Top Car Launches in 2010

2010 has been a remarkable year for not just carmakers but car buyers too. With a flood of launches, Indian buyers had more than what they could take, in terms of new cars. Nevertheless, car manufacturers kept bringing new and advanced looks and technology in the cars to lure the Indian buyers towards them.
Lets have a look at what the car industry brought in, what was a memorable year, 2010

Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen, the premium automobile company truly understands the sentiments attached with wedding season in India. The German auto manufacturer has rightly catered the marriage season in India by launching an ad campaign and woven Volkswagen Beetle beautifully in it.

Chevrolet Beat
The beautiful car from world’s largest auto manufacturer, General Motors, spiced up the year 2010 with its beauty performance and excellence. The Chevrolet Beat was launched on 4th Jan 2010 and was priced between Rs 3,49,994 - Rs 4,15,486 with availability in three exciting petrol variants. The choice of colors makes the model more interesting on road. The premium hatchback offers mileage of 14.5kmpl in city and 18.6kmpl on highway.

Nissan Micra
Nissan took a big move in Indian automobile hatchback segment by bringing its all exciting Nissan Micra on 14th July 2010. The company introduced its diesel version on 10th December. Nissan Micra was the first car from Japanese auto makers to be brought to India and was well received in the market due to its look, easy maneuverability. The selling features of Nissan Micra are its turning radius (4.65), Push start and Intelligent key system. The mill of the compact four-wheeler offers mileage of around 14 kmpl in city and 18.06 kmpl on highways.

Volkswagen Vento
The car priced between Rs 7,17,470 - Rs 9,47,170 was launched on 12th August 2010. The all new Volkswagen Vento comes with the same engine as is available in Volkswagen Polo i.e. 1.6 L petrol and diesel engines. The beautiful compact car gives a mileage of 20.54 kmpl on highway and 15.8 kmpl in city. Volkswagen Vento is designed to give direct competition to the market leader Honda City.

Skoda Yeti
The stunning SUV from Skoda was launched on 15th Nov 2010. Skoda Yeti was awarded the SUV of the year and comes with a price tag of Rs 15,40,324* - Rs 16,62,721. The new Skoda vehicle comes in two variants i.e. Ambiente and Elegance. the crossover delivers 17.67 kmpl of mileage. The major competitors for this new car in Indian market are Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Aria, Maruti Grand Vitara, Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Mahindra Thar
The powerful gypsy made its way on Indian roads on 21st December 2010 with a price tag of Rs 5,99,000 - Rs 5,99,000. Mahindra Thar assures a safe and powerful drive on worst road conditions. The powerful engine offers zipper acceleration and crosses a 100 kms easily in just 13.5 seconds. It offers a top speed of 150 kmph. The contemporary gypsy is given an edgy look with least of curves and delicate lines rather the crease on body are so prominent and bold that it depicts great power.

Toyota Etios
The sizzling luxury made its way in Indian market on 1st December 2010. Toyota Etios sedan is the least priced (Rs 4,96,000 - Rs 6,86,500) model in Toyota’s portfolio. Hugely popular car registered over 12000 bookings within 15 days of launch, making a record. It gives a mileage of 17.6 kmpl on highway and 12 kmpl in city. This makes it a fuel efficient car without compromising on the performance and luxury.

The Etios Sedan is launched in Hyderabad

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) will increase the localisation of Etios, the B segment sedan which it launched in Hyderabad on Wednesday, once its engine plant in Bangalore gets ready in 2012. As of now, the vehicle is 70 per cent localised and this will go up to 90 per cent in two years.

Also, it will increase its dealer network from seven to ten in Andhra Pradesh in view of the new launch.

Speaking to the media on the launch, TKM executive managing coordinator (sales) Koji Nagata said the sedan would be available in four variants priced between Rs 4.95 lakh and Rs 6.88 lakh ex-showroom Hyderabad.

The company would soon launch a diesel variant of the sedan, he said, adding that there have been 8,000 bookings of the new vehicle which was launched nationally last week. It would take about four or five months to deliver them.

The company also unveiled its hatchback, Etios Liva, which would be launched in April 2011. "This is the small car for us. There are no immediate plans for smaller car than Liva,'' he said.

TKM general manager (sales) Sailesh Shetty said the company was now working out the price hike on its models as the input costs, particularly of steel, have gone up. Inflation and strengthening of the rupee too are factors, he said.

Etios will be made at the second TKM plant in Bangalore, which has an annual production capacity of 70,000 vehicles.

Music maestro AR Rahman has been roped as the brand ambassador for Etios.

Toyota to launch hatchback 'Etios Liva'

Japanese auto major Toyota will launch compact car 'Etios Liva' by April 2011 to strengthen position in India, where it is a fringe player in the car segment as against its leadership position globally. The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, said the pricing of the hatchback based on the same platform as its new Etios sedan will be decided after the Union Budget.

It has priced the entry level sedan Etios between Rs 4.96 lakh and Rs 6.86 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). "The launch of Etios sedan will be followed by the hatchback model called Etios Liva. By the end of March next year or April beginning we will launch the car and deliveries will start from April," TKM Deputy Managing Director Marketing Sandeep Singh told reporters here. On the pricing of Etios Liva, he said, "We will take a call after the Budget."

While the Etios sedan is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine, the Liva will have 1.2 litre petrol engine. Singh said both the sedan and hatchback put together, TKM plans to sell 70,000 cars in India in 2011. Recently, he said the company aims to sell 1.45 lakh units of all its models next year, from about 73,000 units expected in 2010. TKM sells models such as sedans Toyota Corolla Altis and Camry along with multi utility vehicle Innova.

TKM aims to capture 10 per cent of the Indian car market by 2015, mainly on the back of the Etios family. Overall, 15 lakh cars were sold in the country in 2009-10. Globally, Toyota was the world's largest carmaker in 2010 despite its consolidated sales declining by 4.4 per cent to 7.24 million units from the previous year.

Singh said the TKM could increase the output of Etios depending on customer demand from the current levels of 80,000 units a year. He said that for Etios sedan, TKM has received 3,077 orders within two days of the launch on Wednesday. The deliveries will start from January.

TKM Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said about 70 per cent of the components of Etios are locally sourced. Only critical components like engines and transmissions are imported. "By 2012, we will shift the engine production to India followed by the transmission in 2013," he said, adding after that the localisation level would be 90 per cent.

Maruti All Set To Launch Their First Made In India Car

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, is the largest car company and automobile manufacturer having near about half of the domestic car market share. Its all time hit models like Maruti 800, Maruti Alto and recent models like Maruti Swift, Wagon-R, DZire are known to all. Now the company is planning to launch its first completely made in India New Cars by 2012 and final design of this model will be released in the first half of next year. Final work on the design and other aspects is in full swing, as reported by a source.

Also according to information this complete made in India Maruti car will be placed along with small car segment like Maruti Alto and company is working really hard to launch this Maruti car by 2012 and to make this car also a grand success.

Maruti Suzuki partial subsidiary of Japanese auto giant Suzuki, is working seriously for the company's future car models and also on its growth programme. To carry on development programme of this Maruti car, company is planning to invest a sum of Rs 1,500 crore at in the next 3-4 years time at Rohtak R&D center which is the only center having equipments and standards comparable other than one in Japan. Main manufacturing plant of Maruti Suzuki is located at Gurgaon and Manesar which have annual capacity of more than 7 lac units. One of the spokesperson without disclosing the information about new car told that Maruti Suzuki India is always eager to satisfy their customers and will always work towards the technological development and better facilities.

Also if reports are to believe Maruti Suzuki India Limited is launching this first made in India model to challenge other competitors like Hyundai Motors and to better companys grip in the domestic market.

And to further adding to it, Hyundai Motors is also engaged in designing and developing a model which will be placed below Hyundai Santro to compete with Maruti Alto. So those who are not interested in buying a car in near future may wait for these models to change their minds and make decision.

Audi planning biggest investment in company history

Audi is planning the biggest investment programme in the company's history, investing some 11.6 billion euros (about $15 billion) between 2011 and 2015 in new products and hiring around 1,200 experts to bolster electro-mobility and lightweight construction, the carmaker has announced.

Some two thirds of the investment - more than 9.5 billion euros - will be spent on new technologies such as electric and hybrid drive systems such as the Audi R8 e-tron electric sports car which the company plans on selling in late 2012, according to Axel Strotbek, board member of finance.

Several new models are planned for launch in 2011, including the new A6 and the Q5 hybrid, the first full hybrid from the carmaker. The Audi Q3, to be built in Martorell in Spain, will occupy the midsize premium SUV segment for the first time. Some 20 new models are scheduled for launch by the year 2014.

Some five billion euros will be invested at the company's main German production sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.

'In addition to our foreign sites, the German sites will also profit greatly from the Audi brand's good worldwide prospects for growth, especially in China,' Strotbek said.

New BMW 520d Hits Indian Roads

German car manufacturer BMW is well-known for producing luxury-centric, high-performance vehicles, and can probably be termed as a worldwide leader in first-class car retails. It has now been reported that the company has uncovered its chic new 5 series sedan BMW 520d for Indian consumers which is immediately available for purchase.

The new vehicle is reported to offer best-in-class fuel economy of 18.4 km/ltr which is measured by Automotive Research Association of India for Indian market specifications and is made possible through appropriate execution of ‘Efficient Dynamics’, which simply means getting more for less. Additionally, BMW 520d also integrates light weight construction technology, advanced Electronic Power Steering technology and Brake Energy Regeneration.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW India stated, “The 5 Series is the core model in our product portfolio. The new BMW 5 Series sedan, since its launch in April 2010, has successfully emerged as a leader in the luxury sedan segment in India. The new BMW 520d sets a new benchmark for four cylinder diesel sedans by combining outstanding performance with incomparable fuel efficiency.”

Crafted out with elegant aesthetics, unparalleled comfort and dynamic performance, the new BMW 520d is said to be one of the ‘most desirable modern executive sedan’ in its segment. The car is offered in ten paint finishes, Imperial Blue Brilliant Effect, Alpine White, Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect, Cashmere Silver, Deep Sea Blue, Havanna, Milano Beige, Space Grey, Titanium Silver as well as Black Sapphire. With individual upholstery designs in Dakota leather available in Cinnamon Brown/Black, Oyster/Black, Oyster/Oyster Dark, Vento Beige and Black shades for the car, interior trims can be furnished in Fine-wood Trim Fineline Anthracite and Fine-wood Trim Ash Grain Brown.

BMW 520d is powered by a two-litre four cylinder turbo diesel engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission which delivers a maximum output of 135 kW/184 hp. Moreover, acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/hr can be attained in 8.1 seconds with top speed of 225 km/h along with which a peak torque of 380 Nm at 1,750 rpm can be achieved that reaches its maximum output at 2,500 rpm.

Produced in the BMW Plant Chennai as CKD (completely knocked-down unit), the new BMW 520d is now available to order from BMW dealerships all throughout India and is priced at Rs. 36,90,000, an ex-showroom price which excludes RTO registration charges, tax, insurance, handling charges, octroi and entry tax.