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Showing posts with label automobiles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label automobiles. Show all posts

Friday, 30 December 2011

Launches To Be Seen For Auto Expo 2012!!


Despite the economic slow don faced by the auto industry the carmakers have decided to shrug off the slowdown and launch over two dozen automobiles in 2012. Perhaps there's no other way. Growth in car sales dipped by 4% in the first eight months of this fiscal year as against a robust growth of 30% the year before.

Car launches for 2012If carmakers have to turn the tide, the only way to do that is to woo consumers with more. "New cars are the best bet to revive fortunes. Every new car generates excitement leading to incremental sales and better volumes, which is the need of the hour," says Abdul Majeed, partner for the automotive practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Manufacturers are also counting on interest rates coming off their highs and a re-alignment in the petrol-diesel price skew, which will spur demand for petrol models. Manufacturers such as Maruti, Toyota, Ford and Renault Nissan are investing in capacity expansions to cater to the next two to three years of growth.

Some of them are also engineering their models to suit local tastes and conditions. ET takes you through the most exciting launches lined up for 2012. Which one will you choose?

Ertiga, a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), will herald Maruti Suzuki's entry into the utility vehicle space. It will also be the first compact MPV on Indian roads. Based on the RIII concept that Maruti Suzuki showcased at the Auto Expo of 2010, the Ertiga multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is likely to be priced between Rs 6 and Rs 9 lakh. The car is likely to be available in both petrol and diesel options and will challenge the Toyota Innova.

Wednesday, 28 December 2011

The Countdown To Auto Expo 2012 Has Begun!!

With over 1500 participants from 24 countries, the 11th Auto Expo will be host to 50 new launches including Cars, Two-Wheelers and Commercial Vehicles and a special focus on Green Technologies which will reach Indian shores.

Delhi Auto Expo 2012New entries like Peugeot, who have already started construction of their Sanand plant in Gujrat would showcase their current line-up. Since India is one of the fastest growing automobile sectors across the globe, international attention on the Indian automotive industry is on the centre of the cross-hair. With the current year having a bit of a slowdown, manufacturers have not slowed down and the industry on a whole has seen a decent progress. Present at the occasion were Rajive Kaul, Chairman, Steering Committee, Auto Expo 2012 with S.Sandilya, President SIAM and Vikram

Kirloskar of Toyota Kirloskar Motors, Vice-President SIAM. Accompanying them was Arvind Kapur, President, ACMA who pointed out, “Exhibitors from the auto component industry have a strong presence in Auto Expo 2012. Some of the major component manufacturers from Belarus, Canada, People’s Republic of China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and UAE  are participating in the 11th Auto Expo. Making it, a truly “India’s global Automotive show.”

Bigger contingents from Germany and China will also be present at the 11,500 square metre venue. This time around, emphasis the use of green mobility would also be given in lieu of the deteriorating state of the environment and ever increasing rate of traffic in India. Just as at the last Expo, the January 5 would be Goodwill day which would be open to the physically challenged.

Adding to the innovative additons to the show, the expo would gave its focused pavilions as well for accessories, audio, alternate fuels, gas technologies, design, IT diesel equipment and the ‘asli-naqli’ pavilion, which primarily focuses on the harm of using fake parts for your vehicle. “Like in the past the 11th Auto Expo will also showcase future vehicles that will be launched in Indian market during the coming months and years and it is hoped that the event will be a harbinger of revival of the industry in the new year,” concluded Vikram Kirloskar, VP, SIAM

Comprising of the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII) in association with Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturer (SIAM) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the Auto Expo is the only auto show to be accredited by Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA). The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers was founded in Paris in 1919 and its membership comprises 41 national trade associations around the world, including all major automobile manufacturing countries.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Auto Expo 2012 Promises Some Very Interesting Niche Launches...

With more than 60 new models and upgrades lined up for debut, Auto Expo 2012 in Delhi will pack in a lot of launch excitement. But unlike earlier years, this time car companies are looking to expand their stable by creating niche products.


Across the price spectrum, from Maruti to Mercedes Benz, the idea is to try out something new, beyond bread and butter segments. Given the slowdown in demand, companies feel it's time to explore new segments which will be less price-sensitive and create a buzz. 


Known for its formidable footprint in the small car market, Maruti Suzuki is showcasing two new products this time round - the Ertiga MUV and a concept compact SUV. Neither falls in the small car category.

"This is our way of expanding our portfolio and branching out into newer segments," says Mayank Pareek, managing executive officer (marketing & sales), Maruti Suzuki. "Right now the Ertiga segment is virtually non-existent in India. So, we want to create this niche and ride the first mover advantage. That's the job of the market leader - identify niches and cater to them ahead of the pack."

MNC biggie Volkswagen, also known for its small car focus, will showcase its iconic Beetle, a premium hatch whose Rs 20 lakh-plus price tag means it will never be a volume spinner. But as brand builder it pulls a mean punch. The company isn't showing its UP small car, already showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show and has plans for an India launch.

"Our brand is still at a nascent stage of awareness so we wanted a brand building tool for the Auto Expo. The Beetle is our most iconic product and the best vehicle to create brand awareness," says Neeraj Garg, member board & director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India. The company says there's no decision on launching the Beetle in India just yet.

In the premium segment too the buzzword is niches with a difference. Both Mercedes Benz and BMW are showcasing products that are miles away from their core market of luxury saloons.

While BMW is launching the iconic Mini Cooper premium hatchback in India, arch rival Mercedes Benz will showcase its B-Class premium hatchback, which is due for debut in India by 2012 winter. The Mercedes roster will also include models like the SLS AMG Roadster, the SLS GT3 and the DTM car along with a range of performance cars from the AMG stable.

Like Maruti, Ford too is expected to showcase a compact SUV concept though company officials are tightlipped about the details. The company has only announced that it will showcase an "all new vehicle planned for introduction in India and other global markets in the near future".

M&M will highlight its Ssangyong range including Rexton and Korando E. "The idea is to create some excitement during the expo but not everything that we showcase will come to India immediately," says Pawan Goenka, president-auto and farm equipment division, M&M.

Monday, 19 December 2011

Now Renault All Set To Launch The Diesel Versions Of Every 2012 Models!!


With diesel variants now accounting for over a fourth of India's passenger car sales, French major Renault has decided to roll out this fuel's versions in three of its new launches next year with more locally-sourced parts to cut costs.

"Every model which we launch next year will have a diesel version," said Len Curran, Renault India vice president for sales and marketing. "Our focus is on diesel cars," Curran told IANS in an interview over phone from Chennai. 

Last year, diesel cars accounted for 27 percent of the 2.52 million passenger cars sold in India and the Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers ( SIAM), the apex lobby for the auto industry, expects this share to go up to 33 percent by the end of this fiscal.

Renault has made this strategic move at a time when the auto industry is facing a rough patch, following falling passenger car sales due to high fuel cost and soaring interest rates. Petrol prices were hiked five times this year, while diesel remained stable.

Renault has plans to launch Pulse, a hatchback in B segment, at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January 2012. In the second half of the next year, it will launch Duster, an SUV. In the fourth quarter of the year, it will roll out a sedan.

Renault launched a luxury sedan, Fluence, in May, that runs on petrol and diesel. In September, it came up with a compact SUV, Koleos, that operates only on diesel. The company also has big plans for its K90 diesel engine in the Indian market.

Curran, who expects India to be the second fastest growing market after China, said his company aims to cover a minimum of 35 Indian cities through its distribution network before August 2012.

He said local sourcing was a strong strategy to cope with currency fluctuations. "The two vehicles launched in May and September have a very low level of localisation. But Pulse and Duster will have over 60 percent of localised parts."

Asked whether the company would raise prices of its models if the rupee plunges further, the Renault executive said the company will follow the strategies of other auto firms. "Our benchmark is the strategies of competitors. We will be following the market."

On Wednesday, the company said it will raise the price of Koleos from Rs.22.99 lakh to Rs.23.99 lakh from Jan 1, 2012, due to rupee depreciation and rising input costs.

Friday, 16 December 2011

Honda India Launches The New City & Cuts Prices Of Sedan


Desperate times call for desperate measures. After losing out to Volkswagen's Vento, Japanese carmaker Honda is striking back by slashing prices and improving features of its flagship City sedan.

Honda India strikes back; launches new City & cuts prices of sedanThe carmaker has cut prices of City for the second time in six months and launched a new version priced at Rs6.99 lakh (exshowroom, Delhi).

This will pit the sedan, which had been a market leader for many years, in direct competition with Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Vento that are also priced at Rs 6.99 lakh.

"We are adding features and cutting prices to make our cars more realistic to the prevailing competition in the market," Seki Inaba, who took over as director (marketing) at Honda's India subsidiary in March this year, told ET.

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

BMW Mini To Be Launched On 5th Jan!


My dear Indians, you will soon be introduced to a new brand of cars that have never been seen before in the country. Well, there may be a few exceptions to this, I agree. But for now, let’s consider no one has seen a Mini roaming around on our streets before. Having said that, BMW, who now own the British iconic car brand- Mini will be launching the cars in India soon. If Volkswagen Beetle is for Germany and Fiat 500 is for Italy then, Mini would be the brand loved by one and all from Britain. Unlike the other two Minis have even raced around the globe.

Small and agile Mini Coopers have raced in the World Rally Championship. They’ve even featured in touring car races. So that’s about the macho image of the Mini. Even the ladies have had a special bonding with these cars. They are favorite among girls for their looks and practicality. Dr. Andreas Schaaf, who heads BMW’s India operations has been big fan of the brand and had always wished to see the cars coming to India during his tenure as the President of BMW India. His efforts seem to have thus paid off and he has finally managed to convince the top bosses at BMW to launch the Mini brand in India.


That said, like the Beetle and Fiat 500, Mini is a lifestyle product and as history suggests, such products haven’t especially done well in India. We too had our doubts when BMW chose to go for the Mini instead of the 1-Series. But times have changed since Volkswagen launched the Beetle and there could be a surprise in store for us. If the Mini does catch the imagination of the Indian buyer and BMW manages to sell a decent number, it will be a true triumph given the price of the car which is expected to be over Rs 18 lak depending upon the model.

We think, BMW might offer the complete range of Mini cars including the four-wheel drive crossovers, but that is just a hunch and we will have to wait till BMW makes the final announcement 23 days from now. So, the Mini will be launched at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo and IndianCarsBikes.in will be there covering every other launch in detail. We hope to catch up with you during the Auto Expo. We will keep you updated with all the happenings from the show. Until then you can checkout Mini’s official India website.

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Nissan Launches The New Diesel Version Of Sunny


Japanese auto major Nissan today launched a diesel version of its mid-size sedan Sunny. 
The 1.5-litre diesel version is priced at Rs 7.98 lakh for the base model and Rs 8.78 lakh for the top-end model (ex-showrooms, Delhi), the company said in a statement. 



"We are delighted to introduce the diesel variant of the Sunny. At a time when the market is witnessing an increase in demand for diesel cars, Sunny diesel, with high fuel economy will be the right choice for our valued customers," Nissan Motor India managing director and chief executive Kiminobu Tokuyama said.

Targeted at the youth, the Sunny diesel mirrors the petrol variant's sophisticated style and roomy interiors.

It is the second model after the Micra hatchback to use Nissan's pre-eminent 'V' platform that carries advanced engineering to deliver a modern, light weight structure that provides integral strength, robust ride refinement and dynamic on-road behavior, it said.

The Sunny is manufactured at the Chennai facility, which the company jointly owns with French maker Renault, its international alliance partner.

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Luxgen5 Sedan: The First Car With Android Launched!



Luxgen Motors, a Taiwan based automaker, has unveiled a first of its kind car with an infotainment system based on Android operating system. The car, named Luxgen5 Sedan, is a premium sports sedan.

Luxgen Motors has partnered with HTC, the famous Taiwan based smartphone maker and together they developed THINK+ system. When an HTC mobile phone is connected to the THINK+ Touch system, all of the mobile phone calls will then be controlled directly through the 9 inch smart touch screen on the central console. Users can also access Facebook, send and receive e-mails or look up local sights through the touch screen.

The Luxgen think+ Touch system's five key functions include Multimedia, Phone, Safety, Information and hTC mode. Apart from using the touch screen itself, shortcut buttons are provided below the screen.
Another feature allows GPS navigation function using the HTC mode. Users can check the map and set routes in the car. The hands-free Bluetooth system means users can also make calls using the car's convenient hands-free interface.

You also have a very convenient phone dock in the car adjacent to the central control. Although no details have been provided, from the pictures available it is evident that the dock will charge your phone apart from keeping it safe.

The Android interface will also tell you better about the cars' state of health, though no details have again been offered. You will no longer need to decipher codes (that is what you get in other cars) to know the problem with the car, you will get clear words stating that to you.

While this is the first car to have this system but the company promises that even other cars and SUVs in its lineup will get it too. And we promise you, similar systems will start appearing in other cars from other manufacturers soon enough.

Thursday, 8 December 2011

Happy Days For Automobile Industry As Car Sales Go Up By 7%


Domestic passenger car sales increased by 7 per cent to 1,71,131 units in November, 2011, from 1,59,939 units in the same month last year.

According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today, motorcycle sales in the country grew by 22.67 per cent to 8,69,070 units during the month from 7,08,476 units in the corresponding month last year.

Total two-wheeler sales grew by 25.27 per cent to 11,63,294 units last month from 9,28,660 units in November, 2010, as per the data.

Sales of commercial vehicles grew by 34.99 per cent to 66,264 units in the month under review from 49,087 units in the year-ago period, SIAM said.

Total sales of vehicles across categories registered a jump of 22.22 per cent to 14,89,714 units in November from 12,18,885 units in the same month last year, it added.

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

The New Ford EcoSport SUV To Be Introduced In 2012!


 
Ford Ecosport, the all new compact SUV from Ford India will be introduced at the 2012 Auto Expo in January. What makes it so special is that the mini SUV will be built sharing the same platform of Ford Fiesta. The mini Ford Ecosport could house an all new 1.2 L petrol ecoboost engine. Ecoboost engines are considered to be one of the most fuel efficient ones that can ultimately turn out to be the key selling point for the car.
The thoughtfulness of offering a diesel engine will not go wasted amidst the increasing demand for diesel cars catching up of late. The diesel powertrain could be the same from Ford Fiesta with 1.5 L capacity to churn out the peak power output of 90 Bhp and a peak torque output of 204 Nm.   This again is likely to break some records where the fuel efficiency is concerned. On the other hand, Ford Fiesta AT launch is also anticipated at the 2012 Auto Expo.Moreover the Ford Ecosport price is expected to fall in the range of Rs 7 lakh-9 lakh.
                                                       
Ford EcosportFord Fiesta sedan has never been known for its spacious interiors and the same can be expected of the new mini SUV from Ford. However, the SUV will be large enough to accommodate 5 passengers comfortably. The exteriors of the car will more or less fall under 4 m in length to capitalize on the Government’s policy to benefit on the sub four meter length cars.

The drive on the mini SUV will make it all the more exciting with the compact structure that scores points with its great off-road capabilities. The high ground clearance only enhances its performance on the most difficult terrains. The 15 inch wide tyres offer good grip during the adventurous rides.  The spare wheel on the rear end of the car amplifies its rugged image. The auto giant might bring in the two-wheel drive variant of the SUV as of now, without any information pointing out to a possibility of a four-wheel drive variant on the cards.

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Maruti Suzuki To Start Exporting Select Models CKD kits


India's leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki plans to start exporting select models as completely knocked down (CKD) kits, beginning with its new multi-passenger vehicle Ertiga, which it plans to launch at the Auto Expo in Delhi next month.

"There is a great potential to export vehicles as CKD in many markets in Asia," Maruti Suzuki India MD S Nakanish said. "Maruti will act as the biggest supplier of cars to the parent SMC and to start with we will dispatch Ertiga MPV and other new models from next year," he added.

Ertiga, a seven-seater MPV which will be available in 1.4 litre petrol and 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine options, will be initially shipped to Indonesia and later to Thailand. The CKD kits will include critical parts, such as engine and transmission, fuel tank, wheel rim, brakes, partsstrengthenof suspension and steering that will be sealed and dispatched from the company's Manesar plant.

The move is aimed at strengthen ing Suzuki Motor Corp in the highly competitive South East Asian markets. Maruti Suzuki, which is ramping up its production facilities in India to target annual production of 20 lakh units by 2015, will eventually export more cars under the Suzuki badge.

Monday, 5 December 2011

TopGear Awards Announced!! Audi RS5



Last night BBC TopGear India awarded some of the best cars and bikes of the year in a sizzling ceremony held in Mumbai. Maruti Suzuki's most sought after small car, Swift, won the Small car of the Year. "We are pleased to receive an award from TopGear which is not a magazine but an institution in itself and it endorses the iconic status of the Swift," said Mayank Pareek,managing executive officer, sales & marketing, Maruti Suzuki "Every award is a validation to the fact that the direction we are heading is right and the product innovation strategy that we have put in place is correct.

Audi RS5 brochureWhilst the all important award of Car of the Year 2011 was given to the fierce Audi RS5.  The Bike of the Year went to Honda CBR 250RR and the Superbike of the Year award went to BMW 1200 GS. Mahindra & Mahindra's hot selling SUV XUV 5OO received two awards for Best Value for Money Car of the year and Reader's Choice Car of the year. TopGear Man of the Year award went to Sameer Gaur, MD & CEO, Jaypee Sports International for successfully staging the first F1 race in India. 


"It's not a conventional choice, but Top-Gear is never about conventions," said Girish Karkera, editor, TopGear magazine India

Saturday, 3 December 2011

Maruti Suzuki To Launch SUV & MUV's For The Indian Roads


 Maruti Suzuki India has announced the launch of new vehicles in the sports utility and multi utility segment in their bid to regain 50% market share by 2015 according to the company MD, Shinzo Nakanishi.

Maruti, which is a 54.2% owned subsidiary of Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor Corp, would develop these vehicles with the parent company and target their launch in the upcoming Auto Expo 2012 and beyond.

"There is a vast chunk of market, almost 18% of the passenger vehicles sold in India where we don't have any presence. So, as we aim to regain our market share and take it to beyond 50%, we will introduce vehicles in the new segment that are not in our current portfolio," Maruti MD S Nakanishi said.

Maruti sells 15 models in the Indian market and almost a dozen of these are in the compact vehicle segment. It has lost almost 5

Thursday, 1 December 2011

India To See The Launch Of Porsche Sports Car Marqueein In 2012

Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest carmaker, will launch the iconic Porsche sports car marquee in India next year and appoint a new team to steer its sales in the overcrowded Indian automobile market. 





Two people close to the development said Volkswagen will import the Porsche models 911, Cayman, Boxter, Panamera and Cayenne SUV for the Indian market and look at local assembly at one of its facilities in Maharashtra when volumes pick up.  The cars, to be distributed and sold under the Volkswagen banner in India from next year, carry price tags ranging from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 3 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Toyota Unveils Fun Vii A Concept Car; A Smartphone On Wheels


Wacky: The Fun-Vii won't go into production but demonstrates the kinds of technologies that could be incorporated into cars in the future
Toyota has announced the launch of it's concept car Fun-Vii prior to its official debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The concept, dubbed as a “smartphone on wheels” by Toyota President Akio Toyoda, will let the drivers customize the skin of the car which will to display anything they wish for, ranging from stock quotes to advertising to pictures downloaded from their phones.

Seating three individuals, the Fun-Vii’s ultimate goal is to add a fourth dimension to the driving experience. That is, interconnectivity will join driving, turning and stopping. Toyota of course has no realistic release date for such a concept (if it even goes into production in any form), but has envisioned it to have other features such as auto-pilot and an onboard 3D hologram avatar for a year 20XX release. That’s right, 20XX – Toyota is pretty confident something like this will be manufactured in this century.

Monday, 28 November 2011

Tata Nano To Get A Makeover!!


According to the latest news Tata Motors has signed a deal with the rather premier design school NID to have its Nano redesigned. So let’s see what Nano comes out to be and what NID has in its creative mind to bless the people’s car with.

In order to boost the dipping sales figure the country and the automaker has crafted the car with all-new features and distinctive attributes at same cost price to attract customers. As per facts, Nano sales figures slashed down this year plus company production plant at Sanand is manufacturing half of its annual capacity of 2.50 lakh units.





The director of premium NID institute, Prof Pradyumna Vyas stated that NID, which is a world-class design institute, approached the homegrown auto major Tata Motors for redesigning Nano. NID institute has foremost academic courses at the post-graduate level and is regarded for its advance transportation facilities and automobile designing. Also, Tata Nano will experience a lot in terms textile designing, product designing and lifestyle accessories.

Friday, 25 November 2011

Now BMW Enters The Preowned Market In India!!


BMW India President Andreas Schaaf at the launch of the company’s pre-owned car business, BMW Premium Selection, in Gurgaon on Thursday.
BMW India has announced the launch of its pre-owned car business, BMW Premium Selection, which will offer ‘carefully selected' and ‘comprehensively examined' luxury Beemers  starting at Rs.16 lakh. “The pre-owned car business will play an important role in the success of the company in India...we expect the used car business to be about 10 per cent of new car sales,” BMW India President Andreas Schaaf told journalists here. “Till October, we have sold 8,042 cars in India, accounting for 40 per cent of the luxury car market.
With the BMW Premium Selection, we are looking to enhance our position…a decisive factor in the development of pre-owned car business will be through establishment of exclusive and luxurious ‘BMW Premium Selection' showrooms of international standards at important commercial centres across the country,” Mr. Schaaf said.
Initially, BMW's pre-owned cars will be available at seven locations — Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad — and soon extended to other cities.
Mr. Schaaf said all cars selected under BMW Premium Selection are less than five years old and would have clocked under 1.2-lakh km. The pre-owned BMW vehicles come with up to two year/2-lakh km warranty (whichever is earlier), while the owners also have the option of taking round-the-clock roadside assistance. To push sales, BMW is offering 13 per cent finance rate on purchase of its pre-owned cars through its financial services arm — BMW Financial Services.
Commenting on the luxury car market condition, Mr. Schaaf said this segment was growing well till October, but since then the condition was getting difficult to push sales. “We had set a target of selling 10,000 units this year, which is becoming difficult now,” he added.

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Skoda launches Yeti 4x2 for Rs 13.35 lakh


Skoda's much awaited SUV Yeti 4X2 is finally launched for Rs 13.35 lakh (ex-showroom Maharashtra). This new model is powered by the 2.0-litre TDI engine taken from the Skoda Laura, which has the capacity of producing 110PS and 250Nm of torque.

This all new version of the Yeti is available with the same engine but has the ability to delivering 140PS power output. The 4x2’s engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox (a six-speed manual on the 4x4) and is 100kg lighter than the 4x4 model. It also has safety features like  airbags, ABS, EBD and traction control. However, features like hill descent control and electronic differential lock have disappeared with the AWD. The Yeti 4x2 is available in two variants – Ambient and Active but not in the range-topping Elegance variant.

The Skoda Yeti is a brilliant five-seat all rounder; it has a lot of space, it easily negotiates bumpy roads thanks to the good ground clearance and it handles much better than most SUVs in the price bracket. With the reduced price, this car can be an interesting option for people waiting for the Mahindra XUV500.

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Hyundai Launches The New LPG Variant Of Its Hatchback i10


Hyundai i10 Blue
Hyundai Motors on Tuesday announced the launch of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered variant of its hatchback i10. The car is priced between Rs.416,144 and Rs.430,659 (ex-showroom Delhi).

"The LPG version of our next-gen i10 is a viable alternative for customers looking at low running cost," said H.W. Park, managing director and chief executive, Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

This new variant is to be powered by a 1.1 litre iRDE2 engine which has the ability to run on both LPG and petrol. The car has a factory-fitted LPG kit.

"With separate petrol (35 litre) and LPG (34 litre) tanks, the customers have an option to choose from LPG and petrol modes," the company said in a statement.

The car sports a special LPG tank which offers larger boot space than other LPG-fitted cars.

"The LPG kit in i10 blue drive is impact resistant and is approved by the department of explosives," the statement said.

The car has been fitted with an alternator management system which controls delivery of power to the battery, which extends the battery life and improves mileage.

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Now Get More At The Same Price With The New Tata Nano!



Yesterday team Tata Nano announced the "introduction of a bouquet of features -- of new colours, new interiors, a more powerful gasoline engine and even greater fuel efficiency of 25.4 kmpl, further improving on its record as India's most fuel efficient petrol car. The car is already available at dealerships, at the same price as before."

In their bid to improve the sales figures, Tata Motors is giving its small car Nano a makeover, with a more powerful engine and new features, while keeping the prices same.

"Making the Tata Nano even more desirable, the car's 624cc engine has been made more powerful, delivering an impressive 38 PS of power (earlier 35 PS) and 51 Nm of torque (earlier 48 Nm)," the company said in a statement.

The new Nano will give you a mileage of 25.4 km per litre of petrol as certified by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) compared to 23.6 km a litre earlier, Tata Motors claimed. In addition to that the company also claims the new Nano to be highly fuel efficient "with a low kerb weight of 600 kg, ensures that the Tata Nano at 92.7 gram per kilometre has the lowest CO2 (carbon dioxide) emission among cars in India". The earlier Nano had an emission record of 101 gram in every km.