Auto BHP Auto Industry Updates and Reviews

13Nov/090

TVS Flame DS125 Launched

Overcoming a technology infringement case from Bajaj Auto, TVS Motors has re-launched the much awaited 'Flame' with Twin Spark Plug technology after obtaining all necessary permissions and clearances in accordance with law. This executive segment bike has been launched as TVS Flame DS125 and it is propelled by 3 valve CC-VTi technology, fired by twin spark plugs. Developed with AVL Austria, this 125 cc three valve engine is tuned to the ideal swirl-tumble port combination so that it delivers superior performance while simultaneously enhancing low, mid range power and delivering high fuel efficiency.

TVS Flame DS125 is the only motorcycle in the country to have a unique combination of three valves and two spark plugs. Packing in 10.5 bhp at the rate 7500 rpm, TVS Flame DS125 has a top speed of 95 kmph. Futuristic styling and technology deployed in this motorcycle gives it best-in-class appeal. Flame DS125's styling includes trendy headlight with two position lamps and embedded turn signal indicators which give the bike a sporty finish. The 240 mm front disc brake is complemented with a chic triangular exhaust that is not only unique but also enhances performance and delivers a pleasing sound with low emissions. The rear end of the bike sports a dual lens tail lamp. It comes with electric start and has been priced at Rs. 49,200 ex-showroom. TVS Flame DS 125 comes in dual tone colours of red and black.

[Via: Bikes India ]

12Nov/090

Dubai’s Ultimate Motors To Launch Supecars In India

MUMBAI: Three brands of Super Hyper Cars (SHCs), including the world's fastest car, Ultimate Aero, are all set to storm Indian roads by the end of this year. Dubai-based Ultimate Motors, one of the leading distibutors of exotic and luxury sports cars in the world, will be launching the three brands of commercial SHCs - Shelby, Zenvo and Arash, by December. The three will be SSC Utimate Aero , Arash AF-10 and Zenvo ST1 .

"The demand for luxury cars in India is increasing of late and people are now keen to have customised cars. We are in touch with four leading dealers in India and expect to launch the commercial SHCs by the end of this year," Ultimate Motors' President, Nasser Al-Hai, told PTI here on the sidelines of a luxury lifestyle event here. Expect price of all three cars in range of 4.5 to 7 crores.

9Nov/090

Harley Davidson’s Indian Team Announced

According to a report by leading auto magazine BIKE INDIA 3 months after the official entry, Harley Davidson India has revealed its core members for India. After announcing its arrival in India Harley-Davidson is ready with its core team for an initiation in the Indian market. This new team consists of people like Sanjay Tripathi who has been in the Indian motorcycle industry for quite some time and is well aware of the likes and dislikes of the discerning Indian riders. He has been appointed as the director of Marketing.

Other experienced members include Rajiv Vohra - Director of sales and dealer development, who has worked with Honda Siel earlier. Yogesh Phogat, former BMW India employee, is appointed as the company's director of operations and finally Manish Agarwal who will be handling the financial department of HD India. With a team of industry experts HD is surely here to capture the hearts of Indian riders.

6Nov/090

Maruti Grand Vitara to be Assembled in India

Maruti Grand Vitara has continuously witnessed falling sales in past few months. Maruti intends to arrest the falling sales figures of its SUV model by bringing its advanced version to India. It currently imports the SUV from its Japanese production facility as a completely built unit which makes the model quite expensive. Now the company is contemplating its options to assemble the model in India itself to offer more features at extremely competitive prices.

"The company is seriously considering bringing in an advanced version of Vitara into India, mainly to arrest the falling sales of the SUV," a source said. Maruti is in talks with auto component manufacturers to supply the parts for the model. An advanced version of the model will be introduced in 2010 and Maruti will decide upon its assembling plans for Grand Vitara after assessing the sales figures of the new model. Grand Vitara is currently available at Rs. 16.67 - Rs 17.97 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and comes with 2.4L petrol engine with both manual and automatic transmission.

[Via: cartradeindia]

6Nov/090

New Low Cost Sedan from Skoda

Skoda is ready to bring a new low-cost budget sedan model in 2012 in the international market. The new sedan model will compete with Renault's Dacia which has recorded the strongest sales in past few months, especially in the sedan segment. Dacia received most of the benefit from the government scrappage scheme and now Volkswagen Group intends to bridge the gap between Renault Dacia and Skoda models which have a big price difference.

Skoda currently sells Octavia as a popular sedan internationally especially in the emerging markets including India and China. Skoda intends to replace the Octavia with new budget model which will be smaller than Octavia. The new budget model will directly replace Octavia in the developed markets.

Skoda CEO, Mr Reinhard Jung, said the new model would cost between 10,000 and 12,000 euros (Rs. 6.7 lakh - Rs. 8.04 lakh) and would launch in two to three years. Skoda has not revealed any more details about the car which will be placed between Fabia and Octavia in coming years.

[Via: cartradeindia]

6Nov/090

Toyota Reaches 4 Lakh Mark

Toyota India has been successful in attaining 4 lakh Mark in India. There are now four lakh Toyota cars in India. The company has achieved this mark in the 11th year of its tenure in India. Toyota is the world's largest carmaker by sales. And it plans to increase the Toyota dealerships from 93 to 150 by 2011. By 2011, the company will launch a small car and for its launch the second production plant would be set up in Bangalore at an investment of Rs 3,200 crore.

Sandeep Singh, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), said in a statement that it is a big step for the auto market and the company. Toyota, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, currently sells Toyota Prado and Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Corolla Altis, Toyota Camry, Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Innova. Toyota Prius is expected to be showcased in Auto Expo 2010.

[Via: Cars India

4Nov/090

Royal Enfield Classic Launched In India

The Royal Enfield Bullet has for decades been the byword for rugged, refined cool and a bike handcrafted to perfection. The Bullet Classic was unveiled by Royal Enfield at Intermot exhibition in Germany. They have already launched this mouthwatering classic version of its legendary motorcycle abroad. Bullet Classic was first launched in Germany followed by European launch. But for India Royal Enfield has removed the "Bullet" tag from the name and it is going to be sold as "Royal Enfield Classic" for Indian Market.

The Classic 500 is powered by a 499cc, single cylinder engine which generates maximum power of 27.2 Bhp at 5250 rpm and peak torque of 41.3 Nm at 4000 rpm. And the Classic 350 is powered by a 346cc engine from Thunderbird Twinspark which generates 19.8 Bhp of maximum power at 5250 rpm with 28 Nm of maximum torque to price it competitively in a range of 85-90000 rupees. What is really new in the Royal Enfield Classic is a UCE (Unit Construction Engine). In the Royal Enfield Classic's engine, the clutch and gearbox are situated outside, they are both integrated into the crankcase. Royal Enfield claims that the UCE construction gives the Classic less moving parts, less transmission loss and less maintenance issues.

[Via: Bikes India]

3Nov/090

New Honda CR-V Launched

Honda India has launched the all New 2009 model of CR-V in Indian market. The base model with 2.0 litre engine has been priced at Rs. 22,51,000 rupees (EX-Showrrom Mumbai), which is very high in comparison to its rivals - Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour & Chevrolet Captiva. New Honda CR-V is sold as a CBU import and will be available on confirmed order basis. It also comes with a 2+2 year warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance as standard.

New Honda CR-V comes with a refreshed look, sporting a new two-step front grille, a re-sculpted hood and front bumper design and oval shape fog lamps. The new CR-V is 45mm longer than its predecessor and measures 4575 mm in length while maintaining the same width, height, ground clearance and head clearance. A new 10-spoke alloy wheel design replaces the previous 7-spoke alloy wheel design.

- New Two-Step Front Grille & Re-Sculpted Hood
- New Front & Rear Bumper Design, New 10-Spoke Alloy Wheels
- Oval Shape Front Fog Lamps, Body Colored ORVMs With Side Turn Indicators

The top model of New Honda CR-V comes with three additional features which includes Cruise Control, Electric Sunroof & Option Of 5 Speed Automatic Transmission.

The New Honda CR-V is available in two new colours - Opal Sage Metallic and Premium Mystic Night Pearl along with the existing range of Polished Metal, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black Pearl and Premium White.

New Honda CR-V is available in 2 engine options - same which were doing duty in the outgoing models - the 2.0 litre & 2.4 litre petrol engines. The 2.0 litre engine is a 1997cc i-VTEC which generates maximum power of 141 bhp at 6000 rpm with maxium torque of 192 Nm at 4200 rpm. The 2.4 litre engine is a 2354cc i-VTEC which generates maximum power of 159 bhp at 5800 rpm with maxium torque of 218 Nm at 4200 rpm.

Price Of New Honda CR-V (Ex-Showroom Mumbai)

- New Honda CR-V 2.0 MT - Rs. 22,51,000.00
- New Honda CR-V 2.4 MT - Rs. 24,00.000.00
- New Honda CR-V 2.4 AT - Rs. 24,78,000.00

[Via: Cars India ]

3Nov/090

Bajaj XCD 125 Has Been Discontinued

It is farewell time for the Bajaj XCD 125 , the executive commuter bike that was launched way back in September 2007. This is the second bike that the Pune-based manufacturer has phased out in the last three months, the first being the Pulsar 200 DTS-i.

The reason behind this move was to make way for the slightly bigger and more powerful XCD 135 which was launched way back in February this year. Bajaj decided to pull the plug on the smaller model when its sales dipped below 20000 units a month as compared to the 50000 units expected of it by the company. In contrast, the XCD 135 sold 10,000 units in the first two weeks after its launch.

Commenting on this move, a Mumbai-based analyst stated "Bajaj had launched too many models in the market without many differentiating factors between the bikes. The company always had the option to lower or even completely stop the production of one bike and increase the other, depending on the demand". The company is now planning to concentrate only on the Discover and Pulsar brand in the entry to premium segment while containing the Platina and Avenger within these core groups.

[Via: BIKE Magazine]

3Nov/090

Tata Nano May Be Sold Under Different Brand Name

According to the latest statement in London from Tata Motors MD, Ravi Kant, the company may allow Tata Nano to be assembled and sold under a different brand name by other manufacturers. Ravi Kant was spaaking at an award function in London where he indicated that Tata Motors will allow micro-assembly units that can produce 10,000 units a year.

"Tata Motors was always toying with the idea of outsourcing a small batch of Nano to third-part automakers. However, it is just in its embryonic stages and the company will take a final call in due course," well-informed sourced from the industry were quoted saying about Tata Motors.

It is presumed that Nano under different brand name will be sold in the Indian market only as it has yet not made its foray into the overseas market. So far Tata Motors has delivered 7506 units from its Uttrakhand plant in Pantnagar. Tata Motors also has a joint venture with Fiat Auto India Limited and Fiat will be looking after the overseas marketing of Tata Nano. It is quite speculative that Fiat may assemble additional units of Tata Nano under a different brand name.

[Via: cartradeindia]