The all new Chevrolet Spark launched

General Motors has launched the updated Spark hatchback in India. The 2012 Chevrolet Spark gets many changes inside out including a face-lift which makes it up-to-date with other Chevy cars.  The new Spark is available in both petrol and LPG options and is costlier by up to Rs 10,000 from the existing comparable versions of the model, which will be discontinued, the company said. 

 

The small car is now available between Rs 3.26 lakh and Rs 3.81 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the petrol variant and Rs 3.81 lakh and Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the LPG option. 

 

New two-tone finish upholstery, updated wing inspired instrument cluster, 2-DIN audio system with aux and USB functionality have been added to the interiors. 

 

A high roofline in the Chevrolet Spark ensures spacious headroom and legroom not just for front seat passengers, but also for anyone sitting in the rear seat. A high roofline in the Chevrolet Spark ensures spacious headroom and legroom not just for front seat passengers, but also for anyone sitting in the rear seat. 

 

The Spark is still powered by a 1.0-litre 63PS 4-cylinder engine which is available in both petrol and LPG trims. 

Apart from new design such as the twin-port grille, the new Spark has is powered by a 1-litre petrol engine with new-age innovations that ensure smooth, noiseless, efficient, powerful, reliable and low-maintenance operation, the company claimed.

The Spark is also furnished with a variety of clever and practical storage spaces.

 

There are five variants on offer now with a choice of seven colours. 

 

GM India is offering a three-year/100,000-km standard warranty under the Chevrolet Promise Cost of Ownership Programme, which also provides free maintenance for three years or 45,000 km. 

Buying Used Cars

The demand for cars has dramatically increased over the past few years. Everyone needs a car, but most people cannot afford to purchase a brand new car.

If you are also tight on budget, then buying a used car will not be a bad deal. A used car is more economical than a new car. If you are planning to buy a used car, then you will have to do a lot of research. Otherwise you might be sold a defective or faulty car. There are car dealers who sell used cars that are in a good condition. You can also take along a mechanic or a used car expert with you when you are going to see the used car that is up for sale. The mechanic will tell you the condition of the car and whether it is a good idea to buy the car or not. He will also be able to find out any hidden damages or faults in the car.
You can get a good used car for the smallest amount of money.

Private sellers often advertise their cars in newspapers. You can check your newspaper to find a used car on sale in your locality. You might even be able to find a used car in a really good condition for a reasonable price. You can also approach a used car dealer, who thoroughly assesses the car before putting it for sale. Still, it is advisable to check the reputation of the car dealer before making a deal. You can also browse the Internet and find cheap used cars online. Though you cannot touch or see the cars online, you can compare and examine the cars. The best part is that you don't have to go anywhere for the purpose. There are many websites displaying used cars for sale.

You can also buy a used car through a public auction. Usually, these car auctions are arranged by the police or government institutions and are the ones that they had seized through repossession or confiscation. They sell cars that were seized from car owners who were unable to repay their loan amounts.
People tend to buy the cheapest used car, and end up paying out more on the repairs. Nowadays, most car dealers conduct thorough tests on the used car before putting it for sale. These dealers also offer warranty to assure the quality of the used car. These warranties may range from a period of 6 months to one year. The condition of the used cars depends on the usage of the car and its maintenance by its previous owner. You must look for the used car that is best used by its previous owner.

Used cars rarely come with the warranty of the original manufacturer. So, used cars certified by car dealers are a good option. By buying a certified used car, you can be satisfied that the car you are buying has been thoroughly inspected and is in condition to be given an extended warranty. These certified used cars also come with benefits like low loan rate, roadside assistance, free maintenance like oil changes and shuttle services.

You can also buy a used car from a used car sale. In these sales, you have a variety of used cars that are up n display. You can find different models of cars, compare them and consider their prices. You also get a chance to examine the condition of the car in these sale centres.

What to Look For When Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car can be tricky as you will have to consider lots of factors - it is therefore imperative that you know what you're looking for.

Trust is often a big issue when buying a used car, especially if you are buying privately. When viewing a car you will need to ensure that you check the vehicle over thoroughly. Here are a few tips to help make sure you buy a used car that won't give you too many problems.

1. Before viewing a car you should do some background research so you know the current 'going rate' of that particular car - you don't want to pay too much. You should also remember that when buying from a motor trader you have more rights than you do when you buy privately. It is therefore essential that you follow the tips outlined below.

2. If the car you are looking to buy is under three years old then it should have done around 25,000-30,000 miles, anything with a lower mileage is a good buy.
If it has done more miles then you know that the car has been driven hard which may have an adverse affect on the engine.

3. It is important that you inspect the bodywork to spot any blemishes. It is therefore a good idea to do this is daylight. You should look out for signs of rust as this indicated corrosion - rust is more likely to occur on cars over 5 years old. If you spot rust along the lower door sills, front wing or the bottom of the door alarm bells should ring. Rust shows that the metal is weakened and will require a lot of welding attention to put right. You should also look for signs of crash repairs - this is often shown by ripples in the paintwork.

4. Never buy a car without test driving it yourself. Make sure you are insured to drive it and then take it out on a drive.

If possible take it along a motorway, somewhere with twisting roads...and make sure you check reverse. This will give you a good feel of how the car drives. You will also be able to see whether the gears are sticky, the car pulls to one side or whether the clutch is stiff.

5. Finally, check that the mileage corresponds to the general wear and tear of the car. Also have a quick check of the condition of the engine - a dirty engine suggests that the car hasn't been looked after properly!

Private Seller Or Used Car Dealer Is Better To Purchase 2nd Hand Cars?

Having your own car is fairly joyable, however how to buy one is not easy. Although the reccession is basically over, its fallout still remains to some extent. Having considered this, a lot of people have decided to buy a second hand from either a private seller or used car dealer instead of a brand new car.

But therein lies the choice for many people - do you go for the used car dealer or the private seller?

This article discusses some of the issues that might come up when making this decision. Both have certain advantages and disadvantages, and carefully looking at these will help you come to a conclusion about which to go for.When you roll up to a used car dealer you are often confronted with a wide range of cars to choose from.

And that's one of the main advantages to buying from a used car dealer - the fact that you can find a wide range of vehicles in one place. This also means you can seek the advice of the salesperson in order to determine more clearly if a given car meets your requirements and those of your family members.

Many people choose a used car dealer because they can sometimes provide some attractive offers - such as free roadside assistance services and similar attractive offers. But one of the main reasons car buyers opt for a used car dealer is the fact that they provide a warranty of some kind. This can be the clincher for many people.

Compare the warranty situation with what people get when they buy from a private seller - there is invariably no warranty. Any spoken agreement as regards the quality of the car and how the seller would accept a return are of course very difficult to prove - often impossible.

But on the plus side, private sellers often sell their cars for a lower price than their used car dealer counterparts.

This is because, in most cases, the private seller will have lower overheads than the used car dealer. It may also be because they wish to make a fast sale - which can be good and can be bad (for example if the car is of lower quality than they suggest).

There are clear pros and cons to both second hand car buying options - and it is worth taking your time when deciding which to go for.

New Honda Compact Car to be Priced Below Rs. 5 Lakh in India

Small cars or compact cars go pretty well with the populace here in India and Honda gauging this aspect, decided to introduce the Jazz here. However, many prospective buyers of the car have been put off by the high price of the car, which has not even launched as yet.

But if you remember, the Japanese car maker was working on two, not one, small cars for the country. Now Indian newspaper, The Times of India, is reporting that Honda Siel Cars India (or HSCI) is planning to get their other small car with a price tag that would be below the Rs. 5 lakh mark. In fact, officials from the company have pointed out that a new team focused on research and development would be in place from next month.

Elaborating more on the team, an official from Honda India explained, “The R&D team will be headed by a senior Honda official from Japan. The expected size of the team is around 25 members and it will also have people from Honda’s India operations from departments like manufacturing and purchase.”

The new compact car by Honda India is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs. 4.5 lakh. Though there is no word on the release date, it is expected to be out within the coming three years. The R&D team will not only work on the indigenization of the car but also on the localization of the production of key components, which will keep the costs low.

New Honda Compact Car to be Priced Below Rs. 5 Lakh in India

Small cars or compact cars go pretty well with the populace here in India and Honda gauging this aspect, decided to introduce the Jazz here. However, many prospective buyers of the car have been put off by the high price of the car, which has not even launched as yet. But if you remember, the Japanese car maker was working on two, not one, small cars for the country.

Now Indian newspaper, The Times of India, is reporting that Honda Siel Cars India (or HSCI) is planning to get their other small car with a price tag that would be below the Rs. 5 lakh mark. In fact, officials from the company have pointed out that a new team focused on research and development would be in place from next month.

Elaborating more on the team, an official from Honda India explained, “The R&D team will be headed by a senior Honda official from Japan. The expected size of the team is around 25 members and it will also have people from Honda’s India operations from departments like manufacturing and purchase.” The new compact car by Honda India is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs. 4.5 lakh.

Though there is no word on the release date, it is expected to be out within the coming three years. The R&D team will not only work on the indigenization of the car but also on the localization of the production of key components, which will keep the costs low.

Bajaj low cost US$ 2500 small car delayed

Bajaj says that its low cost US$ 2500 small car project has been delayed by around 5-6 months. This means that the car may not be able to see the light in 2011 as was being expected.

The car had given hope that the race for cheap car would not remain confined to Tata’s Nano car that is slated to be launched in April. Nano too has been delayed by several months.

Tata Motors had announced to launch its lakhtakiya (RS 1 lakh) car last October. But so far the company has not been able to launch the car.

Bajaj Auto in association with Renault SA, Nissan Motor Co. had said in January last month that they were going to throw competition to Ratan Tata’s pet project Nano. The two companies had said that that they would collaborate to produce a small car that would cost around $2,500 (Rs1 lakh at that time’s exchange rate), making it the second car in the world and in India with ambitions to be the cheapest four-wheeler on the road.

It was said at that time that the three firms will set up a joint venture company in which India’s No. 2 motorbike maker, Bajaj, will hold the single largest majority with half the ownership, while partners Nissan and Renault will hold a quarter each. On sale from 2011, the cars—some 400,000 of them each year—will be produced in Maharashtra, at Chakan, near the existing manufacturing facilities of both Bajaj and Renault.

But now Rajiv Bajaj says: "The project remains largely on schedule, though in the course of development some specifications have been reviewed, leading to adjustments in the overall schedule." It had been reported in a section of the media that the ultra low-cost (ULC) project would be delayed by more than a year as Rajiv Bajaj was not happy with the work done so far, and he demanded major modification in the design.

Rajiv Bajaj went on to add “Bajaj has primary responsibility for the design, development, manufacturing, and supply chain activities of this project. Bajaj is proceeding as before to implement this project and any financial or other constraints that Renault-Nissan may have, have no bearing on the ability of Bajaj to implement this project".

Tata considers all-new site for Nano production, protests at Sangur continue

After recent protests at its nearly constructed plant turned violent, India's Tata Motors is now heavily considering moving its production facilities from Singur in the state of West Benegal to the region of Karnataka in the south of India. Authorities from Tata confirmed the southern state offered 1,000 acres for the reestablishment of the automaker's Nano car production plant.

Prior to Tata finishing the plant's construction, local farmers had been protesting the arrival of Tata Motors for several years. They claim the automotive giant forcefully took their farmlands without consent and demand the return of their land. Government officials, though, say they can't return it due to it being already developed for automotive production.

In order to satisfy the locals, the West Senegal authorities offered to increase their compensation by 50 percent, but its was quickly refused by the lead opposition political party, the Trinamool Congress.

"In case we were thinking of relocating the plant from Singur he (Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa) would give all necessary support and assistance and incentives to make it happen," Tata Motors spokeswoman Ravi Kent stated. "We are watching the situation and actively looking at alternatives."

Tata had originally planned for its first run of Nano ultra-economy cars to roll off the assembly lines in October, but give the current situation, timetables have surely been delayed. Even with costs of raw materials on the rise and this latest debacle to deal with, Tata officials maintain the Nano will keep its 100,000 rupee ($2,500) price point.

Tata open to Fiat selling Nano abroad

TATA Motors Ltd is open to Italy’s Fiat SpA helping to sell the low-cost Nano model overseas, chairman Ratan Tata said on Tuesday.

Tata, India’s third- largest car maker, plans to launch the Nano later this year, priced at about $ 2,500 (Rs 1 lakh). “We have held talks about the Nano being marketed in markets where Fiat already has a strong presence. I am open to consider a partnership,” Tata said.

Fiat has a joint venture with Tata to manufacture and distribute cars, engines and commercial vehicles. Tata also said the Tata group was in talks with Italian defence and aerospace company Finmeccanica SpA about supplying helicopter parts. The head of Fiat’s Iveco truck unit told an Italian newspaper in May he expected to resume talks with Tata on possible accords after the India partner completed its acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover.