Honda's diesel car Amaze to hit Indian markets on 11th April, 2013

Honda’s most awaited car of recent times – the Amaze – will hit showrooms near you on 11th April, 2013. The bookings for the Honda's first ever diesel car has also been kick-started across the nation. Honda Amaze will be powered by a 1.5-L i-DTEC diesel engine that is capable of producing 100PS (98-99bhp) of maximum power output and returning 25.8kmpl of fuel efficiency. With this power and mileage, Honda Amaze will become India's most fuel efficient and most powerful sedan in its segment, leaving behind its arch rival Maruti Swift Dzire.

 

The Honda Amaze sedan will be an important car for the Japanese manufacturer. Not only is it going to be the first diesel Honda in India, but it is also entering a lucrative segment; one where the numbers are reasonably high and the profits decent. The car had its global launch in Thailand on the 25th of November 2012. 

 

 

Looks:
The Amaze is based on the Brio but unlike other boot-on-hatch jobs, it has designed from the ground up to be a proper small sedan. It is longer than its hatchback sibling slightly wider and a little taller at the back to increase shoulder and head room. The length is different, though; it will be just under-four meters to avail of the excise benefits of being a small car. The wheelbase is 62mm longer, at 2407mm.

 

The Amaze still has a very unconventional styling – just like the Brio. Unlike most Honda models the design is not subtle. You will either love it or absolutely hate it. But we have a feeling that a larger number will like the looks of this entry-level sedan. In the front, the Amaze has got a completely new grille to differentiate it from its hatchback sibling but shares other components like the headlights and bumpers. The sides and the rear have changed too for obvious reasons. The rear end now has quite a useable boot of around 420 litres which is significantly higher than its chief rival the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire.

 

 

Interiors:
On the inside, not much has changed, other than the upholstery getting a different colour scheme and a bench in the back to seat three if necessary. The interiors will be typical Honda with beige and black combination. The extra 62mm in the wheelbase will go into increasing the rear legroom, making it a much more comfortable.

 

Engine & Transmission:
The Honda Amaze petrol will be powered by an i-VTEC 1.2-litre mill that currently powers the Brio hatchback and the Jazz. The diesel version gets a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged i-DTEC engine that produces around 90bhp. It is based on the Japanese automakers 1.6-litre diesel engine that was launched with the Civic diesel in Europe.

 

 

There will be the option of a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic (petrol only). The sedan is just 26kg heavier than the hatch, so we do not expect a dip in fuel efficiency (believed to be 25kmpl) over the hatch. The same engine will be used in the new 2014 City sedan and a compact-crossover based on the Jazz as well as the brio but with higher power and torque figures courtesy a reworked ECU.

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.

Hyundai launches new Sonata

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) today launched an upgraded version of its luxury sedan Sonata priced between Rs 13.9 lakh and Rs 15.9 lakh as it looks to enhance its position in the bigger car segment.

The new 'Sonata Transform' will be available in 2.4 litre petrol engine priced at Rs 13.9 lakh and two litre diesel engine with two options priced at Rs 14.89 lakh (for manual transmission) and Rs 15.9 lakh (for automatic transmission). "It is our endeavour to constantly upgrade our products. With the new Sonata we are looking to enhance our position in the luxury sedan segment," HMIL Managing Director H S Lheem told reporters here. The company which had indicated that it was considering price hike of its products is yet to take a final call, HMIL Senior VP Marketing and Sales Arvind Saxena said.

Hyundai launches new Sonata; yet to decide on car price hike

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) today launched an upgraded version of its luxury sedan Sonata priced between Rs 13.9 lakh and Rs 15.9 lakh as it looks to enhance its position in the bigger car segment.

The new 'Sonata Transform' will be available in 2.4 litre petrol engine priced at Rs 13.9 lakh and two litre diesel engine with two options priced at Rs 14.89 lakh (for manual transmission) and Rs 15.9 lakh (for automatic transmission).

"It is our endeavour to constantly upgrade our products. With the new Sonata we are looking to enhance our position in the luxury sedan segment," HMIL Managing Director H S Lheem told reporters here.

The company which had indicated that it was considering price hike of its products is yet to take a final call, HMIL Senior VP Marketing and Sales Arvind Saxena said.

Merc mulls engine, gearbox unit in India

German auto giant Mercedes-Benz is contemplating setting up a plant to manufacture engines, gearboxes and other components in India at a whopping investment of Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore. While plans are yet to be finalised, the lower cost of manufacturing in India has compelled the company to give a serious thought to the proposition, Harald Landmann, the bus business head for Mercedes-Benz said at the launch of the company’s intercity luxury bus in Pune.

Assembled at Sutlej Motors in Jalandhar, the Rs 80-lakh bus will compete with its Swiss counterpart Volvo in the fast growing Indian luxury bus segment.

“We are yet to figure out when the entire bus building operation, including the development of engine and gearboxes, will happen in India. However, we are looking at a possibility to set up a manufacturing unit over the next three to five years,” Landmann said, speaking to reporters after the launch.

While Landmann did not disclose the location to set up this unit, officials close to the development hinted at Pune or Chennai.

Mercedes Benz is setting up its new facility at Chakan to manufacture cars as well as buses, which will begin operations in January. The company is expected to move all its operations from its present plant in Chikhali to Chakan. Considering this, the company might set up the engines and gearboxes unit in the vicinity of the Chakan plant.

“As our new manufacturing unit is coming up at Chakan, the engine and gearbox manufacturing should ideally happen in the same region. Since Pune has a strong automobile component industry, the unit has to come up nearby,” an official stated.

Once the company draws a concrete plan for the Rs 2,500-crore project, it will approach the Maharashtra government for approvals. “We might explore other states to set up the engine-gearbox facility if things do not work out in Maharashtra,” he added. Apart from Pune, Chennai could be the other option for this project.

Elaborating the business plan for the newly launched bus, Landmann said, “Mercedes-Benz enjoys a 17 per cent market share in the global luxury bus market. We have built the new bus on our versatile O500 R/RF chassis, which is being developed at the Pune plant. While most of the components are being imported from a Brazil-based unit, the chassis-building acitivity will happen in Jalandhar through an agreement with Sutlej Motors.”

“The luxury bus market is growing in India. Volvo, so far the only significant player in India, sold some 350 buses last year. Our plan is to earn a significant market share within the first year,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Dr Wilfried Aulbur said.

Merc mulls engine, gearbox unit in India

German auto giant Mercedes-Benz is contemplating setting up a plant to manufacture engines, gearboxes and other components in India at a whopping investment of Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore.
While plans are yet to be finalised, the lower cost of manufacturing in India has compelled the company to give a serious thought to the proposition, Harald Landmann, the bus business head for Mercedes-Benz said at the launch of the company’s intercity luxury bus in Pune.
Assembled at Sutlej Motors in Jalandhar, the Rs 80-lakh bus will compete with its Swiss counterpart Volvo in the fast growing Indian luxury bus segment. “We are yet to figure out when the entire bus building operation, including the development of engine and gearboxes, will happen in India.
However, we are looking at a possibility to set up a manufacturing unit over the next three to five years,” Landmann said, speaking to reporters after the launch. While Landmann did not disclose the location to set up this unit, officials close to the development hinted at Pune or Chennai. Mercedes Benz is setting up its new facility at Chakan to manufacture cars as well as buses, which will begin operations in January. The company is expected to move all its operations from its present plant in Chikhali to Chakan.
Considering this, the company might set up the engines and gearboxes unit in the vicinity of the Chakan plant. “As our new manufacturing unit is coming up at Chakan, the engine and gearbox manufacturing should ideally happen in the same region.
Since Pune has a strong automobile component industry, the unit has to come up nearby,” an official stated. Once the company draws a concrete plan for the Rs 2,500-crore project, it will approach the Maharashtra government for approvals. “We might explore other states to set up the engine-gearbox facility if things do not work out in Maharashtra,” he added.
Apart from Pune, Chennai could be the other option for this project. Elaborating the business plan for the newly launched bus, Landmann said, “Mercedes-Benz enjoys a 17 per cent market share in the global luxury bus market. We have built the new bus on our versatile O500 R/RF chassis, which is being developed at the Pune plant.
While most of the components are being imported from a Brazil-based unit, the chassis-building activity will happen in Jalandhar through an agreement with Sutlej Motors.”
“The luxury bus market is growing in India. Volvo, so far the only significant player in India, sold some 350 buses last year. Our plan is to earn a significant market share within the first year,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Dr Wilfried Aulbur said.

Hyundai packs i10 with Kappa punch

HYUNDAI Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Tuesday rolled out a new model of the i10 compact car fitted with its latest and more powerful 1.2 litre Kappa engine that is expected to give five per cent more mileage than the existing 1.1 litre engine fitted in the car.The new engine also emits less exhaust fumes. The i10 will also have a 4-speed automatic transmission variant, which will be more convenient for women especially in heavy city traffic as they will not have to press the clutch and change gears, HMIL managing director HS Lheem told journalists.

The Kappa i10 is available with Hyundai dealers at an entry level price of Rs 3.9 lakh. This compares with the existing i10 which costs Rs 3.37 lakh. The car is being launched in three variants —the Magna, Sportz and Asta with the high-end automatic transmission model with a sunroof priced at Rs 5,43,644.

This variant will also be fitted with front airbags and an anti-lock braking system. Lheem said the new engine and transmission plant at Sriperumbudur near Chennai has the capacity to produce 2,50,000 units of the new Kappa engine every year for powering the i10 cars to be sold both in the domestic as well as European markets. “The engine has been developed at a huge cost of $450 million over 41 months and will be produced in India for the world market,” he added. Lheem said the existing 1.1 litre engine has been a success and will therefore, continue to power both the Santro and the i10 “but the new Kappa engine will significantly raise the bar in the segment.”

The Kappa engine has an aluminium block, which makes it much lighter than the other engines, improves the power- weight ratio as well as fuel efficiency. It also helps cool the engine more quickly. The engine is fitted with a double overhead cam shaft, 16 valves and 32 bit microprocessor, which enables it to deliver more power with less noise and vibration.

The engine meets the latest Euro5 emission norms and emits only 119 g/ km of carbon dioxide, which is the lowest for this class of cars, Lheem claimed. He said the i10 has been doing well in both the Indian and European markets. The company had sold as many as 7,500 units of the i10 in the domestic market in the last eight months and had an order book of 1.1 lakh units in exports over the last seven months. Over 70 per cent of the car market in India comprises of compact cars.

The fast growing sales of i10 have taken Hyundai’s market share in the country from 19.5 per cent to 25.4 per cent and cover part of the gap with market leader Maruti. Lheem said the company was also working on a diesel variant of the i10, which is currently being exported. However, the cost at the moment was too high for the Indian market. “We are working on ways to reduce the cost of the diesel engine and making it more affordable for the Indian customer, but this, however, will take some time,” he added. HMIL has emerged as the largest exporter of cars in the country. Lheem said that about 40 per cent of the products were being exported from the Indian plant while 60 per cent was sold within the country.