New Maruti MUV Launch By October
Maruti Suzuki is launching a new multi-utility vehicle (MUV) by October this year. To be built on the Versa platform, the car is expected to strengthen the company's portfolio in the van segment. The new car, codenamed O2, is currently at an advanced stage of design and would be produced at Maruti's Gurgaon plant.
There are not much details regarding its specifications and features and Maruti is yet to take a call on pricing, which is estimated to be around Rs. 6-8 lakh. The new MPV would be pitted against other MPVs like Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo, Chevrolet Tavera and the upcoming Tata Indicruz.
By launching an MUV, Maruti Suzuki wants to foray in the market that's currently dominated by the Toyota Innova. The MUV segment is almost one-third of the UV segment and it will fill the gap. It will be a people carrier, so the company zeroed in on design and comfort. A sizeable market will be the BPOs that need to transport their employees to and from home.
[Via: motorbeam]
Seat Ibiza voted ‘Most Wanted Vehicle of 2009’
The SEAT Ibiza has been voted "Most Wanted Vehicle of 2009" in Macedonia by spectators of the "Auto Magazine" television programme. This is the ninth award given to the Spanish brand's car since its launch midway through last year, a significant fact that proves the new Ibiza's enormous popularity among the public and the media.
The SEAT Ibiza received the award at an event held at the Skopje capital's ABC Sports and New Business Centre thanks to the wide margin of winning votes cast at the seventh edition of these awards; another excellent piece of news surrounding SEAT's best-selling model in the year it is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
This new distinction joins the eight already won by the Ibiza on the following list since its launch: "Golden Steering Wheel" in Germany in the small car category; "Young Car 2009" by the readership of the Spanish magazine Car and Driver (in its SC version); "Compact Car of the Year" in Holland by the Dutch motoring club ANWB; "ECOBEST 2008" to the new Ibiza ECOMOTIVE as the most ecological car of the year; "Car of the Year 2009 by the readers" in Spain by the Grupo Editorial Prensa Ibérica, the La Vanguardia newspaper and the Autofácil magazine; "Auto 1" in Poland by the Auto Bild magazine; "Small Car of the Year" in Portugal by the members of the "Car of the Year - Crystal Steering Wheel Trophy" jury and the prestigious "Red Dot Award" in Germany in the Product Design 2009 category.
The SEAT Ibiza range is currently available in two body styles - the five-door and SC, with a total of six engine choices - three Diesel and three petrol. Before the summer, the range will feature common rail technology on the 90 hp 1.6 TDI engine, and will also be joined by the FR, CUPRA and Bocanegra versions, including the twin-charged 1.4 TSI engine featuring a seven-speed DSG gearbox and steering wheel shift paddles, and the ecological ECOMOTIVE version rounds off the attractive offer of the Spanish model.
[Via: infibeam]
Hyundai to sell it’s first plug-in hybrid car by 2013
During the 2008 L.A. auto show, Hyundai revealed it plans to bring a mid-size Sonata hybrid to the U.S. market by the end of 2010. The Sonata hybrid will not be based on the current generation Sonata sedan, but rather on a new underpinings that Hyundai has had under development for its next gen. Sonata.
Codenamed YF, the 2010 Sonata will first hit Hyundai dealers in Korea (in September this year), while only a few months later, it is expected to find its way to the US and Canadian Hyundai showrooms. In addition to Korean production base, Hyundai will also set up Sonatas production at its US, Alabama plant.
Already this summer, one year before Sonata hybrid debuts, Hyundai will bring its first real, mass-production hybrid car to the market. Based on Elantra sedan, the compact hybrid sedan will be the worlds first LPG powered hybrid vehicle. The Elantra hybrid will also be marked as the first hybrid ever to be equipped with Lithium Polymer batteries. Unfortunatelly, its production will be limited to Korean market only.
Now, the story in the headlines of several automotive magazines today tells that Hyundai also aims to build its first plug-in hybrid car. According to Hyundai, that is expected to happen by 2013, when the company will launch a direct competitor to Chevys Volt and Toyotas upcoming plug-in hybrid car.
The story has been revealed by Hyundais Chief Technology Officer Lee Hyun-soon who told that right now, Japan is far ahead in regards to battery technology, but the technology gap isnt so wide and he thinks Hyundai can catch the Japanese automakers by 2013.
[Via: hyundaiblog]
Mahindra Xylo Outsells Toyota Innova
Mahindra has created a record of sorts in April, with three of its models taking pole position in the domestic utility vehicles (UV) segment. Sales of M&M's Xylo, Bolero and Scorpio models last month overtook Toyota's Innova and the Sumo and Safari models of Tata Motors.
The Xylo continues its strong run since its launch in January 2009 and has posted its highest monthly sales in April. Till now, the company has delivered over 10,000 Xylo and recently raised the price of the vehicle by around Rs 10,000.
Their combined market share stood at 65% last month compared with 47% a year ago. M&M saw a 16% jump in April sales (including from joint ventures) to 22,617 units, as elections boosted demand for its UV products tailor-made for rough terrain of rural India.
Over 6,000 units of the Bolero were sold in April, with the newly-launched Xylo selling 3,509 units and the Scorpio doing 3,100 units. Against this, the Toyota Innova sold 2,834 units, while the Tata Sumo sold 1642 units (including 174 units of Grande) and the Safari sold 774 units.
[Via: motorbeam]
Mahindra Xylo E8 Gets ABS
Mahindra Xylo has been doing very well and Mahindra has launched a new variant of the Xylo with ABS.
ABS is available only in the E8 variant as an option for Rs. 18,000/- The variant known as Xylo E8 ABS will co-exist along with the non-ABS Xylo E8 variant.
[Via: motorbeam]
Strike Ends at Mahindra’s Nashik Plant
The impasse between Mahindra's automotive sector and its union has been resolved. The employees at the Nashik Plant of Mahindra were on strike since May 04. The production of the newly launched Xylo, MUV, was severely affected by the strike.
The workers union had demanded a hike in their salaries and withdrawal of inquiry of suspension order against the union president Madhav Dhatrak.
Now the company has settled the issue with the employees through an agreement. The agreement was signed by Bhartiya Kamgar Sena Union that represents the union and the senior officials of the facility which is valid for three and half years.
The company had received 15,000 bookings for the Xylo in less than three months. To meet this demand, the company increased its production capacity from 120 units per day to 135 units.
Mahindra and Mahindra is the leader of SUV vehicle segment in the Indian car industry. It is a major exporter of passenger and commercial vehicles. The resolution of the deadlock will help Mahindra resume production and regain public confidence.
[Via: Carazoo]
Ashok Leyland and Nissan JV Delayed
One of India's biggest commercial vehicle makers, Ashok Leyland, and Japan's Nissan Motors have a joint venture in India as Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles. This JV had proposed a plant to be manufactured near Chennai to manufacture commercial vehicles which now seems to be delayed.
The JV is finding it hard to source the land for building its plant and may now use Nissan Renault manufacturing unit to roll out its trucks. Renault Nissan Automotive is a 50-50 joint venture between Nissan Motors and Renault. "We are looking at the possibility of leveraging Nissan-Renault car plant as our unit has been delayed due to land allotment problems," said Ashok Leyland-Nissan managing director R. Seshasayee.
The production from the JV plant will now start from 2011 as the companies are further contemplating their plans in India. "The two partners are also evaluating the possibility of enlarging the product range in the manufacturing plan, including some additional products from Nissan's global portfolio of light commercial vehicles," said the company in a statement. The two companies were also debating optimal use of investments by making use of their existing facilities.
[Via: cartradeindia]