Car makers expect sales to pick up from Mar-April.

Delhi Auto Expo 2012 will witness 55 new models.

Hyundai launches eco-efficient i10 blue drive LPG at Rs 4.30 lakh.

Maruti Suzuki India planning to ad more CNG option to its line-up.

Honda Siel to relaunch City Sedan in Dec.

World's most expensive road crash 

Eight Ferraris, Lambborghini, two Mercedes and about eight to nine Toyota Prius cars were involved in what was described as Japan's worst and world's costliest road crash. A pack of twenty super cars were zooming on the wet to go Chugoku Express way, when a Ferrari slipped into a highway-rail, leading to the pile-up. The vehicles were worth $4 million (approx Rs 21 crore).

Cars plastics can now be made from fruit waste

Your new car could be a pineapple or a banana. That's because scientists in Brazil have developed a way to use fibres from these and other plants in a new generation of automotive plastics that are stronger, lighter and more eco-friendly than plastics now in use.

New Nano

Tata Motors launches an all new Nano with improved mileage and power.

Tata Nano production down to 50 per cent of capacity

Tata Motors has cut production of the world’s cheapest car Nano to fifty per cent of the installed capacity due to lower demand. The company has the capacity to produce 2.5 lakh units of Nano every year, but the plant is currently rolling out around 10,000 units a month. Tata plans to set up dedicated Nano outlets in rural markets to boost sales.
The Nano is not the only car suffering from lack of demand, and most carmakers are hit due to the slowdown in the auto industry. Sales have dropped this year due to high interest rates, rising fuel prices and double digit inflation. The majority of the manufacturers have cut their production to align inventory with demand. The production cuts are even higher on the petrol models, as there is a paradigm shift towards diesel vehicles. The production cut for few companies is also attributed to recent labour issues and unavailability of components due to Thailand floods and the Japanese   tsunami. 

Hyundai's latest - Eon

Hyundai’s latest offering Eon is an amalgamation of style, comfort, utility and economy. 

D-Lite: Rs. 2,69,999, D-Lite with AC option: Rs. 2,91,869, Era: Rs. 3,11,869, Magna: 3,36,869, Magna (O): Rs. 3,46,869, Sportz: Rs. 3,71,869

Honda Brio

A competent family car 

Price : Rs 4.19-5.42 lakhs (ex showroom).

Max speed : 150 kph       

Performance : 0.100 kph : 8.5 sec  8.4 kpm

Tech          : 1998 cc, 4 cylinder, FWD, 87 bhp, 109 Nm, BS4.   

Honda to recall over 72,000 sedans in India

Auto major Honda will recall 72,115 units of its City model, manufactured from 2005-2007, in India to replace defective power window switches.

M & M will launch Global SUV

Anand Mahindra-led M&M will launch Global SUV in India and South Africa by December-end.

Maruti rolls out new Swift at Rs 4.22 lakh

Maruti has already launched a new Swift with additional features and new look.

Car sales in red after 30 months   

Domestic car sales growth slipped into the red as expensive financing rates rising petrol prices kept buyers away despite a flurry of discounts.

Maruti to bring new Swift in August

Maruti Suzuki's new Swift is set hit the road next month as the company braces up for stiffer competition after Toyoto launch its Liva small car and Honda gears up to roll out its Brio hatchback.

Mercedes unveils ML

Mercedes unveils ML its third-generation cross over to the launched at Frankfurt Motor show.

Next-Gen Audi A6, now made in India

Audi has announced the start of production of the all-new Audi A6 in India at its Aurangabad facility. Starting June 9, more than 2000 units of this new Audi A 6 will run off the production line every year. The car will be offered with the choice of diesel and petrol engines. Booking for the new car has started from 15th June 2011.

BMW 1-Series Sedan for India

BMW launched its second-gen 1-series for the European market. It gets a 1.6- litre petrol unit good for 136 bhp. Three 2.0-litre turbo-diesels will also be offered, putting out 116 bhp to 184 bhp. BMW is also planning a sedan based on this little hatch, which will most likely be badged az-series, to be developed specially for markets like China, Russia and India, where small premium sedans are popular.

Ford predicts 8m sales per year

Ford Motor Company said that it will grow by about 50 per cent in global auto sales to about 8 million per yearby middle of the decade. Much of that growth will be in China and India, Ford said.

Counterfeit auto parts market thriving

The global industry is worth at least £3b according to the UK's Institute of Training Standards. The market for counterfeit car parts is thriving in the UAE due to Dubai's status as a logistics hub, the chairman of the Brand Owners Protection Group (BPG) said. 

Toyota to introduce Etios Liva hatchback on June 27

The small car segment is one of the fiercely competitive segments in Indian automobile industry now with several...

The small car segment is one of the fiercely competitive segments in Indian automobile industry now with several global major automobile players looking to grab the market share which is dominated by country’s leading player Maruti Suzuki India . Off late there is a huge competition between Maruti’s Swift, Volkswagen’s Polo, Nissan’s Micra and Ford’s Figo and Chevrolet Beat in that segment.

Now it has been reported that the world’s largest automobile company Toyota may trigger a price war in the hatchback segment when it launches its first small car in India on June 27. According to a report in The Economic Times, the all new Toyota Liva is expected to start at just over Rs 4 lakh and the top-end version, complete with multiple airbags and anti-lock braking system, will be priced around Rs 5.5-6 lakh. It was mentioned that this will make the 1.2-litre car from Toyota cheaper than most hatchbacks, the fastest-growing segment in the 2.5-million Indian passenger car market, and force rivals to consider price cuts. The prices of hatchbacks such as market leader Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra, Skoda Fabia and Fiat Punto start from Rs 4.3 lakh and go over Rs 8 lakh for different variants.

According to experts, price reductions will happen as the Indian market gets crowded. Honda Siel Cars on Monday signaled a price war in the sedan segment by cutting the prices of its flagship City by up to Rs 66,000 to take on the challenge from recently launched Hyundai Verna and new segment leader Volkswagen Vento. Honda's City lost its leadership in the mid-size cars segment to Vento. Honda too plans to launch its small car, Honda Brio, this year and the company will be under pressure to price it competitively vis-a-vis Toyota Etios Liva. Honda is also expected to cut the prices of its Jazz hatchback, which is priced much higher than competing models, to make it more attractive for Indian customers. Other companies may follow a similar route. The report quoted Toyota Kirloskar Motor Deputy MD (Marketing) Sandeep Singh as saying "We will launch the car at the most competitive price and like its sedan sibling Etios. It's an all-new car, offering huge value for money to Indian customers."

BMW displays Vision EfficientDynamics concept car in India

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car was unveiled at Deutsche Motoren by Praful Patel, Honorable Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises at New Delhi . The German Ambassador to India , Thomas Matussek was present as the Guest of Honour.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a road ready, four seater concept sports car that combines the performance and emotional character of a BMW M Car with extraordinary fuel economy and emission management. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics with its outstanding fuel efficiency of 26.5 kilometres/litre and an exemplary CO² emission rating of 99 grams/kilometre is far superior to all conventional hybrid cars. It is capable of achieving a top speed of 250 kilometres/hour with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/hr in just 4.8 seconds. The car is powered by ground breaking BMW ActiveHybrid technology and cutting-edge drive systems.

Praful Patel, Honorable Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises said, “The Indian automobile market is one of the fastest growing markets in the world and is poised to grow at an unprecedented rate. As the Indian automobile industry grows, it will eventually be challenged with the need for reduction of energy consumption for environment protection. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a road ready technology showcase vehicle by BMW engineers and designers that illustrates a successful research and development strategy which holds tremendous potential for sustainable growth.”

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is presented in India for the first time and will be exhibited at the new BMW Studio, Connaught Place , New Delhi till 24 May 2011.

Thomas Matussek, German Ambassador to India said, “The German automotive industry has been continuously progressing to secure a sustainable future with fuel saving engines, state of the art recycling techniques and greener production facilities. The German industry is proud to have BMW as one of the most sustainable car companies in the world who have pioneered CO² emission cuts and have next generation fuel efficiency standards in engines. I am glad to know that BMW is already engaged in developing ground breaking technologies which will define how cars of tomorrow will be conceptualized.”

BMW EfficientDynamics is the world’s most comprehensive package for the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions while simultaneously increasing Sheer Driving Pleasure.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW India said, “BMW Vision EfficientDynamics as an example of cutting-edge technology is simply a continuation of BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy. Some of the technologies used in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics are implemented in current BMW models that enable enhanced performance and lower emissions; others will soon be ready for series production. Or, to put it simply, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a remarkable vision that is soon to become an exciting reality.”

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, further added, “When it comes to dealing with resources in a sustainable and responsible manner, BMW outperforms all other competitors in the premium segment through its BMW EfficientDynamics strategy. Thanks to BMW concept of ‘One Fleet, One Package’, we have reduced CO² emissions and fuel consumption across our entire fleet while boosting driving dynamics at the same time. For these reasons, BMW has been the sector leader in Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last six years.”

1.24 metres high, the four-seater BMW Vision EfficientDynamics takes up the characteristic BMW shaping style, geared consistently towards aesthetic appeal and dynamic performance. Wing doors facilitate entry to both rows of seats, while extensive aerodynamic measures reduce the drag coefficient to 0.22. The combination of a three-cylinder turbo diesel with a hybrid synchronous motor at the front axle and a full-hybrid engine at the rear axle enables an overall system output of 241 kW/328 bhp. The innovative design of the BMW ActiveHybrid technology allows performance figures at the level of a sports car, with just 4.8 seconds required for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/hr - with average fuel consumption of 26.5 km/ltr in the EU test cycle and a CO² emission rating of 99 gm/km.

This unique relation between dynamic performance and efficiency derives from the high level of efficiency of all engine components, intelligent linking of the power output of the three engines, as well as precisely controlled energy management including Brake Energy Regeneration. What is more, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is conceived as a plug-in hybrid. The especially designed lithium-polymer rechargeable battery housed centrally in a longitudinal chassis element can be fully charged at a conventional power socket within just two and half hours. The use of electrical energy alone permits zero-emissions motoring with a range of some 50 km, while a 24 ltr diesel tank extends the total action radius of the vehicle to up to 700 kms.

Mercedes-Benz introduces SL 350 and GL 500

The luxury car market in India seems to be spilling over with several new models vying for the pocket of premium...

India seems to be spilling over with several new models vying for the pocket of premium buyer. Now German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has launched two of its premium products SL 350 and GL 500 in India, priced at Rs 98.5 lakh and Rs 80.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.

It was reported that the sports car 'SL 350' is powered by a 3.5 litre V6 engine while sports utility vehicle 'GL 500' will run on a 5.4 litre V6 engine. GL 500 is one of the most powerful SUV's in the world and is ideal to suit the tastes of the growing number of aficionados in India . The SL-Class, one of the most legendary cars in the Mercedes-Benz stable, derives its DNA from the legendary 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ and has always been a favourite among automobile aficionados across the globe.

The SL 350 features a high-revving 3.5 litre V6 sports engine that produces a power of 315Hp and torque of 360Nm giving an enhanced performance & reduced fuel consumption. The SL 350 features the Direct Steering with Variable Servo Assistance which is available as standard. The Direct Steering incorporates the speed-sensitive power steering coupled with added sportiness. The steering features an all-new rack with a steering angle-sensitive ratio that reduces the need to turn the wheel and increases agility.

The SL-Class offers "Sports package" which comes as standard, is one-of-its kind in its segment. Under this package, the interior features the exclusive silver-coloured contrasting topstitching on the Exclusive NAPPA leather seats and aluminium prism trim among others. The SL-Class has Multi-Contour climatised seats ensures a perfect balance between sportiness and excellent seating comfort for its passengers.

The GL 500 4MATIC one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world featuring a 5.4 litre V6 engine produces a power of 388hp along with a staggering torque of 530Nm. This mammoth accelerates from a standstill to a 100kmph in just 6.5seconds all thanks to its light weight construction resulting in improved engine smoothness and higher torque in the mid-engine speed range. The GL 500 comes with the 7G TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission as standard, allowing adept engine speed at all times, in turn cutting down fuel consumption. The shorter gear shifts make the ride smooth and also reduce the noise levels. It also has manual gear shift paddles on the steering to further enhance driving please when needed. The 4MATIC all wheel drive system in the GL 500 provides excellent traction and enhanced driving stability even on poor road conditions. Additionally the GL- Class comes with the unique off-road pro engineering package that is a boon for those interested in having some serious off-roading and the AIRMATIC suspensions make sure that ride quality is not compromised even on the harshest terrains.

Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India : “The SL 350 and the GL 500 are two of the most popular offerings in our portfolio. Both the cars have unique USP’s. The SL-Class with its styling, performance and handling abilities has won hearts globally. We are glad to introduce the SL-Class which is sportier, aggressive and of course packed with benchmark Mercedes-Benz safety features and technology. On the other hand the GL 500 being one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world, is ideal to suit the tastes of the growing number of off-roading afficionados in India . I am confident that both the vehicles will woo auto enthusiasts, critics, customers & media alike.”

Swedish supercar Koenigsegg to come to India

  at a staggering price of 12.5 crore

While the road infrastructure in India leaves much to be desired, the choice for people with the dough has been...
While the road infrastructure in India leaves much to be desired, the choice for people with the dough has been mind blowing and after the Bugatti Veyron launch now we have the Swedish supercar Koenigsegg being launched at a staggering price of 12.5 crore. It has been reported that it is the second most expensive car in the local market after the 16.2-crore Bugatti that made its debut in November last year. 
According to reports, Agera, with 5-litre bi-turbo V8 engine, which boasts of a pulsating 1115 horsepower, gains 100 km/hr speed in just 2.9 second. According to The Economic Times report, the company had produced the CCR model that broke the nine-year-old Guinness World Record of the McLaren - Bugatti in 2005. Keeping the same lineage alive, Koenigsegg churns our limited set of around 16-18 cars every year out of its single manufacturing facility in Sweden. It tunes every car specifically for any particular country, after carefully studying the quality of fuel on offer in local conditions. For example, to meet the needs of its customers in Brazil, the company has developed a bio-fuel run Agera R model specific to that market. 
The report mentioned that the Swedish company has tied up with Rahul Bhatia-promoted InterGlobe Enterprises (that also runs low-cost airline Indigo) for launching Agera models in India. The cars would be sold directly to high networth individuals without any dealership network. "We will not set up dealerships but will sell these cars directly to owners that would be determined through our own database. We are dealing in a host of luxury products and would be retailing them directly to customers with complete service backup," Nigel A Harwood, President & CEO of Interglobe Established Products, was quoted as saying but he refused to confirm any sales projections for the car in India. 
According to the report, in addition to Koenigsegg, Interglobe plans to launch other super cars like the Gumpert Apollo along with Nostalgia's that are basically Jaguar replicas and the Deronda race cars would also be available though direct sales channels. The report mentioned that Interglobe has also introduced the world fastest-production bike, Vyrus, and highly customised bike, Hollister, in the Indian market. The company also introduced half-a-dozen yatch brands in India.

007's dream machines drives in at Rs 20 crore 

British luxury sports car maker Aston Martin recently gave India it's most expensive model in the 20 crore limited-edition two-door coupe 'One 77' where the registration alone would cost more than an apartment in upmarket locality in India.  

  Aston Martin in India with a big bang

Mumbai, Apr 15 (PTI) English sports brand Aston Martin today vroomed into the domestic market with a bang, offering as many as 10 models from its luxury cars.

To begin with these completely built units will be available in the metropolis for a price range of Rs 1.35 to Rs 20 crore.

" India represents a new opportunity for us and as part of our programme of growing the reach of the global Aston Martin dealership network, this expansion brings our brand to a different audience in a new market," Aston Martin chief commercial officer Michael van der Sande said.

Aston Martin will offer its whole range of cars except the Cygnet in the country - from the basic V8 Vantage to the ultra-exclusive One-77 Hypercar.

The Gaydon, England-based luxury carmaker, has tied up with Performance Cars (a division of Infinity Cars) to open its first showroom here. The second dealership will be opened in New Delhi shortly.

Sounding bullish, van der Sande said the company expects to sell as many as 30 units by the end of this year in the country.

Explaining his enthusiasm about the potential of this market, van der Sande said, "Our decision to bring the Aston Martin brand here is driven by a strong level of interest from potential customers in an emerging luxury market. We have taken our time to find the right advocates for Aston Martin and I am confident that we have selected strong partners with whom we look forward to starting a successful relationship".

Stronger than steel 'paper' to make cars!

Sydney, April 29 (IANS) A composite material based on paper thin graphite and 10 times stronger than steel is set to revolutionise the automotive, aviation, electrical and optical industries, experts predict.

Graphene paper or GP, developed by Guoxiu Wang's research team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), can be processed, reshaped and reformed from its original raw material state.

Compared to steel, the prepared GP is six times lighter, five to six times lower in density, two times harder with 10 times higher tensile strength and 13 times higher bending rigidity, the Journal of Applied Physics reports.

Researchers have successfully milled the raw graphite by purifying and filtering it with chemicals to reshape and reform it into nano-structured configurations which are then processed into sheets as thin as paper, according to a university statement.

Lead researcher Ali Reza Ranjbartoreh said: 'Not only is it lighter, stronger, harder and more flexible than steel, it is also a recyclable and sustainably manufacturable product that is eco-friendly and cost effective in its use.'

Ranjbartoreh said the results would allow the development of lighter and stronger cars and planes that use less fuel, generate less pollution, are cheaper to run and ecologically sustainable.

He said large aerospace companies such as Boeing have already started to replace metals with carbon fibres and carbon-based materials, and graphene paper with its incomparable mechanical properties would be the next material for them to explore.

Rs 1,675-crore car unit in Pune

Chinese automobile giant Beiqi Foton Motors will set up Rs 1,676 crore automobile manufacturing fecilitie in Pune. The plant will be set up on a 200-acre plot in Khed Taluka, near Pune.

Indian car market growth 2nd fastest globally

Car sales zoom 30% in FY11, may slow down this fiscal.

M & M hikes prices by up to Rs 15000.

GM plans to bring Cadillac to India in 2 years, says MD Karl Slym

Superfast super bus

A Dutch team of researchers has built a 23-seater bus that can be travel at the speed of 250 kmph running only on electricity. It is 15 feet long, 6-wheeled super bus, can carry 23 passengers. The project began in 2004 and has so far cost around 11.5 million pounds.

Here's the Amberiod  

Until Maruti arrived, the mainstay of our roads, Ambassador is about to get a radical makeover. The all-new Ambassador is the Amberoid and it's got a souped-up engine, gull wing doors and a plush interiors loaded with gizmos. 

Nissan India plans 2 new launches  

Japanese auto major Nissan may launch 2 new vehicles in India by 2012. According to Kiminobu Tokuyama a global sedan will be in market this year and another  vehicle will be launched in 2012.

Qatari national pays $307 million for car licence plate  

A Qatari national has paid $ 3,761,570 (13.7 million Qatari riyals) for a car licence plate.

World's fastest solar car

Australian students claim to have designed  the world's fastest solar car which has smashed a Guinness World Record by travelling at a speed of 88 Kmph the speed was faster than the previous record of 79 Kmph.

CBR 250R launched

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has finally launched its much awaited CBR250R in India at Rs 1.43 lakh.

India in Moto GP 

Mahindra Racing created a record when it became the first Indian team to compete at the peak of motor cycle road racing. It all began some three years ago when in strategic move, Mahindra acquired the highly respected design & engineering firm Engines. Engineering  based in Boloqua, Italy.

Mahindra's launch Moto GP team with foreign riders

Taking cue from Vijay Mallay's Force India team in Formula 1 the Mahindra Group launched its two wheeler racing team with foreign riders- Danny Webb and Marcel Schrotter, to make their debut in the Moto GP, the road racing World Championship for two wheels, in March in Qatar. 

Ferrari all set to drive into India
  Will make its official debut soon

New Delhi: Italian luxury sports car Ferrari will make its official debut in India soon with popular models such as California, 458 Italia, 599GTB Fiorano and the latest FF, with prices starting from Rs 2.2 crore onward.
The company has appointed the Shreyans Group as its official importer in India.
The Ferrari range, which will be sold in India, includes the California, priced at Rs 2.2 crore, the 458 Italia at Rs 2.56 crore and the 599GTB Fiorano, tagged at Rs 3.37 crore.
Ferrari's latest model the FF, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier in March, will also be available. Its global price has not been announced yet.
All the four models will be open to order once the Ferrari dealerships are opened in India.
The first Ferrari dealership will be opened in the capital soon and a second one is slated to open in Mumbai in the second half of 2011.
Commenting on the development, Shreyans Group Chairman Ashish Chordia said: "We are proud to announce the partnership with Ferrari on Thursday. This brand represents for us the epitome of success and we are proud to partner with one of the world's most desired brand."
Chordia said the group will establish a network of Ferrari dealers across India to cater to the discerning needs of customers.
An independent Ferrari India office with experienced Ferrari professionals to manage the upcoming dealer network will be set up, Chordia added.
The Shreyans Group is involved in luxury retail in India, with interests in products such as yachts, super bikes, fashion articles and jewellery, besides cars.

Nissan unveils Sunny Sedan

  All-new global sedan

Ending months-long speculations that Nissan is readying a ‘Micra Sedan’, the carmaker has unveiled its all-new Global Sedan at the 8th China International Automobile Exhibition. The new sedan, Nissan Sunny, will be built on Nissan’s versatile ‘V’ platform, but is not a Micra sedan.  Sunny will be launched in India in the second half of 2011. However, the name Sunny is only for China market and its name in India is yet to be finalized, Nissan says.

The new sedan will be powered by the 1.5-liter HR15DE engine with dual injectors and a new-generation Xtronic CVT with an auxiliary transmission. Sunny is supposed to deliver superior handling and better environmental performance as a projected class leader in fuel economy as well.

From the pictures released by Nissan, one thing is very evident – Sunny is sure to allure young generation looking for a medium sized sedan that combines a dynamic upscale design with the space and quality.

Toyota enters Indian B segment

  Etios offers choice to the customers

Toyota entered the Indian B segment with the launch of Etios, priced between Rs 4.96 and 6.86 lakhs.

Maruti's fully made in India car to hit roads by 2012

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India's ''completely made in India car'' will hit the roads by 2012 and the company is likely to finalise the design within the next six months.

According to people in the know of the project for the car, the company will finalise the design, engine size and how to position it in the market within the next six months.

"It is likely that the made in India car will be positioned along with MSI''s its best selling model Alto," a source said.

Internally MSI has set 2012 as the launch target, the source added. At present MSI still depends on parent Suzuki for its future model design and development programme.

It is, however, spending around Rs 1,500 crore over the next 3-4 years at its R&D centre at Rohtak - Suzuki's only such significant centre outside Japan -- to scale up its vehicle development programme and become self reliant.

When contacted an MSI spokesperson said,"For customers'' benefit, product development and technological innovation are continuous processes at MSI. We do not comment on future models and plans."

The ''Made in India'' car has been developed keeping in mind rival Hyundai Motors India''s small car that is also likely to be unveiled in early 2012. Hyundai is also designing and developing the car keeping in mind the Indian market.

Hyundai''s small car is expected to be positioned below the company''s existing flagship model, Santro, and operate in the segment that the Alto from Maruti Suzuki is in.

Alto is currently the highest selling car model in India, with average sales of over 20,000 units per month, and is priced between Rs 2.29 lakh and Rs 3.26 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Ambassador Set For A Comeback

    With 4 new variants of the car

For us Indians, there was a time when the word ‘car’ meant only Ambassador. Regardless of whichever luxury car you drive now, you can never forget those moments of comfort you enjoyed in an Amby, right? But Ambassador failed to survive amid the revolution in the Indian automobile industry.  Before Amby ended up in heritage car lovers’ garages, Hindustan Motors decided to act. They are coming up with not just one, but four new variants of the car that was once the favourite of India’s politicians and bureaucrats.

Although HM had made couple of not-so-successful efforts to revamp the iconic car, their tweaks were limited to just interiors and powertrains. The exterior design always remained the same and the retro looks failed to impress the GenX. Finally, the company has decided to give a complete new look to Amby and has roped in Pune-based design firm Onio Design for this purpose. The first variant would be ready by December.

All the new variants of the Ambassador will be available with an engine size ranging between 1500 cc to 2000 cc. Meanwhile, HM will work equally hard to preserve the traits of the Amby which is space, comfort and ease of maintenance.

Do you think the rejuvenated Amby can regain the lost charm?

Alto Gets a Facelift

  Alto will bring cheer to the customers

Super Seller Alto Gets a Facelift

By Clint Thomas – August 6th, 2010

In the wake of a soaring competition in the small car segment and a nose-diving marker share India’s largest carmaker Maruti has launched a more powerful version of its largest selling model Alto. The new Alto K-10 is powered by a bigger 1-litre (998 CC) K series engine that also powers the Estilo, A-Star and Wagon R.

Maruti’s move will bring cheer to those customers who thought the largest selling five-seater car was underpowered. Currently, the Alto’s top-end Lxi model contributes to 70 per cent of sales and competes with the Rs 2.7-lakh Hyundai Santro standard and the Chevy Spark that costs Rs 3.23 lakh. The new Alto is claimed to return 20.2 kmpl and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 13.3 seconds.

Maruti has refurbished the suspension and braking system to cope with the enhanced motor. Moreover, it’s is longer by 125mm to accommodate the bigger K-series engine. It has a new aggressive front, with a differently styled combination of dynamic hood, bold eagle-eye headlamps with crystal-clear lens.

“With the AC switched on and five people in the car, the engine of the Alto seems short of power although its light weight contributes tremendously to the fuel-efficiency of around 18-20 kmpl. The new Alto can wipe out these problems without hampering fuel-efficiency too much”, says an auto industry expert. (Business Standard)

While the existing Alto will continue to serve customers across India, the new sibling, Alto-K10, is specifically targeted at those customers, who are looking for premium features and performance in an economical package. The car will be priced between Rs 3.03 and Rs 3.16 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).  

Honda recalls 58,000 City Sedans in India

Japanese auto major Honda announced it was initiating one of the biggest car recalls in India that would see nearly 58,000 units of its City sedan called back for a replacement of a faulty component as part of the global exercise. 

Jaguar launches diesel variant

Jaguar launches diesel variant of sports sedan XF in India at Rs 48.37 lakh.

World's first flying car

A flying car is to go into commercial production after manufacturer were given a special exemption by US Aviation officials. The  Terra-fugia Transition is designed  as a 'light sport' aircraft, the smallest kind of private aereoplane under FAA classification. The two-seater Transition can use its front-wheel drive an roads at ordinary highway speeds, with wings folded, at a respectable 30 mpg. The cruising speed in air in 115 mph, it has a range of  460 milesand can carry 450 lb. It requires a 1700-foot runaway to take off and  can fit in a garage. The car is expected to retail at £130,000.

A car that absorbs carbon dioxide and spews out oxygen

Taking cue from the plants ability to photosynthesise, Chinese automaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation has developed a new concept car called Yez (prounced ' Yea-zi') is Mandarin Chinese for 'leaf' and it is apt for the open buggy-like vehicle which has a roof shape like a leaf reports Discovery news.

iriko Citycar

Hiriko Citycar shown the during a  presentation on May 27, 2010 in Berlin. The car, invented at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it offers place for 2 and is aimed for the use in the urban space. The production of the foldable car is scheduled  to the year 2010 and will be tested in 5 cities worldwide       

The new Swift

Auto spies never cease to amaze me; this time with the spy shots of the 2010 Suzuki Swift prototype. Slated to break cover at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the refurbished version of Suzuki’s best-selling model is expected to be Swift by name and swift by nature. In spite of the heavy camouflage, it’s very clear that the new Swift will retain its curvy looks. The stylishly revamped head and tail lamps are clearly evident in the spy shots.

These spy shots have been doing the rounds since mid 2009. Now, a Hungarian website has released more revealing shots of the new Swift. A curvier rear, a pronounced slot for the license plate and the ‘waterfall’ tail-lights and more rounded rear-view mirrors are easily recognisable.

Car sales see an all time high in India
Chennai, (ANI): Car sales in India recorded the strongest in the month of April reaching at an annual high of 39.5 percent,indicating consumer demand in India despite rising consumer prices. Buyers are usually subdued in April after bunched purchases at the close of the financial year in March to take advantage of tax breaks on depreciation. Domestic car sales were 143,976 in April, up from 103,227 in the same month last year, SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) data showed, led by Maruti Suzuki, which sold 80,034 units.

M&M sued in US over truck launch delay 

Global Vehicles,  an American distributor has filed a suit in Atlanta against auto major Mahindra & Mahindra for delay in lanuching its pick-up truck.

Volkswagen Vento

Volkswagen unveils the New Volkswagen Vento in India

Targeting the midsize sedan category, German auto giant Volkswagen on Tuesday unveiled its new locally manufactured sedan Volkswagen Vento in India.

It is expected to hit the Indian roads by October this year. "The mid- size market is doing very well in India and we are focusing on this segment. The car will have improved overall interior room, more powerful air conditioning systems, louder horn and suspension settings to suit Indian conditions

However, the company refused to divulge details about the price of the car. It said the price will be revealed only closer to the market launch of the car. "It will be Volkswagen's second volume model after Polo and will be coming as a premium entry- level sedan in the country. An official hinted that the price would be around Rs 9 lakh.

Polo is priced in the range of Rs 4.34 lakh to Rs 6.70 lakh ( ex- showroom, Delhi). The new Vento comes with a 1.6 litre engine in the petrol and diesel variants. It will be available in both manual and automatic transmission options. The new Vento is the seventh model in India from Volkswagen's stable. Currently, the company offers compact cars Beetle and Polo, premium sedans Phaeton, Passat and Jetta, and sports utility vehicle Touareg.

At present, the mid- size sedan segment in India comprises models like Hyundai Accent, Verna, Mahindra Logan, Ford Fusion and Honda City. Vento will be positioned above the Polo and below the Jetta. The car is being rolled out from the company's plant at Chakan, in Maharashtra.

Volkswagen has already invested 580 million euros for its Chakan plant, with an annual production capacity of 1.1 lakh units. The facility also manufactures the Fabia hatchback of group firm Skoda Auto.

Technical Specification –Volkswagen Vento

'Elevations make the Indian F1 circuit special'

A "wild" 14-metre high corner and a 1.2km stretch, where cars can run at a speed of 320km/hr, will make the Jaypee race track challenging and exciting for the drivers, the promoters of the Indian Grand Prix said here today.

India will host its first ever Formula One GP on October 30 next year at the currently under-construction circuit after being marked as the venue of the 18th race on the 2011 calender.

Elevations make the circuit special and it will rise up to 14 metres from turn one to three, Boris Lazaric, Chief Operating officer (Construction), Jaypee Sports International, said.

"The corner on turn three is 14 metres high and it will be a challenge from a driver's perspective. It's wild at that point. One mistake and you will be out of the race," he said while explaining the characteristics of the track in a press conference here.

"There is a stretch of 1.2 kilometre which will be the fastest on calendar. The speed (of a driver) would be anything around 320km per hour. From turns 10 and 11, it will be very very fast and the temporary Grand Stands will be so close to the track that about 13,000 spectators will have a memorable view from there," Lazaric said.

The race alloted to India is subject to FIA homologation but Mark Hughes, Vice President (Operations), JPSI, is confident that world governing body will approve the circuit.

Homologation is the approval process a race track must go through to be part of a league or series. The regulations and rules that must be met are generally set by the series' sanctioning body -- in this case the FIA.

"Homologation process is not (a matter of) one day. It takes a number of weeks. It will happen in May next year. The FIA team will come and verify if the work has been done according to the design approved by them.

"There is a specific set of guidelines and they follow it strictly. They will see safety measures and if they are happy, it (homologation) is over," Hughes said.

Karun Chandhok, India's second F1 driver, who is also a consultant for Jaypee Group, has been a regular visitor to the circuit and Hughes said more drivers will get to see the track soon.

"Force India drivers have shown interest to come here and in the next few months they can have a look before the completion of the circuit," he said.

He confirmed that input was taken from a lot of F1 teams and drivers but did not reveal from whom saying," It is confidential." In October 2007, the FIA had signed a Rs 1600 crore contract with JPSK Sports Private Limited to organise an F1 race in India.

The estimated cost to develop the 5.15 km circuit is about USD 215 million with a seating capacity of 120,000.

JPSI MD and CEO Sameer Gaur said the track will not remain unutilised even in off-season period.

"It was an opportunity that we got in 2007 and it is not going to be limited to just Formula One. We have spoken to motorsport companies for bike races here," Gaur said.

Gaur was optimistic that the project will be completed in time and also sought to downplay the controversies that the Commonwealth Games has drawn due to delay in venue construction.

"There is no pessimism. All major sports projects face some criticism. I am sure we'll be successful (in organising CWG). It was a challenge and we have taken up international challenges before. We have fine resources and people. The group is full of optimism," he said.

Lazaric echoed his views.

"The work is on schedule and the plan is to finish it by the middle of next year. Eight months ago there was nothing.

It was flat and we had to move 40 lakh cubic earth to give the track a final shape.

"We faced problems. Over 200 engineers of Jaypee and consultants from outside have worked and we are proud that we will finish it in time," Boris said.

"There are 15 contractors and 3000 people working and we will double it." Gaur also hoped the fans will throng the circuit next year despite motorsports being a southern-centric sport as of now.

"We have done surveys and have got good feedback. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the northern part of the country such as Haryana and Punjab," he said.

Auto sales remain steady in Nov.

Maruti, Hyundai, GM grew in double digit but Tata Motor lags. 

Bajaj starts price war in 150 cc 

Bajaj Auto unleashed a price war in the 150 cc motor cycle segment with the launch of its new Discover priced at Rs 46,000, which will be cheaper buy at least Rs 6,000 from competition. 

Car's appeal lies in shape not tech

Ever wondered why flashy and swanky cars like BMW, Audi or Alpha Romeo are the most preferred models? A new research has claimed it's their unique shape, not the sophisticated technology, that makes them attractive to buyers and car lovers.

Maruti launches new Wagon R at Rs 3.28L

After aggressive pricing from GM and Ford for their new compact cars Beat and Figo respectively. It was the turn of the market leader Maruti Suzuki to turn on the heat as the company announced an entry price of Rs 3.28 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for its refurbished Wagon R, that now is offered in bigger dimensions and sports the company's flagship K series petrol engine. Wagon R is Maruti's second-biggest selling model after the Alto

Maruti hikes prices by up to Rs 10000

The country's largest car- maker, Maruti Suzuki India has raised the prices of its vehicles across various models by up to Rs 10000 citing rising input cost and introduction of new emission norm BS IV. The Company's latest model Ritz and A-Star will be costlier by Rs 1000, Estillo by Rs 2500 and Swift by Rs 3750. Entry- level sedan Dzire will be dearer by Rs 7000. While mid-sized Sedan SX4 will cost Rs 9000 more. The new prices for the Eeco will be up by approximately Rs 10000. Prices have also been revised on the BS-III compliant cars like Maruti 800 and Omni (LPG) by Rs 3000 and Gypsy by Rs 10000 

In Aurangabad, prominent people buy 115 Mercs at one go 

The 115 buyers comprise Industrialists, exporters, developers, mediapersons, doctors and lawyers. They found the 'Aurangabad Group' specifically fulfilled their wish of owning a Merc and to bargain with the premium car maker. This is the single largest sale of Mercedes cars in India. Last year, the company had sold 3,200 cars across India. 

Maruti set to cross 10 L mark in FY 10

It's been almost 26 years since Maruti Suzuki started selling cars in India. And now, the company is all set to step across the magical million mark as the car maker's production and sales are poised to cross 10 lakh in the current financial year, setting a new record for any Indian car company. Maruti's production in April '09-Feb '10 period has already touched 9.31 lakh units while sales follow closely behind at 9.23 lakh units. 

With this, Maruti - set up as a joint venture between Suzuki and the Indian government - joins the coveted list of carmakers like Toyoto, GM, Volkswagen, Ford and Renault, which boast of over seven-figure volume in a year.

Tata Motors global sales up by 53% in Apr

Tata Motor said its global sales increased by 53% in April to 77,732 units on robust demand from both commercial and passenger vehicles

Self-driven cars come closer to reality 

Washington, (ANI): Advancing towards cars that drive on their own, Volvo Car Corp. has tested its new S60 model, which has the first in-car system that can sense an imminent collision with pedestrians and brake automatically if the driver doesn't.

The system is the latest in a line of developments made possible by sophisticated sensors based on cameras, radar and lasers.

The sensors already provide drivers with adaptive cruise control, which alters a car's speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, as well as technology such as semi-autonomus parking systems.

Jonas Ekmark, a researcher at Volvo headquarters near Gothenburg, Sweden, has said that we are entering an era  in which vehicles will also gather real-time information about the weather and highway hazards, using this to improve fuel efficiency and make life less stressful for the driver and safer for all road users.

"Our long-term is the collision-free traffic system," the Washington Post quoted Ekmark as saying.

Alan Taub, vice president for research and development at Gneral Motors, expects to see semi-autonomous vehicles on the road by 2015.

They will need a driver to handle busy city streets and negotiate complex intesections, but once on the highway they will be able to steer, accelerate and avoid collisions unaided. 

A few years later, he predicts, drivers will be able to take their hands off the wheel completely. 

"I see the potential for launching fully autonomous vehicles by 2020," he said. 

While Japan is leading the way in autonomous vehicles, collaboration between seven European manufactures and universities are developing a system that would allow up to eight cars a little more than a yard apart driving in convoy, controlled by a lead vehicle operated by a professional driver. Drivers will be able to work, read, watch films or even sleep while their cars are driven for them. 

What fully autonomous vehicles might be like is hinted at by an experimental car built by a GM-backed team of engineering students at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. 

Their 'Boss' car earned a 2 million dollar prize in 2007 by outperforming 10 other autonomous vehicles in a simulated urban environment.

The vehicle executed complex manoeuvres such as merging into flowing traffic, passing, parking and negotiating intersections, while interacting with other autonomous vehicles and 30 human-driven ones. 

Taub has predicted that by about 2020, vehicles like Boss will start to appear on public roads: reports New Scientist.

Luxury wheels in India

The fight here is more for finest style statement and the brand than the price. This is world of Luxury Wheels. This is the world of Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Mercedes AMG, Maybach, BMW and Porshe - fancied by almost everybody but affordable only for a few. 

Luxury car market in China is much bigger than India.

Nissan - to introduce nine models by 2012

Nissan Motor India Private Ltd as part of it's growth strategy to introduce nine models in India by 2012, recently launched it's widely acclaimed and iconic spots car - Nissan 370Z in India. The Nissan 370Z enables the discerning performance car enthusiasts in the country to live with it's breath taking performance, cutting edge technology and seductive design and at a very attractive price. The Nissan 370Z 6-speed M/T with Synchro Rev Match is priced at Rs 53.50 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi) and Nissan 370Z 7-speed A/T with Manual Shift Mode is priced at Rs 54.50 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi)

Trucks with comfy features

The old image of a truck as a dull and drab-looking vehicle is all set for an overhaul. It's not just the exteriors, manufacturers are now wooing truck drivers with comforts which are very close to a modern-day sedan.

It now comes with air suspension seats and two-tone beige interior, etc. Trucks and mini trucks are now fitted with longer leaf springs, damper seats, cabin berths for co-driver to take rest and improved safety features.

Which is why, while designing the Gio (a sub-one tonne four wheeler for cargo application) and Maxximo (a mini-truck with a load carrying capacity of 850 kgs) took care to load them with almost car-like interior.

Tata Motors has also unveiled new-gen 10-75 tonners in the Prima range of trucks, trailers and special applications.  

Toyoto closes joint venture plant with GM

Toyoto closed its joint manufacturing plant with GM, a symbol of corporation between the top US and Japanese automakers, in California after about 25 years of operation. Toyoto's operations will be shifted to plants in Canada, Japan and Texas.

Volkswagen rolls out Passat in India

Volkswagen launched Passat 1.8 L TSI is priced at Rs 19.20 lakhs ( ex-showroom New Delhi) and Jetta 2.0 L diesel comfortline priced at Rs 15.92 lakhs (ex-showroom New Delhi)

Harley-Davidson announces five dealers: Booking to start soon

Harley Davidson is gearing up to cash in on the interest shown by the Indian Market. Taking a cue from the recent auto expo held in New Delhi and betting big on the Indian market, Harley Davidson has decided to make its product available in India under a completely built unit (CBU) format from June-end onwards. The company is planning to launch twelve products in India and all from the US.

Blow to Japanese Automakers 

Honda recalls 6.5 lakh Jazz, City car globally.

Automobile giant Honda said it was recalling 6,46,000 Fit/Jazz and City automobiles worldwide to fix a windows switch defect that could cause fire. Honda's recall covers models sold in Americas, Europe, South Africa and Asia but not Japan.

Toyoto faces US Congress scrutiny over recall of millions of cars over problems with unintended, dangerous acceleration.  

Now, Toyoto mulls recalling Corolla 

Toyoto is considering the recall of Corolla - the world's best selling car model - following complains about in its power steering. 

Tata Motors  global sales up 59% in Feb

Homegrown auto major Tata Motors said, its global sale increased by 59% in February to 89,768 units. On Robust demand for both commercial and passenger vehicles, sales of luxury brands from Jaguar Land Rover were at 17,197 units during February, up 60% from the same period last year. It said total passenger vehicles sales stood at 47,108 units in February 2010, a growth of 50% from corresponding month last year. Commercial vehicles sales were also up by 70% to 42,660 units from the same month last year.

Mercedes  Benz sales jumped 78% 

Mercedes Benz India has reported a 78% rise in sales in February 2010, at 439 units compared with 246 units in the same month last year. Mercedes Benz India MD Wlfried Alubur said they now have a presence in 25 cities. The company will soon complete 3 showrooms in Hyderabad, Chennai and South Delhi.

India in demand

Eleven per cent of Americans are open to buying Indian-made cars. That isn't bad at all because 16 per cent would be interested in a Korean car, and Korean brands such as Hyundai and Kia have been around in the US for decades. The interest in Indian cars is on the strength of Brand India alone, which Inda's reputation for IT savvy may have helped create. It's time for Indian automakers to capitalise on this.

Vehicles for Sale

For immediate sale - well maintained cars. Self-driven Chevrolet Optra and Ford Fiesta. Contact owner - 09892524108

To be here, Email; akn9292yahoo.com or Call: 09969154602

Tata Motors to introduce Air Car 

Fully built in White Gold Body (Abu Dhabi registration)

Can you believe it????  -  7 + 5 = 36,000,000 Dirhams

This man spent 36,000,000 Dirhams for two Number Plates only. This is the amount spent by an Abu Dhabi businessman to purchase these 2 specific Car Number Plates. Certainly, it's more expensive than the cars.
The cost of NUMBER PLATE   5 = 25 Millions dirhams
THE cost of NUMBER PLATE   7 = 11 Millions dirhams