Exide to Supply Batteries for Nano
Exide industries Limited, India's leading auto and industrial battery manufacturer, shall start supplying batteries to world's most awaited car, Tata Nano, in the current quarter. "We have received the order, we will be supplying soon...it will happen in the fourth quarter," said T.V. Ramanathan, Chief Executive and Managing Director, Exide Batteries.
However, Ramanathan refused to divulge the details of the quantity being supplied due to the confidentiality clause with Tata Motors. Currently the company shall supply batteries to Tata Motors's plant in Uttrakhand where the first batch of the car is currently being manufactured.
Tata Motors was forced to quit West Bengal owing to the ongoing violent protests from the farmers led by the Opposition party, Trinamool Congress, headed by Mamta Banerjee. The company has shifted its production to Sanand in Gujarat.
[Via: cartradeindia]
Fiat Plans to Enter Small Car Market Segment
Fiat is planning to roll out a low cost car from its Ranjangaon plant placed in B-segment that will compete with Hyundai Santro, Tata Indica and Maruti Alto. The car will debute by 2012 from its plant near Pune. The company estimates that the production of cars at its Ranjangaon unit near Pune will reach up to 200,000 cars by 2012.
Fiat says that it understands customer's preference towards small cars in India, thus it will enter that market segment too. Fiat recently launched its sedan, Fiat Linea in India. It is also planning to add 1.6 litre multi-jet diesel engine to its assembly line in Ranjangaon plant.
"We have the production process already in the form of 1.3 Multijet and will consider the 1.6 if there are enough volumes to warrant its inclusion," said Mr Silverio Bonfiglioli, The Chief Operating Officer, Fiat Group Automobiles International. Currently, the 1.3 litre multi-jet is fitted in Linea, Palio and Tata Indica Vista DriveTech4.
[via: cartradeindia]
More about Audi A5 Sportback
The New Audi A5 Sportback will have wheelbase identical to that of the A4, on which the A5 coupe is based. But the A5 Sportback will be lower and sleeker than the A4. It features historical references: "The side-window and rear treatments were inspired by the classic Audi 100 Coupe," says Sielaff.
Engines be taken from Audi's parts bin and could theoretically stretch from efficient four-cylinder diesel engines up to high-performance V-8 models rated at well over 400 hp. We expect the A5 Sportback to be offered with a version of the 2.0-liter TFSI engine and the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 recently launched in the new S4 and refreshed A6 lineup.
Europe will get four-cylinder and V-6 diesel options, too. Audi remains tight-lipped on exact specifications and launch dates, but we believe the company could unveil the A5 Sportback as soon as the 2009 Frankfurt auto show.
[Via: germancarblog]
Porsche Cayenne Diesel Coming to India
Porsche is planning to bring the diesel model of Cayenne SUV to Middle East and Asia. It currently manufactures the car at Leipzig in Germany and will be available in select European markets from February 2009. The car was designed for the European markets but the company intends to bring the same to Indian market as well.
The new luxury car is equipped with a three-litre V6 turbo diesel engine with 240 HP (176 kW) supplied by Audi AG. It will be fitted with the tried-and-tested Tiptronic S automatic transmission as standard. There are seven other models in the Cayenne product line. The diesel variant comes as a novelty as Porsche has not used diesel engines in its passenger cars in its past 60-years history.
Diesel engines have been used by Porsche only in its tractors so far! Cayenne has always been appreciated as an SUV for its superb performance and style but not for its fuel economy. However, the new 3.0 liter V6 Turbo Diesel engine from Audi is expected to do away with that aspect as well.
[via: cartradeindia]
World’s Cheapest Hybrid is Tata Nano
The world's cheapest car, Tata Nano , may also turn out to be world's cheapest hybrid version as well. Tata Motors intends to offer micro-hybrid version of Tata Nano with micro-hybrid technology that allows the vehicle to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 10 percent.
According to a leading Indian news channel, Bosch shall provide the micro-hybrid technology to Nano also known as Start-Stop System. This system allows the engine to automatically turn off when the vehicle is not moving. This additional technology may cost another Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000 to the overall cost but this technology is definitely the cheapest hybrid technology most suitable for the world's cheapest car.
Most of the countries around the world are getting stricter with fuel consumption and emission norms including Europe and the US. This micro-hybrid technology can b deployed to the vehicles at much lower cost than full hybrid systems. The micro-hybrid technology will also be available in diesel and electric variants of Nano.
[via: autoincar]
Tata Nano Gives a Test Drive in Himalayas
The world's cheapest car, Tata Nano , gave a test drive by driving from the Pantnagar manufacturing unit to hilly town of Gopeshwar. It surprised the residents of Gopeshwar in Chamoli district in Dehra Dun when the car went for a test drive in the town driving down the serpentine and tough hilly roads. According to the company sources, it was one of the toughest tests being conducted by Tata Motors' engineers. The car is expected to give mileage of 17-20 kmpl in the hilly region.
"We have conducted the test drive of Nano in the hills of Uttarakhand and Pune. Initial reports are very encouraging," said an official of the Tata Motors plant at Pantnagar. He also stated that the exact launch date of the car is yet to be decided by the company chairman, Ratan Tata. The company has already committed to Uttrakhand government that the first car shall roll out from the state. The government has already allocated 45 acres of extra land to Tata Motors to facilitate the production of the world's cheapest car. Tata Motors currently manufactures its Ace trucks at its Pantnagar facility.
[Via: cartradeindia]