Top 50 Ugliest Cars
Toyota Prius may be the most successful and the most fuel efficient car around the world with its best hybrid technology but the car ranks amongst Top 50 ugliest cars around the world. World's cheapest car from Tata Motors is also included on #50 in the list. Top 50 cars in past 50 years around the globe have been identified and listed by Business Week. Some of the other cars listed are Chevrolet El Camino which has front and rear similar to a pick up vehicle. Its 1982 model with its front grille is said to be looking like it's "wearing dental braces." Citroen Ami has weird looking windows and roof extending like porch roof from the back.
Lightburn Zeta was designed by cement mixers and washing machine manufacturers and its front grille resembles a fence and headlights popping out like protruding eyeballs. Wartburg 353 has nothing that can be claimed as a pretty sight and Volkswagen Thing is nothing more than a Beetle engine fitted inside a large metallic matchbox. AMC Gremlin was launched on April 01 1970 has a shockingly weird looking back, saucer hub caps and missing rear windows. Bond bug, Ford Pinto, Ford Mustang, Bricklin SV1, Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar, Volvo 340, AMC Pacer, Chevrolet Chevette, Aston Martin Lagonda, Martra Rancho, Subaru Brat, Yugo and many more are listed under the Top 50 Ugliest cars in past 50 years.
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]
Three Tata Nanos Catches Fire!!
World's cheapest car, Tata Nano appears to have developed a technical snag prompting Tata Motors to launch a pre-delivery audit of the car's electrical systems and inspection of the units already sold.
Three cases of the car developing short circuit near the combination switch in the car's steering wheel have already been reported from Delhi, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. The cars have had smoke emnate from the steering wheel area even when parked with ignition off and in one case has caused the area around to melt due to heat. Following the incidents, Tata Motors has decided to do a pre-delivery audit of all the electrical circuits and has also offered to check the cars that are already with the customers.
The company isnt however calling this as a "Recall". According to a company spokesman the problems are not generic and hence there is no question of a recall but pre-emptive checks may be carried out on cars that have already been handed over to the customers. Two of the customers from Lucknow and Ahmedabad have already given their Nano for repairs to their respective dealerships which have been repaired at free of charge. The other customer from Delhi is yet to give the car for repairs and has instead lodged a complaint with the police citing manufacturing defect as the reason for the mishap.
[Via: CC]
Tata Motors Acquires Remaining 79% Stake In Hispano Carrocera
Tata Motors which had a 21% stake in Hispano Carrocera has now acquired the remaining 79% shares by the way of exercise of the existing call option through mutual agreement with the other share holder Investalia S.A Spain.
The agreement cements Tata Motor's ongoing commitment to Hispano Carrocera. The company will now further strengthen the ongoing initiatives to improve operational efficiencies such as productivity improvement, cost reduction, and new product development, to improve market share of the company and enhance brand value. Tata Motors is confident that Hispano will now emerge as an even stronger force in the Spanish as well as Global bus and coach markets.
[Via: cubiccapacity]
Tata-Fiat Alliance To Launch Jeep Cherokee In India
Tata Motors and Fiat joint venture is apprehended to launch Jeep Cherokee in India soon. This partnership will be launching a number of Chrysler models in India. The iconic Jeep Cherokee will be produced at the Ranjangaon facility near Pune. The Tata-Fiat alliance will initially start retailing the Cherokee and follow up with other products.
Italian car major Fiat acquired a 20% stake in Chrysler after the Michigan-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year. Fiat's 20%, stake in Chrysler could eventually go up to 51%. Chrysler will get access to Fiat's small car technology while Fiat gets a footprint into the US market. With financing from the Federal Government, the `new Chrysler' is supposed to change its product portfolio towards fuel-efficient vehicles. The Tata-Fiat alliance has been expanding production at its Ranjangaon facility.
Recently, Fiat India Automobiles (FIAPL), the Tata Motors-Fiat JV raised $510 million through a multi-tranche syndicated loan, which includes a $200 million term loan for working capital requirements. FIAPL is a 50:50 joint venture between Fiat Group and Tata Motors and manufactures Fiat and Tata cars and produces transmissions and engines.
[Via: Carazoo]
Tata Indigo Manza Launched
2009 has been a grand year for Tata Motors. They started deliveries of cheapest small car - Nano - this year and also launched some new products including Xenon XT, Jaguar and Land Rover cars. And now Tata has launched the next gen Tata Manza which is expected to increase the overall Tata sales in mid to luxury car segment.
Tata Indigo Manza is available in both petrol and diesel. Both the engines have been picked from Fiat's stable and are mated to 5-Speed manual transmission.
- Quadrajet 90, 1.3 Litre, 89 Bhp - 200 Nm, Diesel
- Safire 90, 1.4 Litre, 89 Bhp - 116 Nm, Petrol
The Qudrajet90 diesel engine develops maximum power of 89 Bhp at 4000 rpm with maximum torque of 200 Nm at 1750 rpm and Safire90 generates maximum power of 89 Bhp at 6000 rpm with maximum torque of 116 Nm at 4750 rpm. Tata has launched Indigo Manza in eight variants - 4 of diesel and 4 of petrol. The variants has been christened as Aqua, Aura, Aura (ABS) and Aura+.
Tata Indigo Manza has been priced very competitively at Rs. 4.90 lakhs for the base model of petrol and Rs. 6.85 lakhs for the top model of diesel. It is for sure that Indigo Manza is going to heat up the competition as it features more fuel efficient engines, more features and spacious interiors in comparsion to its major rival sedans which include Dzire, Logan, Fiesta, Accent and Aveo.
Tata Manza is available in seven shades. Tata Motors has announced a new shade with the launch of Indigo Manza - The Gold Satin shade. In addition to Gold Satin Manza is available in 6 more shades:
- Minimal Grey - Grey Noir - Monarch Red
- Dew White - Infinity Black - Breeze Blue
Active safety features in Tata Manza will be Dual Front Airbags that offers safety in case of collision, ABS (Anti Lock Brake System) and Front Disc Brakes. Passive safety features in Tata Manza are expected to include Side Impact Beams, Height Adjustable Front Seatbelts, Warning Lamp for Driver Seatbelt, Front Passenger Seatbelt Reminder, Child Locks and Central Locking.
Jaguar Land Rover Secures Loan From SBI
Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has managed to secure a 175 million pound ($277.7 million) loan from the State Bank of India. JLR recently agreed a new $90 million committed export financing facility with ABC International Bank. Both are part of 500 million pounds of new facilities the company has completed this year as part of a plan to enhance its funding.
JLR's sales have fallen about 52 % in the previous quarter compared to 2008 leading to a pretax loss of 62 million pounds. JLR announced last month it was planning to merge two of its three auto plants in England by 2014 as part of a business plan to tackle the impact of the economic downturn.
[Via: motorbeam]
Tata Manza Photos Revealed Before Official Launch
Tata Manza Photos Revealed Before Official Launch