Tata Motors Goa dealer Auto Industries has launched a special Tata Nano Valentines Edition in Goa. Essentially, it’s a Tata Nano CX with some added features such as:

• Integrated Tata Audio /MP3 System with USB
• A Pen drive on which one can store your favorite songs
• A Mobile phone along with a phone holder stand
• Remote Central locking
• Fog lamps
• Air freshener
• Protective Sunfilm
• Mats and Mudflaps
• Valentine special exterior graphics

And the cost of all this malarkey? Approximately Rs 20,000 more than the normal Nano CX. Yes, we know that this is just some marketing gimmickry to cash in on the opportunity. But pretty innovative we must say!

So will you make your Valentine feel special with this Nano?

[Source: GoaonWheels.com]

At the start of 2011, the group set a target of 6.3 million units and much to their joy, Hyundai-Kia together sold 6.6 million units worldwide in 2011. This means they were just 2 million away from being in the list of top three automaker of the world.

Well, that day wouldn’t be very far either as group chairman, Chung Mong-Koo announced that he plans to sell 7 million units worldwide in 2012.

In order to achieve the target, the company plans to spend almost $4.4 billion in R&D to accelerate the development of eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles. Hyundai-Kia is one of the most active group when it comes to CAFÉ regulations. Another $2.6 billion will be used to build new manufacturing facilities in South Korea and other some overseas facilities.

In a bid to become one of the ‘Global 3’, the automaker is shifting its focus from volume to quality to make sure that the customers are satisfied with their vehicles.

In recent times, Hyundai-Kia has improved its quality ratings in developed nations, and is providing that better quality in emerging economies as well.

Source: Autoevolution.com

There have been few companies who have entered the lease business but have been operating under corporate lease programs. Mercedes is the first one to have jumped on the opportunity of self lease.

Mercedes reasons its introduction of Lease in India as

• Negative sentiments in market
• Increasing rate of interest
• Sky high fuel prices
• Lack of capital or cash for down payment
• India is market of opportunities

Benefits of Self Lease:

• In some cases there’s no down payment, vehicle is handed over depending on your credibility & plan
• No need to expose your capital for initial down payment
• Hassle free ownership as Mercedes Benz India maintains the vehicle for you
• Tax benefits as the leased car doesn’t come under your asset but as an expense

IAB’s Say:

Though the program is unique and has potential to lure customers we don’t see it creating a major impact in terms of sales volume. The Corporate lease program has been in India for last 9 years and there are very few reputed companies who have been providing the scheme. Seeing this as a pure market drive won’t be a fair call, but nonetheless it opens a new channel of car buying.

Volkswagen UP in all its glory

The UP is an entry level hatchback that will sits below the VW Polo. The idea behind the Up is to develop a small car with maximum space on a minimal footprint for the people living in urban areas. The UP is 3.54 meters (11.6 feet) long and 1.64 meters wide. The car shown in the image is a 3 door which will be sold in Europe but there is also a 4 door version planned for the Indian market.

Volkswagen UP is a 'Tall Boy' design

The UP is built on the MQB platform with a wheelbase of 2.3 meters. VW says that there is plenty of room for four people. The rear seats fold flat to increase the generous 251-litre boot to 951 litres. The engine is transversely mounted to increase space inside the car. This is a front-engined, front-wheel-drive car.

The rear profile is very stylish

Speaking of the engine, the UP is powered by a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine with 59 horsepower on base models or 74 hp on higher models. It will be mated to a standard five-speed manual or a new six-speed clutchless unit. VW claims base models will get 23 km/l.

We would love to see this dashboard go in production

On the inside, the UP will have a iPad-style Personal Infotainment Device (PID). This incorporates sat-nav and phone functions, plus Bluetooth music streaming. We doubt India will get this feature considering the cost must be kept low as the UP will compete against i10, A star, Wagon R and the Chevy Beat. Internationally, the UP will be competing against Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo etc.

VW also plans to introduce an electric-powered Up by 2013. There are also talks about Seat and Skoda introducing their own versions of UP in the near future.

The covers will be taken off the UP on 12^th September. Until then, have a look at the images and tell us what you think

We’ve got a ton of emails and comments to reply to, so we’ll finish that first and then put posts online.

Yes, the games can begin!

But the time has come to take some time off and enjoy doing things that we otherwise don’t do. We’ll be back on the 29th with the BMW X3 review and the third part of the Skoda Superb 1.8 TSI review.

See you then!

IAB Team

and ten-minute recharges.

This looks like a particularly neatly executed GT car – which is exactly what it is, aside from the fact there’s no engine under that long, power-bulged bonnet.  It has the classic sports car layout with a long bonnet and short tail. What the bonnet lacks is an engine !

Instead, the Lightning is propelled directly by its own wheels, using four in-wheel electric motors that provide the braking (regenerative, of course) as well as the acceleration. Developed by a British firm, PML Flightlink, each motor delivers over 160bhp with power coming from a team of 30 NanoSafe batteries. These use a new type of lithium-ion technology that replaces graphite with a titanite-based material to make them more thermally stable.

The batteries, housed low under the bonnet to keep the centre of gravity down, can be fast-charged in as little as ten minutes given the right three-phase industrial power supply. More meaningful to us, though, is the Lightning’s claimed performance. Lightning Car Company MD Chris Dell told us, ‘We’re aiming for 0-60mph in around four seconds and a max of 130mph. The car shouldn’t weigh any more than an equivalent V8. We’re aiming for 1450kg, there or thereabouts.’ The batteries themselves weigh around 400kg and should provide a 180-mile range. “

Lightning hopes to have the car on sale in the UK late next year for around £120,000, but according to Dell, ‘The car will undergo rigorous prototyping and testing until we’re happy. We don’t want trim falling off five years down the line.’ Also noteworthy are Lightning’s ambitious aims. ‘The US is a key market for us,’ admits Dell, and the firm is currently investing heavily in engineering in order to be able to sell the car throughout Europe and America.

You do wonder how a tiny company can bring something this promising-sounding to market when the major car makers are still at the research stage. Whatever, the Lightning looks to have struck at just the right time.

Source : EVO Uk