New Mercedes Benz CLS

The old generation Mercedes CLS has made way for the New CLS which is actually a toned down version of the concept. “Seduction Has To Be Flawless”.

The new CLS – the new design icon from Mercedes-Benz

A generation ahead: The CLS-Class created a new vehicle category in 2003 by combining the elegance and expressiveness of a coupé with the comfort and functionality of a sedan. The CLS delighted the public, astounded the competi-tion and created a new style icon: for years the CLS has endured as the only four-door coupé in its class, and since October 2004 it has been the car of choice for approximately 170,000 buyers worldwide. “Customers all over the world benefited from our bold move to launch a completely new vehicle con-cept onto the market”, explains a delighted Dr. Joachim Schmidt, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales & Marketing. “And with its exciting de-sign, the new edition of the CLS also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the competition with our four-door Coupé.”

Celebrating its world premiere at the Paris motor show (October 2 – 17, 2010), the 2012 CLS-Class will arrive in U.S. dealerships in mid-2011. The 2012 CLS-Class builds on the pioneering role of its predecessor with a fresh new inter-pretation. “The new CLS points the way forward for the future perceptible de-sign idiom of Mercedes-Benz”, explains Professor Gorden Wagener, head of de-sign at Mercedes-Benz. “At the same time it takes its inspiration from the great tradition of stylish, refined sportiness which has always been a feature of Mercedes coupés.”

Exterior: classic Coupé styling with distinctive front

The proportions remain as spectacular as ever: long hood, tightly-styled frame-less side windows and a dynamic roof sweeping back at an angle towards the rear. The four-door Coupé from Mercedes-Benz immediately made its mark in 2003 as a new style icon. Though the proportions are the same, the secondgeneration of this design trendsetter has a completely new look.

What immediately strikes the eye is the innovative front design, which is reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Visually, the radiator grille is not inte-grated into the hood but formed separately. This further highlights the long, sporty hood. The grille is dominated by the large central star, which unites the car with other Mercedes-Benz coupés and also enhances brand identity. The large, elongated dark air inlets with black grilles also add to the vehicle’s ath-letic appearance.

Design brings high-tech features to life

Another distinguishing feature comes in the form of the full LED headlamps, which are the world’s first to offer all of the dynamic light functions using LED technology. This innovation boasts an impressive design – inside they are di-vided into three arrow-shaped layers from top to bottom: the upper layer contains an LED indicator, beneath which is a striking LED side light offers LED low beam functions. The side light can also be seen when the high beam is activated, thereby creating a unique night-time design. The lowest level of the headlamp houses the main beam and nightview functions. A total of 71 LED’s provide an unmistakable appearance as well as a significantly enhanced view of the road compared with previous systems.

The typical CLS outline, with its elegantly long proportions, is the dominating attribute of the new model. The effect of the dynamic, athletic form has been enhanced with a new interplay of lines and surfaces. A unique “dropping line”, which begins above the front wheel-wells and slopes downward towards the rear, represents a new interpretation of a renowned design hallmark of his-toric Mercedes sports cars. A distinctive and muscular sports car-like shoulder line above the rear axle highlights the athletic character of the 2012 CLS. The flared wheel arches resemble the powerful stance of a predator waiting to pounce. The side profile is rounded off with wide wrap-around tail lights featuring LED technology — a linking element to the rear of the vehicle. The shape is empha-sized by the broad shoulder line, which is clearly visible from behind and sup-ports the flat roof. A wide metal insert adds a further visual highlight at the rear.

The interior: design brings quality to life

The interior of the 2012 CLS-Class is also distinguished by a timeless design which combines discreet elegance with innovative details and handcrafted per-fection. The eye-catching cockpit features a wrap-around dashboard sweeping from the driver’s door over the instrument panel support and across to the front passenger door. The central display has also been integrated seamlessly into the upper part of the instrument panel.

Watch the video of Mercedes Benz CLS here:

The CLS also lives up to its role as a design icon thanks to the innovative nature of the materials used, including a mixture of satin and high-gloss finishes used on the metal surfaces. Highlights also include matte galvanized air vents which ideally compliment a high-gloss-trimmed analogue clock.

Handcrafted perfection is reflected in details such as the stitched seat covers and dashboard. The individual parts of the leather dashboard are sewn to-gether by hand in a process which takes several hours, after which they are fit-ted and upholstered with high-quality padding. Prior to this process, the leather is also heated to preshrink it, so that it will retain its shape even after extreme exposure to direct sunlight.

The particularly exclusive 1.6-millimeter thick semi-aniline premium leather meets the highest standards of both look and feel. The natural pore structure remains intact thanks to a light pigmentation, and the leatherhas an especially warm and soft feel to it. Premium leather requires a very precise manual selection process and therefore a high amount of untreated leather.

The refined interior of the CLS is further reflected in the generous use of high-quality trim elements, located on the instrument panels, center console and door linings. Customers can choose between high-gloss brown burl walnut or high-gloss black ash. The wood has been perfectly fitted around difficult con-tours for a masterful handcrafted finish, and the wood trim has been matched according to grain as part of a sophisticated selection process to create a consistent overall impression.

For an even more progressive look, black piano lacquer or carbon fiber trim elements are also available. Handcrafted as well, up to seven layers are applied and polished for the piano lacquer trim until the high-gloss finish is achieved.

India production to go up by 50 pc next year: Audi

German luxury car-maker Audi on Friday said it will ramp up its output by 50 per cent in India to about 3,000 units next year, even as it gets ready to enter the used-car business by 2011.

The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Audi India, is also considering the launch of luxury sedan A7 and will initiate a market study for the same.

"Seeing the demand that we are having for our products, I think that we will have to start the second shift at our plant. Our production from the plant will be exceeding 3,000 units next year," Audi India Head Michael Perschke said.

The company, which currently assembles luxury sedans A4, A6 and sports utility vehicle Q5 at its Aurangabad facility, expects to produce about 2,000 units this year, he added.

Perschke said the company will roll out a new variant of A6 next year from the facility. The plant has an installed production capacity of 6,000 units.

"We will also launch a completely new A8 and a 4.2 litre TDI version of Q7. These two cars will be imported," he added.

When asked if the company is planning to introduce any new model in India, Perschke said: "We are looking very seriously for the A7. We will do a market research and evaluate its demand in the country."

He, however, declined to give any timeframe for launching the vehicle in India.

He said the company expects to sell about 2,700 units this year compared to 1,658 units in 2009.

Asked if Audi India will start a used car business like its rivals, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Perschke said: "Most probably from next year we will have the pre-owned car business. We already have it in Europe under 'Audi Plus' brand."

He said the company has not yet decided about the branding of the used-car business for India.

Audi India had earlier committed an investment of 30 million euros till 2015. It has already put in about 65 per cent of the amount.

"Every year we are exceeding our own expectations. If the market grows at this rate, then we see all reasons to revise our investment by 2012," Perschke said.

He said the luxury car market in India could cross the 12,000 units mark this year. With a target of about 2,700 units for this year, Audi's share would be about 25 per cent.

The company is also expanding its dealership network to about 20 by next year from the existing 14 outlets, he added.

Porsche India Launches Porsche Cayenne in Mumbai

German sports-car company, Porsche, last week launched the second-generation version of its luxury SUV, the Porsche Cayenne, in India. The new Cayenne comes in five variants, priced between Rs 65.82 lakh and Rs 1.27 crore. One of these is the Cayenne S Hybrid which, at Rs 75.46 lakh, is the most expensive hybrid vehicle in the country. The company has already received 10 orders for the Cayenne Hybrid, out of a total of 70 bookings across variants.

At present, Porsche has 2 showrooms in India, and will open 5 more in Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kochi and Ahmedabad by the end of 2010. Porsche India Director, Mr Ashish Chordia, told mediapersons that the new Cayenne represented the perfect balance between elegant design and powerful driving dynamics, with much improved efficiency. The Cayenne S Hybrid variant can run 100 km on only 8.2 litres of fuel.

A New Vision of Mercedes-Benz

The Vision S500 is a Plug-in Hybrid concept car from Mercedes-Benz. This is another car that is going to be displayed at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show that will begin next week.

The German car maker claims that its S400 Hybrid is currently the most fuel-efficient petrol-engined luxury saloon in the world and that it is a glimpse at the future shape of things to come from the car manufacturer.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500 will be the first 3-litre car in the full sized premium class. It can cover 30 km on electric power alone and consumes just 3.2 liters of petrol for every 100 kilometers.

This is possible as the engineers at Mercedes-Benz have managed to combine a powerful direct injected 3.5-litre petrol V6, a 60 bhp electric hybrid module and a next generation lithium ion battery pack with more than 10 kWh of storage capacity, which can be recharged at charging stations.

The Vision S500 is powerful enough to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 250km/h. The Vision S500 is a Plug-in Hybrid is a luxurious and safe car belonging to the next generation S-Class. It offers superior driving performance while eco-friendly compared to car in the same segment.

The car will go into production in near future; a tentative date for production has yet to be mentioned by the luxury car company. Mercedes-Benz India sells the S-Class in India and hence we expect the Vision S500 to be India bound.

Audi Q7 enters Indian SUV market!

The latest lady in town is SUV Audi Q7, which German premier car maker Audi announced on Thursday.

The sports vehicle will be available in Maharashtra in 11 colours and in three price range costing Rs 55.2 lakhs, Rs 53.4 lakh and Rs 29.9 lakh.

The car has all the latest ranging from features like voice control, so the driver can just call out the name of a song on the music system or a phone number from the cellphone.

It also has adaptable headlights that switch on or off according to the moves of the car, showing the path ahead. This seven seater luxurious car has a capacity of about 2,035 litres.

“Audi India achieved remarkable growth in the first eight months of 2009 by selling 1,128 cars (62 percent growth). With the launch of new Audi Q7, we expect to sell upwards of 1,500 cars,” said Audi India managing director Benoit Tiers.

Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai,Kolkata and Kochi already has Audi dealers.

“We plan to expand to Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur and Coimbatore soon,” Tiers said. Now that’s what the car lovers fantasy comes true!

BMW, Audi race to take on Merc

The battle for the top spot in the country's top of the line luxury car segment is getting more intense and Mercedes Benz's near ten-year-old stranglehold in the market is under serious threat.

While BMW is the odds on favourite having already steered ahead in the first quarter of this fiscal, Audi has emerged as the dark horse in the fight. By the end of last fiscal (2008-09) in March, Mercedes Benz India held on to its leadership position selling 3,537 cars. But the signs of a change in the pecking order were there with BMW exceeding its own target and also selling more than 3,000 cars in the year.

"This market is already challenging and without doubt the competition is getting more and more intense," said Peter Kronschnabl, president BMW India. The three German companies are now racing against each other to expand their presence in the hinterland."Our involvement with tier II cities is growing at a fast pace and we are confident that these cities reflect the future growth pockets and offer good potential. We investing Rs 150 crore to expand to new cities as also to upgrade our existing network," said Dr Wilfried Aulbur, MD and CEO, Mercedes Benz India.

BMW Z4 To Be Launched In India In October

BMW will be launching its two-seater convertible roadster Z4 in India in October this year.

“The vehicle will be a brand shaper for us in India, we will launch it in October,” Peter Kronschnabl, president of BMW India, told The Telegraph on the sidelines of the SIAM convention in New Delhi.

BMW has plans to sell about 30-40 units of the car annually. The Z4 is priced between Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 60 lakh.

The new Z4 sports car comes with a 3-litre diesel engine and was launched in Europe in December 2008. The new edition will come with a folding hard roof.

Despite adding to the weight of the car, this feature has increased its appeal. Performance parameters include a top speed of 250 kph and a 0-100 kph rev-up in 5.8 seconds.

BMW India, which is a subsidiary of Germany’s BMW Group, will launch a petrol variant of its 7-series cars with a six-cylinder engine by September.

“Last year, we sold 2,908 units and this year we are confident of crossing 3,000 on the back of new cars and a robust demand for our products,” Kronschnabl said.

The company plans to increase its capacity by 2011. BMW’s current portfolio in India comprises cars from the 3 series, 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, X6, X5 and X3.

BMW Z4 To Be Launched In India In October

BMW will be launching its two-seater convertible roadster Z4 in India in October this year. “The vehicle will be a brand shaper for us in India, we will launch it in October,” Peter Kronschnabl, president of BMW India, told The Telegraph on the sidelines of the SIAM convention in New Delhi. BMW has plans to sell about 30-40 units of the car annually. The Z4 is priced between Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 60 lakh. The new Z4 sports car comes with a 3-litre diesel engine and was launched in Europe in December 2008. The new edition will come with a folding hard roof. Despite adding to the weight of the car, this feature has increased its appeal. Performance parameters include a top speed of 250 kph and a 0-100 kph rev-up in 5.8 seconds. BMW India, which is a subsidiary of Germany’s BMW Group, will launch a petrol variant of its 7-series cars with a six-cylinder engine by September. “Last year, we sold 2,908 units and this year we are confident of crossing 3,000 on the back of new cars and a robust demand for our products,” Kronschnabl said. The company plans to increase its capacity by 2011. BMW’s current portfolio in India comprises cars from the 3 series, 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, X6, X5 and X3.

BMW Withdraws from Formula One

This comes as a shocker for many Formula One fans. BMW has announced that it is withdrawing from world’s most viewed motorsports event Formula One racing! … BMW becomes the second team after Honda withdrew its candidature by end of 2008.

Well, BMW says that it is withdrawing from the racing event to restructure its motorsports activities. While the company claims that it wants to dedicate more resources to develop new racing technologies, but critics beg to differ.

BMW has been involved with Formula Once racing since 1980’s. It was an engine supplier to Brabham and helped clinch eight Formula One victories and one world title. Following the 1986 win, BMW exited from the F1 motorsports events till 2000. They again got back as the engine suppliers to Williams team which secured 10 victories over five years. BMW became an official Formula One entrant in 2006 after acquiring the Swiss Sauber team.

However, the current decision is hailed as a Landmark decision by BMW which has had three successful years, previously. BMW has struggled enormously in all events held this year. The team also lost its Credit Suisse sponsorship owning to the global economic meltdown. The company faced a huge credit crunch and BMW was unable to find a suitable replacement sponsorer for its F1 motorsports venture.

The decision has rendered a big blow to the Formula One event organisers. They fear that more teams will pull out form the event in the coming days. The FIA, the sports governing body has rushed into damage control mode. It is considering asking the main five constructer teams to sign an agreement to agree to continue to race till 2012. If this gets through the drive with which Formula One races are held will be diluted significantly.

Further Formula one’s involvement goes beyond mere racing in F1 events. It has been one of the manufacturer to run the Formula BMW junior championship. Leading racer Sebastian Vettel was found in this event. There are many other contributions of BMW towards FI.

The Formula One racing has become poorer by the exit of another car manufacturer.

Panamera to Debut in India by October

Porsche’s newest in the car; the Porsche Panamera will be inaugurated in India during mid-October.

The Porsche Panamera is a luxury sedan that was exhibited in 13th Auto Shanghai on 19th April, 2009. It marks the first ever four-door premium luxury sports car from the esteemed German luxury carmaker.


This upcoming sedan from Porsche will come with a 4.8 litre V8 direct fuel injection engine. The dynamic Porsche Panamera 4S, boasts of a 4.8-litre V8 that can power 400 bhp. The engine is mated to Porsche’s seven-speed PDK Doppelkupplungsgetriebe for all four wheel drive.

This sedan can accelerate to 0-100 km in 5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 282km/h. The Panamera Turbo is available in a 4.8-litre V8 twin turbo that can give a power output of 500bhp with power transmitted again by Porsche’s seven-gear Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK).

The Panamera features avant-garde technologies, world-class engineering and fascinating design to seduce new customers. The low-sleek silhouette of the high-end sedan is mesmerizing. There are five new cutting-edge technologies that make their world debut in the Panamera.

Some of them are the start-stop system in conjunction with automatic transmission, air suspension with additional air volume available on demand in each spring and active aerodynamics with an adjustable, multi-dimensional, extendable rear spoiler on the Panamera Turbo.

The Porsche Panamera is likely to be priced between Rs 1.42 to Rs 2.02 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) which is inclusive of VAT and import duty. The sedan will be positioned against the BMW 7-series and Audi A8 in the Indian market.

BMW skeptical Over Mini Launch

It looks like the German premium car maker BMW, is skeptical of launching its iconic luxury hatchback, the Mini in India. The launch of this hatchback was supposed to happen by the end of this year. BMW had announced its Mini launch plans during the launch of BMW X6, a sports activity coupe in India.
The Mini is a three-door luxury hatchback that was likely to be imported as a CBU in India. The BMW Mini would carry a price tag of Rs20 Lakh. The delay in the launch of this luxury hatchback owes largely because the luxury hatchback market in India is not developed. Moreover, BWM thought the investment to launch a new brand would be substantial in this condition. Any carmaker needs to look at the potential business opportunity before launching a car, especially when it’s a luxury car. BMW Mini would have faced a tough competition with the Fiat 500 if it had been launched in India at the prescribed date.
The German car giant would reconsider the launch of the Mini by the end of the third quarter of the calendar year. BMW competes with European rivals DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE) and Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) in the premium Indian car market. This German carmaker makes the 3 and 5 series in India and also sells its 7 series from imported kits.
To strengthen the dealership network, BMW will set up dealerships in 10 more cities by the end of 2010. Presently, there are 13 dealerships in the country. The company has invested $30 million in India, including setting up a plant in Chennai.
BMW has lined up a slew of launches in 2009 like the new BMW 7 series, the new BMW 3 series, and a diesel variant of BMW X3.

BMW to launch its Roadster Z4 in India

World’s top luxury and sports car manufacturer BMW has said it will launch its Roadster Z4 in India later this year. Roadster Z4 is top two seater sports car that company believes will attract hip and prosperous Indian youth.

BMW is very optimistic about its chances in the Indian market. It plans to launch at least half a dozen new cars here before the year end.

Its plans are not without any basis. The company has already replaced Mercedes Benz this year as the top luxury car brand in India.



After World War I, BMW was forced to cease aircraft (engine) production by the terms of the Versailles Armistice Treaty. The company consequently shifted to motorcycle production in 1923 once the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted, followed by automobiles in 1928.

The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel is often alleged to portray the movement of an airplane propeller, to signify the white blades cutting through the blue sky - an interpretation that BMW adopted for convenience in 1929, which was actually twelve years after the roundel was created. In fact, the emblem evolved from the circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, from which the BMW company grew. The Rapp logo was combined with the blue and white colors of the flag of Bavaria to produce the BMW roundel so familiar today.

The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German automaker BMW. Replacing the Z3, first-generation production started in 2002 at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, with both roadster and coupe forms produced. Starting with the 2009 model year, the second-generation Z4 is built at BMW's Regensburg, Germany plant as a retractable hardtop roadster.

The German auto giant’s cars are seen as the most modern cars on Indian roads, more particularly in Indian metros. They are becoming ubiquitous on potholed Indian roads.

The German auto giant sold 2,908 cars in India in 2008, its second year of operation, closing the gap with luxury car leader Mercedes-Benz, which sold 3,625 cars in the same year, which was also its 12th year in the country.

Earlier BMW India announced to launch five new cars in 2009. It has already introduced the all-new 7 Series sedan and the new 3 Series sedan. The SUV X6 and X3 diesel and a new sports model will be launched sometime this year.



The first-generation BMW Z4 was designated the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupé form. It was designed by Danish BMW-designer Anders Warming, who later made the Mille Miglia Concept car with some of the same shapes as the Z4.

The Z4's design addresses many criticisms of the preceding Z3; the Z4 is larger, and has a significantly stiffer chassis. The Z4 features a strut type front suspension like its predecessor. The rear suspension, however is considerably different from that of the Z3, which was based on that of the E30 BMW 3 Series.

Instead of a semi-trailing arm suspension, the Z4 uses a more advanced multi-link suspension. It was built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Initially, the Z4 was available only as a roadster, but in 2006 a coupé version was officially launched. The last of the first-generation Z4 to be assembled in North America rolled off the assembly line on 27 August 2008.

In the meantime BMW India has said that it will add 10 dealers in tier-II cities such as Coimbatore, Jaipur, Lucknow and Ludhiana.

A top company official says, ““We grew 15% in the first quarter of 2009 and surpassed Mercedes Benz in the sales tally”.

The company overtook Mercedes Bens in January this year becoming the more preferred luxury car in the country.

BMW sold 181 more cars than Mercedes in India in January. Two mighty luxury car makers BMW and Mercedes are locked in a fight for supremacy in India. The war is going on with the entry of German car giant’s India entry a few years ago.

BMW targets tier-II towns to retain top spot

BMW India is chalking out robust plans to retain its number one position in the Indian luxury car market. Having snatched the top spot from Mercedes Benz a few months ago, it plans to hang on to it by spreading its dealerships into smaller 'tier-II' cities, planning to double in its dealership network to 24 by the end of the year.


The Indian arm of the Munich-based company has indicated that after enhancing its presence in the tier 1 cities, it is now zeroing in on tier II cities like Coimbatore (where it opened a sales and service outlet on Thursday), Jaipur and Lucknow. The company, which currently has 12 dealers in 10 cities, will add 10 more dealers in 10 tier II cities by the end of 2010.

"In the first quarter of the year we have delivered 992 cars, which make us the number one player in the luxury segment. We don't know if we will remain the number one by the end of the year but we are on track to stay there," BMW India president Peter Kronschnabl told reporters at the company's plant in Gurgaon.

He said the company expects each dealer from Tier II cities to contribute about 30-40 cars per year. He added that while the standards of BMW dealerships were the same across cities, those in the smaller cities would have only one or two cars on display.

Kronschnabl, however, declined to forecast the company's sales target for the year stating a clear picture would emerge only after the second quarter.

Asked if the global slowdown has in any way made the firm alter its expansions plans in India, he replied in the negative. "Instead, we are going ahead. We are working at the same pace as before despite the slowdown. While we won't expand production capacity as we have enough, our focus is to expand our sales and service network," he said.

Kronschnabl said financing remains a challenge and sales could have been better had it not been for the difficulty in financing credit purchase of cars. He said currently BMW has tie-up with ICICI Bank for car finance, and "we have also tied up with HDFC Bank as a financing partner from this year".

He also said BMW's global component sourcing from India is going as planned. "We have identified a couple of partners and the next stage is to go for sampling and in the next two years we expect the volumes to pick up."

In the luxury segment, BMW competes with compatriots Mercedes Benz and Audi. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, in fiscal 2008-09, BMW sold 3,038 units against 3,537 units sold by Mercedes. However, between January and March 2009, however, BMW sold 992 units to Mercedes' 966 units.

Currently, BMWs cost between Rs27 lakh (320i model) and Rs1.31 crore (M6 convertible). The company recently rolled out an all-new 7 Series sedan priced at Rs93.3 lakh and the SUV X6. It will introduce the new 3 Series sedan and X3 diesel SUV during this year.

Coimbatore foray
BMW India on Thursday opened its Kun Exclusive dealership in Coimbatore. This is a satellite facility of Kun Exclusive, Chennai, the dealership partner for BMW India in Tamil Nadu.

The facility is located on Aerodrome Road near N K Palayam, Ondipudur and comprises a fully equipped workshop and sales outlet at the same location. The facility covers approximately 5000 sq ft and that includes almost 500 sq ft of new car display area. It claims to offer the same standards of sales and service and the same customer experience as any BMW sales and service centre worldwide.

Commenting on the occasion, Owen Riley, director, after-sales, BMW India said, "We are proud to announce that our sales and service facility in Coimbatore is now operational. This facility, in partnership with Kun Exclusive, also initiates phase II of our expansion in India and is reflective of BMW's efforts to connect with customers and prospects across the state to provide high quality services that are at par with international standards."

BMW 7 Series in India

BMW is working on new technologies to bring the best automobiles in India. The latest BMW 7 Series model, BMW 730d is an outcome of such technologies. The new 730D boasts of much more comfortable ride than before and much safer as well. The luxury car buyers in India are all set to get good value for money for their cars as they come laden with new technologies at the same price. BMW has launched only 750Li so far in India. It is yet to launch 730D and 740Li in the country. The 750Li and the 740Li are the longer wheelbase versions of the 750i and the 740i models.

The new 730d coming to India has more elegant style as compared to its predecessor that flaunted a sporty look in the western world. The features have been considerably toned down looking the customer likings in India. The company has specifically kept in mind the choices of the elite and selective class buyers who prefer the rear-seat comfort. The longer wheel base segment and rear seat comforts and accessories have been specifically designed keeping in these customer demands in mind.


The new BMW 7 Series models are all geared up to change the “driver’s cars” concept as is normally perceived about the BMW cars. It intends to compete head-on with Mercedes Benz S-class in the luxury car segment.

911: Porsche launches new model

As the global auto industry faces some of the harshest conditions it has in decades, one question has surfaced again and again: Can developing markets fill the void left by the collapse of spending on cars in the United States and Western Europe?

In Egypt, many analysts are predicting an end to the car market’s recent boom years — it has grown by about 20 percent per year since customs were lowered in 2004. But even a market with no growth is more appealing than one in which sales are declining, and so many companies have stepped up their campaigns in countries such as India and China.

Porsche, for one, is betting that Egypt will help them pick up at least some of the slack. Last week, the German luxury brand introduced the 911 Carrera 4, a flashy new model with an even flashier price tag, in Cairo.

The company presented the car at a press conference complete with instructional videos, dramatic musical buildups and a ceremonial unveiling.

The new Carrera has been applauded by many car critics recently, partially for better fuel efficiency, more power, and new features including a flat-six engine, direct fuel injection and its Doppelkupplunsgetriebe – “double-clutch gearbox.”

According to Auto Arabia, a regional car reviewer, the new Carrera has up to 8.5 percent more power — now 345 bhp (254 kW) — and is 12.9 percent more fuel-efficient than the previous model. With the double-clutch gearbox, the new model uses 10.1 liters of gas per 100 kilometers (about 28 miles per gallon).

At LE 1.5 million, the Carrera’s price places it well out of reach for average, and even most above-average, Egyptians. But the Cayenne model has already seen some success here. Whether the financial crisis will affect the Carrera’s appeal will be seen over the next few months.

Despite the state’s lowering of some customs earlier this decade, taxes still necessarily affect Porsche’s business model here. The company pays as much as LE 1 million to the Egyptian government when importing some of their models here, company officials said at the press conference.

It is expected that the state will continue to lower tariffs, which should allow the introduction of more luxury models at a later time.

For now, though, most local media has greeted the new Porsche with enthusiasm – and a bit of humor. “What a name. I mean, 911 – no one will forget it,” quipped one reporter at the conference.

BMW India to launch SUV in a month

German luxury car maker BMW India will launch its sports utility vehicle X6 and a new model of its seven series sedan in a month’s time, shrugging off fears of an economic slowdown impacting luxury car sales in a significant way.

Priced between Rs 65 lakh and Rs 70 lakh, the X6 will be powered with a three-litre diesel engine and a 5.0 litre petrol engine. In the seven series, it will initially launch a new 750 li model priced at Rs 93.3 lakh and later a 730 ld, a diesel model that would be introduced over the next three to four months at a slightly lower price.

The company closed the last calendar year selling 2,908 units, an over 100 per cent increase from 1,387 units that it sold the previous year. It, however, declined to give its target for the current year.

“We will introduce X6 and a new seven series model by the end of the month which will be imported as a completely built unit. But we are also looking to introduce a 730 diesel model by April-May which will be priced lower,” the BMW India President, Peter Kronschnabl told Business Line.

Upbeat on India

He said that while the luxury car market began to feel the pinch by the last quarter of 2008, he was upbeat on the Indian market.

“First half of the year will be tough. But relief will come in the second half. India is not in a recession. Even after taking into consideration the slowdown, the economy is estimated to grow above 5 per cent, making it still the fastest growing economy,” Kronschnabl explained.

On the sales outlook, he stated that the company would see the trend in the first two to three months before it firms up its target. It will also increase its sales network during the year by expanding its dealership to cities such as Surat, Jaipur, Ludhiana and Coimbatore, taking the total count to 16 countrywide.

GM launches new Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

The engineering centre of General Motors India here is fast becoming a ‘power train hub’ for the entire Asia Pacific operations of the company, GM President and Managing Director Karl Slym said here on Friday. The Bangalore centre has 1,600 staff and 100 of them are engaged in research and development, he said.

Speaking to reporters at the southern launch of the new Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, he said “no jobs are being cut; in fact we may hire 500 more hands before year-end, some for the Bangalore engineering centre”. The company planned to launch a new small car by the end of 2009, he added.

GM had plans to take the investment in India to $1 billion by 2010 and had invested $500 million so far, Mr. Slym said. The staff at Bangalore dealt with designs that matched consumer preferences and Indian road and driving conditions.

GM India’s new plant at Talegaon near Pune would increase the capacity to 1.40 lakh vehicles annually with additional capacity for making engines, he said. The dealer network was also being expanded to reach 200 by the end of 2008. Vice-President P. Balendran said, “Prices are likely to go up for all GM models by January, by 2-3 per cent.

The festival season discounts cannot continue; our bottomline has taken a hit”. The season, which usually saw a 25-30 per cent increase in sales, grew below 10 per cent this year, he added.

Mercedes-Benz mulls vehicle finance arm

Mercedes Benz is considering launching a vehicle finance arm in India to boost sales of its passenger cars and commercial vehicles in a slowing economy, the head of the Indian unit of the German car-maker said on Friday.

Sales have fallen in the last two months because of tight liquidity, CEO and MD Wilfried Aulbur said, but added that he sees the slowdown as only a temporary phenomenon.

“The financial crisis is finite and the markets will bounce back. We are committed to our investments in the country because we have gone through a similar period in the past. At this point, we are still evaluating the option of launching our vehicle finance services,” Mr Aulbur said.

Mercedes Benz in India has already surpassed its sales target for cars and commercial vehicles this year because of robust demand up to September, he said, but did not reveal what the targets were.

The company has sold about 220 trucks and about 3,280 cars this year. “We are seeing a significant downturn in sales beginning October. The primary reason, we think, is the
unavailability of sufficient finance to purchase vehicles,” Mr Aulbur observed.

Daimler Financial Services, the in-house financial services arm, provides vehicle-finance, leasing, insurance concepts and fleet-management services valued at 58 billion Euros in 40 countries. Mercedes Benz, he said, is keen to launch new products in India, including city-buses and 3-axle buses. It recently entered the luxury bus segment with an intercity coach priced at about Rs 80 lakh.

BMW India launches BMW Xpo with attractive finance schemes

BMW 5 seriesBMW India has launched the “BMW Xpo” at BMW dealerships across India until 28 October 2008, where prospective and existing customers can test drive the range of BMW cars at all BMW India dealerships during the BMW Xpo2008.

During the BMW Xpo 2008, special financing and leasing offers have been launched by BMW Financial Services in conjunction with ICICI Bank and ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services Ltd. Prospective BMW car buyers can also avail special insurance offers from Bajaj Allianz. ICICI Bank will exclusively offer “Fixed Interest Rates” instead of “Floating Interest Rates” to all loans logged in for BMW customers. Attractive offers on the BMW 3 Series include “Zero down payment” option for select customers through ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services Ltd, Interest free option for a fixed period of time, Lower fixed interest rate of 15% from ICICI Bank, and a special discount of 30% on a basic insurance policy from Bajaj Allianz.

During the BMW Xpo 2008, BMW India dealerships will also display a wide range of BMW lifestyle accessories that extend from classic BMW lifestyle products such as BMW shirts and jackets, sports products in golfing, kids’ mobility equipment, car miniatures, original accessories, baggage and luggage.

Audi to drive in R8 at Rs 1.17 cr

German luxury car maker Audi will launch its sports car 'R8' in India this November, with a price tag of Rs 1.17 crore, even as the company gears up to clock an overall sales of around 1,000 cars in the country this year.

The sports luxury car will be an addition to the company's line of luxury sedans, including the A4, A6, A8, TT Coupe, and SUV Q7.

"The (R8) cost will be over crore...Rs 1.17 crore," Vice-President Marketing Audi (India) Martin Birkner said here.

Asked how many R8s Audi was planning to sell in India, he said the company has received orders for 15 units already, which would be delivered this year.

Bullish on the fast growing luxury-car market in India, Audi has already posted a 200 per cent growth this year from that of last year.

"The whole segment is growing and we are growing even faster than the segment. We will sell this year about 1,000 cars in India," he said, adding 350 units were sold last year.

Birkner said Audi's A4, which it has started assembling in India, has a major contribution to the speedy growth and added, "we will try to get more production to India to meet the demand for this product." The company had, earlier, said it planned to produce 11,000 units of A4 by 2015 in India.