The Ultra Low Cost (ULC) car project involving Bajaj and Renault – Nissan has come to a temporary standstill. The problem this time seems to be issues related with the production and branding of the car. The Bajaj and Renault-Nissan ULC car was originally supposed to hit Indian roads this year, followed by a release in International markets, a year later. But, due to delays in the execution of the project plans, the launch dates of the car kept getting pushed. The car is now scheduled for a launch sometime in 2012.
The delays in the implementation of the project plan seem to be the result of the three companies focusing largely on their individual game plans for the Indian market and thereby leading to a delay in the implementation of the ULC”s project plan.
Bajaj Auto will be handling aspects of the car such as its design, engineering, sourcing and manufacturing while the Renault-Nissan alliance will focus on the marketing and selling of the car.
Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Limited -
Bajaj Auto has not finalised any production plans as of now, despite the launch of the car being less than two years away
Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director and CEO, Nissan India -
We are to yet finalise production plans of the Ultra Low Cost car. No decision has been taken yet
With two of the three companies involved in the ULC car project stating that the production plans for the car have yet to be finalised, there seems to be no end to the delays that the project has been plagued with. It now seems as if the JV trio of Bajaj, Renault and Nissan will have another announcement of a delay to their ULC car project. Will this car ever see day light?
KTM 690 Duke could be the entry level KTM initially and its prices are not known
Bajaj Auto is planning to introduce Austrian bike manufacturer KTM’s range of products in India in the next two months or probably during the Auto Expo.
Bajaj seems to be very active in this budget performance motorcycle segment. By tying up with Kawasaki and introducing the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, it is getting ready to launch KTM bikes in India.
This should be an encouraging sign for other bike makers to enter India and sell performance motorcycles. Enthusiasts as usual will be delighted to sit and feel these motorcycles from their saddles.
KTM is planning to launch its Duke 690 model which will be followed by models like 990 Superduke and 690 Supermoto. These bikes are expected to be displayed at the 2010 Auto Expo. Apart from launching their bikes in India, KTM is also planning to bring their entire range of bike accessories and riding gear in the country. KTM is also planning to organize motorcycle tours in India which will be a boost to the biking culture in our country.
Bajaj Auto and US-based MotoCzysz LLC will join hands and build a ‘next generation automobile.’
The details are sketchy, but according to the reports, a low cost electric car for the Indian masses is what they are setting out to accomplish. MotoCzysz revealed its E1pc electric superbike recently (pictured above; zero to 192km/h acceleration in around 7-8 seconds), and when they say next generation automobile, it has to be something affordable and unique. It certainly is not going to be a supercar.
Work on the first prototype of this ambitious project will begin this month in Portland, USA. What should we expect? Well, that’s a tough one, but expect a slippery design, innovative interiors and a very distinct overall identity. Since it involves two companies having backgrounds of building two wheelers, could the final product be a cross between a bike and a car?
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A Bajaj official has said the company will introduce two motorcycles in India which will have engine capacities of over 125cc by the end of this fiscal. Apart from this addition, Bajaj is also looking at revamping one product in its existing portfolio.
Sources say this new motorcycle is codenamed Sprint with engine capacity of around 135cc. The report also says Bajaj will revamp the Pulsar and Discover line-up this year. I’m not sure what they would change, but the DTSi 2.0 series of engines could be installed on the bikes.
Another report in the media says Bajaj is planning new variants and models in the 100 cc category once Discover sales touch 80,000. Last month, Bajaj was able to sell 65,000 and the 80,000 mark is spitting distance away taking into account the purchasing mood of people in the festive season that has begun to gather steam.
Another ray of hope for true bike lovers in India, one of the most awaited bikes, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, was on display at Bajaj’s pro biking showroom at Pune recently. This means the wait for this monster is about to come to an end and a confirmation would be out in the near future.
The bike was parked at the showroom only for a limited period and it was only for Bajaj and Kawasaki officials to see the amount of space the bike would take and also to decide the ways and means to display to the customers. Like banners nearby or on raised platform, decorations, so on and so forth.
The bike will brought in as completely knocked down units and assembled here at Bajaj’s plant. This bike has two versions, carbureted and fuel injected. In India we will get the FI version which is the similar to the one sold in Europe.
The Ninja develops 33ps of power at 10,500 rpm and a torque of 22Nm at 9500 rpm. It has 6-speed gear box and a top speed of around 160 kmph. The bike will be available in two colors which are black and the trademark green.
The only noticeable change so far is the front number plate and the exhaust. The bike has an analog console which is a little bit of a disappointment to me. Although not confirmed, the bike is expected to cost somewhere between 2 to 2.5 lakh.
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Has the little Ninja finally made it to India? I think so.
The Kawasaki Ninja 250R was snapped when on display at a Bajaj Probiking showroom in Pune. In the recent past, Bajaj had displayed the unreleased Pulsar variants in a similar manner, to collect feedback from its customers.
Coinciding with the launch of new 220 DTSi, Bajaj today announced that it is going to roll out the world’s most fuel efficient engine series, called DTS-Si version 2.0, which incorporates 5 major innovations.
Designed and developed completely by ‘Ahead’, Bajaj Auto’s R&D, major changes include Oval Pent Roof Combustion Chamber for maximizing charge density; Molykote Piston to reduce friction and improve efficiency.
The DTS-Si version 2.0, which incorporates 5 major innovations could make it the most fuel efficient engine not only in India but also the world as Bajaj claims.
GDI or Gasoline Direct Injection is what high-end cars like Audi and Mercedes Benz benefit from. Not any more, as our very own Bajaj has come out with an autorickshaw with a GDI engine!
We shall not go into the fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of a GDI engine and explain its advantages over a Throttle body injected or carbureted petrol engine.
The bottom line is GDI is a much advanced form of fuel injection and has superior advantages over the regular setups, by delivering higher power, lower emissions (50% lower carbon monoxide, 25% less HC, NOx) and better fuel efficiency.
click through for mind-boggling specifications and advantages
