Analytics

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Volkswagen Up Launched


Volkswagen Up has been officially unveiled. The production model of the five-door hatchback has been revealed just ahead of its European launch in March. The five-door Up! is the same as the three-door variant. It has the same size, features and the range of engine options. With the addition of extra doors, the five-door variant makes away with the rear rising window line for a more conventional glass house. The new five-door Up! also comes with an increased leg room space of 79.5cm and head room space of 94.7cm. The luggage space starts at 252 litres that can be extended to 951 litres.

For the European market, the Volkswagen Up! five-door specifications include a 1-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine which chucks out a power of 60PS and 75PS of max power. The Volkswagen Up! price will cost around 10,325 euros in the European market which roughly translates into Rs 7.25 lakh approximately. The new Up! will come in five models in Europe - Take Up!, Move Up!, High Up!, Black Up! and White Up!

The five-door version of the Volkswagen Up will also follow suit in India before 2013. One of the main tasks ahead of Volkswagen India would be to bring down the making costs of the car, especially to fight off competition from its own Volkswagen Polo. The company is planning to go for heavy localisation of the Volkswagen Up! in India. The five-door version is also expected to give rise to an India-spec Skoda Citigo.

Indian-market Up will get the fuel fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines ranging from 1 to 1.2 litre. The Up offers approximately 251 litres of luggage space, extending to 951 litres with the rear seats folded. For the Indian market however it will be a four-door version and will be positioned below the Volkswagen Polo. It is expected to compete with Hyundai i10 and Nissan Micra in Indian market.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Ford Ecosport In The Market By End 2012


Ford EcoSport will approximately gulp up USD 142 million at its Chennai plant in India as its manufacturing cost. The company's wholly owned arm, Ford India, will roll out the product in the market later this year. "We are investing USD 142 million in Chennai to produce that vehicle. It really is a tremendous show of confidence to the team in Chennai," Ford India President and Managing Director Michael Boneham told reporters.The company has not revealed the price range of this model, but it is expected to be in the price segment of Rs 7 to 9 lakh, where it will be competing with the Maruti Ertiga SUV.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Alan Mullaly, Ford Motor Company CEO, said on the occasion, "Majority of our growth now in terms of production facility and volumes will be focused on serving the Asia Pacific customers starting with India."

Powered by highly fuel efficient 1-litre Ecoboost petrol engine, the SUV is capable of delivering a peak power of 120 PS along with a peak torque of 170 NM. A 1.5 liter diesel version of the car will also be launched in Indian later. The choice of engines, a 1.5-litre diesel and 1.0-litre petrol, would have been ideal to benefit from the excise duty sop.

However recent reports suggest that Ford doesn’t want to compromise on the standards of space and styling it has already set. As a result, the car is expected to be closer to 4.25m in length, similar to the outgoing model. Therefore, the excise duty cut will have to be shelved off.

The company plans to offset the penalty of a higher excise duty with high levels of localisation. However, Ford is believed to be working on a sub-four-metre version by trimming precious millimetres off the bumpers, but it is very tight-lipped about this. We expect the EcoSport to start at Rs 7 lakh for the base petrol model and go up to Rs 10 lakh for the top-end diesel version. Ford EcoSport competes with Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra XUV500 and Skoda Yeti in Indian market.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Skoda Octavia Rises From The Ashes


Skoda Octavia is now on a comeback trail. If reports are anything to go by then the Octavia is about to mark its return in early 2013 and will take the place of the existing Skoda Laura. Currently under the codename ‘A7’ it will now be based on an innovative modular MQB platform, ripped from its parent company Volkswagen. The concept model of this New Octavia model is expected to be unveiled at 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Rumor mills are also working overtime to reveal that the new platform will be bigger as compared to the current Skoda Laura that presently earns decent sales along with counterpart Skoda Superb sedan. In fact, this info is further substantiated by Mr. Winfried Vahland’s statement at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo in which he had informed that, the company would certainly like to bring back the most sales-ticking sedan to India and he also shared a personal fact that he loves the name ‘Octavia’.

As soon as the Skoda launches the sedan in India it will dump the name Laura and will put back the tag of Octavia on the sedan. With its initial launch in the year 2001, it actually introduced the Czech Republic based firm in India and conferred it with a golden platform to pursue further sales in the country.

The car is based on a VW Group platform shared with the Volkswagen Jetta. There have been two generations of the Octavia model to date. The 1.9l turbo-diesel engine is the one which has sold the most, and rightly so. It is frugal and manages to keep the performance-oriented driver happy at the same time. The petrol 1.8 L turbocharger engine is packed with electronic multipoint injection fuel supply system. This engine is very fuel efficient and a better performer and delivers an impressive power of 150 bhp. Other vehicles that have made the Skoda a brand to reckon with in India include the likes of Skoda Laura, Skoda Superb, Skoda Rapid and Skoda Fabia hatchback along with Skoda Yeti SUV in the country.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Skoda Fabia and Chevrolet Optra secretly topped 2011


Skoda Fabia and Chevrolet Optra did restore some lost pride for the older generation of cars. On the whole in 2011 the best selling cars were mostly that made their debut for the first time. The old timers were not much of game changer and even if they did manage a healthy run, the sales figures were dismissal compared to their 2010 earnings.

Surprisingly, the Chevrolet Optra and the Skoda Fabia came up trumps in 2011. Facts say that Chevrolet sold a total of 1824 units in 2010 of the Optra and a surprising 3044 units in 2011. On the other hand, the newly renovated Skoda Fabia in 2011 were a shocking 16,966 units compared to 8,965 units that were sold in 2010.

The Skoda Fabia comes in three engine variants of 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.4-litre diesel. The 1.4 TDI is a turbocharged three-pot engine which produces 68bhp and a maximum torque of 155Nm. The diesel is a bit noisy which is due the Pumpe-Duse technology that runs it. The idling is quiet and the engine responses are bit delayed when you hit the peddle. This does not take away from the fact that the car still responds better than most other turbo diesel hatchbacks. The car redlines easily but the revs fall quickly too once your foot is off the gas pedal.

The Skoda Fabia price starts a just little under Rs 5 lakh and goes up to almost Rs 8 lakh. It is actually a bit more compared to its other hatchback colleagues. It still however justifies the price it demands, if you consider that you get German build quality and small touches like the telescoping steering and ride and handling that can hold their own with much more expensive cars, it suddenly will seem worth it.

The Chevrolet Optra is a large sedan that falls between the upper C segment and the lower D Segment which makes it quiet a unique buy. The fashion statement of the car is done by Pininfarina however this was carried out when the Optra was still a Daewoo car and it was made predominantly for the Asian markets. The car has always performed beyond its expectations and though it has not heated up the sales it does sell at a steady pace and is a decent piece of machinery. The inside fit and finish surely makes you wanting for more with great space as well. The option of either petrol or a diesel engine also strengthens its portfolio. Overall the Chevrolet Optra offers a decent package with a starting price of Rs. 7.3 lakhs. Both the cars will compete with Volkswagen Vento, Nissan Sunny and Renault Pulse in Indian market.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Maruti Swift is the Car of The Year


Maruti Swift has won the Indian Car of The Year 2012. The Swift has won the award twice and it is the only car to win the title twice. Maruti Swift won this award right in the first edition when it was launched in May 2005. The car has won this award not for any particular category but the award is given to the best car chosen from among all cars launched during a year.

“Last year, many global car makers launched various cars in India. But it was Swift that was chosen for the Indian Car of the Year Award,” the company said. Swift is also the first car from the house of Maruti to be launched in India along with other countries. It was also the first car in Maruti Suzuki stable where a group of 25 engineers had worked along with SMC engineers on a global vehicle.

“Post its launch Swift created a new ‘Premium Compact’ segment amongst the compact cars. After the launch of the Swift the premium compact segment has seen the maximum growth amongst vehicle segments.”

In spite of many entrants in the market, the Swift has been the numero uno car in the market. The company has sold over 600,000 units in the first 6 years and it still is selling like hot cakes. This makes Swift by far the highest selling car in the premium compact segment.

Maruti Suzuki introduced the New Swift in August 2011. It was introduced at a time when Swift was the largest selling vehicle in the premium compact segment in India. The ‘New Swift’ became even popular as over one lakh customers booked it. The Swift has completely dominated the likes of the Hyundai i20, Ford Figo and Nissan Micra.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

New Maruti Swift Dzire First Drive


maruti swift dzire 2012 india photos
Maruti Swift Dzire 2012

Maruti Swift Dzire will make its compact avatar version available next month, heating up the temperatures in the entry-level sedan segment in the world's second-fastest growing car market.

Looks do not matter and certainly the Swift Dzire is a true example of the statement. The function, practicality and cost factor have played a major role in the decision making process of consumers who are looking for a car that is a complete value for money and simply augurs well with their nature. In fact very few cars have been able to replicate this kind of success. Such is the nature of the Swift Dzire. In fact it took us quite some time to come to terms with the fact that how the MSIL could fit a boot onto a car that was designed to be round. Cut to 2012 and the Swift Dzire numbers have clocked over 10,000 units a month and the company has sold over 3.3 lakh units till date in the domestic market.

The new Dzire has been designed to fit the 4000mm length requirement that the Indian Government has stipulated as the definition in size for small cars and therefore benefit from the additional excise cut. This simply means the new Swift Dzire is a lot cheaper. The new Swift Dzire will however have a lost bit of the boot space due to the cost advantage but it still holds in good stead in terms of the storage space.

The car will also be refreshed with the new front bumper with a wider smile, shorter boot (just 145mm longer than the Swift) and new tail lamps with chrome accent giving the car a bit of extra zing. The company says that the new Dzire will be completely new from the A-pillar rearwards when compared to the new Swift that it is based on.

The occupants have improved room space as the new Dzire is 25mm taller. Amazingly the kerb weight of the car still is the same as the Swift. With the same winner wheelbase design of the Swift hatch means the Dzire is one sweet handling car on our hands.

The Dzire will be run on both the petrol and diesel engine which is again no prizes for guessing as it is the same as the ones available on the Swift. The gear box will be mated with a 4-speed automatic transmission joining the regular 5 speed manual.

The insides of the car are also a copy of the Swift except for the addition of a two tone beige color scheme adding a touch of class to the car.

The Petrol version seems the clear cut winner on the track and the Dzire handles just as good as the swift. The New Maruti Swift Dzire is sure to be the desire of many a people. The New Swift Dzire would only further dent the hopes of Toyota Etios Liva, Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai i20.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Hyundai Eon LPG Variants Launched


Hyundai Eon is now available three new versions known as Hyundai D-Lite Plus, Hyundai Era Plus and Hyundai Magna Plus. The additions of three new variants will result in an increase of INR 7,000 more against the current variants since these new editions will also be made available in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered variants. To get into a dual fuel mode the new variants can be fitted with the factory-fitted LPG kits, for which one needs to shell out another INR 27,000 extra as additional cost for the dual fuel small car.

Currently the base model Hyundai D-Lite that comes with choice of air conditioner costs around INR 2.91 Lakh. The higher D-Lite Plus, which is packed with standard air-conditioning and power steering will cost INR 2.98 Lakh (Ex showroom, Delhi).

The Hyundai Era Plus which has some extra features like the central locking and power windows at the front is priced at INR 3.12 Lakh, while the present normal Era variant costs INR 3.11 Lakh. Both the prices are ex showroom Delhi.

Hyundai Magna Plus, the top-end model will now be made available at INR 3.42 Lakh (Ex showroom, Delhi), which comprises of new features in the form of a two-din audio system with USB combined with some more extra elements. The regular top model is priced at INR 3.37 Lakh.

The new variants will be available with a regular 32 liter petrol tanks and additionally a 34 liter LPG tank. The company has shaped its LPG tank in ‘toroidal’ form, which takes less space as compared to usual LPG tanks that are fitted in other vehicles.

Since its launch in 2011 the small car Eon is in stiff competition with its arch rival Maruti Alto and with these new arrivals, the competition will definitely see a boost in the coming days.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Ford EcoSport 2012 Revealed


Ford EcoSport, joins the bandwagon of new global compact sports utility vehicle and is the second of eight new global models that Ford plans to launch in India. The new Ford EcoSport SUV features the automaker's smallest EcoBoost engine, a one-litre three-cylinder. Toyota Fortuner with auto transmission also may do good volumes, while Nissan Evalia, Renault Duster and Ashok Leyland's Stile may give competition to the Ford EcoSport. This car, based on the Fiesta platform, is expected to be available by the year-end.

Regarding the unique initiatives taken by Ford at this Expo, Nigel Wark, executive director, marketing, sales and service, Ford India, commented, “We wanted to create something engaging with the visitors at the Auto Expo. We did not want to put the car and stop people from touching the car at the zone and so we created an interactive driving game. We wanted to bring together engagement so that there was some memory for people for Ford at the Auto Expo.”

The compact SUV looks quite energetic with its wing mirrors and the thick A and B pillars are quite daring. The quarter glass could hinder the visibility and could be cause of concern while driving. The tiny windscreen at the rear however could come as a slight relief. The spare tyre mounted on the hatch might obstruct the visibility further. The rear high-mounted stop lamp on the spoiler is an interesting touch.

The compact SUV will come in two engine options. The first is a 1-litre, 3-cylinder turbo, direct injection petrol engine producing 120PS of power and 170Nm of torque. The emissions are surprisingly low at 140gm/km. This EcoBoost engine was first announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The other will be a 1.4-litre diesel engine again with low emissions, high torque and power.

All of this translates into an expected price of around Rs 6 lakh. At that price it will cream the competition, unless Renault Duster, Maruti Ertiga and Tata Safari Storme comes with a competitive pricing which are being touted to be its biggest rivals.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

New Hyundai Santa Fe goes Fluidic


Hyundai Santa Fe is still in the Christmas hangover. The Santa Fe from Hyundai is gearing up for a makeover. The shots of the makeover Hyundai Santa Fe was spied in US recently. The new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is clearly a lot more vibrant and clearly shows the influence of Fluidic design. The Fluidic Santa Fe SUV will hit the road at the New York Motor Show which is scheduled from April 6 to April 15 this year.

The fluidic design now has come full circle and looks like it will be used to shape all the cars in future. The current model of Hyundai Santa Fe has undergone some minor plastic surgery inspired by the Fluidic design.

The new Santa Fe Specifications is run by a 2L turbo petrol engine which powers up to 274hp while the 2L diesel motor will churn out 150hp. The new Santa Fe 2013 will also host some niche features and accessories to adorn it.

For the desi market, the Santa Fe will be delivered as a completely built unit and Hyundai India is planning to take the in house production of the SUV soon that will reduce its price and will make a great way ahead for the SUV in India. The Hyundai Santa Fe price in India ranges from Rs 27 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and is available in two wheel drive, four wheel drive and four wheel drive automatic version. The Hyundai Santa Fe has been going steady and people in India have accepted the vehicle quite well though in small numbers but with consistent growth since its launch in the country. The Hyundai Santa Fe competes with the likes of Honda CRV, Skoda Yeti and Mahindra XUV500.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Ford Fusion 2013 Exposed


Ford Fusion is coming all out with a fuel-efficient powertrain in the midsize car segment. The car will be available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives. It will be powered by an EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with an automatic start stop system. It will come with a front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options along with the choice of automatic and manual six-speed transmissions.

The 1.6-liter EcoBoost will be the best-in-class four-cylinder non-hybrid fuel efficiency in the city and on the highway. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine will provide the much needed thrust to the performance of the Fusion.

The car also comes with a Lane Keeping System. This one of a kind technology helps the driver maintain proper lane position. Using a small, forward-facing camera behind the inside rearview mirror it determines if the car is on course and will alert waywardness if detected. There is also the steering wheel vibration if the Fusion drifts too close to lane markings.

The next generation car will also come with adaptive cruise control with radar system and enables collision warning if the potential of a crash is detected. The dream car also has an Active Park assist to identify a suitable parallel parking space and all the driver needs to do is operate accelerator and brake pedals.

The wanna be James Bond flick car springs up yet another surprise with the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) which detects traffic in a driver's blind spot, providing both audible and visual warnings. It warns the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking space with obstructed views, such as between two large vans. The Ford Focus gives a tough run to the likes of the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and its own Ford Fiesta.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Avanti Is The Super Car Of India


The Delhi Auto Expo yet again got into a league of its own with the launch of Avanti, India’s first super-car, designed by Dilip Chhabria. The Avanti is on lines with the Lamborghini Aventador and Murcielago. The Super Car was unveiled by the Super Star Amitabh Bachchan who unveiled the ‘desi supercar’.

The car comes in two models with 240 and 350 bhp engines. The most surprising factor is that the car has been literally designed at one-tenth the price of a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. Speaking on the occasion, Chhabria said, “We were designing cars for a while now and the next logical step for us was to make them. The Avanti was on the drawing board for the last four years and when we were finally ready with the end design, we decided to go into production.”

“Annually around 10,000-15,000 super cars are made by companies world-wide. We wanted to replicate the same in India and create a niche market,” he adds.

With respect to the style of the super car Chhabria says, “The car body is made with composite material bodies with the floor made of carbon fibre to reduce the weight of the car. The 240-BHP model will cost Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom price) and the 350-BHP model will retail for Rs 30 lakh.”

Chhabria has in fact opened a Pandora’s Box with low pricing of the car. This means that now almost everyone can have a super car at their backyard. However they will be making only 1,500 units a year for domestic sales. The so called entry level super car surprisingly has the mettle to match up to a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. The car will be run by a Ford EcoBoost 2.0-litre four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve engine. The first lot of 300 cars will be delivered by August 2013.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Auto Expo 2012 Full Stop Tomorrow


Don’t miss the final opportunity, the 11th Auto Expo started 5th and will be ending tomorrow. Those who have seen the auto show in the TV’s and papers have their final opportunity to see it live tomorrow. If you miss it, you will not get the chance to watch it live until Auto Expo 2014 in India.

The Organizers of Auto Expo has decided to extend the event 2 longer days in the next Auto Expo. The reason behind it is the massive crowd (Visitors) and the Indian media critics. The Chairman of CII Trade Fairs Council, Mr. Rajiv Kaul told “All the organizers are thinking to extend the duration of the Auto Expo for a few more days from next time onwards”.

This is the second biggest car show in the world. The even had a capacity to accommodate only 1 lakh visitors per day but the crowd came to auto expo were beyond the expectations of the organizers. The limited space not only worried the visitors and the event organizers but also worried all the companies that wanted to expose cars at the Auto Expo.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Maruti unveiled A-Star Cabriolet in 11th Auto Expo Delhi


The Leading Car Maker Maruti Suzuki shocked the crowd by showcasing its A-star cabriolet concept car. Maruti A-Star is one of the Maruti’s flagship hatches in India. People who attended the Auto Expo were excited to see A-star Convertible. The car looks very similar to BMW Mini Cabriolet, if this car hits Indian market, it might be a headache for BMW Mini. The price of the Maruti A-Star Cabriolet will be lesser than BMW Mini and will churn better mileage. The only difference between the A-star and Cabriolet is the alloy wheels, apart from that everything remains same. The yellowed colored A-star Convertible grabbed many hearts.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Latest Cars Launches At The Auto Expo


Volkswagen Touraeg Launched in India

Volkswagen unveiled the New Touraeg SUV at the Auto Expo. Powering the SUV is a 3.0-litre V6 diesel that develops around 240bhp. It also has a 3 litre hybrid petrol engine option. The maximum torque is 40.8 kgm with a kerb weight of 2297-2315kg. The specifications measures in 4795/1940/1709mm for length, width and breadth.

Chevrolet Captiva and Tavera Newly Relaunched

The New Captiva gets a 2.2-litre Common Rail Direct Injection TCDi engine that pumps out 186.5 PS of power @ 3,800 rpm and 424 Nm of torque @ 2000 rpm and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Captiva will be available in a single trim, LTZ, and priced at an expected Rs. 22 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. It also gets a 3 year/1,00,000 kms warranty will be on offer.

The Tavera known as the Tavera Neo3 will now come with a four-cylinder, 2.0 litre TCDi diesel engine pumps out 106.8 PS of power @ 4,000 rpm and 263.7 Nm of torque @ 2,500 rpm, BSIV version and would also be available in a 2.5 litre turbocharged BS3 engine option.

Hyundai Sonata Revealed In A Fluidic Avatar

Power comes from a 2.4-litre GDI (Hyundai speak for direct-injection) petrol engine that produces 25.5kgm of torque at 4250rpm and a class-leading 198bhp at 6300rpm. The engine is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters.

BMW M5 Super Saloon Launched in India

The M5 features a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 that offers 552bhp and 69.4kgm of max torque, and the sports saloon can hit 100kph in 4.4 seconds, and 200kph in 13sec (manufacturer’s claims). The new M5 gets a power boost of 10 percent and torque figures are up by 30 percent compared to the previous-generation, V10-powered E60 M5. The all-new BMW M5 has been priced at Rs 95.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Friday, January 6, 2012

BMW Mini India Revealed


BMW Mini finally makes its way to the Indian shores. The cars that make it to the Indian shores are the – the BMW Mini Cooper, MINI Cooper S, the BMW Mini Countryman and the MINI Cooper Convertible.

Both the MINI hatch and the Convertible are great fun to ride. These are super fast, quiet nippy and are top notch in ride and handling with precise manoeuvrability under all conditions and speeds. There is no stopping your adrenaline once you get in the car. The Countryman on the other hand is a four-door ultra-compact SUV which is larger and more spacious. The Mini Cooper S is one of the best-handling compact cars. The Cooper S is a high-performance variant of MINI 's iconic hatchback.

BMW Mini Cooper Specifications

The BMW Mini Cooper Specifications reveal that the car will power up to a maximum of 160Nm torque at 4,250 rpm. The BMW Mini Cooper delivers a maximum power of 122 Bhp (90kW) at 6,000 rpm. The car hits the top speed of 197 Km/h and yet delivers a highly fuel efficient mileage of 15.6 Kmpl. The car accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 10.4 seconds. The CO2 emissions of the car stand at a mere 150 g/km.

BMW Mini Cooper S Specifications

The BMW Mini Cooper S Specifications comes with a power output of 184 bhp (135 kW) at 5500 rpm. The car has a pulling force of 240 Nm at 1600-5000 rpm. The car accelerates from from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds. The car delivers a mileage of 15.6 kmpl. The CO2 emissions of the car stand at a mere 149 g/km. The car zooms with a top speed of 223km/h.

Mini Cooper Convertible Specifications

The BMW Mini Cooper Convertible Specifications reveal that the car will power up to a maximum of 160Nm torque at 4,250 rpm. The BMW Mini Cooper delivers a maximum power of 122 Bhp (90kW) at 6,000 rpm. The car hits the top speed of 191 Km/h and yet delivers a highly fuel efficient mileage of 15.1 Kmpl. The car accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 11.1 seconds. The CO2 emissions of the car stand at a mere 154 g/km.

BMW Mini Cooper S Countryman Specifications
The BMW Mini Cooper S Countryman Specifications comes with a power output of 184 bhp (135 kW) at 5500 rpm. The car has a pulling force of 260 Nm with over boost at 1600-5000 rpm. The car accelerates from from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds. The car delivers a mileage of 14.08 kmpl. The CO2 emissions of the car stand at a mere 143 g/km. The car zooms with a top speed of 210km/h.

It is highly unlikely that we will see huge population of the MINI on the Indian roads. Even the company will probably will not like to lose its premium tag. However it would still be a historic entry for this iconic British brand in India.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

2012 Delhi Auto Expo Official Information

The New Year this time really kicks off in style. All roads will lead to Pragati Maidan at Delhi. The Auto Expo will look be a landmark achievement considering it is happening against the backdrop of one of the worst slowdowns to hit the industry in recent times. The Show is expected to be studded with more than 50 new launches from the industry Big Whigs. Here’s the complete show outline.

Auto Expo 2012 Visiting Dates
The show starts off today the 5th of January and will see the curtains fall down on the 11th January. The Media will be allowed only on the 5th January to 6th January 2012. The show will be thrown open to the public on 7th January and 8th January. January 9 to January 11th will be trade days.

Auto Expo 2012 Visiting Hours on Weekdays
The Premium hours will be from 1000 – 1300 hrs and this is for the weekdays.
The General hour on weekdays is from 1300 – 1900 hrs.
Auto Expo 2012 Visiting Hours on Weekends

The General hour on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) is from 1000 – 1900 hrs. The timings are subject to change. Entry will close one hour prior to the show timings. Entry is strictly on invitation or tickets. Please note that the entry opens for public only from 7th January 2012.

Auto Expo 2012 Admission Fees
On weekdays the charges for premium hours are INR 500.
On weekdays the charges for general hours are INR 150.
On weekends the charges are INR 200.

Reaching the Auto Expo 2012 Venue
By Bus - Regular bus services are available from inter-state bus terminals in the city. The services are extended to all the northern states and the neighbouring areas of Delhi. Services are provided by state transport corporations and several private operators. The inter-state terminals in city are:

Kashmiri Gate ISBT in Northern Delhi
Anand Vihar ISBT in Trans-Yamuna area
Sarai Kale Khan ISBT in South-East Delhi

Generally, buses are very crowded in many of the bus routes and may not be easy for a tourist visiting India for the first time. Each bus is provided with a staff (Conductor) to manage the passengers and issue tickets. One can approach the bus conductor for any help and emergencies.
From Airport - Delhi has two airports namely Domestic Airport (1D) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3).

While Indigo, Spice Jet, Go Air and select low cost international flights arrives and departs from Terminal 1C and Terminal 1D respectively; Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet Lite, Jet Konnect , Kingfisher airlines and all other International Flights departs & arrives at Terminal 3. (For updates please contact the airlines or your travel agent or city airport helpline nos.
Taxi: The airports are well connected with Pre Paid Government (Yellow and Black roof Top) and Private Taxi Services which are available 24/7

Via Delhi Metro: The Airport Express (Metro rail specially operated for Airport Passengers) is currently operating only from and Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3) from 05:00 AM till 11:00 PM with a frequency of 20 minutes. The airport express operates between Dwarka Sector 21 and New Delhi Railway Station via IGI Airport Terminal 3, Aerocity, Dhaula Kuan, Shivaji Stadium (Connaught Place) & New Delhi Railway Station. Currently, Aerocity & Dhaula Kuan stations are not operational.

Via Buses: Most buses are owned either by the State-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) or the private contractors. The corporation runs shuttle service at a regular interval (every 30 minutes) connecting the airport to the central parts of Delhi including Connaught Place & Interstate Bus Terminal. These buses are equipped with comfort of air-conditioning and convenient for travel even with baggage at a nominal fare. All buses coming towards Terminal 3 will arrive and depart from a ‘staging area’ located opposite Centaur Hotel. From there to the Airport Terminal; Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) provides shuttle bus, every 15 minutes. For the convenience of passengers this service runs 24x7.

Reaching Pragati Maidan By Delhi Metro - The Delhi Metro is one of the fastest way to commute in Delhi and has transformed public transport in the city so much, that the Metro line has become the life-line of New Delhi. Pragati Maidan is well connected by Delhi Metro with direct line coming from Dwarka to Vaishali (U.P) and vice versa via Pragati Maidan. Alternatively one can change from Rajiv Chowk (Central Location) for reaching Pragati Maidan through Delhi Metro. After reaching Pragati Maidan Metro Station one can enter Venue (Pragati maidan) from Gate No 10, Gate No 8 and Gate No 7.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Bajaj RE60 Small Car Launched


Bajaj RE60 is the first car from the stable of Bajaj Auto in four wheeler passenger vehicle segment, positioned to replace three wheelers on the streets of Indian cities. RE means rear engine, which is Bajaj’s flagship brand in three wheelers.

The largest maker of three wheelers has unveiled the car before the much awaited Delhi Auto Expo 2012 taking everyone by surprise. The first four-wheeler from Bajaj, the RE60 is a four-seater intra-city passenger vehicle. The Bajaj RE60 comes with a 200 cc petrol engine. The RE60 is not a small car competing against the Tata Nano, but an urban passenger vehicle meant to compete with three-wheelers.

RE60 will be built at Bajaj's three-wheeler plant in Aurangabad with initial capacity of 200 units a day. The firm plans CNG and the LPG variants soon."The concept is not an incremental improvement but a dramatic one just like Pulsar replaced Chetak," Bajaj said. "Scooters were the roots of our success in the last century.Motorcycles defined our success in this century," he said, adding that the company expects such a change in city transport with the RE60.

The car unveiled on Tuesday reaches the top speed of 70km/ hour, gives 35km/litre, weighs just 400kg, has a meter installed on the dashboard and boasts of foldable windows. Experts expect it to be priced in the range of Rs2 lakh, compared with the Rs1.35 lakh for an auto rickshaw.“We are not trying to make a car but a four wheeler meant to ferry people in cities,” said Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, BAL. “It is not an incremental but dramatic improvement over a three wheeler. There are over 5 million Bajaj three wheelers in the country today. That’s the market we are aiming for.”

Whatever said and done the battle for small cars has surely reached the melting point with the launch of the Bajaj RE60. If the car really stands up to the promised figures it says, then the Indian auto market is all set for a major over haul. Let’s just hope the company has not taken the people for granted like the Nano. The Bajaj RE60 if successful could surely pinch the sales of the Hyundai Eon, Tata Nano and the upcoming Maruti Cervo.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New SUVs at Delhi Auto Expo in 2012


The SUVs have always had their say in the auto market irrespective of their big, muscular and adventurous nature. SUV’s have been making all the waves in the recent past and the year 2012 can truly be heralded as the year of SUV’s with a spate of exciting launches. This is arguably going to be "the" segment to look at in 2012 with the maximum number of launches.

New Force Trax has been one of Force Motors oldest workhorse. Hardy and rugged, this SUV can take a lot of beating and then some. It is expected in mid 2012 with a price tag of Rs. 5 - 6.5 lakhs.New Ford SUV will be the new SUV cousin that accompanies the Endeavour which has been moderately successful. The company plans to unleash the new SUV, possibly in the price range of 14-18 lakh.

Honda CR-V 2012 aims to fix all the wrong doings of the previous version with the latest built on an all-new platform, the CR-V will offer even better on-road capabilities than the current version. It is expected to come in a price range of Rs 20 lakhs. Skoda Yeti 2012 is a slightly more affordable version of the Yeti which will likely feature a detuned version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine. It is expected to come with a price range of Rs 14-15 lakh.

2012 Tata Safari is on its way in the name of Tata Merlin with a new front end and tail lamps. The same 2.2-litre DiCOR engine will power the SUV, but the new look will be timely. It is expected to make its way into the markets with a price tag of Rs 8-12 lakh.

Toyota Fortuner 2012 will look to keep itself as a hot selling product in India that it commands several months of waiting period. It is expected to come with a price tag of Rs 20 lakhs.Toyota Innova 2012 clearly increases the value of the car in terms of the style to the already existing reliability and practicality of the Innova. The new Innova is expected to come at an estimated price tag of Rs 13 lakhs.

Monday, January 2, 2012

50 New Sedan Cars at Delhi Auto Expo in 2012


Sedan cars have their own advantages and disadvantages, but they are still among the most popular cars for families that you can find on the market. Here’s the list of sedan cars making their way this 2012.

The Renault Logan is now being sold as the Mahindra Verito – with a few design changes and an all-new ad campaign, will now be cut to size to take advantage of the under-4 metre excise concessions in place by the Indian government. Expected in early 2012 with a price tag of 5 lakhs.

New Maruti Swift Dzire with more space, more style and definitely with a lot of practicality is expected to be just as good as the current Maruti Swift DZire. Expected in early 2012 with a price tag of 5-7 Lakh. Hindustan Motors will come back with a shortened vengeance. The new Ambassador will have a 1.5-litre diesel engine while a CNG version would likely be on offer as well. Expected in mid 2012 with a price tag of 4-5 lakh.

The New Toyota Camry will be bolder than ever before with flowing lines inspired from the Lexus and the interiors look more luxurious too. Expected in early 2012 with a price tag of 20 lakh.Renault L58 will be to the Nissan Sunny what the Pulse is to the Micra. With a price tag of Rs 7-9 lakh it is expected to be launched in September 2012.

New Porsche 911 may not look radically different from its predecessor but this all new new sixth-generation 911 will sport a new seven-speed manual gearbox — a first for a series production road car. It is expected to be launched in September 2012 with a price tag of Rs 90 lakh.New Volkswagen Touareg will be launched at the Auto Expo 2012 and prices are likely to start at Rs 55 lakh.Audi A4 should be carried over from the current car though the range-topping 3.2-litre FSI engine Rs 30-38 lakh.