Maruti Suzuki likely to Launch Facelift Ertiga by October 10.

After its launch in April 2012, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga hasn't received any face-lift. With the rising competition in the compact MPV space, it has become necessary for the Indo-Japanese car-maker to refresh it. 

The updated Maruti Suzuki Ertiga which is rumored to be in showrooms by October 10, 2015. The leaked pamphlet suggests that the new Maruti Ertiga will come with a seat belt reminder buzzer and driver airbag as standard. New L(O) and Z+ variants is also part of the lineup which includes LXi/LDi, VXi/VDi and ZXi/ZDi.

The updated version of the seven-seater MUV gets tweaks both to the exterior and interior and its diesel engine will also get the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) micro-hybrid system that was recently launched with the Ciaz hybrid. The SHVS will help the Ertiga face-lift return better fuel efficiency than the present models.

The most noteworthy changes given to the 2015 Ertiga face-lift are up front. The front of the vehicle looks slightly bolder with a new triple-slat chrome grille with revised air dam, revamped radiator grille, new bumper, fog lamp enclosures with chrome bezels, etc. Other styling elements are - 10-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, revised tail-lamp cluster with new reflector elements, new bumper and a thick chrome garnish on the license plate.

The company has updated the vehicle's cabin too with dual-tone finished dashboard, brown seat fabric, steering wheel with silver inserts, etc. The 2015 Ertiga also features electrically-adjustable outside rear-view mirrors (ORVMs), third row seats with 50:50 split, driver & front passenger airbags, one push power up driver-side window, etc.

Maruti to launch new Swift, Dzire in 2014

Indian automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki may launch the face lifted versions of the Swift hatchback and Dzire compact sedan in the first quarter of 2014. These new variants are likely to be showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo.

 

 

Swift is Maruti’s largest selling premium hatchback in the country and has been a hot favorite of the masses in this segment since 2005, the year when it was introduced in India.

 

The company has a plan to make the diesel engines in Japan for upcoming Maruti models in India. The future growth of diesel vehicles in India will be going to good and thus Japanese parent Suzuki is becoming a helping hand for the making of engines and though Suzuki is making two in house engines.

Maruti Suzuki launched the Swift in 2005 and ever since the car has been a runaway success. In late 2011 the all-new Swift was launched which took the game even further. The Japanese carmaker has never rushed in to give their products a facelift, but stiff competition has ensured that no car company can rest on their laurels.

 

The Swift leads the Premium hatchback or B+ segment and the Swift Dzire also leads the compact sedan segment. The Swift and the Dzire will get updated  and seems like Maruti will showcase the face lifted versions at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, if rumors are to be believed the face lifted versions are expected to hit the showrooms by first quarter next year.

Hyundai to launch Grand i10 next month

Hyundai Motor India, the second-largest car manufacturer in the country, is beefing up its small car portfolio with a slew of new models to take on market leader Maruti Suzuki. 

Hyundai has lined up 8-10 launches in the next three to four years. It will drive in a sub-4 metre sedan in the second half of 2014, followed by a multi-purpose vehicle to take on Maruti's Ertiga and a compact SUV positioned between Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster in 2015-16. It's also exploring the potential to launch its flagship saloon Genesis in India.

The company is planning to launch new Eon 1.1 litre, which will be pitted against Maruti’s Alto K10. 

The company launched Eon in October 2011 and currently offers 814cc gasoline engine. 

In the last financial year, Alto sold roughly around 20,000 units a month, while Eon sales averaged around 7,000-8,000 units a month. 

The company will also launch its small car Grand i10 (referred to as the BA until now) in September this year, which is expected to compete with Maruti’s Swift. Grand i10 is a completely new car and will be positioned between i10 and i20. It will be manufactured at the company’s Chennai plant. 

As far as pricing goes, expect significant pricing overlap with both the i10 and i20. Expect the base petrol to start around the Rs 4.5 lakh mark, with the diesel Grand i10 priced at Rs 5.5 lakh.

“The Grand i10 has been positioned above the existing i10 and is targeted at the emerging compact high-entry segment,” the company said. 

Grand i10 will come with two engine variants -- 1.1 litre U2 diesel and 1.2 litre Kappa petrol. 

Even though the passenger car segment declined 10% this fiscal, experts feel that a new launch will bring excitement in the market. 

“Bringing a new product in the segment definitely creates a pull. In terms of product strategy, Hyundai is good at hitting the right area. They offer what Indians want. They were a bit weak on the diesel engine front, but the company will surely benefit with the new diesel engine offering,” said Puneet Gupta, associate director, IHS Automotive.  

Hyundai India reportedly is planning to launch up to four new models in the next two years, including a compact SUV and compact sedan.

Maruti Suzuki's launches new SX4 at Rs. 7.38 lakh

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd launched an all new version of the SX4 with price remaining unchanged in the range of Rs. 7.38 - 9.79 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

"The all new Maruti Suzuki SX4 has new looks, and also brings new features such as touch screen audio navigation and electronically foldable ORVMs with turn indicator," said Manohar Bhat, Maruti Suzuki India's vice president for marketing, in a statement on Friday.

 

 

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd launched an all new version of the SX4 with price remaining unchanged in the range of Rs. 7.38 - 9.79 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

"The all new Maruti Suzuki SX4 has new looks, and also brings new features such as touch screen audio navigation and electronically foldable ORVMs with turn indicator," said Manohar Bhat, Maruti Suzuki India's vice president for marketing, in a statement on Friday.

 

 

 

"The all new Maruti Suzuki SX4 has new looks, and also brings new features such as touch screen audio navigation and electronically foldable ORVMs with turn indicator," said Manohar Bhat, Maruti Suzuki India's vice president for marketing, in a statement on Friday.

 

 

The new SX4 comes with many features including an all new touch-screen audio with integrated navigation with Bluetooth.

 

 

The SX4 was first launched in India in 2007 and a diesel variant of the car was introduced in 2011. Till now, the company has sold over 1.08 lakh SX4 cars in the country.

Maruti Alto 800 launched at Rs 2.44 lakh

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car maker has launched its much awaited Alto 800 at Rs 2.44 lakh to 3.56 lakh ex showroom New Delhi for petrol and CNG variant. Available in an updated design package, the 2012 Alto 800 will be available in six trim levels including CNG versions.

 

Maruti Suzuki said, the company has already received bookings of over 10,000 units of Alto 800. 

 

The world's biggest-selling small car was revamped on Tuesday when Maruti Suzuki India Ltd launched a new version of its Alto model, clocking over 10,000 pre-orders as it tries to fend off rising competition in the entry-level car market. The existing Alto F8 will be discontinued while the K10 will not have the design changes seen on the new Alto 800.

The Alto 800 has a lot of changes under the hood. There is a new plastic intake system (the older one was aluminium), a new lighter crankshaft, a new cylinder head, new piston rings and a new gearbox. All this combined boosts the output to 48PS and 69Nm which is an 11 per cent increase from the previous model.

 

Maruti is also claiming a fuel economy of 22.7kmpl for the petrol powered variants and 30.46km/kg for the CNG ones. As far as safety is concerned, the Alto will be offered with an optional driver airbag in higher trims and ABS.

 

Since 1984, Maruti's entry-level models have outsold anything in India's car market, as millions of middle-class families and first-time owners in the developing country flocked to its Maruti 800 model and its successor, the Alto.

 

"Our engineering team has made many innovations to offer more space, improve driveability and safety to customers," Shinzo Nakanishi, Maruti's managing director, told reporters.

The new car's petrol model offers 15 percent greater fuel efficiency, he said. Maruti, controlled by Japan's Suzuki Motor, has had over 10,000 pre-orders for the Alto since bookings were opened in late September, Nakanishi added.

 

Cheap to buy and run, the Alto 800's two predecessors became instant best-sellers in a sector that Maruti Suzuki dominated until the late 1990s. As more automakers have muscled into the market, and more Indians had the cash for larger cars, its grip has slipped.

 

In the fiscal year that ended in March, Maruti sold over 310,000 Altos, making it the world's biggest selling small car. Indians bought 2.02 million cars that year. Sales of Maruti's entry-level models are down 21 percent so far in the current fiscal year, hit by rising competition from rivals such as Hyundai Motor Co's Eon and Tata Motors Nano model.

 

 

2012 Maruti Alto 800 prices (ex-Delhi)

Alto 800 Standard (Petrol): Rs 2.44 lakh

Alto 800 LX (Petrol): Rs 2.76 lakh

Alto 800 LXi (Petrol): Rs 2.99 lakh

Alto 800 Standard (CNG): Rs 3.19 lakh

Alto 800 LX (CNG): Rs 3.37 lakh

Alto 800 LXi (CNG): Rs 3.56 lakh

Maruti Suzuki introduces all new Swift hatchback

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, India's largest car manufacturer unveiled its much awaited sportier and stylish car, the all new 'Swift'.







The new Swift offers best in class acceleration, high power to weight ratio and much improved fuel efficiency. With over 140 new features, many for the first time ever in an entry level variant, the new Swift is set to once again redefine "premium compact" car segment, a segment that Swift had itself created.

The new Swift is built on an all new platform and is longer and wider than its predecessor.







Maruti Suzuki engineers have adopted several new weight reduction techniques for an enhanced power to weight ratio in the new Swift. As a result, while new Swift delivers a power-packed and sportier drive, it also offers more kilometers to every drop of fuel: 6 per cent more in diesel and 4 per cent more in the petrol version. In addition, the Company has introduced the VVT engine technology in all petrol variants of the new Swift. The highly acclaimed DDiS engine powers the diesel variant of the new Swift.

Maruti Suzuki and its suppliers have invested over Rs. 550 Crore to make the new Swift more vibrant and sportier. The next generation Swift comes with a localization level of over 95 per cent.

The Swift is iconic and special in many ways. It entered the Indian car market and became a segment reference point, a blockbuster, by selling over 600,000 units in 6 years making it by far the highest selling car in the premium compact segment.

Maruti Suzuki is confident that with the new Swift the company will further strengthen and expand its position in the premium hatchback segment.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki said, "We have launched the new Swift at a time when there was significant demand for the outgoing model. In keeping with the Swift's iconic status, we had to ensure that the brand continues to offer the latest and the best in terms of features, design, performance and aspiration. I am confident that the new Swift will create new benchmarks with its improved fuel efficiency, stylish & sportier looks and high performance."

India car sales soar 30 percent in 2010-11

Indian passenger car sales soared by 30 percent in the past year, the most in over a decade, but surging raw material costs will put the brakes on further growth, an industry body said Friday.

Car sales grew to 1.98 million units in the just-ended fiscal year to March 2011 from 1.53 million the previous year, spurred by cheap loans and new model launches, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said.

"We have ended the year on a reasonably high note. We have reached a very strong base," SIAM president Pawan Goenka told reporters.

India is the second-fastest growing auto market in the world after China.

But Goenka said growth would slow to 16 or 18 percent this year due to rising commodity prices and costlier loans resulting from a tighter monetary policy aimed at curbing inflation.

The percentage gain in car sales in the year to March 2011 was the highest since 2000 when car sales soared 60 percent, SIAM said.

The sustained expansion of the Indian market in the face of saturated markets in the West has turned the country into a battleground for global vehicle manufacturers.

Ford, Renault-Nissan, General Motors and Volkswagen have all launched new models in India recently.

Sales of Japanese-controlled Maruti Suzuki, India's car market leader, jumped by 26.24 percent to 966,447 units last year from a year earlier, while sales of rival South Korea's Hyundai Motor increased by 13.95 percent to 358,904 units.

In March, passenger car sales in Asia's third-largest economy climbed by 24.37 percent to 194,199 units from the same month a year earlier, SIAM said.

Sales of commercial vehicles - seen as an important barometer of economic health - climbed by 15.35 percent to 77,688 units from a year ago, the auto group said.

Total sales of vehicles across categories grew by 19.42 percent in March to 1,465,909 units from the same month a year earlier.

Domestic car sales hit record high in February

Car sales in India hit a record monthly high of 1.89 lakh units in February as customers advanced purchases in anticipation the government may hike excise duty in the Budget. Sales were also driven by rising disposable income with the middle-class , easy availability of loans, and a pick up in new product launches.

Car sales rose by 23% in February compared with a year earlier, data released by industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed Wednesday. The February sales number is higher than the record 1.84 lakh cars sold in January.

The Budget for 2011-12 , however, left excise duty unchanged at 10-22 % for different segments of cars, contrary to an expectation of a 2% hike. "Car prices have not increased much despite rise in global commodities prices like steel and rubber . Also, customers are enjoying flexible financing options. In future , however, we expect higher base of 2010 to moderate growth rate," SIAM Director General Vishnu Mathur said. Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest carmaker, reported 19.8% year-on-year growth in sales in February to 101,543 units.

"There was more demand in the market than what we could supply as we faced severe scarcity for our highrunning models like Alto and WagonR," a senior official from Maruti said. Hyundai sales grew 5.3%, while Tata Motors car sales grew 14% during the month. Two-wheeler sales in February grew 22% to a record 10.22 lakh units. The growth in the segment was primarily driven by market leader Hero Honda that posted 24% increase in sales to 4.62 lakh units last month. Sales of trucks and buses grew 11% in February to 64,057 units led by Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland , and Eicher Motors.

India's total domestic vehicle sales in the current fiscal year is expected to grow 26-27 % year-onyear , higher than SIAM's earlier estimate of 18%, said Mathur. However, rising interest rates on auto loans and spiraling global commodities prices, including crude oil, are concerns for the sector going forward.

Maruti won't give up its position easily

Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest automaker, has drawn up an aggressive strategy to retain its 45-50 per cent share of India’s rapidly burgeoning car market that is expected to hit 5 million units by 2015, from the current 2 million. The blueprint includes upgrades or possible new models in the compact segment and a multi-utility vehicle (MUV).

The Japanese giant will also consider increasing its capacity, which could mean a new plant or expansion of existing units, after its ongoing expansion to 500,000 vehicles is completed in phases.
The possible compact launches are part of Maruti Suzuki’s effort to protect its dominance of a segment that is increasingly under attack from leading global players like Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Honda. With the R3 MUV — a six-seat concept vehicle showcased at the Auto Expo last year — the company wants to make its presence felt in a growing segment where it is virtually non-existent.

In an interview recently, Maruti Suzuki Managing Director Shinzo Nakanishi said: “The A2 (compact) segment constitutes 60 per cent of all cars sold in the domestic market. We do not see this ratio changing in the next five years, but many new players are coming in. We have to strengthen our position in this segment, where we already have seven models.” He said Maruti Suzuki would like at least two new models in this segment by 2015.

Nakanishi said the SUV-MUV market constitutes 12 per cent of overall sales, but that Maruti Suzuki has a negligible share with the Gypsy. “This is another area we would like to focus on. We had shown the R3 as a concept car and we are conducting market research to see whether we can introduce it as an MUV. The other important thing is to have diesel engine-powered SUVs,” he said.

However, Nakanishi admitted that to retain its 45-50 per cent share of the domestic market, Maruti Suzuki’s existing capacity would prove inadequate.

“Our enhanced capacity would suffice until 2013-14. But if the market maintains the high-growth momentum we have seen so far, we will have to consider adding further capacity,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki expects its 2010-11 production figure to cross 1.25 million units with capacity that has been enhanced through reengineering. It will add capacity for another 500,000 units, half of it by October this year instead of the original plan of early 2012. Nakanishi hopes that with these measures, Maruti Suzuki will be able to manufacture around 1.85 million cars by 2013. He said a decision on further capacity enhancement would have to be taken if Maruti Suzuki wants to retain its marketshare.

Nakanishi said he also sees an increasingly key role for the research & development centre in India, which has about 1,000 engineers. “We expect the R&D centre to utilise car platforms developed in Japan to develop full-body capability for the Indian market. Engines developed in Japan could be calibrated to Indian requirements at the facility here,” Nakanishi added.

He also said that nothing has yet been finalised with Volkswagen, which has picked up a 20 per cent stake in Japanese parent company Suzuki, in terms of a common programme. “We are talking, but it is difficult. It already has the Polo, which is its small car, in India and in Europe. So, we are competitors in both markets. We do not know what shape the discussions will finally take,” said Nakanishi.

Maruti Suzuki to launch Kizashi in January

MARUTI SUZUKI India Ltd is all set to launch its much awaited D-segment car Kizashi, a sedan by the end of January. Pronounced ‘Kee-Zah-Shee' which in Japanese means ‘something great is coming', it is an executive sedan to be launched in the third week of January 2011.

Kizashi is set to take on Honda Accord and Skoda Superb, Toyota's Corolla and Camry , Honda's Civic and Accord in features and pricing.This will be the first car by Maruti Suzuki catering to high-end customers entering into a segment where an average of 1,000 cars are sold every month.

Maruti will launch its first luxury car on January 28, 2011. Kizashi will be the first of the several new launches the company is planning in 2011 including a updated version of Swift and Dzire and a small SUV.

Sources indicate that the pricing is expected to be around Rs 18-20 lakhs, some other says it will cost around Rs. 11-12 Lakhs.The company is expecting upto 250 cars to be sold per month. Kizashi will have a 2.4 litre petrol engine, and will come in both manual and automatic versions.

Maruti recently raised its sales forecast for the current fiscal ,and said it expects to sell 31% more cars compared with the 10,18,365 cars it did in last year. Maruti currently produces 1,10,000 lakh cars a month, as compared to 84,000 per month last fiscal.

Launched first in 2007, Kizashi is already running successfully in Europe.The Kizashi version to be launched in India is a new model developed in 2010.So when are you grabbing one for you.

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.

New MUV's to hit Indian market soon

As the demand for the crossovers is shooting upwards in the Indian car market, some of the largest car makers of the country including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Skoda AutoMulti Utility Vehicles or MUV) is the fastest growing segment of passenger vehicles in the Indian market. Although, the year 2010 has been a year of new hatchbacks as an array of new and stylish hatchbacks have been rolled out in the Indian market since the starting of this year. But now the trend seems to be shifting towards crossovers as the industry is witnessing a steep rise in the demand for multi utility vehicles.

A simple example of how successful MUV are is the Toyota Innova which is the best seller in its segment and has been in high demand right since its launch.

The crossovers (MUVs) are basically SUVs built on a chassis of sedan car and thus fulfill all the requirements.

The main factor behind the success of the crossover vehicles is that they can be used in the city, highway and off-road journeys. Thus, the utility of these models fall maximum as compared to an SUV or a sedan.

Speaking of MUV, the country's largest vehicle maker, Tata Motors is all set to launch its much anticipated MUV Tata Aria in the Indian market in the upcoming festive season. The Aria model was showcased in the Delhi International Auto Expo in January 2010. The all new Tata Aria model is expected to sport a 2.2 L, DICOR (Direct Injection Common Rail) engine which is already doing duties in company's popular SUV Tata Safari model. After its launch in the Indian market, the Aria model will be competing with some of the most popular vehicles including the best selling model of this segment Toyota Innova.

Another vehicle that is all set to join the league of crossovers in the country is Maruti's new crossover that has been developed at company's R3 concept. The all new R3 concept was also showcased at the Delhi International Auto Expo January 2010. The model is expected to hit the Indian roads by next year. With this, Skoda, a fully owned subsidiary of Germany based Volkswagen group, is also planning to launch its much awaited.

Skoda Roomster model in the Indian market by year 2011. The German auto giant is also expected to enter into the fastest growing segment by launching a new crossover from Maruti SX4 platform by next year.
are mulling over to launch their respective vehicles in this segment. The segment of crossovers (also known as

Renault to Launch 5 Cars in India

French car maker Renault's Indian unit will launch five cars between mid-2011 and mid-2013, including small cars in 2012, its India head said on Thursday, to cater to brisk demand in one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world.

Its small cars will be built on its alliance partner Nissan's platform, Country General Manager Marc Nassif said on the sidelines of an automobiles conference.

The cars produced at its manufacturing unit in Chennai, built jointly with its alliance partner Nissan, will be Renault-branded, Nassif said, adding that they would be competitively priced.

In 2011, the firm intends to introduce its premium vehicle Fluence and the cross-over Koleos.

Separately, Renault-Nissan is working with Indian two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto

Renault, which this year sold off its stake in a joint venture with utility vehicles and tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra which made the Logan sedan, is all set to storm the compact car market in India on its own.

Nissan, which is 44 percent owned by Renault, has started selling its compact Micra cars since June.

The compact car segment in India, with cars measuring between 3.4 to 4 metres in length, is a rapidly expanding segment constituting more than 70 percent of the total car market.

Though top carmaker Maruti Suzuki still holds sway, global majors such as Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford are eyeing this lucrative sector.

General Motors' Chevrolet Beat and Ford's Figo compact cars have already seen runaway sales so far this year.

Renault's global sourcing from India is expected to rise 40 percent to 50 percent in the current financial year, Nassif said.
to make a low-cost car, which would be designed by Bajaj and launched by end-2012.

Maruti Suzuki launches new 1000cc Alto, to take on competitors

Maruti Suzuki has launched a new version of Alto, with a more powerful engine compared to its existing model. The new version has a 998cc engine, compared to 800cc earlier. It is suppose to provide the highest fuel efficiency among petrol cars in the A2 segment, 20km per litre.

On the exteriors, it has been refreshed to give a distinctive look. The design of headlamps & tail lights is changed. The front and rear bumpers are new. It is 125mm longer than the earlier one. It is designed to be wider and taller too. All these make the car look bigger.

On the interiors, the gears and brake system are superior, giving a better driving experience. There is more leg-room for the rear seat passengers.

The car will be available in lxi and Vxi variants, in 6 colors: Sunlight Copper, Midnight Black, Fire Brick Red, Superior White, Ecru Beige & Silky Silver.



It prices range between Rs 3.03 – 3.16 lakh, ex-showroom, New Delhi, Rs 3.08 lakh – 3.21 lakh, ex-showroom, Bangalore.

On an average 20,000 units of Alto are sold every month. With the increased features provided by the new Alto, the sales figures are sure to go up. The market leaders Hyundai Santro and Chevrolet Spark are sure to face a stiff competition.

Maruti Suzuki has been a market leader in the small car segment, having around 50% of the market share. However, for the first time this has fallen to 47% and Maruti Suzuki is in top gears to regain its market share. Launch of Alto K10 is a beginning step towards this.

Maruti Suzuki launched New Maruti Alto K10

Maruti Suzuki has launched its new version, Alto K-Series on the 4th August 2010 in India. The expected price of Alto K-Series is between Rs 3.00 lakh to Rs 3.40 lakh rupees. New Maruti Alto K10 is a new version of small car Alto. Improved mileage and powerful K-Series 1000cc Engine with attractive price are included in Alto K10. LXI & VXI are two variants of Alto K10, which will be available in six colors such as Sunlight Copper, Midnight Black, Fire Brick Red, Ecru Beige, Silky Silver and Superior White.












1-litre K10B engine, which has previously seen on the Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Estilo and the new WagonR, is will be the feature of Alto K10 car. Alto K10 became more powerful with the engine and this engine also offer it a class-beating fuel efficiency figure. For the light and zippy car, the company is claiming an ARAI approved figure of 20.2 kmpl. With new headlamps, a new radiator grille and revised interiors, which impart a sense of modernity to Maruti’s reputed people’s carrier, Alto K10 has also been suitably refreshed on the inside and the outside to distinguish it from its older sibling.

Except for the retuning of suspension and booster assisted braking system, there are not much mechanical changes. New Alto K10 engine is the new stuff but Maruti already uses it in A-star, Estilo and Wagon-R. 68PS of maximum power at 6200rpm and 90Nm of maximum torque at 3500rpm is produced by the K-series under the hood of Alto K10 produces. On the other side, because of the new engine, Alto k10 has gained just 50kgs. Effect is that, Alto K10 reaches 100kmphs in 13.3 seconds as opposed to 17.3 seconds by Alto.





Maruti Alto K10 Models:
* Maruti Alto k10 lxi
* Maruti Alto k10 Vxi

Features of Maruti Alto K10:
* K-series 1000cc engine
* Equipped with Fog light
* Speed meter along with RPM meter
* Attractive tale light
* Same color bumper
* Side new mirror
* Broad bonnet
* The new Alto is 125 mm longer than existing

Maruti Alto K10 Price in India –
Maruti Alto k10 lxi Price – Rs.3.1 lakh (approx)
Maruti Alto k10 Vxi Price – Rs.3.4 lakh (approx)

Maruti to launch five new CNG versions by August

In a bid to save its threatened market share in the Indian market, auto giant Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is all set to launch not one or two but as many as five of its portfolio models in CNG version in the second week of August . The company will launch all of these variants simultaneously in a single day. The cars which will be launched in the CNG versions in the Indian market include some of the most popular Maruti cars in India such as, best-selling Maruti Alto, recently launched new Maruti Wagon R, compact hatch Maruti Zen Estilo, multi-purpose vehicle Eeco and entry level sedan Maruti SX4.

It is to be mentioned here that the market share of this largest car maker of India fell to 47.59 percent in the month of June 2010 from 55 percent registered during the same period last year. While the total passenger car sales in the Indian market were 4,33,641 units in the first quarter of this financial year, Maruti India sold as many as 2,06,377 units of its cars during this period. By launching CNG versions of 5 of its popular cars in India, the company will certainly enjoy the first movers advantage as very few cars are available in factory fitted CNG versions in the Indian market so far.

According to Mr Shashank Srivastava, Chief General Manager (Marketing) at MSI, the CNG models will be very important in company’s portfolio. He added that Maruti is the first company to come out with factory-fitted CNG cars and it will have the first mover’s advantage in the market. He added that It is the launch of a technology, not the cars. It is the concept of factory-fitted CNG models.

While briefing to the reporters regarding the launch of new Maruti Alto K-10, Mr Srivastava said that the company is expecting about 25 per cent increase in Alto’s sales after the launch of the new variant — Alto K-10. The Maruti Alto is the best selling car in the Indian market clocking sales of more than 20,000 units per month.

Maruti hikes prices by up to Rs7,500 across segments

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India raised the prices of all its models, expect Alto, by up to Rs7,500, citing a sharp increase in input costs.

The new prices are applicable with immediate effect, the company said.

"Due to a sharp increase in the input costs, Maruti Suzuki India has decided to pass on a part of this cost impact to customers," the company said in a statement.

The price revision, however, will not include its largest selling model Alto, it added.

"The approximate price revision on various models (Ex Showroom, Delhi) ranges between Rs2,000 and Rs7,500. The price increase ranges between 1% and 1.5%," the statement said.

The hike comes on a day when the company reported its best ever domestic monthly sales for July at 90,114 units, a 33.45% increase from 67,528 units in July 2009.

Maruti Suzuki India today reported 29.18% jump in its total sales, including exports, for July at 1,00,857 units. It had sold 78,074 units in the same month last year.

Tata Motors reclaims No 2 spot in domestic car market

It is by far the country’s largest automaker by revenues. Its dominance in the lucrative commercial vehicle segment is undiminished, despite a flurry of new entrants in the past few years. Is the car segment the next frontier for Tata Motors to conquer?

The company has never been forthcoming on the issue, but the market is buzzing with speculation about an impending battle between Maruti Suzuki — the incumbent — and Tata Motors for the top slot in the fast-growing car market. The speculation has been fuelled by a better-than-expected performance by its car division in June.

Last month, Tata Motors’ passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market jumped 53% year-on-year to nearly 30,000. This makes it India’s second largest carmaker, ahead of Hyundai Motors India. For Tata Motors, growth was led by the success of its recently launched sedan, Indigo Manza, and a big jump in the delivery of Nano. A strong demand for Manza more than doubled the sales of Indigo to 7,500 units last month, becoming a clear leader in the entry sedan segment.

Nano, meanwhile continues to gain traction after inauguration of its green-field manufacturing facility at Sanand, Gujarat. Last month, Nano sales doubled over the previous month and at this rate, the entry-level hatchback could soon emerge as the largest selling car in the Tata stable.

Tata Motors has done well to reclaim the number two spot in the domestic car market but a shot at the top slot looks well-nigh impossible at the current level. Maruti Suzuki is a strong incumbent with the widest model line-up in the industry.

Most importantly, Maruti has a vice-like grip over the bread and butter compact car segment, with a nearly two-thirds market share and a product portfolio to suit any budget. In contrast, Tata Motors continues to lag in the segment with a slow offtake of its Indica range. In the first three months of FY11, sales of Indica range were up just 8%, much below the industry growth rate.

The company’s ambitions have also been hurt by its failure to notch-up higher volumes in the sports utility vehicles(SUV) segment, with a weak response to its newly-launched Sumo Grande. The company’s SUV sales grew a modest 9% in the month of June 2010 and 20% during the first three months of the current fiscal.

Tata Motors can expect a better show in the segment in future, given the impending launch of its new SUV platform.

Hyundai to launch one new car model in India every year

Hyundai Motor India plans to launch a new model every year for the next few years as it seeks to hold its own in a fiercely competitive car market in the country. Besides, it will give a facelift to an existing model every year and also make minor modifications for a model year change.

(Auto makers refresh their line-up with small changes for the new calendar year, which they refer to as model year change.)

Over a buffet dinner at an Indian restaurant in Seoul's shopping district of Itaewon, Mr Han-Woo Park, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, told a group of visiting Indian journalists last week that this will be the company's strategy to meet competition, from the likes of Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat, Volkswagen Polo and the new WagonR from Maruti Suzuki, besides the spate of new launches planned.

“I will launch minimum three models a year,” he told the journalists, on a visit sponsored by Hyundai Motor India to some of its parent company's facilities in South Korea.

“I feel that competition will be tough this year,” he said, and added that even in the face of the new launches by competitors so far this year, Hyundai Motor India's market share did not drop. This, he attributed to strong marketing and sales and the product line-up. Last year, the company's average market share was 20.6 per cent. In the January-April 2010 period, this increased to 20.7 per cent.

Hyundai Motor India sells the i10, Santro, i20 (all compact cars), Accent and Verna (sedans), and Sonata, a luxury sedan. It plans to launch the Santa Fe sports utility vehicle later this year.

The recently launched Ford Figo compact car has been reporting good sales numbers, especially the diesel option, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the car's sales.

Will he look at a diesel engine option for the i10? Mr Park replied that the company had not thought of this option till now, but might consider it for the new i10, whenever it was launched.

Hyundai Motor India gets 1.1-litre diesel engines from Hyundai Motor Company for the export model i10.

Mr Park was confident of the automobile industry's prospects for this year, with sales expected to grow 10-12 per cent over last year. Hyundai Motor India expected to do slightly better than the industry average.

The company, according to him, will have a stronger rural focus in the coming years. Rural sales accounted for more than a fourth of the company's total sales. From January to April this year, the rural market had grown 27 per cent, with Hyundai's sales growing at about 40 per cent. The company's strategy was to have sales branches in the rural areas to push sales.

When would the company think of expanding capacity? “We will think of it when the domestic sales account for 70-80 per cent of total sales,” said Mr Park. Last year, the domestic and export sales were equally split, with domestic sales growing to 57 per cent this year.

Mr Park was firm in stating that the company would not yield any more ground to a section of the workers which is threatening an agitation.

Last year, he said, the company took back 20 of the dismissed 87 employees. But some of them had agitated against the management, even when they were still serving their probation period. There was demand to take back some more of the dismissed workers.

Mr Park said “we will take a firm stand this time. We will not reinstate even one person.” On humanitarian grounds, the company was trying for an out-of-court settlement. “We have reached a settlement with four persons and are negotiating with a few more,” he said.

The industrial relations scenario was a major issue for the company, he said, and added that it would not be possible to run a large organisation if the company had to repeatedly compromise its stand. Moreover, it would affect the other industrial units in Sriperumbudur area, where Hyundai Motor India's plant is located.

“I don't think reinstatement is the only option for a settlement on humanitarian grounds. An out-of-court settlement is also an option,” said Mr Park.

Five Million WagonRs sold worldwide

Suzuki Motor Corporation announced that the total worldwide sales of the tall boy WagonR has reached 5 Million units at the end of February this year. While 5 million units is a huge number, Japan contributed 3,498,000 while Indians and Chinese bought 832,000 and 330,000 WagonRs respectively. Apart from these three countries, 340,000 units were sold in the rest of the world. The Indian sales figure is not even close to the Japanese figure because in Japan, the WagonR has been on sale for four generations while the second generation of the Indian WagonR will be launched on April 23rd. Read the previous article below.

The WagonR has been on sale in various countries (66 to be precise) and has been a very successful model largely because of its practical nature. It has twice won the Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) Car of the Year award and has been the top-selling minivehicle in Japan for seven consecutive years.

Maruti will launch the all new WagonR on 23rd April. It is based on the all new 4th Generation Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) WagonRs platform and features all new powertrain and suspension systems. The new WagonR will be powered by the K10B 3-cylinder engine currently doing duty in the A-Star and Estilo. The new engine promises improved performance and a huge improvement in fuel efficiency – ARAI figures are 18.9km/l, just 0.7km/l away from the A-Star. With more outright space than its competition (and siblings), the new model is expected to set benchmarks for the segment in terms of space. It will have a stiffer chassis and tailored blanks are used all over and these specially treated, sandwiched and layered pieces of steel help provide stiffness without adding wasteful bulk. The new WagonR also features an all new subframe that carries the powertrain and suspension. The lower arms are now pivoted on two points on the sub-frame against the single point pivot on the earlier model. This will improve driving dynamics by a large extent while reducing NVH levels to offer a refined drive.

The new WagonR comes loaded with kit right from tilt-steering, ergonomically designed gear knob, electrically operated ORVMs, new HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system) design, improved rear legroom, storage tray under co-driver’s seat, dual-tone interiors, new steering wheel and lots more.

On the sidelines of holding a sneak preview of the model, Mayank Pareekh, executive officer, Marketing and Sales, MSIL, said, “It’s not a minor change and everything is new in this model. Usually, the company spends around Rs. 40-50 crore on refurbishing any existing model for it to be launched in a new avatar. But in the new WagonR, MSIL had spent more than Rs. 290 crore besides the investment from vendors. A lot of investments have gone into the development of the product to make it an optimal choice for the Indian consumer.” Pareekh said as of now MSIL would only be manufacturing the petrol version of the WagonR which would give more power and fuel efficiency.

He also added that, “The hatchback is India’s No.2 selling car only after Alto and we hope to retain this leadership position with new WagonR.”