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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Whilst 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

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

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).

Top Picks For Under 5 Lakhs Cars!!

With a boom in the small car segment in the Indian automobile marker, for the first-time buyers are literally spoilt for choice.

Her's our pick of what's installed for you if your budget is just under 5 Lakhs:

The most affordable and most fuel efficient car in India, the Tata Nano currently runs a 624cc two-cylinder petrol motor. It is going to be available in an all-new diesel avatar.  In addition to that, Tata, in a tie up with Bosch Diesel Systems has developed a 800cc two-cylinder diesel engine. This diesel Nano, is to be launched early next year and is speculated to cost Rs 2 lakh ex-showroom.

Tata showed the world that it could build the cheapest car yet, but it was Maruti that put India on wheels with the 800 back in the day. And it is all set to revive the iconic car that is expected to be powered by a more refined 800cc engine. 

The new car will be based on the Alto platform and as a result will offer more room inside. The price is expected to be higher than the Tata Nano petrol at Rs 2.25 lakh ex-showroom.

Chevrolet is all set to get into the ultra compact segment as well with an all-new 800cc Spark. Expect stingy fuel consumption and very practical interior packaging as in the Daewoo Matiz. The 800cc Spark should come in the right price range as well.

The Mahindra Verito compact sedan will be a sub four-metre car with the same engines in its petrol and diesel avatars, and the same features as the Mahindra Verito sedan aka the Renault Logan. 

The price is expected to be lower. The Verito compact sedan is an effort to make a sub 4-metre car which would not have higher taxes or a higher price tag.

Tata pulled off a brilliant move with the launch of the Indigo CS. It plans to do something similar with the Manza and launch a compact sedan version below the four-metre mark for lower taxes. The Manza CS is expected to get the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel mills as in the Tata Vista.

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

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.

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.

Now BMW Enters The Preowned Market In India!!

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.

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.

Hyundai Launches The New LPG Variant Of Its Hatchback i10

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.

The All New Range Rover Evoque Unveiled By Nargis Fakhri...

Last night Bollywood newbie Nargis Fakhri revealed the all new Range Rover Evoque at the DLF Emporio in Vasant Kunj in Delhi. Evoque was first launched in India on the 4th November under the banner of 'Evoque Experience' which let the customers to get up close to the car whereby with the help of interactive displays, provided an insight into the oh so sophisticated design and the functional and technological qualities of the car.


At the launch Rohit Suri, Head of the Premier Car Division, Jaguar Land Rover India said: "We are extremely excited about the arrival of the Range Rover Evoque in New Delhi, as this car has made a huge impact on potential customers in this city as it has done across the world".

The Range Rover Evoque is the most perfect culmination of bold and sophisticated design with clever technology that is relevant and intuitive to use. The Evoque is designed to endure all surfaces and weathers as a result of using its legendary Land Rover all-terrain technologies.

In India, the Evoque will be available in both 5 door and Coupe body styles. The Coupe is available in a petrol variant and the 5 door version in diesel. The Range Rover Evoque (5 door) is available in three distinct derivatives - Pure, Prestige and Dynamic and the Coupe is available in the Dynamic form. Tata has once again outdone itself. This is one luxury car you will not want to miss out on, thats for sure...

BMW Reveals Carbon Fiber Frame, Glass Exterior Concept Cars...

Earlier this week BMW unveiled a pair of concept cars, a hybrid and an electric car each manufactured of light-weight carbon fiber and a see-through glass exterior.

These set of hot wheels are expected to see the day of light within the next two to three years. The carbon fiber in the i3 city car and i8 sports car significantly reduces the weight of the vehicle and the size of its frame, giving designers more flexibility and creating more interior space for passengers, said Richard Kim, the man who designed the exteriors of both vehicles.

For the German automaker, it allowed for more glass where there is traditionally metal, Kim said. The doors of both vehicles are mostly made of glass, along with much of their roofs and tail ends.

BMW said the car offers “superb safety in the event of a collision. You may not see as much glass, but you will be able to see the light coming through,” Kim said at a sneak peak event on Wednesday in New York. The cars officially debut next week at the Los Angeles auto show.

The all-wheel drive car has a battery and a gas engine that work together, with the battery powering the front wheels and a gas engine powering the rear wheels. Without the gas engine, the car has a range of about 20 miles, but fully charges in less than two hours.

Whilst these cars are bound to be expensive, hold on tight as they too will soon from it release be available in the used car market like all great one's do...

Suzuki Motors Sales Figures See 5.3% Rise Despite Indian Strike!!

Japanese Suzuki Motor giant has reported a 5.26% hike in their net income for the six-month period ended September 30, despite the persisting operational strike in India during the same period. This makes it one of the other success story of the year.

During the period of April-September, the company's net income has reported an increase to 32.01 billion yen (about Rs 2,010 crore) from 30.41 billion yen (about Rs 1,910 crore) in the same period last year, Suzuki Motor said in a statement.

The net sales during the period, however, declined by 6.82% to 1.23 trillion yen (about Rs 76,907 crore) from 1.32 trillion yen (about Rs 82,715 crore), it added.

"The domestic economy is somewhat recovering from the stagnation following the Great East Japan Earthquake, but it is exposed to a downward pressure from various factors including the flood in Thailand and a further appreciation of the yen," the company said. It also said the decreased sales in India had an impact on its net sales. "...sales amount (in Asia) decreased by 36.1 billion yen to 427.6 billion yen year-on-year due to decreased sales of Maruti Suzuki India and the exchange rate factor following the Yen appreciation," it added.

Whilst it is interesting to note that the Maruti Suzuki India had posted 59.81% fall in its net profit at Rs 240.44 crore for the quarter ended September 30, in the global spectrum Suzuki still manages to be a leading brand.

Hyundai Launches Eon Hatchback, Its Cheapest Vehicle Yet!!

The Hyundai Motor Company has now began selling the new Eon hatchback. This new version of Eon is priced even lower than the Santro, company’s cheapest vehicle to date, selling for around a mere Rs. 280,897. This is sure to give Maruti a run for their money as it has previously held the record for India’s best-selling car, with Alto, which sells from Rs. 235,413. 
Eon hatchback is sure to cause some major issues for the Maruti Suzuki clan, especially since it is still trying to resolve the labor issues at its production plant. Hyundai is expected to reveal the new vehicle for the first time this week at a press conference which is by invitation only. 

Maruti Suzuki had around 43 percent of all the sales of passenger vehicles for the past six months, while Hyundai has only around 20 percent. The head of sales for Maruti Suzuki refused to comment on the new Eon hatchback until he has had a chance to see it. He commented that everyone has always known that India is a good market for small vehicles, and now everybody ts to be a part of it. 

The deliveries of vehicles are expected to grow slowly due to the fact that the India Reserve Bank has recently raised its interest rates 12 different times, since last year in March. This was done in an attempt to slow down the inflation, and it hugely brought down the demand for vehicles because in India around 80 percent of all vehicles purchased are funded by loans. 

Lamborghini Launches Aventador LP 700-4; Priced At Rs 3.69 cr

To lure the growing billionaire club of Asia's second-fastest growing economy, Italian luxury sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini SpA has rolled out the envious and rather dominating Aventador LP 700-4 model for the Indian roads which is priced at Rs 3.69 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) on Thursday.

Aventador was first saw the day of light at the Geneva Motor show earlier in March this year and since then had more than 20 Indian customers demanding it. The company claims to have received over 1,500 bookings globally.


This beast is powered by a 12-cylinder and 6.5-litre engine making it one of the fastest street-legal cars in the world as it has the ability to touch a top speed of up to 350 km per hour. Crafted from composite carbon materials that are used in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Lamborghini the Scissors Doors, Aventador accelerates to 0-100 km/hour in just 2.9 seconds.

Don't believe us? Check out this video:

Lamborghini is reported to open its second facility in Mumbai by next year. "India is one of the fastest emerging markets for sports car for us. Aventador is a consistent continuation of Lamborghini's brand values something that now has a huge potential after the success of the recent Formula 1 race. Taking the brand further, we plan to extend our reach in the Indian market by starting the next showroom in Mumbai in early 2012," said James Page, Marketing Manager for SE Asia and Pacific, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

SKODA Rapid's 'Worldwide First Drive'...

Skoda has announced the launch of it’s new sedan called Skoda Rapid 2011 in India this year in India. It is based on Vento’s platform and has already created a lot of buzz since it was debuted earlier last month.

Rapid features a new front profile that is emphasized by a wider front grill and the complimented bold lines. The sedan is powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine which is estimated to deliver a decent 105 bhp. Skoda Rapid is placed underneath Vento in the hierarchy and is designed to compete directly with Maruti SX4.

Rapid is Skoda's 6th attempt at wooing the Indian drivers. It is all set to hit the Indian roads soon. So we decided to give you a taste of what it would look like if you were to drive it. 

Check out this latest video from Skoda...

Let us know what you think about the car? Comment below....