Indy Wheels : Kool cars to be launched in India

Maruti Ritz vs Maruti Swift vs A-Star

2009-05-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

With Maruti coming up with so many models in the small car segment there is a serious threat of cannibalizing its own models. What Alto did to M800, What Estillo did to Wagon-R, What desire did to SX4, and what A-star did to itself.

Although Ritz is supposed to be priced smartly in between A-star(or wagon-r, and Estillo) and the Legendary Swift but is there actually a scope of another segment there, I seriously doubt.

Well Here is a quick comparison between figures of A-Star, Ritz and Swift

	A-Star	Ritz	Swift
Engine	KB10	K12M
Capacity	1L	1.2L	1.3L
Power	67 bhp	84 bhp	87 bhp
Mileage (overall)	18-19 kmpl	16-17 kmpl	10-11 kmpl
Price	3.5 - 4.5 Lakhs	4-5 Lakhs	4.5-5.5 Lakhs

With such an overlap between the specs and price tags there is a lot of pressure on Maruti from there own models.

I doubt if Maruti is going to capture the competitions markets or re-distribute its own sales amongst the huge list of models http://indywheels.blogspot.com/

Maruti Ritz vs Hyundai I10

2009-05-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Maruti Ritz is set to be launched in the price range of 4-5 lakhs, A segment which is no-doubtly ruled by Hyundai i10. Maruti Ritz is to be priced in between A star and Swift and is going to directly compete with i10. So a natural question arise how well does Ritz do compared to i10.

Well here are some specs

Ritz I10 Kappa

Engine K12M 1.2L Kappa
Capacity 1200cc 1200cc
Power 84bhp 80bhp
Mileage(overall) 16-17 kmpl 15-16kmpl

I seriously doubt the mileage figures of Ritz provided by maruti considering the higher bhp and just 3 less than that of swift (87) and its mileage being just 10-11 overall.

The interiors os Ritz are partly borrowed from its sibling Swift in form of steering and gear knobs. It has the same K series engine as A-Star but with more power. Remember A-Star is highly underpowered for its class.

The specs sure look good but I seriously doubt its actual onroad performance. As the engine is the same K series I suspect it to be noisy and underpowered as A-Star.

The mileage will definitely better than i10 Kappa, and other features like icat immobilizer, standard on Maruti cars are definitely a plus.

But if we go by the specs Maruti Ritz definitely seems to be a better choice in terms of power, mileage, and maruti support.

-brought to you by Indywheels: http://indywheels.blogspot.com

Hyundai i10 Diesel 1.1L

2009-03-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

A new 1.1L, 3-cylinder CRDi engine with VGT(Variable Geometry turbo) develops 55KW/75bhp capable of reaching a maximum speed of 165km/h will power european and indian i10. According to Hyundai, the the diesel i10 will consume 4.3 liters of diesel per 100km(23kmpl) and it CO2 emissions is 114g/km(less than the stipulated 120g/km). Hyundai has already created a lot of buzz with the all new 1.2-liter Kappa engine last year and well crossed maruti swift in terms of sales in a short span of 17 months.

Hyundai i10 Diesel is going to be the smallest diesel car in India. If the Hyundai I10 diesel specs are to be believed this will sure be a better and more efficient engine than what is currently powering Swift Diesel. The diesel motor will come in form of a three cylinder 1.1 litre turbo charged engine. The price range is expected to be in between 5-6 lakhs INR, It would be competitively priced below Swift diesel as is the case with i10 1.2L kappa variants. Mileage is expected to be well above 20 kmpl on highway and 18-20 kmpl in city.

Expected to hit the showrooms by mid 2009 somewhere around May-June to be more precise. So if you are planning for a small diesel car, watch out for this one.

Brought to you by IndyWheels

Maruti Suzuki launches A-star

2008-11-19T02:13:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, November 19, 2008

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited unveiled the much-awaited, World Strategic Model, A-star here today.

Powered by the new, state-of-the-art, light weight, 998cc K10B petrol engine, A-star is the best in class fuel-efficient car with a mileage of 19.59 kilometers per litre, as tested by ARAI, Pune, country's premier automotive research agency.

Built on a brand new platform, the A-star is an excellent city car with best in class turning radius, power, flat torque (minimum gearshifts) and performance.

A-star is truly a green car with no compromise. The newest model meets the European ELV norms, which implies that 85 per cent of the car is recyclable. In addition, it is free from hazardous materials like Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Chromium.

The A-star was launched in the city by Mr. RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Limited and other senior company officials.

The A-star has been designed keeping in mind aspirations of the urban economy-conscious customers, who seek best-in-class fuel efficiency, lower emission, and high quality and high performance alongwith style. It also takes the engine technology in India to the next level. A-star is the most relevant car that addresses the needs of today's customers be it India or any other part of the world.

A-star is Maruti Suzuki's eighth vehicle launched in less than 40 months. It reinforces Maruti Suzuki's dominance in the highly competitive A2 segment where Maruti Suzuki holds a whopping 55% market share.

Positioned in the premium A2 segment and targeted towards urban young professionals, the stylish, sporty and youthful A-star delivers a fantastic driving experience with futuristic looks.

This new car, built under the slogan - small cars for big future - stems from Suzuki's commitment to make India the global hub for small cars. This car is Suzuki's fifth World Strategic Model.

The A-star, produced at company's Manesar plant is being launched with a high 95 per cent indigenization levels.

A Brand New Engine and Transmission

The A-star is the first car from Maruti Suzuki to be fitted with the new KB Series engine. The K10B engine on the A-star is carefully designed to meet the current and forthcoming environment norms in India as well as in the advanced markets of the Western world. In India, the engine conforms to the present BS-III emission norms

The KB series engine plant, built at an investment of Rs 1,200 Crore, is an outcome of over three years of design and development in collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corporation.

The new-generation three-cylinder, light-weight aluminum K10B engine is a major initiative undertaken by the company towards offering latest technology to its customers. Maruti Suzuki engineers have put together a host of innovative technologies to enhance performance, minimise friction and provide high acceleration. The engine offers power of 67ps @ 6200 rpm and torque of 90nm @ 3500 rpm. The flat torque curve comes in handy while negotiating the stop-go city traffic conditions with ease.

The engine has undergone over 250,000 km of endurance testing and over 500 hours of engine calibration and 7,500 hours of engine validation on dynamometer.

Driving Comfort

With a turning radius of 4.5 meters and a ground clearance of 170 mm, the A-star is suitable for all Indian conditions, including congested areas and potholed roads. The A-star boasts of a unique all-round gas damped suspension, making rides much more comfortable, and also reducing wear and tear resulting in a low maintenance cost.

The A-star has a front suspension frame for excellent handling. Front and rear suspensions have been fine-tuned for enhanced riding comfort with perfect handling on Indian road conditions. Ultra high-grade steel used in coil springs provides high rigidity and agility for passenger comfort.

Safety

Some important safety features on the A-star include:

	Crushable structure energy dispersing frame and a high rigidity body combined with lightness
	Airbags and ABS

The A-star's body reflects the Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept in the form of crushable structures that absorb impact energy and then disperse impact energy away from occupants in the event of a collision.

Aesthetics: A class apart

Interiors: The interior of A-star boasts of a refreshing mix of modernity and ethnicity. The smart tacho pod, digital trip meter, odometer, fuel gauge, clock, an integrated music system with AUX-in facility, a short-throw 6-gear shift and a sporty steering, together offer an unmatched experience. A floating cockpit design, sculpted aero-dashboard and wrap-around console add to the overall engaging sporty theme.

The crimson illumination that is gentle to the eyes and has stress relieving properties, has been integrated soberly in the interiors.

Exteriors: The design reflects the contemporary European tastes with apportioned cabin layouts. Besides aerodynamic looks, the car's exterior has numerous interesting features such as sweeping expressive lamps, comet shaped tail lamps, and a wide sporty grille that also offers good engine ventilation.

One of the most striking features that capture attention is the highly contoured rear bumper which brings in the cool quotient to the premium A2 segment car.

A-star car is available in three variants: LXi, VXi and the top-end fully loaded ZXi. An array of nine vibrant colours, together with three new ones, include

Desert Brown *	Supreme White	Bright Red
Paradise Blue *	Sunlight Cooper	Midnight Black
Healing Green *	Silky Silver	Azure Grey

* New colours

Exports

The A-star will be made in over 200 variants and exported to around 150 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa.

The A-star will contribute half of Maruti Suzuki's overall export target of 200,000 units by 2010-11. As announced earlier, the company plans to commence exports of A-star in early 2009, to Europe.

Price

Introductory Prices of A-star in DELHI are:

Model	City	Ex-Showroom (Rs)
A-star Lxi	Delhi	346775
A-star Vxi	Delhi	374775
A-star Zxi	Delhi	411775

Page Rank Updated for Indywheels

2008-09-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Indywheels got an update in the page rank from PR1 to PR2 with 27th Sept Google PR update.

In general Google has been generous in PR this time as many of my blogs received a higher PR this time like:

http://homejobsblog.blogspot.com/
http://myfirstwebhome.blogspot.com/
http://indywheels.blogspot.com/
http://mysitereview.blogspot.com/

I didn't notice any loss in PR on any of my blogs.

Kudos Google... and Thanks for the updates.. :)

New Honda City 2008, Some more pics

2008-09-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

here are some more pics I found. The model shown is Left hand drive and the interiors are those to be sported on European model.

Asian model will be Right hand driven and the interiors will be slightly stripped down.

Front grill of the new Honda City

Stylish Side profile of the new Honda City

Notice the new changed boot and lights, The design has some similarities with the first model of Honda City.

Stylish console and steering mounted controls. Tis may not be a standard feature on Indian models.

Three spoke wheel similar to that of Civic and Manual transmission
Boot Space on new Honda City seems to be more than the previous model.

Here are the Features which have been revamped in the new city.

More pics of soon to be launched Honda Jazz

2008-09-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of soon to be launched honda Jazz.

Honda Jazz has already been posted earlier here: http://indywheels.blogspot.com/2008/03/honda-jazz-fit.html

Maruti Suzuki's compact A-Star

2008-09-14T11:45:00.001-07:00

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki's compact A-Star, which will be launched in October, is expected to surpass the earlier strict emission norms announced by the company.

Emission from the A-Star not only complies with the Euro 3 (Bharat-3) norms that are operational in 13 Indian cities, including Delhi, but also geared to meet stringent emission norms that will be implemented across Europe in the coming years.

Here are some pics from the Auto Expo of A-Star.

The A-Star is all about brutality, to me. It is all about looks. Brutal looks. Take the headlamps for instance, they appear to be like an angry elephant’s droopy eyes. How cool is that! The imposing grille with translucent crossmember looks menacing. And then is the airdam which is rounded off by the stylish and sharp fog lamps. How on earth can anyone mistake this car for anything else!

The teardrop roofline, the muscular wheel arches and that eccentric rear view mirror all add to the sense of dynamism. As mad as the front end of the car is, the rear does is equally so. It is simple, without frills but aggressive still. The sharp-edged tail lamps are mounted high up not only to accentuate the bold ‘S’ badge but also to enhance safety by making it highly visible. The rear diffuser has integrated exhaust pipes to complete the picture.

Maruti Suzuki A-star: The newly developed A-star platform is based on the much successful Suzuki’s alto platform. A-star shares the same 2360mm wheelbase of other cars built on Alto platform. A-star will be the first car to be produced solely in India.

Maruti Suzuki A-star: A-star will be priced in the range of Rs3-4lakh and would be out in October (around Diwali). Though this new A-star will replace the Alto in European markets, A-star will co-exist with the Alto and Wagon R in India. It wont be priced below 3 lacks as the rumors might have floated some time back.

New Toyota Corolla 2008

2008-07-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

The world’s Best seller “The Toyota Corolla” looks a disguise of the latest Camry in its 10th incarnation. Corolla represents the symbol of perfection which made Toyota manufacture over 30 million corolla’s in over 150 countries, making it the worlds highest selling car. Now its all set to launch in India in the first week of September 2008 with its new fresh look. Toyota has taken the outer design looks from its Camry sedan and slapped them on to the Corolla. Mainly, the car front grill and headlamps are the first things you would notice about the New Corolla. Though the engine remains the same as the previous model it is fine tuned for better performance. When you drive this latest version of the corolla you’ll feel it handles much better than the Honda Civic.

Sharing the design cues from the Camry, the new corolla will be the much needed boost that Toyota needs, since the Civic has beaten the existing corolla sales wise into a corner.

The “New Toyota Corolla” exudes a much younger and sportier nature. The soft, distinct lines cut, define their way from front to rear as they flow over the headlamps, past the bonnet and running the length of the sides before gently dissolving at the trunk. Toyota calls this modeling process a “Sweep Cut” , which is basically one of their forms of car sculpting & the same has been used in the latest Camry. This Corolla has character in terms of styling & performance compared to its predecessor, but its no comparison to the Civic which is leaps forward in its futuristic design.

Interiors: Have been done nicely with an uncluttered dash, beige two tone color scheme.Keeping with the trend, the interiors have been ergonomically designed & the steering wheel comes with auto, multi-information system & Climate controls. The seating positions have been strategically handled by removing the hump on the rear floor which gives you comfortable support & can swallow 3 adults at the rear.There is ample amount of storage space with 475L boot & with the new split glove box it becomes quite a novel way to utilize the space.

Engine & Power: This 1.8L VVT-i power horse pumps in 130 BHP with ease.There is enough power at your disposal & an efficiently facilitated 15″ discs for effective braking. Dual airbags, brake-assist, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and an anti-theft System, all of it come as standard.

Toyota now offers something that will take the Honda Civic head on in the indian market. Lets hope it fares well and “The Toyota Corolla” legacy continues…

Fiat 500 Launched

2008-07-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

The two-door lifestyle model from Fiat, the Fiat 500, was launched in India at a ceremony in Mumbai on 18th July 2008.

It would be available in two variants in the Indian market. The Fiat 500 a 4-cylinder, in line engine that delivers 75bhp@4000rpm & the 1248cc Common Rail Multijet direct injection with supercharger and intercooler engine which is capable of producing a peak torque of 145Nm@1500rpm.

Though a small car it DOESN'T come under the class of so called "SMALL CAR" in India.
The car competes with the likes of Volkswagen Beetle and BMW built Mini Cooper, yet another retro designed lifestyle car in Europe. The fight will continue in India as well as BMW is planning to bring the Mini to India too. Volkswagen is believed soon to follow.

"We expect to sell the Fiat 500 to people who want to make an automotive statement but don't want to show-off with another big limousine," the Fiat spokesperson added. "We expect it to be a hit with the celebrity circuit and trendsetters in the metros since they are aware of the value a genuine lifestyle statement the 500 makes."

Though only 3.55 metres long, the New Fiat 500 is safer than some of the bigger cars and has already received a five star rating in EuroNCAP tests. The car features seven airbags (an industry first for a car in its class) including a knee-bag. All cars feature electronic stability programme - yet another luxury car feature.

Fiat 500 is going to be sold here as a completely built unit (CBU) and would be made available in two versions; Lounge and Sport. Both the versions are priced at Rs 14,82,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Here is the official site if you want to take a look
http://www.fiat-india.com/

New Honda City 2008

2008-07-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Honda is planning to launch the fourth avataar of Honda City. The new Honda City 2008 is expected to be launches late 2008. The new Honda City seems bigger and stronger.

Interestingly the New Honda City is going to be launched in India first and will be followed by the global launch. India seems to be the biggest market for Honda City and the domestic competition has also toughened a lot lately.

Its likely to sport a i-Vtec 1.5L gasoline (petrol) engine but with more power to punch in, 119ps@6000rpm. City is well known to be the most fuel efficient car in its segment, With these specs the New Honda City might also be the most powerful in the segment.

Check out more Pics for new Honda City.

New Honda City 2008, Some more pics
http://indywheels.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-honda-city-2008-some-more-pics.html

Hyundai India Cars Prices and Models Sites

2008-07-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hyundai Motor India
http://www.hyundai.co.in/

Hyundai i10
http://www.hyundaii10.co.in

i 10 D-Lite (Solid)	337174
i 10 D-Lite (Metalic)	340787
i 10 Era (Solid)	372878
i 10 Era (Metalic)	376489
i 10 Magna (Solid)	396655
i 10 Magna (Metalic)	399998
i 10 Magna O(Solid)	470747
i 10 Magna O(Metalic)	474360
i 10 Magna-O with Sunroof (Solid)	485967
i 10 Magna - O with Sunroof (Metalic)	489579

Hyundai Santro Xing
http://www.santroxing.com/

Euro III NonA/C (Solid)		265132
Euro III NonA/C (Metallic)		268720
Euro III GL (Solid)		332794
Euro III GL (Metallic)		336385
Euro III GLS (Solid)		351857
Euro III GLS (Metallic)		355448
Euro III GLS AT(Solid)		396557
Euro III GLS AT (Metallic)		399997
CNG Kit Available for Rs. 52,000

Hyundai Getz Prime
http://www.getzprime.co.in/

GETZ GLE 1.1		394088
GETZ GVS 1.1		426096
GETZ GVS 1.1 175 tyre + Rear spoiler		433463
GETZ GVS 1.3		443449
GETZ GLS 1.3		464450
GETZ GLX 1.3		498548
GETZ GVS 1.5 CRDi		564548

Hyundai Accent
http://hyundai.co.in/accentwebsite/index.html

Accent GLE		499903
CNG Kit Available for Rs. 56,500

Hyundai Verna
http://www.hyundaiverna.co.in/

Verna i	649190
Verna Xi	667667
Verna XXi	725781
Verna XXi_ABS	745818
Verna CRDi	764273
Verna CRDi_ABS	786319
Verna CRDiSX	814499
Verna CRDiSX_ABS	836544

Hyundai Sonata Embera
http://hyundai.co.in/sonatawebsite/index.html


SONATA MT(Fabric)		1238562
SONATA MT(L)		1268611
SONATA AT(F)		1298671
SONATA AT(L)		1328716
SONATA CRDi(MT)		1377016

Hyundai Tuscan
http://www.hyundai.co.in/tucson/

Maruti Prices and Models Sites

2008-07-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd
http://www.marutisuzuki.com/

Maruti 800
http://www.maruti800.com/
prices:
M800 STD LPG 205981.67 208362.86
M800 A/C LPG 226476.94 228858.14
M800 STD (WITH IMMOBILISER) 190981.66 193362.85
M800 AC (WITH IMMOBILISER) 211476.95 213858.15

Maruti Alto
http://www.marutialto.com/

ALTO STD 231190.43 234446.99
ALTO LXI 281452.29 284708.85
ALTO LX 263444.01 266700.60

Maruti Omni
http://www.marutiomni.com/

OMNI E STD 8-STR 221287.22 223851.18
OMNI STD 5-STR 219578.59 221959.81
OMNI AMBULANCE 255390.04 255390.04
OMNI CARGO 221439.84 224080.31
OMNI LPG STD 5st 230980.42 233361.62
OMNI LPG CARGO 199148.86 201551.67

Maruit ZEN Estillo
http://www.marutizen.com/

MARUTI ZEN ESTILO LXI 341035.71 344292.28
MARUTI ZEN ESTILO VXI 393100.93 396357.50
MARUTI ZEN ESTILO VXI 365347.87 368604.44
MARUTI ZEN ESTILO LX 313281.45 316538.02

Maruti WagonR
http://www.marutiwagonr.com/

MARUTI WAGON R LXI DUO 367353.07 370609.64
MARUTI WAGON R LX DUO 340504.92 343761.49
MARUTI WAGON R LXI 346837.01 350093.58
MARUTI WAGON R VXI 399438.12 402694.69
MARUTI WAGON R VXI 369868.47 373125.04
MARUTI WAGON R LX 322877.84 326134.41
R AX (Automatic) 438531.04 441787.61

Maruti Swift
http://www.marutiswift.com/

SWIFT LDI 478015.72 478015.72
SWIFT VDI 513210.65 513210.65
SWIFT VDI (ABS) 532356.46 532356.46
SWIFT LXI 399989.73 399989.73
SWIFT VXI 443874.14 443874.14
SWIFT VXI (ABS) 463724.73 463724.73
SWIFT ZXI (ABS) 525588.66 525588.66

Maruti Swift DZire
http://www.marutidzire.com/

Swift Dzire Ldi 557006.48 557006.48
Swift Dzire Vdi 603007.01 603007.01
Swift Dzire Zdi 688006.54 688006.54
Swift Dzire Lxi 467006.48 467006.48
Swift Dzire Vxi 515007.01 515007.01
Swift Dzire Zxi 608006.57 608006.57

Maruti SX4
http://www.marutisx4.com/

SX4 VXI 655735.40 655735.40
SX4 ZXI 726735.39 726735.39
SX4 ZXI WITH LEATHER 761735.39 761735.39

Maruti Grand Vitara
http://grandvitaraindia.com/

GRAND VITARA MT 1380000
GRAND VITARA AT 1480000

Maruti Gypsy
http://www.marutigypsy.com/

MARUTI GYPSY KING MPI (SOFT TOP) 509172.62 512015.31
MARUTI GYPSY KING MPI (HARD TOP) 528513.90 531356.61

Maruti Versa
http://www.marutiversa.com/

MARUTI VERSA STD 5 SEATER 373860.34 377471.49
MARUTI VERSA DX1 8 SEATER (SINGLE A/C) 446686.19 450297.34
MARUTI VERSA DX2 8 SEATER (TWIN A/C) 484595.51 488206.66

Baleno and Esteem have been discontinued.

Maruti True value - for Pre-owned Maruti Car with Maruti guarantee
http://www.marutitruevalue.com/

* all prices are ex-showroom Delhi, as on 14th July 2008

Diesel Vs Petrol Variant

2008-05-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

I have seen a lot of dilemma and confusion amongst people when it comes to chosing Petrol vs Diesel variant for a car. Undoubtedly there are advantages of one over the two and that makes the decision even more complex.

Based on my personal experience I would like to make it simpler. According to me a lot depends over the personal usage and pattern of usage of the vehicle.
Ok typically if your vehicle is supposed to be driven a lot then diesel makes more sense, but how do you quantify how much is "a lot".

Typically the cost difference between a diesel and a petrol variant is lets assume Rs. 1 Lakh (an approximation) with the same features.
Lets assume the average life of the vehicle is around 4-5 years. Lets take it as 5 yrs on a more conservative side. So the additional cost that one pays for a diesel vehicle is Rs. 20,000 per year. Adding the interest one pays on that amount makes it around 24 K per year.

Now assuming the average fuel consumption (overall) of a diesel vehicle to be around 17-18 kmpl and petrol to be around 13-14 kmpl in the same segment and variant. the cost per km is
Diesel : 2.5 Rs per km.
Petrol : 4.5 Rs per km.

The difference thus being Rs. 2 per km.
Now if you drive your vehicle for 1000 km per month, You save Rs. 24,000 per year.

1,000 kms per month x 12 months per year x Rs. 2 per km difference = Rs. 24,000 saving annually.

Verdict:

So if your running is 1000km per month you'll be able to only cover up the additional cost of your diesel vehicle, with no savings as such.
If your running is below 1000 km per month you'll be spending more overall than what you would on a petrol vehicle actually.
If your running is substantially above 1000 km per month only then you'll be actually saving on fuel with a diesel vehicle.

Other points to consider:

Diesel variants have higher maintencane cost, and low life. The maintenance cost increases further with the age of the vehicle.
Petrol variants have more power, pickup and are considerably silent thus offer a better driving pleasure overall. Makes a better choice for self driven vehicle.

Chevrolet India Car Sites and Prices

2008-04-10T22:11:00.001-07:00

Chevrolet Spark

Chevrolet Spark 1.0 E Rs.301508
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 Rs.323388
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 PS Rs.331707
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LS Rs.349784
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT Rs.349784
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT Opt. pack Rs.412650
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT Opt. pack(airbag) Rs.424353

Chevrolet AVEO U-VA

Chevrolet AVEO U-VA 1.2 Rs. 393,496
Chevrolet AVEO U-VA 1.2 LS Rs. 434,359
Chevrolet AVEO U-VA 1.2 LT Rs. 473,600

Chevrolet AVEO

AVEO 1.4 Rs. 602,053
AVEO 1.4 LS Rs. 643,338
AVEO 1.4 LS Limited Edition Rs. 656,420
AVEO 1.4 LT Rs. 703,442
AVEO 1.4 LT with Option Pack Rs. 749,662

Chevrolet Optra Magnum
Optra Magnum 2.0 Max 897510
Optra Magnum 2.0 LS 938175
Optra Magnum 2.0 LT 1052967
Optra Magnum 1.6 Max 798306
Optra Magnum 1.6 LS 832157
Optra Magnum 1.6 LT 953398

Chevrolet Optra SRV

Honda Jazz / Fit

2008-03-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Honda will soon be entering the small car market in India with Jazz a.k.a. Fit in some areas in the premium hatchback segment. This would directly compete with Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai Getz and also Fabia.

The Jazz is also expected to provide a better mileages than both the Getz and the Swift and will be priced slightly higher.

In its current form, the Jazz comes with a dashboard that looks like that of the Civic but makes do without the digital speedo. Also do not expect steering mounted controls that you see here. Ergonomically designed dash makes life better behind the wheel and the quality is not comprmised upon either. Lots of cubby holes and storage areas make it a great utility offering.

Jazz is likely to sport a price tag of Rs 4.6-5.6 lakh to draw big volumes in the segment. While Jazz will hit the Indian roads in early 2009 or late 2008, another small car from the Honda stable, designed for the Indian market, will be launched in the country thereafter. This model would be launched one notch lower in the B-segment and would compete with the likes of Hyundai Santro, Tata Indica and Maruti Wagon R.

Tata Sumo Grande

2008-03-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Sumo Grande with 2.2L DICOR diesel engine is an excellent SUV on the block. Tata has not only given a new life to the old Sumo but also stunning new looks that makes scorpio look little outdated.

Ex-showroom price for SUMO Grande in New Delhi.

SUMO Grande LX Rs. 6,54,677
SUMO Grande EX Rs. 6,91,896
SUMO Grande GX Rs. 7,49,414

With the 2.2L dicor engine, the one used in safari dicor and sensational new looks with a price tag like this, I am sure we'll be watching a lot of Sumo Grande on road soon.

Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire Launched

2008-03-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Maruti got another feather in the cap with the launch of much awaited swift sedan "DZire".
The car was launched today on march 26th 2008.

Here is the ex-showroom prices for DZire in Delhi.

Variant Price
Swift Dzire Ldi 538999.73
Swift Dzire Lxi 448999.73
Swift Dzire Vdi 585000.26
Swift Dzire Vxi 497000.25
Swift Dzire Zdi 669999.79
Swift Dzire Zxi 589999.82

The prices have been smartly kept well in between Swift Hatch and SX4 so that none on them are canibalized by DZire.

With features like Steering mounted audio controls and Automatic climate control, DZire is the most economical car in the segment and excellent value for money.

The one I settled for finally..

2008-01-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

Well choosing your first car is as complicated as choosing the right girl for you.. There are tons of features and qualities to look out for. Some have beautiful smile, long tempting hair, seductive eyes, protruding lips, or the jawline to give you dips, or for those who can think beyond the chassis and bumper there is sense of humor and wits, and for the audiophiles there's always the laugh and the tone that might cheer up a heavy day. But then its optimally said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. So its totally personal what sets your nerves on fire. Yeah I am very much talking about a car till now.

For me its surely the wit that matters more than any aesthetics, beauty, cuts and economics. So I decided to test drive my options.

.... and finally went fida over ford fiesta.

Tata Nano / Jeh, One Lakh Dream Finally came true...

2008-01-10T00:32:00.001-08:00

Tata One Lakh Ruppee ($2500) Car was finally unveiled at 9th Auto Expo 2008, today in New Delhi India.

Here are some pics and specs:

Specs:

* 624 cc engine
* Mileage of 20 kilometers per liter
* Passed full frontal crash test, the offset and side-crash test
* Legroom is expected to be 21 pc more than Maruti 800.
* The car meets the Bharat 3 (Euro 4) emission standards.
* The car that will come in two variants - AC and non-AC
* Will comes a dealer price of Rs one lakh plus VAT and transport charges.
* Commercial launch in mid 2008-09

wait for the full review ...

Bajaj Lite: Bajaj's Small Car

2008-01-10T00:26:00.000-08:00

While the launch of the Tata People's car approaches, Bajaj has surprised by unveiling it own cheap passenger car, the 4 seater Bajaj Lite concept, 2 days before the Auto Expo 2008 opens.

Take a look at the picture here. Not a bad looker at all, especially the lights and bumper - some might even say it looks better than the Zen Estilo. However, remember that this is a concept vehicle - the actual Bajaj Lite might look very different indeed.

Launch date is expected to be a couple of years down the line - so no, we are not going to see Bajaj's small car battling it out with Tata's small car on the streets of India. Expected fuel efficiency of the Bajaj Lite is 35 kmpl. That is higher than the rumoured fuel efficiency of the Tata small car which is 25 kmpl. The Tata small car is expected to cost Rs 1.25 lakhs - when it is out on the streets. That day is not too far away. But the Bajaj car is gonna be a long time coming.

Bajaj Auto expects to launch its small car in the next four years in partnership with Renault and Nissan. They are developing both diesel and petrol engines. Bajaj Auto will also be setting up a new manufacturing unit in Chakan that will manufacture the small car and light commercial vehicle. Bajaj has done away with the center panel and placed the two front seats touching each other. The gear shaft has been mounted on the dashboard.

Well will a two wheeler manufacturing company be able to succeed with their ambition with cars? Well they used to say the same about the Truck manufacturers Tata's.

24 new cars expected to hit Indian roads in 2008

2007-12-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

24 new cars from around 14 car makers are expected to hit Indian roads in 2008. Most of them will be unveiled during Auto Expo in Jan 2008, and the exact release dates and other details might also be revealed there itself.

It includes Tata's much awaited "One Lakh Car", new model for Indica, Indigo and hopefully the old multi utility vehicle Sumo.

Hyundai will be coming up with "Santa Fe" may be witha different name for an indian version, something similar to its "ix0" series, i10 being a part of that strategy.

Maruti is expected to come up with "Splash", "Swift Sedan" and hopefully "Cervo".

Mahindra is expected to unveil its new MUV "Ingenio" which will be taking on Toyotas Innova head on.

GM is expected to come up with Chevrolet Captiva, that will be a premium SUV and shall be taking on Honda's CRV by neck. The MUV Tavera might also get a facelift.

Fiat to come up with Linea and Punto along with TATA as a joint venture.

The most awaited launch can be of Skoda Fabia, which has been in plans from a long time now, but might be finally hitting the Indian roads in coming year 2008.

Some more luxury cars to be launched include new Skoda Superb, face lifted Octavia sedan, new C-Class from Mercedes Benz, Audi A4 sedan.

Well a lot to watch out for in coming year I guess.

New Indica And Indigo

2007-12-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

Tata motors is working on a new version of Tata Indica & Indigo, expectedly giving them an all-new look or maybe a few modifications here and there on the exteriors and the interiors. Both new models are believed to be launched in early 2008.

The new Indica will be a complete departure from the existing model. With new lights, grill & suspension, the new version of Indica will sport the 1.3-litre Fiat diesel engine, same as the one on Swift diesel. Sources say that the new Indica might also be wider, spacious and have additional safety features. It is still not clear whether the present Indica will continue but sources feel that Tata Motors may continue the existing variants at lower price.

Though the new car will belong to the same segment as Indica but might have a different name. The engines of the new car will come from Fiat, Tata Motors’ JV partner. Indica has already completed more than 8 years of production and has been under pressure from the rival cars of the same segment. It is the reason why the new version of Indica is being developed. According to sources new Indica will sport a price tag of around Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh.

Tata Motors is also working on cutting the length of the Indigo to get excise benefits. While the existing Indigo and the Indigo Marina will continue, Tata Motors is planning to target buyers with low budget. The new model of Tata Indigo will also sport the Fiat engine. Tata motors hope that the new version of Indigo will help the company increase its market share.

Peugeot Maybe Coming to India..... Again

2007-12-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

Remeber the 309 pugeot, well that was not something really great to be remembered but what is expected to be coing up next might be.

Pugeot 107

French carmaker Peugeot is rethinking of entering the booming Indian automotive market. Top officials from the company are in the country, engaging in talks with auto associations namely Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) along with various auto component makers. Peugeot had earlier entered the Indian market in 1995 (JV with the Premier Group) with the locally assembled Peugeot 309 mid size saloon. Though the car was quite capable and suited to Indian conditions the company faced labour issues and problems with it's local partner which led to production problems and an untimely withdrawl of the brand.

Pugeot 207

This time around Peugeot wants to be absolutely sure of it's market entry strategy and is currently mum on it's exact plan. Peugeot being a French carmaker has always been known for artistic styling and brilliant attention to detail . Out of it's international lineup the Peugeot 107 mini hatchback, 206 and 207 hatchs seem like possible prospects for India along with the 407 sedan.

Diesel Getz Launched

2007-12-08T10:17:00.001-08:00

Hyundai Motors India has launched the diesel variant of it's premium hatchback - Getz. The car has been fitted with a powerful 1.5 litre common rail direct injection (CRDi) engine that delivers 110 BHP of power at 4000 rpm and an impressive 235 nm of torque. This is the same engine which does duty in the Hyundai Verna and in a small car like the Getz this would result in awesone performance and acceleration figures. The diesel Getz is likely to become the hottest hatch in India beating even the 100 bhp Fiat Palio 1.6 sports which is petrol.

The new Getz also beats Suzuki's DDis Swift in terms of power since it only has a 1.3 litre 75 bhp engine. The diesel Getz has been priced at Rs 5.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) which makes it Rs 73,000 pricier than the swift diesel Vdi model. Expect mileage figures of 13-14 kmpl in the city and upto 20 kmpl on the highway. The diesel Getz would come into showrooms by the 1st week of October and is expected to sell well during the upcoming festive season.