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]
GM dethroned by Ford
Ford has got a large number of new cars lined up to hit the market and these are slated to increase Ford's auto market share, making it the market leader and dethroning GM.
Merrill Lynch's Car Wars study predicts that Ford, which has already risen to number two position till recently held by Toyota, will race to number one position in the next four years with its market share increase.
Ford's domestic share has been declining for 13 years now but now post bankruptcy GM's market share is going to decline at least 5 points to 15 percent while Ford may rise to 18 percent, a clear and marked difference.
[Via: globalmotors]
BMW to launch Mini Cooper in India
BMW India plans to launch its Mini brand in India by the end of 2009. The new Mini cooper was launched across the globe a few days back.
The company plans to launch the Mini in India as well. BMW India will get the Roadster Z4 to India too. This could cost anywhere between Rs 50 - 80 lakh.
The company also has plans to launch its X1 in India next year. BMW had unveiled the X1 as a concept car in the Paris Motor Show and now the car could be Indian road ready by next year.
[Via: CW]
Chevrolet Aveo UV-A Launched
Chevrolet India has come up with a limited edition variant of Aveo UV-A which has been christened as Aveo UV-A Techno. It comes with host of new features and double DIN music system.
Following features have been added in Aveo UV-A TEchno:
- Keyless Entry
- 2 DIN MP3/FM System with 4 Speakers
- Reverse Parking Sensors
- Rear Spoiler
- Body Colored Door Handles
Tesco to provide facilities for charging electric cars
Britain's retailers have woken up to the fact that usage of electric cars is on the rise. Tesco, the supermarket chain, is all geared up to provide charging facilities to electric cars, starting from its store in London. If the project is successful, it will be started in its other outlets as well.
Tesco is also working at trying to shorten the normal charging time of two hours required by most electric vehicles. As part of going green and getting an environmentally friendly tab, Tesco is also planning to open a zero carbon store in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire.
Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco's chief executive said, "Businesses have to show how the consumer can make a difference."
[Via: globalmotors]
Atul Auto launches new three-wheeler variant
Based near Rajkot, in Gujarat, Atul Auto Ltd. has launched a new rear-engined three-wheeler variant - Atul Gem. Atul Auto, which manufactures diesel, LPG and CNG powered three-wheelers (passenger carriers and goods carriers) at its Rajkot facility, has a total installed capacity of around 24,000 vehicles per annum. With the launch of this new variant, the company is also looking at some capacity expansion and induction of newer manufacturing technologies at its plant.
According to the company, the diesel-engined Atul Gem, which comes with a two-year warranty, gives a mileage of 35km/l and comes with electric self-start, dual headlamps, a steering lock, single-piece glass windshield and a comfortable, ergonomically designed cabin. Over the next three months, Atul Auto also plans to launch more cargo carrying variants of the Gem.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Tata Motots CEO Ravi Kant to Retire
During his tenure, Tata Motors registered significant growth in net profits, initiated joint ventures with global companies like the Fiat and Thailand's Thonburi Automotive Assembly plant. He was also responsible for the Jaguar and Land Rover deal.
Those being considered for the managing director position are the Prakash M Telang, 62 (executive director in charge of commercial vehicles) and Rajiv Dube, 45 ( president for passenger cars).
Mr. Telang, is an IIM graduate and is credited with the success of goods carrier Ace. Mr. Rajiv Dube was in-charge of the Tata Nano project. So far, Tata Motors has refused to comment in the most likely successor to Mr. Kant. The board is headed by Mr. Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Groups.
[Via: carazoo]
Tata Motors launches its world standard truck range
Tata Motors has unveiled its new range of world standard trucks. The range comprises multi-axle trucks, tractor-trailers, tippers, mixers, and special application vehicles. Besides India, these trucks will also be introduced, in a phased manned, in South Korea, South Africa, SAARC countries and the Middle East.
'The developing infrastructure in India makes it possible for transporters to reap the benefit of trucks with higher power, speed and carrying capacity. The new range from Tata Motors will meet those needs. It will also help us penetrate international markets more effectively and competitively,' said Ratan N Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors.
'The range is an output of collaboration across the Tata Motors family, supplemented by inputs from partners across the world. This approach has enabled us to harness appropriate expertise and develop relevant products faster than ever before,' added Ravi Kant, Managing Director of Tata Motors.
Tata Motors' world truck range has been jointly developed by Tata Motors and its subsidiaries, Tata Daewoo in South Korea, and the Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc, in the UK. The company has harnessed the best of inputs and technologies - in styling, engines, transmission, suspension, chassis frames, fabrication and dies - from partners based in Italy, Germany, Sweden, the US, Japan and South Korea.
Variants and Specifications
Tata Motors world truck range offers a higher power-to-weight ratio translating into faster turnaround time, better reliability and durability, resulting in higher revenue generation for the transporter than is the norm now.
The versatility of the range meets several needs. There are tractor-trailers and multi-axle trucks for long distance transportation, rigid trucks for short distance distribution, tippers, mixers and cranes for construction and mining and trucks for special applications like reefers, bulkers, and tip-trailers.
The capacity of the trucks can be from 10 tonnes to 75 tonnes Gross Combination Weight (GCW), to meet a wide mix of usages. Powertrain options stretch from 150PS to 560PS, with suitable engines, transmissions and axles of different makes.
Additional features on offer include automated transmissions and air suspension. Also, every truck will have Global Positioning System (GPS) for effective vehicle tracking, as standard fitment.
Tata Motors' world trucks have spacious, air-conditioned cabs come in three different lengths (day, rest and sleeper), three different heights (flat, low-dome and high-dome roof) and two different widths.
While there are two trim levels, features include reclining seats, adjustable steering wheel, seat belts and armrests (for both the driver and co-driver) for driver comfort and safety. These features are designed to induce longer and more trips and safer driving.
The world truck range has been designed to meet stringent safety norms of the markets that it will be sold in. In terms of emissions, the range is Euro III and Euro IV complaint, while being Euro V ready.
[Via: indiaautomotive]