We’ve done several speculative stories on the prices of forthcoming cars, and let me issue a disclaimer – almost everytime we’ve gone wrong with them, and by some margin.
Financial Express is reporting that Nissan will price the Micra, which will be launched next month, between 3.8 and 5.5 lakh rupees (ex-showroom). The car will be launched in four variants (all in petrol) –– XE, XE+, XL and XV — and deliveries are expected to begin on July 15.
The Nissan Micra will compete in B’ and ‘B+’ segments and will be available in six shades. The newspaper reports 500 booking for the car have been registered.
The diesel Micra is expected by the end of 2010 and the automatic transmission model will be introduced by next year. The Micra sedan and Micra MPV are also two hot products slated for entry in the next few years.
It seems like every vehicle in Maruti’s portfolio will receive CNG power sooner or later.
After we reported that Ritz and Estilo will have factory fitted CNG kits last week, ET has more information to share. It says the Alto, Wagon R and the SX4 will receive them in a short while. The CNG vehicles will be 15-20% dearer than the regular model.
IV Rao, managing executive officer (engineering) at Maruti Suzuki -
It’s our answer to green technology that will also be most fuel-efficient auto fuel in India, blending the benefits of gasoline engine power at the cost of the CNG.
Maruti’s CNG kits fitted at the production line uses a locally developed i-GPI (intelligent gas port injection) technology that gives the user the option of operating the vehicle on either gas or gasoline. This system uses computer controls and injectors inject gas into the manifold directly eliminating power losses which is to the tune of 15% in other vehicles.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X has been spotted in Mitsubishi’s showroom in Chennai by our friends at The Automotive India. The Lancer Evo, which has been highly anticipated by the Indian car enthusiasts, would be launched officially in the second week of July 2010.
The Lancer EVO FQ300 is the model which Mitsubishi would be bringing to India and this car comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter in-line 4-cylinder engine that pumps out 290 bhp, mated to a 6-speed Twin Clutch SST transmission with paddle shift.
The Lancer Evo X’s all wheel drive would ensure that all the 290 horses are used fully and aids in razor-sharp handling. The car is expected to be carry a price tag of more than Rs. 40 lakhs.
At the VW Pamplona factory in Spain, a red VW Polo comes together with help from man and machine. Watch how the robotic arm and the human hand work in tandem to create one of the world’s most popular automobile.
Hyundai, the world’s 8th largest automaker has been very successful worldwide in the recent past. The latest 6th generation Sonata, which was launched recently has manged very strong sales worldwide. The latest Sonata YF has been designed based Hyundai’s new ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language and looks fantastic.
Hyundai recently sold its 5 millionth Sonata. Hyundai launched the first generation Sonata way back in 1985 in the Korean market and the Sonata was launched in the international market only in its second generation in 1988. The largest market for the Sonata is Korea, where it is the country’s bestselling car. The next biggest market for the Hyundai Sonata is the USA.
When Hyundai launched the Sonata in India last decade, the car managed decent sales and the Indian car buyer developed a liking for it. But competition in the form of the Accord and the Camry, later joined by the Superb dampened Hyundai India’s hopes on the Sonata. The next gen Sonata Transform was an excellent car it also managed only average numbers.
We hope the latest generation Hyundai Sonata YF is hopefully given a favorable ecosystem in India. It has the potential to take over its plush looking Japanese rivals with looks and technology. Hyundai would be bringing the Sonata YF to India not anytime soon but in the distant future.
The basic repairs which every car owner should know thoroughly and be able to execute are:
1. How to replace a car’s battery.
2. How to add additional brake fluid.
3. How to change the engine oil.
4. How to change a flat tire.
5. How to replace worn out windshield wipers.
How to change a car’s battery
First disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and then the positive terminal. Remove the frame which holds the battery securely in its position. Remove the old battery from its position. Place the new battery in position and fix it securely by attaching the frame, to lock it into position. Re-connect the terminals to the battery, first connect the positive terminal and then the negative terminal. Dispose of your old battery by exchanging your old battery for a new one with the battery dealer. Don’t throw used batteries into the environment.
A rendering of the production version of the Volkswagen Up! concept has appeared on Auto Bild magazine in Germany. The Up! is rumored to VW’s smallest offering in the small car space and will be launched in India, after it has been launched in Europe. The Up! is expected to hit the market sometime around the end of 2011.
The engine options for the Up! will include a range of petrol as well as diesel engines. There will be a 1-litre TDI as well as a 1.2-litre TDI engine among the diesel engine options and the petrol power will come from a naturally aspirated 0.8-litre mill and the highly acclaimed 1.2-litre TSI unit.
The production version of the Up! will dispose of the concept car’s rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout and will instead adopt a conventional front-engine, front-wheel drive layout.
The production car based on the Up! concept is expected to be priced around the 3-lakh rupee price bracket, when it is launched in India sometime in 2011.
While it is yet to be confirmed, there could also be a Skoda as well as a Seat car based on the Volkswagen Up! platform.
Entry posted on June 15, 2010 by
Naveen;
Read More on Tata
Tata Motors has been offering the Winger as a 9, 12 or a 13 seater with the top of the line Winger Deluxe have 9 fully reclining seats. To further increase the appeal of the Winger as a luxury people mover, Tata Motors has launched a new iteration of its Winger utility vehicle called the Winger Platinum.
The new Winger Platinum features just 7 seats, all of them are fully reclinable individual captain seats. These seats get adjustable head-rests and armrests too. The Winger comes with dual AC and every occupant gets an individual AC vent.
The Tata Winger Platinum is priced at Rs. 6.94 lakhs (ex-showroom Cochin). This is incredible value for money, as the car can seat seven people in luxury, has a very good ride quality and a fuel-efficient, tried and tested 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine.
Tata is the only major player in this segment and as of now is enjoying monopoly. The Tata Venture people mover to be slotted under the Winger has also been spotted testing and would be launched soon.
