IndianAutosBlog.com is invited to witness the launch of the Mahindra XUV500 tomorrow and tours the Chakan plant where it is manufactured, on the 29th. From launches we usually bring you pictures, videos and initial impressions but this time around we are going to add another segment to our coverage. We shoot your questions at Mahindra officials.
Tell us what you want to know and we’ll ensure that it gets answered. We may not be able to get every question answered, but the most popular ones will be put through to someone higher up in Mahindra. Your questions can be about Mahindra, REVA, Ssangyong or the on the latest kid on the block – the XUV500.
You should read our revelations on the XUV500 before proceeding.
Leave your questions in the comment box below. We may be slow in moderating the comments on this post but it does not mean we haven’t received your questions.
With the increasing number of recalls in India coupled with a lot of fire controversies, the Indian government has decided that it needs a vehicle safety agency just like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US. If you follow the US automotive market keenly then every now and then you will notice this word ‘NHTSA’ followed by the word ‘recall’
NHTSA is a governing body in the US in charge of implementing safety programs to reduce accidents and fatalities on US roads. The body also investigates safety defects in motor vehicles and sets and enforces fuel economy standards.
There have been a number of recalls in the Indian Automotive scene over the last year. The major ones were from Honda and Maruti Suzuki. However, both these recalls were voluntary recalls on part of the manufacturer as a goodwill gesture.
Nonetheless, an absence of central governing body may result in many manufactures trying to cut corners which is dangerous for the incumbents of that vehicle.
Unless the manufacturer is interested, there is no rule in the book that says defective cars have to be recalled in India.
To be called as the National Automotive Board (NAB), this organization will conduct crash tests (like the EuroNCAP) and certify the road legality of a particular product. These sort of crash testings and vehicle certifications are mandatory in developed economies without which a vehicle is not allowed to be driven on public roads.
Entry posted on September 27, 2011 by
siva;
Read More on Hyundai
Hyundai is likely to open bookings for their “Eon” in the second week of October DWS Auto has reported. DWS Auto spoke to Hyundai dealers who say that deliveries begin during November first week . The dealers believe that they are expecting around 10,000 bookings in short time after the bookings is open. Can the Eon overtake the Swift by breaking the 100k bookings barrier?
The Eon is expected to be the Alto-killer by grabbing the attention of the small car segment all to itself. The Eon has been developed completely in India to suit the market and as our previous post had mentioned, the Santro will not retire on the Eon’s arrival. Hyundai is expecting to catch the market in urban areas with the Eon while the Santro still satisfies the need of rural buyers.
Powered by a 814cc three cylinder engine generating 55.23 bhp at 75 Nm of torque, Eon is also expected to return about 21 kmpl. Having a wider wheelbase as compared to the Alto the design is more or less the same fluidic concept used in the i10 and Verna.
The Hyundai Eon is expected to be priced around the 2.5lakh rupees range with the higher end variants reaching up to 3 to 3.2 lakh.
After informing readers that the Renault Modus is testing in Chennai as part of its validation program in eight countries, many wrote in asking about the chances of Clio in India. IndianAutosBlog.com can reveal that there is no plan for Renault India to bring in the current Clio or the next generation Clio (makes its global debut in 2012) even in the mid-term.
Hence the Clio and the Modus (essentially a taller Clio) won’t make it to India anytime soon.
Sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com to expect a concept car unveiling during the Indian Grand Prix (October last week) by none other than the big man himself – Mr Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Nissan.
During a recent media interaction, top officials told IAB that they will “take full advantage” of the IndianGP as Renault cars participate as well as supply to other Formula 1 teams.
The concept is likely to sport all the design features and look close to the production-ready model.
Suddenly, the fire monster has started haunting the Tata Nano again. Recently, there has been a string of events where the Tata Nanos are catching fire all across the country. 2 in Gujarat, 1 in Chennai, 1 in Sri Lanka now its New Delhi. The Economic Times reports that a brother-sister duo barely escaped when the Nano they were travelling in suddenly ignited.
The incident took place near ITO at around 8:15 PM. Nishant (25), a student, and his sister 35-year-old sister Suman (35) were going to Connaught Place from their Krishna Nagar residence when the two sensed smoke from the back of the car. They immediately exited the car to a safe location. A little while later, fire engulfed the entire car. Fire brigades were rushed to the spot to douse the flames.
Tata Motors has recently recalled all the Nanos for updating the ECU software to avoid over cranking of the engine. However, one gets the feeling that TML is not able to locate the exact fault in the Nano that is causing this sudden incineration. Are these stray incidents? Is the driver doing something he shouldn’t?
This is the second safety update (first was safety tools to avoid short circuiting and over-heating) to the Nano since its launch and still the company is unable to put an end to the fire tragedies.
The new Maruti Suzuki Swift was a success story even before it was launched. A smashing 40,000 booking pre bookings were already gobbled up on August 17 (the day it was launched). Now, the Swift is only extending its lead over the competitors. The New Swift has crossed a one lakh marker in terms of bookings. However, I bet you have seen very few on road.
The simple explanation to that irony is – Labor union issues. Maruti has been grappling with trade union problems even before the Swift was launched. The company only produces 700 Swifts a day. The waiting period on the diesel model is nearly half a year, whereas a petrol car delivery is promised to a customer within 3-4 months.
Entry posted on September 26, 2011 by
siva;
Read More on BMW
The president of the “M Flight Club”, Mr.Hans had recently got the chance to drive an M5 F5 packed with a 560bhp twin-turbocharged V8 powerhouse. And like all good German auto enthusiasts he took it to, I think you guessed it, the Autobahn.
Mr.Hans had taken the M5 F10 to the Autobahn 62, the road towards Trier and he was lucky enough to grab a hold of the car which did not have the 250kmph speed limiter. Wearing a happy grin, he put the M5 to the test and floored the pedal and reached the 300kmph mark.
Later Mr.Hans, while explaining his experience in the M5 had said that he was a bit disappointed for not being able to hit the 330kmph mark as mentioned in the official tests. He stated the reason not being able to hit the mark was due to traffic, which suggests that he was at 300 kmph while he faced traffic and decided to slow down.
Entry posted on September 26, 2011 by
siva;
Read More on Ford
Ford’s Nigerian representative Coscharis recently introduced the Figo in their market. Following the launch, a few press and media personnel were given a chance to experience the Figo’s ride quality.
After captivating the Indian market since its release and bagging plenty of awards, the Figo began its overseas journeys. Ford said it will export the Figo to about 50 markets and started with South Africa where it was well received. Soon after Figo went to our neighboring countries, to the Middle East and now finds homes in Africa.
But how different has Ford made the Figo to suit the Nigerian market?
While the Indian version runs on a 1.2L Engine, the Nigerian version is fitted with a 1.4L Duratec Engine (petrol). The Indian market has 4 variants under the Figo tag, the LXI, the EXI, the ZXI and the Titanium, while the Nigerian market has only two variants, the Trend and the Ambiente.
The Trend seems to be the sportier version that includes ABS as a standard installation with the Ambiente is the slightly lower end model.
