Indian Autos blog

Scooters within the 100-150cc range will flaunt their style on Indian roads

The Italian automaker is set to begin a new chapter in the Indian auto market by introducing their well known Vespa scooters once again in India through its in Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles India starting March 2010. Scooters within the range of 100 to 150 cc will be launched.

According to the sources, Piaggio will be setting up a two wheeler manufacturing plant at Baramati to cater this requirement. This would not be the first time Piaggio will be entering the Indian markets, Piaggio made its entry in our country back in 1960s in agreement with Bajaj Auto which expired in 1971. Then again in 1983, Piaggio tied up with LML which lasted for almost two decades and was called off in the year 1999.

Initially, Piaggio will be manufacturing 100cc scooter engines at the Baramati plant fulfilling the domestic as well as global needs. The company will increase their production depending upon the public demand.

So lets wait and watch how things turn out for the Italian Two-wheeler manufacturing company preparing for its third innings.

A BMW Z4 with the covers on sits in a trailer transporting it to the launch floor

Driving down the main roads of Mumbai at 7.30 PM, I notice a trailer carrying something with a weird shape. I moved closer and my initial thoughts were correct – it is a car.

I tell myself it must be a car that was involved in an accident, and is transported to workshop for repairs.

Wrong.

I happen to see the BMW logo on the wheel when the neatly covered car gets upset by the oncoming wind.

Well well.. I begin to think hard which BMW has such a low-slung stance, long wheelbase and is on the Indian radar — instantly the Z4 pops into my mind. Luckily I have my cam onboard — Click Click and I have a fully covered BMW Z4 in its memory.

The driver sees me and immediately stepped on the gas — he’s driving a truck for pete’s sake — how will that ever be faster than my 100+hp Verna?

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The Red Bull F1 Speed Link that’s happening tomorrow at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link got underway today as Red Bull technicians brought the F1 car’s engine to life.

The RB F1 team have been working over the past few days to get the car assembled in Mumbai. Except the tires, everything else was successfully bolted on to the car.

The action began today when RB racing driver David Coulthard arrived at the scene after which the team manager Tony Burrows gave a thumbs up which meant the car could be started. Well it was eye candy seeing the routine the team went through to start the car, it lasted only for two minutes and the car was revving switching on the adrenaline pump — the whole place came alive and went berserk when the car was revved hard.

click ‘Read More’ to continue reading and view the exclusive image gallery

Hello there!

Over the past few days, as you would have noticed, the updates on the blog have not been continuous. We are working on something in the back-end of the blog and that will take a couple of days to complete. We will update the blog only if there is something important to write about. On Monday morning, we will be back to open throttle.

cheers,
IAB Team

This looks much better than the first generation Tata Indigo, and way better in visual appeal than any of the other Tatas currently on the road. The Indigo Manza was caught undisguised by our friends at Motoroids. On first glance, this looks like the Dzire eater we were all waiting for. The boot is attached to the body in a more cohesive manner and the usage of chrome on the front slabs was deliberately to mimic the Dzire’s way of saying “I’m the sedan, not the hatchback.”

I think. Easy to identify. That’s becoming the industry standard.

The curve on the base of the tail light is reminiscent of the blockbuster Indigo CS. The extension of the light’s upper portion towards the C-Pillar is closely aligned to the Tata Elegant concept shown a few years ago. The moderate usage of chrome is surprising, on how many places do you find chrome on a regular Tata? This is certainly the way we all want a Tata to be – rich, cohesive and the road presence a passenger car and not a commercial vehicle.

From the image – the boot looks enormous, but note, it does not look like an Indica Vista developed a tumor.

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A late entry, but at least we get the Fuel Injected version with 33 PS

Bajaj Auto has finally introduced the baby Ninja, the 250cc twin cylinder sports motorcycle to the roads of India. Many will agree that the entry is late, but better late than never, we say.

India also gets the more advanced Fuel Injected version as opposed to a carbureted one which sells in some other parts of the world. Present on the launch today were the MD Mr Rajiv Bajaj and Mr Eric Vaz President (New Projects) who were visibly thrilled to showcase such a product to the performance bike-starved Indian customers.

The Ninja is priced at Rs 2,69,970 Ex Showroom Delhi. After the frugal Discover, Bajaj now has got into the the performance mode and the Ninja stands as its flagship model which was earlier held by the Pulsar 220. The KTMs are also coming in three month’ time and they should prove even more interesting.

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Kawasaki Ninja 250R waiting to be unveiled

97 EXCLUSIVE Kawasaki Ninja 250R Images after the jump

BAJAJ AUTO LAUNCHES MUCH AWAITED KAWASAKI NINJA 250R

BEST 250cc MOTORCYLCE IN THE WORLD

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH PROBIKING OUTLETS

Mumbai 7th October 2009: Bajaj Auto, today announced the launch of the much awaited Kawasaki Ninja 250R in India. It is widely acknowledged as the best 250 cc motorcycle in the world. In India it will be available exclusively through Bajaj Probiking showrooms.

Powered by a 249cc parallel twin engine that belts out 33PS of power, it is a true supersport motorcycle that draws its lineage from the legendary larger Kawasaki Ninjas. But what makes this motorcycle unique is its near-perfect combination of performance, riding comfort and ease of handling. As a result it is as popular among casual riders as it among serious enthusiasts. Not surprisingly it is the LARGEST SELLING 250 cc motorcycle in the world.

In India, in a market cluttered with overpowered litre class motorcycles, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R will be the ONLY supersport motorcycle whose performance is practical for Indian conditions. And with a price tag of less than Rs. 3 lacs, it is well within reach of those seeking a supersport motorcycle.

click through to read the rest and view 97 EXCLUSIVE images of the unveiling and presentation

Kawasaki Ninja 250R is shipped in as CKD and is available only in black and green colors

Details discussed during the press conference -

Colors available are only green and black

CKD imported from Thailand — Assembled at Chakan

Bikes will be serviced only at probiking outlets

All new Bajaj Pulsar in 2011

Kawasaki’s big bikes are come through to challenge Suzuki and Yamaha

KTM motorcycles will be launched in India in 3 month’s time

First consignment of Ninjas — 50 bikes — all have reached probiking showrooms

40,000 rupees is the booking amount

They have a carburetted model, they won’t be getting it here

Bajaj plans to sell 800-1000 Ninjas by the end of this fiscal

22 probiking outlets in India

250 bikes in the Diwali season

CKD duty 11%

exclusive images and press release coming up in the next few hours. stay tuned!

click through to read the specifications and view images