Piaggio launches Ape Calessino EV in Europe
Piaggio has launched a lithium-ion battery-powered version of its three-wheeler, the Ape Calessino, which is manufactured in India and sold in various European countries. While the standard Ape Calessino is fitted with a 422cc DI diesel engine, the battery-powered version is a limited edition model, only 100 units of which will be built.
Fitted with a lithium-ion battery pack, the electric three-wheeler has a range of 75km, a top speed of around 50km/h and a charging time of less than four hours. Piaggio claims the Calessino EV's batteries are good for up to 800 recharge cycles and 60,000km. The Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is priced at €19,900 (US$28,300) plus VAT, which is almost twice the standard version's price.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
“Talking Cars” to be launched Soon
With the efforts of Indian scientists Dr. Bhibhya Sharma and Dr. Utesh Chand of the University of the South Pacific, few mathematical equations that instruct robotic cars to change lanes will be employed in robotic cars.
Speaking about its conceptualization; Dr. Sharma said 'flocking' is a biologically inspired technique commonly employed in robotics. As a result of this, robots are made to work together. According to the research, each robotic car would be controlled by a central brain, guided by a series of algorithms that enable the brain (car) to converse with each other and follow instructions so as to maintain separate lanes and avoid collisions.
Currently the concept is being tried out in 'two-wheeled' robots. Dr. Chand said, whenever the cars find itself in a merging situation, one of the cars would take the lead position. Taking this as cue the rest of the cars would follow. The team is writing mathematical equations that enable attraction towards a target; helping cars maintain lane and avoid crashing into each other.
The team working on it believes that the only challenge is to allow the robot to automatically devise the methods of avoiding collision. Let us hope the endeavor is successful and talking robotic cars grace the roads.
[Via: autoblogs]
Hyundai Planning i10 Diesel
Hyundai India is planning to launch the diesel variant of its hotselling i10 in the Indian market. According to the media reports, the diesel variant of the i10 could hit the market with in the next 8-12 months.
Hyundai already sells the i10 diesel in the European market where it comes with a 1.1 Litre Common Rail Turbodiesel engine with 75 Ps of power and 153 nm of maximum torque. The new diesel engine in i10 will enable Hyundai to better compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki's Swift and Tata's Indica Vista.
According to sources Hyundai is also looking for land to set up diesel engine manufacturing plant in India on the lines of Ford which will manufacture its diesel engines in India shortly. The 1.4 Litre diesel under the hood of i20 is currently imported resulting in a higher price tag for the car.
[Via: CC]
Hyundai Signs Wage Pact With Workers
Hyundai India has signed a three year wage revision accord (April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2012) with the seven members workers' committee representing different sections of workmen. The settlement provides for a substantial jump of 21 to 24% over three years. This is the ninth wage settlement with the workers committee since HMIL was formed in 1996. It started production from its greenfield project at Irungattukottai near Chennai in 1998 with the launch of the Santro.
The settlement has fetched an average increase of Rs 3000 per month to the technicians. This represented only the fixed wage component and in addition they will get bonus and incentives. The starting wage in the first year of a workmen will now be Rs 35,000 (fixed component). The settlement has made HMIL technicians the highest paid in the automobile sector.
The permanent workers will also now have a larger pool of Rs 40 lakh (up from Rs 30 lakh) for housing interest subsidy and new incentives linked to attendance, productivity and the quality of work they put in. This year's settlement not only marks the highest raise ever given, but also comes at a time when the entire auto industry and the world economy is going through one of the toughest economic crisis. Hyundai managed the downturn without laying off even a single permanent employee and this has instilled worker confidence in the management.
[Via: motorbeam]
Mitsubishi Lancer to be facelifted soon in Malaysia
A new facelift for the Mitsubishi Lancer is scheduled to be released sometime this week and as a teaser, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia have posted a teaser image on the frontpage of their website. The teaser reveals the new Lancer through a moving shroud but I've managed to piece together the whole car so you can have a clearer view.
The Lancer has a new front end with a cleaner front bumper, somewhat like the cleaner look that the Lancer Evolution's bumper has. If you think it looks familiar, it's basically the same bumper that can be found on the 5-door Lancer Sportback.
The original Lancer bumper put more prominence on the bumper area that flows between the upper grille and lower grille. Given that so many people just loves to paint the center piece black to emulate the Evolution's style, Mitsubishi seems to have done this for them from the factory. The look is complete with a trim piece surrounding the grille as a whole, top to bottom.
[Via: paultan]
Mahindra Pik-Up Launched In Australia
Mahindra has launched the Pik-Up (known as the Scorpio Getaway in India) in the Australian markets. Aimed more at the rural and semi-rural markets the Mahindra Pik-Up is made for the hardest places on earth, or so Mahindra claims. Mahindra's presence in Australia is through a joint venture with a Sydney based Tynan Motor Group. Mahindra has 80% stake in the venture.
Mahindra dealers are quite confident about the Pik-Up and say "We don't have to sell these vehicles, the owners do the selling for us." The Pik-Up has dual front airbags, ABS, power side mirrors and is powered by a 2.5-litre CRDe unit with 5 speed auto transmission which does duty in the Mahindra Xylo. However Mahindra will soon launch the more powerful mHawk engine with 6 speed auto which already does duty on the Indian Scorpio.
[Via: motorbeam]
Land Rover LRX could be Made In India
The Tata-owned Land Rover could manufacture its new model, the LRX in India. The Tata's strategy could be to shift the production base for the LRX to India.
As per the initial plan, the LRX was meant to be manufactured in the Land Rover Factory in the UK. Tata yet the awaits for the ₤27 million funding from the UK government for the LRX. Last month, the company had no plans to change the production venue.
But recently, Tata has been keen in producing the LRX in India. Though, the final decision is yet to announced in September this year.
[Via: CW]
Hyundai announces record high earnings for Q2
Thanks to robust global sales, Hyundai posts record profits in Q2. The Korean car maker acquires 5 percent of the global car market for the first time ever!
While the global auto industry is moaning in the worst slump in decades, Hyundai posts a record quarterly profit in the three months ending in June. The Korean largest carmaker revealed its net earnings jumped to $650 million in the second quarter of this year (+48 percent). Profit jumped to record high thanks to increased global demand for smaller and more fuel efficient cars, weaker won and improving brand image.
In the first six months of 2009, Hyundai managed to sell 1,403,931 new cars and SUVs across the globe, representing a five percent decrease from a year earlier as demand for automobiles in the global market fell. Hyundai built 719,478 units at its domestic manufacturing plants, while overseas plants churn out 684,453 new Hyundai cars.
In its official statement, Hyundai also revealed it has acquired 5 percent of the global new car market share in the first half of this year for the first time ever. This result was achieved by expanded market share China, Europe and US as the automaker boosted efforts to raise its brand image and continued to expand marketing activities in local markets.
Hyundai has been particularly successful in China, where it has sold 257,000 units in the first half. For the 2009, Hyundai raised its overall sales target to 450,000 units from previous 400,000 units. The automaker continues to expand its new car line-up and will start selling locally produced Sonata sedans and i30 C-segment hatchbacks in July and September.
Lately, Hyundai has been very successful in Europe. Its sales in June rose by the largest margin among all carmakers operating in the region. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, Hyundai's June sales rose 27.1 percent from the same month last year to come in at about 35,000 units, while sales in the first half of the fiscal year increased 15.7 percent compared to the same period last year, pushing up the company's first-half share of the European market to 2.3 percent from the 1.8 percent recorded last year.
[Via: hyundai-blog]
HM Plan Niche Vehicle From Mitsubishi Stable
Hindustan Motors (HM) is planning to launch a niche vehicle from Mitsubishi Motors stable soon. The new car is likely to be along the lines of a James Bond like automobile and is expected to fire up Mitsubishi Motors' portfolio in India.
"We are gearing up for the launch of a niche vehicle, hopefully, within this year, for which we are awaiting requisite homologation from ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India)," HM's managing director R Santhanam said.
[Via: motorbeam]
Tata-Fiat Plan Ferrari India Launch
talian auto giant Fiat and Indian car maker Tata are in talks about a joint marketing project to sell Ferrari and Mazerati supercars in India. The partners are also discussing sharing new car platforms and have plans for Iveco, Fiat's truck and bus subsidiary. Both brands are under Fiat's control.
"We are talking. We have various projects (including) marketing Ferraris and Maseratis" in India, Tata boss Ratan Tata said. Tata Motors is also present in the luxury car business, having acquired the British brands Jaguar and Land Rover for 2.3 billion dollars from US automaker Ford last year. Fiat and Tata build cars, engines and gearboxes together in India, and Tata Motors is Fiat's sales distributor and service manager in India.
[Via: motorbeam]