Tata Nano is challenged; EcoCa will make car under one lakh
Posted on 30. Nov, 2009 by Turbo in Automotive
Yes,a London-based car making company EcoCa, challenged the world’s cheapest car Tata Nano, and said that it is looking forward to make cheaper car than the Nano.
EcoCa’s car will be running on a 340-cc engine and it will be a 2-seater and coming at less than Rs. 1 lakh rupees!
EcoCa says that despite rolling the car at less than 1 lakh rupees, the dealers will be getting decent margin.
EcoCa is working along same lines and is hunting for the Indian dealer for design and the market of the car, maybe with the same brand name. Rumors are rife that the Indian counterpart would be M&M, although there is confirmation as yet. The car will weigh lesser than Nano and features automatic gearbox giving a maximum speed of 70 kmph. EcoCa is looking at a fuel efficiency of 27-28 kmpl and with an 8 million pounds investment the car was built and obtained clash test clearance in Europe.
Auto analysts believe that Indian market has plenty of scope for small and low-cost Nano-like cars.
Super Hyper Cars awaiting entry onto Indian roads
Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Turbo in Automotive
Year 2009 has been great when it came to car launches in India. We have had many launches including the launch of much hyped world’s cheapest car, Tata Nano. Now, Indian roads can look forward to super hyper cars. Should other things work, about 3 brands of SHCs (Super Hyper Cars), are ready to take the Indian roads by storm by December 2009.
Ultimate Motors, which is based in Dubai has been distibuting super luxury brands of cars as well as high-end sports cars will roll 3 SHCs – Shelby, Zenvo and Arash, by December. The 3 cars are SSC Ultimate Aero, Zenvo ST1 and Arash AF10. Ultimate Aero also happens to be the world’s fastest car. While Arash AF10 is praised for its great aerodynamics the Zenvo ST1 is a super car with total steel chassis and an all-carbon body.
If you wanted to know what a super car really means- Ultimate Aero speds @ 257 mph and it gives 1.183bhp and the pick up time for 0 to 60 mph is 2.78 seconds. There is no doubt to the fact that India has been witnessing a sea change in demand for luxury automobiles and people also are looking forward to own customized bikes and cars.
Ultimate Motors share that they expect to launch the commercial SHCs. the President Nasser Al-Hai says that they are working a deal with dealers in India to help with the launch of the SHCs.
However, one can expect that the price of these three commercial SHCs to be very high; in the 4.5 to 7 crores bracket. Indian roads can’t give a good treatment to the Indian cars, well can they take reciprocate the speed and the luxury these SHCs ooze?
Maruti Alto Flash- New Limited Edition Alto Launched- Preview
Posted on 12. Jul, 2009 by Turbo in Automotive
Maruti Alto Flash- New Limited Edition Alto- Preview
MSIL which is more popular as the Maruti Suzuki India Limited surprisingly came with a new launch yesterday. It has but launched a limited edition new variant of its very popular Alto. Naming it as the limited edition Alto Flash in Pune, the Alto Flash comes impressively loaded with some cool enhancements in terms of its style and aesthetics to the Alto.
According to the company’s press release, Maruti Alto Flash comes with enhanced comfort features such as power windows in the front and some graphics on the body with seat covers in art leather material that matches the car color.
Additionally, Alto Flash comes with other features such as feather-touch mirror in body color, as well as body-colored door handles and bumpers with body molding, decals on doors as well as back. There are wheel caps too for this limited edition Alto.
And, in fact, you can assume that all of the black-colored parts will be in body color in the new limited edition Maruti Alto Flash; might look gawdy as some say but that’s actually offered in the Alto Flash.
As if these were not enough, the limited edition Maruti Alto Flash comes in five color choices the white, silky silver, blue blaze, pearl silver and fire-brick red.
If you ask the price of the new limited edition Maruti Alto Flash, then I would say that it comes for steal; comes at the same price as Maruti Alto; implying it comes the same ex-showroom price of Maruti Alto.
Launch of “limited editions” is a characteristic feature of the Indian market; especially the automotive industry and a marketing tactic that is not to be found in any part of the world.
Maruti Alto had become a flagship brand of MSIL; being sold over a million cars in India ever since its launch in India and MSIL hopes that the new Maruti Alto Flash will also be sold well.
TVS Apache RTR 160cc Fi bike to be launched in US
Posted on 16. Jun, 2009 by Turbo in Automotive, Buzz
TVS Motors, an off shoot of the Indian-based $4 billions worth TVS Group Company is all set to have its foot ground on US soil with the launch of its premium new Apache RTR 160cc Fi bike. TVS already has its presence in overseas market which include countries in Latin America, Africa as well as South East Asia. The company also has a manufacturing facility in Indonesia which has an annual capacity of producing 3 lac units.
US ranks among the top 10 two-wheeler market segment in the world. The largest being China closely followed closely by India where almost 70 lac two wheelers are sold in a year. In America, though the two wheeler segment is dominated by big names such as Harley Davidson, Triumph, Suzuki and the Yamaha. So in this context it will be Herculean task to grab a pie from the market. However, TVS Motors aims to establish its credential by building its brand value and then expects to sell a few thousand of the new TVS Apache RTR 160cc Fi bikes in the first year.
The new TVS Apache RTR 160cc Fi bike deserves a mention in that it has been successful in passing the stringent US automobile norms and tests. The company could achieve this by simple adjustments to the mill it runs on.
TVS Motors is now in the process of identifying and establishing its distributor network there in United States. According to reliable information TVS Motors has worked out a deal with one Minnesota Classic Motorworks to sell their bikes.
The Minnesota Classic Motorworks has been the loyal seller of our Royal Enfield motorcycles-Bullet, Chroma and the Classic variant in US.
There is also talking that another Indian company, Mahindra and Mahindra that is contemplating on entering into the US market soon with SUVs and MUVs; Scorpio included. Still TVS motors will make a mark in the West with its new Apache RTR 160cc Fi bike.
Honda SIEL Launches Honda Jazz with Made in India tag
Posted on 11. Jun, 2009 by Turbo in Automotive, Buzz
Honda Jazz launched with Made in India tag
Honda Jazz, the latest global technology car designed for the Indian market from the Honda SIEL Car India. It is the launch of this much hyped and awaited super hatchback Jazz that spells safety and reliability in every turn of its wheel. For now, Honda Jazz will come in three variants.
Honda Jazz comes running on a 1.2L petrol i-VTEC engine especially designed to suit the Indian road conditions for enhanced performance as well as impressive fuel economy. The engine will strictly conform to the Euro-IV emission levels. In all the variants, there is ABS (anti-lock braking system). The dual airbags and seatbelts are again compulsory features in all variants. It is the interior space of Honda Jazz that will definitely become its USP. Luxury will be a small word for the space Jazz has.
Whispers on Jazz price are heard and they will be in the range of Rs.6.98lacs –Rs.7.33 lacs (ex-showroom New Delhi). Initially, Honda aims to sell a minimum of 2000 units of Jazz per month.
Despite the launch of the new hatchback Honda Jazz, the company believes that, Honda City will continue to be the company’s flagship model and it sells shockingly an average of 3500 units a month. Additionally, in the coming 2-3 years’ timeframe, Honda plans to launch another small car. However, it will be positioned below the Honda Jazz model.
Honda CEO remarks that the estimated car market in India is about 1.5 million and out of which 80 percent belong to the top-end of supermini segment. It is here that their new hatchback Honda Jazz will cater to the needs of the people. The company is also confident of not increasing the prices of its models in the coming days except the localization cost owing to currency fluctuations.
