC90 luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV), the compact crossover SUV XC60, which is slated for launch in the first half of 2010. This will be followed by the launch of the new S60 sedan in the second half of the next year. Volvo sells its top end S80 sedan and XC90 in India.

“The XC60 will be launched after the Auto Expo. We are currently road testing it at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT),” said Mr de Voijs.

He said that Volvo will also launch a diesel variant of the S80 next month, while the C70-coupe may also be made available, but on an individual basis according to demand.

Nissan to roll out Murano

Nissan India will launch its premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) Murano in India by the first half of next year.

“Murano should be here latest by the first half of 2010. The car was initially scheduled for a rollout this year. It will be imported as a completely built unit from Japan,” said sources.

The SUV is likely to be priced between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh and will compete with the Toyota Prado, BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero and Mercedes Benz M-class.

According to company sources, Nissan will first assess its prospects in the competitive SUV segment in India before getting into small cars.

The Murano was first launched in 2002 in the United States as a crossover vehicle to complement the Pathfinder.

The SUV may come in three variants — the base S, the mid-grade SL and the top of the line LE. The all-wheel drive vehicle is expected to be strapped with a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine.

The Nissan Murano is likely to have aluminium interior accents, leather seats, rain sensing wipers, memory seats and mood lighting.

The SUV will be equipped with an 11-speaker Bose unit along with a 9.3GB hard disk storage device.

Nissan’s compact car project is also on course. The hatchback will be manufactured in five countries, including India, China and Thailand.

In India, the small car will be manufactured at the Renault-Nissan plant in Chennai.

Nissan’s engineers say they are trying to source 80-90 per cent of the parts locally.

After launching the hatchback in 2010, Nissan plans to unveil a sedan in 2011 and a compact multi-purpose vehicle.

Maruti Suzuki Tops Again

India’s numero uno car company -"Maruti Suzuki" has topped the list for the tenth consecutive year for customer satisfaction in the country according to a recent survey conducted by global market research firm J D Power.

In the survey, "J D Power Asia Pacific 2009 India Customer Service Index Study", Maruti Suzuki scored 824, on a scale of 1,000 points, followed by Honda Siel Cars India at 791 and Mahindra & Mahindra at 757.

It was to be noted that only Maruti Suzuki and the Indian arm of Honda bettered the industry's average score of 785.

The other major car makers in the top ten list are Toyota with 754 points, Mahindra-Renault and Tata Motors at 750, Chevrolet with 748 points and Hyundai with 5 points less than Chevrolet. Ford is at the eighth place with 733 points followed by Fiat at 727 and Skoda is at the tenth position at 722.

The Senior Director of J D Power Asia Pacific mentioned that the leading brands differentiate themselves in the service quality and vehicle pickup factors. The study measured overall satisfaction by examining five factors -- service quality, vehicle pickup, service advisor, service facility and service initiation.

J D Power also said the number of customers who changed from organised dealership service facilities to non-authorised service centre for vehicle service requirements decreased to seven per cent in 2009, from 11 per cent in 2008.

Overall customer satisfaction is measured on a 1,000 point scale, with a higher score indicating higher satisfaction. The study, which is based on responses from more than 5,800 owners of nearly 50 different vehicle models, was fielded from May to August 2009 and includes customers who had purchased their vehicles between May 2007 and August 2008.

Santa Fe to Grace Indian Roads by Next Year

It has been a long time since Hyundai has been announcing the launch of its SUV, Santa Fe, in India. And this time also you may not quiet believe it. But yes, this time it might possibly happen. The reason why one could expect the coming of the car is because it is raining SUVs in India now. And every other company is planning to launch an SUV. And Hyundai would never want to lag behind.

The launch of RiO by Premier is a classic example of the demand for SUVs India. Premier was a very famous Indian car manufacturer. But the company was away from business for a long time, till yesterday when it re-entered the Indian car industry with its mini SUV.

Hyundai also has plans of launching a small car in India by 2011. It will be an 800cc small car.

It was two years back, in 2007, Hyundai first announced its plans to launch its SUV, Santa Fe, in 2008. But things didn’t work out and the company was not able to launch the car in 2008 as promised. We had also expected the launch of the SUV this year. But the latest information is that the Santa Fe will be seen in the Indian roads next year.

In India, Santa Fe is expected to be launched both in petrol and diesel models. It will be available in 2.7-litre petrol engine and 2.2-litre diesel engine. The price of the SUV is not known. But it is sure that this new model from Hyundai will surely create a tough competition for Toyota Fortuner, Honda CR-V, and Chevrolet Captiva.

Tata Nano will Now Go Through a Final Check

Tata Nano is now going through a tough phase. It all started a week back. It was a sudden happening. Tata Nano’s started catching fire one after the other and the Nano customers were in panic. But the company was not, which helped it to deal with the issue wisely.

The company, understanding the fire is caused by faulty combination switches, repaired the faulty Nanos. Except for the Delhi customer, Tata returned the repaired Nanos to both the customers at Lucknow and Ahmedabad, Tata also assured the customers that the car will no more catch fire.

This was a news that gave great relief for the Nano customers. It not only comforted the current customers, but it also reduced the fright of those who have booked and is waiting for the delivery of the world’s cheapest car.

Tata didn’t put the responsibility on anyone else but courageously took the blame. And now Tata has taken the initiative of taking the car through a final check before it will be delivered to the awaiting customers. They will under a final check particularly for any faulty switches.

As a protective measure, Tata will perform a pre-emptive audit check on both delivered and yet-to-be delivered Nanos.

100 Years of Suzuki

Suzuki Motor Corporation has turned 100 this October. The car company is at present the world’s ninth largest car manufacturer.


The Japanese car giant began as Suzuki Loom Company in 1909 in Hamamatsu, Southern Japan. It was founded by Michio Suzuki who developed a unique loom capable of weaving patterned cloth from dyed yarn. His new innovation represented the start of an uncompromising focus on creating products that meet people’s needs and realize new lifestyle possibilities.

The car ventured in to the automobile sector in 1952 with the production motorcycles with the ‘Power Free’ using a 36cc two stroke engine. Three years after the motorcycles, Suzuki kicked off its car production with the Suzulight. It was compact car with a 360cc two-stroke engine and was one of the first cars to feature front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack and pinion steering.

Suzuki’s off-road vehicle heritage began in 1970 with the launch of the LJ series lightweight 4×4. The first marine outboard motor was introduced in 1965, then pre-fabricated houses in 1974, general-purpose engines in 1980 and its first All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in 1982.

One of the essential elements to Suzuki’s growth has been its commitment to continuing research and technology, to meet its customers changing needs. What was once a small group of dedicated engineers, designing the world’s finest weaving machinery, has today grown into a worldwide company of almost 50,000 people, who create and distribute products in more than 190 nations.

As it enters its 100th year, Suzuki will continue its tradition of technological trailblazing and appealing to customers who demand unique design, value, reliability and superior engineering.

Through its 100-year history, Suzuki Motor Corporation has earned the distinction of manufacturing automobile and motorcycle products that offer excellent value for money as well as exceptional reliability.

New Maruti SX4 Launched

Delayed for over two weeks, the new Maruti Suzuki SX4 has still not lost its fervour. The wait is over and the Maruti SX4 has been finally launched. The main attraction of the SX4 is that the engine of the SX4 is equipped with an advanced variable valve timing (VVT) technology.

The SX4 is an attempt of Maruti Suzuki to wipe out the different assumptions about the brand that is prevailing in the car market. The popular notion is that Maruti is not a great performer when it comes to the big cars. And with other major companies such as Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota striving hard to satisfy the ever growing demands of the customers, Maruti will be in no time pushed to the wall as a small car manufacturer alone. This fear of the company might me the driving force behind the company’s new launch.


Maruti Suzuki has also introduced a 4-speed automatic transmission. The VVT technology guarantees that there is no shortage of power or wastage leading to improved optimized fuel consumption, engine efficiency, and lesser carbon emissions. The advanced VVT technology helps in starting the car accelerating it and climbing steep slopes better.

The SX4 is an environment friendly car that complies with the BS IV regulation, which will be effective from April 2010. It is among first cars in the A-3 segment that abide by the BS IV regulation of emission.

The SX4 has a more efficient engine that gives a mileage of 15.6 km per litre of petrol. The 1.6 litre engine produces a maximum power of 104.68ps @5600 rpm and a high torque of 145Nm @4100 rpm. The new SX4 has been made vibrant with a brand-new sporty honeycomb grille and 10-spoke 16 inch alloy wheels and dual tones interiors and plush upholstery.

The 4-speed automatic transmission is the best choice for city drive. A smooth and sporty drive allows an easy down-shift and effortless up-shift. A cluster of computer controlled sensors continuously administers the throttle input and optimize the engine response accordingly, thus requiring no changing of gears.

The new SX4 has two-tone beige colour interiors. At night, the steering mounted controls are illuminated for effortless usage. There is also new provision of USB connectivity on the dashboard.

The SX4 also has auto climate control system, windshield antenna, illuminated key insert, and variable instrument illumination.

The new SX4 is available in 2 transmissions namely manual and automatic. The two variants in manual transmission are VXi and ZXi. The SX4 is now available in seven metallic colours namely Azure Grey, Pearl Arctic White, French Éclair, Oyster Blue, Clear Beige, Silky Silver and Midnight Black.

The SX4 VXi manual is priced at 6.68 lakh, SX4 ZXi manual at 7.37 lakh, SX4 ZXi leather at 7.71, SX4 ZXi 4-speed automatic at 8.02 lakh, and SX4 ZXi leather 4-speed automatic at 8.36 lakh.



Premier Launches RiO in India

Premier Ltd. is among the oldest auto makers of India. And the company has launched its first ever sport-utility vehicle model. This new mini-SUV will be manufactured with China's Zotye Holding Group. This new kid of Premier is expected to be a tough competition for Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, Scorpio M2Di, and Mahindra Bolero.



This is an auspicious occasion for Premier as RiO, this new SUV of the company, is the beginning of a new phase of the company in India. The once famous company has manufactured the all-time favourite Indian car, Premier Padmini. And now, the company is expecting to repeat the magic.


The 1.5-liter turbo-diesel engine RiO will be imported by Premier from Zotye and will be assembled at its factory in Pune.

Premier RiO is based on the first-generation Daihatsu Terios. And it is powered by Premier’s own engine that is basically a downsized Peugeot TUD5 diesel engine. The 1490cc engine RiO delivers a 65 bhp of peak power.

The company is taking necessary steps so that RiO will meet the new emission norms of the government that will come on effect from April 1, 2010.

It is also expected that the company will start delivering RiO in the month of December. This mini-SUV was expected to launch in the Indian market during Diwali. The growing love for SUVs in the country will truly help in the sales of RiO. During April-September 2009, the sales of SUVs in India rose 3.5%. And it is expected that the demand will still grow because of the rising disposable incomes and the construction of more cross-country highways.





The Rio will be offered in three variants, the EX, which is priced at Rs 5.25 lakh, the DX at Rs 5.50 lakh, and LX at Rs 5.95 lakh, ex-showroom, Pune.

BMW makes its Debut in the Roadster Segment in India with the Launch of the New BMW Z4

The new BMW Z4 represents the re-birth of the roadster – powerful and stylish with a modern interpretation. It is the only vehicle in this segment to combine classic roadster proportions with a seating position close to the rear axle, rear-wheel drive and a fully-automatic retractable hardtop. Driving with the roof down, this two-seater offers a refreshingly intense experience of the sunshine and the wind rushing by – and driving with the hardtop closed, it provides all the comfort of a Premium Sports Coupé. The appeal of this two-seater lies in its unique combination of elegance, agility, and supreme comfort.

The new BMW Z4 will be available in the petrol variant – BMW Z4 sDrive35i – and will be available across India at an ex-showroom price of INR 59,00,000 (Ex-showroom price excludes RTO registration charges, tax, insurance, handling charges; Octroi and entry tax if applicable).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India said, “The BMW Z4 outlines an expression of joy which epitomizes the qualities of the BMW brand by combining the ultimate driving experience with maximum sporting potential and distinctive design. More than anything the new BMW Z4 is an expression of sheer driving pleasure. With the new BMW Z4, we want to reach out to new target groups in India who appreciate a pure driving experience, high standards of elegance and value, and suitability for everyday driving and comfort.”

Superior style, sophistication and quality, the new BMW Z4 will be available in a range of six paint finishes (Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Deep Sea Blue, Orion Silver, Space Grey, and Titanium Silver) and three upholstery designs (Leather Kansas Black, Leather Kansas Canberra Beige, and Leather Kansas Coral Red).

The new BMW Z4 also comes with the optional Design Pure White package, that features the finest Nappa leather in Ivory White and door inserts in Alcantara. In addition to the six standard exterior colours, Havanna Brown paintwork is also available exclusively in conjunction with the Design Pure White trim, which brings the unique character of the new BMW Z4 Roadster to the fore.

The new BMW Z4

The contemporary styling of the new BMW Z4 Roadster, with its flattened, athletic-looking rear, wide track and flared wheel arches ensures the car is immediately recognizable on the road, and emphasizes its power. The long bonnet slopes slightly downwards to the upright kidney grille, giving it a dynamic sense of purpose even when stationary. The styling of the new BMW Z4 Roadster is a visual expression of what the car is capable of – which is just how a roadster should be.

With a long bonnet, low, set-back seating position and low belt line, the new BMW Z4 is the only car to combine classic roadster proportions with a retractable hardtop. When the roof is up, its coupé-style lines and the unmistakable BMW Hofmeister kink give the new BMW Z4 Roadster an elegant look. When it is down, the hardtop integrates seamlessly into the flattened, gently sloping rear, so you’d hardly know it’s even there. The two-part retractable roof features a lightweight, aluminium shell design, and opens and closes in approximately 20 seconds.

The six-cylinder in-line petrol engine has a capacity of three litres, and features Twin Turbo technology, High Precision Injection and an all-aluminium crankcase.

The BMW Z4 sDrive35i has a newly developed seven-speed sports automatic transmission, featuring double-clutch technology with which it accelerates to 100 km/h within just 5.1 seconds with a maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp at 5,800 rpm. This supreme performance then continues all the way to 250 km/h where the speed of the car is limited by electronic control.

The new BMW Z4 is the only vehicle on the market today that fully embodies the roadster concept while offering strikingly stylish design. The BMW Z4 has succeeded in delivering an unheard-of level of comfort and functionality for a vehicle of this class, creating a dream car that combines a high level of practicality with a driving experience which no competitor even comes close to.

BMW India

Headquartered in Gurgaon (National Capital Region) BMW India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group. The initial investment in India is 1.1 billion Indian Rupees.

The wide range of BMW activities in India include the establishment of a production plant in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and development of a dealer organisation across major metropolitan centres of the country.

In medium term, BMW India has employed around 200 people; up to 600 additional jobs have been created in the dealer and service network.

The BMW Plant Chennai produces the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series Sedans in petrol and diesel variants and has a capacity to produce 3000 units per year on a single shift basis.

Presently, BMW India is present at 16 locations in the Indian market; BMW Studio (New Delhi), Deutschen Motoren (New Delhi), Deutschen Motoren (West Delhi), Bird Automotive (Gurgaon, NCR), Navnit Motors (Mumbai), Infinity Cars (South Mumbai), Krishna Automobiles (Chandigarh), Navnit Motors (Bangalore), Delta Motors (Hyderabad), Kun Exclusive (Chennai), Bavaria Motors (Pune), OSL Prestige (Kolkata), Parsoli Motors (Ahmedabad), Platino Classic (Kochi), Kun Exclusive (Coimbatore) and Sanghi Classic (Jaipur).

BMW dealerships presently display the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series that are produced at the BMW Plant Chennai. BMW dealerships also display the BMW 6 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X3, the BMW X5, BMW X6 and the BMW Z4 which are available in the country as CBU’s (completely built-up units). The BMW M Cars, BMW 6 Series Individual and BMW 7 Series Individual can also be ordered as CBU’s at BMW India dealerships.


Ford to increase market share by new car launches

Michael Boneham, president and MD of Ford India here on Thursday indicated that the US car maker, Ford has decided to launch a new car every 12 to 18 months in India to enhance its market share. However, he did not indicate what sort of market share the company aims to achieve in the long run. Talking to newsmen at the inauguration of Ford’s new dealership, Victoria Ford, Mr. Boneham said: "We now have a marketshare of nearly 2% and we want to grow it significantly in coming years. Launching of new cars from the Ford stable, will play a crucial role in growing our market share in India."

For 2009, Ford India aims to achieve sales of 30,000 cars compared to 29,000 cars sold in calendar 2008. "In September ‘09, we have been able to sell 3,500 cars which is a 50% increase year-on-year basis," said Nigel Wark, executive director (marketing, sales and services). By investing $500 million, company will expand production at its Chennai plant from 1 lakh to 2 lakh vehicles, apart from producing 2.5 lakh engines, both in petrol and diesel.

SUV Ford Endeavour with some added facilities is being relaunched by Ford and Boneham informed that the new Ford Figo, on which the company is depending to get into the lucrative A segment, would be available in both petrol and diesel variants also. The company exports its cars produced in India to South Africa. Ford’s foray into the Indian compact car market with Ford Figo is expected by the first quarter of calender 2010 and the vehicle would be exported to Asia Pacific and Africa along with sales in India. Last year, the company had exported nearly 4,000 cars.

Dhoni Fined for Hummer H2

Indian Cricket Team Captian MS Dhoni will have to face the rage of the law.

The Indian skipper is fined Rs 100 for delay in the registration of his Hummer H2 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

It is a rule in India to apply for registration within a week of purchasing the car. The rule applies to all. Dhoni too applied for the registration of his Hummer H2 but has submitted an incomplete form. Dhoni was away at that time on India duty. Paying a fine Rs 100 for an Rs 1 Crore SUV is pittance for Dhoni.

Dhoni accompanied by his teammate R.P. Singh had driven the Hummer from Lucknow to Ranchi on July 30. Besides Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh too owns a Hummer H2, made by US auto giant General Motors.

This is the second time Dhoni has faced penalty in connection with cars or for flouting driving rules. Three years ago, he was fined by a traffic policeman for driving a car with tinted window panes, which is banned in his hometown Ranchi.

Moreover, the skipper is also on a sticky wicket with his Harley-Davidson bike. He is yet to submit a “road worthiness certificate” by the makers of the bike which is necessary to have it registered. Dhoni had opted for a number of his choice, a combination of his lucky number 7. Till now he didn’t get his favourite number on his license plate, but there is a high possibility that he would get it soon. The registration number could not be issued till the road-worthiness certificate was furnished.

But Dhoni could burn a hole in his pocket if he continues to drive around in the numberless luxury muscular bike. He may have to pay Rs 4,500 after the initial fine of Rs 100 for his Hummer H2.

For people like us, this is a huge amount, but not a person like Dhoni, who can own a one-Crore-rupee SUV.

Hero Group Launches New Electric Vehicle E-Sprint

Hero group of India has launched its latest electric two wheeler model E-sprint India priced at Rs. 37,400. The new E-Sprint has a range of 65km on a single charge and can attain a top speed of 45kmph. It will be rolled out in the country in a phased manner by next year. “We have launched high speed bikes for the first time in the country. Besides being environment-friendly, these are also very affordable,” Hero Electric Managing Director Naveen Munjal told the reporters.

Hero E-sprint is considered a high speed bikes amongst all electric vehicles considering that other models are able to reach maximum speed of 25-35kmph.

The E-Sprint comes with hydraulic front disc brakes, telescopic shockers, and is powered by what the company calls a BLDC motor that outputs 800 W. Charging time, though, is a lengthy 8 hours – which means that after your 65 km run, you better plug it in overnight to ensure it is ready to go on the next run.

The company has also asked the UP government to exempt the vehicle from VAT due to its eco-friendly credentials. The company already has VAT exemption from 11 states in the country.

Toyota Fortuner



The Toyota Fortuner SUV
has eye-catching exteriors, comfortable, spacious and classy interiors and an extremely powerful diesel engine. Powered by a 3.0 Litre TDCI D-4D diesel engine, the car has 5-speed manual transmission and comes with an All-Time Four Wheel Drive.

The SUV has very luxurious leather upholstery and the spacious interiors that seats seven adults comfortably with enough air conditioning for all the three rows. The stylish hood scoop on the bonnet and the powerful headlamps that are curved around the grille add on to the stance of the SUV.

The Fortuner is built on the IMV (Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle) platform similar to that of Toyota Innova. MID, touchscreen interface, GPS, Climatronic AC system and 17 inch alloy wheel are among the distinct features of the car. Fortuner is also bundled with safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), SRS front airbags, dynamic safety engineering, front and rear side impact door beams sonar back feature for easy parking.




Variant: Toyota Fortuner 3.0L Diesel

Ex-Showroom Price (Rs.) (New Delhi): Rs. 18,45,000

Engine: 3.0L DOHC I-4

Transmission:5 Speed Manual

It's a long wait for key car models this festive season

A number of cars such as Maruti’s Dzire and Ritz, Honda’s City, Hyundai’s i20 and Toyota’s Fortuner SUV have been wiped off shelves in past 10 days and are not available for immediate delivery as demand frenzy during the ongoing festival season has led to stock out situation for car dealers.

Carmakers are now being forced to ramp up production to meet demand. For instance, Maruti has re-jigged its operations to produce more of its newer cars such as Ritz, Estilo, Swift and DZire, while Honda has hiked production of its flagship sedan City and General Motors is operating its factory on all seven days to meet the market demand for small car Spark, utility vehicle Tavera and Aveo sedan even though Sunday is weekly off for the company. The festive season has also put other cars such as Hyundai’s I10 and Toyota’s Innova besides Mahindra and Mahindra’s Xylo out of dealer stock.

Auto industry executives say that the dual-combination of the prevailing festival mood and the slew of new car launches in recent past has contributed to the high sales in the past two weeks. “The interest rates, which are at the lowest level since the past two years is also pushing up volumes,” said Shashank Srivastava chief general manager (marketing) at Maruti. Maruti is slated to end up with despatches of over 5,500 Ritz cars in September as against the monthly average of 4500-5000, it was delivering to dealers every month.

Besides sudden jump in demand there is also a supply lag for these cars. Companies usually ramp up production of new cars over a period depending on demand. Since there has been a sudden jump in demand during the festive period companies were not prepared to churn out the required number of these models.

Unlike older more established products such as Maruti’s Alto or Wagon R, where discounts and freebies up to 15% of the value of the car are given the newer models have much lower discounts. The demand rush during the auspicious Navratara and Dusshera festivals have resulted in the huge waiting period of up to three months on such cars — some of which are leaders in their respective segment.

“There has been much more sales than we had expected. Most of our cars like Tavera, Spark LPG, Aveo sedan have wiped off from the showrooms and are enjoy a waiting of four to six-weeks,” said General Motors vice-president (marketing & sales) Ankush Arora said.

Domestic car market is expected to scale new sales graph for the fiscal in September on the back of this huge demand. This would help the industry surpass the mark of 1.2 lakh cars that were sold in August in India.

Besides general demand, return of easy financing could also have helped spur demand. “We are anticipating a double digit growth in sales over the last year in September with market leaders like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai their highest sales in the domestic market,” HDFC Bank auto loan head Ashok Khanna said. Earlier, most private sector financiers had tightened their auto loan portfolio which had also led to slow growth in demand.

Porsche launches Panamera in Mumbai

The Porsche Panamera was launched in Mumbai at the Porsche Centre at a press event, by its official importer for India, Precision Cars India.

The Panamera fits alongside the 911, Cayenne, Boxster and Cayman ranges as Porsche's fourth nameplate. It is available for delivery in three versions - the S, the 4S and the top-of-the-range Turbo.

''This year commemorates the 100th birthday of Ferry Porsche, one of the truly great automobile men," said Precision Cars' managing director Rod Wallace, at the launch.

"His vision continues today with a new icon carrying the Porsche crest and DNA. It's not often that a manufacturer has the opportunity to develop a completely new vehicle from scratch. In developing this four-seater Gran Turismo, our engineers, technicians and designers invested all the accumulated know-how and passion of the past sixty years. The result is the Panamera, an exclusive vehicle with an endless array of unique propositions''.

Ashish Chordia, CEO, Shreyans Motors Private Limited and Porsche Centre Mumbai, said, ''We are very pleased to start delivering the pre ordered Panameras to our very excited customers. But today is not only about Panamera customers, its about celebrating with every Porsche aficionado the arrival of the new family member, the perfect addition to our existing exciting line-up, Porsche's first entry into the luxurious sedan segment.''

Packed with a wide range of innovative technologies including five world firsts in motoring, the Panamera combines the looks of a coupé, the opulence of a luxury car, four-seater space and Porsche's distinctive driving dynamics. Moreover, Porsche offers best-in-class performance with maximum fuel efficiency to make the Panamera a uniquely engineered sports car.

Never before in the 61-year history of Porsche has the Stuttgart carmaker boasted a model range as attractive, powerful and competitive as it is today. A carefully conceived variant strategy and a wide range of customisation options combine to fill every customer's requirements, no matter how unusual.

Lower and wider
Through its proportions alone, measuring 1,931 mm in width and 1,418 mm in height, the Panamera is lower and wider than other models in its segment. The car's overall length of 4,970 mm gives it an unmistakable GT silhouette, especially with the short, sporting overhangs front and rear. The Panamera follows a Porsche design philosophy that has been refined over the decades on the 911 and successfully implemented on the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne.

It comes with highly individual, strongly contoured air intakes instead of a conventional radiator grille, strong wheel arches and the long and sleek bonnet typical of the 911. The strikingly, muscular shoulders over the rear wheels, the dynamic sweep of the coupé-like roofline and the visible tailpipes continue to bestow the feel of its forebears.

The 4.8-litre Panamera S generates 400 hp through a strong, fuel-efficient, eight-cylinder motor that drives the rear wheels via a the Porsche -Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual-clutch transmission - featured for the first time ever in a large, four-door model in the premium segment - with seven gears, which improves the fuel consumption to a mere 12.5 l/100 km.

With its 500 Nm of torque from between 3,500 and 5,000 rpm, and an excellent 83.2 hp output per litre, the Panamera S can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds, and continue to a top speed of 285 km/h.

Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe PDK also comes as standard on the 4.8-litre, 400-hp Panamera 4S, which also features Porsche Traction Management (PTM) and an intelligent all-wheel drive system. Like the S, it is capable of producing 500 Nm of torque between 3,500 and 5,000 rpm, but the 4S can hit 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 282 km/h. Its economy rating is as impressive as its performance, achieving fuel consumption of just 11.1 l/100 km.

With a 500-hp, eight-cylinder engine and bi-turbo technology, the top of the range Panamera Turbo, comes with PDK as standard alongside all-wheel drive. It generates 700 Nm of torque from 2,250 to 4,500 rpm - 779 Nm with Overboost in conjunction with optional Sports Chrono Package Turbo in the Sports Plus Mode - and boasts a power output per litre of 104.1 hp. The Turbo produces scintillating performance with a top speed of 303 km/h and a staggering time of only 4.2 seconds form 0 to100 km/h. In spite of the Turbo's performance potential, it still registers meagre fuel consumption of just 12.2 l/100 km.

All models feature Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), low-friction drivetrains, and lightweight body technology. Even the Panamera Turbo weighs less than 2,000 kg, despite its wide range of standard equipment.

To reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions even further, all versions of the Panamera equipped with the PDK come with Porsche's new auto start-stop function that automatically switches off the engine as soon as the car comes to a standstill - for example at traffic lights or in a traffic jam - then automatically starts the engine again as soon as the brake pedal is released. The result is a significant reduction in fuel consumption, particularly in city traffic.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is a standard feature on the Turbo and an option on the Panamera S and 4S. Its three manually adjustable control maps and frequency-specific damping provide a wide range of adjustments, from extra sporting through to extremely comfortable motoring. This is achieved through an adaptive air suspension with additional air volume that is available on demand in each air spring. In the Sport Plus Mode, the Panamera is lowered by 25 mm.

Porsche Stability Management (PSM) provides an extremely higher level of supreme active safety, and comes as standard in the Panamera. This system comprises a whole range of functions, from ABS and anti-slip control (ASR) to engine drag-force control (MSR), automatic brake differential (ABD) and Brake Assist with pre-filling of the brake system. It also features a trailer stabilizing system, start-off management and halt management.

PSM is designed to intervene in critical driving situations when close to the limit by applying the brakes selectively in order to stabilise the car, thus offering an extremely high standard of active safety combined with the unique agility typical of a Porsche. The driver however has the option to deactivate the PSM.

The Panamera comes on newly developed 18- and 19-inch wheels, with unique, 20-inch, lightweight aluminium wheels available as an option. Each model runs on tyres of different size front and rear, which ensures that the wheels are properly matched to the needs on each axle, offering optimum traction, driving stability and steering qualities combined with supreme comfort at all times.

Available on the Panamera Turbo is an active aerodynamic system that deploys a multi-stage, adjustable rear spoiler. This three-way set-up raises and lowers based on driving conditions using the efficient management of control angles and surface geometry. This system not only adds to stability and ride comfort, it also helps further improve fuel efficiency, a theme Porsche has developed across the Panamera's design and engineering.

An enhanced thermal management system controls the coolant temperature and quickly warms up the engine and reduces friction, and contributes to a significant reduction in fuel consumption.

The interiors
From a design perspective, the Panamera was developed as a four-seater right from the start and boasts a unique interior that fits perfectly within the car's niche. Despite its unusually low and stretched silhouette, the Panamera's dimensions give generous room for all four seats.

A centre console extending all the way along the interior from front to rear highlights a personal cocoon for each passenger, a feeling that is continued with the four individually tailored seats. Low seat positions give the driver and passengers a direct feeling of the road that is typical of Porsche.

All models in the Panamera range come standard with sports seats for the driver and front passenger. Electrically adjustable in eight directions, these superior seats give excellent driving comfort in the Panamera S and 4S.

With the Panamera Turbo electrical seat adjustment is combined with a Comfort Memory Package, which also comprises seat-bottom extension, lumbar support, and electrical steering column adjustment.

At the rear, the two single seats on all models offer even tall passengers more than ample leg and headroom. Further alternatives such as adaptive sports seats and electrically adjustable comfort seats in the rear are available on request. Finally, customers also have the choice of further options ranging from various types of leather upholstery to the keyless Porsche Entry & Drive system -which is standard on the Panamera Turbo.

All versions of the Panamera come with air conditioning that is optimised for energy efficiency, low weight and compact dimensions. The regular air conditioning featured as standard offers two-zone automatic climate control giving the driver and front passenger individual control of temperature, air volume and distribution. They have the option of entering their favourite settings manually via a control unit on the centre console.

Available on request is four-zone, automatic air conditioning with individual adjustment of temperature, blower strength and air distribution for each seat. With this, Porsche engineers have developed a sophisticated system of ducts that distributes the air individually at the right temperature.

The Panamera sets new standards in its class in terms of audio and communication. The highlight is the seven-inch, colour touch screen fitted with both the CDR-31 audio system and Porsche Communication Management (PCM), including a navigation module.

The Panamera S and 4S come with the CDR-31 as standard, while the Turbo is equipped with PCM, with the navigation module available as an option on the other two models. Based on these sophisticated high-tech systems, the Panamera offers a large number of individual functions ranging from voice control through to Bluetooth mobile phone connections. Features extend all the way to an electronic logbook.

As an option, rear passengers can enjoy their very own personal entertainment in the Panamera, with Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment, incorporating two consoles integrated in the headrests of the front seats with swivelling seven-inch, TFT colour displays that integrate cordless infrared headsets.

Again, all functions are easily operated from a touch screen, with the additional option to transmit films or data from one screen to the other.

A premium Burmester High-End Surround Sound System - the pinnacle in listening power and quality - is available as an option, while the BOSE Surround Sound System comes as standard in the Panamera Turbo and is optional on all other models.

Advanced safety
The Panamera naturally features advanced safety concepts for passengers, with full-size airbags igniting in two stages depending on the severity and type of accident, and offering the driver and front passenger substantial safety and protection.

In the case of a less severe accident the occupants are held back in their seats by the airbags igniting to their first and softer stage, reducing the forces acting on the occupants. Knee airbags featured by Porsche as standard for the first time on the lower part of the instrument panel likewise serve to hold back the lower body of the driver and front passenger in a head-on collision whenever required.

Also featured as standard, the Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP) comes with two-chamber thorax/hip side airbags at the front, integrated in the backrests at the side and is tailored specifically to meet collision requirements around the driver's and front passengers' hips and ribs. These side airbags are supplemented by curtain airbags extending along the entire roof frame and the side windows from the A- all the way to the C-pillars, as well as side impact protectors in the doors.

Side airbags at the rear are available as an option, while a roll sensor detects the risk of the car rolling over and automatically activates both the curtain airbags and the safety belt tensioners.

With its focus on safety and the environment combining with excellent performance and absolute comfort, the Porsche Panamera has been well worth the wait. This four-door grand tourismo is a unique offering that sets the standard within its segment.