Wednesday, 25 January 2012

MARUTI SUZUKI TO SET UP A DIESEL ENGINE PLANT IN GURGAON, IN A MOVE THAT COULD REDUCE WAITING PERIODS DRAMATICALLY!


“If it’s a Maruti and a diesel one at that, be prepared to endure long waiting periods”, is the current sentiment of the car buyer. Despite this, the demand for Maruti Suzuki’s diesel cars has only been getting stronger each passing month, in a sheer display of the confidence the brand enjoys amongst the car buying populace in India. Maruti Suzuki is India’s largest car maker with every one of two cars sold in India being a Maruti. In a welcome development of sorts, Maruti’s board has given an in principle approval for the automaker to set up a diesel engine plant at Gurgaon.
Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel

RAJIV BAJAJ CONFIRMS THAT THE ALL NEW 2012 BAJAJ PULSAR WILL BE UNVEILED 30TH JANUARY, 2012!


Days after we carried the story asking whether the 30th January, 2012 will see the unveiling of the all new 2012 Bajaj Pulsar, we got our answer when Rajiv Bajaj officially confirmed that the all new 2012 Pulsar will be unveiled on the 3oth of January, 2012 in Mumbai. That said, confusion still reigns supreme on whether the event at Mumbai would be an unveiling or the actual launch of the 2012 Pulsar, where the price and other specifics will be announced. Considering that heavily camouflaged test mules sre still doing the trial runs in and around Pune, we’re leaning on an unveil rather than a launch on the 30th of January.
New 2012 Bajaj Pulsar

NISSAN INDIA TO EXPORT SUNNY SEDAN FROM MARCH 2012 EVEN AS IT EXPANDS TOTAL PRODUCTION TO 4 LAKH UNITS A YEAR!


Nissan India will begin exporting its C-segment offering, the Sunny Sedan from March 2012, to markets across the globe, beginning with the Middle East market. This latest announcement by Nissan underscores the importance of its Indian manufacturing unit in the overall scheme of things. Nissan India’s Oragadam plant, off Chennai has been a big exporter of cars. In fact, the automaker exported many more Micra hatchbacks than it sold in the domestic market, a clear pointer to the fact that India is soon emerging as a hub of low cost automotive manufacturing to challenge the likes of China and Brazil.
Nissan Sunny

NEXT GENERATION 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA/TEANA SEDAN TO GET A MAJOR REVAMP!


With the 2012 Toyota Camry and the 2013 Ford Fusion sedans the latest competition in the US market, Nissan is doing all it can to boost Altima’s(Teana in India) sales. The next generation version of the Altima, Nissan says will be a big step up from the current gen model. Nissan is betting on a vastly improved CVT transmission on the 2013 Altima/Teana, that is expected to be reduce friction by a whopping 40% when compared to the current version. This will give a big boost to fuel economy, which currently is the hot topic of contention amongst competing D-segment cars.
2012 Nissan Altima-Teana Sedan

VOLKSWAGEN TO GUN FOR THE ACCORD-CAMRY-SONATA-SUPERB BRIGADE WITH THE PASSAT PETROL?


Volkswagen pulled off a surprise when it launched the all new Passat last year with a single, diesel engine option. Back at that time, Volkswagen said that the overwhelming demand for diesel engined cars in the premium segment prompted its move to launch the Passat as a diesel only model. The all new Jetta that followed soon after also featured only a diesel engine although we have spotted numerous Jettas with the 1.8 TSi petrol engine doing the testing rounds in and around Pune. Today, we’re hearing that the Passat will come with a petrol engine soon and the launch could happen as soon as next month.
2012 Volkswagen Passat Petrol

THE 2012 HYUNDAI I20 FLUIDIC HATCHBACK, IN TEAM ICB’S RENDER!


Here is Team ICB’s render that our roving eye in the sky, EarthFusion, has delivered to us. Many versions of the Fluidic i20 are being tested all across the world including India. We anticipate the i20 Fluidic to be more of a mid career makeover than a full model change, with the same platform being retained when Hyundai fuses the Fluidic fromt end design with the rest of the car. The spyshots too seem to indicate this to be the case as very little of the exterior’s shape seems to have changed. Other reports also claim that Hyundai is working on a comprehensive full model change for the i20.
2012 Hyundai i20 Fluidic Facelift Render

Monday, 9 January 2012

Toxic Substances Are Within Automobiles


Almost everyone loves the “new car smell” when a brand new vehicle is purchased. However, it may not be so appealing once it is known that the smell may come from toxic chemicals used in the construction of the automobile. The Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan recently completed a study in which the composition of more than 200 late model SUVs, cars and trucks were analyzed for chemicals that emit gasses from parts used within the interior of the vehicle. The Ecology Center was most concerned with chlorine from plasticizers such as PVC, bromine coming from fire-retardant components and contamination from heavy metals such as lead. 

Thursday, 5 January 2012

DC DESIGN AVANTI SUPERCAR: INDIA’S FIRST SUPERCAR LAUNCHED AT THE 2012 AUTO EXPO!


Whoa! India’s very first supercar with killer and mean looks. That was my reaction when I saw the launch of DC design Avanti Supercar at New Delhi Auto expo. The Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachhan revealed the car to an enthusiastic media contingent. The car’s heart is from ford Eco boost series and it will feature Ford 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 261 bhp.
DC Avanti Supercar

TOYOTA LAUNCHES THE NEW 2012 FORTUNER AT A PRICE OF INR 19.99 TO 21.99 LAKHS; NEW 2012 LANDCRUISER V8 ALSO LAUNCHED!


Toyota Kirloskar Motors India pulled off two more product launches yesterday, that of the new 2012 Toyota Fortuner SUV and the flagship 2012 Toyota Landcruiser V8. The Toyota Fortuner, like the Innova gets a mid career makeover and isn’t a full model change. In line with that you get a new front end with new headlamps, grille, bumper design and fog lamps. The car’s interiors also get a mild spruce up to look more nattier while retaining the solid quality that Toyota has always offered.
New Toyota Fortuner SUV front angle image

2012 NEW HONDA DIO 110 SCOOTER AND HONDA DREAM YUGA 110 MOTORCYCLE FEATURES ROUND UP!

Honda CBR 150R and new Dio front angle image

YAMAHA’S FIRST SCOOTER FOR INDIA WILL BE CALLED THE RAY; UNVEILED AT THE AUTO EXPO!


Yamaha India has pulled the wraps off its first scooter for the Indian market, the Yamaha Ray. This scooter will be targeted mainly at women and resembles the Honda Dio. Built for petite frames, the Ray will be smaller than the other scooters in the market and will be launched in India very soon along with pricing details. The Ray will also have attractive women friendly colors like pink and yellow, to further emphasize on its positioning for the fairer sex. Bollywood actor and Yamaha brand ambassador, John Abraham, was the added attraction at the Yamaha pavilion and that was just another step that Yamaha took to get the fairer sex swooning.
Yamaha Ray Prototype Scooter

CHEVROLET CN100 AND THE CHEVROLET SAIL TO BE UNVEILED TODAY AT THE AUTO EXPO!


By noon today, General Motors will unveil the Chevrolet CN100 MPV and the Chevrolet Sail hatchback, that that automaker plans to launch in India sometime soon. The CN100 MPV has originally been manufactured by a Chinese firm called Wuling and is sold in many markets by General Motors by re-branding it as the CN100 MPV. The CN100 is expected to feature the 1.3 Multijet diesel engine that GM jointly developed with Fiat.
Chevrolet-Wuling CN100 MPV

NANO DIESEL AIN’T COMING ANYTIME SOON, INSTEAD HOW ABOUT THE NANO CNG, SAYS TATA!


Bad news first. The Tata Nano Diesel might not see a commercial launch anytime too soon with word emerging from Tata Motors that the diesel variant is at least a year away from a launch. While this would come as a bummer to many a prospective owner of the  Tata Nano Diesel, there’s still some cheer left. Tata Motors has put together a CNG variant of the Nano, and with CNG being much cheaper than petrol could still be a very sensible option for folks who want a very frugal and eco-friendly form of four wheeled personal transport.
Tata Nano CNG front view image

TRIUMPH LAUNCHES 7 MOTORCYCLES AT THE 2012 INDIAN AUTO EXPO!


Earlier today, Triumph India launched 7 motorcycles at the 2012 Auto Expo. Killer pricing is the high point of the Triumph motorcycle launch, a move that could send shivers up the spines of competition even as motorcycle enthusiasts across the country rejoice the plethora of affordable choices the Indian market is playing host to.
Triumph Street Triple

UPDATED: NISSAN NV200 WILL BE NAMED THE EVALIA MUV; DIESEL ENGINE ONLY TO BEGIN WITH!

Nissan-Ashok Leyland NV200 MPV


The Nissan NV200 MPV will be called the Evalia MUV for the Indian market. This MUV will use the 1.5 Liter DCi engine that is used on the likes of the Micra and the Sunny, although the state of tune of this engine remains under wraps for the moment. We’ll update this space in just a bit. Stay glued. Click on more for the update.

NEW 2012 TOYOTA INNOVA MPV LAUNCHED AT A PRICE OF INR 9.4 TO 13.19 LAKHS, EX-SHOWROOM DELHI!


Toyota Kirloskar Motors launched not one,  not two but three new models at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. Of these, we’ll bring you the story of the 2012 Toyota Innova first. The Toyota Innova MPV is a legend of sorts, both with the upmarket MPV buyer as well as the cabbie crowd. Such is the solid engineering and bomb proof reliability of this MPV that it has gone on to become a best seller right from the word go.
2012 New Toyota Innova front view image

HYUNDAI HEXASPACE MPV CONCEPT SHOWCASED AT THE 2012 INDIAN AUTO EXPO!


The Hyundai Hexaspace MPV concept, going by the codename HND-7 was one of the big attractions at the Hyundai pavilion at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. The Hyundai Hexaspace concept marries functionality to a unconventional design to squeeze in an extra seat. The Hyundai Hexaspace has hexagonal seats which an be moved around to suit the requirements of accommodating more passengers. As a result, as many as 8 people can be accommodated in the Hyundai Hexaspace.
Hyundai Hexaspace Concept MPV

HONDA LAUNCHES TWO CBU IMPORTS, THE 2012 CBR1000RR AND THE 2012 FURY (VT1300CX) CRUISER!


Honda is turning up the heat in India big time and as many as 7 new or refreshed products have been announced by Honda 2 Wheelers for the Indian market in 2012. Of these 7 products, two products are CBU imports. The 2012 Honda CBR1000RR sportsbike and the Honda VT1300CX cruiser are two motorcycles that were unveiled at the Honda pavilion in Pragati Maidan t the 2012 Auto Expo a while ago.
2012 Honda CBR100RR Sportsbike

HYUNDAI SONATA FLUIDIC UNVEILED AT THE 2012 INDIAN AUTO EXPO!

Hyundai Sonata Fluidic Sedan


Hyundai India, just as we reported earlier has unveiled the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Fluidic for the Indian market. This car will be positioned in the E-segment, to challenge the likes of the Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb. The Hyundai Sonata Fluidic sedan will be available only with a petrol engine. Notably, the 2.4 liter gas direct injection engine is the first of its kind that Hyundai has launched in India.

HONDA CBR150R SURPRISE LAUNCH AT THE 2012 INDIAN AUTO EXPO ALONG WITH 110CC DIO AND 110CC DREAM YUGA MOTORCYCLE!


Honda has pulled off a big surprise by launching the 150cc Honda CBR150R for the Indian market at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. This motorcycle is more like a smaller Honda CBR250R will plenty of body panels and parts shared with its bigger engined sibling. The Honda CBR150R’s design too is very similar to the CBR250R and this motorcycle has already made its debut in South East Asian markets some time ago.
Honda CBR150R

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites