Owner: Car Automobile Blog in India from Carazoo.com URL:http://blog.carazoo.com/ Join Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:52:20 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Indian car automobile blog from Carazoo.com, India's first car portal with interactive animations, gives comprehensive information on the trends in car industry, car news, reviews and automobile industry updates. It also provides information on launc Site statistics:Click here
Scrap excise duty on electric cars 2008-04-01 08:55:00 It is good news that the excise duty has been reduced vastly on small cars. The government should have scrapped excise duty completely on electric car. Electric cars would have received a huge push in sales, if the prices dropped.The concept of electric car has been popular in India since Maini Revai was launched. The car is also credited to be the highest selling electric car in the world. Though people are interested in pollution control by opting it, most car buyers have shunned it and going for petrol and diesel cars since it is priced heavily. The another electric and environmentally-friendly car Bavina is set to launch this year and many other companies are in different stages of developing electric cars, a little reduction of price or abolition of excise duty on electric cars would Read more:Scrap
Mitsubishi wants more 2008-04-01 08:47:00 Has India become a decisive factor in Mitsubishi
’s business strategy? It does looks like that if you see at the new products planned for India. The Japanese company is planning to introduce the i–MiEV, an electric car and the very stylish SUV Outlander next year in India. It seems that the company does not want to rest on its laurels gained in past. The company is already selling Lancer, Cedia, Monetro and Pajero. The company is now eyeing luxury SUV segment by launching Outlander and is also planning to introduce the first international brand electric car in India. The company has re-defined luxury cars in India. It can do the same in future. It is clearly targeting other Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Maruti-Suzuki who have already established themselves in India. Read more:wants
60% of cars don’t meet fuel efficiency specifications 2008-04-01 08:35:00 If the new government norm on fuel efficiency is introduced, 60% of the Indian cars including small cars, SUVs, and luxury cars being sold in showrooms will never see Indian roads. As per new standards, most of these cars consume a lot of fuel and are pretty low on mileage. It’s high time that these fancy sets of wheels got fancy numbers for fuel economy. Only 40% of the car models today qualify. None of the SUVs meet the new fuel efficiency norms and aren’t suitable to off-roading anywhere in India. If enforced, the new norm will bring the current car bonanza to an abrupt end. To discourage low fuel efficiency cars, the US government has levied a gas guzzler tax on such models. Though not exactly same, this is something on similar lines from the Indian government. We don’t know Read more:specifications
Auto stocks down despite upbeat mood 2008-03-31 08:36:00 It has been a bad beginning for the Auto Industry in stock market this fiscal. First it was hike in interest rates, followed by stringent measures adopted by financial institutions and now increases in prices of raw materials. The downward performance this fiscal follows the impressive performance in 2006 - 2007. The higher interest rates, hard financial options have resulted in negative sales figures of automobile companies resulting in poor performance of the auto stocks. But, financial observers see downward trend in car sales figures only as a time phrase which could recover by the second quarter. The Indian auto Industry has been in the global news this week with the Tata Motors clinching the Jaguar and Land Rover deal from Ford Motor. But the stock markets have not been favorable Read more:despite
, upbeat
Ford suffered loss after selling JLR brands 2008-03-31 07:24:00 Is any one know that how much Ford spent initially to buy luxury car brands-Jaguar and Land Rover? Ford bought these two high end brands in 1989 at a whooping $10 billion. Ford has invested such a big amount in Jaguar and Land Rover but failed to reap profits. Ford suffered a huge loss by selling
its luxury brands to Tata for merely $2.3 billion. As far as global players are concerned, they are firmly committed to make their vehicle more appealing and luxurious than their rivals. It is still not known as to why Ford failed to make these brands profitable. Big wigs of world’s auto industry are now thinking of revamping their brands to avoid selling of their brands to any other company after Ford’s failure in Jaguar brands.
Fiat will compete with BMW 2008-03-31 07:05:00 Fiat is re-launching Fiat 500 in India soon. It seems that Fiat is planning to give a tough competition to BMW’s Mini. When Fiat will launch its 500 it is expected to take on the costliest hatchback of India BMW Mini. Fiat priced at Rs 13 lakh onwards and BMW Mini priced at Rs 20 lakh. Both these cars carry the retro design, carrying with it the legacy of European history.It will be interesting to see if these European cars carry their magic to India. These car manufacturers will most probably fight for a thin line of consumer segment, which have an option to buy luxury cars or SUV or 500 or Mini. Maybe the consumer will eventually decide on who is the boss of hatch back cars in India.
Tata Motors hopes better rating 2008-03-31 06:51:00 After getting downgraded by rating agencies, Tata Motors
is now hopping for a better
rating after announcement of a new refinancing plan. But this may take a few months altogether. The refinance plan is expected as Tata Motors clinched a major acquisition deal with Ford to own the Jaguar and Land Rover. Tata Motors have paid 2.3 billion dollars for the deal. Eventually, the deal will be financed through a mixture of debt and equity. Last week, Crisil, a rating agency, downgraded ratings on the auto major's cash credit facilities from 'AA+' to 'AA-/stable'. But the agency has removed Tata Motors from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications' list. The auto major has taken a USD 3 billion bridge loan to take over the two iconic brands and meet the working capital requirements with a combina
Renault will revamp Logan to Beat Competition in India 2008-04-04 05:23:00 Renault made its debut by launching Logan
in India
through a joint venture with Mahindra a few years ago. After it’s entry into India, Logan has somehow managed to give good competition to its rivals in mid-size segment but it failed to impress and attract more customers as expected by Renault. Now, Logan is being revamped and presented with new style.It’s not so impressive performance and heavy price tags have forced many customers to opt for other cars than Logan. When people are going crazy for small cars in countries like India, it will be really challenging task for car manufacturers to increase the sale of mid-size sedans like Logan. So, Renault has determined to revamp and add some more frills to Logan. It will launch revamped version of Logan in next few months to take on its Read more:Renault
Tata expanded its Operations in Thailand 2008-04-04 05:16:00 Tata Motors which has been all smiles after acquiring the deal of luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover is fast spreading its wings across Thailand
. Tata Motors has now entered Thailand auto industry by launching its pick-up Xenon. With this, Tata motors initiated its operations there. The Xenon made its appearance at Bangkok motor show where it caught the attention of almost everyone. Tata will now compete with Japanese players who have dominated Thailand market. The 1 tonne pick-up Xenon boasts of a 2.2 liter Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) engine with variable turbine technology and intercooler. It will be launched in two body styles- X-tend cab and Double cab. It produces 140 horsepower and 320Nm of torque. It is believed that Xenon will give Thai consumer good power delivery and d
Volkswagen will launch Two Small Cars in India 2008-04-04 05:08:00 Small car segment is the fastest growing segment in India
. Every car manufacturer is willing to test their fate in this segment by launching small cars in India. Global car manufacturers who had only launched mid-size sedans, luxury cars, big SUVs, MPVs and Wagon are now changing their minds and considering to launch small cars in India to capitalize on the surge in demand for small cars in Indian auto market. Volkswagen
is no exception to this as it promised to launch two small cars in next four years in India. Volkswagen made its foray into Indian market after launching luxury sedan Passat and luxury SUV Touareg later on. Realizing the growth of small car segment, it announced to launch two small cars. Volkswagen will launch Polo first in next two years. It will be priced around 5 to 6 Read more:Small
A Car Cheaper Than Spark 2008-04-04 05:03:00 Is General Motors creating its own segment of customers for its cars? It could be the fact, as the company now plans to launch a small car cheaper than its now popular car Spark. The existing small car already comes with a 1.0 liter engine and price tag of Rs 3.23 lakh. If the company plans to go for smaller engine displacement this would certainly land them in between Maruti-800 or with the 624 cc Tata Nano. It is likely that the car will set off new wave of revolution of small cars as Maruti-800 is aging fast. With the new launch, having a lower price band, there will be tough competition in the 600cc to 800 cc car segment. It will be interesting to see if the consumer will be able to lap it up. Maybe you can own one car for each year and enjoy them all.
Younger Canadians abstained from cars 2008-04-03 08:10:00 When younger generation is going crazy for cars across the world, younger Canadians
have taken the world by storm discarding cars in their daily routine life. Today, it’s habit among many youngsters to take their small car, luxury car or SUVs for marketing, offices and even to the places which are too nearby. In contrast to this, younger Canadians are going green by avoiding cars for little distance places. About 60 per cent of youngsters in Canada who own cars will walk, cycling or take public transport to reach their offices, markets or other little distance places. They are joining hands with Canadian government in its endeavor to protect environment from increasing pollution by sacrificing their personal comfort. Even most of the cars owned by them are environmentally- friendly car
Russia will enter Indian auto market 2008-04-03 08:06:00 Indian auto industry has been growing faster than ever before. It’s booming with many global car manufacturers making their foray into Indian auto market. Global car players from US, Germany, Japan and other countries already have their cars ranging from small cars, super luxury car to midsize cars on the Indian roads. Many upcoming cars have also lined up to hit the Indian market. Now, Russia
n automobile company is eyeing Indian auto industry to launch its new cars. The first Russian automobile company to foray into the Indian market is likely to be GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod) Group. The success of cars launched by all global players in India is driving force behind Russia to think over enter
ing Indian auto market. The company might explore ways to manufacture its rugged co
Volvo will launch six new cars in India 2008-04-03 08:01:00 Since it has entered India
in 2007, luxury car maker Volvo has been in news for few times. And every time Volvo has made sure that the focus is on its cars and features rather than anything itself. In India, Volvo has been a late entry but it already has an impressive line with three luxury cars - convertible C70, sedan S80 and luxury SUV XC90. The company has a target of 500 cars for Indian market. Volvo also came into news for announcing the date of launch and showing commitment to stick to it. Volvo has its largest market in USA, but is not showing any laxity towards newer markets like India. But, now Volvo plans to launch 6 new vehicles in India in a phased manner. According to sources come of the models to be introduced are C30, XC 60 and XC 70. Many more models will be launched
Jags were favorites of Gujarat royals 2008-04-03 07:56:00 Jaguar and land Rover have created a sensation in India after Tata Motors acquired the iconic luxury cars recently. Hitherto, the cars were unknown to Indian masses till the takeover bid was announced. But Jaguar cars have been owned by British Royalty’s like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and is the ultimate society statement in UK. But little has been known that Jaguar have long been favourites of some of Gujarat
’s erstwhile royal families. Maharaja Chaitanyadev Sinhji of Wadhwan owned Jaguar E-type which he raced across several car races in world. He now owns a XJS Jag. Another jumping cat symbol car was owned by Maharaja Jyotindrasinhji of Gondal. His favourite is a Jaguar car and he raced the XK 150 Jaguar in the 70’s. Read more:favorites
Tata Motors has bought Nissan’s plant 2008-04-09 18:05:00 Tata Motors
is slowly spreading its wings as a major car manufacturer of the world. After having established itself as an owner of luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover and also as the creator of the world’s cheapest small car Tata Nano, it’s now eyeing the position of a major international player from India. Tata has now bought the unused plant of Nissan
in South Africa. The details of the buyout are not known but what is known is that Tata wants to make South Africa its assembly hub for their popular car models Indica and Indigo and also for its commercial vehicles. South Africa is already a major car market outside India for Tata’s cars. Tata has a presence in 10 African countries and is planning to expand it while making South Africa a hub for all African operations.
Volkswagen ups investment on Skoda Fabia 2008-04-09 18:03:00 Volkswagen has decided to hike investment
s in its subsidiary Skoda
for manufacture of the Skoda Fabia
. Since its launch, the premium small car has set new standards in small car features. The Fabia has been very popular and so Volkswagen is expanding its base. Volkswagen’s new car plant at Chakan in Maharashtra will first roll out Skoda Fabia
before making way for other Volkswagen car models. Fabia will form a major portion of the plant’s assembly line and it could turn out to be the bread and butter car for Volkswagen in India. Read more:Volkswagen
Growing popularity of BMW in India 2008-04-09 17:59:00 The image of poverty ridden India
seems to sink into the burgeoning flood of cars on the streets. The number of luxury cars rolling by portrays a unique picture. Take a look at BMW’s sales report for the first quarter of 2008. The number of new BMW cars has increased by nearly a thousand cars in the period from January 2008 to March 2008 - a rise of around 800 percent compared to last year. India topped the list of countries that saw the highest percentage of increase in BMW's luxury car sales. BMW has truly become a new status symbol for the new age Indians. Read more:Growing
Mumbai observes ‘No Honking Day’ 2008-04-09 17:55:00 Honking one’s car is considered rude in many countries but it’s a must do thing in India. It’s an extension of saying “get out of my way.” Car driving in India is so chaotic that one cannot even get a tiny piece of road to pass by without honking. Adding salt to the wound are daring pedestrians and cyclists who cross the car’s path just when drivers are speeding across the roads. Honking is an integral part of driving in India. It doesn’t matter if you are in front of a school or a hospital. “Honking your cars has become necessary”, say respondents to a survey of Television Channel that was covering the ‘No Honking day’ observed in Mumbai
on April 7th. As many as 15 lakh people participated in the campaign to quietly protest against this new menace.
i10 Bags Another Award 2008-04-11 10:06:00 One of the cutest and most recently launched models from Hyundai Motors, the i10 has been much appreciated by the Indian public. It has now bagged the ‘Indian Car of the Year – 2008’ (ICOTY) award. The car was judged on the basis of quality, drive and overall performance. Other factors like fuel efficiency, ride, handling, safety, comfort, driver satisfaction and price were also considered before cars were ranked on a 25-point scale where a maximum of 10 points was given to a car. The i10 was unveiled last year and falls into the small car segment. It comes with a price tag ranging between 3.5-4 Lakh. It has already won many hearts with its performance and style. It’s the first compact car to come with a sunroof option. Read more:Award
BMW Mini 2008-04-11 09:52:00 We have all heard news of BMW considering an entry into the small car segment. The BMW Mini that will be introduced to India shortly will be launched only in two cities - Delhi and Mumbai. The Mini will be small only in terms of size and like all BMWs, it will carry a heavy price tag. The car will not be assembled at BMW’s Chennai plant. Instead, it will be imported as fully-built units. Now that’s a little sad because if it was assembled locally then price would have reduced by 30 percent. It’s expected to cost around Rs. 15-16 Lakh.
Another Challenge for Nano 2008-04-11 09:15:00 The ultra-cheap car Tata Nano will be facing another rival very soon. Ajanta - the well know clock makers are planning to roll out an electric car that may cost just around Rs.85, 000. This is definitely far cheaper to the Nano. This electric car will also be challenging the Maini REVA which is the only electric car in the Indian car market. The details of the new car from Ajanta are not yet revealed. We’ll have to wait a little to learn more. Read more:Challenge
Automatic Captiva 2008-04-11 08:30:00 Chevrolet Captiva the most appealing SUV will be soon seen in an automatic transmission version without compromising on performance and fuel economy. The rocking SUV has won millions of hearts and is doing well on Indian roads. Presently, its available only with a diesel engine. Captiva carried pretty impressive sales by selling nearly 200 units last month which is second only to the Honda CR-V. Now with the automatic transmission option, it’ll definitely attract more buyers. Another plus point is that this model will be enhanced by a four wheel drive feature. The new features on the Captiva might add to the cost of the car but spending a little extra is worth it for such good features.
Ford Will Follow Small Car Trend In India 2008-04-10 10:52:00 The small cars are grabbing most of the attention in the India
n car market. All car manufacturers are now following the trend and launching small car models. Ford India is planning to launch a small car in India by 2010. They are planning to increase the installed capacity of its manufacturing facility in Chennai from the present 1 lakh units to 2.5 lakh units by 2010. The expansion includes the small car programme and a new engine plant. Read more:Small
Car Superstores 2008-04-10 10:44:00 Maruti Suzuki is taking the initiative to open its first superstore where all variants of its car models will be displayed in every available colour. The store will have a recreation corner for your kids and a lounge for you to relax and take your own time to choose the car you want to own. The new experience will make car buying fun and easy.
Toyota to go ‘small’ by 2010 2008-04-10 10:38:00 Toyota will be rolling out its small car in the Indian market by 2010 and they plan to invest in a new plant at Bangalore with a capacity of 100 thousand units. Toyota’s small car will not only be sold in India but will also be exported to overseas markets. Toyota’s idea of a small car for India came after the sudden boom in the small car segment. Presently, Toyota competes in the Indian premium car sedan segment with the Corolla and Camry models and has an SUV Land Cruiser Prado. Read more:Toyota
Ferrari Will Vrooom India In 2010 2008-04-10 10:25:00 The ‘Magic India
Discovery’ tour across the subcontinent with the specially-prepared Ferrari
612 Scagliettis was an event to remember. The ‘hot’ looking Ferrari cars will probably come to India by 2010. The company is preparing a sales and marketing network in the country with an eye towards a 2010 launch. At present, we see hardly any Ferraris on Indian roads. Most of these are purchased from Ferrari's dealership in Singapore. Tata Motors is closely related with Ferrari's parent company Fiat and may come into play for Ferrari’s India launch.
Santro to get new soul 2008-04-15 08:53:00 Hyundai wants to modify its highest selling hatchback Santro Xing and launch it again. The Santro will be fitted with a lighter 1.1 liter diesel engine that produces a whopping 75 bhp.The car will give an impressive mileage of 20 kmpl which is good fuel efficiency rate. Most Indian buyers will be impressed with it. Now who can beat that! Hyundai itself!With the new small displacement engine it is surely going to become a major competitor for a lot small cars. It may be launched in May or June 2008. Santro has already become a huge hit in urban areas. With its new avatar it could become a nightmare to its rivals.
Ferrari Eyes 2010 India Launch 2008-04-15 08:46:00 All speed enthusiasts who were fed up of rumors about Ferrari
’s entry into India
, will now have reasons to smile. Many enthusiasts were confused and kept under darkness by rumor mongers in auto industry over Ferrari arrival. Some thought it would hit Indian roads in next five years, some had information that it will come in next 3-5 years and even some had info that it will not be coming to India. Now, keep all those rumors at bay as Ferrai will hit India in 2010. Fiat which owns this legendry brand clarified Ferrari will be seen on Indian road in next two year. There will be no more delay than this. Before entering India, Ferrari is planning to set up sales and marketing network in India so that enthusiasts will get it at right time. Driving fastest cars like Ferrari is going to be m Read more:Launch
Tata plan for small green cars 2008-04-15 08:39:00 Tata Motors is planning to introduce hybrid technology on its fast selling small car Indica. Don’t jump the gun and ask when it will be launching, because Tata is still developing the technology. Industry experts say that Tata is likely to launch it in 2011, but that is just a speculation. The date is quite far off for those who want hybrid car immediately. But what we know for sure is that Tata motors is developing a hybrid Indica with an amazing technology never tried in small cars before in the world.Tata Indica could come up with a petrol-electric hybrid which will give 20 kmpl and 200 kilometers per charge. With this technology Indica hybrid owner will need to go for refueling only once a week, or even less depending on the car usage.
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