The next generation Chevrolet Spark (which will be launched in India as the Chevrolet Beat in January next year) performed well in the Euro NCAP crash tests conducted recently. The Spark a five-star rating for child protection and a four-star rating overall. An overall score of 69 out of a maximum 100, meant the Spark did not come home with a 5 star rating, but still, it is a commendable score in this segment of vehicles.
In adult protection, the Spark recorded the maximum score of 8 points in the side impact crash test against a moving deformable barrier. A score of 7.35 points out of 8 in the side pole test, indicates solid passenger protection in the event of a more severe side collision.
In child protection, the Spark bagged maximum points in child restraint system dynamic performance tests, which evaluate child protection from possible injuries in various types of crashes. Crash test dummies representing 18-month old and 3-year-old children were properly contained in their restraints by the Spark’s protective shell during side impact tests.
The new Chevrolet Spark will begin its Indian escapade as ‘Beat’
GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the Korean unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors Co., has begun exports of the next generation Chevrolet Spark to European markets. The new Spark will sell in more than 150 countries and India is also among the nations.
GM Daewoo began selling the new Spark in the South Korean market from September 2009 under the name of Matiz Creative. Fitted with a 1-liter gasoline engine and a four-speed automatic gearbox, the new Spark can return a mileage of 17kmpl.
Hwang Woo-seong, Head of GM Daewoo’s plant -
Given its performance, design and quality, the Matiz Creative is expected to satisfy the needs of customers around the world
By the end of 2010, GM Daewoo is eying an export figure of 20,000 units. The new Spark will be sold in India as “Beat” starting January 2010.
Entry posted on November 26, 2009 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Bajaj
The Bajaj Pulsar 135cc is getting launched on the 9th of next month
Just as were closing a story on the new 135cc Pulsar, Bajaj has unleashed a press release which confirms the same. The bike will be launched on the 9th of next month. Read the following press release to learn more.
Bajaj Auto to launch “All new sub-150cc Pulsar” on 9th Dec, 2009
* Brand strategy is to democratize performance
* Target 1 million Pulsars sales in 2010
Pulsar has already seen a tremendous 80% jump in sales over the last 6 months. The Q2 2009-10 sales were 45000 units as compared to 25000 units in H2 2008-09 and have reached an overall share of 50% in the sports segment.
This can be attributed to launch of the Pulsar 2009 edition and a marked change in the marketing paradigm where Pulsar has made a conscious effort to be a part of the youth culture and thus the “Fastest Indian” was born.
The bulky Suzuki APV could be altered to obtain excise cuts
Our good friends over at India Automotive report Maruti Suzuki will introduce the Suzuki APV as a replacement for the Versa whose production recently was halted. Maruti is looking at pitching this MPV as a contender in the ring that is seeing hot battle between Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova and Chevrolet Tavera.
The Suzuki APV is already flooding the market in Pakistan, Indonesia and even Australia, where it comes with a 1.6-liter engine and dual front airbags. The Indian version is most likely to come with a 1.2-liter K-Series engine along with the established 1.3-liter Multi-jet engine.
The overall length of the vehicle is a little over 4 metres and it would be a good idea to tinker it to under 4 metres for added cost benefit.
Further details are not available at this point. Our sources add Maruti is looking at the Auto Expo as a good platform to let this one loose.
2 million and still accelerating – India bound Santa Fe’s a global leader
Hyundai Motor Company’s mid-size SUV model Santa Fe, has reached cumulative sales of two million units worldwide.
The sub-20 lakh SUV from Hyundai will be launched in India during the course of next year. Auto expo appearance? a high likelihood.
Two million unit sales across the globe is a big achievement, but a quarter of that number comes from the Korean market alone. The Santa Fe is a global leader in its segment. It will come to India as CBUs, and assembling here will help avoid high duties.
Here’s an interesting fact from Hyundai – If the delivered cars are lined up bumper to bumper, the length is equal to eleven trips between Seoul and Busan. If the cars are piled up, your head could bump into one of the orbiting satellites – 390 times the height of the Everest mountain.
What creative minds Hyundai’s got. Even if they could have used a fraction of all this intelligence, we would not be exposed to the ugliness on the new Verna. Where were they that time?
Since its launch in June 2000, it has received so many awards and accolades including the Top Safety Pick from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2008) and Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Award (2008).
Entry posted on November 26, 2009 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on BMW
BMW is going to launch next January, a stripped-down version of the 3 Series sedan exclusively for fleet operators. Christened ‘Executive’ this will be BMW’s first ever model meant entirely for cab operators in our country.
The car is going to cost around 24 lakh rupees, which is 6 lakh lesser than the regular model. This will mean retention of just the minimum and comforts like sunroof, powered seats and even cup holders have to go.
Autocar India claims the Executive will go on sale in January 2010.
The chaps over at Bajajpulsar.org have somehow managed to get some decent close-up snaps of the new Pulsar 135cc which enters showrooms in the coming weeks.
We all know that the Pulsar series from Bajaj ranges from 150cc to 220cc and we have seen so many variants of these bikes within this engine capacity. Bajaj, which has been very active this year, and wants to wrap up 2009 with something memorable.
So here we go — Bajaj is launching a 135cc motorcycle in its Pulsar Series this December. The Pulsar series is full of powerful bikes starting from 150cc but this time Bajaj is introducing a 135cc pulsar which would be a blend of power, efficiency and style.
click through to read the rest and view the images
The Bajaj Pulsar 135cc is getting launched on the 9th of next month
