VW up! set to challenge Maruti, Hyundai from next year (Upcoming Cars)

 

WHEN: Early 2013

HOW MUCH: Rs 3.6 – 4.5 lakh

ENGINE: 1.0-litre, 3-cyl, petrol. 60 PS / 95 Nm;  1.2-litre diesel, 75 PS / 180 Nm

COMPETITION: Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat, Maruti A-Star, Maruti Wagon R

 

The Volkswagen up! is probably the most significant car from Volkswagen, especially in the Indian context. Rumours and speculations aside, VW has proven that it is capable of building a quality small car on its own, and needn’t borrow the expertise from Suzuki (with whom they share a cross-holding in stock). There were stories that the VW up! would be little more than a re-badged Maruti Wagon R, but those stories have been well and firmly quashed.

 

The VW up! was first shown as a concept car in 2009, and in its initial avatar was expected to house the engine in the rear, with power being sent to the rear wheels. However, the tooling and manufacturing costs were deemed to be too high for such a layout, and VW’s engineers opted to shift to a more conventional front-engined, front-wheel drive layout. Thankfully, the original styling cues were carried forward to production, and the up! delights as very smartly styled small car. Its simple yet elegant lines may not have the oomph of something like a Chevy Beat, but it is a good looking car.

 

 

The front end gets a simple grille treatment, with a bold VW logo holding pride of place. The slightly boxy lines flow to the rear, with a square-cut treatment to the C-pillar and doors. The tail-gate is made of class, akin to the Honda Brio that car buyers in India have already seen, with the lower part of the glass hatch being blacked-out.

 

 

The interiors of the Volkswagen up! will surely be a step up from whatever Indian small car buyers have been used to. Volkswagen has chosen to match the interior colour scheme to the body colour, with painted panels on the dashboard and front doors. The instrument cluster consists of a big speedometer, with a tiny tachometer and fuel gauge to either side of the speedo. The AC controls are mounted above the built-in audio unit. A detachable GPS unit is mounted on top of the dashboard, and is available as standard on the top of the line High up! variant.

 

 

The Volkswagen up! is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine, displacing 999 cc. This engine is available in two states of tune; 60 PS and 75 PS, but it I likely that the Indian-built VW up! will get the 60 PS version. This puts it on par with other small cars in this class. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. However, a 5-speed automatic version is also available as an option, but it is unclear whether the Indian model will get it.

At a later date, VW could consider a diesel version of the up! for the Indian market. The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder diesel from the Polo could be shoe-horned to fit inside the up!, but it will add to the price of the car. VW will no doubt be benchmarking other value-for-money diesel cars in the market, including the Chevrolet Beat diesel of course, whose prices start at around Rs 4.4 lakh.  

 

 

Volkswagen benchmarked a number of cars as it began work on the design and proportions of the up!, including its very own Lupo. The up!’s wheelbase at 2420 mm is the longest in this class, and Volkswagen is confident that the up! will offer class-leading interior room. Flexible seating arrangements, including a 50:50 split-folding rear seat endow the up! with great versatility as well. VW claims that the up! affords up to 951 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded.

 

 

While Volkswagen has not committed to any time frame to launch the up! in India, autojunction.in understands that the car has already been sent for homologation to ARAI. For the up! to be profitable, VW will need volumes of at least 50,000 units a year. Skoda’s version of the up!, called the Citigo, could also get a call-up for Indian production. It might make sense for VW AG to capitalise on both for the Indian market. After all, Maruti sells the Wagon R, A-Star and the Estilo at similar prices from the same dealerships. The up! and Citigo would never compete on the same real estate, but if the Group can figure out a way to differentiate the two, maybe in terms of features and a little bit with pricing, then they stand a realistic chance of challenging the hegemony in the small car space so far demonstrated by Maruti

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport Concept–Launching At Frankfurt Auto Show In September

The new Suzuki Swift Sport is a refined sport compact resulting from the first full model change since the launch of the original Swift Sport in 2006.As far as the exterior of the car is concerned, the new sporty hatchback will be based along the lines of the Swift S Concept that was showcased earlier. Bigger wheels, a rear spoiler and aggressive body cladding is expected to be included in the package.

It has a more aggressive and dignified exterior look thanks to a low-slung form that gives a sense of stability and tension, and a big front grille that evokes a sporty performance feel. The cabin combines essential sportiness with a high-quality look and feel, and design features that gives more excitement about the driving experience.And also its a hotter version of the three-door hatchback.

Higher power and lower fuel consumption are delivered by the 1.6-litre M16A engine, which Suzuki developed exclusively for the Swift Sport.The new power plan could churn out 134 horsepower and 160 torques.

The engine is mated to a specially developed six-speed manual transmission, resulting in performance that is both exciting and environmentally responsible.

The new Swift Sport offers superior cornering stability and brisker, more responsive handling thanks to struts with internal rebound springs and an exclusive rear-suspension design.

Honda Diesel Engines Cars In India Soon With 1.6 Liter Engines

After long period, Honda able to produce a diesel engine in the Indian market. Prior to the time when petrol prices were raised, Honda was the only choice for premium car buyers and no one came into its way. But recently the scenario has changed drastically bringing diesel cars more into the limelight.

Honda has been hit hard by the transition and now they are focusing on brining diesel engines in India. As an alternative for the time being, Honda came up with Honda Brio small car but again it could not fill the gap created by the lack of diesel options.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda has revealed something very interesting. Obviously it is a diesel engine, a brand new 1.6 Liter turbocharged four cylinder diesel unit which takes its development inspiration from the 2.2 Liter i-DTEC. The same can produce 118 BHP @ 4000 RPM of peak power and 300 Nm @ 2000 RPM of peak torque. Another interesting fact is that at 170 kg the engine is claimed to be the lightest in its class.

Now along with diesel engine options the company is concentrating on small cars as well and recently Chief Officer (Development Operations), and Honda R&D Co (Automobile R&D Center) Managing Officer, Yasuhisa Arai said, “We are aware of the petrol price increase in India but we consider that as a sign of growth in the Indian market… definitely we are currently developing diesel engine cars.” “(Indian) market is asking for more diesel engine cars and we are fully aware of that.”

In context with the Indian market Yasuhisa Arai said added, “We had developed Brio (compact car) for India, since we see limited opportunities for large size vehicles, our emphasis is on small compact cars for India.” At this point Japan, US, and China are the three biggest markets (for Honda). In my opinion India is the top growth market and I believe India will soon overtake China. Definitely India will be our emphasis.”

Top 5 Four Wheelers In Auto Expo 2012

1. Ford Ecosport

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2.Maruti XA Alpha Sports Utility (SUV) :

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3.DC Designs Avanti:

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4.BMW Mini Cooper:

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5.Hyundai Sonata:

Top 5 Two Wheelers In Auto Expo 2012

1.Triumph Rocket III:

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2.Hero MotoCorp Leap (First Hybrid Scooter):

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3.Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500:

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4.Piaggio Vespa:

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5.Ducati – Monster 795:

2012 Upcoming Two Wheelers Launches In India | 8 Hot Model Two Wheelers

You want to buy a new two wheeler  in 2012 and are wondering as to what all your new options will be as 2011 turns into 2012, then you must definitely read the most comprehensive to-be-launched new motorcycle/bike list we’ve compiled for you.

Percentage of growth in the gearless scooter segment has been phenomenal over the last few years but it isn’t until now that the interest in this segment by manufacturers and consumers alike is at unprecedented levels.

For starters, 2012 promises to be one of the biggest years ever for the Indian automatic scooter market as 8 scooters from no less than 7 manufacturers, are all set to be launched in India during the course of the next seven months. Through this story, we’ll give you a lowdown on all the seven automatic scooters.

2012 Mahindra Duro DZ 125:

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2012 Suzuki Swish 125:

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2012 Hero MotoCorp Maestro 110 Scooter:

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2012 Piaggio Vespa LX125:

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2012 Honda Dio 110:

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2012 TVS Qube 100 Hybrid Scooter:

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2012 Yamaha Ray:

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2012 TVS’s Rockz 125cc Scooter:

Scania To Set Up Manufacturing Facility In Bangalore

Swedish Commercial Vehicle Makers Scania set up manufacturing facility in Narasapura Industrial Area, Bangalore. Scania planned to invest around Rs.150 Crore for this Phase-I Project.

This plant will serve as a Complete Knock Down (CKD) assembly unit for truck and bus chassis during phase 1 of operations.This plant will produce 2000 Heavy haulage trucks & 1000 Inter City buses and coaches within five years.Bus body building of city buses and coaches and service workshops for trucks and buses will also be part of this facility at a later point of time.

Due to new plant set up Scania will employ 800 people in this facility over the next five years. Scania had last year announced its plans for India and the growing importance of India for Scania globally. The investment in India is in line with this commitment towards this market.

Scania Managing Director - Henrik Fagrenius said:

“This investment furthers Scania’s committed to the Indian market and this is the right moment for us. With the commercial vehicles segment likely to register a higher volume growth of 8-10 per cent this year, the outlook for the industry is very promising.”

“Scania is also preparing to sell engines to its OEM customers. These engines are more compact, resulting in lesser fuel consumption, leading to lower emissions,”

Bus body-building and service workshops for trucks and buses will also be a part of this facility at a later point of time, the company said.

Hero MotoCorp Ties With Erik Buell Racing | HMCL Partners With EBR

Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler vehicle manufacturer, said on Wednesday it had entered into a partnership with US motorcycle company Erik Buell Racing (EBR). Erik Buell Racing was founded in November 2009 after the Buell Motorcycle Company was shutdown by the majority stake holder Harley Davidson. EBR is based in East Troy, Wisconsin USA. The Erik Buell Racing makes sports motorcycles and street Motorcycles which are sporty in nature. Under this partnership between Hero MotoCorp and Erik Buell Racing – Hero will sponsor two racing teams viz. Team Hero and AMOSIL Hero for AMA Pro Racing National Guard Superbikes Championship.

In return Hero will receive technology inputs and design cues from the Erik Buell Racing for their future motorcycle models. Also in future, Hero is considering bringing some of Buell’s high end sports bikes to India as the sports bike segment in India is already on a rise.

Speaking to media, Pawan Munjal, managing director and chief executive of Hero MotoCorp Quoted:

“This is in keeping with our objective of quickly scaling up our own in-house R&D capabilities to a global two-wheeler technology powerhouse by leveraging our network of strategic international alliances. Erik and his team have been working closely with our engineers and designers to develop our next-generation range of products with cutting-edge technology and first-of-its-kind features.My R&D team and Erik’s team together have made some definitive progress in this direction, and we will hopefully be putting a few scorchers on the roads soon.”

Erik F Buell, chairman and CTO of EBR quoted:

“EBR is delighted to partner with a company as iconic as Hero MotoCorp. Both Hero and EBR share the common commitment of manufacturing world class two-wheelers with technology of the future”

Hyundai Sonata Becomes Sponsor of Ambassadors Cup Polo Tournament

The Hyundai Sonata Ambassadors Cup concluded at the Jaipur Polo Ground in the capital today. Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh was the chief guest on the occasion of the final match.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd's (HMIL) association with polo is yet another expression of its commitment to promoting sports in India. Globally Hyundai is associated with many sports; it has tie-ups with top tournaments in football and cricket. The keenly contested tournament spread over four days had six teams vying for the top honors.

Commenting on the polo tournament, Mr. Arvind Saxena, Director, Marketing and Sales, HMIL said, "We are delighted to associate with the Indian Polo Association for the Hyundai Sonata Ambassadors Cup 2012. The Sonata is a premium offering from Hyundai, tie-up with the Indian Polo Association that promotes a fine sport like polo provides a great match for both the Sonata and polo."

Giving company to the impressive Sonata at the venue was the luxury SUV Santa Fe and segment leader Verna. Also present were the international three-door Veloster and the yet-to-be-launched Elantra in the executive segment.

Besides the Hyundai Sonata team the five other teams that competed in the tournament were Jindal Steel and Power, Vayamtech, Hyatt Regency, Black Dog and Sahgal Stud/APRC. The final match on a Sunday afternoon drew a large number of polo enthusiasts to the venue. The impressive tunes from the army band stationed at the grounds lent an air of grandeur to the event.

Like HMIL's recent cars the Sonata too is crafted on the principles of ‘Fluidic Sculpture', where contrasting surfaces create a sense of constant motion. This sixth generation Sonata has interesting features like front and rear seat ventilation, front seat warmers, high intensity Xenon head lamps, cruise control, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat with lumbar support and a 4-way power adjustable front co-driver seat.

The Sonata is equipped with 6 airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), rear view camera and smart key with push button start apart from a host of features that enhances the driving experience like the VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) cluster and a X-shaped centre fascia. The super-efficient 2.4 liter GDi petrol engine is mated to 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions. GDi technology results in enhanced performance and fuel efficiency as the high pressure fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber. The engineering excellence is extended to the suspensions by way of having hi-tech ASD (Amplitude Selective Damper) resulting into improved driving comfort.

Source: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL)

Bajaj started Delivery of KTM Duke 200 Bike

Bajaj Auto finally come with KTM Duke 200 in Indian market. Bajaj auto successfully managed to surprise to all bajaj bike lover with the launch of Bajaj KTM Duke 200 week before schedule. KTM Duke 200 deliveries started across major indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore & Pune.


Bajaj KTM DUKE 200 Price:
Bajaj KTM Duke 200 Price of INR 1,17,500 (ex-showroom) which is quite close to upcoming Honda CBR150R’s anticipated price of about INR 1,15,000.


Bajaj KTM DUKE 200 Features & Specifications:

Engine:
Design: Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, spark-ignition engine, liquid-cooled
Displacement : 200 cm³
Bore: 72 mm
Stroke: 49 mm
Performance: 18.4 kW (25 hp)
Torque: 19.2 Nm
Starting aid: Electric starter
Transmission: 6-speed, claw shifted
Engine lubrication: Forced oil lubrication with 1 rotor pump
Primary gear ratio: 22:72
Secondary gear ratio: 14:43
Cooling system: Liquid cooling system, continuous circulation of cooling liquid with water pump
Clutch: Clutch in oil bath / mechanically operated
Ignition system: Contactless, controlled, fully electronic ignition system with digital ignition timing adjustment.

CHASSIS:
Frame: Tubular space frame made from steel tubes, powder-coated
Fork: WP Suspension 4357
Shock absorber: WP Suspension 4618 EM
Suspension travel Front: 150 mm
Suspension travel Rear: 150 mm
Brake system Front: Disc brake with two-pot brake caliper
Brake system Rear: Disc brake with one-pot brake caliper, floating brake discs
Brake discs - diameter front: 300 mm
Brake discs - diameter rear: 230 mm
Chain: 5/8 x 1/4" (520) O-Ring
Steering head angle: 65°
Wheel base: 1,361±15 mm
Ground clearance (unloaded): 165 mm
Seat height (unloaded): 810 mm
Total fuel tank capacity approx.: 10.5 l Unleaded premium fuel (95 RON)
Weight without fuel approx.: 125 kg

Prestigious Bloomberg UTV AUTOCAR AWARDS 2010 Winners

The Bloomberg UTV- Autocar Awards 2010 which were presented by HDFC Bank on January 15th 2010 in Mumbai had most of the industry stalwarts attending the show. So who has won the title of the Bloomberg UTV-Autocar Car & Bike of the Year? Let's find out.


Car of the Year - Tata Nano

Why - The tiny, twin-cylinder four-door Nano represents a history-making attempt by Tata Motors. When the Nano was launched, people asked is it really a proper car? After all nobody in the world had ever designed and launched a car for one-lakh rupees. The answer is there for everyone to see, feel, drive and live it. The beauty of this car is not how much it costs, but how much it delivers for so little. The Tata Nano is a car that delivers what it promised. Thus making it our undisputed Car of the Year.

Bike of the Year - Bajaj Pulsar 135LS



Why - The new Pulsar 135LS is the smallest Pulsar to date. This aggressive, smart new street machine is testimony that good things often come disguised in small packages. It is packed with enough features to make its rivals go green with envy. It is a frugal motorcycle that will not hurt your wallet despite its strong show of performance. So here is a motorcycle that looks gorgeous, is packed with features and equipment, is fun and easy to ride and live with – all without breaking your bank balance. This is why it is the worthy winner of the Bike of the Year award.

Saloon car of the Year - Chevrolet Cruze
Why - The Chevrolet Cruze is a car that is truly aspirational and one you want to own rather than need to have. It's aggressive, sharp and taut styling gives the Cruze fantastic road presence and it comes loaded with a big list of equipment. The Chevrolet Cruze brings together sharp styling, trendy interiors and stonking performance to win the award of the Saloon Car of the Year.

Luxury car of the Year - Mercedes-Benz E-class

Why - The Mercedes E-Class has always been a brilliant car, but the new E350 raises the bar yet higher. Here is a Merc that upholds the brand’s traditional values of solid build, over-engineering and extreme refinement to the hilt, but like any modern car is also agile and fun to drive when you press on. The E-Class is brilliantly engineered car with outstanding comfort, refinement and top-notch quality. It sets a new benchmark in this segment of the luxury market to win the Luxury Car of the Year award.

SUV of the Year - Toyota Fortuner

Why - When Toyota finally launched the Fortuner in India, its arrival whipped up a frenzy like no other Toyota before it. The reason is not difficult to see. It has got everything the prospective owner is looking for road presence, strong performance, space and practicality. The way the Fortuner combines go-anywhere capability with comfort makes it an ideal all-purpose SUV. Stand next to the Fortuner and it simply towers over you and demands your respect.

Results for other categories are as follows:

Small Car of the year - Tata Nano

Premium Hatchback of the year - Maruti Suzuki Ritz

Best Value for money car - Tata Manza

Luxury SUV of the year - AUDI Q5

Best driver's car - BMW Z4

Variant of the year - Skoda Laura 1.8 TSI

Best design and styling - Fiat Punto

Import Bike of the year - Honda CB1000R

Manufacturer of the year - Maruti Suzuki

Green Award - Mercedes-Benz Blue Efficiency

Technology and innovation award - BMW 7-SERIES

Car advertisement of the year - Fiat Linea

Viewers' choice award, Car - Toyota Fortuner

Viewers' choice award, bike - Pulsar 135LS

Tata Nano Win 'Car of the Year' Award in AUTOCAR AWARDS 2010

Small car Nano, manufactured by the Tata Group, has won Autocar India 2010's ' Car Of The Year ' award. The prestigious award was presented to Ratan Tata by Autocar editor Chas Hallett.

The Bloomberg UTV- Autocar Awards 2010 which were presented by HDFC Bank on January 15th 2010 in Mumbai had most of the industry stalwarts attending the show.The special guest for the evening was Formula 1 racing champion Narain Karthikeyan while the chief guest of the function was Minister of State for Road, Transport & Highways Sri.R.P. N. Singh.

Autocar India said: "The beauty of this car is not its cost, but how much it delivers for so little. Tata had to think out of the box and use innovative engineering to create a car that was desirable, comfortable and safe.

"What is great about this car is the refusal to compromise despite the small price tag. Yes there is evidence of creative cost-saving: flat side glass, a single wiper, no tailgate, no rear wiper, three wheel-nuts instead of four, one door lock instead of two - but it's not something you can't live without.

"The Nano also has an unbelievable amount of interior space. It has more space than some cars that are a segment above.

"Recognition is for the full team that worked on the car, and the challenge now is to exceed expectations," Tata Sons' Chairman Ratan Tata said here.

Home Posts RSS Comments RSS Edit 5 Lakh Bajaj Discover DTS-Si Sold in 225 Days by Bajaj Bikes

Bajaj Auto new offering in the 100cc segment, the Discover DTS-Si, has sold a record 500,000 numbers in 225 days of its launch. The bike which was launched in July 2009 has ossibly set a new benchmark for any bike to reach a record 500,000 numbers within the shortest span of time. It has also attained the leadership in states like West Bengal and entire North East region by becoming the highest selling brand in the overall two-wheeler category.

The company has already ramped up the production from current 75,000 units to 1 lakh units per month to meet the overwhelming demand. This super-fuel-efficient bike gives an on-road, mileage of 80 km/litre on account of the ‘Digital Twin Spark - Swirl induction’ version 2.0 engine series that powers the bike.

According to Mr. S. Sridhar, CEO-2Wh "We have been overwhelmed with the response.In fact we were unable to meet the demand in February and there was a stock-out situation in some dealerships. The twin uccesses of the 100cc Discover DTS-Si and also the recently launched Pulsar 135 LS has boosted our marketshare to 27.3 % in February 2010."

The Bajaj DISCOVER DTS-Si Electric start comes in five colors at an attractive price of Rs. 41736 (Ex- Showroom Delhi)

Source: Bajaj Auto India